Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-03


Authentic records tell US that at
the mouth OF the Fox river. on the
27th day of May, 1882, Abraham Lin
coin was mustered out OF service as
captain in the Blackhawk War. and on
the following day, here entered into
the service as private in the
Illinois Mounted Volunteers.
The probable reason for their pres
ence in this locality was the mas
sacre upon Indian creek some nine
miles north of Ottawa occurring May
21st.
All records state that the company
was mustered out AT the mouth of
the Fox river" and We have little
doubt but this point marked this after
noon is the exact spot where this
historic event occurred.
! We have deemed it worth while TO
erect sundial as a memorial there
to commemorate an incident In his
life which seems insignificant, when
viewed alongside the greater events
in his career, yet which shows him to
us in the days of his youth as SOL
der ready TO risk his life in savage
warfare in defense of his state
1t is but Il page in the book OF life
than which none human is more noble
more patriotic, more heroic, more
Godlike.
One OF the incidents connected with
the centennial celebration of today is
the gift to the city of Ottawa Of the
imposing colOnnade standing at the
west entrance of the city, costing ap-
proxmately 81 1900. When Mr.. Horace
II. Bancroft, representing the state
centennial commission visited this
city in the interests Of the commission
, in the spring Of this year, he delegated
to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
the duty and privilege Of organizing
both the county and city celebrations.
The county celebration was first un.
: dertaken. This eyentuated in the
Starved Rock pageant, which proved
most interesting from an historical
standpoint and a wonderful allegorical
. performance.
| The Chamber of Commerce placed
the local celebration in the hands OF a
; committee Of three, Of which Miss Lee
Ian Lincoln was president; Mrs. Chas
h. Hook, treasurer, and Mrs. Clar.
ence Griggs, secretary. To Miss Lin.
coin belongs the credit OF originating
the idea of a memorial to the early
settlers of Ottawa and vicinity. The
three ladies associated with them
I, selves larger committee, from whom
the executive committee of three re.
ceived much valuable assistance, A
letter was sent to hundreds of early
reSiden OF Ottawa and vicinity or fl
, descendants, explaining the projec
, ana inviting voluntary contributions
indicating that those who contribute,
should have the right to memorable,
whom they wished of their particula
4 family" The response to these let
/. ters was immediate and generous, un
+ I'll $4,000 was contributed, $1,000 o.
:. which came from non.residents Of or
) tawa. This large sum has enabled the
4 centennial committee to erect a col
$ onnade. furnish it with a lighting sys
: TEN ana lay aside a substantial sun
i Tor Its maintenance. A list of the
! contributors and those memorializet
! will be placed among the archives IN
Reddicks library.
: The Daughters of the American
, revolution today presented to th,
state OF illinois fountain as a me
moral to La Sale, the intrepid ex
:, plorer, man with a vision. a knigh
> without fear and without renroach
= TO Mrs. Fred s. Sapp, regent Of tn,
. ottawa chapter of the d, A. r., ant
a the able committee are due the credi
- for this fountain. Ottawa NAV wei
De proud OF the part she has taken fl
=. these centennial celebrations.
n Following Mr. Griggs address Mrs
e oarah Edwards Henshaw's poem
g The Old Settlers" was read an,
/ Mrs {, q. Hook read he list OF tn,
If pioneers who were memorialized i,
!. the building of the coonnade
4, Hon. Lee O'Neil Browne then in
PRODUCED the speaker of the afternoon
Senator Frank Vending, who deliy
p cred very eloquent address Sena
II Tor vending explained his talk wa
OF an impromptu nature. but deligbte,
d MS hearers with his address. whicl
- was fllled with patriotism. He fol,
I, m'lch OF the early history of III,
Il state and of the trials of the pioneers
The Committee In charge of the ar
# engagements for the Centennial cele
% bration follows
al Mrs. M. n. Armstrong
Mrs. A. Alschuler
le Mrs. Emerett Sizer Barnes
is Mrs. Belinda Carton Doyle
c. Mrs. May Trumbo Bradford
II, Mrs. Florence Strawn Brenn
o. Mrs. Julia Clark Carmichael
,s Mrs. James p. Catlin
" Mrs. Fannie Hull Cation
sr Mrs. Annie Hathaway Carr
a. Mrs. Kate Ebersol Chapman
NIrp LNl,,o,,I Ift,,,,