The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-11-14


airy business session and the min
utes of previous meeting read and
accepted. Current events were in
charge of Mrs. p. J. Mann.
Mrs. Albert c.. Ehret. who took
charge of the study for the after
noon. gave a most complete and
comprehensive review on the sub
ject OF The Early French settlers"
The first French explorers to start
out were Marquette. LaSalle and
Joliet. Later on large numbers
came n settled along the shore Of
the Great Lakes and down to the
interior of the Northwest. AS early
as 1884, Jacques Cartier was among
the first TO start settlements. and
about this time LaSalle started out
from France on another expedition.
taking a very dear friend with him.
who was Tonty. Tonfy was to help
tho French settle III the Illinois ter
ritory and ono OF the first places
was a fort where the site OF Peoria,
Illinois. now is located, and another
At Starved Rock, Illinois.
Mrs. e. J. Harrison old Of the
ways and habits of our early
French residents. Their homes were
at first made somewhat after the
manner of the Indian wigwams,
with poles and skins of animals.
but later on were made of logs.
These afterward became more pre-
tentious. Agriculture and fur-trad-
ing We're the chief pursuits. They
plowed with oxen. horses seldom
being used. The carly French set
tier lived a careless. free-and-easy
life. and gave little thought to the
future and their religion was that
Of their native country Roman
Catholic. Hunting and skating in
the winter. fishing and picnic par
ties In the summer were popular
r~ecreatiens. Dancing was at all
times their favorite pastime. The
only vehicles found In these settle
ments were tvFo-wheeled carts with
out iron work of any kind. The
French settlers lived with the In
dams on terms of friendly inter-
course. often joining with them in
their barbaric feasts and wild
dances. and many a dusky maiden
became a white mans bride.
The History OF the Indiana
French Settlers" was given by Mrs.
c. L. Wolff. As early as 1876. the
early French settlers had a fort
near what Is now tho city of Fort
Wayne. Indiana. From that station
tho french fur hunters passed UP
and down the Wabash river and in
to the Louisiana possessions of
France, securing loads of furs. Vim
cennes was a trading station sew
eral years before the commencement
of the eighteenth century. One of
the sites selected as a place most
suitable for a depot of military
stores and a general trading post
between the French and Indians.
was nea the Wabash on the Wea
prairie a few miles below where the
city of Lafayette now stands. The
young French hunters adopted the
Indian customs and the inter-mar-
rying of the two races was the real
reason for the very close alliance
that existed between the French
and the Indians.
Mrs. J.. L. B~omberger with Mrs.
lillian Mikesch as accompariSt gave
the entire musical program and
sang In her delightful n a
group Of songs by James Whitcomb
Riley. Indiana lullaby and two of
Mrs. Eva Marble Boundy's, of Val
paraiso, Ind. poems set to music.
TO One I Love" and Because"
During the social hour the host
ess. assisted by Mesdames A. F.
Knots, A. s. Hunt. Bernard Shear
on and Miss Irene Finnegan. served
delicious refreshments.
Mrs. VIM. NJ. Love. Secretary.
Expectations are high for the
concert TO be given under the au-
spices Of the Lake County W. c.
T. U. on Friday. December the
first in the First Methodist church.
Already a number Of people have
bought tickets and many others
arc contemplating buying them