Evening star., 1939-12-03

which resulted in the death Of q
British officer and about 80 men.
The meeting adjourned to meet
on Thursday at l o'clock, when they
expected to have a spirited gather
ing of the boys of so years ago."
Association Formed.
The formal meeting at which the
association was regularly organized
was held in the City Hall on Decem-
Der 7, 1865. Again The Star had
this interesting Write-up:
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS
Yesterday at l o'clock the Associa-
ton of the Oldest Inhabitants Of
the District of Columbia met at the
council chamber (City HalD, pursu-
ant to adjournment, Col. J. s.
Williams in the chair and Mr.. J.
F. Callan acting as secretary.
"Mr. James Clephane, from the
committee to draft a constitution,
reported the same, which was con-
sidered by sections, and after slight
amendment adopted.
THE constitution is prefaced with
preamble, setting forth that, Be-
ing anxious to cultivate social in
tercourse and unite ourselves more
closely as original settlers of the
District of Columbia, we have
formed ourselves into an associa-
ton. The name of the association
is the Association of Oldest In
habitants of the District OF Colum-
bla, and persons may be elected to
membership who are so years of age
and have been 40 years a resident,
each paying ST.. The annual meet
ings are to be held on the Fourth of
July of each year, when the election
OF officers shall take place, and the
regular meetings on the first Thurs
days OF January, April and October.
The officers consist of president,
two vice presidents, treasurer, a re-
cording and corresponding secretary,
who are to hold over till July, 1867.
On the death of a member, it Is
expected the surviving members will
attend the funeral in body.
Favored "COlumDla.
When Article First was under
consideration, DR.. A. McC. Davis,
suggested the name of the 'Colum-
bia Association, not that he was
ashamed of being classed among the
Oldest inhabitants.
"Col. B. Ogle Tayloe said that he
believed he was the oldest inhabitant
present, and he was in favor of the
name Oldest Inhabitant.' Col. Tay-
loe said he based his claim on hav-
ing arrived here in the autumn of
1901. He witnessed President JET
ferson's second Inauguration, and
recollected we'll that Mr.. Jefferson
wore heavy shoes on that occasion.
At that time, the city was morass
scarcely a house on the Avenue.
IN those days the inhabitants were,
as it were, a band of brothers, each
striving to advance the interests of
the city.
DIR. Davis said, to show that old
men were not querulous, he would
withdraw the suggestion.
DIR. Blake said that some parties
had regarded him as the oldest in
habitant, and he wished to disabuse
the minds of all such of that i'm
preston, for he had come here in
1907 from Virginia, and he was
proud of being a native of that
State. He had seen the city
morass-the site of the city hall
covered with scrub oak, III which
he had set snares for rabbits. This
scrub-oak-covered ground was called
the Slashes,' but they had all dis
appeared now except in the vicinity
of Meridian Hill.
'Dr. Davis, when the article pre-.
scribing the qualifications of mem
bers was under consideration,
stated that the word person COM
pretended all, and suggested, to
secure to the association the enjoy.
ment of its purpose, proper guards
be thrown around 1t, and election,
ETC., and the suggestion was acted
on.
THE election of officers being in
order, the following were nominated
and elected: Col. B. Ogle Tayloe,
president; William A. Bradley and
Col. Peter Force, vice presidents;
Nicholas Callan, treasurer; John
Carroll Brent, corresponding secre-
tary, and DR.. A. Med. Davis, re-
cording secretary.
Col. Tayloe, on being escorted
to the chair, delivered short ad-
dress, thanking the association for
the honor conferred and express
ing his feelings on being called to
preside over an association com