People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1893 — A Pleasant Anniversary. [ARTICLE]

A Pleasant Anniversary.

Mr. L. W. Henkle and George H. Brown learning that the eighty-fourth birthday of M r . Samuel L. Sparling, an old and much esteemed citizen of our county, would occur on the thirteenth inst., conceived the idea of giving him a surprise. Accordingly they, together with R. F. Goddard, Jared Benjamin, David Nowels, W. C. Pierce, Henry T. Thornton, Simon Phillips, Steward C. Hammond, John W. Duvall. John Thompson and M. L. Spitler paid him a birthday visit. On arriving at

Mr. Sparling’s home, a mile south of town, they found him surrounded with a large number of his family and immediate relatives, who had also come in to remind the good old man*that he had reached his eighty-fourth milestone in the journey of life. Mr. Sparling is among the earliest white settlers who came to the valley of the Iroquois and settled in the town of Rensselaer, having come to this county in 1836. In the early history of our county he held many and important positions of public trust. He was our first post master, our first covUlty treasurer, when the revenues of our county were much smaller than they are now. He also was many times a commissioner of our county. In aty the different positions he was called to fill he discharged his trust with honesty and fidelity to the perfect satisfaction of his constituents, regardless of party. He has lived all his life, since 1836, in our town or on his farm, where he now resides. The meeting was certainly a gathering of old men, and early settlers of this county. Mr. Brown being 77 years yast, and came to this county in 1840. R. F. Goddard, 77 past, and came here in 1853; L. W. Henkle, 74 past and came here in 1841. David Nowels, 72 years old, and came to this county in 1834, and was the first white boy ever in the county, and many are the stories he can relate of the early settlement of the county. When he first came here the red man' was the lord of the forest and the village. The rapids of the Iroquois was the happy home of the Indian, and after the white man came and formed a settlement on the rapids, where our town is now situated, they resorted here frequently to exchange the profits of the hunt for the merchandise of the white man—powder, shot, salt, flour, whiskey and blankets. The wfiter can remember seeing them here along in the forties by the dozen, quiet, peacable and honest. The ground upon which our village now stands was then covered with a dense forest. Fish were plenty in our river and deer stalked our fore sts and prairies almost unmolested, Av.’C. Pierce, 72 years old, came here in 1838. Steward Hammond, 06 years old. came here in 1838, Henry Thornton, 70 years old, came here 1843. M. L. Spitler, aged 57, came to our county in 1836. Joseph B Sparling, son of Samuel L. Sparling, aged 56, was born in the county. Albert Hammond, who came to this county in 1838, when one year old, was also present, and gave his age as 83. We can only, account for this statement from the fact that Albert lias recently purchased himself a nice, new home and is looking around for a nice young woman to become its landlady. Simon Phillips, 70 years old came here in 1847. John W. Duvall, 62 years old came here in 1841. John Thompson, 66 years old, came here in 1857. There were also many ladies present to gladden the occasion with their smiling countenances and graceful movements, but delicacy forbids that w T e should give their ages. Some were playmates of the writer in' his childhood days, and others were younger. After an hour or two devoted to social intercourse, talking over .the earlier scenes and incidents of the settlement of our county, we were invited to the dining room to partake* of a rich and bountiful repast prepared by the kind ladies present, who supplied us, with becoming grace and courtesy, with all the good things that cheer the inner man. After we had done justice to the good things on the table, Mr. Sparling delivered us a short address, in which he thanked us with becoming grace for our kindly remembrance. He gave us his blessing and asked for each of us that we might have many pleasant years added to our already comparatively long life, and when we came to walk in the valley of the shadow of death we might have

I the comforting assxm:re of a life well spent in useful deeds and enter into a glorious immortality with a right spirit and a pure heart. On rising from the j table each guest was presented?: I with a pipe with which to smoke ja pipe of peace, emblematical, no doubt, of the characteristics and customs of the early settle-: mentsof this community, when all was peace, and every man a neighbor. After supper a shor|| time was devoted to conversation and in relating the trials and joys .of our early Jasper life, when the company began to disperse. On our departure, Mr. Sparling earnestly invited us to visit him again, and after j saying the time dragged, more heavily on him now than in his younger days, when he was an'! active participant in our every \ day life. It occurred to us, do the young, engaged in the bush ; ness care and home surround-0 ings think enough of the older members of our community, and of the pleasure and joys it gives them for us to devote an hour or two occasionally to their society? Is it not well for us to meet to- I gether oftener and learn anew the trials and troubles of pioneer life, and thus comfort and cheer! the declining years of the old. § The beauty of Heaven and the joy of a future life-will be heightened accordingly as we have blessed our companions in this life. * * A < * Willis the gentlemanly press agent of Cook & Whitby’s circus, was a pleasant caller at this office last Friday. He fully understands the humiliating situation of the poor printer when it comes to having them enjoy themselves in viewing the unusual sights around a circus, and we are under many obligations to him for favors rendered in* “seeing the circus.” He has a “little parlor” of his own, as he calls it, in which to entertain; his guests, when his show is in the town, and if they do not enjoy it, it is not his fault. Mr. Cobb i£ an old veteran in the show business, and is always pleased to meet old friends and new ones as well. He is known in all parts of the country as the genial Willis Cobb, and his visits are always enjoyed by the news- ij paper men for the many kindnesses shown 'therm He has our thanks for many favors. Rev. H. C. Keeley, the evangelist, closed his series of meetings at the Presbyterian church, last Wednesday night. Mr. Keeley is a telling speaker and no doubt left a good impression upon all who had the pleasure of hearing him. His lecture last Sunday evening, on “Sowing and Reaping,” was a convincing one. He has no fear in telling the hard, cold facts and. truths and is a bitter enemy to sin in * every / nature. He goes from here to"' Ohio, Vvjiere lie will hold a series of meetings. ’—— Dr. Man-o-wa, the renowned Indian doctor, made his second visit to this place last Wednesday, and was well pleased with the encouragement of the people in this locality. He is not here to rob the people and tell them that he can cure them when he cannot. He’will not take a case unless positive a cure can be effected.