Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1899 — Old Settlers’ Meeting. [ARTICLE]

Old Settlers’ Meeting.

Acting President’s Report. The two days’ meeting of Jasper county old settlers opened with rain and clouds. They proved to be silver lined and the first after 7 noon and the Second day revealed perfect weather conditions. The patriotic strains of the cornet band went to the breeze on Friday morning, but afterwards there was a crowd of people. Phillip’s grove revealed commissary tents and tents with relics to cheer the appetite and eye. There were no gaming devices, no intoxicants nor immoral practices. Never in the history of Rensselaer from village to city, did such an immense crowd come and go in a purer atmosphere. The president being absent the board of directors selected Judge Thompson as president pro tem on both days. Gertie Hopkins acted as reporter and the papers presented, many of which are worthy of publication, are in her hands. The Rev. Isaac Sayler not being present on Friday morning, the invocation was pronounced by W. W. Wishard. In the forenoon after the speech of welcome, John Thompson and Lewis S. Alter addressed those present. The selection of officers and settlement of expenses was referred to a meeting in the east court room at 2 p. m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 1899. All places wishing to secure the next meeting should then have their representstives present. « Judge Thompson in hjs welcome address admonished the audience that each speech might not jbe as perfect as a song, nor each |ong as holy as a prayer, nor each life as constant as & picture. As in old days there was plain living and high thinking the soul’s satisfaction was secured by halving its wants. In conclusion he hoped that the meeting would broaden, deepen, straighten and improve the stream of life for each auditor, that the intention was to make everything pleasant for the old settlers. The speaking in the afternoon was of the best. Judge Hammond had a carefully prepared address giving his early experiences and stated that at life’s close he wished to be buried near his kindred in the God’s acre of our city. Judge Darroch gave us a dear and succinct history of the now mythical Beaver lake. Mr. Gilman’s address teemed with good advice to our law makers John L. Pierce talking eloquently of the people and surroundings of early Rensselaer. The selection of Floy Nowels was rendered and received. The exercises on Friday closed by the audience singing “Nearer My God to Thee.” The attendance during the afternoon was about 1,000. The storm passed, and Saturday was perfect in its sunshine and air. After singing “America” and receiving the invocation from the Rev. R. S. Dwiggins, George W. Faris, member of Congress from the Sixth District of Indiana, gave the principal address. He was born in the western suburbs of our city. His mother was a sister of the late Hon. Geo. H. Brown and his father the brother! of Mrs. Minerva J. Wright and the Faris’es of Gillam. Mr. Faris 1 was among friends and relatives, and his speach was appropriate to the occasion. Mr. Pfrimmer recited his original poem “The Old Man’s Dream.” This was pronounced in substance and manner to be of the best Robert Parker told of the settlement that came from Rush county to Hanging Grove township. The a good hit. Uncle Newman is am

old Mexican soldier, who never sued or was sued, andnever paid a lawyer a cent. A. Leopold, the first of our Hebrew children, made a first rate ten minute speech. The papers of Mrs. Purcupile and Mrs. Alfred Thompson, giving details of early Rensselaer, were well written and read. Many hundreds of people enjoyed a social basket picnic and in the afternoon the temporary president presented the prizes. The song of the granddaughters of old settlers was sweet and responsive. E. P. Honan presented a new song and gave as an encore “Castles in the Air.” The samples of popular songs since 1856, by Morris A. Jones, took the book. Mrs. McCoy’s paper gave a clear history of the Kenton-Parkison emigration to the Forks settlement. John Ade explained the Bank of America at Morocco and the difficulties attending a run on the same. Peter Foulks talked to us of the pioneer law-giver who was cradled in the bull rushes, and found ten minutes too short to speak. The patriotism advocated by Mr. Dwiggins was to follow the flag. Mr. Westfall stirred up the old soldiers. William Porter’s tale was well received as a picture of early hardships. Mr. Comer told of herding cattle on speculators’ land. The last and best of the speakers was by the oldest settler, but he was unable to make the vast audience hear. All stood and sung “God Be With You ’Till We Meet Again” and the old settlers’ meeting of 1899 is now only a pleasant recollection. The prizes were all given and accepted in good grace as follows: Oldest settler, rocking chair, given by J. W. Williams to David Nowels. W. C. Pierce, judge. Oldest man, penknife, given by W. H. Eger to Isaac Sayler. Robert Parker, judge. Oldest woman, teapot, given by Warner Bros, to Elmira Reeve. Mary Medicus, judge. Oldest couple, pair of blankets, given by B. Forsythe to David and Phebe Nowels. John Ade, judge. Couple first married, bed spread, donated by Laßue Bros, to David and Phebe Nowels. N. Warner, judge. Largest family, album, donated by A. F. Long to L. 8. Alter. S. C. Hammond, judge. Relics, coffee pot, given by Antrim & Dean to Shelby Grants Wm. Porter, judge. > Volunteer song, book, given by B. F. Fendig to Morris A. Jones. W. W. Wishard, judge. Largest man, a hat, donated by Ellis & Murray to J. W. Pierce. John Thompson, judge. Tallest couple, a year’s subscription to the Journal given by Leslie Clark to W. W.‘ Wishard and wife. G. P. Daugherty, judge. The relics were attractive and should be a feature at all old settlers’ meetings. The prize most warmly contested for was the book. Volunteer songs were given by John Thompson, E. P. Honan, John L. Pierce, James W. Pierce, Morris A. Jones and the Alter family. These songs were all worthy and appropriate and some thought John Thompson’s song about the New Country was very deserving. This feature of the program is worthy of being retained. 8. P. Thompson, President Pro Tem. C. E. Mills, Sec’y.