Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1900 — Forty-niners Re-union. [ARTICLE]

Forty-niners Re-union.

The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob L. Troxell on Elm St. ■was Wednesday the scene of a gathering that is interesting alike to those in attendance and those who may read of it. It is the annual re-uninn of the suvivors of the 49ers, the party of gold seekers from Tippecanoe, Carroll and White counties who made the start for the gold fields of California fifty years ago the 10th day gos last March. Every two years these old boys meet with one of their number and recount their experiences and recall the trials aud privatious of that long journey half a century ago. This 3 ear Mr. Troxell, who was one of the party, is acting as and the meeting today is one that will linger in the halls of remembrance of those who participate until the frosts of death have chilled the memory of each of this fastdirninishing party. The start for the new eldorado was made from Delphi, amid high hopes and visions of dazzling wealth, with strong hearts and a determination to conquer iu the wilderness of the west. The party I outfitted at St Louis and St. Joseph, Mo., and struck into the wilderness taking the Bear river route to the land of promise, and just fifty years ago today crossed the turbulent Missouri river on their long journey toward the Pacific slope. The span of half a century means much to any one and to these gentlemen it vividly connects the present with the reoent past when the Mississippi river marked the western border of civilization in this great couniry, and, as they recall now it seemed to them as if they had severed the last ties and left the United States entirely, after its muddy flood was crossed. They arrived at Hangtown, Cal.. August 8, 1850 and there the party disbanded and prosecuted their object of accumulating wealth as each might see fit. Mr. Samuel Gray, now of Galveston, Ind., was probably the youngest member of the party, being only 19 years of age at that time.

Mrs. C Jones, of Battle Ground, was the only lady present, who underwent the terrible hardships of that long “trek,” she joining* her husband in California in 1852. Mr. Hezekiah Patton brought along his journal or diary, in which were recorded the events and expenses of the trip. The book seems to have witli-stood the ravages of time fully as well as the spirits of its possessor whose companion it was. The members of the party who were here were: John S. Armitage, Delphi; John Fisher, Battle Ground; Hezekah Patton, Goodland; Jacob Troxell, Rensselaer; Christian Gross, Delphi; Chas. Gross, Delphi; John Starr, Buok Creek; Samuel Grey, Galveston: Samuel Milroy, Delphi; John Wilson, Delphi; Isaac Cunningham, Amerious. These gentlemen aro accompanied by wives Ahd relatives who increase the nuoroer to twentyeight out of town visitors. There were also a number of Rensselaer citizens in attendance With song and story and feasting the day was passed rapidly for them and we know they will carry away many pleasant memories of •of Comrade and Mrs. Troxell and their reunion in Rensselaer.