Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1902 — The Old Settlers’ Meeting. [ARTICLE]

The Old Settlers’ Meeting.

The old settlers’ meeting this year bordered close on a failure, owing largely, perhaps, to the several other large gatherings that have been here recently. The mornings session, last Saturday, was a complete failure, for want of attendance. In the afternoon a moderately fair sized crowd attended. Judge Thompson, president of the Association made the welcoming address. , John E. Alter, of Union, then gave one of his exceedingly amusing productions, and in the German brogue.. John was down for an address on the subject of Past and Present, but having been too busy to prepare a new “piece” he gave one he,, read last winter, at the farmers’ institute, at Wheatfield. It was all right, here though. Oapt. Wm. Guthrie gave a short address for both himself and Edward Barrett, democratic candidate for state geologist, they both having to leave on the 2 p. m. train. B. Wilson Smith was unable to be present on account of sickness in his family. Jesse E. Wilson recited Will Carlton’s “First Settler’s Story.” Short impromptu remarks were made by W. W. Wishard and Peter Foulks. The “Young Settlers” otherwise the “Kid Band” furnished fine music for the meeting, The relic exhibition was very good, what there was of it—but there wasn’t anything ofiit.