34th OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 22nd, 1906
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another Old Settlers' day has gone into the history of Steuben
county. The day was as good as if made especially for the
occasion and the attendance was very large, just large enough so
that people could be cared for nicely. Stores and restaurants
were crowded, and the evening found an army of tired people who had
done their best to supply the needs and comforts of their numerous
guests. We missed very many familiar faces of pioneers who
have been accustomed to attend these annual gatherings, but this
must be expected year by year. All were pleased that President
Powers had arranged for an especial meeting of the old folks in the
M.E. church where they could all be comfortably seated and hear the
exercises. If the old adage "the good die young" is to be
taken literally, then we might infer from the number of old folks at
this meeting, that many have not been good or really good enough to
die. But that certainly must have been a mistake, for there
were present many very estimable people who are living happy,
contented and gracious lives, who have passed the three score and
ten years.
In calling the Old Folks' meeting to order, Judge Bratton
said: "Thirty-three years ago I first came to Angola to attend high
school, thinking I was of some importance and that every one knew me
and believed as I did. So I believed I ought to get a letter
every day at the post office, and calling there I asked if there was
any letter for me, supposing of course the postmaster knew who me
was. That postmaster I will now introduce to you in the person
of Angola's first mayor -- Orville Carver."
Mayor Carver said. "Mr. Chairman,
Friends! It seems like a superfluity of words to say to the
early settlers of grand old Steuben county, who have assembled here
today, that you are thrice welcome to our little city. Who
could possibly be more welcome than you who opened its highways and
helped to build its public buildings: you, who have helped build
this county seat, and have also wrought other changes? No
longer are you the back woods farmer, but today with your telephones
and rural mail at your door, you are daily in touch with the whole
world. Fifty years ago we would have met here as
neighbors. Today with hustle, greed and graft, we hardly know
our next door neighbor. But, thank god! I think I can see in
the near future a change, when manhood will not be rated by dollars
alone. As a Christian people and the greatest nation on earth,
we must set our standard high, with our motto, "A fair contest and a
square deal for all." In greeting and welcoming you here today
I close with the following which seems appropriate for this
occasion:
"Make new friends but keep the old
ones.
Those are silver, these are gold.
New made friends, like new wine,
Age will soften and refine.
Friendships, that have stood the test
Of time and change are surely best:
Brows may wrinkle, hair grow grey,
Friendship never knows decay
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more, we our youth renew.
But old friends alas, may die!
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast,
New are good but old are best.
Make new friends but keep the old,
Those are silver, these are gold."
H.C. Smith was prevailed on to stand up and show himself so as
to be recognized at the afternoon meeting and while so doing told a
few stories to enliven the "look."
Princess Viroqua said in part: "I am proud to be an Indian and
am one of those that refuse to be civilized. Although I can
talk your language I do not use swear words nor any of your fire
water. To be entirely civilized as white people are makes us
bad. You should have taught us the best for we have talent,
that, where we had a chance, shows the Indian to be equal to his
white brothers. I am proud to say that in the Indian tribes
you find no deformities, no cress eyes, hunch-backs or any bodily
deformities. Why? Because we follow the commands of the
"Good Spirit" and live close to nature. You called the Indian
women squaws and their babes pappooses, their sons and husbands
bucks. These vile names take to yourself and see how they
suit. The Indian woman is ahead of the white woman in that she
has woman suffrage in her nation. I never took a lesson in my
life and yet I have painted numbers of pictures that were shown in
New York City and called very good. Our silver-smiths are as
fine as can be found anywhere. Given the opportunities, what
might we not have done? Perhaps some of us might be high up in
public life."
Mrs. Harper sang the song she sang sixty years ago, "I Hear
thee Speak of the Better Land." Hazel Lee at the piano.
Of course Hazel was not there sixty years ago.
At this moment the society elected Steven A. Powers president
and R.E. Willis secretary.
James Collins said he came to Angola in 1836 and settled near
Fox lake. There was one house near west part of town and
public square was a mud hole. Had no horses, all were ox teams
and road were only trails. If our doctor ran out of medicine
he gave us water.
J. C. Folck said: "Seventy years ago we old settlers came and
built our eighteen by twenty log cabins with stick chimneys in which
we did all our cooking and around which we gathered a hardy
set. All changes of today have been a steady growth from old
time conditions, and the grand country we have has been made by hard
work. Everybody in the county was your neighbor, to whom you
could not then talk by machinery, but you got up your ox team and
went to see them. In all work of great moment everybody lent a
hand and came from far and near. Then we had much ague but
that has given way to other diseases of today. Old pioneers
will soon be gone and forgotten, but I am proud to say today that I
helped to make Steuben county what it is."
Mrs. Ellen Alcott told of the spelling schools and corduroy
roads. She said: "What can compare with the savory odors that
came from the bake kettle over the fire in the old fireplace, and
the contentment found everywhere you went. The sociability of
everyone there was of the best. You never heard of nervous
prostration or appendicitis, but everything a ague. When the
dread Civil war was on and our loved ones went to the front to fight
to eradicate the evil, the brave women who staid did all they could
and were glad when the soldier boys came home successful in a
glorious cause. But a greater evil exists today at our door
that is dragging lower even than human slavery--the dread foe,
intemperance." She then closed by reciting "John Anderson, my
Joe, John."
Andrew Croy said: "The president made a mistake in putting me
on the program, but I thank him for it. Seventy-seven years
ago I came to this country of no people, no roads, no bridges,
neighbored with the Indians and was never molested by them.
The streams and lakes had plenty of fish and woods full of
games. We threshed our grain with flails or tramped it out
with oxen, and blew the chaff from it with a blanket. When our
first mill was built for grinding grain in 1838, we were the
happiest people out."
Mrs. Foster told her story in poetry which will be published
in a future issue.
Lydia Adams said: "Was born in this county on a farm near Fox
lake so I am a Steuben county woman. When young and going to
school we were kept very strict. There was a time when I was
put in a hole under the school house floor for punishment.
Some had their hands bent back and feruled until black and
blue. Sticks were split and placed astride the nose and pupils
made then to stand behind the door and study. Boys and girls
were boys and girls then the same as today. Games were
different, but we had fun just the same. My first calico dress
I bought by digging ginseng and selling for twenty-five cents a
pound. Nervine and boneset tea was used to dose sick
children."
Miss Fisher did some excellent singing delighted the
audience. She has a fine voice.
Henry Hathaway led in "Old Hundred" and meeting was dismissed.
The afternoon session held in courthouse park was called to
order by the President, and after a song, and prayer by Elder
McLouth, of Ray, our townsman, Clyde C. Carlin, gave the address of
welcome to acres of people. Mr. Carlin said he counted it a
mighty honor and compliment to be selected to welcome the Old
Settlers, and spoke in highest praise of their achievements.
From a boy he had thought of Old Settlers meeting as the greatest
event of the year, and always liked to hear some patriarch speaker.
"Lead off the meetin' by tellin folks
how He used
to shot deer where the Court House
stands now.
How his little log cabin was just
plenty fine for
himself, his companion and family of
nine. How they
never had even a dipper or tin, but
drank surface
water year out and year in.
From an old-fashioned
gourd that was sweeter by odds, than
a goblet of gold
at the lips of the gods."
The speaker also spoke of the glory of Old Steuben
county, the beauty of her hundred lakes with forest crowned
hills and bluffs, each one of them a gem of rippling blue, paling
into muddy pools the storied lakes of Killarney or of Switzerland,
her fertile farms wrested from forest and from swamp by those whom
they had met to honor her educational institutions, her district and
her graded schools. Mr. Carlin's speech was greatly enjoyed by
young and old.
Next in the order of speakers was Hon. H. C. Smith, of Adrian,
Mich. who gave a splendid speech. Said he hardly understood
the import of his subject, "In the Clearing," until he met Mr.
Powers, the president, and saw the unoccupied space on top of his
head. He at once determined to browse around the underbrush,
suggested by the fringe of hair about his bald place, drive the
inhabitants out into the open and catch them there. After a
few more jovial hits he settled down to an exceptionally fine
address. He would only accept actual expenses in coming to
Angola and said he had $2,000 worth of fun.
Our people expected a fine speech from Rev. B. B. Bigler, of
Logansport, a Steuben county boy, and were not disappointed in the
least. Mr. Bigler has been and continues to be a growing man.
All was expectation when Princess Viroqua, daughter of a chief
of the Mohawk arose to speak. She is a sturdy lady, 67 years
of age, educated and a fine talker. Said she was proud of the
fact that she was an Indian, and resented a statement made by a
former speaker that her people were brutes and savages, said they
did not lie, steal, nor get drunk until the white people taught them
how. she believed in the Great Spirit, not a God far off, but
near in nature on every side. The meat that supplies her need
and that of her people were birds, squirrels and deer, while white
folks eat Chicago meat. Two meals a day are enough for her,
while white people kill and gormandize themselves to their
injury. She made a plea for the education of her people and
said she felt highly honored to attend the Old Settlers' meeting,
the first gathering of the kind she had ever witnessed. she
would accept only her expensed in coming to Angola, being well
repaid by the opportunity to tell so many people that Indian women
are not squaws, as they are so often called, but ladies, with
natures fine and keen for everything of beauty and culture.
List of Obituaries.
Following is a list of the pioneers of Steuben county who have
died during the past year:
Elizabeth Benner Freed, born near Philadelphia, Pa. Mar 28,
1833; came to Steuben county in 1861; died near Pleasant Lake Aug.
21, 1905, aged 72 years, 4 months, 24 days.
Elisha Merritt, born in Pleasant township, Steuben county,
Oct. 22, 1846; died in Flint Aug. 21, 1905, aged 58 years, 9 months,
20 days.
Martha Glanders Harpham, born in Dublin, Ireland, March 20,
1821; came to Steuben Co. from New York in 1843; died near Pleasant
Lake, Sept. 3, 1905, aged 84 years, 5 months, 13 days.
Ephraim B. Williams, born in Orleans county, New York,
Jan. 10, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1836; died in Angola
Sept. 28, 1905, aged 72 years, 8 months, 18 days.
Nancy J. Williamson, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 23,
1836; came to Steuben county about 1849; died in Angola Sept. 15,
1905, aged 69 years, 4 months, 20 days.
Charles Squires, born on Jackson Prairie October 11, 1842;
died in Orland September 18, 1905, aged 62 years, 11 months, 7 days.
Levi Chard, born near Marion, Ohio, May 7, 1814; came to
Steuben Co. in 1836; died in Angola Sept. 15, 1905, aged 91 years, 4
months, 8 days.
Paulina Hardy, born in Cayuga Co. New York, Sept, 28, 1823,
came to Steuben Co. in 1851, died in Clear Lake township Oct. 1,
1905, aged 82 years, 3 days.
Harriet Hills, born in Otsego township, May 30, 1844, died at
her home in Fremont, Oct. 13, 1905, aged 61 years, 4 months, 13
days.
Margaret E. VanPelt, born in New York State, March 19, 1836,
died in Salem township, Oct. 5, 1905, aged 69 years, 6 months, 16
days.
Jacob Fox, born in Dauphin county Pennsylvania, Oct. 2, 1826;
came to Fremont in 1851, and died there Oct. 11, 1905, aged 79
years, 9 days.
Robert V Dally, born in Guernsey county, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1824;
came to Steuben county in 1842; died in Alvarado Oct. 15, 1905, aged
81 years, 8 months, 17 days
Maria Ely Elston, born in Chemung county, New York, Nov. 3,
1828; came to Steuben county about 1855; died in Angola Oct. 23,
1905; aged 76 years, 11 months, 20 days.
Joseph Landers, born in Starke county Ohio, March 31, 1829;
died at his home near Angola Oct. 21, 1905, aged 76 years, 6 months,
20 days.
Samuel Clark, born in Starke county Ohio, June 21, 1836; came
to Steuben county in 1850; died in Hudson, Ind., Nov. 3, 1905, aged
69 years, 5 months, and 12 days.
Mary Russell Hubbell, born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York,
November 14, 1827; came to Steuben county in Dec., 1849, and died in
Angola, Oct. 20, 1905, aged 77 years, 11 months, 6 days.
Mary Schaeffer Miller, born in Dauphin county, Penn., April
14, 1828; settled in Steuben county in 1853; died Nov. 7, 1905, aged
77 years, 5 months, 23 days.
Cynthia George Elya, born in Sandusky county, Ohio, Feb. 6,
1829; died Nov. 4, 1905, aged 76 years, 8 months, 23 days.
Elisha Fuller, born in Jackson township, Jan. 31, 1855; died
in Orland, Nov. 10, 1905; aged 50 years, 9 months, 19 days.
George E. Young, born in Sussex county, N.J., June 7, 1841;
came to Angola about 1850 and died here, Nov. 19, 1905, aged 64
years, 5 months, 12 days.
Isaac Johnson, born in Grant county, Ind., Dec. 16, 1843; came
to Steuben county in August 1850; died Nov. 15, 1905, aged 61 years,
10 months, 15 days.
Rebecca Jane Ramsey Hemry, born in Crawford county, Ohio,
April 13, 1842; came to Steuben county in 1864; died at her home in
York township, Dec. 13, 1905, aged 63 years, 8 months.
George Brooks, born in Derbyshire, England, July 8, 1824; came
to Steuben county from New York state in 1837; died near Pleasant
Lake, Dec. 11, 1905, aged 81 years, 5 months, 3 days.
Amanda M. Jordan, born in Canoga, Seneca county, N.Y., Jan.
21, 1829; came to Angola in 1860; died Dec. 29, 1905, aged 76 years,
11 months, 8 days.
Rachel Teal Swank, born in Steuben county Sept. 7, 1852 and
died at her home in Salem township December 30, 1905, aged 53 years,
3 months, 23 days.
Amos Isenhower, born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Feb. 5,
1852; came to Fremont in 1859; died Dec. 22 1905, aged 53 years, 9
months, 17 days.
Sarah Jane Drenning, born in Medina county, Ohio, Nov. 30,
1852; came to Steuben county in 1854; died in Pleasant Lake January
1, 1906, aged 53 years, 1 month, 1 day.
Daniel Hibbard Roberts, born in Peinbroke, Genessee county,
New York, Nov. 16, 1819; came to Steuben county in 1836; died near
Orland Jan. 10, 1906, aged 86 years, 1 month, 24 days.
Betsey Green, born near Bainbridge New York, Feb. 27, 1822;
came to Jamestown in 1858; died at Jamestown, Jan. 18, 1906, aged 83
years, 10 months, 21 days.
Catherine Phericie Light, born in Bedford county Pennsylvania,
Feb. 5, 1836; died at her home in Angola, Feb. 1, 1906, aged 69
years, 11 months, 27 days.
Julia Handley Barnes, born in Crawford county Ohio, March 5,
1838; came to Steuben county in 1855; died at her home in York
township Feb. 6, 1906, aged 67 years, 11 months, 1 day.
Esther Hibberd Slick, born in New York State, Feb, 6, 1826;
came to Salem township in 1842, died January 30, 1906, aged 79
years, 11 months, 24 days.
Mary MacMillen VanAuken, born in Steuben township August 22,
1838; died Feb. 5, 1906; aged 67 years, 5 months, 13 days.
Effie Matilda Brugh, born in Salem township, Steuben county,
Jan. 27, 1851; died at Hudson, Ind., Jan. 26, 1906, aged 55 years, 2
days.
Francis Parsons, born in York township, Steuben county, May
29, 1849; died at Fremont, Ind., Feb. 18, 1906, aged 56 years, 8
months, 19 days.
Susan Griffith Kepler, born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June
5, 1836; came to Otsego township in 1850; died at Hamilton, Ind.,
Feb. 23, 1906 aged 69 years, 8 months, 18 days.
William Wicoff, born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 25, 1830;
came to York township in 1853; died at Angola, Ind., March 13, 1906,
aged 75 years, 7 months, 16 days.
Emma Davis Shank, born in Steuben county, June 4, 1858; died
March 16, 1906, aged 47 years, 9 months, 12 days.
Nancy Jane Clark Powers, born in Williams county Ohio, Sept.
23, 1840; came to Steuben county about 1854; died in Angola March 6,
1906, aged 65 years, 5 months, 13 days.
Benjamin F. Dawson, born in Sulphur Springs, Ohio, March 8,
1834; came to Steuben county in 1852; died in Angola March 16, 1906,
aged 72 years, 8 days.
Elizabeth Conner Clark, born in Ireland, August 3, 1821; came
to Steuben county in 1855; died in Jamestown township March
23, 1906 aged 84 years, 7 months, 19 days.
Mary Rack McNett, born in West Virginia Jan. 25, 1825; moved
to Steuben county in 1849; died in Orland March 19, 1905; aged 81
years 1 month, 25 days.
William Henry Beard, born Aug. 15, 1839; came to Steuben
county in 1849; died near Angola, March 29, 1906; aged 66 years, 7
months, 14 days.
Mary A. Sams, born in Steuben county Nov. 13, 1838; and died
in Salem township April 4, 1906; aged 67 years, 4 months, 22 days.
Maria Kinney Carlin, born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Nov. 18, 1831;
came to Steuben county in 1852; died in Angola, April 8, 1906, aged
74 years, 4 months, 20 days.
Oscar F. Swift, born in Broome county, New York, March 29,
1829; came to Steuben county in 1836; died in Hamilton, April 19,
1906, aged 77 years, 20 days.
Catherine Deck Brooks, born near Harrisburg, Penn., Feb 7,
1830; came to Steuben county in 1856; died May 8, 1906; aged 76
years, 3 months; 1 day
Alonzo Dunham, born in Franklin Herkimer county, N. Y. Aug.
16, 1812; came to Steuben county, in 1844; died in Angola, June 1,
1906, aged 93 years, 9 months, 15 days.
Christopher Shade, born in Perry county, Penn., February 15,
1828; came to Steuben county in 1858; died at Helmer, May 30, 1906,
aged 78 years, 3 months, 15 days.
Moses Gonser, born in Coshocoon county, Ohio, January 14,
1829; came to Steuben county in 1860; died in Salem township May 21,
1906, aged 77 years, 4 months, 7 days.
Sarah Grubbs Dewitt, born in HyKeham, Linconshire, England
March 26, 1831; came to Steuben county in 1864; died in Angola, June
4, 1906, aged 75 years, 2 months, 8 days.
Austin Fox, born in Washington county, N. Y., April 4, 1821;
came to Orland in 1838; died in Angola June 5, 1906, aged 85 years,
2 months, 4 days.
Sophia Dunham Fox, born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., Feb. 28,
1844; came to Steuben county in 1849; died at Orland, June 15, 1906,
aged 62 years, 3 months, 17 days.
Luman H. Beard, born in Niagara county, N. Y., Jan 2, 1834;
came to Steuben county in 1849; died in Hamilton, Ind., May 16,
1906, aged 72 years, 4 months, 13 days.
Simon Dahoff, born in Columiana county, Ohio, Dec. 13, 1840;
came to Steuben county in 1845; died near Pleasant Lake, June 23,
1906; aged 65 years, 6 months, 10 days.
Elizabeth Waller Mathews, born in Morgan county Ohio, August
23, 1834; came to Steuben county in 1845; died near Angola, July 5,
1906; aged 71 years, 10 months, 12 days.
Mary Yates Teegarden, born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Oct. 15,
1822; came to Steuben county in 1865; died July 3, 1906; aged 83
years, 8 months, 18 days.
Stephen A. Weiss, born in Licking county, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1834;
came to Steuben county in 1852; died in Angola, July 10, 1906; aged
72 years, 5 months, 13 days.
Charles Curtis Lane, born in New York state, April 16, 1839;
came to Steuben county about 1860; died in Angola, July 18,
1906; aged 67 years, 3 months, 2 days.
Thomas Stanley Castell, born in Warwickshire, England, May 1,
1839; came to Angola, July 4, 1850; died here July 11, 1906; aged 67
years, 2 months 10 days.
Lewis Fifer, born in Columbiana county, Ohio October 13, 1842;
came to Steuben county in 1861; died July 23, 1906 aged 63 years, 9
months, 10 days.
William Sylvester Gilbert, born in Portage county, Ohio,
September 22 1836; came to Steuben county in 1851; died near Metz,
August 5, 1906, aged 69 years, 10 months, 11 days.
Mrs. Orlando Wilder, one the oldest pioneers of Millgrove
township, died near Orland Aug, 6, 1906, aged 86 years.
Polly Dailey DeLong, born in Stark county, Ohio, Feb. 25,
1836; died Aug. 6, 1906, aged 70 years, 5 months, 11 days.
Robert Purdy, born in Canada in 1824; came to Orland when a
young man; died near there Aug. 12, 1906, aged 82 years.
Mrs. Jennette Richmond Wolcott, one of the very early settlers
of York township, Steuben county, died in Fremont, Aug. 15, 1906;
age not ascertained.
NOTES
W. H. Rodgers and wife had charge of the relics and put in a
busy day.
Grandma Maugherman and her flax wheel were the center of
attraction.
David Goodrich, of Ashley, a resident of this section of
sixty-six years was here.
The balloonist made two successful ascensions, about 5 and 8
o'clock in the evening.
Judge Bowersox, of Bryan, was here coming in his automobile,
making the distance in two hours.
The little folks greatly enjoyed seeing the dog climb to the
top of a high ladder and then leap to a net held near the ground.
Isaac Rannels, of Nettle Lake, aged 75 years, was here anxious
for a race with some boy of his age. He has lived at Columbia
55 years.
The music by the Angola cornet band, the drum corps, and solos
by Frances M. Clark, Blanche Fisher Wukins who by the way is the
wife of "Elmer's brother," also on the program, and F. M. Alcatt was
of a high order and just the kind for such an occasion.
Daniel Schaeffer, of Fremont, was among the first
arrivals. He carried a cane made from one of the logs of a log
house that in the early days stood on Market Square,
Philadelphia. The building was owned by H. Felix, who had some
canes made and presented one to Mr. Schaeffer, his first apprentice
at the candy making trade.
Old Settler Gets Granite Marker
Angola Monument Co.
Lazenby & Hetzler, Props.
Angola, Indiana
Gentlemen:
Having submitted to me the awarding of the red Scotch granite
marker to be placed at the unmarked grave of the person who lived
longest in the county prior to death, and who died prior to January
1, 1900, and having certain data submitted to me for consideration,
I find from the statement referred to me the facts to be as follows:
George Tabor came to Steuben county in 1837 and died in 1839,
and lived in this county prior to his death two years.
Mrs. Lydia LaRue came to Steuben county in 1837 and died in
1893, having lived in the county prior to her death fifty-six years.
John Mahan was born in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1790. He came
to Steuben county in about 1834, and was the first settler in
Fremont township. He was a solder in the war of 1812, and died
in Angola in 1877 at the age of eighty-six years. He resided
in this county forty-three years, but under the rules prescribed for
making the award, however deserving, neither he nor the other afore
mentioned would be entitled to the monument.
Elmus Barron came to Steuben county in 1836, and settled in
York township in the village of Metz. He died in February,
1899, having lived in Steuben county for sixty-three years.
His last resting place being left unmarked and there being no other
applicants for the monument, I find and award that the granite
marker should be placed at his gave.
Done at Angola, this 20th day of August, 1906. Stephen
A. Powers.