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.