39th OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 18th, 1909
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The annual Old Settlers' meeting held last Thursday was
attended by the usual large crowd of people, the attendance being
variously estimated but nearly all agreeing that it was as large as
for several years, especially in the afternoon after the lowering
clouds had cleared into settled weather. During the afternoon
good sized crowds attended the ball game and races; the court house
meeting was attended by all who could get in hearing distance, and
the square was thronged with a happy crowd, visiting and joking
among the stands, the merry-go-round and various attractions.
The Angola Band called the crowd together for the forenoon
session at the Methodist Church, and a good sized audience
assembled. President S. A. Powers called the meeting to order
and Prof. L. W. Fairfield gave an appropriate invocation, after
which Miss Dygert, of Fremont, sang a beautiful solo. Clyde C.
Carlin delivered the address of welcome, in which he extolled the
beauties of our own county and gave the credit to those who had
toiled to bring order out of a wilderness. The list of those
who had passed away during the past year was read by the secretary,
which included some sixty names, as printed below.
OLD SETTLERS' DEATH ROLL.
The following is the list of the old settlers who passed away
during the year, having come to Steuben county before the close of
the Civil War:
Mary Brown Purdy, born Oct. 23, 1828: died Aug, 3, 1908; aged
79 yrs., 9 mos., 10 days.
John Gilbert, born in Adams Co., Pa., Jan. 18, 1821; came to
Steuben county in 1851; died Aug. 12, 1908; aged 87 yrs., 6 mos., 24
days.
William Henry Hall was born in Delaware Co., O. Oct 23, 1823;
came to Steuben county in 1850; died Aug. 27, 1908, aged 84 yrs., 10
mos., 5 days.
Joseph Lower, born in Tuscarawas Co., O., Jan. 7, 1834; died
Aug. 23, 1908, aged 74 yrs., 7 mos., 16 days.
Cora Ellen Spencer was born near Silver Lake, Steuben county,
Dec. 20, 1849; died Sept. 12, 1908, aged 58 yrs., 8 mos., 12 days.
Harry Douglass was born in Wayne county, N. Y., April 27,
1829; came to Steuben county in 1849; died Sept. 18, 1908, aged 79
yrs., 4 mos., 21 days.
Jane Speer was born in Knox Co., O., Dec. 29, 1825; came to
Steuben county in 1845; died Sept. 18, 1908; aged 82 yrs., 6 mos.,
19 days.
Garrett F. Amerman, was born in Richland Co., O.: Jan. 20,
1848; came to Steuben county in 1851; died Sept. 16, 1908, aged 60
yrs., 7 mos., 26 days.
Licinda Gochenauer was born in Wayne Co., O., March 8, 1839;
died Oct. 11, 1908; aged 69 yrs., 7 mos., 3 dys.
Leonard H. Dirrim was born in Carrol Co., O., Dec. 3,
1839; died Oct. 11, 1908, aged 68 yrs., 10 mos., 8 days.
Lovina Slick was born in Crawford Co., O., Dec. 25, 1832; came
to Steuben county in 1846; died Sept. 30, 1908, aged 75 yrs., 9
mos., 4 days.
Mary Miller Towns was born in Logan county, O., July 19, 1832;
came to Steuben county in 1848; died Oct. 16, 1908, aged 76 yrs., 2
mos., 27 days.
Lydia Alcott Stead was born in Marion Co., O., March 29, 1833;
came to Steuben county in 1836; died Oct. 21, 1908, aged 75 yrs., 6
mos., 22 days.
Alonzo Cobb was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1830;
came to Steuben county in 1860; died Nov. 10, 1908, aged 78 yrs., 2
mos.
Susan E. Jackson was born in Tomkins Co., N. Y., April 9,
1842; came to Steuben county in 1844; died Nov. 19, 1908; aged 66
yrs., 7 mos., 10 days.
Ann Eldredge Gore was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., April 9,
1846; came to Steuben county in 1849; died Nov. 24, 1908, aged 52
yrs., 7 mos., 15 days.
Eliza Newell Corbin was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., March 18,
1827; came to Steuben county in 1843, died Oct. 27, 1908, aged 81
yrs., 8 mos., 3 ds.
William Grim was born in Columbiana Co., O., July 17, 1829;
came to Steuben county in 1853; died Dec. 11, 1908, aged 76 yrs., 4
mos., 24 days.
Fidelia Goodell was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug. 31, 1828;
died Dec. 18, 1908, aged 80 years, 1 month, 17 days.
John J. Callen was born in Steuben county June 7, 1854; died
Dec. 19, 1908, aged 54 yrs., 6 mos., 12 days.
Augustus Chapin was born in Windham Co., Vt., came to Steuben
county in 1833; died Jan. 10, 1909.
Lucy Ann Hawes was born in Sandusky Co., O., Sept. 25, 1838,
came to Steuben county in 1852; died Jan. 2, 1909, aged 70 years.
David Orewiler was born in Richland county, O., Aug. 25, 1820;
came to Steuben county in 1853; died Jan. 15, 1909, aged 79 years.
Mary Blessing Fink was born in Germany Oct. 30, 1835; died
Jan. 10, 1909, aged 73 years.
Ellen Dorris Scoville was born in England Aug. 16, 1835; died
Jan. 16, 1909, aged 73 years.
Ursula Stocker Brown was born in Windom county, Vt., March 28,
1834; came to Steuben county in 1834; died Jan, 19, 1909, aged 75
years.
Andrew Sewell was born in Harrison county, O, Aug. 28, 1823;
died Jan. 29, 1909, aged 85 years.
Edward Baker was born in England Jan. 1, 1821; came to Steuben
county in 1850; died Feb. 17, 1909, aged 88 yrs.
Henry Wright was born in Steuben county May 29, 1850; died
Feb. 15, 1909, aged 58 years.
Rollin Goddard was born in Portage county, O., Jan. 20, 1826;
died Feb. 16, 1909, aged 83 years.
Charlotte Gaskill was born in Ontario, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1832;
died Feb. 26, 1909, aged 76 years.
Lydia Pownall was born in Portage county, O., March 16,
1838; died March 22, 1909, aged 71 years.
Angeline Carver Mather was born in Deadwood, Pa., in 1833;
came to Steuben county in 1836; died March 12, 1909, aged 76 years.
William Carr was born in Steuben county Dec. 13, 1836; died
March 19, 1909; aged 72 years.
Nicolas Repp was born in Germany July 11, 1821; came to
Steuben county in 1849; died March 7, 1909, aged 88 years.
Wm. Covell was born in Steuben county May 16, 1850; died March
22, 1909, aged 59 years.
Daniel Schaeffer was born in Dauphin county, Pa., July 17,
1825; died March 23, 1909, aged 84 years.
Eleazar Luton was born in France, April 14, 1836; came to
Steuben county in 1852; died April 7, 1909, aged 73 yrs.
Ambrose Snyder was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, Dec. 4,
1832; came to Steuben county in 1852; died April 13, 1909, aged 76
years.
Eugenius Glasgow born in Wayne county, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1832;
came to Steuben county in 1861; died Feb. 26, 1909, aged 77 years.
Mary Deoudt Mundy was born in Seneca county, Pa., in 1835;
died April 10, 1909, aged 74 years.
Franklin Slaybaugh was born in Adams county, Pa., Sept. 11,
1835; came to Steuben county in 1847; died March 25, 1909, aged 74
years.
Eli Klink was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Oct. 15, 1843, came to
Steuben county in 1847; died April 27, 1909, aged 66 years.
Friend Wells was born in Steuben county Dec. 28, 1840; died
April 26, 1909, aged 69 years.
Philip Michael was born in Dauphin county Pa., Feb. 17, 1837;
came to Steuben county in 1850; died May 1, 1909, aged 72 years.
Linus Taylor was born in Dover, O., Feb. 17, 1830; came to
Steuben county in 1856; died May 11, 1909, aged 79 yrs.
Jennie Crain was born in Seneca county, O., in 1844; died May
8, 1909, aged 65 years.
Lydia Adams was born in Steuben county April 2, 1836; died May
19, 1909, aged 73 years.
Rachel Hunt was born in Madison county, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1838,
came to Steuben county in 1840; died May 17, 1909, aged 71 years.
Dr. Greeno was born in Steuben Co., Sept. 2, 1847, died April
27, 1909, aged 62 years.
Laura Wilcox Wolfe was born Nov. 14, 1830; came to Steuben
county 1849; died May 30, 1909, aged 79 years.
George Cleveland was born Nov. 19, 1842; came to Steuben
county in 1844; died June 5, 1909; aged 67 years.
Amanda Alcott was born in Sandusky county, O., July 24, 1829,
died June 19, 1909, aged 70 years.
Roselma Johnston was born in Ohio March 23, 1827; came to
Steuben Co. in 1836; died June 23, 1909; aged 82 yrs.
Celora Gibbony was born in Steuben county Sept. 4, 1848; died
June 13, 1909, aged 61 years.
Catherine Bigler was born in Seneca county, Ohio, Aug. 5,
1830; came to Steuben county in 1834; died July 27, 1909, aged
79 years.
Emeline Ball was born in Seneca county, O., July 31, 1842;
died Aug. 8, 1909, aged 67 years.
Leander M. Sowle was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Sept. 3,
1838, came to Steuben county in 1849; died Aug. 6, 1909, aged 71
years.
Harrison Whysong was born in Somersett, P., Nov. 21, 1812,
came to Steuben county in 1863; died Aug. 8, 1909, aged 97 years.
Phoebe Ann Dygert was born in Duchess county, N. Y., Dec. 25,
1826; came to Steuben county in 1844; died Aug. 9, 1909, aged 83
years.
Hezakiah Smith was born in Connecticut Oct. 21, 1801; came to
Steuben county 1844; settled on a farm near Orland, where he died
April 7, 1889, aged 88 years. His wife, Marilla Allen Smith,
was born in Portage Co., Ohio, June 3, 1818; died June 15, 1889,
aged 71 years. Ezra Smith, first son of Hezekiah Smith, was
born in Ohio, in 1825; died Dec. 30, 1887, lived in Steuben county
sice 1844. Alonzo Smith, another son, was born in 1841; died at his
home in Angola July 27, 1905, aged 63 years.
Jerome E. Murray was born near Lake Gage Jan 15, 1846, died at
his home in Auburn May 5, 1908.
In the election of officers which followed, Hon. S. A. Powers
was elected president and W. K. Sheffer secretary for the next
year. Senator Powers thanked the audience, saying that he
appreciated being president of the Old Settlers more than being
senator. He then introduced Lieut. Gov. Hall, who made a few
remarks, reserving his speech for the afternoon program.
Senator Grube, of Marshall county, also a colleague of Senator
Powers, made a brief address, which contained many good sentiments,
and was highly appreciated.
The afternoon session began at one o'clock at the court house
yard and was preceded by a walk by Mr. Edward P. Weston, the noted
pedestrian, about the mound on the square. Mr. Weston was
introduced at once at the afternoon meeting in order that he might
make the train south. He spoke for thirty minutes and gave a
very interesting address. He was handicapped by being obliged
to cut out considerable from his speech but he was listened to
attentively to the close.
Mr. Weston began by saying that he had traveled over a part of
America, a part of France and the whole of England, and Angola was
the prettiest town he had ever visited and Jamestown, N. Y., was the
next best.
Weston insisted that there is no exercise more dignified, none
less expensive than that of walking, which is the most conducive to
health. He does not walk for a purse entirely, but to
demonstrate that man can accomplish feats by a careful life and
thinking of others more than himself. He said to make physical
endurance a success he must be guided by three cardinal rules,
"pride, principle and pluck." He said that he desired to show
that man was not a brute, and need not become the associate of
unprincipled men because he was a passably good athlete. He
said more people would walk if they had to pay $150 for a machine to
help them.
He related several amusing incidents that took place during
his late walk and gave some excellent advice to young men. He
also thanked the people of Indiana for their generous hospitality.
Mr. Weston was followed by a solo by Miss Dygert, and then
Gov. Hall delivered the speech for the Old Settlers' which was full
of praise for those who had endured the hardships and privations of
the early days. Mr. Hall himself is a native of Indiana, and
he spoke as one who had had experience and could appreciate the
lives he praised.
Others who spoke during the afternoon were Senator Clark, of
Marion county, and Hon. Howard Mountz, of DeKalb county. Mr.
Mountz is a Steuben county boy who had been eminently successful and
was heard with pleasure by the vast throng. At the close of
the speaking program Commodore Foote and Sister Queenie, the
Lilliputians, gave an interesting entertainment including a talk on
their experiences is public life.
OLD SETTLERS' DAY NOTES
Everybody was Happy.
Prof. Chas. DeLancey conducted a very successful arronautic
exhibition with parachute drop, at dusk.
Arthur Fegley, of Adrian, Mich., after ten years absence took
this occasion to meet a good many former friends. He formerly
lived at Pleasant Lake.
James McCool had his gold watch stolen from his vest pocket
while at the race track. He hung his vest under the judges'
stand and when he went to get it the watch was gone.
E. Millis and wife drove over from LaGrange county, leaving
home at six o'clock, and enjoyed a delightful ride. Mr. Millis
says in LaGrange they have genuine "Old Settlers" meetings, but
Angola is the place for crowds on such occasions.
Mrs. Josiah Bennett, of Pleasant Lake, called to pay the
subscription of her mother, Mrs. Harriet Crandall, who was unable to
attend the meeting, owing to poor health. Mrs. Crandall is 84
years old and has lived in the county for 55 years.
Mrs. Alice Disbro, of West California in Branch county, was
here for the day and a visit with her brothers, the Miller
boys. The last of the present month Mrs. Disbro will go on an
extended visit with her two daughters who reside at Kingsley, Iowa.
Many people were disappointed in not seeing Mr. Weston give an
exhibition of his walking. Of course he walked to the Court
House park back of the band, and most any one could keep up with the
band, but to strike a gait that would carry a man ninety-six miles
in one day is a far different matter.
Compared with previous meetings and other large gatherings
held in Angola, the big crowd was very orderly. But one or two
drunk persons were seen during the day and there were no
arrests. There was a marked absence of vile language and rowdy
conduct, all of which clearly demonstrated that the saloon is a
nuisance on such occasions.
Mr. Weston wished the Republican to say that he never heard a
volunteer band organization which played as well as the Angola
Band, and that he never saw an amatuer dramatic company which gave
such an excellent performance as did the Angola company in Mrs.
Temple's Telegram, which piece he saw given by the original company
to no better satisfaction.
While Perry Berlien and wife and George Souder were returning
home and were driving a fractious colt just east of town, the bridle
bit broke and gave the colt freedom to do as he pleased, and he
pleased to make things lively by first jumping onto a gate at the
end of Gilmore street, breaking it down and throwing Mrs. Berlien
out of the carriage. The next move of the colt was to jump
over a rail fence into a pasture field. this threw the men
from the buggy and freed the horse from it also. Altogether it
was a very fortunate accident, for aside from a slight injury to Mr.
Berlien's knee and the breaking of the buggy and harness; no damage
was done.
Mr. Weston proved a very interesting person to all who had
opportunity for hearing him. He was on his return to New York
after having completed a walk from New York to San Francisco nearly
4000 miles, in 105 days. Mr. Weston was to receive $10,000 if
he walked the distance in 100 days, but the storms and
inconveniences of the latter part of the trip delayed him.
However he walked some 600 miles further than the measured route,
and feels so confident of his ability to accomplish the task that he
will try it again next year, and was so well pleased with his visit
to Angola that he will try to arrange to come through here on the
trip. Mr. Weston is over seventy years of age, and has been
noted as a pedestrian all his life. He said he made it a point
to eat but two meals a day and generally his supper was eaten about
seven o'clock at night, at which times he would make a walk after
that time during the early hours of the morning. This would be
the same as a breakfast to him. In his walk he calculated on
forty-four miles a day as a good day's work. One can eat a
breakfast of six or seven pancakes and two eggs, said the walker,
and do more walking than on any other meal he could eat. Mr.
Weston said he never walks on Sunday because of a promise made to
his mother forty-five years ago. He said the greatest distance
he ever made was in twenty-four hours on a Monday, when he walked
ninety-six miles and that his greatest endurance walk was 2000 miles
in 1008 hours, including the Sundays, on which days he did not walk.