OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 19th, 1914
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com

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Old Settlers' Day Observed by a Large Gathering in Angola Last Thursday.

 The annual celebration of Old Settlers' day brought to Angola last Thursday a large crowd of people from all over this and adjoining counties.  The day opened with fair weather, with rains threatening at noon, followed shortly after noon with wind and rain, and the attendance in the afternoon was probably on that account not up to the usual crowd, although it was quite satisfactory.

 The old settlers' program proper was given in the forenoon in the Methodist church, with President Frank L. Adams presiding.  An "Old Folks' Choir," consisting of Prof. A. G. Harshman, Ralph Brown, Misses Mildred Bailey and Lois Castell, furnished a number of musical selections of old time songs, during the morning program and at various times throughout the day.  Their selections were well sung and were appreciated by all.  Prof. W. O. Bailey offered prayer at the morning program, Rev. Nickerson being absent.  W. K. Sheffer, the secretary, read the necrology list, which is published herewith.  Prof. R. V. Carlin then gave a reminiscent talk on Steuben county and its pioneer schools.  He said that he came to this county when he was six years old, and later taught school in the county for sixty years, his last work being superintendent of the county schools.  When he came here Metz had three houses, and there were but three houses between Metz and Angola.  The country abounded in game, deer and turkey, which furnished the meat for the old settlers.  There frequently passed by the covered caravan of the homeseeker further west.  He said that many of his first scholars had passed out of his acquaintance, but he often saw them again in their grandchildren, whom he recognized.
Sol Cox said he remembered the early schools of Richland township, especially because he learned to spell "beach" in a forcible lesson from the teacher.

 John Dygert, of Scott township, said he was not really a pioneer, but was a "second edition," having come with his parents in 1838 from Monroe county, New York.  They were a month on the road, and arrived here in October, stopping in a log house nine miles away from his present home.  When they built their own home the neighbors helped them, and they put the roof on in one day.  They went with ox team to Adrian for a market, receiving 60 cents a bushel for their wheat, in wild cat money, which was money in the morning and was not worth much at night.  When he was about 20 years of age he contracted with a man in Jamestown township to carry the mail from Lima to a point 200 miles distant in Ohio, taking seven days to make the trip, for which he received the princely salary of $7 per month, and every day was required and long into the nights.  The best wages he ever got for farm work was $12 per month.  Mr. Dygert contrasted the former days with the present, comparing the sickle with the harvesting machines of  today, the flail with the threshing machine.  Then the whole family went to church behind the ox team, now the surrey or automobile is used, and people at there before the pioneers got started.  He attended school in the Powers' settlement, and only three of his schoolmates remain.  Mr. Dygert is a well preserved old man, and said his good health was due to his good behavior and his observance of the laws of nature.

 President Adams interspersed the program with a couple of recitations which pleased the audience.  Owing to the lateness of the hour, the balance of the program was postponed to the afternoon, after a song by the Indian company, two families of Ottawa and Pottawatomie Indians from Northern Michigan.  They sang "My Country, 'tis of The," and carried the tune in splendid manner.  The song, was especially effective when it was considered that the red man formerly possessed all this territory.

 At the election of officers, President Adams was urged to hold the position another year, but he emphatically refused to do so, and a nominating committee was appointed to report at the afternoon meeting.

 At noon coffee was furnished free to the crowd by the Association.  After dinner the Great Calvert gave a fine exhibition of high wire walking between the Masonic hall and Concert hall, doing stunts which have never been equalled here.  He repeated the performance in the evening to the amazement of all.

 The afternoon program at court house park was carried out with some exceptions, and was somewhat broken into by the fact that Senator Beveridge, the chief speaker, missed his railway connection and was obliged to drive to Angola from Fort Wayne in an automobile.  The committee on nominations reported the following officers for next year, which report was adopted:

  For president -- Clyde C. Carlin.
  For vice-presidents -- A. J. Collins, Shirley Gilbert, Seth Avery and Ray Teegardin.
  For secretary -- W. K. Sheffer.
  For entertainment committee -- Chas. Elya, F. E. Jackson, Joe Brokaw, L. C. Stiefel and Robt. Patterson.

 The old folks' choir, Prof. Chas. Shank and President Adams, entertained the audience until the arrival of Senator Beveridge.

 One of the features introduced was a display of twelve different costumes of the past century, young ladies being dressed in garments that had been worn in days gone by, the oldest being over 100 years old, and being the property of Mrs. Chas. Harman, having been given her by an aunt.  This unique display was under the direction of Mrs. Fred E. Frisbie.

 Senator Beveridge expressed his gratification at being permitted to pay tribute to the old settlers of Steuben county.  He recounted the hardships of pioneer days, in which he said the foundations of our present day prosperity and happiness were laid in disease and in death.  He said he knew of one graveyard filled with pioneers cut down in the prime of life by the ague and fever of the unbroken forests.  After the pioneer came the soldier who too laid down his life that the nation which they founded might endure.  We then of this generation, if we are to appreciate the sacrifice of the pioneer and the soldier, owe it to them to give  our best energies and our best thoughts toward the things which will make the nation endure.  No man should let partisan blindness keep him from doing and supporting those things which he believed to be for the best interests of the county.  The old settler was patriotic with a patriotism we today might call fanaticism.  The harder their work upon the soil, the deeper grew their love and reverence for the flag.  The homely virtues of truthfulness, honesty, and reverence for God's words were given first place in their lives.  They did their work without complaint, and went to their graves without fear or regret.  Therefore, let it be with grateful hearts that we today pledge our honor that we may be worthy of the sacrifices of the old settlers, and strive to do in our day the work God has given us to do, as well as the old settlers did the work he gave them to do in their day.

 Senator Beveridge returned at once to Ft. Wayne after his speech.  He begins to show somewhat the march of time, in grayer and thinner hair, and heavier features than when he came here a few years ago to plead the cause of the republican party.

 The band concerts in the evening, and splendid display of fire works under direction of Chas. DeLancey and Isaac Bell, closed a very busy day.

OLD SETTLERS' DEATH ROLL

 Amanda Elizabeth Blass, widow of Charles Blass; born in Colecville, N. Y., in 1834; came to Steuben county in 1844; died Aug. 8, 1913, aged 79 years.
 Mrs Ransom Niles; born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1837; died Aug. 3, 1913, aged 79 years.
 Anna Metzgar, widow of Levi Doudt; born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 8, 1835; came to Steuben county about 1855; died near Flint, Aug. 5, 1913, aged 78 years.
 William Stuttler, born in Seneca county, Ohio, Nov. 20, 1844; came to Steuben county in 1851; died August 22, 1913, aged 69 years.
 Alexander Halstead, born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1853; came to Steuben county in 1857; died Sept. 6, 1913, aged 60 years.
 Mrs. Caroline Parker, born in New York state, March 8, 1838; came to Steuben county in 1839; died Aug. 20, 1913, aged 75 years.
 Messach H. Nolan, born in Wayne county, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1839; found dead at Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 15th, 1913, aged 80 years.
 Eliza J. Z. Hilton, born in Richland county, Ohio, Jan. 19, 1834; came to Steuben county in 1852; died Sept. 23, 1913, aged 79 years.
 Chester S. Harper, born in Orland, May 31, 1853; died Sept. 22, 1913; aged 60 years.
 W. H. Scoville, born in DeKalb county, Ind., May 10, 1840; died Sept. 18, 1913, aged 73 years.
 Andrew S. Sowles, born in Loraine county, Ohio, June 13, 1827; died Oct. 7, 1913, aged 86 years. 72
 Mrs. Lucinda C. Kirk, born in Delaware county, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1824; came to Steuben county in 1854; died Nov. 1, 1913, aged 89 years.
 Emma R. Powers, wife of Hamilton Keep, born in Steuben county, July 31, 1852; died at Lon Angeles, Calif., Oct. 30, 1913, aged 61 years.
 Arthur Webb, born in Shropshire, England, Nov. 30, 1829; died Nov. 12, 1913, aged 84 years.
 Adolphus T. Swift, born in Steuben county, Aug. 2, 1837; died in Angola, Nov. 19, 1913, aged 76 years.
 Mrs. Sarah Landis; born in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 28th, 1839; died Nov. 30, 1913, aged 83 years.
 Franklin Shaffstall, born near Bucyrus, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1842; died at his home near Salem Center, Dec. 5, 1913; aged 71 years.
 Caroline Emily Dodge; born in Ashland county, O., Aug. 30, 1841; died Dec. 7, 1913, aged 72 years.
 Albert Smith, born in Steuben county in 1848; died at his home in Sault Ste Marie, Mich., Dec. 21st, 1913, aged 65 years.
 Lewis I. C. Young, born near Fremont, Ohio, May 6, 1837; died in Kalamazoo, Mich., Jan. 10, 1914, aged 76 years.
 Delia Rice, wife of Judge Emmet A. Bratton, born in Angola, Jan. 29, 1862; died Jan. 26, 1914, aged 52 years.
 Henry H. West; born in Knox county, Ohio, June 10, 1838; died in Angola, Jan. 28, 1914, aged 75 years.
 Dora Conklin; born in Steuben county, June 5, 1846; died in Fort Wayne, Jan. 23, 1914, aged 57 years.
 Parmelia R. Rathbun; born in Cayuga, county, New York, in May, 1830; died Jan. 28, 1914, aged 83 years.
 Rebecca Truxal, wife of Joseph Smith, born in Mercer county, Penn., Aug. 10, 1838; died Feb. 1, 1914, aged 75 years.
 Mary C. Anderson, born in Steuben county, Oct. 27, 1841; died Jan. 20, 1914, aged 72 years.
 Mrs. Catherine Mills, born in Chenango county, New York, June 22d, 1830; came to Steuben county in 1846; died Jan. 30, 1914, aged 83 years.
 Joseph Stafford, born in Connecticut, Jan. 28, 1829; died Feb. 12, 1914, aged 85 years.
 Benjamin Sylbey, born in LaGrange county, Sept. 26, 1834; died Feb. 25, 1914, aged 79 years.
 John Miller, born Aug. 15, 1846; died near Pleasant Lake, Feb. 28, 1914, aged 67 years.
 Martha J. Metz, wife of Murray Claypool, born in Morrow county, O., Feb. 8, 1861; died near Colon Mich., Feb. 25, 1914, aged 53 years.
 Romina McCool, wife of Albert Highland, born in Steuben county, Jan. 19, 1853; died near Pleasant Lake, March 21, 1914, aged 61 years.
 Eugenia Carter, wife of Carmony J. Closson, born Jan. 13, 1857; died Mar. 18, 1914, aged 57 years.
 Benjamin F. McGrew, born near Metz, April 18, 1860; died in Angola, Mar. 23, 1914, aged 54 years.
 Sarah Elizabeth Spangle, wife of Silas L. Crandall, born in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1851; died in Angola, April 5, 1914, aged 68 years.
 Miranda Milner, widow of Joseph Longabaugh, born in Salineville, O., Sept. 21, 1839; came to Angola in 1863; died April 23, 1914, aged 74 years.
 Sarah M. Ellis, born in Tompkins county, New York, Jan. 5, 1820; came to Orland in 1860; died April 25, 1914, aged 94 years.
 Eva C. Bolin, born in Salem township, Jan. 27, 1859; died in Angola, April 22, 1914, aged 55 years.
 Ida P. Moore, born in Otsego township, April 13, 1859; died April 26, 1914, aged 54 years.
 Wm. K. George, born in Pleasant Lake, Aug. 30, 1849; died at Tiffin, Ohio, April 24, 1914, aged 54 years.
 Samuel Hanes, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 7, 1837; came to Steuben county in 1857; died at Wausseon, Ohio, May 8, 1914, aged 76 years.
 Rev. J. W. Martin, born in Wood county, Ohio, May 15, 1837; died in Angola, May 7, 1914, aged 77 years.
 Benjamin J. Moody, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1834; came to Steuben county in early life, died in Angola, May 9, 1914, aged 80 years.
 Mrs. Ellen Baker, born in Loraine, Pa., Feb. 19, 1834; died at her home in Clear Lake township, May 10, 1914, aged 84 years.
 Joseph Meek, born in Richland county, Ohio, June 9, 1847; came to Steuben county at the age of 14 years; died May 26, 1914, aged 67 years.
 John Headley, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1828; came to Steuben county in 1849; died June 12, 1914, aged 85 years.
 Uriel Carpenter, born in Portage county, Ohio, May 29, 1834; died at his home in Scott township, May 29, 1914, aged 80 years.
 Sarah L. Townsend, born in Orland, Nov. 10, 1835; died June 6, 1914, aged 78 years.
 William Harvey Shaffer, born in Pleasant Lake, Oct. 1, 1857; died in Toledo, Ohio, May 28, 1914, aged 56 years.
 Seth Cleverly, born in Portage county, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1834; died in Scott township, June 14, 1914, aged 880 years.
 Jane P. Coy, widow of Daniel P. Mabrey, born in Huron county, O., May 9, 1830; died in Angola, June 15, 1914, aged 84 years.
 Marvin B. Butler, born in Grandisle, Vermont, Feb. 15, 1834, was an early settler in Salem township, died in Soldiers' Home hospital, Marion, Ind., June 17, 1914, aged 80 years.
 Mary Ellen Canfield, born in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 20, 1839; came to Steuben county in 1859; died at Glen Ferry, Idaho, June 11, 1914, aged 75 years.
 Timothy Haughey, born Nov. 5, 1824; came to Steuben county in 1843; died at Hamilton, Ind., June 28, 1914, aged 90 years.
 John Barnes, born in Delaware county, New York, June 23, 1829; came to Steuben county in 1838; died in York township, July 20, 1914, aged 85 years.
 James H. Kidney, born May 5, 1862; died June 25, 1914, aged 52 years.
 John Cole, born in Mahoning county, Ohio, April 10, 1845; came to Steuben county in 1856; died in Scott township, July 14, 1914, aged 69 years.
 John Harpham, born near Pleasant Lake, May 2, 1851; died in Angola, July 27, 1914, aged 63 years.
 Mrs. Charles Dygert, born in Steuben county, Sept. 15, 1852; died in Scott township, July 25, 1914, aged 62 years.
 Lewis N. Clark, born in Stark county, Ohio, April 24, 1834; came to Steuben county in 1847; died August 3, 1914, aged 80 years.