OLD SETTLERS' MEETING
Madison Daily Democrat - August 31, 1891
The Old Settlers' meeting at Neavil's Woods, near Volga, was a grand success, there being several thousand on the ground, and
the weather being all that could be desired.
At an early hour streams of farmers and their "bonny wives and daughters" could be seen flowing to the common center, and this
was kept up until long after the noon hour, though most of them were on the grounds by noon.
Of all the old settler's meetings none seems to be a greater success in their true object, the cultivation of friendship, than
that of Smyrna township. Religion, politics or previous or present social and financial condition seemed to be no bar to the social hand shaking and good
fellowship of the occasion.
The old men met and discussed their pioneer times when Jefferson county was a wild woods, the habitation of the Indiana, the wolf
and the bear, and when to clear a farm was a mighty undertaking; and the younger generation talked and joked and passed the day in pleasure and good
fellowhip. Surely these old settlers' meetings are a grand innovation of a mind that had in view the continued propagation of peace and good will among
men.
The real programme of the day was for everyone to make him or herself as happy as they could, and at the same time make every
body else happy, but the written programme as carried out at the grandstand was as follows:
Rev. G.W. Thompson opened with prayer at the following roll of members that he had assessed the last call of the Angel of death the
past year was then read. The toll is very large, containing 90 names and none under the age of 33.
1st, Argus Dean, aged 80: died Sept. 7th, 1890.
2nd, Wilton Smith, died Sept. 10th, 1890.
3rd, R.F. Weaver, aged 74; died Sept. 15th, 1890.
4th, Alex C. Thom, aged 50; died Sept. 19, 1890.
5th, Mrs. Martha Ann Rowlinson, aged 77; died Sept. 22nd, 1890.
6th, Mrs. Thos. Humphreys, aged 62; died Sept. 22nd, 1890.
7th, John Padget, died Sept. 24th; 1890.
8th, Mrs. E. Bennett, aged 75; died Sept. 23rd, 1891.
9th, Wm. Brazelton, aged 84; died Oct. 8th, 1899.
10th, Thos. J. Humphrey, aged 78; died Oct. 11th, 1890.
11th, Mrs. Agnes Shipley, aged 73; died Oct. 19th, 1890.
12th, Mrs. Hanna, aged 46; died 1891.
13th, Mrs. Borgerding, aged 54; died Nov. 7th, 1890.
14th, Kennedy Brown, died Nov. 1890.
15th, Wm. Hammond, aged 43, died Nov. 12th, 1890.
16th, Dr. W.G. Lawder, aged 52; died Nov. 18th, 1890.
17th, Miss Belle Thompson, aged 74; died Nov. 30th, 1890.
18th, Hiram Richardson, died Nov. 30th, 1890.
19th, Mrs. Sally Hendricks, aged 67; died Dec. 4th, 1890.
20th, Wm. Hanna, aged 85; died Dec. 18th, 1890.
21st, Mrs. Andrew Woodfill, aged 81; died Dec. 17th, 1891.
22nd, Mrs. Ahemaar Chambers, aged 73; died Dec. 24th, 1890.
23rd, Mrs. Mary Grooms, aged 95; died Jan. 1st, 1891.
24th, Dr. Solomon Davis, aged 81; died Jan, 1891.
25th, Esquire Quinn, died Jan. 1891.
26th, Mrs. Emily Firth, aged 81; died Jan. 19th, 1891.
27th, Mrs. Ezra Wood, aged 61; died Jan. 21st, 1891.
28th, Sarah Demaree, aged 90; died Jan. 26th, 1891.
29th, Fountain Johnston, aged 75; died Jan. 22nd, 1891.
30th, Mrs. Nancy Watts, aged 84; died Jan. 23d, 1891.
31st, David B. Patton, aged 77; died Jan. 25th, 1891.
32nd, Mrs. Perry Ross, very old; died Feb. 18th, 1891.
33rd, Mrs. Ball, aged 89; died Feb. 17th, 1891.
34th, Cyntha Rawlings, very old; died Feb. 10th, 1891.
35th, Jas. Burnside, aged 73; died Feb 21st, 1891.
36th, Wm. Rogers, aged 76; died Feb. 22nd, 1891.
37th, Samuel Roseberry, aged 75; died Feb. 21st, 1891.
38th, Judge Griffith, aged 59; died Feb. 27th, 1891.
39th, Martin Mullen, aged 67; died Feb. 19th, 1891.
40th, Mrs. Sarah West, aged 72; died Jan. 25th, 1891.
41st, Mrs. Eliza Russel, aged 83; died Jan., 1891.
42nd, Riley Cushman, aged 42; died March 3rd, 1891.
43rd, Mrs. Hinkle, aged 34; died Feb. 28th, 1891.
44th, Mrs. Sally Jewell, aged 84; died March 6th, 1891.
45th, Mrs. Mary Moore, aged 75; died March, 1891.
46th, Mrs. Sandford, aged 77; died March, 1891.
47th, Mrs. Ruth C. Hinds, aged 88; died March 10th, 1891.
48th, Mrs. Hannah C. Lewis, aged 60; died March, 13th, 1891.
49th, Mrs. J.J. Arbuckle, aged 75; died March, 1891.
50th, Mrs. Eliza Singer, died March, 1891.
51st, Mrs. Adams, aged 87; died March 13th, 1891.
52nd, John Jewell, aged 88; died March 18th, 1891.
53rd, Isom Jackson, quite old; died March 18th, 1891.
54th, John Elliott, aged 71, died March 18th, 1891.
55th, Zadock, Powell, aged 75; died March 16th, 1891.
56th, A.C. Dean, aged 69; died Apr 1st, 1891.
57th, Mrs. Weatherford, aged 83; died March 26th, 1891.
58th, Mrs. Schoolcroft, aged 37; died March, 1891.
59th, Geo. Varble, died April 1891,
60th, Warner H. Lee, old settle, died 1891.
61st, Wm. Waltington, aged 80; died April 9th, 1891.
62nd, Simpson Evans, aged 75; died April 4, 1891.
63rd, Robert Black, aged 83; died April 13th, 1891.
64th, (William) Harrison Margason, aged 75; died April 25th, 1891.
65th, Thos. Jines, aged 72; died Apr. 25th, 1891.
66th, Mrs. Henry Gabel, died Apr. 26th, 1891.
67th, Peter Webber, aged 59; died Apr. 29th, 1891.
68th, David C. Mathews, aged 67; died May 2nd, 1891.
69th, Mrs. Elizaeth Duffy, aged 76; died May 2nd, 1891.
70th, Willis D. Ward, aged 60; died May 12th, 1891.
71st, Mr. Lockridge, aged 82; died May 16th, 1891.
72nd, Mr. Propps, aged 93; died May 22nd, 1891.
73rd, John W. Nodler, aged 46; died May 26th, 1891.
74rd, Samuel Caplinger, aged 70; died May 21st, 1891.
75th, Samuel D. Demaree, aged 77; died May 27th, 1891.
76th, Mrs. Mary Herin, aged 70; died June 29th, 1891.
77th, Mrs. Literal, aged 30; June 29th, 1891.
78th, Mrs. Mary Dinwiddie, aged 66; died July 12th, 1891.
79th, Mrs. Anna Thicksten, aged 80; died July 13th, 1891.
80th, Aaron Sody, very old; soldier in the Mexican war; died July 19, 1891.
81st, Daniel McIntyre, aged 71; died July, 1891.
82nd, Henry Dixon, aged 70; died June, 1891.
83rd, Rev. John McCoy, aged 47; died July 24, 1891.
84th, Rev. Jesiah Crawford, aged 80; died July 27, 1891.
85th, Mrs. Ama Burks, aged 88; died July 31, 1891.
86th, Jiles Rich, aged 71; died July, 1891.
87th, Mrs. Sarah L. Salisbury, aged 43; died August 9, 1891.
88th, Isaac Wheat, aged 74; died August 12, 1891.
89th, Mrs. Aaron Robbins, aged 66; died August 14, 1891.
90th, Mrs. Edith Buchannan, aged 77; died August 1891.
Twenty-three of these were over 80 years old at the time of death, fifty-three over 70 and nine over 50 and all over 33 years old.
Mr. Jas. Officer, president of the Association, informed us that of those he had noted the death causing disease of, two had died
of Bright's disease, three of paralysis, three of heart disease, two of malaria fever, four of cancer, three of dropsy, one of flux, five of consumption,
one of liver complaint and one of apoplexy.
After the reading of the death roll a chapter from the sacred scripture was read by a gentleman the name of whom we failed to obtain,
after which the Rev. Mr. Thompson made and excellent adress to the Old Settlers.
The morning programme was interspersed with some beautiful music, vocal and instrumental, by Misses Georgia and Jessie Hooker, daughters
of our popular music dealer, Mr. D.M. Hooker. They are excellent young musicians and their singing and playing added greatly to the pleasures of the interesting
programme. Dinner was here announced.
Now we have said a great deal about the dinners at these Old Settlers' meetings this season in our reports of them, and about the only
thing we can add to the account of the dinners on last Saturday at Neail's Woods is take all we have said of them, pick out the best we have said and apply it
to Saturday's dinner and you have about as good an account of it as we can give. We were there and we know, for we enjoyed the hospitality of one of Smyrna
township's most hospitable families, Mr. Wm. Hinkle, wife and daughters.
In saying this we mean no disparagement to the dinners of preceeding meets, for there is no room to say ought but praise of them. We
only mean to say the Smyrna is behind none of them.
After dinner Mr. Richard Cox read the following letter from Mr. T.L. Hudson, now of Lincoln, Ill., but an old Smyrna settler.
To the Old Settlers of Smyrna and Madison townships.
Dear Old Friends.:-
It is with a sad heart that I send you greeting this year. Since you had your last reunion, my last sister Mrs. Mary Hensley, has
passed over the rive; so that leaves ne the only survivor of my family and as I am in my seventy-fourth year, I may look for my summons any time. It would
be very sad indeed to look around and realize that our friends are all gone, if it were not for the hope of meeting them again.
Nearly all of my near relatives are passed away. I have one cousin, Mrs. Amos Edelman, who is left as I am without brother or sister;
may the good Lord sustain her in her affliction. Old friends, I can't be with you in person, but my thoughts and affections are turned toward you. I often
look back and think of the pleasant scenes of my boy-hood. Such scenes are certainly the happiest of our lives.
There are but very few of my early associates in the vicinity where my family settled, in fact, I can't think of a single one who is
near my own age. Hoping when you meet that you will have a good time shaking hands and telling of your early experiences as boys and girls, and sympathizing
with those that have lost dear friends. I remain, with the best wishes for you all.
Sincerely your friend,
T.L. Hudson
Mr. Cox then briefly addressed the audience, relating how Jefferson county in his boyhood days was the heaviest wooded section of Indiana,
and what hardships the early pioneers had to undego to clear their farms and bring the settlement to its present beautiful condition.
Mr. Cox was followed by able speeches from Mr. Perry E. Bear and by Mr. Samuel Chasteen, one of Monroe township's talented sons and Democrats.
The Hanover band was present and made sweet music for the occassion. A splendid choir consisting of Miss Lizzie Williams and sister, Mrs.
Mrs. Alvey Hinkle, Miss Daisy Dean, organist, Messrs Wilber and Amza McClanahan, D.A. Garden, John Hughes and D.M. Hooks, interspersed the programme with some
excellent songs.
The above named ladies and gentlemen are nearly all professional musicians, and their efforts did credit to their profession.
We had the pleasure of a long talk with our old friend, Mr. Jefferson Loyd, 86 years old and the oldest settler in the township. Mr. Loyd has
unfortunately lost his eyesight, but is otherwise in apparent good health. He has lived in Jefferson Co. for 67 years. He had the misfortune to lose his wife
about ten years ago which has been a great sorrow in his declining days. His family are now all gone and married and the old gentleman lives on the old
homestead with one of his sons.
A valuable relic was showed us by President Officer. It was the old recovered book kept by Rob Marshall, Justice of the peace, and
dating back to 1822. In looking over the record we found that in those early days men were fined for sneezing. What a change in these modern days when the
most profane language is heard, even from our boys.
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