OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 19th, 1908
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com

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Meeting of Pioneers.

No anniversary occasion is more thoroughly underscored on the average calendar or appeals more
strongly to the citizens of Steuben county, than the Old Settlers' Reunion.  This statement has
been repeatedly verified in the years that have gone and in the scenes witnessed here last Thursday.  
For several days previous to this meeting many feared a great loss of interest because of the extreme
dry spell, so discouraging to many of those who, together with their children and grand-children, were
to comprise Angola's honored guests.  But a bountiful Providence provided what was lacking, and as
nearly an ideal day as could be desired dawned on Aug. 13.

It was not long before the Public Square assumed a metropolitan look with its forty or more special
attractions, surrounded by interested men, women and children from all sections of the county.  
By ten o' clock the interest, especially of the older people, centered in a well arranged program
at the Methodist church.  Judge Powers, the genial and ever popular president, with the reins well
in had, opened this interesting service.  After music by the orchestra, Rev. Marble offered prayer.  
Ray Willis, the secretary, read the death list of 43 pioneers, whose names must have aroused in the
minds of many in the service precious and sacred memories of long gone days.  At this point the audience
unanimously elected Stephen A. Powers president, and R. E. Willis secretary of the association for another
year.  S. G. Long sang a solo that was well received, and Miss Daisy Gonser followed with a humorous vocal
selection that elicited much laughter.  Mr. Kesslar and H. P. Hathaway gave a few reminiscences and talked
most interestingly of early scenes and experiences in the county, verifying many statements by appealing to
those present, who were ever ready and willing to vouch for the history they helped to make in those early
days.  Miss Bernice Clark then gave a humorous reading that was highly appreciated.  The Elite quartette
pleasingly rendered two selections, after which Hon. O. L. Ballou of LaGrange, in an eloquent manner gave
the early settlers merited praise, and emphasized the virtues they possessed, without which no citizen is
either worthy of honor or deserving of praise.  After the closing prayer and mutual greetings among the
people at this service, which was indeed the "Old Settlers' meeting" of the day, the company separated for
dinner, many of them to go to the court yard where the committee had generously furnished barrels of coffee.

PIONEER NOTES

Mrs. H. E. Crandell, of Pleasant Lake, aged 83 years, came on the early train and enjoyed the day.  She came to the county in 1854.
The high dive was a success, but it was a severe strain on the nerves of the people.  There seems no end to the risk men will take for money.
E. Millis and wife, of near Stroh, early settlers in LaGrange county, were here.  They are thinking of moving to Angola, for the coming winter at least.

G. T. Abbey, of Waterloo, was an early caller at our office.  Mr Abbey has scarcely missed a meeting of the pioneers for twenty years.  His father entered land a mile south of Pleasant Lake in 1836, and two years later they took up their residence at that place.

Dr. Dryer, of LaGrange, was a caller at our office on this great day.  Mr. Dryer was a student in the Angola schools in 1874 and 1875.  He is a nephew of Welcome Dryer, who worked on the Republican during the war, and who was a poet of considerable note.

The exercises in the afternoon, as usual consisted of a variety of entertainments.  The principal address was given by Otis L. Ballou, of LaGrange, and was well received.  The Angola club won in both games of ball with Orland, and in the walking contest between the societies at the college, the Crescents won over the Philos.  The balloon ascension was a success, but the parachute drop did not materialize.

Prof. Churchill, the man who made the sensational high-dive, when asked how he came to enter so perilous a profession, said: "I have been in the show business ever since I was a boy.  I began active work before the public by going up in balloons.  One day at St. Joseph, Mich., a man was advertised to make a high dive.  I had just been up in a balloon and had finished my part of the day's program.  I got to the ladder just before the man started up.  He went half way to the top stopped.  I noticed that he was hesitating and that for some reason his heart had failed him.  About 15,000 people were waiting to see what was then a new and wonderful feat, so I determined they should not be disappointed.  I had never made a dive of that kind and had some misgivings as to the outcome, but I called to the man, saying: "If you are afraid, come down and I will make the dive."  He studied for a moment, then came down, and I was in for it.  I turned a summersault just as I have done here today and I did this by simply ducking my head as I would to turn a summersault in the water, then relax every muscle and dive.  I lit fine shape, better in fact than I have at times since.  You can't always light the same way, and often the net gives you a severe jerk.  I make three dives the coming week at Hudson, Mich."

Dr. Thos. B. Williams was born in Baltimore, Md., Sept. 18, 1838, came to Steuben county in 1864; died Aug. 16, 1907, aged 68 years, 10 months, 28 days.
Henry Spangle was born in Ontario county, New York, March 8, 1821, came to Steuben county in 1844; died Aug. 13, 1907; aged 86 years, 5 months, 5 days.
Mary Adam Fullerton was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1820; died Aug. 9, 1907, aged 87 years, 6 months, 7 days.
William Sims was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 15, 1839; died Oct. 5, 1907; aged 68 years.
Leander Chase was born in Genesee county, New York, Sept. 4, 1823; died Oct. 27, 1907; aged 84 years, 1 month and 23 days.
J. Stacy Lockwood was born in Hillsdale county, Mich., Jan. 4, 1839; died Oct. 21, 1907; aged 68 years, 9 months and 17 days.
Mary Ann Goodale was born in New York city, Nov. 1, 1821, came to Steuben county in 1842; died Oct. 29, 1907; aged 85 years, 11 months and 28 days.
Malissa McMinn Sharp was born Feb. 22, 1847, died Nov. 10, 1907, aged 60 years, 8 months, 18 days.
David Vanderhooven was born in Rahway, N. J., Jan. 23, 1825, died Nov. 10, 1907, aged 82 years, 9 months, 18 days.
Christina Klink Wilson was born in Richland county, Ohio, 1832, came to Steuben county in 1847, died Nov. 10, 1907, aged 75 years, 28 days.
Sarah Mann Buck was born in Stark county, Ohio, Dec. 22, 1831, died Nov. 16, 1907, aged 75 years, 10 months, 24 days.
William Ferrier was born in New Rumley, Harrison county, Ohio, May 24, 1823; came to Steuben county in 1846, died Nov. 28, 1907, aged 84 years, 6 months, 4 days.
Lorenzo Taylor was born in Tioga county, New York, Oct. 4, 1838; came to Steuben county in 1860, died Nov. 10, 1907; aged 69 years, 1 month, 6 days.
Wilson Smith was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1835; died Nov. 20, 1907; aged 72 years, 9 months, 18 days.
Mary Clark Hall was born in Livingston county, New York, June 18, 1854, came to Steuben county in 1854, died Dec. 14, 1907, aged 56 years, 5 months, 22 days.
Charles P. Richmond, born in Ontario county, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1837; died in Scott township, Dec. 19, 1907; aged 70 years, 4 months, 8 days.
Rhoda J. Strawser, born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 31, 1834; died in Hudson, Jan 3, 1908; aged 73 years, 5 months and 3 days.
Mrs. Jacob Carmany, born in Lancaster county, Penn., Jan. 6, 1831; move to Steuben county in 1853; died Jan. 17, 1908; aged 77 years, 11 days.
Theron D. Murray was born in Steuben county, Oct. 7, 1847; died near Orland, Jan 28, 1908; aged 60 years, 3 months and 21 days.
James H. Maxwell was born in Wayne county, Ohio, August 27, 1839; died in Otsego township, Jan. 23, 1908; aged 68 years, 4 months and 26 days.
Marian Carter Lockwood was born Feb. 16, 1844; died in Pleasant Lake, Feb, 11, 1908; aged 63 years, 11 months and 26 days.
Henry A. Dygert, born near Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1830; came to Steuben county in 1838; died in Jamestown, Feb. 14, 1908; aged 77 years, 3 months and 8 days.
Michael Gundrum was born in Dauphin county, Pa., May 22, 1827; came to Steuben county in 1852; died Feb. 27, 1908; aged 80 years, 9 months and 5 days.
Mrs. Hettie D. Morse was born in Harrisburg, Pa., May 4, 1838; died March 9, 1908; aged 69 years, 10 months and 5 days.
Samuel A. Moss was born in New Haven county, Conn., March 27, 1829; came to Steuben county, in 1868; died in Angola, March 8, 1908, aged 78 years, 11 months and 11 days.
Mrs. Bradford Wheaton, born in Scott township, Feb. 27, 1841; died in Plainwell, Mich., March 31, 1908; aged 67 years, 1 month and 4 days.
Isaac Williamson, born in Salem, Ohio, Sept, 19, 1842; died in Angola, April 6, 1908; aged 65 years, 6 months and 17 days.
Mrs. Sally Palmer, born June 20, 1826; died in Angola, April 6, 1908; aged 82 years.
Clara E. Weaver was born in Fremont, July 27, 1854; died April 9, 1908; aged 53 years, 8 months and 12 days.
Caroline Newton was born in Pittstown, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1817; came to Orland in 1844; died in Orland, April 19, 1908; aged 90 years, 4 months and 1 day.
Rebecca Smith was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 22, 1829; came to Steuben county in 1848; died in Pleasant Lake June 1, 1908; aged 78 years, 11 months and 10 days.
Mrs. Elizabeth Higbie was born in Starke county, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1840; died in Salem Center, April 22, 1908; aged 68 years and 2 months.
George K. Wisel was born near Salem Center, March 28, 1850; died near Salem Center. May 17, 1908, aged 58 years, 1 month and 25 days.
Moses L. Freligh was born in Ontario county, N. Y., May 12, 1828; came to Steuben county in 1845; died May 30, 1908; aged 80 years and 18 days.
Dwight B. Lewis was born in Chenango county, New York, Jan. 17, 1842; came to Steuben county in 1844; died April 29, 1908, aged 66 years, 3 months, and 12 days.
Phoebe Sams, born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1832; came to Steuben county in 1844; died April 21, 1908; aged 76 years, 2 months and 6 days.
Mrs. Elizabeth Powers Wood was born in York township, Jan. 15, 1842; died in Angola, May 5, 1908, aged 66 years, 3 months and 20 days, having lived all her life in Steuben county.
Orrin C. Kidney was born near Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1836; came to Steuben county in 1854; died May 15, 1908; aged 71 years and 5 months.
Eunice H. Wells was born in Old Hartford, Conn., Dec. 1, 1818; died in Mechanicsville, Iowa, June 6, 1908; aged 95 years, 6 months and 6 days, having lived in Steuben county about 50 years.
Sarah Barr Poland was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 10, 1825; came to Steuben county in 1856; died in Angola, June 21, 1908; aged 83 years, 3 months and 11 days.
Mattie Talbott Somerlott was born in Morgan county, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1832; came to Steuben county in 1844; died April 14, 1908; aged 76 years, 3 months and 1 day.
Michael Tingler was born in Seneca county, Ohio, April 27, 1832; came to Steuben county in 1862; died July 25, 1908; aged 76 years, 2 months and 28 days.
Lauren Hills was born in Delaware county, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1817; lived in Steuben county about 40 years; died in Fremont, Aug. 11, 1908; aged 90 years, 6 months and 27 days.