Sixteenth Annual Old Settlers Reunion, Salem, Henry County, IA - 1898



After looking at it, I saw it was the sixteenth annual reunion so it had to be from 1898.

from a Salem newspaper 1898

A large concourse of pioneers and old settlers enjoyed themselves at their
sixteenth annual reunion yesterday in the park.
The old settler never saw a more auspicious day during any of his pioneer life
than was the day set to commemorate his doings in Iowa.  The sun shone
beautifully and there was a brisk breeze from the southwest.  Surely the
weather was in pleasant mood.
Quite early in the morning they began to come and by eight o'clock the small
boy was making himself known and felt all over the park, and the stands were
on hand with an abundant supply of the many things to attract the taste of
young lads and lasses.  The watermelon wagon was here, so there were plenty of
ways to spend the extra dime.
The exercises were opened in the park by the president, Rev. Jonathan Lee, and
the opening invocation was made by Rev. Hadley M. Crosby.  President Lee made
the address of welcome, extending to every one the old time welcome when the
latch string hung out on the door.  He was responded to by M.L. Crew, and he
is so well known here that we need not say further than that all were pleased.
Bruce Frame, of Glasgow, made a short talk.  It seems like good old times to
see and hear old pioneer friends like Mr. Frame speak, for all must know that
when the Indian made his yell all over the prairies Bruce was there and heard
him.

The music was furnished by the Salem silver cornet band, and we are pleased to
say that but few bands are better prepared to furnish good music than is ours.
The meeting then adjourned till afternoon and the crowd either went to the
homes of friends or ate their dinner in the park.  It is interesting to watch
a crowd prepare and eat their dinner.  One family will carefully spread a
cloth and everything is taken from the basket and put about with the same care
that is exercised at the table in their home, while others again take their
dinner with the most perfect abandon, only grasping food because they are
hungry, and the fellow who gets the most is the happy one of that household.
In the afternoon the first on the program was Hon. Lot Abraham with a song.
It was one of Lot's best and his voice has the same sweet silvery sound that
it always had.  

X.H. Arnold, chairman of the committee on deaths of old settlers, gave his
report.  He has reported the death list each year for seventeen years and
during that time over 200 old settlers have passed away.  His report contained
the following names:
Mrs. John Masden, daughter of Levi Cammack, Sarah Johns, Mrs. Still, Mrs.
Chas. Cramor, Thomas Packer, Titus Boyce, James Linsey, Wm. J. Murphy, John
Hourihand, Duvall Henderson, Joseph McDowell, Wm. Hamer, Benjamin Cook,
Lindley H. Joy, Wm. Bartlett, Wm. Hockett, John McGreer, David Beeler, Josiah
Maxwell, Wyke Elliott, Gotleib Shubert, Mrs. Debra Hartly, Sarah Almon, Eddes
Hobson Stephens, Laura Kellum.

Afterwards came the old veteran, Enoch Beard, the oldest settler in this part
of the country, who spoke to the old and young telling them of his wanderings
up and down through Iowa.  Other speeches were made by Rev. P.C. Hogle, Joseph
Hockett and Samuel Hockett.

The president announced the fact that the perpetuation of the old settlers
demanded the election of officers.  The following were elected: Rev. Jonathan
Lee, president; John Savage, vice president; J.C. Cramer, secretary; X.H.
Arnold, chairman of the committee on deaths for coming year; three assistants
the three counties, Bruce Frame, Jefferson coounty; Pitman Farnum, VanBuren
county, and Allan Heaton, Lee county.  

The old fashioned choir sang some of the old songs.  To the modern singer they
sound strange and odd.  "From Greenland's Icy Mountains," when have you heard 
this in a public assembly, or the buckwheat notes, they are a back number, yet 
once in a while they sound very nice and quite musical.

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