History of Marshall County

231 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

were very much annoyed with horse thieves. When a horse was put in a stable at night it was barely possible that it would be there. in the morning. This condition of affairs led to the formation of a society for the detection of horse thieves. The Plymouth Banner of December 8,

1853, contained the following: "In accordance with previous notice, a number of the citizens of this county have organized themselves into a society for the detection of horse thieves and others committing similar depredations under the title of 'The Marshall County Watchmen.' The officers are: Amzi L. Wheeler, president; Thomas Sumner" vice-president; Rufus Brown, secretary, and John G. Osborne, treasurer."

How long this organization continued to do business is not known. However, before it ceased to exist it succeeded in accomplishing one good thing the arrest and conviction of a horse thief by the name of Richard Eno. Eno was a desperado of the worst type, and, although he had many times been behind the bolts and bars, somehow he always succeeded in making good his escape. At one time he was confined in the jail of Fulton county. The sheriff went into the cell to take him his meal, when Eno shoved him into one corner, took the key away from him, locked him in the jail and leisurely walked out. Subsequently he was tried in Berrien county, Michigan, for horse stealing, convicted and sent to the state prison for a period of ten years. On the way to prison he jumped from the train, which was running at a rapid rate, and although he was strongly handcuffed he succeeded in making; good his escape. Some time after this occurrence, in passing through this county he stole three horses from the stable of Benoni Jordan, who then resided on the farm now owned by David E. Snyder, president of the Plymouth State bank, on the Michigan road, six miles south of Plymouth. Mr. Jordan was a member of the "Marshall County Watchmen" and started at once in pursuit of the thief. It was some time before he overtook the thief, but finally succeeded in capturing him and the horses, when the thief turned out to be none other than Richard Eno. At the August term, 1854" of the circuit court an indictment was found against Eno for the commission of the theft, of which the following is a copy:

State of Indiana, Marshall County, ss.

The grand .jury of the county of Marshall charge that Richard Eno on the sixteenth day of November, 1853, at the county of Marshall aforesaid, did feloniously steal, take, drive and lead away one bay mare seven years old of the value of $75, one iron-gray mare of the value of $100, one colt of the value of $30, the personal goods of Benoni Jordan. D. J. WOODWARD, Prosecuting Attorney.

The indictment is remarkable for its brevity, and is ill pleasing contrast with the lengthy documents of a similar nature generally returned into court nowadays. Eno was taken back to Michigan and probably served out the remainder of the sentence pronounced against him. He was never returned here, and the indictment still stands against him untried.

Marshall County Library.

Early in the history of the county steps were taken by some of the enterprising citizens of the county seat and county looking to the education and enlightenment of the people. The first of these efforts was the organization

232 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

of the Marshall County Library Association, October 7, 1837, by the election of the following trustees: Oliver Rose, Grove Pomeroy, W. N. Bailey, Evan B. Hobson, James Murphy, W. G. Pomeroy and Stephen Marsters. Subsequently Oliver Rose was elected president ; William Bishop, treasurer; E. B. Hobson, secretary, and William G. Pomeroy, librarian. The regulations adopted required persons drawing books to give bonds for the proper return of the books, each volume to be returned as follows: 100-page book in one week, 200 page book in two

weeks, and same ratio for larger books. The Library fund amounted to $601. In 1845 the county commissioners took charge of its management. In 1846 330 volumes were purchased, for which $275 was paid. Some years later, by operation of law, the clerk, auditor and recorder were made to constitute a board of managers. The recorder was made the librarian, and he kept it in his office, where any citizen of the County who cared to avail himself of the privilege could have access to the books, etc., free of charge, subject to the regulations adopted by the board. It was conducted in this way from year to year until about 1900, when, the books having

disappeared by having been taken out and never returned until there were less than fifty volumes left and no funds to replenish them with, and the cost of taking care of these being $50 per year, the board of commissioners ordered the library to be discontinued, and the few books on hand sold for whatever they would bring. In the later '50's the writer for four years, as deputy recorder, had charge of this library. The books were mostly of a historical and scientific nature, such as the "old timers" cared to read. Except "Gulliver's Travels," AEsop's Fables," or the "Arabian Knights," the younger portion of the community never called for a book:. The Young Men's Library Association.

During the year 1851 an effort was made by a few enterprising citizens to organize a Young Men's Library Association in Plymouth, as is learned from the issues of the Pilot newspapers of that period. The editor gave the proposition his hearty support, and in one issue of his

paper grew eloquent, as witness the following:

"Come, fathers, mothers and guardians! Rouse up! Pull down the dark curtain of ignorance and you will see the bright and beautiful Temple of Knowledge, fading and sparkling with crown, wreaths and jewels in the groves of science! See you not upon the marble terraces the distinguished scholars of all ages, crowned with triumphal wreaths ? Does not the sight fill your breast with elysian joys ? Intelligent farmers and mothers, we hear your quick response! 'I will lead my son with tender care to the portals of the temple to receive an immortal crown.' We bless thee, mother; you also shall receive a crown."

Diligent search through the subsequent files of his paper fails to discover any notice where the sons and the mothers received the promised crowns. The writer was here at that time and he has personal knowledge that the "Young Men's Library Association" never came to maturity.

The McClure Library Association.

What was known as a McClure Working Men's Library Association was organized in Plymouth some time in 1858. A man by the name of

HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 233

McCIure died in southern Indiana some time previous, leaving a large estate and providing in his will for the donation of $500 to each county where an association should be formed and the incorporators would start it with 100 volumes and procure a seal. Where this library was located, who had charge of it and what became of it no one now living seems to know.

The Township Library.

During war times, or shortly after the close of the war of the. Rebellion a system of township libraries was created by act of the legislature, by which the township trustees were authorized to purchase books and provide for their keeping and distribution. The books were selected more for the benefit of the school children than for the general reading public.

At first these libraries gave promise of being quite popular, but as time went on interest in them ceased, and one by one they were moved around and boxed up, and finally disappeared from public view, and now none of them are in existence so far as is known.

Public School Library. The Public School Library of the city of Plymouth, which was organized about twenty-five years ago by Prof. R. A. Chase, superintendent of the city public schools, is the only library of a public nature in the county at the present time. It is under the management of the superintendent and the board of education, who employ a librarian to wait on those desiring to obtain books. A small tax is levied on the taxable property within the city limits, which is used to purchase new books, magazines, maps, etc., and in this way a library of choice books has been obtained, numbering in all probably from three to five thousand volumes. These books are open free of charge, not only to the pupils of the public schools, but to the citizens of Plymouth as well.

The collection of funds for the beginning of this library was begun in April, 1880, by the efforts of several ladies and gentlemen who presented the comic opera of "H. M. S. Pinafore." The amount thus raised was increased by two concerts given by the teachers and pupils of the primary rooms, the total amount this raised being $170.95. The intention in the first inception of the scheme was to make it purely a school library which should not be open to the public, but a law having been passed about that time authorizing towns and cities to levy and collect a small amount of tax each year which should be applied to the purchase of books and the building up of libraries which should be open to the public, the plan was changed to make it not only a school library but a library which should be open to the public as well, and in this way the tax collected from year to year could be secured for the benefit of this library. The plan has worked well, and the library is a credit to the school and the people of Plymouth who have assisted in the way of taxation in building it up.

Agricultural Fairs.

Not long after the organization of the county the question of the organization of agricultural fairs began to be agitated, and in less than twenty years thereafter the Marshall County Agricultural Fair was organized

234 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

This occurred in 1855, with James A. Corse, president; Grove 0. Pomeoy, treasurer, and Samuel B. Corbaley, secretary. It was organized under the law authorizing voluntary associations, and its permanent members were those who paid $3 or more. The organization was also entitled under the law to the show licenses which yearly generally amounted to about $50. The first fair was held in the old courthouse, the live stock being corralled in the courthouse yard. It was not much of a fair, to be sure, but then it was creditable as a beginning, taking into consideration , that the society owned no property and had no money of consequence to pay premiums, and its officers were totally inexperienced in the business. The condition of the society for the following year, 1856, was shown to be as follows:

Cash on hand last year. ………………………………………………………….$ 33.00

Received for membership. …………………………………………………………70.00

Received from county treasurer……………………………………………………30.00

Received for interest. ……………………………………………………………….. 2.60

Total. $135.60

Paid fixtures. ……………………………………………………………………….$ 16.47

Paid premiums. ……………………………………………………………………..128.50

Total paid $144.97

Deficit. $ 9.37

This amount was made up by donations, as follows: A. L. Wheeler, $3; D. S. Conger, $5; Joel Parker, $3; D. L. Gibson, $2; John Cleaveland, $1; A. G. Armstrong, $1; Johnson Brownlee, $1; Rufus Hewett, $1; I. B. Halsey, 50 cents; Wm. J. Hand, 36 cents; Grove 0. Pomeroy, $5; total, $26.36, leaving a balance of $1349 in the treasury.

The officers for 1857 were then elected as follows: D. S. Conger, president; I. B. Halsey, vice-president; David Vinnedge, treasurer; Samuel B. Corbaley, secretary. I. Mattingly and Thomas McDonald, editors of the Republican and Democrat, presumably for free printing and free advertising in their respective papers, were voted honorary members of the society. Some time afterwards the society purchased from David Vinnedge what is known as the fair grounds, adjoining Plymouth on the north. Lack of money prevented the improvement of the grounds to any great extent. A few temporary exhibition buildings were erected, a few stalls for horses and some pig pens, and a quarter-mile track grubbed out and leveled down to show horses and cattle and other animals, but beyond this for a long time nothing was done.

The society labored faithfully for fifteen years to build up first-class exhibitions, but met with indifferent success for various reasons. About 1873 it was concluded by the management that as the fair exhibitions during its existence had never paid out, that it would be financial wisdom to change the plan of organization as an experiment and see what would come of it at least, they reasoned, it could not be much worse than it had been. So it was organized on the joint stock plan; additional grounds were purchased; a new half-mile track made and the organization established on a strictly business basis. There was some opposition to the plan of organization,

235 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

But notwithstanding this the second year the fair proved the most successful, financially, of any previously held, and the society closed the year with the floating debt and premium list fully paid and some money in the treasury. A change of officers the next year brought a change of management, and the people failing to give it that support it deserved, the officers were unable to pay the mortgage held on the grounds for purchase money, buildings, track, etc., and it was foreclosed and sold at sheriff’s sale to William Scofield and John Seltenright, who held fairs on their own account in October 1879 and 1880. The exhibitions were about up to the average of those before held, but the receipts fell a few dollars short of the expenditures on the first and a few dollars more on the last. The proprietors became discouraged and decided not to attempt to hold any more fairs. They leased the grounds and race track to some Plymouth men fond of trotting races, who kept the track in good condition and held a race meet for a few years, after which a stock company was formed which purchased the grounds and race track and provided trotting races which time nothing has been done with the grounds and buildings, and owing to the lack of interest which has always been manifest in supporting agricultural fairs at the county seat during a period of half a century, it is not likely that another fair would be held at the county seat.

Bremen Agricultural Society.

The Bremen Agricultural Society was organized June 28, 1889. Its objects are the promotion of the agricultural and mechanical interests of Bremen and German Township and the surrounding country. The first officers elected were as follows: Morgan D. Fink, president; John Huff, vice-president; Henry H. Miller, secretary; John r. Deitrich, treasurer; directors: Jacob Carbiener, Jacob Volmer, Jacob C. Kaufmann, E. J. Thompson, P.E. Deitrich, A. H. Fries, and Samuel Leeper.

Under the above management a fair was held during the fall of 1889, which was an entire success, the receipts, entries and attendance being much greater than was anticipated by the most sanguine members and friends of the organization. The society owns real estate with improvements thereon, and race track, amounting to an estimated value from six to eight thousand dollars.

The officers and directors elected for the second year were very nearly the same as for the first year, and those elected from year to year since that time have so managed the financial affairs of the society that its yearly exhibitions have uniformly been a success, the trotting races attracting the most noted trotters and pacers in the circuit of which the society is a member. The people of Bremen and German Township and the surrounding country patronize it liberally, and it has now come to be one of the permanent enterprises of that locality.

The Bourbon Fair.

This fair has been a great success from the beginning. The initial organization dates back to 18727, when under the name of the “Pioneer Farmers’ Club” with Harrison Sparrow president and Washington Iden secretary, the first fair was held at the schoolhouse, one and one-half miles

236 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

east of Bourbon, in October. No entry fee was charged and no premiums paid, ribbons serving to designate the animal or article. All the records are not available, but Jahu Iden, Jeptha Disher and others served in various capacities, and William E. Gay was secretary for thirteen years. The fair grew in popular favor, and for want of room was moved from place to place to accommodate the increasing attendance. As a result eight acres of land was bought and buildings erected and a small fee charged for admittance. This proved to be too small, and on August 16, 1891, an association was formed under the law of the state, with a paid-up capital of $5,000. Thirty-five acres of suitable ground was purchased, and by October 1, 1891, a fine half-mile track was completed and a grandstand, ap art hall, a fruit house, grain and vegetable buildings, stables, pens and fences were erected, involving a debt of $2,000, all of which has been paid, and the association is still making permanent improvements for the accommodation of increasing exhibits. No intoxicants are sold, no gambling allowed and no immoral show tolerated. The aim is to please and entertain the best element of society, and the attendance of over 12,000 on Thursday of last year proves that that policy is correct.. A clean fair is a specialty.

The officers for 1907-08 are: G. D. Ettinger, president; C. W. Shakes, vice-president; H. F. Bowman, treasurer; B. W. Parks, secretary.

Plymouth Commandery Drum Corps.

A drum corps attached to Plymouth Commandery, Knights Templar, was organized in 1876 and continued for a year or two. It was composed of the following then young men: George H. Thayer, tenor drum; C. S. Sutphen, tenor drum; Frank Smith, tenor .drum; Fred W. Hill, tenor

drum; Wm W. Davenport, bass drum. This drum corps was organized J through the efforts of Henry G. Thayer, who was then eminent commander of the commandery.

Plymouth String Band.

Was organized in 1876 and was composed of the following members : George H. Thayer, flute; Charles S. Sutphen, first violin; Will W. Davenport, second violin; Charles Haslanger, cornet; James M. Confer, baritone ; Fred W. Hill, violoncello; Charles S. Sutphen, leader. The life of this organization was of short duration, several of the young men having gone elsewhere.

Boating and Fishing Club.

This club was organized by several Plymouth people at Maxinkuckee lake, June 15, 1875, the following being the names of the members: Joseph Westervelt, president; John R. Losey, treasurer; Charles H. Reeve, secretary; Jerry Blain, W. N. Bailey, C. R. Cooper, I-I. G. Thayer, William M. Kendall, William W. Hill, C. C. Buck, C. E. Toan, Horace Corbin, U. S. Dodge, T. A, Eorton, Daniel McDonald, Hiram V. Reed, M. W. Simons, Platt McDonald, A. C. Capron, N. H. Oglesbee. The club leased a piece of lake front on the east shore from L. T. Van Schoiack, on which a clubhouse was erected which was occupied for five years. It is now owned by Mrs. McUat, of Indianapolis, and was the first place of summer resort on the lake.

237 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

Fishing and Game Club

was organized in 1875 for the purpose of the propagation of game fish and the enforcement of the game laws. The club had quite a number of boats on three of the nicest lakes in the county and also owned three acres of land, including a beautiful grove, on the banks of Pretty lake. After a few years the grounds were sold to various persons in small lots and the club disbanded. It was composed of David How, John Seltenrlght, Lewis C. Fink, David Berkey, Ed R. Edwards, Noah Lauderman and S. A. Roglan, most of whom are dead, and the remainder removed from the county.

The Plymouth Glee Club.

This was a musical society which came into existence in 1873, mainly for the purpose of giving entertainments for the benefits of the needy poor of Plymouth and vicinity. It was composed of five gentlemen of some musical talent, residents of Plymouth. The first entertainment under its . management was given in Balcony hall, Plymouth,' January 1, 1873. The program embraced an opening address by the late Charles H. Reeve, twelve vocal and instrumental selections, a charade, "Wayward," and two recitations, "Shamus O’Brien, the Brave Boy of Glingall," and "Over the Rills, to the Poorhouse." The opening quartet by the Glee Club took the large audience by storm. The music was an arrangement of "Maryland, My Maryland," and the words by Mr. Reeve. They were so highly spoken of at the time and were so appropriate to the objects of the entertainment that they are worthy of being perpetuated by being inserted here. The words are as follows :

Dread Writer spreads his icy pall,

Chilling blasts around us roar,

Before him Autumn's beauties fall,

Earth's green face is seen no more.

While frosts congeal the rolling tide,

Disease and want move side by side ;

And desolation far and wide

Face the weak and helpless poor.

Health, strength and plenty on us wait,

Peacefully our days go by;

Shall those crushed down by hapless Fate,

Vainly raise to us their cry'!

Shall thirst and hunger ceaseless crave,

Shall death come near-beyond the grave

Shall we stand by with power to save,

While the sick and needy die!

No, no! The Lord has given us Love

And Faith and Hope! It must not be,

Our Faith and Hope by works will prove

Daily works of Charity.

Haste then-bring forth from out your store

Wherewith to clothe and feed the poor ;

Bring consolation to the door

Of destitute humanity.

238 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

Two entertainments were given during that winter, the net proceeds of which were $142.32. This was distributed to the deserving needy by a committee of one selected from each of the church organizations then existing in the city.

The 13 Club.

The 13 Club, the most noted organization Plymouth or Marshall county ever had, called into existence on Christmas eve, December 24, 1897, the gentlemen composing the club assembling at the office of DT. G. R. Reynolds in response to the following invitation written by the doctor :

Mister:-Yu ar herby speeialy- (an owin to views peeuler to yurself) pertieularly invited to be present at a meetin to be assembled at the ofis of doetor Reynolds on the evenin of dec. 24th 1897, betwixt the hours of 8 an 11 p. m. Yu air further notifyed that this is to be no soshal swel duins, wher dandyfide close with nice sillellin bokase an things on 'em (for cos) cut a grate figer; as no wimin will be present at this meetin ,which is sumwhat for organisashun; an wimin ain't much on organisashun, cept in ther; peeulyer way. Won of the numerus objex of this meetin is for the purpus uv findin out why things ar as tha bee, an how cum tha so; an as on this thar wil be readin from riters as think tha have a sinch, all present air xpeeted to hav there thinkin ears with them; further this meetin may bee called upon to xpres whether it wil meet agin, an

if so in this world or the necks. In number this meetin will be a baker's duzen, by axual kount celected on the darwin idee, owin to kinder like trates, uv not spekin unles tha sa sumthin.

Therby it is hoped this meetin may evoloot into sumthin' worthy of erisenin (tho uv eorse that kud be later) .Lite consumptives wil be fre as water, consistin uv meller sider, shel barks, appels, donuts, an sieh. As to order, the darwin idee wil prevale, to the end that all reedin an listenin an absorbin an digestin uv the orthers idees, shuld be dun quietly, thotfuly, an farely; as the orthers wil not bee present fisicaly to fite for therselves. This order wil last til all ar wilin to call from Iaber to refreshment when the lite consumptives may be diskussed at which time the hylarites that may evoloot will be in order. An it may be aded here that this line uv do in may bare repeatin etc etc.

After al the reedin an speekin an evolootin is exausted the burnin uv terbacker wil be indulged in which may pervoke further diskussion ,uv the suivivul uv the fittest.

p. s. now be shure an kum an if yu kan't kum send yur argyments as regrets ain't sientifick. by order uv the inventers. (Dr. G. R. Reynolds.)

The "baker's dozen" (13) invited responded to the call. The evening was spent in reading and commenting on the writings of Huxley , Darwin, Spencer and others, which proved to be a most enjoyable "evolution" from the conventional conversation that usually makes up the program on such occasions. The refreshments were sweet cider, doughnuts, Northern Spy apples, hickory nuts and cigars. During this part of the program some laughable stories were told, and at the hour of midnight the assembly disbanded to meet a week later for permanent organization.

When the next meeting was held two of those who had been present at the first meeting concluded not to continue in the organization, whether on account of the "unlucky number 13" or for other good and sufficient reasons, and so the organization was continued as the 13 Club with eleven members, whose names follow: Charles H. Reeve, A. C. Capron, Samuel Parker, Harry Swindell, Daniel McDonald, George R. Reynolds, Leopold M. Lauer, Charles P. Drummond, Rosco A. Chase, M. W. Simons, Rollo B. Oglesbee.

Ex-Senator C. H. Reeve was unanimously elected president of the

239 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

club as long as he and it lived. It was decided that the meetings of the club should be held on Saturday nights at the offices or houses of the members in rotation, if convenient, the entertainer to provide the refreshments to be served on the occasion. The president was authorized to notify the members from time to time to be prepared to present papers or topics to the club for discussion. It was also decided that no further rules or regulations or- by-laws be adopted that anyone wishing to discuss or cuss a question should have the privilege of doing so to his heart's content. Meetings were held during the fall, winter and spring months for a period of five years, at the end of which time, owing to the removal from town of several members, the club was disbanded. No deaths or other mishaps took place to the members of the club until after it formally disbanded in 1902. Dr. Reynolds, who had organized the club and had taken a lively interest in its welfare from the beginning, was the first to go. Driving home from visiting a patient one Sunday evening in 1903, in attempting to drive the horse across the track of the Pennsylvania railroad a mile east of town he was caught by a fast passenger train and instantly killed. The next year Mr. Reeve passed away suddenly from heart failure, and in May, 1905, Judge Capron died suddenly at his cottage at Maxinkuckee lake, and the next year Mr. Simmons became insane at his home in Denver, Colorado, and died not long afterwards. Of the remaining members Mr. Chase is publishing a newspaper at St. Charles, Missouri; Mr. Oglesbee is deputy auditor of state at Indianapolis; Mr. Drummond and Mr. Parker are practicing law at South Bend; Harry Swindell is in the butter arid egg business at Kalamazoo, Michigan; and the remaining three, Mr. Stevens, Mr. McDonald and Mr. Lauer, still reside in Plymouth. Notwithstanding no accident happened to any member of the club during their connection with it, yet there are those who firmly believe that the horrible deaths of Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Simmons were occasioned by belonging to an organization having for its name the unlucky number "13."

Old Settlers' Society.

In a work of this kind it must be apparent to all that nothing could be more appropriate than a paper devoted to the old folks generally. Anything that tends to perpetuate the early history and the scenes and incidents of the early days is not only interesting to those who participated in them, but will be to those who shall take their places in the future.

The formation of an Old Settlers' Society had been talked of for many years, but for one cause or another no active steps were taken until 1878. Prior to July 4 of that year a circular was issued requesting the attendance on that day at the fair grounds near Plymouth of all interested in the movement. In obedience to the call a large number were present. Robert Schroeder, the oldest settler at that time in the county, was selected chairman of the meeting; John W. Houghton, secretary, and Rev. Austin Fuller , chaplain. A lengthy constitution and by-laws were adopted; speeches and songs indulged in, and an old-fashioned picnic dinner partaken of under the shade of the trees. The following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That the annual meetings of this society shall, after the current year, be held on the 2oth day of July in each year, that being the day of the month on which the county seat was located and the county

240 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

organized, except when the said 2oth day of July occurs on Sunday; in that case the annual meeting shall be held on the 19'th day of July in each year.

The following officers were then elected for the year ending July 20, 1879: President, Robert Schroeder; first vice president, David L. Gibson ; second vice-president, Joseph Evans; chaplain, Rev. George H. Thayer; treasurer; Ahijah Hawley; secretary, Daniel McDonald. About 300 names were appended to the constitution, after which the society adjourned until Saturday, July 19, 1879.

The first meeting after the organization was held in Plymouth July 19, 1879, and was largely attended. Daniel McDonald, who had been selected orator of the day, delivered an address appropriate to the occasion, and other addresses were delivered as follows:

"The Pioneers of Marshall County," by A. C. Thompson ; "Our Country and Its Progress," by M. L. Smith ; "Our Successors and Their Trusts,'! by Elder S. A. Chaplin ; "Our Life-Its Clouds and Sunshine; May Its Remaining Labors Be Worthy of the Heritage Left Us by the Pioneers," by Rev. G. H. Thayer.

Copious extracts from all these addresses may be found in the history of Marshall county published in 1881. The third ( and last) meeting of the Old Settlers' Society was held July 20, 1880, in Magnetic park, Plymouth, Indiana. There was a large turnout and all seemed to have a good old- fashioned time. Elder Richard Corbaley, of Healdsburg, Cal., a former old resident, delivered an acceptable address, after which the following officers were elected for the year of 1881: President, Rev. George H. Thayer; vice-president, Joseph Evans; chaplain, Elder Hugh Barnhill ; treasurer, Ahijah Hawley; secretary, Thomas K. Houghton.

The officers for one reason or another failed to arrange for the meeting in 1881, and it was allowed to go by default, and that society, the only one extending over the entire county, went to pieces and has never since been revived.

The Marshall and St. Joseph County Old Settlers' Society.

During the past ten years old settlers' meetings have been held annually in the grove near the town of La Paz, in North township, the above caption being the name of the organization. The organization was first suggeted by Rev. M. L. Peter, of La Paz, who has been the real life of it ever since, the two first meetings being held in Longaker's grove, on the county line in St. Joseph county, one and a half miles west of La Paz. The remainder of the meetings have been held in Wilson's grove, south of La Paz. Jerry Hildebrand, residing at Lakeville, St. Joseph county, has presided at all the meetings, which, when the weather has been favorable, have been largely attended. The first officers were: President, Percy J. Troyer ; secretary, J. Edward Cook; treasurer, W. Lester Hoover. The present officers are: President, William M. Sherland; secretary, John W. Hildebrand; treasurer, W. Lester Hoover. At each annual meeting speakers have been secured who have delivered addresses appropriate to the occasion. At all the old meetings old and rare relics have been on exhibition, mostly old and rare volumes of the Bible. H. Y. Shirk exhibited a German Bible- Luther's translation printed in Basle, Switzerland, in 1665, which has