OLD SETTLERS HOLD 6TH ANNUAL REUNION

WALSH - GOUGH - PRINGLE - SHADBOLT - WEILAND - WILLIAMS

Posted By: Deborah (email)
Date: 11/10/2004 at 12:51:39

Iowa Recorder, The (Greene, Iowa) > 1925 > September > 9

OLD SETTLERS HOLD 6TH ANNUAL REUNION

LARGE CROWD IN ATTENDANCE LAST SUNDAY

Mrs. Castinah Hardman, of Greene, Recounts Interesting Story of the Early Pioneer Days.

One hundred and seventy-four persons registered at the Hall's Grove church, Sunday afternoon, September 6, at the annual Old Settlers' meeting.

This was a record crowd and there were more of the older people present than heretofore.

The program opened with a song by the congregation and prayer by Rev. L.P. Parker, of the Presbyterian church, of Greene. The Presbyterian orchestra, augmented by a number of Aredale players, played an overture. Aunt Jane Bragg gave a talk on the happenings of yesteryears, and then followed community singing.

Mrs. S.C. Hardman read a paper on the pioneer days as she remembered them, a reprint of which follows. The orchestra played again and Mrs. Flora Williams gave reminiscences of the "Early Roads in Iowa."

The next song, "The Church in the Woodland" written by Aunt Jane Bragg, with music by Mrs. Rhue Timblin-Compton, was sung by the Misses Mae and Ruth Barnett. Miss Ruth played the piano and was accompanied on the saxophone by Clarence Barnett. This special number was very well rendered and heartily received.

Rev. J.F. Burton, of the Brethren church of Greene, delivered a most able address, which was very much enjoyed by all. Then followed an orchestra number, song and benediction.

A short business session concluded the meeting; in which the following officers were elected: President, Frank Kilson, of Bristow; secretary, Jess Thompson, of Greene; program music committee, George Barnett, of Aredale.

After a brief respite of clasping the hands of friend and exchanging a few stories of mutual interest, the company dispersed, to meet again next year, just a little older perhaps, but if the Father deems it fit, just as happy and contended and as anxious to attend the next meeting.

To know, to esteem to love --
And then to part,
Makes up life's tale
To many a feeling heart
-- Coleridge.

Memories of Pioneer Days.

By Castinah I. Hardman.

Pioneers, yes! September 20, 1856 my father and mother, John and Elizabeth Shannan arrived in the town of Clarksville, coming from Illinois by train to Dubuque and the remainder of the way by wagon, as Dubuque was the end of the railroad.

They ate their first meal in the home of Van Wamsley. Mrs. Wamsley was Mrs. Jane Griffith -- an old settler near Greene. My folks went to housekeeping in a one room leanto built on the home of Jerome Shadbolt, an early settler of Clarksville. Their furniture consisted of three chairs. Mr. Shadbolt made a little drop leaf table and a small box stove; father made their bedstead, an old cord bedstead, with straw tick. He also made some benches to help out on the furniture.

Being a carpenter, he soon purchased a lot and built a home which still stands in Clarksville on Main Street, south of Dr. Day's office where 65 years ago I was born. Father killed two deer the first winter he lived in Clarksville and many a time he has taken his old shotgun out before breakfast, a few rods away from the house and shot prairie chickens enough to last several weeks. Mother took just the breasts and salting them down to keep them. The pioneers had to live on wild game and fish.

If I remember rightly there wasn't a sidewalk in town, possibly a few boards laid down across the muddy places in the street.

I can remember hearing my father tell of the Indian scare at Clarksville. I think it was just after the Spirit Lake massacre. 50 warriors came to Clarksville, all dressed up in war paint and not a squaw with them. The people of Clarksville were badly frightened.

My father has a gun that shot bullets. He has an old pair of bullet molds and some lead, so he ran all the lead he could and got everything ready. He laid out by the fence between our house and Uncle George Poisell's all night and watched, and said if the Indians tried to molest anyone, he would try and get one or two at least. The Indians stayed all night, had a war dance, and finally left, doing no harm.

The court house was at Clarksville at this time. When Butler Center got the court house the building at Clarksville was bought for a school house. Prior to this, school was held in a little stone school house, across the street from where Uncle Dan Mather lived. Church was also held in this little school house.

As a child of nearly four years old, a little incident happened that I shall always remember. Father gave my sister and I each a testament, so of course I must go to the Sunday School. I know how proud I felt of my new testament, but when I went to Sunday School, no one asked me to read (and by the way I couldn't read a word), but I can feel the hurt yet of not being asked to read.

When I was four years old, we moved onto the farm 3 1/2 miles north of Clarksville, 160 acres of raw prairie land which father purchased for $4.50 per acre, paying for it in eight months by doing the carpenter work on a hotel in Waverly, most mostly supporting the family of three children and themselves by washing, and boarding some of the carpenters.

Pioneers, yes, and lot of hard work and lots of privations, but happy most of the time.

I can remember a few years later, going after the cows, several miles out on the prairie and in the brush, listening for our cow bell -- each herd had a bell of their own. Once a year in the summer time, father would hitch up old Fan and Zaze to the lumber wagon. He and mother sat on the spring seat, while we children sat on a board across the wagon box or on quilts in the bottom of the wagon box. Then we'd go up to Marble Rock for a visit, making the journey up on one day and returning the next. We always came through Elm Springs, where Greene now stands.

Omharts and Ernests were the only houses before we got to the springs. We always brought our tin cup along to have a drink from Elm Springs. I think there was one house above the springs. Looking back I can see quite a change in our beautiful city of Greene from Elm Springs. What a shame that the grand old elm trees and beautiful springs couldn't have been left so that our children and grandchildren, yes and great grandchildren, too, could have enjoyed them.

I well remember when a child, when Uncle Billy and Aunt Susan Gough were our neighbors. I recall visiting in their home and playing with Will, Joe and Lizzie, who is now Mrs. Corey. I think we attended the same school for a time.

Right here I would like to pay tribute to the memory of another pioneer of childhood days. James Pringle's parents lived a half mile east of us in a one room log cabin with a fireplace.

We children through it wonderful to visit Aunty Pringle. She would show us how she built a fire in the fire place and how she cooked and how she baked bread.

I wonder if the Domestic Science teachers of today could do as well. We never went to Aunty Pringle's that she didn't give us a slice of bread and molasses, a cooky or a penny, something to make our childish hearts glad.

I remember being at Aunt Jane's home, too, when she was much younger than now, when her children were all at home. Her's has been a life well spent. May she be with us a good many years yet. These are a few thoughts, mostly, of my life but pioneer, yes.

Those present from away were:
Aredale: Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Miller, Mrs. Robert Boyd, Mable Boyd, Esther Boyd, Ruth Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Kramer, Lillian Kramer, Viola Kramer, Mrs. T.E. Cormaney, Mildred Cormaney, Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Mead, A. Scarrow, Wm. Creeden, Ethel Creeden, Wilma Creeden, Carl Creeden, Bernard Creeden, Fried Wilke, Mae Barnett, Ruth Barnett, Mr. and Mrs. Orlie Miller, Mrs. J. Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Barnett, Clark Barnett, Minnie Barnett, Alice Barnett, O.H. Bochman, Grace Earnest, Marlie Earnest, Helen Bramer, Albert Bramer, Raymond Bramer; George Earnist, Russel Scarrow; Mrs. Fred Wilke, June Barnett.

Bristow: Chas. S. Stewart, Frank Kilson, S. Hanson, Helen Wilson, Francis Wilson, C.M. Arnond, Elizabeth Arnold, Mary Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Wilson, Ceal Conn, Orville Ebling, John Weiland, John Weiland, Will Glasser, Mr. and Mrs. John Conn, Walter E. Weiland, Mrs. R.J. Weiland, Clare Wilson, Mrs. Serenus Hanson, Delos Walsh, Ethel McNeilus, Will McNeilus.

Others were T.W. Mauch of Ocean Park, Washington; Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Goodhue of Dougherty; Will Popengo, of Dumont; Rachel Shaw of Wamego Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. C.D. McCracken of Allison; Ruth Clifton and Roy Thompson of Clarksville; Ivan M. Maxson, of Marble Rock; Leonard Kuhn of Long Beach, California.

(typed exactly as it appeared in the paper)