Jefferson County On Line Pioneer Settlers Of Jefferson County As reported by the Fairfield Ledger, Oct 15, 1879

"  The members of the Old Settlers reunion of this county held I their first annual reunion in Slagle & Acheson's grove, east of this city, on Thursday.   The LEDGER had doubts as to the success of the first meeting but they were thrown far out of the way by the interest manifested by these old fellows who were lucky enough to come to the "beautiful land" before  the  rest  of us and the attendance at their own social gathering.   Not much time was taken up in arranging the affair, in fact, it was gotten up almost without notice, and as it was a new business, arrangements were not as complete as they will be hereafter.  Then there was the rain and mud of Wednesday.  In spite of all these obstacles, the reunion was a grand success in every particular.  The weather was fine, the attendance was large - probably three thousand persons were on the ground - the old settlers, the young settlers, their children and families, were present in force, and the greatest good feeling, sociability and harmony prevailed.   Assembling on the square, a long procession was formed and, marched to the grounds, under direction of the marshals.  The program was varied somewhat, and after prayer by chaplain Hayden, and music, the audience was called to order by President Du Bois, and listened attentively to a lengthy and interesting address by Hon. C. W. Single, of this city.  We regret being unable to give the gentleman's or a synopsis in this connection, but unavoidable circumstances preclude its publication until next week, when we will give a lengthy report.
  After the address came the basket dinner, and the old settlers, and their sisters and their cousins and their aunts emptied overflowing baskets and did ample justice to a repast such as they did not have in early days, when bacon and bread were the principal articles of diet.
  On assembling" after dinner the election of officers was next in order, and C. W. Slagle was chosen president; H. B. Mitchell, vice-president; W. W. Junkin, secretary; Charles David, treasurer.   The following toasts were then offered and responses made: "The old men of the early settlers.   They have reaped the full enjoyment of their hardships."  This toast fell into good hands, Col. James Thompson responded in & happy manner, relating many incidents of early days, and closed by singing an old time song which elicited applause.
  "The early settlers of Fairfield," called a pleasing and interesting fifteen minutes speech from C. E. Noble.   George Acheson, - in one of his happiest efforts, responded to the toast: "The young men of the early settlers, may they continue to gather the fruits of their enterprise."  He was here in the good old days as a young man, and grew up with the country.  "To the brave women and the infants among the pioneers," W. B. Culbertson, a child of those days, gave an apt and pleasant response, alluding in a happy manner to four ladies - Mrs. E. S. Gage, Mrs. Joseph Hickenbottom, Mrs. M. E. Woods and Mrs. Chas. David, who were here before the town of Fairfield was organized - present among the audience, and humorously to the Sunday School days of himself and Cranmore Gage who were the only white boys present at the first school of that kind in Fairfield.  B. C. Andrews, of Pleasant Plain, and Hon. Wm. Hopkirk, of Lockridge, also gave interesting talks on pioneer life, and the speech making  was at an end.
  Following this was a social reunion which lasted until the hour came to disperse.  The exercises were interspersed with music by a choir under the direction of Dr. P. N. Woods, and by martial music, which made the hearts of the pioneers beat wildly as they thought of the fife and drum of the long ago.
  So many old people were on the ground that it was difficult to tell who was the oldest settler. On the register Samuel Moore, of Cedar Township, is down as coming to this county in April, 1836, and we can find none earlier.  If you know of them send us word.  W. H. Coop, was the oldest young settler.  He came to Jefferson county as early as he could - was born here in July 13, 1836.  Wm Huff had a birthday on Tuesday, and had been in this county thirty-nine years.  The four ladies mentioned above, who were here at the organization of the town were congratulated many and many a time and were the observed of the old settlers.   The show of relics was not as good as we hope to see hereafter. There were some of the old fashioned long rifles and guns; a pair of epaulettes with a history, a conch shell and an auger, brought here from Germany several years before the revolutionary war, shown by D. L Coop, one of our oldest settlers, and son of Col. Coop, whom every man in Jefferson county knew personally or remembers by tradition.  Other relics were: the first seal of the county) old coins, spoons, knives. etc., hardly enough shown to make much of an exhibition.
 The LEDGER wishes it could give the names of all the pioneers present, and gives all it can, copying them from the secretary's records.  We know there are more whose names are omitted, and will be glad to mention them at any time   Here is the list of those who are registered with the date of their settlement in the county:"