Pioneer's Gathering

Every year shows a graat tbinning ont in the ranks of those stnidy old pioneers who flrst paved the way for the fruitfnl farms and beantiful homes that are nowto be sean in Wasbtenaw connty, and to judge by the largeattendanoe at the annnal meetings of the Wsahtenaw Connty Pioneer Sooiety internet in the acts of the old timers does not relax, but is till a frnitfnl sonrce of pleasnre and gratifioation to their desoendants. There were considerably ever 300 people gathered together in the Presbyterian choreb, Ypsilanti, on Wednesday, at the 26th annnal meeting of the society. There were aged and infirm old men and women whose days on eartb can be bnt few and short; there were middle aged people strong, healtby and robnst, and tbere were young people in the heyday of youth ; all were happy and in good hnmor, pleased to meet and renew acquaintanceships and listen to the program laid out for the day's proceedings. The meeting opened at 10:40 a. m. wtth the singing of "America" by the audienoe, all standing. Rev. Wm. Cook, of Ypsilanti, offored prayer, and then President Albert Graves spoke a few words of welcome to those present. He described the meeting as a sort of memorial to those who first came to Washtenaw county and pre,pared the way for those who followed. E It was to be not only a literary entertainment, bnt a social gatheiing for people to renew old acqnaintauceships. Geo. Gill, of Ypsilauti, tben sang "Jnst as Alone." The secretary's report, the minutes of the last annual meeting and the treasurer's report were nest read. Tbis was followed by a selection of musio "Coiumbia, My Country. " Wm. H. Lay, the neciologist, then raad bis report from June 1, 1897, te June 1, 1898. The total nninber of deaths doring the year was 106, of which 54 were males and 52 were femalea. The combined ages footed up to over 7,000 years, and the average age was a little over 72 years. There were 2 over 90 years of age, 81 from 80 to 90, 33 from 70 to 80, 16 from 60 to 70, and 13 under 60. Seventeen of the number had resided in this connty over 60 years. S. P. Ballard, of Augnsta, read a very entertining paper on pioneer Ufe in bis own family. He prefaced his paper by the statement that 70 years ago last mouth he passed through what is now the city of Ypsilanti with his parents. Of that time he had lived 41 years in Ypsilanti town and 19 years in Augusta. George S. Wheeler, of Salem, L. D. Watkins, of Manchester, E. A. Nordman, of Lima, Roswell Waterman, of Ann Arbor, and R. C. Reeves, of Dester, were appointed a committee to nomínate offioers and report on nest plaoe of meeting. Dinner was nest in order and the tastefully decorated well laden tables whicb had been set in the basement of the ohuroh were soon snrrouuded by a bungry lot of people who did ampie jnstice to the good things. After dinuer a general season of visiting began and was oontinned until the meeting was called to order at 2 o'clook. "The Star Spanlged Banner" by James R. Sage, of Aun Arbor, was the flrst on the program. The aged singing teacher who first began operations in tbat line in this county 50 years ago and who rnust be over 70 years of age, sung the brilliant antbern in a clear, strong voioe and was loudly applauded for it. Tbe committee on offioers and place of meeting reported asfollows: Nest place of meeting at Ann Arbor, on the fair grounds, when the pioneer log oabin will be dedicated. Offlcers: President, W. D. Harriman, Anu Arbor: secretary, J. Q. A. Sessions, Ann Arbor; treasnrer, R. C. Reeve, Dexter; neorologist, Wm. H. I.ay, Ypsilanti ; exeoutive committee, H. S. Dean, J. L. Babcock, P. E. Mills, Ann Arbor; Mrs. J. Willard Babbitt, Ypsilanti; Wm. Campbell, Pittsfield; vice presidents who held office last vear were elected. F. E. Mills, of Ann Arbor, was to have read a paper on the Washtenaw County Fair. He was unable to be present but Mts. Mills was there and read it for hiru. The paper gave a brief aooonnt of the advent and growth of agricultural fairs in this oounty. The Washtenaw County Fair waB the flrst one to be established in this state in 1848. The year following the state fair was started and appropriations were made by the legislatnre for its support. The Wasbteuaw Fair Sooiety desires to colebrate its 50 years ence this fall by the erection of a pioneer log cabin and wants old relios of pioneer days, farnily portraits, heirloons and keepsakes to exhibit witbin its walls. The fair society asks the cooperation of the pioneer society in carrying out this projeot. James R. Sage next sang "The Old Oaken Bnoket." Rev. C. T. Allen, of Ypsilanti, next gave a brief bnt eloquent address, in whioh he sbowed the onward and upward growth of this great nation froin the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on the rocky coasts of New England. It was doe to these privations and trials of pioneer life that the country is what it is today the grandest nation on the face of the earth. "Columbia" was next sung as a duet by two ladies in fine style. Short speeches followed by L. D. Watkins, of Manchester, who made a plea for the menibers of the oounty society to identify themselves with the state pioneer society for the purpose of keeping a record of the pioneer families of the county. Mrs. Lee, of Ypsilanti, gave one of the best addresses of the day, full of pleasing reminiscenoes of pioneer days during her yuuth. Geo. Gill sang "Old Glory" and then B. D. Kelly, of Ypsilanti, made a plea fur funds to help build the log oabin. He asked as many as feit inclined to subsoribe $5 fot a log on which would be indelibly inscribed the uame of any old pioneer whom tbey might select. E. M. Comstook,of Ypsilanti, then read a short paper. A cali for tbose who were bom in Wasbtenaw oounty between 1830 and 1840, reeulted in 37 rising to their feet. Thirteen rose to a cali for those who jad lived in Washtenaw couuty between 1820 and 1830. There was not one person 90 years old or over present. Secretary Sessions gave a brief nistory of the sooiaty sinoe its organization in 1873. Then followed another patriotic song from James R. Sage. He was asked to sing "Tbe Star Spangled Banner" once more and cornplied with the rqnest amid loud applause. The singïng of "Anld Lang Syne" by the ooinDany and the prononncing of tbe benediction brought to a close one of the most successfnl meetings the sooiety has ever held.