Official Report Pioneer Meeting

OFFICIAL REPORT PIONEER MEETING

The annual meeting of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Washtenaw county was held in the Methodist church in Chelsea, June 11, 1902, at 10 o'clock a. m. Prayer was offered by Rev. Thos. Holmes. The president, O. C. Burkhardt, made some very appropriate remarks in behalf of the the good people of Chelsea. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary and were approved.

The report of the treasurer, R. C. Reeves, was read by Mr. Burton, showing a balance in the treasury of $47.58. The report was accepted and adopted.

The report of the necrologist, Wm. H. Lay was read and approved, showing the death list for the past year to be 147, being 85 men and 62 women.

A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Lay for his painstaking in rendering such a complete report.

A nominating committee was appointed to recommend officers for the ensuing year and to decided upon the next place of meeting, consisting of  E. A. Nordman, Isaac Terry, Wm. Campbell, A. R. Graves. J. Everitt, C. S. Conklin.

After some promiscuous remarks it was announced that dinner was ready and it was suggested that those persons who were over seventy years of age proceed to the tables first. During the recess a general good time of social greeting was held.

The afternoon session was opened with scripture reading and prayer by Rev. L. A. Castor. In accordance with a recently established custom Rev. Thos. Holmes was appointed to present bouquets to the oldest persons present, viz., Mrs. Mercy Boyd, of Sylvan, 92 years; Mrs. Abbie W. Smith, of Scio, 91 years; Mrs. James B. Jewett, of Lima, 91 years, and John  Chicken, of Ypsilanti, 88 years. The presentation was made in a felicitous strain, and was responded to with feelings of emotion by Mr. Chicken.

President J. B. Angell, who was expected to deliver a short address, sent  a letter of regret at not being able to be present to pay his tribute to the early settlers of the county, which was read by the secretary.

Judge W. D. Harriman was called and read a very fine outline history of Christian Eberbach, aged 84, of Ann Arbor. He made mention of his early and later life, his sterling business qualities and loyalty to his adopted country.

Mrs. Eli Moore, of Ann Arbor, read an interesting account of her first visit to Ann Arbor and of her later residence in that beautiful city.

Wm. Campbell, of Ypsilanti, read a paper on the early and later days of Deacon Josiah Childs, of Augusta, aged 90 years. He spoke of his genuine traits of manhood, his comprehensive grasp of all matters of religion and affairs of the nation and the general influence of the Childs family throughout the county and state.

Mrs. Benjamin Kelly gave a very interesting account of the Kelly family in the days gone by and of the important part taken by them in pioneer life.

R. Campbell read pioneer memories of the war of the rebellion, "A Flag and its Defenders," a fragment of history including an account of the tragic death of Col. H. H. Jeffords at the battle of Gettysburg.

A. R. Graves recited an amusing parody on farm life, the past and the present compared. Very appropriate volunteer remarks were made by Andrew Morton, J. A. McDougal, E. A. Nordman, Wm. Lay, Andrew Campbell, Dr. Holmes, G. R. Sage and some others.

The nominating committee, when called upon, reported as follows:

Next place for holding annual meeting, Ypsilanti.

President--F. A. Graves, of Ypsilanti.

Secretary--R. Campbell, Ann Arbor.

Treasurer--O. C. Burkhardt, Chelsea.

Necrologist--Wm. H. Lay, Ypsilanti.

Vice Presidents--Edgar Rexford of Ypsilanti, Jas L. Lowden, Ypsilanti township, J. Q. A. Sessions, ann Arbor, Smith Botsford, Ann Arbor township; Henry Palmer, Bridgewater, W. H. Glenn, Dexter, L. D. Watkins, Manchester, N. C. Carpenter, Pittsfield, Nathan Sutton, Northfield, George S. Wheeler, Salem, J. M. Young, Saline, J. A. McDougal, Superior, Thos. Howlett, Lyndon, M. L. Raymond, Sharon, Isaac Terry, Webster, W. H. Davenport, York.

Executive Committee--Wm. H. Lay, N. C. Carpenter, Wm. Campbell, H. P. Glover, J. M. Chidister, E. D. Holmes.

The report was accepted and adopted.

The music for the occasion was appropriate and well rendered, consisting of both vocal and instrumental choices, solos by R. H. Snyder and J. R. Gage, also fine selections by a male quartet.

Although the weather was threatening in the morning, it nevertheless turned out to be a good day for the occasion. In the afternoon session there appeared to be over 200 in attendance in the fine audience room of th Methodist church, in the basement of which we were served by the ladies with a bountiful dinner.

All seemed to enjoy themselves unusually well, and a hearty vote of thanks was given to the good people of Chelsea for their generous hospitality and also to all who aided in making the occasion a memorable one.

Society then adjourned. 

R. CAMPBELL,

Secretary.