Official Account Pioneer Meeting

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT PIONEER MEETING

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING OF WASHTENAW GATHERINGS

A Brief Description of the Able Papers Read at the Ypsilanti Meeting

The annual meeting of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Washtenaw county was held in Ypsilanti at the Presbyterian church on Wednesday, June 10 at 10 o'clock a. m. The meeting was called to order by the president, F. A. Graves. Reading of the scripture and prayer by Rev. R. K. Wharton followed and 'America' was sung by the choir, the audience joining.

Remarks were made by the president welcoming the pioneers and their friends to the meeting now being held, hoping that it would be a source of profit and enjoyment for all.

The secretary's report for the last annual meeting was read and approved. The report of the treasurer, O. C. Burkhart, for the past year was read showing a balance in the treasury of $54 73. Report was accepted and adopted. The report of the necrologist, Wm. H. Lay, was read giving date of death, locality, age and years of residence in the county. It showed that 131 deaths of pioneers had been reported during the year; 70 men and 61 women. Report accepted and adopted.

A poem having extracts regarding the evangelist, D. L. Moody, was recited by Mrs. Abbey of Augusta, in a clear, firm voice. She is over 91 years of age. At the close it was voted that she be made an honorary member of the society.

A committee was appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year, consisting of Wm. Campbell, E. A. Norman, J. A. McDougall, C. M. Fellows and H. Stumpenhusen. After listening to some fine selections of vocal and instrumental music it was announced that dinner was ready and would be served by the ladies in the basement of the church. After a sumptuous repast, which was participated in by nearly 200 guests, and a short season of social converse, the meeting was again called to order and exercises continued. Judge W. D. Harriman gave a very interesitng resume of the life and career of the late Judge J. W. Babbitt.

The nominating committee then reported as officers for the ensuing year as follows: Next meeting to be held at Salline; President, E. W. Hunt of Saline; secretary, Robert Campbell of Ann Arbor; treasurer, O. C. Burkhart of Chelsea; necrologist, Wm. H. Lay of Ypsilanti; executive committee, W. H. Davenport, H. W. Basset. J. M. Young. Jerome Loshier, G. L. Hoyt, all of Salline, and A. A. Wood of Lodi; vice presidents, Wm. Campbell Ypsilanti city, H. Stumpenhusen, Ypsilanti town, J. Q. A. Sessions, Ann Arbor, R. L. Godfrey, Ann Arbor town, Geo. L. Rawson, Bridgewater, W. H. Glenn, Dexter, N. C. Carpenter, Pittsfield, Nathan Sutton, Northfield, S. B. Walker, Saline, J. W. Young, Saline, J. H. McDougall, Superior, Thos. Howlett, Lyndon, M. L. Raymond, Sharon, Isaac Seery, Webster, W. H. Davenport, York, E. A. Norman, Lima, Frank Spaford, Manchester, C. H. Leman, Scio.

Rev. C. T. Allen gave some very interesting reminiscences of his early life of the engine traits of character in Sharon township. He spoke of the large families of those days and some which pertained to the early pioneers, notwithstanding the privations and primitive modes of life. The secretary read a short paper regarding some of the early pioneers of the Normal school and the part taken by some of them during the Civil War. Mention was made of Profs. A. S. Welch, E. M. Foote and F. H. Pease and the part they took in organization of a company among the students. Also a brief account of the grand record which the company made at the battle of South Mountain and Antietam. In connection with this paper special music was rendered by a quartet from the Conservatory of Music under the direction of Prof. Pease. Some of the old stirring war songs were rendered with much feeling and effect. Dr. Daniel Putnam spoke of early pioneer life in New England. He painted a picture of those days which might be well for some of our modern people to imitate, indicating what a disturbing element it makes in modern society this discrimination between mental and physical labor, and the assumed class distinction in modern society. Brief reminiscent talks were next in order. Charles Fleming, who came to the county in 1827, spoke of the earliest settlers and of those who formed the first church organization, of their sterling qualities and their quaint ways. S. P. Ballard spoke with much feeling in his usual poetic style. These were followed by interesting items and incidents from J. A. McDougall, Andrew Campbell, E. A. Norman, J. Wood and some others. All seemed to admit that the occasion was an unusually enjoyable one.

The music for the occasion was all well rendered and very appropriate. Mrs. Riley presided as organist with pleasing selections. Mrs. McHorg, J. R. Sage, the octogenarian of Ann Arbor, and A. F. Clark of Saline sang some fine solos, and the quartet from the Normal Conservatory made a valuable addition to the interesting events of the day.

A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to all those who aided in making this meeting an unusually enjoyable one. After the singing of a hymn followed by the benediction, a motion to adjourn was made and carried.

ROBERT CAMPBELL,

Secretary.

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THE DEATH OF GEO. SPATHELF, SR.

George Spathelf, sr., died at his residence, 1526 Pontiac street, Friday morning at 7 o'clock, aged 71 years.

Mr. Spathelf was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the Northside, having resided there nearly all of his life, where eh has conducted a carpet-weaving business for years. For a long time he has been troubled with asthma and of late he has suffered so much that he was compelled to cease active labor and finally succumbed to the disease.

His wife and a son and daughter survive him.

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MRS. HINSDALE'S TRIP ABROAD

Police Were Called in Athens When She Dropped Dagger

PURCHASED AS A CURIO

She Thinks the Turk Handsomest Man in Europe but Most Servile

Mrs. B. A. Hinsdale relates in a rarely interesting way, her experiences and impressions abroad. Mrs. Hinsdale has just returned from a year in Europe and has seen with eyes that were not holden; and the fortunate who hear, listen with keenest interest to history and story of foreign land.

Mrs. Hinsale spent the summer in England, then went to Paris, to Switzerland, spend three months of winter in Rome, then to Greece, to Constantinople, across the Black Sea to Roumania, to Hungary, to Vienna, Germany, to Prague, spent a month in Dresden, another in Holland; then to England, to Liverpool, across the channel to Ireland––and is not that the acme?

In Ireland, Mrs. Hinsdale gazed from afar upon the Blarney stone, paid the sexton to ring "The Bells of Shandon," and heard them chime "The Last Rose of Summer" and "The Old Folks at Home."

Mrs. Hinsdale says the scenery of Ireland is beautiful and the cattle look better than the people, in the south-western part where the poor peasant lives. There the pigs are in the parlor and the chickens are on the bed, and from their windowless little huts the animals and the people march out together.

Rome is of greater interest to the student than any other place, says Mrs. Hinsdale, because of its history. But it has interest for us in knowing that there Mrs. Hinsdale saw the Pope. It is necessary to secure tickets from some one acquainted in the Vatican and you are obliged to dress in a simple black gown and black lace veil thrown over the hair. Mrs. Hinsdale conformed to the requirements and headed the Pope's speech in Italian and received his blessing in Latin.

When the Pope had entered the Vatican worshippers caressed the arms of the chair where his feeble arms had rested.

While in Constantinople, Mrs. Hinsdale behold the great Sultan, who every Friday goes to his Mosque to pray. With christian wonder she gazed upon some carriages from the Harem, which apparently were shut tight on all sides, with no peep within. There are disappointing things in Constatinople.

Mrs. Hinsdale says the Turk is the handsomest man in Europe, but his is so obsequious. He bows all over, proclaiming: "My hands, my lips, my body, my feet, are at your service, and I am as the dust before you." Such servility is absurdly non-American, but satisfactory to know about.

Mrs. Hinsdale tells an amusing little incident that happened in Athens. While there, she ran across a relic-looking old dagger and purchased it. As soon as this was known, a man came out with an old pistol, another with a gun. She was supposed to be a woman of "arms." But she withstood persuasion and escaped with her dagger alone.

In front of her hotel she dropped it, and not being "done up," two large girls put eyes on it and her, and immediately called the police.

Investigations were made, but when it was found that Mrs. Hinsdale was an American lady, no offense was taken.

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ANN ARBOR TO BE THE HOME OFFICE

 The articles of incorporation of the Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit Traction Company with $2,500,000 capital were filed with the Secretary of State Saturday. Apparently the home office of the company was given as Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor will appreciate the honor.