Chapter 37

Chapter 37
pages 205 - 209

THE OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY.

On the 4th of July, 1867, a preliminary meeting was had in Peoria, to organize an Old Settlers' Society. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution, etc., and finally, at a meeting held the 27th of said month, a constitution was adopted, and officers were elected—in short, all the usual steps were taken to organize said society.

Hon. John Hamlin was elected President for one year;
Col. Charles Ballance was elected Vice-Pres't; and
George W. H. Gilbert was elected Secretary.

The design that none should be registered as members but those who had lived in Peoria, or its immediate vicinity, for more than thirty years, was not fully carried out; for, the thing becoming popular, many sought to join who by no means came within the spirit and meaning of the constitution; and, as a considerable degree of liberality of feeling prevailed, a number were permitted to be enrolled who had not the proper residence nor length of time. In the following list those who came into the place since 1836 are omitted, but some are retained who never lived in the city at all, and others who have long since removed away. About half of the following, however, now live within the bounds of the city:
[The following list includes the member's name and when they started their residence.]

John Hamlin: Nov. 1819.
C. Ballance: Nov. 1831.
Samuel B. King: Sept. 1831.
John Waugh: June, 1836.
Jacob Hepperly: March, 1831.
Edward F. Nowland: Jan. 1835.
John C. Flanagan: May, 1834.
John T. Lindsay: July, 1836.
John Todhunter: June, 1834.
Samuel Tart: Sept. 1834.
Matthew Taggart: Nov. 18, 1835.
Thomas Mooney, jr.: Oct. 1835.
Edward D. Shutts: Oct. 4, 1836.
Peter Sweat: Dec. 24, 1833.
Jacob Tapping: Dec. 1, 1836.
Jacob Darst: June 20, 1835.
Frederick Muller: June 10, 1836.
Robert Boal: June 4, 1836.
John H. Lisk: Sept, 1835.
John Leadley: Oct. 1836.
George C. Bestor: Aug. 1835.
Rudolphus Rouse: Aug. 1832.
Isaac Underhill: Dec. 25, 1833.
John Hines: Nov. 3, 1836.
William A. Hall: Nov. 6, 1833.
Aquilla Moffatt: June 2, 1822.
John Feilkil: Aug. 1836.
Josiah Fulton: April, 1819.
William Blanchard: May, 1819.
John Sharp: Oct. 1824,
John W. Caldwell: Oct. 3, 1830.
John Whitby: Oct. 1835.
Daniel Corbet: Oct. 1835.
George Greenwood: Oct. 9, 1835.
Nelson L. Woodruff: Nov. 16, 1835.
W. H. Ellis: Oct. 1836.
George Gilfillen: 1836.
George W. Schnebly: Nov. 1835.
Thomas P. Smith: Nov. 1834.
William Stillwell: June, 1836.
John C. Schnebly: Nov. 1835.
Nathaniel Robinson: Oct. 19, 1835.
J. H. Schnebly: Nov. 10, 1835.
George Ford: May, 1835.
Griffith Dickinson: April, 1835.
James H. McCall: May 10, 1835.
H. W. Partridge: June, 1836.
Alexander Caldwell: Dec. 1827.
J. S. Hornbaker: Oct. 1830.
E. C. Root: Oct. 1830.
Amos Stevens: July, 1833.
Alvah Moffatt: June 10, 1822.
Lorin Wilder: Oct. 27, 1836.
Alexander M. King: Sept. 1831.
Longworth Armstrong: Oct. 1836.
Chauncey C. Wood: Sept. 1836.
Henry W. Jones: Nov. 1, 1831.
John A. McCoy: Dec. 28, 1836.
John Benson: May, 1834.
Edward C. Benson: May, 1834.
Ebenezer Stowell: June, 1836.
Lewis Howell: May, 1836.
William Reynolds: Nov. 1836.
Peter W. Hawley: July, 1835.
William C. H. Barton: Dec. 23, 1325.
Perry Frazer: July, 1834.
P. C. Reding: June, 1822.
Auren Garrett: Aug. 1833,
Daniel Trail: May 4, 1834.
C. M. Frazer: July, 1834.
Elihu N. Powell: March, 1836.
Alva Dunlap: May, 1834.
Lyman J. Loomis: Aug. 1834.
George W. Fash: June, 1835.
Augustine Greenwood: Aug. 16, 1836.
William E. Mason: Aug. 19, 1834.
J. T. Stewart: Born in Ill. June 20, 1824.
John E. Bristol: Oct 19, 1830.
Moses Clifton: Oct. 1826.
L. H. Armstrong: Nov. 1836.
B. L. T. Bourland: June, 1834.
Peter Frye: Nov. 1834.
John J. Runkle: Oct. 1833.
Imri W. Case: Oct. 3, 1836.
Johnson S. Adams: March, 1831.
James F. Murden: June 15, 1835.
James Monroe: Sept. 5, 1836.

     This organization has thus far contributed much to the pleasure of the society; especially on the Fourth of July, our national birthday. On the fourth of July, 1868, we had a sumptuous feast, and a number of speeches, in the shade of Flanagan's Grove, for the members and their families, and some invited guests.
On the fourth of July, 1869, preparations were made for even a more sumptuous feast, for a larger crowd, and the kindest of feelings prevailed; but our hilarity was much checked by a rain-storm that broke into the midst of it.
     The same officers were reflected at both of said meetings, and officiate in said offices yet.
     The above are nearly all old men; and yet, since this society was formed (two years and a half), only one of its members has died, to wit, Hon. Peter Sweat. He was a native of New Hampshire, but had lived the last half of his life in Peoria. The most of the time he dealt in dry goods or groceries (I believe at one time in both), but for a few years he had turned his attention to cultivating grapes and other fruit. His integrity as a business man I never heard questioned. He appeared to be a man of moderate talents; yet he must have possessed a considerable amount of shrewdness, for he was for a long time a ruling spirit in the democratic party, and was by it frequently elected to office. At one time he served a term of four years in the State Senate.

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