Eagleville Missouri

At Eagleville each year is held the old settlers' meeting.  The meetings are informal and the object is for the old settlers to get together and renew old acquaintances rather than to have a regular program.  The association was founded at a time and under circumstances when men and women felt keenly the bond of human sympathy.  It is generally understood that forty years' residence in the county constitutes one an old settler, so this association can be perpetuated, providing the people continue to take an interest in it.  The secretary of the association, O.W. Curry, gives the following report of the origanization of the Old Settlers' Association:

On July 4, 1863, there was assembled at Eagleville a large crowd of people to celebrate the Fourth and if possible learn news from the siege of Vicksburg.  This assembly was made up of the fathers, mother, wives, sweethearts and children of soldiers who were at that time engaged in the great conflict between the North and the South.  News was very scarce, the mail coming only once a week, and each man who came from any distance was eagerly sought after and questioned as to what he knew, if anything, of those at the front.  It was a sad crowd that awaited on the Fourth of July the return of a carrier sent on horseback to Gallatin to bring news from the front.  The news was sure to sadden the hearts of many, and yet they waited, firmly bound together by the common tie of sympathy and grief.  It was under these circumstnaces and among the early pioneers of this county, who had not only shared the hardships of pioneer life together but who has sent their sons to the front to fight and, if need be, to die for the cause that they believed right, that the first old settlers' meeting was held in Harrison county.  In a speech made at that meeting by Dr. James L. Downing it was stated that Vicksburg would fall in the next few days, if it had not already fallen, and it was there agreed that each year thereafter the Old Settlers would meet to celebrate that occasion.

For many years these meetings were held on the fourth day of July, but in the year 1908 it was decided to change the date of the meetings to the second Tuesday in September of each year.  There are always a few who attended the first meeting of the Old Settlers present at these meetings. The records of their meetings call to mind many men who have been prominent in the affairs of the county.

submitted by: Melody Beery
mbeery@grm.net

Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri
CLEAN UP

All persons having manure piles or heaps of rubbish of any description upon their premises or in streets or alleys adjacent thereto, are hereby notified to remove same forthwith, before the same be declared nuisances under the city ordinances.
Jackson Walker, City Physician and Member of Board of Health

transcribed by Melody Beery
Source: Bethany Republican, April 29, 1903 Vol.XXXI


NEW HAMPTON, MISSOURI

MR.AND MRS.GEORGE A. SMITH CELEBRATE 62ND ANNIVERSARY

Mr. and Mrs. George Smith celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary Sunday, September 9, 1928 at their home in New Hampton, Missouri.  "Uncle George" and "Aunt Elizabeth" were born in Indiana and were reared in the county where they were born.  He is a civil war veteran and served two years in that war. They were united in marriage in Indiana September 9, 1866, and lived there two years.  They decided then to come west and moved to Missouri in 1868.  They are among the few early pioneers that are left and have seen many changes in this country since they locatedin Harrison County sixty years ago.

They had ten children and all were present to help them celebrate the happy occasion  excepting the two who have preceded them to the great beyond. All their children live close to the old home place except Mrs.Ed Allen who lives in Kingman County, Kansas,and who came up the week before for a visit with them.  At the noon hour all their children and several of their grandchildren and great grandchildren gathered with well filled baskets until the table fairly groaned with good things to eat. Those who were with them were Lewis and family, Henry and family, Charley and family, Jim and family, Sam and family, Cecil Campbell and wife, Arch Smith and family, Leo Craig and family, Floyd Henson and children,  Grant Lacy and family, Mrs. Ed Allen, John Smith and Chris Lacy.

BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE


Copyright © Genealogy Trails All Rights Reserved with Full Rights Reserved for Original Contributor