USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 70
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ARTICLE II. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the society, and to call extra meetings upon the petition of any six members.
ARTICLE. III. It shall be the duty of the Vice Presidents in case of the absence, resignation or death of the President, to perform all of his duties.
ARTICLE IV. In case of the absence, resignation or death of the President and both Vice Presidents, any six members shall have power to call a meeting, and in such case any meeting shall have power to elect a President pro tem., which meeting so called and presided over shall be as valid as any other.
ARTICIR V. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the society, which shall be subject to the inspection of all the members.
ARTICLE VI. It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to carry on any correspondence of interest lo the society, and promulgate the same at the yearly meeting.
433
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
ARTICLE VII. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep all moneys belonging to the society, and pay out the same upon the order of the society or any committee vested with the power to control the same, and he shall make report thereof at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. Every man having a good moral character and having resided in the State of Illinois for a period of thirty years prior to the date of this constitution, and for the last ten years in Peoria or its vicinity, shall, upon payment to the Treasurer of an initiation fee of one dollar, be eligible to become a member of this society. [At a meeting of the Union, July 4, 1869, this article was amended so as to read " that every person who has resided in the State of Illinois prior to A. D., 1840, who is now a resident of Peoria or its vicinity, shall be entitled to be- come a member of this society by signing the constitution and paying the initiation fee ; and the children of any person who is a member of the society shall be entitled to membership at any age.]
ARTICLE IX. The first meeting of this Society shall be held at the Court-house in the city of Peoria at two o'clock on the 27th day of July, 1867, and forever thereafter at the same place, and at the same hour of the day, on the fourth day of July, and at such other times as may be appointed, as hereinbefore provided. [At the annual meeting of the Society, July 4, 1870, on motion of John Waugh, the time of meeting was changed to the roth of Sep- tember, the anniversary of Perry's victory. At the re-union on the 10th of September, 1873, the time of meeting was again changed, on motion of Alva Dunlap, and the second Thursday in September substituted.]
ARTICLE X. If at any time it shall be thought necessary to have by-laws to aid in carrying out the objects of this Society, it shall be competent for the Secretary, by a majority vote, to adopt such by-laws, and in the same way to amend or repeal them, when they shall have been proved to be defective or injurious.
ARTICLE XI. It shall be competent for the Society at any yearly meeting to make any amendments to this con- stitution which a majority shall approve.
The following names were signed to this constitution at the time of its adoption, to- gether with date of settlement, etc .:
NAME.
MONTH.
YEAR.
REMARKS.
John Hamlin
November
1823
Settled in the State in 1819. Deceased.
C. Ballance.
November
1831
Died Aug. 10, 1872.
Samuel B. King
September
1831
John Waugh
June.
836
Jacob Happerly
March
1831
E. F. Nowland.
January
1835
John T. Lindsay
July
1836
John Todhunter.
June
1834
Samuel Tart
September
1834
M. Tagart
November 18
1835
?
Joseph J. Thomas.
June
1837
Deceased.
Thomas Mooney, Jr.
October
1835
Daniel Trail
May
1834
C. M. Frazer
July
1834
E. N. Powell
March
1836
Died.
Alva Dunlap
May.
1834
L. J. Loomis.
August
1834
A. W. Bushnell.
June
1837
George W. H. Gilbert ..
February 13
1837
Born in Peoria
George W. Fash_
June
1835
Allen L. Fahnestock
November
1837
The Society then proceeded to the election of officers, with the following result :
President, John Hamlin.
Vice Presidents, Colonel Charles Ballance, Jacob Hepperley.
Recording Secretary, G. W. H. Gilbert.
Corresponding Secretary, John C. Flanagan.
Treasurer, Edward F. Nowland,
Hons. E. N. Powell, John T. Lindsay and John C. Flanagan, Esq., were appointed a committee to prepare a code of by-laws, to be submitted at the next meeting.
On motion of Mr. Nowland it was unanimously
Resolved, That when any member of the Society may die, it shall be the duty of the Society to attend his funeral in a body.
The meeting then adjourned until the next regular meeting, subject to an earlier call under the constitution.
The following names were subsequently signed to the constitution, and are given in
Deceased.
John C. Flanagan
May
1834
434
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
regular chronological order of settlement, with such other information as is preserved on the record of the Union :
NAMES. MONTH.
YEAR.
REMARKS.
Josiah Fulton.
April 19
Came to the Illinois country in 1806.
David Barnes __
May 23.
1819
Died in Bushnell in the Summer of 1570.
William Blanchard ..
June .. 1819
Took out first marriage license from Peoria Co.
A. E. Barnes.
March 26. 1821
I822
Died January 10, ISSO.
Alva Moffatt
June 20 1822
HI. Reding ..
June
IS22
Elijah Brown.
June
IS24
South Hampton.
J. T. Stewart.
June
1824
Born in Illinois.
llenry II. Moffatt.
July 29.
IS25
Born in Peoria county.
Mrs. Pierre Renon
Moses Clifton.
October
1826
Deceased.
Alexander Caldwell.
December
IS27
Deceased.
J. Clegg
February
IS28
M. B. Silliman.
September 21
IS28
South Hampton. Deceased.
Fountain Watkins
November 4.
IS29
Elmwood.
James Harker.
November 18
1829
Harker's Corners. Deceased.
Isaac Harkness.
February
1830
Iowa.
Clementinus Ewalt.
May I.
1830
Peoria.
John Hammett ..
June.
1830
Chillicothe.
Elizabeth Hammett. Joseph Schirtz ..
June
1830
Chillicothe.
J. W. Caldwell
October 3.
1830
Hilton.
E. C. Root
October
1830
Blue Ridge.
J. E. Bristol.
October 19.
1830
Mossville.
J. S. Hornbaker
October
1830
John M. Roberts
December 10.
1830
Morton.
J. S. Adams
March
IS31
Hilton.
Linus Scoville.
April.
1831
Mossville.
J. H. Sisk.
September
IS31
Alexander M. King.
September
IS31
Deceased.
Henry W. Jones.
November I
1831
Kickapoo township.
E. A. Van Meter.
November 25
1831
Rudolphus Rouse.
August
1832
Deceased.
S. R. Mooberry
October
1832
March 1
1833
Dunlap.
Il. G. Anderson
March 11
1833
Amos Stephens
July.
1833
Elmwood.
Auren Garrett.
August.
1833
John J. Runkle.
October
1833
Summerville.
Mark M. Aikin
October 28
1833
Learned printers' trade with the Harpers.
B. G. Rne.
November
1833
Groveland.
Peter Sweet.
December 24
S33
Deceased.
Isaac Underhill.
December 25.
1833
Died at Austin, Texas, March 31, 1875 .*
Jane S. Underhill
December 25.
1833
Moses Y. Dusenbery
1833
Crosby White
1833
Peoria.
Daniel Brownt.
January 22
1834
South Hampton.
Joseph Kelso ..
April 20.
1834
Washington.
John Benson
May
1834
Edward C. Benson
May
1834
Benjamin L. T. Bourland Perry Frazer
June
1834
Born October to, 1825. Leadville, Colorado.
Edward Daw's
August.
1834
Born 1786. Deceased.
William E. Mason
August 19
1834
George P. Rice ..
October
1834
Trivoli.
Alexander Sisk
October
1834
Peoria.
Peter Frye .
November
1834
Peoria.
Thomas D. Smithey.
November
1834
Pana.
C. P. W. Eastman
November ..
1834
. AIr. Underhill's remains were first buried at Austin, and subsequently taken up and brought to Peoria, where they were re-interred with high Masonic honors, on Sunday, April 15, 1875.
tSon of Job Brown, inventor of the Lever corn planter, in 1857.
Born in Peoria county.
Aquilla Moffatt
June 20
1825
Tremont.
August
1830
B. Douglass.
William A. Hall.
September 6 1833
July
1834
435
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
NAMES.
MONTH.
YEAR.
REMARKS.
Calvin Blake
December 24
1834
Dunlap.
Sarah C. Robinson
January
1835
Griffith Dickerson
April
1835
Peoria.
J. H. McCall
May 10
1835
Mrs. Louisa McCall
May 10
1835
Mrs. Grace Horrett
May
1835
John Holmes_
June
1835
James F. Murden
June 15
1835
Jacob Darst
June 20
1835
Mrs. Margt. P. Raymond
June
1835
Peoria.
Peter W. Hawley
July
1835
T. B. McFadden
July
1835
Peoria.
Geo. C. Bestor
August
1835
John Whitby
October
1835
G. Greenwood
October 9.
1835
Nathaniel Robinson
October 19-
1835
John Conkleton
October
1835
Glassford.
Mrs. Eliza J. Sickler
October
1835
Peoria.
Daniel Corbet
October
1835
Dunlap.
Nelson Woodruff
November 16. 1835
Deceased.
G. W. Schelby
November
1835
John C. Schnebly
November
1835
J. H. Schnebly
November 10.
1835
Peoria.
George Woodruff
November 18
1835
W. H. Richmond
December
1835
Robert W. Summers
William Comegys
Elizabeth Comegys
J. McClay Smith.
April 5
1836
Deceased.
John F. King
April 27
1836
Born in Peoria county.
Lewis Horrell
May
1836
R. H. Boal.
June 4-
1836
Frederick Miller.
June 10
1836
Ebenezer Stowell
June
1836
June
I836
W. H. Partrige
June.
1836
Thomas J. Henderson ..
June 24
1836
Princeton.
Charles Robinson
Tune
1836
William H. S. Gorsuch
June IO
1836
William Gifford
July
1836
Kickapoo. Elmwood.
L. L. Guyer
July 19
1836
Peoria.
John Felkel
August.
1836
Hilton. Deceased.
Augustine Greenwood
August 16 1836
James Monroe
September 5
1836
C. C. Wood.
September
1836
Edson F. Smith
September 16
1836
W. Case
October 3
1836
Edward D. Shutts.
October 4
1836
John Leadley
October
1836
Lorin Wilder
October 27
1836
W. H. Ellis
October
1836
Deceased.
George Gilfillin.
October
1836
G. C. Babcock
October
1836
Norman Howe
October.
1836
John Hines
November 3
1836
William Robinson
November 13.
1836
Mossville.
Thomas Boyle
November 15
1836
Mahlon T. Powell
November 6
1826
Daniel Slane.
November 29
1836
L. H. Armstrong.
November
836
W. Reynolds
November
1836
Jacob Tapping
December I
1836
J. A. McCoy
December 28
1836
L. A. Cole
March
1837
Peoria.
Peoria. Deceased.
1835
Peoria.
H. T. Baldwin
IS36
Peoria.
Isaac Taylor
1836
Peoria.
Blue Ridge. Peoria.
Justus Gibbs
July 7.
1836
Now lives in Iowa. Alta.
Hilton. Deceased. Alta.
Langworth Armstrong ..
October.
IS36
Deceased.
West Halleck.
Peoria.
Deceased.
Deceased, September 15, 1875.
Died August 30, 1873. Canton.
Alta.
Deceased.
Mossville.
1835
1835
William Stilwell
436
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
NAMES.
MONTH.
YEAR.
REMARKS.
Cyrus Tucker
April
1837
P.O. Kickapoo.
Henry Rouse
April 20
IS37
Born in Peoria.
Robert Will_
May 1
1837
Lawn Ridge.
George 1 .. Beston
June 10
1837
Born in Peoria. Deceased.
Ira Smith.
June 15.
1837
Peoria. Deceased.
William Kellogg
James Stratton
June
1837
Deceased.
llenry Apple
July .
1837
Deceased.
llenry Detweiler
September
1837
Thomas Huff.
November 15
IS37
Amos A. Couch
November 25
1837
Harvey Lightner
Apri
1838
John Crawl
April
IS38
J. M. Cooper
April
1838
Sampson Shockley.
May 6
1838
John Moss
May 12
183S
Jubilee.
Willliam Weis.
May 13
1838
James C. Lindsay
May
IS38
Peoria.
O. C. Parmly.
May 14
1838
John McDonald
June
1838
Deceased.
11. M. Robinson.
June
1838
Sidney Pulsifer D. C. Farrell.
June
1838
Samuel Dimon
June 1
1838
Kickapoo. Born in Conn.
J. N. Gorsuch
June
1838
Deceased.
George Divelbliss.
June 21
1838
Radnor Township.
G. H. Keltelle.
July
1838
Born in Peoria county.
E. M. Colliem
July
1838
Edrick Thomas
July
1838
Deceased.
John A. Thomas
August 24
IS38
Kickapoo.
Gilbert Hathaway
August 28
1838
Brimfield.
F. M. Dunlap
October
IS38
Dunlap.
Lloyd Shaw
November
1838
W. J. Jones
April
1839
Removed to Bardolph, Mo.
Florian 11aungs
May.
1839
Deceased.
William 11. Jenks
November
1839
William A. Herron
November.
1839
G. B. Turbett
November
1839
E. C. Silliman
1840
Seth W. Freeman
May.
1840
J. L .. Knowlton
July 12
1840
Born in Peoria.
G. A. Wilson
December 9
1840
Born Tazewell Co.
M. O. Bestor
January 1
1842
James M. Rice.
March
1842
Mrs. G. II. Williams.
February 16.
1850
Born in Peoria.
Harry M. Van Buskirk ..
June
1852
1. Menard
December 26
1798
Born at Kaskaskıa. Deceased.
1.awson lowland
Washington.
Mrs. A. M. Gorsuch
Mrs. Catharine Summers
W. T. Dowdall
May
1865
Born in Illinois, March 8, 1835.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
The second annual meeting of the Union, a basket pic-nic, was held in Flanagan's Grove, July 4, 1868, that well-known old settler having tendered the use of his premises for that purpose. John Hamlin presided. This meeting was largely attended and highly enjoyed. After dinner and attendant festivities came the election of officers for the ensuing year. Sohn Hamlin was re-elected president by neclamation, and the other officers of the preceding year were then re-elected by one vote by acclamation.
Methodist Minister, Kickapoo Tp.
Walter Stewarl
1837
1838
Died in Chicago. Peoria.
C. P. King
June
1838
Mrs. J. D. MeClure
November 3.
1840
1837
Patrick Harmon
1837
437
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
RACY LETTER FROM AN OLD SAILOR.
Mr. J. C. Flanagan, corresponding secretary, presented a letter from Captain L. Coolidge, which was read and ordered to be engrossed in the records of the Society, and the original to be filed among the archives of the Union. The letter is herewith presented :
BRIMFIELD, August 5, 1868. J. C. FLANAGAN, EsQ .- Dear Sir : As Secretary of the Old Settlers' Society, I wish you to hand the under- written to its committee. I should be happy to attend the meeting on the ensning Ioth, but think it quite uncer- tain. I recall with pleasure the pleasant times, the long nights " when winter chills the darkened air," passed with Pinckney, Abbott, l'hompson and Caldwell, choice spirits, whose genial dispositions and social powers crowned old Winter's head with flowers.
With respectful compliments to the committee, I remain, truly your friend.
L. COOLIDGE.
To the Old Settlers' Society :
In accordance with the desire of the committee of the Old Settlers' Society, before it is presumed they will " shuffle off this mortal coil," that they should leave some little item pertaining to themselves, I am induced, princi- pally that my example may be followed, to offer this as " something-nothing." I am very sensible there is a diffidence and reluctance in being the herald of our own exploits. It is hard to get acquainted with ourselves. We may have a distinct notion of what we are, and yet would prefer that somebody else would tell the world of it. But all reluct- ance in this respect is obviated by the intention that these sketches are to be exclusively as "tablets of memory" and references for the use of the Society. Few, indeed, have experienced more of the sad vicissitudes of life than myself. " Variety is charming," as Cowper says. Among its numerous favors was heing shipwrecked once - "resolved into dew" in one zone, and congealed into ice in the other : on an uninhabited island fourteen months; and a prisoner at Halifax eighty-four days in 1812. At the time of my discharge John Bull's short commons of pea soup and middlings had reduced me to an "anatomy or tailor's yard-stick." Being rather at variance with the ocean, I bid it farewell, and "cleared" for the Green Mountains of Vermont. Here I eventually bought a farm, and after residing on it nearly fifteen years, I was induced, by the persuasion of a farmer friend who had " moved" to Illinois. to leave the mystic grandeur and romantic beauty of the Green Mountains for the dull monotony of the Prairie Land, a contrast which took us a long while to reconcile with complacency.
I arrived in Peoria in June, 1834, and after a few days tarrying, which made ns more than homesick, bought a " claim" near Kickapoo, of C. K- -, who, of course, overcharged us prodigionsly. We resided here nearly sixteen years, when we had an opportunity of "selling out" quite advantageously, and removed to Brimfield. Here my son opened a farm abont a mile E. by E. from French Grove, which, at present, consists of two hundred and forty acres of as good land as any in the county. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * I am every inch a Yankee or " round head," but forswear "barebones" and their potations; was born at the " hub" of the universe, or which is rather more refined; the "modern Athens," within a few rods of the Old South Church, as well known in all Yankeedom as St. Paul's to Londoners. "Age has claw'd me in his clutch." I am now eighty-five ; enjoy comparatively good health, which, while I retain, makes life endurable.
I devoutly hope that the last days of the Old Settlers may be their best days, serene and peaceful, with the precious attributes of an holy trust and confidence, so that when the time comes that they return to mother earth, the common mother of mankind, they may
make their exit Like a well-graced actor, When he leaves the stage." L. COOLIDGE.
A REQUEST.
After considering this letter and discussing various incidents in the life of the writer, on motion of Colonel Ballance, it was resolved that each member of the Union be requested to furnish a sketch of his life, with any incidents of an interesting or his- torical nature, and deposit them with the secretary. The spirit of this resolution, it is to be regretted, has never been fully carried out.
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING.
The third annual meeting of the Union was held at Flanagan's Grove on the 4th of July, 1869, Hon. John Hamlin presiding. E. F. Nowland resigned the position of Treasurer, and on motion of Colonel Ballance, Louis Howell, Esq., was chosen to the vacancy. With this exception, the old officers were re-elected.
The day was an enjoyable one, and in the greetings and interminglings of the old settlers, many incidents and happenings of the long ago were recalled and discussed, and
438
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
for a few brief hours they seemed to live over again the times that tried their souls and powers of endurance " when this conntry was new."
" INVITED OUT"-THIE INVITATION ACCEPTED.
In May, 1870, the officers of the society received a communication from the lady managers of the Springdale Soldiers' Monument Association, conveying an invitation to the Union to attend the unveiling of the soldiers monument on the 30th day of that month. A call for a meeting of the society on the 18th of May was published in the city papers. The meeting was held at the office of Hon. E. W. Powell, Hon. John Hamlin presiding. The communication of the ladies having been read, Hon. J. T. Lindsay pre- sented the following preamble and resolution, which were adopted without dissent :
WHEREAS, Our Society of Old Settlers has been honored with an invitation from the Springdale Soldiers' Mon- ument Association lo meet with them lo commemorate the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the War of the Rebellion. and to witness the ceremonies of unveiling of the soldiers' monument on the 30th of May, instant ; therefore,
Resolved, That we accept the kind invitation, and recommend att the members of our society to turn out on that day as a society.
[A full account of the unveiling of this monument, with a full description of the same, will be found in an appropriate place in this volume.
TIIE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
Arrangements for celebrating the 4th of July were discussed at this meeting, and it was finally agreed that it was best to delay action for the time being, and the President of the society was instructed to issue a call for a meeting to be held on the 30th to make the necessary arrangements for such a celebration. Pursuant to the action of this meet- ing (of the 30th ) the society was called to meet at the Court-house on the 4th of July. Hon. John Hamlin presiding, called the meeting to order, and announced that the first business was the election of officers for the ensuing year.
A. W. Bushnell, Esq., moved that the officers of the previous year " be declared by acclamation the officers for the ensuing year." The manner of choosing officers, as defined by the constitution, was discussed at some length, but Mr. Bushnell's motion finally prevailed, and the old officers were declared elected.
FOURTH ANNUAL REUNION.
The fourth annual meeting of the society assembled at Parmely's Hall, on Saturday, the 10th day of September, 1870, the anniversary of Perry's victory on Lake Erie. It had been intended to hold an out-door meeting, but the weather was unpropitious, and hence the meeting in the hall mentioned. In consequence of a misunderstanding as to the place of the meeting, the assemblage was not large. The weather kept many people at home ; others went to the grove, where they expected the " old folks" to assemble, and finding no arrangement there for the meeting, returned to their houses. Those who assembled in the hall were well entertained. Several short speeches were made, and old times reviewed. Among the speakers was Major A. E. Barnes, of Bushnell. His father, D). W. Barnes, came to Fort Clark with Capt. Jude Warner's fishing party, about the 10th of June, 1819. " He had looked forward to this reunion with a great deal of pleasure," said Major Barnes, " and had his arrangements perfected to visit his old friend, Blanchard, and attend this gathering at the same trip, but death came a few days too soon, and he sleeps the sleep from which he will awaken to join his old friends in a re- union that will never break up."
" LOOKING FORWARD."
July 4, 1871, at a meeting of the society held at the Court-house, the old officers were re-elected by acclamation. Committees were appointed to make arrangements for
439
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
the annual reunion, to consider and recommend a day for adoption by the society, on which to hold its annual meetings, etc., after which the meeting adjourned.
FIFTH ANNUAL REUNION.
The fifth annual reuion of the Old Settlers of Peoria county and vicinity, was held at Central Park on the first Thursday, the 7th day of September, 1871, and was very largely attended by citizens from adjoining counties. An excellent dinner was served, and the afternoon was spent in recounting old-time incidents. Josiah Fulton, of Rich- woods township, was presented with a mammoth pear of the Ohio Belle variety, measur- ing four and one-quarter inches in diameter. It was sent to the society with the request that it be presented to the oldest settler in the county. Of the seven men who came to Fort Clark on the 17th of April, 1819, Mr. Fulton is the only one who has maintained a continuous residence in the county.
Colonel George C. Bestor exhibited the kitchen furniture with which he commenced keeping house in Peoria. It consisted of three pieces-a Dutch oven, an iron dinner pot and a copper tea-kettle. "The tea-kettle," said Colonel Bestor, " was considered d-d aristocratic when it was first brought to Peoria." He added that "the young people of the present wanted to commence house-keeping with as much furniture as their parents left off with, and that they were astonished when told of the few and simple utensils, furniture, etc., with which their fathers and mothers had commenced the battle of life."
A map of Peoria in 1831, drawn in India ink, was on exhibition. It was executed by Mr. John Roberts, of Morton, on the 29th of August, 1831, and showed sixteen log cabins, all of them below Main Street. The view was taken from the opposite side of the river, and although many of the oldest settlers did not know it was in existence, they pronounced it to be perfect, and pointed out the respective residences of each family then in Peoria.
Colonel Peter Menard, of Fremont, seventy-three years of age, and the oldest native-born inhabitant of Illinois, was present. He was born at Kaskaskia, 20th De- cember, 1798.
RESTING.
No meeting of the society was held in 1872.
July 4, 1873, as shown by the records, a meeting was held at the Court-house, John Waugh presiding. The election of officers was considered, but deferred to the regular meeting of the society, which, on motion, was fixed for the 10th of September.
Messrs. A. W. Bushnell, John Waugh and Samuel Tart were appointed a committee to arrange for the manner of reunion, and fix the place where it should be held.
THE SIXTH ANNUAL REUNION
Was a basket pic-nic and was held at Central Park on the 10th day of September, 1873. A large number of the old settlers and their descendants were present. Dinner was taken at 12 o'clock, after which a business meeting was held.
On motion of Alvah Dunlap, of Radnor, it was resolved to hold all regular annual meetings of the society at Central Park on the second Thursday in September. The election of officers being next in order, Alvah Dunlap was chosen president; Lewis Howell, treasurer; G. W. H. Gilbert, secretary. Then came speeches full of reminis- cences of the olden-time by Judge Wellington Loucks, Hon. J. K. Cooper and John Todhunter, of Peoria, and William Blanchard, of Hilton, Tazewell county.
The following lines were prepared for the occasion of this meeting by John Tod- hunter, Esq., who came to the county in June, 1834 : They were entitled
440
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
With hearts and hands united. We meet together here To tell of by-gone days again, And join in hearty cheer ; And tho' surrounded by our friends, While comforts overflow, We still look back to happy days Of thirty years ago.
The glittering spires from here are seen, And mansions grand and great. While monuments of wealth and power Are scattered o'er our State ; But monuments like these, forsooth. With all their dazzling show, Are poor, compared with friendship's wealth Some thirty years ago.
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