OLD SETTLER'S MEETING

6 October 1881 from The Oquawka Spectator.

At 1 o'clock the meeting was called to order by the Pres. Joseph TINKHAM. Prayer was offered by Dr. T. C. PATTERSON and reading of the minutes of the last meeting by the secretary, Draper BABCOCK, followed by addresses by James G. MADDEN and Col. Sam HUTCHINSON. The following interesting letter written by Henderson RICHEY, the first white child born in Warren Co., was read by T. W. BEERS.
Council Grove, Ks. Aug. 25, 1881, to N. A. CHAPIN, Esq., Kirkwood, Ill.

My dear sir:
I see by the papers that the old settlers of Warren and Henderson County hold their meeting this year at Monmouth on Sep 21. As I have not been at any of these very interesting meetings since 1873, I have fully purposed all summer to go this fall, but shall not be able. As the years go by the number of those who first made their homes in old Warren grow less and less, and in a few short years the last one will have departed.

Two years ago, while at Monmouth, I went to look at the place where I was born--the old TALBOT farm---now owned by a widow BUCK. Not a vestige of the first improvements remain.
The old timber was long since cut away, but young trees have grown up, so that the view south and west looks very much as it did 45 years ago. What memories were awakened as I stood on the ground trodden by my father and mother 51 years before. Father has been dead 46 years last June mother 8 years at the 4th of this month, and the large family of children scattered from Illinois to California. But it is not wholly melancholy thought that come when I think of the days so long ago. Much that was pleasant is associated with my youth and yours. Yours was not so pinched with poverty as mine, but we have both of us had to make our own way in the world and have done quite as well as any who were more favored.

To have lived in such a country and amid such stirring scenes and personally know such men and women, was a privilege which no first settlers of any new country will ever enjoy again.
The recent death of Hon. O. H. BROWNING recalls scenes in which he was a prominent actor, full of thrilling interest, and others laughable and ludicrous to the last degree. Mr. BROWNING attended the first term of circuit court held in Monmouth, Judge R. M. YOUNG presiding, Daniel McNEIL, circuit clerk, and Jacob RUST, sheriff. That was before my recollection. I have the facts from the older members of my family.

For 15 years BROWNING, Archibald WILLIAMS, and Cyrus WALKER were the "lions" of the bar. Occasionally L. B. KNOWLTON would come up from Peoria, and Joe KNOX would put in an appearance from Rock Island. Of the home attorneys in earlier days, John H. MITCHELL was the most brilliant. Poor John, I can but sigh when I think of what he might have been.

But to recur to the other matters with which you and I were more familiar, being among the actors, "What a tale" that little old school house in Oquawka, the grounds and the "black jacks" surrounding, "could unfold" if endowed with speech. How we studied and played pranks on each others in the house; how we coasted down the little hill on the north during the ice season; how we played ball over adjoining Alexis PHELPS' barn lot, and occasionally varied the exercises by whacking each other's noses. Ah Neal, those were days worth thinking about.

The boys and girls that were there! The shadows will come. Isabella, Alexis, Laura, and Emily PHELPS, Edwin PATTERSON, and Will FRANCIS, all in their graves, and I know not how many others, and we shall soon be there too. But Warren and Henderson will keep on growing. Will a generation or two hence think of its "old settlers" or its first "young settlers", either? May be they will -- most likely not. How I would like to be with you. If present, tell the old settlers, especially my friends, that like the "good Indian" I will on the 21st of Sept. "shake hands in my heart" with every one of them.

Very truly your old friend and school mate,
H. RICHEY