1904 Old Settlers Reunion in Jasper County, Illinois

Old Settlers Reunion
The Newton Press
October 4, 1904.
[Contributed by June Swick Kessinger]

CROWD LARGE AND WELL ENTERTAINED
PETERSON PARK AN IDEAL PLEASURE GROUND

The fourth annual reunion of Old Settlers in Jasper County, held at Peterson Park, Newton, was a success beyond the most sangunine expectations. The weather was cool, bright and free from dust: the grounds shady, ample and with the necessary accommodations for comfort and convience; the music, furnished by Clarke's Military Band, early pioneers in the songs of their day, and a couple of songs by Merritt Clark and Warren Chamblin with instrumental accompaniment, was all that could be desired; and the speaking interesting, Albert E. Isley delivering the principal address, followed by short talks from several others.
The attendance was estimated at from 6000 to 7000. Mayor J.W. Honey welcomed the people in a few minutes speech.
The contestants for prizes were as follows:

Oldest man resident of the county__$2. hat, given by G.J. Dorn__

NAME YRS Mos DS

* Ambrose Edwards 94 5 26

C.F. Hampston 88 6 7

John Byrd 83 8 16

B.D. Davidson 81 8 12

Peleg Williams 74 9 27

Barney Foote 74 9 27

OLDEST WOMAN RESIDENT OF COUNTY $3 rocker by Larrabee & Wakefield__

* Eliza Cummins 90 10 7

Mary Anderson 82 10 19

Belinda Williams 76 10 17

Margaret Edwards 76 4 17

Nan H. Jackson 58 5 19

OLDEST MAN BORN IN THE COUNTY__$2 hat by Kaufman & Albright__

* William Jourdan 65 7 3

Lewis M. Hill 64 7 27

OLDEST WOMAN BORN IN THE COUNTY__$2 dress pattern by M.L.Keavin_

* Margaret Edwards 76 4 17

Jane Foote 67 10 15

Mary A. Brown 66 1

Martha Garnier 58 5 13

M. J. Miller 55

OLDEST RESIDENT OF COUNTY, 50 YEARS OLD AND OVER WHO NEVER RODE ON A RAILROAD___$2 in cash by Schackmann Bros.

* C. F. Hampston 88 6 7

Caroline Haws 78 6 4

N.J. Lancaster 66 7

John S. Cook 66 4 8

Martha Garnter 58 5 13

MARRIED COUPLE WHO HAVE LIVED TOGETHER THE GREATEST NUMBER OF YEARS -- a pair of blankets worth $2 by Sutton Johnson & Co___

* Josiah Mitchell & Lucy Mitchell 56 years

W.E. Gustin and Wife 45 6 7

Foot race, 60 yards; entries, 60 years old and over ----- winner to receive silverine watch, good time-keeper and worth $3.50 given by O.A. Gillmore

* P.R. Lewis, age 65 years; Nick Michl, 73, John Dohm, 68; Arch Poor and W. R. Martin, 62; Lee Ebbert, 60

Foot race, 60 yards; each contestant to weigh not less than 210 pounds; winner to receive $2 in cash, given by Isaiah Stewart------

* James E. Green, 210 pounds; Mort Cox 212; H.H. Hannaman, 218; John A. Batman, 215; W.E. Foust, 212

MARRIED COUPLE WITH GREATEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN --- 50 pounds of flour given by Batman & Jasper.

*Josiah Mitchell and Wife---98 Descendants,
Henry Dulgar and wife----- 95 "

OLDEST MARRIED COUPLE WITH THE YOUNGEST SON OR DAUGHTER ----one dozen photographs by J.H. Berry, Newton.

* John Phillips and wife, whose combined age at the birth of a child last spring was 100 years, 7 months and 15 days, were in their 52nd and 48th year, respectively, when the event occurred.
W.G. Gustin and wife, who contested for the prize, are now 71 and 61 years, but their daughter, who is a young lady, was born when they were but 51 and 41 years old, respectively, a combination that made but 92 years.

To the farmer of Jasper county who has raised the most boys to age of 15 years, a Tamworth pig, given by W.C.Gilson ----

* George Spelbring, winner, 9 boys
Emaline Burton, 8 boys
John G. Calvert, 7 boys
Thomas Cahill, 7 boys
William Jourdan, 7 boys
B.D. Davidson, 6 boys

* Winner.

Mrs. Ambrose Edwards, whose maiden name was Price, was born in 1828 where Ste. Marie ? located. She is a niece of Gen. ? Price, the famous Confederate ? in the Civil war.

Elza Cummins is the widow ? late John Cummins of Crooked Creek ? and lives with her son Robert.

Dr. George Shamhart and ? were present, celebrated the ? wedding anniversary sometime ?. They forgot to register.

Officers were elected as follows: William Kilgore, president, A.D.Leamon, vice president, R.W. Moore, secretary, J. A. Wilson, treasure.

[There is another paragraph to this story, but it was cut short and most of info is missing]

Return to the Main Index Page of Jasper County

Oldest man resident of the county__$2. hat, given by G.J. Dorn__
NAME	YRS	Mos	DS
* Ambrose Edwards	94	5	26
C.F. Hampston	88	6	7
John Byrd	83	8	16
B.D. Davidson	81	8	12
Peleg Williams	74	9	27
Barney Foote	74	9	27
OLDEST WOMAN RESIDENT OF COUNTY $3 rocker by Larrabee & Wakefield__
* Eliza Cummins	90	10	7
Mary Anderson	82	10	19
Belinda Williams	76	10	17
Margaret Edwards	76	4	17
Nan H. Jackson	58	5	19
OLDEST MAN BORN IN THE COUNTY__$2 hat by Kaufman & Albright__
* William Jourdan	65	7	3
Lewis M. Hill	64	7	27
OLDEST WOMAN BORN IN THE COUNTY__$2 dress pattern by M.L.Keavin_
* Margaret Edwards	76	4	17
Jane Foote	67	10	15
Mary A. Brown	66	1
Martha Garnier	58	5	13
M. J. Miller	55
OLDEST RESIDENT OF COUNTY, 50 YEARS OLD AND OVER WHO NEVER RODE ON A RAILROAD___$2 in cash by Schackmann Bros.
* C. F. Hampston	88	6	7
Caroline Haws	78	6	4
N.J. Lancaster	66	7
John S. Cook	66	4	8
Martha Garnter	58	5	13
MARRIED COUPLE WHO HAVE LIVED TOGETHER THE GREATEST NUMBER OF YEARS -- a pair of blankets worth $2 by Sutton Johnson & Co___
* Josiah Mitchell & Lucy Mitchell	56 years
W.E. Gustin and Wife	45	6	7
Foot race, 60 yards; entries, 60 years old and over ----- winner to receive silverine watch, good time-keeper and worth $3.50 given by O.A. Gillmore * P.R. Lewis, age 65 years; Nick Michl, 73, John Dohm, 68; Arch Poor and W. R. Martin, 62; Lee Ebbert, 60 Foot race, 60 yards; each contestant to weigh not less than 210 pounds; winner to receive $2 in cash, given by Isaiah Stewart------ * James E. Green, 210 pounds; Mort Cox 212; H.H. Hannaman, 218; John A. Batman, 215; W.E. Foust, 212 MARRIED COUPLE WITH GREATEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN --- 50 pounds of flour given by Batman & Jasper. Josiah Mitchell and Wife---98 Descendants, Henry Dulgar and wife----- 95 " OLDEST MARRIED COUPLE WITH THE YOUNGEST SON OR DAUGHTER ----one dozen photographs by J.H. Berry, Newton. John Phillips and wife, whose combined age at the birth of a child last spring was 100 years, 7 months and 15 days, were in their 52nd and 48th year, respectively, when the event occurred. W.G. Gustin and wife, who contested for the prize, are now 71 and 61 years, but their daughter, who is a young lady, was born when they were but 51 and 41 years old, respectively, a combination that made but 92 years.
To the farmer of Jasper county who has raised the most boys to age of 15 years, a Tamworth pig, given by W.C.Gilson ---- * George Spelbring, winner, 9 boys Emaline Burton, 8 boys John G. Calvert, 7 boys Thomas Cahill, 7 boys William Jourdan, 7 boys B.D. Davidson, 6 boys