ORGANIZATION Some
claim that an old settler's association was organized in February,
1859. An editorial statement to this effect was made in some number of
the "Annals of Iowa," but we failed to find any authentic record to
verify it. However, there were social gatherins of old settler friends
and neighbors, several times before any general and formal organization
was made. The first record preserved shows that a meeeting was held in
the council chamber at Iowa City, Feb. 22, 1866. Officers were elected:
and Hon. Samuel H. McCrory, Prof. T. S. Parvin and Col. E. W. Lucas
were appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws. David Switzer was
chairman and J. R. Hartsock, secretary of this meeting; but the names
of the permanent officers eleclted will be found attached to the
constituion heareafter given. A
resolution was adopted, "that all who resided in Iowa before the first
of January, 1843, be regarded as "old Settlers,' and eligible to
membership in the association." But the constitution as adopted,
recognized anybody who had lived in the State twenty years, or more, as
an "old settler," no matter when he came. A
committee of one from each township was appointed "to collect the names
of all the old settlers, and report them to the secretary of the
association to be recorded." Remember, this order was made at the same
time the rule was adopted to count as "old settlers" only those who
came before 1843. This committee was: | TOWNSHIP | COMMITTEE MEMBER | | TOWNSHIP | COMMITTEE MEMBER | | Graham | Jesse Strawbridge | | Washington | Titus Fry | | Hardin | A. D. Packard | | Liberty | Henry Earhart | | Sharon | W. B. Ford | | Newport | Henry Felkner | | Scott | John Parrott | | Iowa CIty | Perry D. Turner | | Cedar | Edwin Brown | | Big Grove | Charles McCune | | Union | P. Harris | | Penn | D. A. Shafer | | Madison | David Ray | | Oxford | H. Hamilton | | Fremont | Henry Welsh | | Pleasant Valley | I. J. Burge | | Monroe | P. H. Barnes | | Jefferson | Benj. Swisher | | Clear Creek | Geo. Paul | | | |
On
March 10, 1866, they met again. Mr. McCrory presented the constitution
prepared by the committee, it being mostly the same as one obtained
from a similar association in Scott county, which holds its meetings at
Davenport. The
next meeting of the association was on June 2, 1866, at which time it
was ordered that two hundred copies of the constituion should be
printed and circulated. Also,
provision was made for holding a re-union and festival on the 21st of
June, and on the 4th the following programme was published: The
annual festival of the old settlers of Johnson county will be held on
Thursday, June 21, 1866, in the grove at the east end of College
street, in Iowa City. S. H. Bonham to deliver the annual address. The folowing committees are appointed to carry out the arrangement: Committe to erect table and speaker's stand - Edward Lanning, Geo. Paul and M. D. Freeman. Committee to receive provisions - Col. S. C. Trowboridge, Laurence Johnson, J. W. Swofford, John McCrory and Horace Sanders. Committee
to arrange the tables - Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Geo. Paul, Miss McCrory,
Mrs. E.K. Morse, Mrs. S. C. Trowbridge, Mrs. Cyrus Sanders, Misses Mary
Sutliff, Ella Felkner, Ada Kimball, Helen McCune and Hattie Van Fleet
and Mrs. Titus R. Fry. Committee on dishes - J. R. Hartsock, A. B. Walker, John P. Irish, Willie Crum, M. Cavanagh. Committee
on water and refreshments - John Shoup, Charles Paul, I. V. Willis,
Charlie Hutchinson, W. H. L. Swafford and Thos. M. Irish. Committee on music - Robert Hutchinson, Thos. Snyder and E. Redhead. Committee
on toasts and responses - David Switzer, A. C. Sutliff, Titus R. Fry,
S. H. McCrory, Warner Spurrier, F. M. Irish, E. Welsh, Charles
Cartwright and Wm. Crum. The hour for meeting on the ground is 9 o'clock A.M. of said day. Each
family is expected to furnish the necessary provisions, such as meats,
bread, cakes, pies, pickles, fruits and fancy articles for the table,
to make a No. 1 dinner, and to deliver when on the ground to the
committee of which Col. S. C. Trowbridge is chairman. The
committtee on arrangements expect and would most earnestly solicit
every family of old settlers to take hold in the true spirit of an old
settler, and be present on that occasion. Any information wanted will
be given by applying to the committee of arrangements. E. W. Lucas, Sylvanus Johnson, James Cavanagh, John R. Van Fleet, L. S. S. Swafford, committee on arrangements. CONSTITUTION Constitution of the Old Settlers' Association - Adopted March 10, 1866 Whereas,
The old settlers are rapidly passing away, we feel it to be our duty to
gather, and preserve the memories of a settlement that has resulted in
a growth and development so great, and feeling that the recollection of
the past, and the hope of othe future, link us together, as a
brotherhood, we do now ordain and es tablish this constituion: ARTICLE I - This association shall be called the Old Settlers, Association of Johnson County, Iowa. ARTICLE
II - The officers of this association shall be a president, three vice
presidents, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and treasurer.
ARTICLE III -
ARTICLE IV
ARTICLE V
ARTICLE VI
ARTICLE VII
ARTICLE
VIII. All persons who are non-residents of johnson county, who were
residents of Iowa at the time of the adoption of the first State
constitution for the State of Iowa, and who are of good moral
character, are eligible to membership.
ARTICLE IX
ARTICLE X. A
majority of all the members of the association may alter or amend
the constitution, at the annual meeting in March.
ARTICLE XI. The
executive committee shall select a suitable person to deliver an
address before the association, on the day of the anniversary meeting.
ARTICLE XII. The families of all members are privileged to attend the anniversary meeting of the association.
ARTICLE
XIII. Whenever practicable, the members of the association shall attend
in a body the funeral of any deceased member; and as a token of
respect, shall wear the usual badge of mourning.
Source: History of Johnson County 1836 - 1882;
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