THE EARLY SETTLERS' ANNIVERSARY.

1882.

FORENOON SESSION.

The Early Settlers' Association of Cuyahoga County commemorated the day, July 22, at the Tabernacle, Ontario Street, Cleveland. They promptly convened at the appointed hour, 11 o'clock A. M. There was a large attendance. From sixty to seventy new memberships were received. All seemed to be in a happy mood, and spent the first half hour in social intercourse, not less interesting than enjoyable, when Hon. Harvey Rice, President of the Association, called the venerable assemblage to order. The session was opened with prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. Thomas Corlett. The following introductory address was then delivered by the President:

ADDRESS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: This is the third anniversary of our Association-a day we have chosen as worthy of commemoration, because it was on the 22d of July, 1796, that our beautiful city of Cleveland, the pride of the Western Reserve, acquired a local habitation and a name.

It is therefore a day that brings with it many pleasant memories of historic interest, both as regards the city and the entire

Western Reserve-a day that affords us, as early settlers, an opportunity to exchange congratulations and renew old acquaintances which should never be forgotten and which we never can forget.

The pioneer life of the Western Reserve has a history that approaches the marvelous, and is of such value that no part of it should be lost. The principal object of our Association is to collect, while it can be done, the relics and unrecorded incidents of her past history, and transfer them to the custody of the Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, for preservation and the benefit of the public. This historical society was incorporated many years ago, and has now become of great value as a source of antiquarian information. It is kept open to visitors free of charge, and is the only prominent institution of the kind in Northern Ohio. It is a credit to the State, and reflects honor on its originators and efficient officers.

The Western Reserve, as you all know, was originally and for the most part settled by emigrants from New England, the land of the Puritans. The Reserve has, therefore, good ancestral blood in her veins, and still maintains her Puritanic character, except so far as it has been modified and liberalized by Western influences.

We may rest assured, however, that her pioneer life will never repeat itself. Say what we will, it was an exemplary life, as full of lessons of wisdom as it was of noble aims and heroic struggles-a life that laid its foundations, not in sand, but on a rock-the rock of common schools and churches-a life that has produced many accomplished men, and still more accomplished

women.

The Western Reserve, as a civilized land, was born and baptized at Conneaut Creek, on the 4th of July, 1796, and is therefore a child of freedom. There were fifty persons present at her birth, who proceeded at once to commemorate the happy event. They prepared a sumptuous feast of baked pork and beans and corn bread, made patriotic speeches, fired salutes, and drank

three buckets of grog by way of crowning the ceremonies of the day.

cess.

Our Association has great reason to be gratified with its sucWhen organized, November 19th, 1879, it consisted of but nineteen members, and now it has an aggregate of over four hundred, and still they come and are received with a cordial welcome. Its published "Annals" are sought and read with much interest and profit, and, if continued, will soon furnish a storehouse of valuable information nowhere else to be found and which coming generations will appreciate. Every member of the Association is expected to contribute what he can in the way of interesting relics and reminiscences to promote its object. It is hoped that other similar associations of the Reserve will aid us in the same way, and thus concentrate the efforts of all for the common benefit of all. Honorary memberships should be conferred on individuals residing in other counties of the Reserve, who may make desirable contributions to our Association.

It must be conceded that the Western Reserve has become a power in the State and in the Nation. Her population in 1800 was but 1,300; it is now at least 550,000. In the meantime the Reserve has produced her thousands of talented men and superior women. They are her jewels. She points to them with pride, and still persists in lavishly increasing her assortment of jewelry. To say nothing of minor officials, she has already furnished the State with five Governors and eleven Supreme Judges, and the United States with three Senators, two District Judges, two Foreign Ministers, and one President, and still has enough good material on hand to furnish as many more officials as may be needed.

But why is it that the names of our great men are emblazoned in history, while the names of so many meritorious women are overlooked? This seeming neglect is a moral wrong which should be corrected. The women are the mothers and educators of mankind. They give to infancy its traits of character for life, and to manhood its grace and dignity. In all that pertains to