Perry County, Ohio - Chapter 19: Old Settlers' Association, 1883

A Pioneer Association has been one of the things long talked of in Perry county, but, for various reasons, never inaugurated until quite a recent date. A few weeks previous to the annual County Fair of 1882, a'notice was published in the county papers, requesting the Old Settlers of the county to assemble at the fair ground, on the second day of the fair, for the- purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Association. <A fair degree of interest was at once manifested in relation to the matter, and the simple announcement referred to brought together at the appointed place and time a respectable number of persons, men and women, from various sections of the county. It is presumable that meetings will be held annually or oftener hereafter. The annexed account of the Old Settlers' meeting, and the organization of the society, is from the New Lexington 77zbune:

Agreeable to a call through the press, quite a number of the old settlers met at the Perry County Fair, at two o'clock p. m., Thursday, September 28th, 1882, and organized an ''Old Settlers' Association,"' by appointing D. C. Fowler as temporary Chairman, and E. Teal, Esq., temporary Secretary.

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. - This Association shall be known as the Old Settlers' Association of Perry county, Ohio. Its object to be for mutual enjoyment, socialities, and the collection and preservation of historical incidents, etc. It shall hold its meetings at least once a year, or as often as the society shall direct. i a

Any person, male or female, having resided in the county fifty years or more, may become a member of this: society by subscribing their names hereunto.

The officers of this society shall consist of a President, and one Vice President from each township within the county, and one Secretary, together with what assistance he may choose. Also an Executive Committee of five. The officers shall be elected viva voce, annually, at a regular meeting of the society.

The duties of the President shall be the usual duties ot Presidents of deliberative bodies. The oldest Vice President present at a meeting, in the absence of the President, shall preside. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep a tecord of the names, date, and place of birth and death, together with such incidents in the lives of the members as he

The Executive Committee, together with the President and Vice Presidents, and Secretary, shall constitute a Board, with powér to make . all needful rules and regulations for the government of the Association, subject to the approval of the society. -

On motion a committee was appointed to report permanent officers for the Association for the ensuing year. 'The committee reported as follows:

The temporary Chairman then introduced the Permanent President, who, after thanking 'the organization for the honor conferred, gave a clear, straightforward, historical statement of the early history of the, county, connecting therewith a short synopsis of the war of 1812, at the conclusion of which the society aed a vote of thanks for his very satisfactory inaugural address.