Lake County Ohio GenWeb

Pleasant Gathering
1872

 The following is from The Painesville Telegraph on Thursday,January 17, 1872. It was transcribed by Cynthia Turk.

On Friday afternoon last week, there were gathered by invitation of Mr. And Mrs. H. Cole, on St. Clair st., quite a number of the old pioneers and early settlers of Painesville, to meet in social converse and reunion the aged father of the host. The day was most pleasant and favorable, and there were present as follows:

Robert Blair, who, if his life is spared, will be 90 years old the 8th of March next. He was a native of West Brookfield, Massachusetts, and came to this country in 1816.

Hezekiah S. Cole, whose 89th birth-day will be on the 14th of May next. He was born in Ovid, New York, and came to Painesville in 1823.

Corbin Huntoon, in his 86th year. He was a native of Newport, N. H., and settled in Concord in 1817. He now resides in Painesville.

Robert Moodey, now in the 84th year of his age. Came to Painesville in 1813. Was a native of Washington county, Pa.

Grandison Newell, in his 86th year. Was a native of Winstead, Connecticut. Has been in this country 53 years.

Uri Seeley, in the 81st year of his age. He was born in Easton, formerly Weston, Connecticut. He has been a resident of Painesville 57 years.

Flavius Josephus Huntington, in the 83d year of his age. He was born in Coventry, Ct., and came to Painesville in 1816.

Franklin Paine, who was 81 years old last Monday, January 15th. He was a native of Windsor, Ct., and came to this country in 1803.

Robert Offer, in the 81st year of his age. Came from Erie, Pa., and has been a resident of Painesville 49 years.

Julian C. Huntington, in the 76th year of his age. Was a native of Norridge, Ct., and has been a resident of Painesville 71 years.

Colbert Huntington, aged 74 years. Was born in Norridge, Ct., and has been here 71 years.

Jehial Parmly, in the 73d year of his age. Was born at Randolph, Vt., and came here in 1817.

Eber D. Howe, (the founder of the Painesville Telegraph,) in his 74th years. Was a native of the State of New York, and came here in 1822.

Wilder Butterfield, in the 83d year of his age. Was born in Cheshire county, N. H., and has been a resident of Perry township 37 years.

John Wood, in his 77th year. Came from Orange county, N. Y. Has been a resident of Painesville 23 years.

Collins Morse, in his 69th year; came from Manchester, Vt., and has been here over 40 years.

William Gray, in his 82d year. Came from Northumberland county, Pa. Has resided on North Ridge, in Perry, 11 years.

Stephen Littlefield, in the 76th year of his age; came from Warren county, Pa., and has resided in Perry seven years.

James H. Thompson, in his 85th year, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to this country in 1831. Resides, with A. Mehaffy in this township.

It will be seen that twelve of the above named guests are over four score years, while their united ages exceed one thousand. With perhaps three exceptions, they are all old pioneers, and settlers of Painesville and vicinity, and identified with its early growth and prosperity. Several of them have been active business men, and for many years exerted a wide influence in the community, both in a business way and social relations, while all have been active, diligent citizens, in whose long life, now drawing to a close, no record of a dishonorable act has ever been found.

Rev. J. S. Youmans, pastor of the Methodist Church, was an invited guest, and his pleasant, genial, and well adapted conversation, added to the interest of the occasion. Over two hours were passed in pleasant conversation. Old times, with all their hallowed memories, were discussed; their trials and deprivations so intermingled and surrounded with pleasures and enjoyments, that in choosing between the "old time and the new," the solid comforts and enjoyments of the former, would almost seem the most attractive.

At three o'clock, all repaired to the dining room, where a well spread and bountifully laden table awaited them, to which they were welcomed by Mr. And Mrs. Cole, with a cordiality which testified a deep respect and a warm regard for the old pioneer veterans. The dinner was excellent and all that could be desired. There was no display, but everything was good, with abundance and variety, to which all were liberally helped. The meal ended, a few moments more were spent in pleasant converse, and then all bade adieu to their hospitable host and hostess. It was one of the pleasantest entertainments in which we have ever participated, and we parted from those old fathers with increased feelings of respect and regard, and the hope that all might be spared to meet again in annual reunion.