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Indiana Bicentennial Celebration 2016
Old Settlers Annual Meeting
The Bicentennial celebration is meant to honor the past and also leave a trail of history for the future. With that in mind, the focus and thrust of the meeting, which will be held at the Sanctuary (Pentecostal Church) on East Monroe is to rekindle the flames of the past and also to reacquaint those in the present with the rich lore and heritage of our county. Hopefully those attending will be inspired to continue the story of our ancestors, to blaze new trails, soar to new heights, and to follow in the traces of those who have preceded them.
Q&A with Legacy Project Coordinator Mark Alan Smith
What do you consider the key accomplishment of your Legacy Project?
- I consider the main accomplishment celebrating the attributes of the founding pioneers in today's time period. I consider one of the key accomplishments honoring our ancestors in a formalized setting as has been the custom since the second Saturday of August in 1855
Describe a highlight or most memorable moment related to your Legacy Project.
- One of the highlights was recognizing the Centennial of the Carroll County Courthouse. I consider a highlight the unveiling of the portrait of our county's namesake, Charles Carroll, accomplished by Janalie Robeson, a Charles Carroll DAR member as well as witnessing a well-researched presentation on the United State flag by Shelley Jones.
How/where are preserving information and artifacts related to your Legacy Project?
- There is a CD prepared to highlight various architectural details of this as well as a plaque mounted on the wall of the south entrance of the courthouse itself. The portrait is now mounted near the south entrance of the Carroll County Courthouse.
Total number of volunteers who participated.
- 4
Estimated total attendance.
- 30
Photos of Old Settlers Annual Meeting
Old Settlers Committee
- Mark A. Smith, Presidnet
- Karen Bradshaw, Vice President
- Gail Seest
- Teresa Jervis Maxwell
- Diana Wilson McCracken
Project Details
- Organization: Old Settlers Association
- County: Carroll
- Contact: Mark Smith, 765-564-3152, carrollcountycchs@gmail.com
- Type: Non-Profit
- Project Number: IBC-CI-538
Old Settlers: Not a Street Fair; A Sacred Meeting
If you were to play a word association game with those in Carroll County and mention the two words “Old Settlers” you would usually receive the reply—“carnival, cotton candy, and carousel.”
On the contrary, for those deeply ingrained in the more historic side of the county’s background, the term “Old Settlers” is a sacred meeting, dedicated to rekindling the past, and keeping it alive for future reference.
The two pioneers responsible for initiating this “sacred meeting” were James Odell, Jr. who was born in Wayne County, Indiana September 10th, 1810 and came to Carroll County with his father, James Odell, Sr. in the spring of 1825. He was married to Sarah Hatfield, July 7th, 1825. He served his county as school teacher, sheriff in 1834, county commissioner in 1845 and 1853. He was State Representative in 1848 and State Senator from Carroll and Clinton Counties in 1858. In 1870 he was elected clerk of the Carroll circuit court, and was one of the directors of the Airline Railroad Company. He took a keen interest in both agricultural fairs and educational matters. He also administrated many estates and was guardian of many orphan children. He passed away June fourth, 1891.
The other one was James Hervey Stewart, one of the many “immigrants” from Kentucky who made their way north to Carroll County and prospered likewise. Others were William Buford, early-day hotel owner and entrepreneur, Samuel and John Greenup, one of whom was a well-known farmer, and the other a well-known canal contractor, and Reed Case, also a canal contractor and entrepreneur.
Stewart was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky March 27th, 1809, a contemporary of Reed Case and Abraham Lincoln. He studied fine literature and ultimately medicine, and seeking a place to practice his trade, found Delphi a home on March 27th, 1830. He later abandoned medicine in favor of the clerk’s position of Carroll County. He was confirmed as an Episcopalian on February 25th, 1855, and was also involved in several Odd Fellows Lodges and was admitted to the position of Grand Master on November 19th, 1856. Death came to this early-day servant in Delphi in his home on east Main on April thirteenth, 1879.
According to his Recollections of the Early Settlement of Carroll County, the purpose of the establishment of this gathering was to “procure a reunion, once a year, of the men who had come here while the country was a wilderness; who had assisted each other in rolling logs and building houses; had given ready and prompt aid in sickness; had assisted in burying the dead; had attended all the early-day weddings and merry makings; and who had thus formed strong personal attachments for each other.” Odell was the appointed chairman, and Stewart, secretary.
