Saturday, August 8, 1896 was a most enjoyable day for Chariton county's old settlers, who met in body in the grove on the east side of the public highway, one mile south of Keytesville, one of the most picturesque and suitable spots in the county for an assemblage of this character, and barring the extreme heat, the day was a model one for the old settler's reunion.

At an early hour, carts, buggies, carriages, spring and two-horse wagons began rolling in from every direction. They came on horseback, on foot and on bicycles, and long before the noonday hour the crowd reached far beyond two thousand people, from all parts of the county, who came purposefully to have a general good time, which they undoubtedly did, judging from all outward appearances. The old and the young, alike, enjoyed the occasion in a manner that would fill the mind of the most inadvertant person on the ground with enthusiasm unbounded.

There are a few people in this age who comprehend the many difficulties through which the first settlers of Chariton County passed from 1818, when the first white child, Captain William HERYFORD, now deceased, was born, to the close of the Civil War, in 1865. Those were the times when the warhoop of the wild red men were within earshot of the humble log huts of the precious few whites who inhabited the lonely praries and forests of our county, which is now thickly settled with civilized people from all quarters of the globe. The wild Americans,--the only true Americans were not the only pests the early settlers had to contend with. The woods were full of wolves, panthers, and other vicious beasts, looking for prey, that would as soon tackle a human being as anything that crossed their path. Those were the days of stringent adversity, but notwithstanding all this were many old people at Keytesville on this memorable day, that passed through it all and are still hale and hearty, and looked as though they had stood the test of pioneer life much better than could be expected by an outsider who has read many histories of early western settlements.

As soon as about five hundred people had assembled the order of business was looked to, and A. C. VANDIVER mounted his rostrum, which was made large enough, and furnished with comfortable seats for the weary old pionners of the county, and in a few well chosen words, called the meeting to order, after which, J. A. MERCHANT, of Brunswick, the honored president of the association, came forth and made a few remarks as to organization, etc. He then called to mind the names of those old settlers that were missing from the circle in attendance that day. Among those he named, Captain William HERYFORD, Judge John M. DAVIS and Senator Andrew MACKAY, who have since the meeting of a year ago, passed from earth to "The undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns," where, it is the wish of their many earthly friends left behind, that they may now be enjoying that peace and happiness that only Heaven's bright shores afford.

Mr. MERCHANT, after a few other remarks, introduced to the audience, which by this time had grown in immensity, Col. W. F. SWITZLER, of Booneville, the Nestor of Missouri editors, who addressed them on topics pertaining to occasions of this kind. Col. SWITZLER was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, and came when very young with his father's family to Howard County, in 1826; studied law in 1840 under the instruction of Judge Abiel LEONARD of Fayette, moved to Columbia in 1841 and took editorial charge of the "Patriot" the same year; was admitted to the bar by Judge John D. LELAND in 1842, and established the "Statesman" in 1843, which he conducted until 1885 when he was appointed chief of the bureau of statistics of the Treasury department. Represented Boone County in the legislature several times; was a member of the Constitutional conventions of 1865 and 1875, and for three of four years has been editor and publisher of the "Democrat" at Boonesville. He is as vigorous in mind and body as a quarter of a century ago.

After Colonel SWITZLER's address, Thomas SHAKELFORD [sic], of Glasgow, was introduced to the crowd, which was eager to hear more of Missouri's early history. Mr. SHACKELFORD's address was short, but to the point, and was greatly enjoyed by everyone who had an opportunity of hearing it. Quite an amount of valuable information was gathered from the speeches of these gifted gentlemen, by the younger people.

The writer has not in any way given one-half the details of this most enjoyable assemblage. The noon hour came at last, and not-withstanding the immense crowd, there were lengthy tables, --fully two hundred feet in length had they been connected, that fairly groaned under the interminable weight of the most delicious repast that was prepared especially for the occasion, that served to appease their appetites. When dinner was announced the tables were soon crowded to their utmost capacity. As soon as one person had satisfied his or her hunger they would drop out of line and leave room for someone else. The dinner was a success in every particular and the management of the edible portion of the program deserves great credit in the manner in which it was carried out.

Shortly after dinner was over, short talks were made by Rev. Willis DOCKERY, of Chillicothe; Lucius SALISBURY, formerly a resident of the county, but now of Kenton, Ohio; Rev. G. W. HYDE, of St. Louis, who was raised in the county, and J. A. MERCHANT, of Brunswick. Each of these gentlemen are well posted on the history of early settlements of Chariton County, and their talks were greatly enjoyed by those interested in the affairs of the darkest days in the annals of the county. Year by year the circle of veterans grows smaller and smaller, and in another quarter of a century they will have all passed to that haven of rest beyond. All that is most vivid and valuable in memory is fast dissappearing. It is for this reason, however, that no personal sketch of pioneer settlers, no matter how vividly drawn, or immature in detail, can be classed as the work of mere vain glory. The future will treasure them all the more, and as time goes on they will become more and more objects of real interest and value. The bearing in mind of the pioneer is one that the people of our country will never let fade. Its transmission is a priceless gift to the future.