Old Settlers Days-Whitley County

09/03/2026

Old Settlers Days is full of traditions and one most recently added was the President’s Parade Award. The current OSD President has the honor of selecting their favorite entry from the American Legion Post # 98 Parade.

This is only the second year for this award as it was introduced last year when our 2025 President, Kim Wheeler, selected the Lawrence E. Wolfe Community Handbell Choir. This year our 2026 President, Jim Argerbright, chose Sugar Creek Fellowship Church.

We thank the American Legion Post #98 for another great continuing tradition of organizing and conducting a wonderful parade, to all those who prepared and participated with the parade entries and special thanks to the Sugar Creek Fellowship Church for their many hours (48 hours we were told) in constructing their outstanding float.

Pictured is Roger Lundblad from Sugar Creek Fellowship Church accepting their prize money and certificate from Jim Argerbright, 2026 OSD President and pictures of their parade entry.

09/03/2026

Each year the Old Settlers Day Association donates a large portion of our annual proceeds to local not for profit groups. We estimate that over the many decades we have reinvested well
over $1,000,000 back into the community. This year over a total of $10,000 was recently
donated to the following local organizations.

Pictured are Old Settlers Day Association officers and representatives from local not for profit grant recipients for 2026.

Front row-Jim Argerbright, 2026 OSD President, Cindy Baker, T.R.O.Y School, Samara Pfeiffer, Warriors, Inc., Vanessa Bills, Night to Shine and Kim Wheeler, OSD 2025 President.

Second row-Greg Hockemeyer, OSD 1st Vice President, Hank Workman, The Forklift of the
Warehouse Church, Lauren Shinneman, Whitley County Family YMCA, Christy Pfeiffer,
Warriors, Inc., Danielle Arnold, Warriors, Inc., Jenny Antanovich, Warriors,Inc., Payton Rhodes
Yarian, Junior Achievement serving Whitley County and April Clear, Boomerang Backpacks.

Third row-Brian Bills, OSD 2nd Vice President, Jeff Wike, The Center for Whitley County Youth,
Aaron Mathieu, Whitley County Historical Museum, Brent Bockelman, 2027 OSD President and Dick Buchanan, OSD Treasurer.

We appreciate the hard work and dedication from each of these worthy organizations and the impact they have made in our community. Old Settlers Day will accept grant requests next year from June 1, 2027 to August 1, 2027.

08/25/2026

It is with sadness we share the passing of Matthew Henney. Matthew celebrated his 100th birthday in January 2026. Born and living in Whitley County all his life he was well known in the community. He was recognized as Old Settlers Days Oldest Resident and Longest Continuous Resident for several years. He was awarded Longest Continuous Resident from 2023 to 2026 and was Oldest Resident in 2023 and 2026. This year’s recognition was extra special as his great granddaughter Lainey Hinen (age 3) was the Youngest Settler registered on Old Settlers Day.
Matthew was known to be a hard worker and enjoyed spending time outside. As a side note, he registered the first time as a young 97 years old in 2023 and when his family brought him to register he let them know they interrupted his w**d trimming.
Mathew’s sweet smile and humble character will be missed. Please join us as we extend our sympathies to Matthew’s family and friends.

View William Matthew Henney, Sr's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/30/2026

Join us August 8th 10AM-noon for free petting farm at Morsches Park near the Pavilion area. Available this year $5.00 pony rides. Questions call the park office 248-5180.

07/29/2026

We are saddened to share the passing of Toban “Toby” or as he preferred “Tob” Chapman. Tob has been part of our community all of his life and served as our Old Settlers Days President in 2012. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

View Toban James Chapman's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

07/18/2026

We would like to extend a big thank you to John Roy for helping Old Settlers Days this year. Our 2027 President, Brent Bockelman, has recently been our entertainment coordinator. However, this year as Vice President and next as President will be busy times for Brent.

Fortunately John stepped in to oversee the nightly entertainment. This involved working with each band to meet their specific needs. John also would arrive early to help with set up, provide beverages and food for the bands and then stay long after most of us had left to help with tear down.

John and his wife Karla also generously hosted lunch for the annual Mizpah Shrine Power Club Antique Tractor Drive held the Saturday before the kick off of Old Settlers Days.

We hear John is already working to schedule bands for 2027. Thank you John for going above and beyond as an outstanding part of our Old Settlers Days festival. We look forward to working with you next year!

07/12/2026

We want to thank the staff at Whitley County Historical for displaying our oldest, longest continuous and youngest resident plaques. They not only host our annual Old Settlers Day registration and they also bring items out from storage reflecting our 122 years of history.

At one time, many years ago, Old Settlers awarded the winners with a “loving cup”. Over the years some of these have been donated to the Historical Society for safekeeping and because of two families donating their Loving Cups, we recently rediscovered the story behind dual presentation to two residents for the Longest Continuous resident in 1936.

Both recipients arrived by covered wagon in September 1849 and both lived in Whitley County for 87 years! The recipients were Margaret Cassell and Alonzo Lancaster.

Margaret, from Etna Township, was 2 years old when her parents arrived in Whitley County. She was 88 years old when she received her Loving Cup.

The Lancaster family was on their way to California to be part of the Gold Rush and decided to settle in Richland township. They
discontinued their journey because of the hardship of the trip on their 8 month old baby, Alonzo. He was 87 years old when he received his Loving Cup.

The original Loving Cup was presented to Margaret and a duplicate was obtained, engraved and sent to Alonzo. This is most likely the only time that two residents were recognized at the same time for living in Whitley County continuously.

Thank you to the families who donated these to the Whitley County Historical Museum. They helped preserve a precious moment of our history we may not have discovered.

Thank you to the Whitley County Historical Society for their wonderful safekeeping of our records including the Post & Mail newspaper clippings that detailed this story.

07/03/2026

Tonight’s Independence Celebration at Morsches Park will occur rain or shine.
Bring an umbrella, a sweat towel, neck fan, cool drinks (or buy some from the vendors) and any other necessary attire, and enjoy our community’s celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial birthday!

07/03/2026

Save the date!