Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-24
FIRST FESTIVAL OF THE
Pioneer Settlers Association.

AlVuCcI cCttICIS ASSOC1dtl6u
AT the appointed hour on Monday even
ing, the Pioneer Settlers of Scott county, old
yoang, and middle aged, together with
considerable number Of invited guests, con
sistng of the clergy, the press, and others
assembled in the spacious apartments of the
Burtis House, TO celebrate for the first time
this advent of many sturdy men and heroic
women to this county. To us, compare.
lively new comers to this place, the scene
portrayed by the meeting Of so many of the
fathers and mothers Of this community. wa:
| of great interest what must it have been
to those, who for the first time in their lives
perhaps, beheld so many familiar faces met
| in convention, to con gratulate each other
on the unparalleled success of their enter
prise. There were the aged, whose time
beaten brows had PASSED three score years,
| and whose feeble step and whtened lccks
told as that their sojourn upon earth is but
short there We're the middle aged, who
comprise the bone and sinew of society, also
the more youthful, the rising hope OF our
community.
The assembly was cal 4 % order by the
President lie Claire, !t.n f. Dillon Esq. in
behalf Of the -issoe,at.o u presented the Pres
ilent with beautiful gold headed hickory
cane, and at the same time addressed hiIl
with most elegant and touching speech,
in which he alluded in the most happy man
ner to the past career of this venerable
locality. the manner in..which he had made
use of his large means for the advancement
of the interests of Davenport-all of which
were highly appropriate-and a true expos
ltion of the position which this worthy man
has ever maintained in our midst.
The cane was manufactured of native
hickory, highly polished and mounted with
heavy gold head, on which was engraved
the following inscription: "Pioneer Set
tiers Association, organized January 1858,
Scott county Iowa, Antoine LIE Claire, first
President"
Tie Presidents written response, was
read by Vice President, +. Cook, and was,
indeed. an elegantly conceived production
one that was most fully appreciated by that
large nssemblage of persons who, for long
term of yeals have beee intimate with the
history of this man. All can fully imagine
the feelings which must have filled his
breast, on an occasion like..this. How the
past arose in his memory, as before him his
eye met with those who had been the part
ness of his early struggles, his doubts, his
hopes and fears as to the future success of
that once little colony of which he may well
be called the founder. The memory of this
man whose benevolence and energy has
long '.ndeared him to this people. will re-
main fresh in the memory long after his
body has been consigned to the tomb, and
his so III has returned to the God who gave
it.
Th,. next business in order was the deliv-
cry of the address by John p. Cook, Esq.
Mr.. Cook approached the stand He
needle d no introduction to this community,
for tn e name, John p, is as familiar upon
the e. " Of every citizen of this section of the
State, as household words He is pioneer
-one among the first who set foot upon this
soil one who has been identified for many
wit tho &c
oinin g counties-"Old Cedar" was there in
all hi glory.
TIL .speech prepared for this occa sion was
one uncommon interest-well conceived
and if we may infer anything from deep ST.
lence or hearty bursts of applause-we
shoulil unhesitatingly state that it was most
happily received by all.
1t dwelt as may be supposed, somewhat
1t length upon the early history of this
pl ace; the trials and struggles which the
p ioneers underwent; and gave somewhat of
: history of the early struggle between the
r ival towns, Davenport and Rockingham, as
to which should have the honor of being the
county seat also of the formation of military
forces to drive out the Ruffians on the bor-
Ter line, and establish the authority of ter
r torial law, within the proper boundaries
u the Territory of Iowa.
It would be impossible to go into all the
n 'ints of this speech, which the society
h ould have published together with the
# icial proceedings, that both old and new
ct tiers may have it to preserve as relic
f i!he pasta strongly written chapter in
he early history of Scott county. Particz-
ariy in his allusion to the future, were we
aos interested. Many hearts were full.
aaS eyes were dimmsd with tears ~ he
ps> ulatsd upon the future Of the Assoeia