Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-02
FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL
YClni '1oneeP SettlerS' AAsoctatto


Pioneer Settlers Of Scott County. took plac.
at lie Claire Hall Tuesday evening
The state o! the road. being rather unfa
vo able for full attendance from the coun
try. there were not so many of the young
eo' try people ia a. could have been wished
yet we are glad to say that about two hun
dred Of the youthful pioneers Of our county
conve ened ct an early hour at the Hall, ant
engaged IN the fes,ivitie. Of the occasion.
1t has never been on pleasure to zee. be
fore, 80 many of the young people Of ou'
city and county in assembly. and oil whs
were present will agree with us that it va,
glorious sight Besides the children of tn.
old settlers-those who were upwards o
fifteen years of age-there were q goodl,
number Of the Old Pioneers present anc
also number of invited guests the en,ir.
Press in par,icular-and reporters wiflou
any specific resolutions, were admitted.
Taken individually the Young Settlers o
Scott county will compare with any class o
young folks in tie world, and taken toyeth
er, in one grand assembly. We challenge the
Universal Yankee Nation to eclipse them
Not only have the Pioneers reason to be
proud OF their offspring, but the Young Pi
oneers have every reason to be proud Of
themselves
At the appointed hour the Association
wac called to order by President Z. +. Cook
and Vice President B. w. Clark announced
that the hour had arrived for the delivery
OF the annual Grafton, when Mr.. Cook ora.
tor of the evening, took the stand and de.
livered the following very neat and appro
pirate address:
Mr. President aud La dies and Gentlemen:
cannot find words adequate TO express
the high sense of honor which | feel, in
thus having been selected to deliver the
first Annual Adress before the Young Pi
oneer Settlers association OF scott county.
In performing this duty, feel that | am
not capable OF giving a flushed Grafton,
having had no experience in public speak
ing.
know ofno society in this Union which
is similar in its organization and objects to
the Young Pioneer Settlers Association. '
An Old Settlers Society is no uncommon
thing, but Young Settlers organization
is. to say the leas', q novelty.
1t may not be inappropriate to here give
brief history Of this Association. With
whom the idea Of such Society first orig
mated, do not know, but the subject was
first broached by Willard Barrow, ESQ
Several interested themselves In it, and i'm
mediately commenced to lay the foundation
of tie Society. The limits were fixed be-
tween the years ls4l and lS4S. but it was
finally deemed expe dent to admit al chill
dren Of Old Settlers at the age of fifteen
After obtaining an incomplete list Of those
who were entitled to membership, q meet
ing was called. At that meeting 4 cQnsti-
tuition Vas adAQtsd. the objects n The Aaso-
citation explained, and the interests Of che
members enlisted Several meetings we're
afterwards held. at which officers were elec-
ted, committees appointed, and all business
appertaining to the Association was trar sac
ted; and now We are here to the number of
two hundred, and our society is perfectly
organized. And what will be the course
and end Of fs Association. Here we are
to-day, young and vigorous; looking for
ward with bright anticipstions to the glo-
rious future. Here we are children Of the
parent-tree, the "Old Settlers Society :"
here We are, the hope Of doting parents.
our every action watched with narental so
licituds.
Lift N imagination the veil cf futurity,
and what will you there zee? Ten year.
hence and there will be gathered here a
body of men. During that space OF time
what change will come over those who
now sit here as boys. free frem care, Some
will have passed to their long, last homes
some will lament the death of kind parents
whose places can never be supplied. while
others will be engaged in commercial pur-
suits, or plunged into political .trifes.
From amoLg the many who will then be
here, one will be selected to deliver an ora.
ton. not simple youthful effort like the
present, but one replete with eloausnce.
one which will thrill the heart of the listen
er with emotions called up BY the recital Of
facts connected with the early history Of
Scott County and its two kindred Societies
the Pioneer and the Young Pioneer Set.
tiers Association"
Twenty years more and another changei
A sober, quiet body Of middle-aged men
will take their seats on the festive day to
listen to the thirty-6rst Grafton before the
Young Pioneer Settlers Association, I"
young in its name, but old in it's organize
tion. At that time the "Old Sett err' So.
ciety' will have become weak in numbers.
and they will look not only with pride, but
with affection upon our Association. for al.
though We can never take their place in re-
ality. yet to do it as nearly as it can be
done, will be our duty.
On that occasion the address will be one
Of solid practical application. combined with
that finish acquired by classical educa-
tion. The members will glance around the
room, and it will not take careful eve to
discover that the hand of death has there
reaped rich harvest Each heart will fill
with eadne ess a. the members reflect upon
what the Society has once been, and what
it now is. Each one will leave the festival
with the reflection that the angel of death
may next whisper the awful man tate in his
own ear.
One more scene. Thirty years more have
been added to the life of each Of us. By
our youngest member the allotted age to
man has been attained. Three score and
ten set heavily on the brows Of those hoary
headed veterana They gather around the
festive board, festive ct one time, but now
how changed! The conversation is serious
and reverts to other days What reAee-
tions. what burning thoughts crowd upon
their minds Their thoughts rush back
the space Of half . century; they see there
the multitude of faces which will then have
become damped with the dsws Of death.
They think Of their own snticipations and
ambition; how 'thoss snticipstions have
been blasted, how that ambition has been
thvarted They march away in mournful
silence. and the Young Pioneer Ssttlers'
Association 10 extinct; the next year and
oil have passed to their graves, and our
records. with those Of the "Old Settlers"
viii pass to the next generation. II will
become our duty TO act an important part
in the great drama Of life. Oh what IN
interesting study it would Be. could " but
Il .