Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-24

more enlarged undsrGandingd to enjoy
and advance. that the maturity Of great ma
tion, OF which it has been eur high privilege
to rank among the vorknes Who laid its
| foundations. not in brick or stone only. but in
principles Of morality. virtue, and indepsnd-
enee which We trust will be immortal.
ll.-7he Hstoria. Of Scott Cosasy.-His inde-
fstigable research in the gathering Of facts, sta
iistics and incidents, aid his untiring industry in
com oining them in Interesting narrative, and
placing them in the indelible record Of types, have
created Living Memory Of the Pioneer History
OF Scott county, with which the name Of the His
torian must ever be connect ted.
Response by Willard Bsrrows, Eeq.:
Ma PRnrDss1 In responding to such .
sentiment ss this. breathing IS it does the sp;r-
1t OF kindness and Of praise can but feel hap
rs OF an opportunity 70 express my grateful
claim no merit At the reques. Of the Cura-
tors of the state Historical Society OF Iowa,
have been gathering the scattered fragrnents
OF our history. They were fas, passing away
The old landmarks by which We have been
running Tor the last twenty-five years we're
falling to decay, and new and brighter objects
were covering up in Oblivion the last traces Of
the Red man. and the first struggles OF the Pi-
oneer. IL has been in general . pleasing fask,
although at times it has called up some OF the
mo painful "reminiscences Of earlier days.
The crude AMI iuperfec: material which has
ben compiled may be Of service to the future
historian when the great valley Of the Missis.
sippi shall have put on her strength and beau
", when her vast plains sail be dotted over
with the habitations Of man, and the commerce
OF great people be seen floating U on the bo-
som OF our noble river 1t viii be Men, Sir,
that the Living Memories Of the Pioneers Of
Scott County will stand forth amid the splen-
dor OF coming ages. and receive their just need
Of praise.
10 this glorious result We have all here to-
nIgst contributed Alike have We borne the
heat and burden of pioneer life. 1t vas you,
pioneer fathers and mothers of Scott County, it
was sou that first planted the =eets Of ,his liz
tory. 1t is you that make up this history. 1t
was .ou that covered up the last foot prints Of
the Indian upon the il OF Scott County. and
reared the altars Of civilization on the ruins Of
harbsfisn. AS look around me here to- night,
and behold the familiar faces OF cid and tried
friends. how we'll do | remember the trials and
conflicts Of our early history,
The material. sir, for the future historian ..
Iowa. will be rich and abundant and although
We cannot point to mount Nebo. q Lebanon,
or n Zion, or TO rivers made sacred by the pres
snce of patriarch and prophets, vet vs have
our own lovely plains with their Eden-l.ke
beauty, and the de- rolling Mississippi for cur
Ganges. our Euphratss and our Nile We have
no Plymouth Rock made memorable by the
anding of the Pilgrim Fathers, no battle ields
upon which the proud monument reagsits lofty
heal. But we can stand upon our own native
bluffs. and contemplate with wonder and ad-
IN rotion,the never -tiring waves Of that ighty
r!v hos ,,it it.sa
in extent than the empire of Alexander, and
which bears upon its bosom commerce great.
er than that of all the rivers tributary to I'm
perial Rome
Tank ycu, sir, that the rock bound coast
of New England should become more memora-
bic by the foot prints Of the Pilgrims. than the
landing OF Marquette ana Jole., one hundred
and eighty six years ago upon the soil Of
Scott county. Were the scenes enacted in
Plymouth Harbor more thrilling and impor
'ant in their results than the discovery of the
Mississippi valley.
Should the rock that 10 immortslized by
ha wing been pressed by the pilgrims fee; hsvs
cost around it . greater halo Of glory than the
Presence Of those Pioneers. upon the very
ground upon which ve this night celebrate -
For We believe it was here that the village Of
Pewaria stood. where Marquette and joliet
Yes, Mr. Presi cent. Scott county has hsto
Iy a varied and thrilling one And for ne
to feel that have aided, even by my fe. Bile Of
forts IN handing its records down to posteri'y
$ reGuial enough for all the labor bestowe
by me-
l2.-Antoiae lie Laire.-The Pioneer Of Pion-
eers in this county. anl the First President Of the
Pioneers Identified with our city
and county by almost every old-time memory,
anlby every association Of feeling aud interest
may he long live TO bless the festive occasions
with his great presence, and to witness the full
rearing Of those corporate structures, Davenport
ami Scott county, whose corner-stones his hands
laid.
Response by Father P.larnorgueE
MR. PREsrpENr-LAprEs AND GENTLEMEN
am afraid that in responding to this toast l
shall do injustice to Mr. Le Claire, aud to
ths Old Settlers Association. before which
have the honor to speak, and am sorry that
a more competent person than myself was
10: selected to s,and in my place. 1t is true,
a countryman OF the great Lsfay et,e is aiways
welcome 10 an American gathering let his
merits be 90 little. l have so often, since
my residancs among You, experienced the
kindness of our first president and Of the Old
Settlers, who always rendered me the hand
OF friendship, that am encouraged to cay
a few words. My tack is rendered light
from the fact that all of you are we'll &c
quain,ed with Antoine lie Claire. all Of you
having been. like myself. welcomed to the
home Of your choice by the pioneer Of
pioneers of Scott county. Many of you, also
found. perhaps. a shelter under his roof
for i. is a well known fast. that he tender
ed always to the stranger that BENEVOLENT
hospitality which was rendered especially
ant hr ho ta1 id
who presided over his log cabin, Who en-
ecnraged him in his hours Of trial, and who,
more than any one else has pointed to him the
good that was to be done.
LeClaire and Davenport Those two names
are and will be for long time to come, inssp-
arabic. Davenport, though destined to be .
City. might have ianguishsd If it had not be n
for the Anterprising genius and liberal mind
Of Antoine LeClaire. He is not man Of one
idea; he seems to be made on purpose for
being the founder Of . city. Liberal in his
views. he never inquired Of man from what
country hs vas coming. or to what creed be
belonged. He was kind to al and encouraged
all he tried to be benefsetor to al he sn-
couraged the mechanic and the professional
man; he was the friend OF the poor as we'll
as the rich. He always knew how to accom-.
modate himself to circumstances, ana he vas
ae cheerful trying bic muelcal skill on three.
stringed fiddle, and amusing some Of those old
settlers,-vno perhaps now listen to ne-as
he 10 now in his elegant mansion, surrounded
by al those comforts that can render . man
happy. II happiness could be found upon earth.
Davenport aud lie Clairel Names insepar-
bic He built the first log cabin, and in it ev-
cry new conner became his gusst; he built the
hrst church. in which he continued for many
years, to lead In singing the praisss Of God till
mis- means permitted him to rear IN ediiice
more suitable to the worship Of the Almighty.