Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-11-13

EARLY SETTLERS AssoCIATIONs.-In its
account Of the recent meeting of the early
Settlers Association" mt Dubuque the Herald
gives the following from one of our most
honored citiens-words well worthy of q
place in every Iowa journal:
KINDRED ASsOCiATlONS.-Links in the
chain Of local history that binds the past 10
the present and future.
A beautiful response was presented from
Hon. j. +. Dillon, of Davenport, abiding
to the object of the settlers associations.
We make . few extracts from this response:
The objects of these Early Settlers Asso-
Citations are praiseworthy and beneficent. In
this hard, dry, unitarian age, and in this
new country, whittier the shifting currents
of life have brought us, and where without
such societies, each is but too apt to be .
stranger to the other, it IL we'll to break loose
from the orbit and dull rotine of every day
pursuits, to dismiss, though II be but for
day or an evening the cares OF life, and per
plexities Of business !; to leave behind US the
ledger, the farm, the workshop, the office,
the bar, the interest table, and devote our.
selves to the agreeable-aye pious-duty Of
recalling scenes, OF re.tOuching The moss
grown memories Of other days, of renew
ing and STRENGTHENING old, and OF forming
new ties, friendships and associations.
In the press and hurry OF life, engrossed
in business, we j0stle against our ncghbor.
our old time acquaintaDcc, he, it may he
with whom we bufcted the storms and en-.
dured the privations, shared the depressions
and participated in the joys Of pioneer life,
without SO much as to stop, grasp him BY
the hand and exclaim II am glad to see you!
How do you do."
II is wen and truly affirmed in the senti-
ment that these associations blind rs to The
pact" To recall the past, how naturall
And after having traversed for years the
burning sands, the arid wastes, the flinty or
It may be with some the fowery paths Of life,
how pleasant and profitable withal, to look
back and see the picture Of the Past come
gradually trembling into view, to continue
he gaze until the picture u reproduced, with
not 8 tint begimmed OF . figure lost, more
lovely and more precious than ever before.
Ifscenes of hardship, pfivation, sacrifice:
toll and danger have been passed through
these circumstances but augment the pleas
IRE of recalling them. If others have pass.
/ ed through these scenes with US, how natur
al, how agreeable, it is for US to wish To re-
| call them together. This community Of er
persencx makes a common bind If brotherhood
Upon this foundation, these societies rest
| This Is the golden chain which binds each
society together. Well and truly also is Il
stated in the sentiment that these aesocia.
lions bind the past to Tie future. This gives
another and especial value to such orsaniza-
tionA The incidents and memorials Of tie
Early Settlers aFe rapidly passing away
and the names even Of many Of the dead
will soon perish nom general recollection,
unless the means Of preservation be taken
To gather up these incidents pcrpetuate
thede ihemorials-to keep fresh and green
for the future, the memories o. those who
die, these are among the c0mmendaele Oh
jects Of thsse Old or Early eettiers Societies
really envy you The pleasure you will
take in feawakening sleeping menories and
half dormant s6sc3ationA and n mellow
ing colofing ard Nealfxing The rough TEA
lures Of earlier timos with Tie warm glow
the rich 1esh, the gUf9eoas sunset hnes d
ming)d Memory andf Fa1ky: $500.
Nay the pictufs of tie Past glow On ~
occasion with : 5n1innce sichof Ia the
wondlDW zpone1lDf Donhl1hdt could have
si1ssd 6es1 lNAtsb - ooeA0 ne1t 0cMA11
J'1a0 I - thiGU = -" 'as' s-'1hl