The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-03
ArnnIr REUNION OF OLD SETTLERS.

| ANIMAL REUNION or OLD SETTLERS
rto riopeers of civilization in the coun'
10. n Rock Island and Scott held their an
naal picnic on Wednesday which was emf
,sntIr a success. Heretofore they have gone
to the Island the usual place for the meeting
in wagons, buggies and whatever conveyance
was attainable, but the destruction OF the
passenger bridge by the ce,last spring inter-
fered with this arrangement.A more desirau'e
feature in this part Of this years programme
was the arrangement made with the railroad
company to carry the passengers over !" 'ns
cars. Accordingly, at eleven o'clock ine
time nppoi.ted for the departure OF the eA'
cursion, long train Of cars was 'reIg.'ea
with the old settlers Of Rock Island Sh'
Scott counties, with their children aud grand
children, along with capacious baskets OF
al hes. After considerable delay caused
By the train returning TO tie depot for belat'
ed cvcursIonists. the expedition got under
.,av and was soon on tho Island. After
crossing the bridge another detention &c.
Cured from the train being too long to
make the clrYc. This difficulty o5yiatcd
the destination was reached at about 20
minutes to twelve. The cars could not
reach the exact locality of the picnic, so
procession was formed headed by the Da.
yenport Brass band, aud followed by about
22j, Of the Scott county representation aud
about 37j of our own old settlers. The pic
ME grounds are the finest imaginable
thickly shaded, aud covered with fine car
pet of grass. Here large platform, aud
number of long rows Of tables had been
erected. The crowd being considerably
larger than anticipated the table accommo
dation, was insufficient. Jacob Norris, Esq,
accordingly advanced upon the platform aud
announced the fact, adding that all should
appropriate tables, wherever they could Ind
them, and those who could not must be
content with the primcyal table and table.
clotb namely the ground and its covering Of
,rass a state of affairs TO which old settlers
were not unaccustomed He then asked
that the officers and ex.Uilcers Of the two
pioneer associations Rock Island and Scott
counties) come forward upon tue the plat.
form which was accordingly done. The
exercises were then opened with prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Hitchcock. Judge Grant Of Da.
yenport, then introduced Judge Dillon, OF
Davenport. as the orator of the day. The
Judge advanced and was greeted rapturous.
3 ". He read prepared address cloquentIy
finished and finely delivered, He compared
the present of this region with the period OF
its first permanent settlement, and dweIt
upon the improvements, which had been
wrought out By the zeal and untiring energy
Of its pioneers. He eulogized the grandeur
and independence Of the western character
aud testified 70 the affection in which all
pioneers hold their adopted home. He was
I listened to with pleasure and attention BY
e alL After hsaddresa came the general recog
n'''0"'' ""'' .'"""'1Es anu '''"''''"' ','V .
( bronze Gced gray haired old pioneers hail
ing eA'n o'n',' fe'"'''"E '''"'' '''' nav ~
: become legendary, and living over again tn
s''.''"s ',,m', Vi 'O'D mug '!"' d" -" y g.,
t that aud anecdotc, their children and gran
d children busted themselves in loading tn
r. ,.,,',,, ,n. IN ,.or,a- s. oho;oo s.o.o. 80
10 a',,.:..,I ~. ,..a.. 81 ,,;n, .ohIa o1or.,
RI -. - hit ,nL,
u ..-.,ol. en- D., AL ,I.,,iGl c,od;nc ~,
-. .............L An "a ;.
49,. a.an,;,, ,ror bo,.ilos ,vo
M .,....l.n. ,.,5 h,..o,, .o,.,;c ,o NAV q,
"A al, ,ssomh,,I roupd tho platrorn to listen
,rt n,., ,,..,.,,. o.o,.to,;o,l ,ro,,b.noling To,
90 al. .,,.,.,. mad, Cor Dr Gro,g wbo mn,
~. .',.,,...r,n, ,,l ,ros ir.I, o,o.,ont
# lo rrco, .nir,t Of imrroyemcat character
g., =. r.,.,,,,-,,. ,,o,,rlo ;,,,,r,.,ir, tho nr,b
# ma. ,r,bis ba;,g tba rntnra canitol If II
~. ,..Grn ;rDavo,nor. did NOT. with rolal ia
i'll g.. ,,,,, =, g., o1o;,u IN which CASA III,
e. ,..,,,I ,,,;,. ,h ,nottor nv r,o, i
49, 10y
y tue '9'"""'
nd lie was followed by Judge Grant, of d
he ycnport, aud this gentleman by J. p. Co,
all Esq, of the same place, who told coup
~ ofamusiug anecdotes Mt Judge Grants c
,rr r.,so pr Gragg rrl ,Iint.d. on behalf
l'"''' ''' >',es0
m the Judge, telling an equally amusing sto
els rcdounding to Mr.. Cooks credit for the
III diculous. Mr.. Norris then exhibited t
he society picture prepared by Ncwberry
=, I,,.I. L,r,r., l,,,r;LoI IN tho Ayr,