The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-19
CONCLUDED.

have nothing to fear from impartial
scrutiny but OF the contrary, that
they can invite it with confidence as
to results. And in concluding this
part of my subject, permit me to say
shat the past of Seneca county is full
of eTentful incidents worthy of pres
ervatien. By a concentration of eff
forts and diligeut research on your
part these can be gathered up aud
put into a durable form. In view Of
the obligations due from rational
and accountable beings TO the race IN
general for It's progressive elevation,
as we'll as the pleasure it must afford
yourselves, this will not, l trust, be
treated with indifference nor neglect.
As respects myself, am admOnish-
ed by age and my waning health.
without any reasonable prospects Of
lasting Improvement, that can
premise little personally-indeed,
nothing in aid of he society; yet my
heart is DEVOTED TO it aud with con-
fdence that, by ordinary industry
and perseverance,, its success will be
assured.
Now with a few general remarks
as to pioneer life in this county and
the aspirations, duty, patient fOrIi-
tude. an6 unselfshDess of the piO-
ueers themselves, and l have done
Nurtured here from childhood and
youth, amidst the checkered scenes
and FACTIONS of a stern necessity.
many of us have spent our lifetime
IN this city and county. 1t is there
fore not singular that as pioneers,
ncw lingering On the verge of time,
we should feel disposed to retrace
our footprints and carefully recall
the events which have transpired
here and in which we have, for veal
or woe, largely. participated. 1t is
however of secondary Importance
for us TO know that there is city of
Tifin; that it is studded with splen-
did buildings for private, mechanic
al and educational purposes, that
its streets are macadamized; Its
streams bridged and its native will
dernesss and rusticity reclaimed and
converted into the tasteful abode of
the arts and civilization. | say that
these are comparatively non-esseu>
tial and of little concernment. But
it is of importance to know under
what adverse circumstances and by
what skill and patient self-denial Of
its proprietor, the city of Tifiu sue
eessfully resisted the hydra of an un-
scrupulous effort to strangle in its in
fancy and also by what means it
has, within less than half a centu-
ry, been netamorphosed from the
haunts of wild beasts aud saEages
into its. present magnifcence. 1t
concerns US to inquire and ascertain
the disposition, ability, anxiety and
motives of those by whose energy,
tenacity and good qualities the
growth and progress of Tif6n have
been effected by what perverSity its
public sentiment has been occasion
ally 6emoralized, or its private NOR
ais corrupted; and to what extent
these we're induced and Influenced
or modified by the love of display
pure individual selfishness, or a spir-
it of philanthropy. 1t behooves us
to trace those events which, although
perhaps unnoticed at the time of
their occurrence, eliminated in the
present resources and appliances for
social enjoyment in Tifin aud to
especially heed the progress of its
people in wealth, morality, intellec-
tual culture and the arts which have
been assiduously fnstered by them
and their deceased co-laborers and
absent associates. 1t also behooves
US to recall the trials of adversely
that beset them, and US, in early rio-
neer life; and with humility to in
dulge ourselves in a familiar recital
of the expedients adopted, not unire-
quently with prayerful solicitude, to
overcome them for the Improvement
of our straitened condition. The
trials and tribulations inevitable to
the first settlers of every country are
countless poignant and indescriba-
bic. The memory, in its efforts to re-
produce them, is mysti6sd sand cen
! fused, f not lost in oblivion. Those
of the pioneers of Seneca county
we're not exceptional but, from the
nature of its accompaniments and
surroundings, they were superla'
lively trying and laborious. Appre-
ciating this, they worked with a will
alike from necessity, inclination
and dutyeto improve their lands and
overcome the multitudinous and i'm
posing drawbacks to their immediate
subsistence and domestic comfort.
The pioneers of Seneca county
having sought their homes in th'
wilderness with singleness of hear
to subdue i. aud improve their owl
condition and prospects In life, Her,
alike indifferent to the fastidiOusnes
Of aristocratic conventionalities, ant
the allurements aud captivating fas
/ ciuations of the glittering tinsels o
wealth. With them it was q seasoI
of social equality, without inyidiou
rivalry, or as politicians would no'
say, they we're all equal before th,
law, and it may be truthfully adde'
emulous only ''to do unto others a
they would that others should do t
them" They therefore not only en-
eoaraged and fostered each other, bu
especially new corners among then
If worthy and industrious, it was i'm
material whether or not they ha
capital, other than labor aud m ora
habits which were then indispensable
and constituted the best of capita
Those, and they were rare, who ha
available means, bought lots @
land. constructed buildings and in
proved the country /; meantime, b
contact and a bland assimilation
! blithely participating in the rust
customs and ussges, if not the pincl
ing wants of their new associate
Every Legitimate enterprise vi
: stimulated BY private e1ertions al
public encouragement. All cult
waited spirit of mutual help, neig
borly intercourse and equality.
!, any one was sick, unfortunate, or u
successful 10 bis laudable efforts, a
in danger of breaking down, he '
J.. duly cared for and sustained, eth
by good counsel OF material aid,
e the occasion might require Inste
of being bufeted in his calamity,
not unfrequently happens from en-
and pride in wealthy and prett
tiOus state of society, his misfOrtun
if inevitable or blameless, ",
commiserated and promptly reli'
tut ed by the community which jus
@ @ato appreciated the loss Of his servi
ut and talents, as being more detrime
al than the loss Of money. A