The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-08-27
The Old SetsIers, Picnic.

the Old Settlers Picnic last week, is given on
our second page. 1t will be found full of inter
esting "reminiscences of the olden time. The adj
dress of the Hon. Elmer Baldwin, on the same
occasion, has been kindly furnished Us, and wa.
as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLENEN-C nder the auspi.
ces OF the Old Settlers Association of La Sale
Co. we are met to renew old acquaintance, re.
vive former friendship, and talk over our expe.
rlences as pioneer settlers, and to recount scores
and incidents which can never be erased from
our memories.
As the experience of early youth remains fresh
on the tablet OF the memorJ while life continues
although the events of maturer age are forgot.
ten; SO does the early experience of the enigrant
remain In perpetual remembrance.
We'll can we remember the hopes and fears
which alternately agitated our bosoms when we
first proposed to leave our native land for the
untrled scenes of the new western wilds.
Friends, home, and all the hallowed associations
Of early life, bound Us to the old homestead !;
while hope ambition, and manly pride prompt
ed to a new and wider field of effort
And when duly domiciled in the humble cab.
III on the broad prairie, shaken by the fierce
prairie wind, unchecked by tree or shrub. or
scorched by the summer drouth beneath the fe.
vered rays OF cloudless that pierced the rail
tenement or shimmered around the inmates,
and, in addition, Frustrated by malarious dis
ease, when for days no sympathising neighbor
hits the latch, no human countenance cheers the
Invalid but those of his weary and careworn
family, he has instinctvely cast longing wish
back 70 the cosy old homestead, to the cool, bah
bling springs, and the green hill.ides of bis nat.
i've home, and he had almost resol we'd to retura
but when, with returning health he walked over
his broad With In
and he beheld much beauty enclosing untold
wealth, he treasured and again mamie
anticipated to some extent the results since
achieved. With the strong arms and firm wills
that made them emigrant-, they have peopled
the rude garden Of nature with a populou.
wealthy, intelligent and virtuous community.
The progress made Ill material prosperity, edu.
cation, social refinement and all that constitutes
an intelligent christian community, has hardly
parallel in the history OF any people 1t is no.
bic monument 70 those who have achieved it,
But none but heroes emigrate and grapple with
rude, uncultivated nature and fix it for the abode
of civilization, and such have always received
the highest honor troIn posterity. The Grecians
deifed the founders Of their communities, and
the Romans claimed the descent of Romulus, the
founder Of Rome. from Jupiter and that he was
nnrsed by VIOLA very neat NEUROLOGICAL fic.
ton, showing their high appreciation Of bis
character as the founder of 4 state and his nee.
essary association with wild beasts in conquer.
ing uncuiivated nature. Probably none of our
pioneer. will claim that their children were
nursed by wolves, but many Chm testify that the
nightly bowling of the wolves was the lullaby
that put them to sleep.
The names Of the Pilgrim Fathers that settled
New England will be tran .mitted with honors
TO the latest posterity. Irving has immor.alized
the Dutch settlers OF the island of Manhattan
and the name of Penn and his associates will
never be forgotten by the latest generation of
Pennsylvania. Communities have ever honored
their founders.
Our association has directed its founder TO ap.
point person III each town to obtain the
names of the early settlers, short history, with
any incidents OF interest connected with the set.
tlement OF their respective towns.
1t is hoped that all who can aid in the effort
will freely assist in preserving record that will
be invaluable and of deep interes, 10 all who
may occupy the land we have subdusd and will
do honor 10 deserving men.
A. NJ. Eber>ol, Esq, SECRETARY Of the Old
Settlers Society, 10 sketch of the late picnic
published in the H.p,.jlican of Thursday, adds
the following names Of old settlers added 10 the
roll since the last published list: