The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-12
THE SCOTT COUNTY OLD SET.
TIERS.


House, and large number came together
to join in the festivities of the Thirteenth
Annual Festival. A large number were
there from the country, and few from this
side of the river. The commencement of
the exercises were delayed an hour or more
by the rain, when at 8 o'clock the retiring
President, Jonathan Parker, ESQ.,, took the
chair. The exercises opened with the
singing by the Old Settlers Amateur Club,
of beautiful quartette, "When Old
Friends Meet Together" after which Eb-
enezer Cook, ESQ.,, announced that owing to
sickness Mr.. Charles Natter, the President
elect, would no, be present, aud that the
Vice President, Mr.. d. B. Shaw, would as
sumo the chair. The retiring President,
Jonathan Parker, Esq, then presented the
"Piopeer's Cane" to Vice President Shaw
in short and appropriate speech.
A letter was then read from Mr.. Natter,
the President, his regrets at his
inability to attend, and containing some
affecting illusions to the rugged past which
lucy uno OIL stIugSiso tATouRU Ale tnub
touchingly referred to the time when all the
Old Settlers will be numbered with the
dead
But our brief history, covering as it does
only three decades, is not without its shad
ows. 1t reminds US that in the midst of life
we are in death. With every returning
year many of our members are being gath
cred to their fathers, and it is difficult to-
day to determine whether more remain with
us upon the shore of time, or have been
transferred by death to another, and we may
hope better land. Hereafter every year
will show a large increase of mortality over
the preceding, until We may reasonably
expect that at the end of three more de
cades, nearly or quite all of those who now
number as old settlers will finally have
passed from earth to a grand reunion in the
home of the blest.
The Amateur Club" then sang in q
superior style the grand old anthem,
"W AXE Wake the Song" Then followed
the annual address, by John P. Cook. It
was as such addresses always are, very in
teresting, and delivered in Mr. Cook g
pleasant colloquisl manner, was especially
so 10 oil the venerable people present.
He alluded to the organization Of the
society, and its FIRST annual festival, held
February 22d, lS6S. He then rehearsed
the many changes IN the population of the
city of Davenport since the lst of January
! 1855. The following eloquently affecting
reference to the annual duty of the orator
then followed:
The sad but sacred duty is devolved
upon the orator at each of our annual gath
erings TO name the dear friends whose work
has ended since the last preceding gather
ing. and to make the record of their virtues
to be so preserved By us that they shall not
remain mere tradition, but shall ever b.
fresh in the memories of their survivors and
descendants. II is a solemn duty, and he
who performs 1t is brought TO q deep sppre
cistion of the fact that we who now make
the record, or listen to it, must at no distau'
dsy be the subjects of similar memorial,
until the last tribute to our Individual mem
bers shall be made BY our sons, when We a.
shall have been called away.
"Reverently, then, let Us see who hav,
left US in the last brief year"
LAc kAtA ICdu tHt iOlC oi LuC t-oACSA NS">
for the year 1869, end afterwards related
past recollections of them and renewed
associations long buried in the dusty cryp
of time. HE address Was very affecting
many being moved to tears by "reminiscences
of those dear to them who have died within
the last year.
At the close Of the address all presen
rose and joined in singing AUD Lam
Syne," in full chorus, after which the
formed in procession and marched to tn
dining hall, where splendid banquet ha
been spread. Messrs. Riley & Gould, h
proprietors of the Newcomb House, ha
outdone themselves, and had produced
supper at once plentiful and artistic. Ever
one was well served, and the whole affsi
passed of tremendously and pleasantly. n
small credit is due to the efforts of tn
amateur gIee club, whose singing was of a
excellent character and exceedingly we
rendered
The following is list of the tossts mad
and responded to during the banquet;
ToAsTs
were read by the Rev. Enoch Mead, which
were responded to as follows:
Our Country.-We have taken par; i
the conquest OF part OF 1t from the wilder
ness, and have lately witnessed the rescu
of another part from rebellion. Let u
hope that each succeeding year will obliter
ate some trace of the conflicts with natur
and with our brethren, and that our descend
ants may ever guard sacred trust tn
nation it has cost so much to establish al
preserve. Responded to by Judge Drury
The Pioneer Dead : Each annual reunio
brings the sad proof that the old settlers {
! Scott county are gradually passing away
and reminds US OF our advancing year,
May we in our recolections of the past eve
cherish affec,ionstely, the memory of thos
who shared the early tolls of q frontier lit
with US, and draw closer the links that unit
US who survive. Responded to by Ebeneze
Cook
Scott County-Our chosen home. il
progress from an Indian hunting ground I
the first place among the counties OF a Stat
numbering more than million of people,
3 best testimony to this unsurpassed advantage
e and the energy Of its people. Response b
W. A. Foster
Mother and Daughters We have learne
g to appreciate their qualities alike in earl
/. times Of hardship and privat.on as in tn
e times of rejoicing, and it is ard to decid
q in which they have most distinguished then
selves. Scott county will have an unclou'
ed future if its men only prove them
selves worthy of its mstrons and maid
Responded By W. s. Collins.
z Hard 7imes.-A seasonabe sentiment
Those who complain now can scarcely res
6 ize what hard times meant In days whe
. coin and greenbacks were alike unattanabl
q and when Scott county in winter had I
3 avenue of com nunication with the rest
!. the world. Response by DR.. Logan.
The Representative men IF Iotca W
rejoice to see our young State beginning
8 occupy its proper station in the council al
upon the tribunals of the nation. MAY v
: always have men to offer to the Union,
! whom we can feel such assured confden
Il pall-