The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-10-15
PLYMOUTH. WIS, |
Sent. 3Ottl. 1874.

PLYMOUTH. WIS,
Sept. 3Oth, 1874.
Hon. Um. II. 7HhiN.
DEAR SIR:-Nours of the 18th inst,
inviting me, in the name If the old
settlers of Cedar county, to p,rtici-
pate with them in their approaching
annual reunion. reached me by due
course of mail, but multiplicity Of
cares has prevented me giving it
such early attention as the compli-
ment deserved, and as | would have
been glad to have given it, had |
been master of my surroundings.
Let me thank you, my dear sir, and
through you, my esteemed old friends
and neighbors, for this very grateful
testimony of their long recollection of
so humble an individual as am. and
one who failed to hold out to the end,
but deserted them :ngloriously ly SO
very long ago. Certainly, such Of
you as have stood SO gallantly by
your guns all through 1.-THE times that
tried mems souls" when the priva-
tions, wants and miasmas incident to
all early settlements were ours in old
Cedar, also deserve well of your
State and country, and ] am proud
and thankful that such men and
women have testified their esteem
for me. by giving me this invita- ion
to be with them once more this side
the grave.
Nothing would give me more
pleasure than to be in the midst of
you and grasp every man 5 and every
woman's hand who made one of our
company in the old days when Cedar
county was a vast prairie, with here
and there a grove, and here aud there
a log cabin, and patch of cultiva-
ton. My heart urges me to accept
the invitation; my reason ASSURES me
that in this instance, at least, my
feelings point in the right direction,
and my dear old lady urges me to go
and take her in company with me.
Circumstances, however, the evil
demons of my life, sternly forbid me
the enjoyment of such pure pleasure: !:
| cannot 90. AS is ever said on such
occasions, | assure you ] will be with
you in spirit, and will devote the day
to Il oughts of, and PRAYERS for, the
brave OH pioneers OF Cedar county
Brave, cer;alnly, they have b en-,
and whep one looks over vour beau
,iful territory at the magnificent
mansions and immoth harns, aud
the teeming fields ghiterirg with
yellow corn, which have taken the
place of the rude dwellings and still
ruder outhouses and bleak wild
prairies of my day-all of which they
have inaugurated and guided to per
fection, it is very evident that they
have not only been brave but VIC
torious. Alas! like all heroes who
assemble after the battle has been
fought and the victory won, you will
miss many an esteemed comrade-
man and woman-who went into the
strife with you full Of life and vigor,
| but whose bodies now moulder in the
soil which they helped to rescue
from state OF nature. They have
gone to their reward. They are in
the keeping of their God, and we
cannot doubt of their happiness in
the glorious fields of their new exis.
tence-but you, friends, assembled in
your earthly circle to commune with
each other and celebrate the grea,
work they and you have accom-
plished, must feel many bitter pane
and wipe away many falling tear
in view of your thinned ranks ane
the increased number Of empty seat
that we're wont to be filed with you
dear friends and loved companions.
In my far away beautiful norther
home l will sympathize aud sorro'
with you as if were in your m.ds'