The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-06-14
FROM RED OAK.
A fOrttcih anniversary cOmmeni.
GRATED.


a happy reunion, chiefly of elderly
people, at the hospitabIe home of
Mr.. John Ferguson, in Red Oak
Grove settlement, of this county.
The company consisted chiefly of
Scotchmen and their companions.
e. the first six permanent settlers in
this part of Cedar county. They
were Messrs. John Ferguson and wife,
John Safely, Esq, Samuel Yule and
wife, John Chapel and sister, w. A.
Rigby and wife and WIN. Coutts and
wife. Rev. J. ID. Mason was also pres
ent by specia. invitation. One only
was absent, who came in thus early,
Mr.. Charles Dallas, for many years
Il prosperous ranch-man III California.
Upon the assembling of the guests
the generous host, with deep and ten
der emotion, spoke in substance n.
follows: Now friends, after the ex-
piration of forty years, We are all here
alive, and hearty and happy. know
of no similar instance, where band
of seven young pioneer men, two on
" of whom were married, struck out
far in advance Of population, pitched
their tents in a wild grove or unbroken
prairie. selected lands, drove their
stakes, erected their shanties and
broke the virgin soil for their first
crops and have SO persevered, at
first through many Sacrifices and
tolls. for period OF two score years.
Many considerations, my friends, call
upon us to remember the good hand
OF our God upon us, and have suggest
Il 10. l,., r,xtrv .,ft hi
celebration.
when we commenced,here We were
young, and now are old-fOrty years
of good health, or active toll and of
encouraging success.
"The settlement of which we have
been the early founders and proinot-
ers, we think, is equal to any in the
State or the land.
The families we have been blessed
with--tonly one excepted, and he, in
most respects, as wise as any OF u.s.
our wives has been rs fruitful vines,
and many olive plants nave sprang
up around our boards; and the
hol es we have for the future of our
pilgrimage on earth, and above for
all eternity. But | cannot talk fur
Their. My friends, bid you each, and
all, a most hearty welcome" Mr..
John safely responded, saying: ~
concur heartily with the sentiments
Just expressed and would add-when
we commenced here all around US
was desolation, now we have good
farms, comfortable dwellings, and Il
Well-settled community, with good
morals, and three churches i'll our
midst. We have no paupers in Red
Oak.
"A friend, who has long been in our
midst and who has carried pretty
good load, once said TO me, If |
could only turn myself into a Scotch
man little while and get Il good start
made ! think | could then get along
comfortably
"As showing our want of money Il
good many years ago, ! once took a
load OF wheat, fifty miles to the Cas-
cade Mills, to get some good flour, and
then, after returning, took most of it
thirty miles west to Iowa City, about
the opening OF our Legislature there,
and sold 1t to get a little money to
meet the most absolute necessities OF
life. The purchaser inquired the
weight. told him, but said weigh
and Judge for yourself. He replied,
Oh as you're Scotchman l will
take your word for it, MIR w. A.
kigby then spoke, calling the attention
OF the language OF the PsaImist-"rhy
praise shall continually be upon my
lips" This aptly meets our case. a
gracious Providence has ever been
around us. We have all had our trials
and bereavements; but mercy has
been over US all. Divine grace has
also been given us. one and ali, leading
us to fear and love and serve the Lord.
For this unspeakabie gratitude is due.
We have dwelt together in peace and
cooperation. And let us ali now re-
member, that however much We have
been interested in the past, we shall
soon be called to emigrate again. We
expect ere long, each one for himself,
as we trust, to go to that beautiful
land, where there are no intirmities
and partings." Then followed run
ming conversation, etc, when all with
due forlnality, very cheertully repair
ed to the weil-loaded dining table
and after grace by the Chaplain
lively discussion took place and am
pie justice was meted out.
Special aIlusion was made to the
trip to Dubuque, about Is miles, to
the land-sales, two years after COM
mencing homes here. BY previous
consent, nearly 200 men, of the coun-
ty Of Cedar, joined in company and
marched chiefly on foot, with their
pockets Of gold, to procure their gov
eminent parchments for their lands.
Arriving safely and unheralded they
astonished the town by forming in
line upon their principal street, ana, in
due time, quietly retiring to their quar-
tiers for the night. 'Tis somewhat mar
velous, that OF that 2OO men, the six
together, on this memorable occasion,
could count but seven or eight others
known to be living. Surely may this
band Of neighbors say, Goodness and
mercy have followed us all the days
or our lives"
Near the close of the day Mr.. SAM
uel Yule addressed the company,
dwelling rather upon their duty to
their youth and to the future; and
spoke earnestly of the subject and
practice of social and sacred music as
elninentlv suited to cOntribute large