Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-23
THE old BOYS.
Who Inhabited Ramsey County Prior
to May / 18th. 1853.
THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL REUNION
Feast on Col. Aliens Good Fare and
Make Big Talk.
A HAPPY SOCIAL OCCASION
Which All of Father Hennepin's Old
Chums Enjoyed Last Night.

The third annual reunion anc ban
quet of the old settlers of Ram
sey county occurred last night at the
Merchants hotel. About 100 veterans of the
early days. lanked and supported by youth
full appearing or two, assembled to do
honor to the occasion 1t was in intent and
purpose double celebration; an observance of
Washington's birthday, as well as to recall
kind old memories of former days. Washing
tons birthday anniversary very fitting
time for the reunion, it brought together in
recollection and renembrances the good old
days III which the veterans participated and
inherited from the man. whose natal day was
Jointly celebrated with theinfancy of Minnesota.
Many familiar faces were present, "eld
timers who were here and familiar to the
place when the town was new. Years have
passed since then, but for all that there wasn't
a person present who indicated he not long
in the land to see as wondrous changes in the
future as be had helped to shape and mature
in the past. One hundred goodly men in
vigor. face and figure got together last night
could grace, honor or make any country at any
day. It was genial company, warmed up
into hilarity and ripe good fellowship the
good old times were recalled, and as past oc-
currences lived again in recital If
the old times were like the old fellows who as
sembled around the festive board last night,
u
edgment to the evident superiority, and the on
ward marc of time is hereby advised to retro
grade.
The hour of o clock was designated as the
time to begin operations. The good old people
of the grand old times enjoined punctuality,
and the Old Settlers last mig bit didn't forget the
lesson.
At s O'Clock the company assembled in the
ladies' ordinary, and order being promptly Sc
cured, Hon. 1. V. D. Heard delivered the fol-
lowing
annual ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN: This society, under the name
of The Ramsey County Pioneer Associa-
ton" organized the twenty-frst
day of December. 1871 and its objects to
perpetuate the early "reminiscences of our city
and county; to keep alive and strengthen by
annual reunions such as this the mutual friend
ship of its members: to assist such of them as
may be in distress and when the occasion shall
transpire to pay the proper tribute of respect
to the memory of the departed.
To authorize admission to the society the ap-
plicant II ust have been of legal age and had
residence in the county on or prior to the
18th day of May. 1858.
The selection of some day which should
limit the right of admission being necessity
from the nature of the or5aizasion, and to pre-
vent the association from being overcroWded,
the above date was selected as fulfilling these
conditions and for its significance in marking
the emergence of Minneso from Territorial
homage to Statehood.
The Old Settlers association, while its gen.
eral objects are the same, differs from this So
ciety TO the qualifications of its members,
who may reside anywhere in the State, pro-
vided that they had an inhabitancy within its
limits prior to January l, 1886.
The time OF such inhabitancy fixed in the
legislative act incorporating the Old Settlers
association. originally drawn, is reported to
have been June l, 1919, hen the organization
of the Territory was proclaimed, and as such
fit and easily understood line of demarka-
ton.
1t is further reported that the change
to January LIST. 1850, was effected by AIr. ". p.
Murray. in order that he might be embraced
within the society, for he not coming to Min
nesota until December, 1s49 would otherwise
have been excluded.
In 1859. or in the earlier of the succeeding
years. the assumption of the appellation of
pioneer by him who only came in 1858,
would have properly been considered meaning
less; but the term is relative one; and now,
on this 22nd day of February, 1879, the title of
'pioneer' may we'll be regarded as hawless in
him who for twenty years. whether priest in
shaping public morals, or teacher in forming
the minds of the young, or physician in heal
ing the sick, or lawyer moulding its statutes or
architect combining strength and beauty in
structures OF wood and stone, or merchant Gre
ating and increasing commerce, capitalist
rlsklng his means, or workman carrying the
bod, or whether otherwise employed in the
manifold other departments of toll, has con-
tributed his talent .r his mite-has given the
fruit of his intellect. OF the contents of his
purse or the labor of his hands, in laying the
foundations of that great municipality of the
future which we cali Saint Paul.
While duly respecting the magic dividing
line of Murray, made notable by being one of
the earliest monuments IN his we'll known dis
tinguished career, are fain to glance across it
and claim from those on the other side friend
" and paternal recognition; for many of us
lived close up to that line, and from an early
date knew Father Ravoux, and Charles Ba-
lille, and Vital Guerin. and Louis Robert and
James NJ. Goodhue, and P. K. Johnson and
Henry Jackson, and James Vincent, and
many another of those argonauts Of early DAYS.
1t is true that none of were ever blessed
with vision of the shanty of Pierre Parrant
but very many of US did once with our bodily
eyes, see the house that jackson built. and
Gaultier's famous Catholic chapel, on their
high aerial lookouts; and as evidence of the
authenticity of our title of pioneers has not
bishop of the church presented US with ga
vel made from the pine wood of that same
sacred chapel?
The constant decrease of the membership in
each association, through non-residents and
death, shows that this society was organized
none too soon.
A goodly moiety of old settlers. it is true,
still survive, but the twilight of
the days of many of their number
is fast mingling with the morning of eternity,
anu on lDe 1OreQeaOS OF all more than middle
age has set its signet sage"
The elastic and seemingly tireless step OF
Ravoux begins to slacken. Upon the ear OF
Goodrich comes more frequent the sounds OF
the blasts rustling the leaves on the trees OF
Woody Morven. The boards of Kittson and
Masterson and Lott fall white to the shaver
and the many wintered crow is marking deepe,
his trail around the eyes of the Walker in the
Pines.
Of the 1900 eligible voters in this count,
at the adoption of the State constitution in
1857, that being the total number as compiled
from the United States census then taken-s
careful computation can only account for 25(
as now living and resident in this county.
OF the 200 names that appeared on the
records OF this association as members on tn.
9th day of October, 1877 thirty-eight in num
ber or Ii per cent of the whole had at tina
date been removed by death or become non
resident.
Of these thirty-eight twenty had died
including William L. Ames, Luther e
Eddy, I. G. George, John Gellatly
John b. Grindall, James Gooding, Villa
Sprigg Hall, Thomas Lamb, Rev. John Mat
tocks, DR.. J.. B. Phillips, G. 81. Schurmier. +
Theobald, M. L. Vebber, Marshall Sellers an,
John D. Wilson.
This is a roll Of mere names, but like thos
In Homer and Virgil, they are magic names
and to u.s. each con lures up history.
Former residents of this county are scattere
far and wide; to Australia, to Texas, to Mar