Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-23

merit, and to revive III our minds tine
sacred and cherished memories of the
past and to recount to each other. the
scenes and incidents connected with
our early settlement in this country.
And it affords me the highest satisfac-
ton to cast my eyes OYER this assem-
blage, and see IN 1t, SO many old and
venerable men, whose heads have grown
gray in the service of the state in some
capacity or other, and among whom, I
recognize SO many old and familiar
faces that have SO long and SO favor
ably known. and at whose hands [ have
received so many acts of kindness and
friendship. And to each and every one
of you, | extend for myself, and in be-
half Of the society, whose president l
am, a most cordial welcome and a hap
Ply greeting. And | hope the occasion
will be one Of the most pleasant and
agreeable character, and that It's ten
denotes shall be to unite us still stronger,
if possible, in the bonds of friendship
and traternal feeling.
Over fifty long years ago, in the ever
memorable years of 1S27-o-9, and in the
succeeding years up to 1S4S, we met in
this then wild and wilderness country
to form acquaintance, and make
friendships that should endure as long
as life should last. And now at this
end of one-half a century, we find there
is no abatement in the feelings of
friendship and attachment that actuated
us in those early and sacred days of our
settlement, but that the feeling is to-
day as warm, as fresh, ara as green as
ever. We were then strangers in a
strange land, promiscuously thrown to-
gethel, from all parts Of the United
States, and many other portions of the
habitable globe: and it would not be any
exaggeratiOn Of the facts, were | TO state
upon this occasion: that a more noble,
a more generous, whole-souled, kindli-
er, obliging, determined, persevering
and go-a-head set of men were never in
any country or under any circumstan-
ces thrown together, than were the
noble pioneers of the state of Wiscon-
sin.
We come together as band Of
brothers, extending the right hand Of
friendship and fellowship to each other
and pledging mutual assistance IN times
Of danger and i'll times of need, and it
affords me the most unspeakable pleas
ure to state upon this occasion land l
know that every old pioneer present
will bear me witness when | do make
the statement) that no promises or
pledges that were ever made by mortal
man have ever been more promptly or
more faithfully fulfilled. -.
The generous and liberal hand of the
I'D l.
to assist the needy, and his strong arm
has ever been ready to defend the de-
fenseless.
We were then an isolated people, shut
out from all the rest of mankind to
some extent, nearly one thousand miles
from the nearest points from which
supplies of any kind, either in times of
peace or in times of danger, could be
obtained; in a cold and rigid climate,
without money, without provisions, and
without any Of the munitions Or equip
ments of war; surrounded by savage
and hostile Indians who were liable, at
any moment, to wage war upon us, and
who did upon two occasions wage
war upon US, and Notwithstanding
the destitute and defenseless con-
dition of the country, and notwith-
standing the terror which this kind of
foe generally inspires the little band of
noble old pioneers were neither dis
mayed nor daunted. but boldly stood
their ground, and under the leadership
of the bold and gallant Dodge, the In
dians were met, repnlsed, and driven
out of the country, and in a short time
the country was restored to peace and
prosperity, and has ever since been Oh
the rapid march to great
and magnificent state; and it is
but just to say that this de-
sirable state Of things is attributable
mainly to the prompt, energetic and
| judicious movements of Gen. Dodge
and his little squadron of bold and de-
| termined old pioneers, and to the wise
counsels, industry and enterprise of our
old pioneers and old settlers generally,
who stand to-day as perpetual monu'
ments of the trinmphs of honesty, In
tegrity and industry. as
In the afternoon, after reassembling,
| GEN. GEO. B. SMITH, q.
| OF Madison, delivered an address from
which We make the following copious