The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-07-01
THE OLD SETTLERS PICNIC.

THE OLD SETTLERS PICNIC.
A Largo Attendance and Coed Time.
The picnic of the Old Settlers Associa-
ton. composed Of residents of several
towns in the south part of the county.
at Charles Porter's Grove, on Saturday
last, proved to be q much larger affair
than its most sanguine projectors had
anticipated. The weather was all that
could be desired. tempting many to at
tend who lived In distant parts of the
county.
Owing to tho iaseness of many in ar
riving ON the grounds no exercises took
place until after dinner. Long tables
were spread. loaded down with the good
things which faxmers' wives and daugh-
tiers know so wei how to prepare. and at
the given word tie hungry took hold and
did ample justice to the bountiful fare.
Here al sorts of jokes and witty sayings
wsre the pastime Of the happy crowd.
The exercises were opened by the choir
singing America" when Mr.. Whalen, the
President of the Old Settlers Associa-
tion, introduced the Hon. e. St. Julien
Cox.
Judge Cox opeasd Me address by say
Ing he was proud u the honor Of being
present at this meeting. When leaving
home. his thoughts were turned to the
time when the mode Of travel was not by
the iron horse, but by the "haw buck "
and the "gee brin'; and when he rode
along and noticed the promising fields of
wheat. his heart gladdened, as he thought
of the reward that was soon to be paid
the sturdy men of Redwood county. The
judge then gave some "reminiscences of
early life in Minnesota, followed by a
poem entitled, Retr0spection." He
thought that retrospection was one of
the pleasantcst parts of an old pioneers
life. With the present mode Of farming,
he could look back to the time when
things were vastly different He gave
some ideas as to how the legal brother
hood and early politicians gained liv-
ing. He spoke of the time "when the
evening sun sank beneath the western
horizon and left behind happy home,
but on the morrow's rising saw desos
lated and murdered household" He
paid some very high compliments to the
Association. and hoped it would continue
to prosper and grow.
The poem entitled "How the Old
Horse Won the Bet" by Oliver Wendell
Holmes. was then read by our townsman,
Mr.. 8. ]. Race.
Rev. D. NJ Haggard, of Brown county.
said that. although at present new
conner. lie was in this part of the State
twenty-five years ago, when the only old
settlers were the Indians.
]. s. Letford was then called upon, and
made few very appropriate remarks.
John S. G. Homer said that he partic-
ularly reverenced all old settlers. He al
ways wanted to be an old settler. When
reading of the pilgrims who landed on
Plymouth Rock he was always visibly
affected. but he thought they made a
great mistake in not bringing any ladies
with them. He was sure Redwood county
would never have amounted to anything
If the ladies nau NOT vun- ,nto ~. LAG
prided himself on being one of Red
woods oldest settlers.
]. H. Bowers, being called upon, said
that he was not an old settler, but that he
came es soon as he could. He thought
that the Old Settlers Association should
be preserved, and a careful record KEEP,
of those who have passed away. Thei,
hardships and tolls we knew but little Of
He said in few years nothing would be
left but a mound and tombstone o1
those who came and opened up our pres
ent homes.
d. L. Bigham prophesied bright flu
ture for Redwood county. He said tha,
Redwood possessed resolute, determined
class that are bound to succeed.
g. w. Libby, alluding to the recitals Of
hardships endured by some of the oldel
settlers, followed with some quite humor
Gus remarks about battling with the fes
tive mosquito.
Chas. Porter very generously proposed
to donate the Use of the beautiful picni'
grounds to the public, provided a suffi
cient sum could be raised to pay for tn,
lumber used in constructing the speaker
stand, seats snd tables. The necessar.
amount was soon subscribed.
The exercises were interspersed will
most excellent singing.
In the evening. quite large number o
the young folks participated in dance
the upper part of Mr.. Porter's large barr
being used for the purpose. Many of tn
older people remained as spectators, an,
passed the evening in social conversation
Crocker takes the lead in fireworks.
Services at the Presbvterian churc]