The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-23

ite be able to turn it over to his successor
at the termination Of the year.
The Secretary read the following greet:
ing which was warmly applauded
Rock SpRINGs, Cal, Feb. %. 1882.
To the Secretary Of the Old Settlers Associd-
tion:
We send you greeting. may you have .
HAPPY time tonight, Ia the wish OF j, Ill.
Barnett, z. p. Reynolds, f. B. Halves, ].
L. Reed, r. p Cross.
On motion Of DR. Gregg, G. w. Halves
and A. K Philleo were appointed COM
mittee to send reply in behalf of the
association.
Twas called on and. made the following
Mr.. President Old Settlers and friends
with us here tonight Let me say that
while reading the glowing accounts and
Joining in some of the civil, military and
political gatherings of the past year L
have thought that this, our annual festi-
val, must and would be slim and tame
affair, as compared with those just men,
toned. And yet when have taken the
sober second thought, II have felt and
known that as the thousand pure and
tiny springs, the winding, sinking brooks,
the many, many silvery lakes, the little and
the larger rivers of the piny North, and
nearer prairie states, do make and swell
and fill the constant ebb and flowing tide
of this one mighty river, that sweeps SO
gently but with resistless force past our
country, our Island and our city homes.
So from these piny ana prairie states, these
/ Northern, Middle and Western states and
homes does come the countless, ceaseless
/ flow of human life the strong the noble
and the brave, the true, the gentle and the
good, the pride, the glory and the strength,
| the men, the women and the sons and
daughters of the early settlers of the East
ern, Middle and Western states, these are
they that make the citizen the civil magis-
/ trate. the judge, the jury and the law itself,
| the fathers, the mothers, the teachers, the
business and the professional men, the
farmers, the citizens and the boys in blue.
Yes, truly, these do make the states.
| These are they that make, have kept and
shall still keep intact that synonym of
| freedom, law and order, the United States
of America. Thus it Is not vain or
trivial thing that we band together as Old
Settlers, and often and again meet as to-
night to join hand and hearts, to renew
old time friendships, to recount our trials
and our victories, to tell how fortune
| favors the brave, or rather. as l believe, to
tell how the good hand of God has led us
on thus far, and how we win trust Him and
our own strong hands and manly efforts
for the future of our country and our
homes. And let Us not forget the fallen
of our number, the dead of our association,
the list of whom for the past year will
soon be read, as our custom is.
THE DEAD.
w. 81. Gegt was requested to make . few
remarks on the members Of the association
who had died during the year, a list of
whom is as follows:
Samuel Kenworthy, died March 81,
1881
Margaret Frizzen, March 10, born in
Ohio.
Charles Pettffer, April %, Canada.
6. L. Breton, April %, Maine.
Sarah Heck April s, Pennsylvania.
Helen III. Jenkins, april 80, Hampton.
David Daily, June %, Vermont.
Mrs. John Littig, July 81, Germany.
Jos. Knox, August 0, Massachusetts.
James Boyle, Ireland.
Miss Mixter, Rock Island.
George Zeigler, November 6, Rock Is
land.
VIM. Henderson, November 1S, Ohio.
VIM. A Ill. Heck. December 8, Pennsyl- |
vania.
Margaret Johnston, December 81, Penn
sylvania.
Elisha Beardsley, February o. 1882.
Flavel j. Whitney, February Q, 1882.
Mrs. VIM Evans
Mr. Gest said that to him the term, ''the
list of the dead of the Old Settlers had a
peculiar and wonderful Specification.
There was sadness and tinge Of romance
connected with it that made it of more than
ordinary Importance. 1t suggested even
to the young, the happy old times gone
forever, while to those more advanced in
years, the thoughts were of a more tender
and sorrowful nature. He spoke of the
influence exerted by the early pioneers
whose names were inscribed upon the list
of the dead and touched upon the benefits
derived to the living. by the hardships and
privations of the early settlers of this state
and county. He mentioned several of the
deceased by name, and spoke of their char
acteristics, and noted the feeling of sadness
that was manifested among those who still
survived. He spoke of the Increasing list
of the dead, and a corresponding decrease
Of the living of those who played impor-
tant parts in the early settlement of this
region. He then depicted how each sue
cessive meeting of the association marked
the mortality of its members, and hoped !
those then gathered together, would be able :
to assemble at the next meeting without
having an extended list of these who had =
passed to the world beyond. In conclu-
zion he repeated few verses of John !
Anderson, my joe"
DIR. GREGG
n making few remarks said that it was
difficult for him to express his feelings when
he was present at an cid settlers meeting. |
de felt both joy and sorrow-joy at meet ,
ng so many of his old friends-sorrow Is !
he discovered the absence and heard the
names Of the death of SO many of those he 7
lad known in the early years of his resi-
lence in this city. He stated that he saw .
'ut four persons present OF those who had
ONE to Rock Island in 1886, when he first ;
ettled here. He understood that of those
Fho landed'in that year, but six remained
o tell their experiences.
He said that he also experienced some
orrow in report which he had heard
uring the day, and that was that he was r
0 be indicted for fast driving. He claimed
hat the report demonstrated that the old
ettlers were not slow coaches even if they 4
id come to Illinois in an early day.
The Doctor regretted that he was not I
BILE to entertain the meeting by relating
ONE new yarn or anecdote about the old