Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-21
PLAYTIME OF THE PIONEERS.
Annual Meeting of the Old Settlers TO Talk Over
the Events OF Days Gone BY.

Annual Meeting of the Old Settlers 10 Talk Owe
the Events OF Days Gone BY.
Last Wednesday was the day fixe,
for the annual meeting of the old set
tiers, in this city. Up to the time o
calling the meeting to order it SCENE,
, as though the attendance would b.
much lighter than on previous years
but soon after the commencement of TIN
exercises the courtroom was filled witt
q larger audience than usual. TIL,
! meeting was called to order by the es
teemed and venerable president of tn,
society, Major John III. Rountree, VIII,
in his opening remarks said:
This day has been set apart for tn,
annual reunion of the old settlers as
ISOLATION of this county. We have mad,
it practice of setting apart one da,
in each year in which to leave ou
homes and business and assemble here
l am sorry to see so few here but we ar.
all glad to see each other II does mi
|
may be some whom / may meet ever,
day, still it does me good to meet then
here. 1t does my heart good to NEE
You and shake you by the hand, ant
bid you God speed on life's journey
now for many of us drawing near to its
close. We do not meet here for per.
sonal advancement, nor to further poll
teal ends, but to renew old associations
and acquaintance, for it is not long be.
fore that acquaintance must be broken
off. am glad to meet you old settlers,
to-day and wish you a long life. We
have beautiful county and have pros.
pered so that we can spare one day to
come together in an annual reunion
and see how we are doing. / will now
invite our honored friend and acquaint-
ance, Mr.. Seaton, of Potosi, to favor
us with the address which he has pre-
pared, although he has not had much
time in which to prepare it,
Mr.. Seaton advanced to the front and
in clear and impressive tones delivered
the very able address which is pub
lshed on the second page.
At the conclusion of the address
Major Rountree said they had plenty
of time and he would like to hear from
some of the old pioneers present. He
would like any who felt so inclined to
say a few words. There being no inn
mediate response the Major called up
on his friend and neighbor, Hon. Han
mer Robbins, for short address. Mr..
Robbins in response to the invitation
arose and said:
The last time | was here / did not
have the same feeling l have now
Looking over the room, those whom /
saw then, are not here now. You will
excuse me, but my heart is so full.
Hearing the names of those mentioned
| by my friend Seaton, brings up sad
feelings. That was more than forty
years ago. We have gone on while
others have dropped out. 1t is some
times sad to bring back the memories of
youth and childhood. In those old days
more was done then by the people of
to-day. What the old pioneers said
they would do that they carried out.
They were men of perseverance and
integrity. Look over the county to-day
and you will see what they did. Some
of those present came here forty and
forty-five years ago, ard were obliged
to ''bach'' it in the old cabins without
the help or companionship of wives. ]
did; but | learned one thing. When ]
said will do a thing, did it. Another
thing, they laid down principles of
right and sound policy which they car
ried out. The schools of to-day show
this. In those schools, scholars are now
learning beautiful things and improv-
ing their minds, but do they intend TO
carry out that which they learn. 1t
strikes me if we had the liberty and adj
vantages in those days we have now,
we would have done better. We were
born too soon; books which cost then
a dollar and half can now be bought
for two cents. There was barely pop
ulation of thirty thousand in the state of
| Wisconsin when we came, but now
Grant county alone, has nearly forty
thousand. I'm afraid we have given
the rising generation to full an educa-
ton. There is danger that they will
think, like the people of Athens, that
they know too much. But leaving this
aside, it seems TO me we can congratu-
late ourselves on the advancement we
have made. But there are sad thoughts
as well. My wife was with me when
was here before but she is not here
now. 1t is but one step from this world
to the next. Let us then set our houses
in order, let us be faithful in well do
ing, and there is crown laid up for
us. am satisfied shall not meet you
all again. Still, although / have been
very sad to-day, have been very hap
ply. | believe that it has been good for
you and good for me that our lot has
been cast in this county.
| Judge Mills was then called upon and
responded in his usual entertaining
emily a resolution of thanks to his friend
Seaton for his very able address and
that he leave it with some of the edl-
tors to be published. With reference to
any general remarks he could SYM
pathize with the last speaker and friend
Seaton. Every time we meet here we
receive lessons in mortality, and to those
that think it is painfully apparent that
1t is only one step from this world to
| the next Some remarks were made
about the education being received by
| the present generation. Now it is no
question that young persons, girls and
boys, young men and young ladies, will
in few years, if they are not now,
be the best educated people on the
earth. Not only in the sciences but in
the studies which enter into every day
life. There has been great deal said
about the honesty of old settlers, but so
| far as | have studied the conditions of
society believe our improvement has
kept pace with our material progress.
But there are a great many of our vices
which these people now growing up
will have to throw away. l see we are
entering on the culture of tobacco in
this county and from the number of
young people see on our streets that
use il there will be good market for
| it. Here the Judge devoted few mo-
ments to the tobacco curse and from
that dritted off to temperance. He
thought the prohibition movement
might die down at times but would
never die out The speakers plan to
prevent intemperance was to have the
law state what proportion of alcohol
there shall be in liquor and then have
saloons prohibited from having any
chairs, billiard tables, or anything that
would entice men to remain. The
Judge closed by offering the resolution
he had proposed on rising; that Mr..
Seaton's address should be delivered to