The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-09-13
Address Delivered by Z. r. Brainerd, ESQ.,, oil
Ravenna at the Annual Meeting of the
Portage and summit Counties PiO-
neer Association, held at Kent,
Ohio Sent 9Th. ISR2

In the limited time allotted me, | can on
| ly indulge in a few general remarks. The
history of our early settlers and pioneers is
valuable for the heroic characters in which
it abounds. Our forefathers still live
among us in the record of their lives, still
sit by lis at table, and hold us by the hand,
furnishing examples for our benefit, which
we may study, admire and initiate. The
life history of true men and women is a
rich legacy to their posterity, which none
can study without feeling his mind and
heart made better, and his best resolves in
vigorated. We congratulate this large as
semblage of venerable pioneers on having
lived in the brightest era of the worlds
history. Never since our verdant country
cousins did their first sub rosa billing and
cooling in the leafy groves of Eden, has
there been SO good Il time to live as now.
Never was human life worth SO much.
Never was the distance so short between
peasant and King, pauper and President.
''Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood"
Before me is venerable band of noble
workers in the highest calling known among
men, tillers of the soil. A condition of
labor is coeval with the race and a necessi-
ty to its existence. 1t is not curse for
our sin, but for our good. 1t is the source
of all progress and civilization. Labor
precedes capital, capital is the effect of Ia
bor. The wealth of England is estimated
at forty billions of dollars. The wealth of
the United States, now but little more
than century old, is estimated at over
fifty bilious of dollars. The boy of to-day
may live to see the population of the
United States hundred and fifty millions,
and the richest country in the world.
| 1t is the pioneers who have laid the
foundation and paved the way for this
greatness. TO the pioneers and agricultur-
| aliss of our country we are indebted for its
growth and present prosperity. Agricul-
Lure is as old as the creation of man. Adam
was tiller of the soil in his paradi,iacal
state. The sous of Adam followed the
same occupation. Noah was a preacher
aud mechanic. He knew something
about farming, and his extensive menagerie
gave him thorough knowledge of animals,
and made him a good judge of the common
breeds of farm stock. Job farmed it ON a
large scale, and Notwithstanding his serious
afliction, by patience and good manage
ment got rich. Agriculture furnishes the
necessary supplies for all classes Of society.
Its dignity may be seen in it's relation to
other employments. 1t Is the great engine
on which all other employments depend
| for life and sustenance. The balance of
power should be lodged with the tillers of
the soil, and history shows that it is only
safe here. Work is mans normal element.
| Idleness breeds ills. More young men and
women rust out than wear out. Success in
| life is reached by the road of well directed
labor. Happiness is a flower grown on the
| highway of usefulness. Agriculture stands
at the head of all professions for develop
ing strong, healthy bodies, and well culti-
waited minds. 1t holds intimate relations
with the morals and patriotism of our coun-
| try. The farmer has home in a truer,
higher sense, than any other man. No
wonder that during all the heated season,
those in the crowded cities seek these
country homes, The millionaire prizes his
country residence as the dearest place this
side of heaven. To the pioneers here as
sembled we can truthfully say, by priva-
tions and persistent toll, you have built for
yourselves monument as enduring as the
granite rocks, which will stand the test of
wind and of fire. The brave, noble pioneer
mothers too, who endured uncomplainingly
the tolls and trials of pioneer life, should
| be awarded at least one half the credit for
our country's being what it is to-day. Be-
hold the heroic mother in the dark back
| SFOuilu Ol IedI duNeSoity. w nSII
assumed gloomy aspect, poverty was
lowering about the door, sickness had al
ready entered, days of hardship and nights
of watching went slowly by, when the
strong man had bowed himself, and his
brow was knit and creased, then was seen
how the whole life of household seemed
to hang on the frazier form. She had an
eye and an ear for every one but herself
suggestive of expedients, hopeful in eX-
tremities, helpful in kind words, and affec-
tionate smiles, morning noon and night,
the medicine, the light, the heart of the
whole household. God bless our brave
and noble pioneer mothers. When they
are summoned hence, "their children 8
children will rise up and call them
blessed" The young people of to-
day can hardly realize the cost of
necessaries in Summit and Portage count
: les in the early days of pioneer life.
Mr.. Zenas Kent, father of our worthy Pres
! ident, has told me that in the early days of
his merchandising in Ravenna, he had re-
| fused twenty bushels of wheat for pound
of tea, and two bushels for yard of cotton
CLOTH At that date there was no market
for wheat, and it could not be sold for cash
at any price so that he could not replace
| the goods with four times that number of
tbushels. In those days nearly every fami-
| ly had their loom in the back room and
the mothers were bound down to the little
, wheel to spin their thread and linen yarn,
and the girls to spin the wool 10 make their