The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-06
THE OLD GERMAN SETTLERS
Hold Their First Festival in Turner
Hall Last Night-A Splendid
Time.

Last fall, when the golden grain had
been garnered and stored away, when the
summer had waned, and the frosty winter
was approaching, a number of our Ger
man citizens came to the conclusion to
organize German Old Settlers Associa-
ton. About the middle of last Novem
Der, meeting was called and all associa-
ton was organized. 1t was determined
at that meeting to hold a festival-or
more properly, reunion-once year,
and the first Monday in May was selected
as the time to hold it. A meeting to make
arrangements for the festival was held
last month, and every arrangement was
made necessary for having good time
Last night was the time set, and notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather a
large number Of our German citizens came
together at Turner hall, which was deco
rated in nice manner by Mr.. Herkert
assisted by the young ladies, daughters of
the old settlers. Bleuer's band was in
attendance and enlivened the occurrence
by some inspiring music At s O'Clock,
supper was announced, and the old set.
tiers and their invited guests sat down at
nine tables which fairly groaned beneath
the weight of everything the market
could afford. Everybody was told to
make him and herself at home, and pro
ceeded to do so by commencing to partake
of the excellent viands prepared for the
occasion. The following young ladies
acted as walters, and prettier set of girls
it has never been our good fortune to see ::
Miss Lizzie Gleason, Moline; Miss Carrie
Fickenscher, city; Miss Lena Belingcr,
city; Miss Lizzie Shultz, of Milwaukee;
Miss Tillie Herkert, city. and Miss Leonia
Schrader, of Moline. After supper had
been partaken of, Mr.. Peetz, the president
of the association, called up Lawyer Haas
to make few remarks to the association,
to which the gentleman responded as fol-
lows:
''Mr. President and friends of the asso.
citation: | did not come here prepared to
make a speech came because | knew
/ would meet with countrymen of mine,
knowing that the association with them
would be pleasant. This is our first fes.
tival. hope it will be not our last. Our
association. when it it was first organized
numbered but few in number, but it has
increased from day to day, from week to
week, from month to the month, until it
now counts its members by the score. |
like the object of the association, although
| am not an old settler myself Your by
laws say that to be member of this asso
citation one must have resided in Rock
Island county since 1860. There is
another thing that strikes me favorably.
Our association is not like the other Old
Settlers association. We go back further
than they do. As We are assembled here
tonight our memory turns back to our
Fatherland. the land that gave us birth.
We have left there, but we have ties there
which are inseperable Welove the land
of our birth and we love the land of our
adoption. 1t is dear to us and to our
kindred. / hope to see the association
grow and prosper. 1t has a worthy OBJ
Ject. 1t brings us together to talk over
old times. 1t shows us how much we
have increased in numbers. Thirty years
ago there were but few Germans in this
country, but now We number host We
are constantly increasing in numbers.
Long may the association live. and long
may we all live and prosper, is the wish
nearest my heart.
After supper the tables and chairs were
cleared away, and the young people en-
gagged IN dancing enjoying themselves in
an exceedingly good manner. The next
festival of the association will be held next
May, and wehope that it will be as pleas
ant as the one held last night.