The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-05
OLD SETTLERS.
They Hold Their Annual Picnic at
Black Hawks Tower Today.
A Most Enjoyable Occasion---Many of
the First Settlers Present.

The Old Settlers association of Rock
Island county held their nineteenth
annual reunion or picnic today. The
place selected for the festivities was the
celebrated Black Hawk watch tower one
of the most pleasant and beautiful spots
in America From its lofty height one re-
ceives the full benefit of a refreshing
breeze, while the view it affords of the
surrounding country cannot be surpassed.
To the location alone was the pleasure of
todays picnic largely augmented.
THE OLD SETTLERS
are historic class, who came to this
county when it was almost barren
waste. They have passed through many
vicissitudes, which were somes time of a
trying nature. Life was not as easy to
them then as it is today. Their lot was
hardship and toll, and luxury or ease was
an unknown quantity with them No
wonder, then, that it is pleasure for
these pioneers to meet together and talk
over their early experiences. The old sol
der recalls the incidents of his military
service with perfect ease. He has pom
dered over them; he has beheld them in
his dreams, he has recounted them to
eager listeners, until they are finally inn
pressed on his memory indelibly. They
belong to his times; they are part and
parcel of his individual history. And so
the old settler recalls the experiences of
other days, and dwclls in memory upon
the incidents and experiences of which he
has formed part, and with each recure
ring year he yields to commendable de-
sire to meet his old neighbor, and in the
presence of another generation recount
the scenes ani trials of other days in
which he and they were engaged
in planting the seeds of evils
liberty, and laying the foundation of self
government.
The reunions of old settlers are record~
ed among the most pleasant OF social
events. They form new ties of friendship
and love, and rekindle the memory of
youthful days. What pleasure it must be
to the silver haired man and woman to
turn their thoughts back for long
stretch of years, when they were in the
prime of their life To talk over the re-
miniscenceS of former days; the advent>
ures. holiday festivals, and the good old
fashioned parties of thirty years ago.
Such occasions as the one held TODAY will
certainly leave a bright spot in the mem~
Org of all participants. They will never
regret the time spent in hand shaking and
talking with old friends and neighbors,
whose faces are becoming somewhat un>
familiar as Father Time lays his hand on
their brow. Each year finds them further
along in the walk of life, and the oppor-
tunity of seeing each other at least once
a year should not be allowed to pass I'M
noticed. Before many years the old set
tiers will all be gone, and those who lived
here in the country's infancy will only be
present in memory.
The pioneers of Illinois are among
the grandest men who have ever
dwelt on the face of the earth. On these
prairies they had lawyers who were truly
learned without books; they had Judges
who knew the elements of the law, and
who did not and could not look fol-
precedents made by other courts They
rendered decisions, rs it were straight
out from the shoulder. They knew a few
things well, while We, in the multitude OF
books and literature, are apt to know
many things but imperfectly. The I'M
pulses of men were better then that they
are now; a promissory note meant more
There was an old fashioned notion that
the statute of limitations ought not to be
plead against honest debts. If a man
failed in business he expected to pay dol
: lar for dollar Bankruptcy proceedings
and ten or fifteen per cent dividends were
never thought of But those pioneers
were tenacious of their rights. They
were willing to do the square thing tC
others, but they were equally bound tC
have others do right by them.
r THE PICNIC.
The picniccrs commenced to arrive as
early as nine o'clock, and by noon the
r tower was covered with quite a sprinkling
| of people, who walked to and fro, ex
! changing greetings and renewing old ac-
quaintance. Besides the old settlers there
were middle aged and young people. al
mingling together in social pleasure.
The dinner was one of the princip&
J features of the days enjoyment and the
t good housewives laid many a tempting
spread in some shady nook, where family
and friends thoroughly enjoyed meal OF
such rustic surroundings.
After dinner was over remarks wert
made by Dr. Gregg, Mr.. Petrie, republi'
caa candidate for congress. W. w. War
. ner, of Henry county. Mr.. Armstrong O
Iowa, and others.
Mr. E. P. Reynolds is thu
present president of the society, ant
Mr. J. T. Kenworthy. secretary. Tht