Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-09-20
THB DAYS GONE BIZ.
Robert 6. Mansdeld's Address Be
forethe Association Of Old
Settlers.

The following address was deliv-
cred to the old settlers at their
meeting in this city Thursday by
Robert C. Mansfield, one of the
founders of Mexico, who is now in
his eighty-ffth year. It is well
worth reading, and is interesting as
the production of a man who has
done as much, ifnot more, for Au-
drain county than any other man
in it, as well as from other stand
points. The address:
My friends and companions of
earlier days, I am pleased to meet
you once more in life. We came to-
gether to have one more opportun-
ity to call up the "reminiscences of
the past, to extend the hand of
greeting, to give and receive tokens
of a friendship that is the heritage
of those who have mutually en-
dured the ~hardships and privations
of frontier life. l look in your
eyes, they yet sparkle with the vi
vacity of youth; l look also in
your faces, all wreathed with
smiles, Indicative of health of
body, as well as a peaceful con-
science. I have no doubt that
your grateful thanks ascend to the
Father of the universe for the num-
Der of blessings you enjoy. Es-
pecially for the hope instilled in
your mind by loving friends long
since laid-away to quiet rest, that
death is not the end of man, but is
the twin sister of sleep, and from
that sleep will spring pew life, by
the processes of the infinite, whose
ways are inscrutable to finite
minds. If departed spirits are
permitted to visit our earth and
minister to those who still buffet
with the ills of life, we will say
to them, sleep on, thou loved and
cherished ones Though many win
ters, with their changing winds
and snow clad earth, may pass
away; though many a spring may
appear, and upon your graves may
bud and bloom the beautiful flow
ers of summer, yet the varied sea-
sons and the noiseless roll of time
will bring to your leaden ears the
voice of the archangel's trumpet,
which will marshal you before the
throne of the Mighty One. Then
there will be a grand convecation
of old friends and neighbors.
In the early settlement of the
county there was but one class of
men. They we're plain and prac-
teal; they were easily approached;
they vera kind and benevolent;
the latch string hung outside the
door; they would divide the last
leaf of bread with a stranger. Ia
deed, their hospitality was only
bounded by their means. My
friends, there is a heroism and a
glory in civil life that will endure
when those + almost forgotten
who have o renown and the
fame of war and of warriors. The
brave. successful pioneer ola State,
marching ON with axe and pillow
and the common schools of the
country, to found a State or carved
a new empire, is a hero indeed and
should be regarded as a ~benefactor OF
our race. A few years ago there
was nothing here as the product OF
man. There was nothing heard
but the bark of the fox, the howl
of the wolf and the growl of the
panther. Now we have a beauti-
full city of six thousand inhabitants;
we have men Of wealth, of enter.
prise and push; we have many
splendid churches, to which hun.
dreds repair to pay their devotions
to the Gsd they love; we have more
facilities for education of a high or
der than can be found in any city o.
like size. l am proud of the city
proud of its professional men
proud of its enterprises, prouc
Of my country, and exceedingly
proud of the pretty ladies whom
see before nae.
I have lived here ever since 1886
Mansfield & Smith entered the lane
and laid out this city. We donated
to the county every alternate lot
we gave also this entire block
! [Court House Squared; we gave
large strip on the west of the city
and the old cemetery, where many
of our believed dead are buried.
My partner sleeps more sweetly
there than he once slept on thu
bosom of a fond mother. He wa
what we call the noblest work o
God-an honest man. | linger OF
the stage of actisn to rejoice in thu
love and mercy of God, and will