Wichita eagle., 1888-02-23
THE OLD SETTLERS.
TENTH ANNUAL REUNION OF The
ASSOCIATION.
A Good Attendance and Interesting
PrOgram--SynoPsis Of Speeches
The Ball, Etc.

occasions in the past, goodly portion of
the pioneers of the county assembled to
participate in the yearly meeting yesterday
this being the tenth in the history of the
organization.
The officers of the association met at the
old Crawford opera house at a. N. and
until the noon hour were busily engaged
in distributing tickets to the members
The usual elaborate dinner spread by the
members was for some reason omitted this
year, and the entire association were dined
at the Idlewild cafe instead. The dinner,
which began at 1890, was not concluded
until D. m. AT go o'clock the throng
| began pouring into the old opera house,
and that structure was soon comfortably
filled. Mr. James r. Mead was called upon
to act as president, and Mr.. John Wilkins,
secretary, those officers having failed to
appear.
At o'clock Mr.. Mead called the assem-
bly, to order and after few well chosen
words of welcome, introduced the Lotus
Quartette, consisting of Messrs. Bracken,
Hull Cushman and Crawford, who rem
dered the old song of "Annie Laurie" in
the usual first class manner of these young
gentlemen.
JUDGE T. Z. WALL
was then presented and spoke as follows:
Having passed one-third of my life in
this community l have learned to honor
and appreciate the early or old settlers of
Sedgwick county and the city of Wichita.
knowing something of the trials and tolls
of frontier life.
twenty years ago, left the home of his
childhood and the associations of years
and migrated to this part of
Kansas and VIGOROUSLY battled
with the opposing elements, possessed the
courage and energy which it takes TO make
heroes and patriots. Just such courage
Gus and generous people are the kind who
have westward carried civilization, max
ing great states, cities and towns, since the
landing Of the pilgrims at Plymouth
Rock
If any other kind of people ever gathered
here in 1870 they did not survive the grass
hopper period but folded their tents
and silently stole back to their wives
folks"
But the man who braved the battles of
life on raw quarter of land, Transforming
it into blooming and productive farm,
saving it from forfeiture to the mortgage
who with great regularity collected .
per cent per month, gained a victory and
got even when he divided that farm into
to the capitalist at $500 each.
Such person has my sincere con gratu-
lations.
1t was a noticeable feature to the traveller
through this region in its early settlements
that though the pioneer lived in a good
house or "dugout," yet not far away
might be seen white school house and
church.
The old settlers were builders of school
houses and churches. Like draws unto it
like, and as county and a city
we can rejoice in the undisput-
able fact that within the con-
fines of Sedgwick county there are more
public schools, institutions of learning
and churches than in any other county in
all the great state of Kansas.
While character of soil and climate are
potent factors in the development of new
country, yet the kind of pioneers who first
people it largely control and determine
the growth and upbuilding Of that COM
munity.
All rejoice that so many of you
live to see and know the greatness of the
city of Wichita and to be participants in
the prosperity of the community. so much
of which is attributed to your courage and
wisdom
Long after you have gone to that bourne
from which no traveller returns, genera
tons here yet to come will speak in praise
of the splendid citizenship OF our old pio-
neers. May many years of happiness here
below be yours, is the wish Of your hum
BILE speaker.
At the conclusion of Judge Wallis re-
marks. which were greeted throughout
with great applause. Miss Lillian Hamblin
appeared and sang a beautiful selection
entitled "Ehren on the Rhine" in a man
ner most bewitching- Then came couple
of pleasing recitations, "Poor Little joe"
by Miss Blanche Fechheimer, and 1.-The
Legend of the Organ Builder" by Miss
Gertie Jackson, followed by well exc
cuted selection, 81 Puritana," upon the
piano by Miss Amelia Bissantz.
Rev. Post, white haired pioneer on
whose shoulders seventy-four years seem
to weigh but lightly, was next called
upon, and gave very interesting extern
pore talk about the early days "when
there wasn't white man on the Arkansas
river" 1t wasn't long before the Indians
began to disappear. "They killed
one another off pretty much" he said.
up north there was whole tribe ex-
terminated in this way" Mr.. Post after
wards went to Texas, and they got into
trouble with the Mexicans, and shortly
afterward nearly all the Mexicans left, for
some reason or other" Mr.. Post:spoke of
the great Empire of Kansas, her railroads |
and countless benefits derived therefrom, |
her inexhaustible resources and glorious |
future. His remarks were much appreci- |
ated.
After another song by the Lotus quar- |
tette, Mr.. +. b. Thompson, an expresident !
of the association, was called upon and |
came forward. Mr.. Thompson, who came |
west in 1867, said he had never missed 1
meeting of the old settlers, and !
it was to him always a source |
of unmixed pleasure. Kansas was settled
in the early days by class of men who |
were courageous, brave, generous and pub
lie spirited to rare degree. They never |
And the women were better
ter than the men. Then later there came /
q new class Of settlers even superior to the
first, and what with their combined eff
forts, and every man putting his shoulder
TO the wheel. the state came through that
trying period of her youth with flying
colors.
Mr.. Thompson said he had heard some
regarding the setting up of a
TO perpetuate the memory Of
the early pioneers of this region. He
thought the fulfiilment of this idea would
be good thing, not so much for this gen
grafton as for the ones TO follow.
wichita he said, lis hardly out Of her
clothes yet. She has accom-
plished a great deal, but not 1.-THE OF
what she might and will" The speaker
paid passing tribute to the EAGLE and
her editor. so long as we have an EAGLE
tor an emblem and rest under the shadow