The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-19
ADDRESS

Delivered Before the Old Ssttlsrs d
Howard County, Iowa. b Hon.
Aug. Beadle, Aug. %. 1889,
and published BY request
Of the Society.
am reminded that II ID almost thifty-nve
years since first entered the borders Of this
county. whittier few only had preceded me;
with most or whom, together with later corners
] have spent the intervening years more than
half my life.
II woyid seem quite natural that at such .
time one should look back and ponder-and that
the review would present some reflections and
conclusions that could hardly fail TO be Of In
terest. and so have ONE with few. that
have suggested themselves. with the hope that
they may not be uninteresting 70 you;-as
words OF congratulation and welcome Ut this
pleasant gathering, reminding US Of our early
days OF pioneer life; OF those younger days,
when full OF cheerful hope and determined en-
deavor. we sought to make our homes upon
these virgin lands.
You will not, ! hope, expect me to occupy
your time with the recital OF events connected
with the early settlement OF our county, for
there were but few that are now worth recount.
ing.
As there WAS to our fathers, or to other pio-
neers, for US, there was no wilderness TO sub
due, no willy. foe to modest, no wild beast TO
annoy. There was much OF novalty TO most OF
us; much of hardship and discouragement to
ALL and but little OF peril and adventure.
But to me these days seem to be fun OF that
courage and true heroism, which, II occasion
had presented or circumstances required. would
have made stories worthy OF history.
Whilst we were subduing these fields. and
laying the foundation OF our infant community,
for larger and more complete dsvelopement,
the same labors and duties were quietly A.
sumed, and as manfully performed, by thous-
aids OF our fellows, under other welcoming
skies all over this wide ana inviting land. Ey-
cry day the same events, wrought out BY Mmi-
lar methods. stimulated by like nobls purposes
and courageous hepes. resulting In the same
successes or failures were repeated, until as by
magic, nation rises up OF such numbers and
and promise as to become almost q marvel In
history.
And In the rapidity. extent and stability Of
this development, In which we wen performed
our unobtrusive part. may iind excuse for .
reflection that may be instructive and timely.
This development OF primattve and unculti-
waited nature, here and otherwhere has been
made by the best civilization and highest art
that the world has known,-a civilization pre-
senting its most mature and perfect results
In our individual lives,-the thoughts and deeds
OF the pioneers OF Howard county, and such as
they.
And am ready to supplement this statement
with the declaration, that OF any equal number
gathered Unfortunately from oil the millions
that to-day by brain or muscle toll for daily
bread. ON the face OF this great earth, though
there may be found their equals, = thousand
times. none shall be found worthier, than those
among whom, these five and thirty years Of
mine have been spent, obscure as those lives
may have been.
Nor will this statement seem extravagant II
we take time for careful rcflection. The phi
loeophy OF human progress, the logic Of history
Is outlined In the brief lines OF the wise man
'sOnc generation paseth away and another gen
Grafton cometh, but the earth abideth forever :"
Science reads among the scars and seams OF
the throes and caetastrophies OF the world with
its uncounted years. but God Is not dead and It
will not be abandoned Of It's maker
SO too the race whose home IL upon It, may
be married and disfigured by It's ignorance. its
follies and It's crimes; but 1t win not be left In
hopeless orphanage. 1.-THE earth shall abide
and lie that formed it will not desert the work
OF his hand; for by the silent ana tireless laws
OF material development, the .unfailiEg agency
OF Human intelligence and the exactions OF hu-
man needs lie will embeilish and perfect It q
His garden.
Change has come and gone with the coming
and going OF each generation. Each, In their
turn, as they came brought soma wider and
truer thought. some new appliance OF word or
act, some tenderer grace, . clearer perception,
brighter hope, a better achievement And
each, in their going away, took with them
some false systems OF thought or life, some use
less custom, some brutal bias, leaving more 81
hope and promise to the newer conner, who
found wider sky and larger horizon.
Aud thus il is that In this way Destiny hal
tried to lift us up TO the tOpm0St height that
has yet been reached; and 80 these lives OF ourl
and such as we. insignificant and unpretendi ns
as the; may seem 10 the needless crowd, have
had their uses and c0mpeusations.
Aswe go 10 join the unnumbered 'sSilent ma.
jority.' In our going We point those who are
coming after TO the paths leading to the higher
plains In the future, where other hills Of prom.
se stretch skyward to pierce the clouds OF glory
losing themselves beyond our dim and fearful
vision.
The drift and purpose OF my thought may
be best illustrated by briefly reciting the histo
~ OF an humble but to me noble man.
He was born In Irela nd some seventy year.
ago on one OF those estates where for genera
lions the owners have taken the fruits OF the
tenants labor by right scarcely better than
that by which the master claims the labor Oi
the slave. AS were his fathers, SO his early
days were dwarfed by ignorance, toll and pow.
erty.
But he had heard that beyond where the Sky
touched the sea there was new and fair land
With scanty means and q brave heart he sought
and found It, When came to Howard County
found him with family OF little boys ant
girls and slender purse, \ neighbor and early
settler. lie built his shanty OF turf and hay
and Tesolutely set To work to make home ON
lonely forty OF pre-empted land some four mile,
from the settlement.
A few years ago he died on bright summer
day. lis going away was unnoticed except By
his little neighborh00d. TO his little homestead
he had added two hundred fruitful acres TIT
hut OF turf was gone, and o c0mmodi00s dwell
ing fun OF cheer anencomfort had taken Il,
place. On one corner q the farm stood sch0o
house where the little children, now grown tG
men asd women. had been taught.
Could we have been there to bid him frrewsl
we could have said, .'Wen done! brave soul!
'.Ilfe found you hedged up in its poorest and
s'narrowest ways, giving scant promise to y,l
land yours. With resOlute wish, q true hear,
.and stsut arms, you have won the full meas
sure OF nseful and manly life. Unlike many
.'Of us. you have not wanted what you could
mot have, and SO each day OF your hOnely life
s'has brought sweet certcnt and fresh thankful
ness"
"And now In going away, you leave TO these
s.sons and daughters coming after you. wider
splace for larger exaction and more expansive
..life.
Let Custom or precedent put the jewelled IL
ara on the brow OF gilded vice, but know that
God gave this man crown.