Wichita eagle., 1890-03-01
OLD SETTLERS
CELEBRATE THEIR FIFTEENTH AN
NIVERsARY WITH BANQUET.
Five Hundred Guests Partake of an Old
Settlers Banquet--A ddresseS and
Music During the After
nOOn--Ihe Ball at
Night.

Yesterday afternoon the Garfield hall
was thronged with the old settlers of Kan
sas and their friends to celebrate the fif-
teenth anniversary of their association. Ii
was day Of genuine enjoyment for them
all, repiete with pleasant incidents that
will be long remembered. Amongst the
number were many who could talk about
ali that happened in the sixties, while the
| children OF the present were represented
N goodly numbers In the evening the
hall was crowded TO its utmost capacity at
an early hour and the problem of accom-
modatins the vast numbers still coming
had to be solved.
The banquet was served promptly at
o'clock, and since it was under the per-
| sonal direction of Mrs Martin and several
! competent assistants 1T is not necessary to
say it was served well. Over five hundred
guests enjoyed as sumptuous repast as
was ever spread. The conversation did
not flag for single instant during the
banquet and the merry hum of voices was
constant throughout. "Reminiscences of
early days were recalled and commented
| upon; AN old time bit of fun which has
| lost nothing in the telling provoked the
same laugh that it did thirty years ago,
| While the memory of an absent one "gone
| before" shot the same pang to the heart
that it did when tour friend and comrade"
passed away. Although there was tinge
of sadness in many recollections of the
past there was the memory OF joys that
are never to be forgotten.
At O'Clock the hall was cleared of tables
and the opera chairs replaced, and all was
in readiness for the after dinner program.
The president, Mr.. Mccormick, was una
voldably called away at this time, and
Colonel y. \. English. the vice president,
presided.
The chair called the assembly to order,
and in "A few well chosen words welcomed
them to the old settlers reunion. He said
that the address of welcome by the presi-
dent was first on the program but that he
did not intend to disappoint the audience
with an attempt to even initiate what had
been promised them. He would rather
they would suffer the first disappointment
in not hearing the president. Besides, it
would be impossible for him to speak in
vein that would be anticipated from the
president, as he differed with him both in
politics and religion.
Mrs. d. Hays was then an
nounced and rendered piano forte
solo, which was greatly enjoyed. The
Hon. B. Il. Wall, being called upon, deliv-
cred an eloquent and pleasing address
from which the following is extracted:
The poet Whittier sang of the pioneers
of Kansas:
They crossed the pralries as Of old
The pilgrims crossed the sea,
To mn Re the west as they the east
The homestead of the free"
The old kansans came with ideas and
high resolves. The pioneers who settled
this county and laid the foundations of
this city were men and women with ideas
aud high resolves; they were actuated by
motives not alone to secure to themselves
homes, but hoped to build up city and
country fulfilling the requirements of an
advanced civilization. They were men
and women not only strong and vigorous
physically, but also possessing strength OF
character and purpose.
The best houses they builded were for
church and school. Through all their
trials and trbulations incident to pioneer
life they fostered the cause of education
and agltated questions of good govern
ment and sound morality. They helped
to eXDunge from the old maps of the con-
tinent the stain American desert"
Through drouth and pestiience they were
ever strong advocates OF the possibilities
and future of Kansas
The explorers and discoveries of new
regions have always been remembered IN
history and they who demonstrate to the
world that region OF country Is capable
of maintaining population from the
products of the soil deserve the admira-
ton and remembrance of mankind. In a
few years you will have passed into his |
tory and il will be remembered to your |
credit forever that you have added to the |
wealth OF the world and so the advance |
meut of mankind. Many of the true |
b roes of this life are unknown to the !
world: men and women who faithfully !
aud nobly discharged the duties of every |
day life, are often better heroes than those |
who are sometimes idolZed by history. |
There are men who balong TO this old set
tiers organization VINO have not only |
largely contributed TO making this the |
largest and best city in all Kansas, but |
they have left the stamp of their lndlvld-
uality upon the affairs of the state. The
old timer was always in favor of an hon
est and economical administra-
ton of our affairs, both county
aud city, The citizenship of Kan
sas today is honest and patriotic aud
capable of wise and economical govern
ment, and the evils which now affiict the
body polite will speedily be eradicated, us
the people are fast becoming aroused to
the fact that that the wealth producing
and wage earning population of Kansas
need some protective legislation.
The industry TO which a state is best
adapted is the industry which should be
fostered and encouraged, aad while all le-
climate industries should be remembe cred,
'as are superior 10 all others,
or il is evident that by this Kan
'aS must become great commonwealth
Aans4ns have always proven themselves
% be equal to the emergency Of the occas-
on. The old kansans will join with the
lew aud al the difficult problems of state
viii be solved to the greatness and glory
If Kansas. The new kansan must eXer-
Use the faith always possessed by the old
liners. and in the tigurative language OF
Jhauncey NJ. Depew, I've will hitch our
wagons 10 the stars"
Mrs. DR.. Mccoy then rendered an instru-
mental solo, which was loudly encored.
/rhe Hon. j. 4 Mad next read
THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
This great highway across the center of ,
indian territory Is OF such historical inter-
ST, and was so intimately associated with ]
he settlement of south central Kansas. 1
nd the location of some or its towns and {
tiles, that its early history should be !
gathered up while some of Us still remain I
'ho were active participants III the SUR ,
ing events of those early days. At the
rst settlement of Kansas the great Santa (
e trail led from Westport. Mo, to Santa 4
e and other points in New Mexico. and /
,as the only great highway of travel west
f the Missouri river. Fremont's trail +
assed up the Kansas and Smoky Hill ! !
ivers. The old California trail from Ar \
ansas, much travelled in 1919 snd succeed ;
ng years, entered Kansas on its southern d
order, east Of CONVEY county, crossed the Z
alnut in Butler county, two miles below
be present site OF FL Dorado; crossed the
\ hi ewater ten miles above Towanda, aud ;