Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-09-16
THE PIONEERS OF POLK.
Cemplete and Interesting Account Of
Their 0rganization---A Jolly Time
enjoyed---list Of the Veterans.


Pioneer association, but for some
cause no one seemed willing to take
hold of the matter. SO some five
or six weeks ago some OF the prom
inent pioneer citizens of lndepehd-
euce and Monmouth met together
and formulated q plan 10y which a
call was made Tor such = gathering,
and cards of Invitation were sent all
over the county to every pioneer
that could be thought of, inviting
him or them to meet at Monm, nth
on the llth. and 18th. of Sept. 1890,
at 10 O'Clock Il. NJ, for the purpose
of organizing said county assOcia-
ton, and To- do such other business
as might be brought before tbe meet
ing.
On the llth inst. promptly AT 10
o'clock q. ~. |. F. NJ. Butler was
unanimously elected president OF the
meeting aud after few moments
CONSULTATION, Hon. Stephen Stats
Sas called out tn make the opening
address, in the course of which he
made many grand and beautiful hits
in reference To- pioneer life, which
were highly appreciated by the large
audience whirh by this time had
cungregated in the large and beauIi-
ful parE or campus around the Mon
mouth college building. and as soon
as ne WAS tlrUugn with his speech
the meeting adjourned for dinner.
some repairing TO their residences,
taking with them all they could
provide for, Others going to their
wagons and camps, that had been
formed in the west border of the
campus, where there was 3 sumptu-
Gus dinner prepared and served by
the pioneer ladies to all that felt the
least inclined to partake Of their
hospitality. II was remarked by
some of those present that the only
thing lacking around the table, that
had been provided was q string of
Of old OK yokes for seats, then the
equipage would have been com.
plete; but this repast was highly en-
joyed and greatly appreciated. ard
will be long remembered by those
who partook Of it.
Dinner being over, the time inter-
vening was occupied in friendly
greeting and conversation with old
time friends, many Ct VIII u had
not met for years, although they
lived in the same county. But il
was truly delightful and amusing
to meet our old friends once more
and hear them recite some of the ill.,
cideHts OF pioneer life. At one
o'clock We were all called to the
stand to hear and take part in the
program provided by those having
this meeting in charge, which con-
sisted Of recit atoms and singing by
q pioneer choir, and impromptu
speeches by piuneers present, who
were called out by the audience.
Hon. Y. L. Butler, Hon. A W.
Lucas, joshua McDAnieIs, Isaac
Smith, T. e. Shaw, aud Rev. A. J.
Hunsaker were all called out and
made short speeches in reference to
pioneer life, giving many incidents
and trials that were common to the
pioneers who came across the great
American desert aud the Rocky
mountains that intervened between
the Atlantic an Pacific oceans, to
make their homes in the beautiful
valley of the Willamette, all of which
were greatly appreciated and cheered
by the audience. Just al this time
Hines, the printer, who il the secre-
tary of the Oregon Pioneer A-sOcia-
rion, made his appeara nee in the
and Was Immediately called
to the stand and made a few very
remarks in reference 10
the proposed Polk County Pioneer
association. He stated that he was
very much in favor Of such an or
ganization aud hoped it would be
carried forward to permanent and
glorious termination. He furt her
said that he thought such action by
the Polk county pioneers might
have an influence in causing piO-
neers of other counties TO organize
likewise, aud thereby get up more
interest in the state pioneer as.O-
,iation, which was very much lit ed
ID in order 10 make il more of
Iuccess than it was at tine present.
After his remarks the meeting
ook recess TO wait for the most
part Of the program 10 be
.arried out. When the arrange
lleDts were ready the pioneer- were
.alled out in accordance with the 1
late Of arrival in the country to 1
orm a procession, after an Ok
wagon, drawn by three large yoke
4 cattle driven by pioneer. The
wagon looked like it had seen hard
imes in crossing the plains or IN
ONE other service. The cover WAS
yell worn and dirty, being fit EN-
lem OF an emigrant wagon, and to
make it more fully represent the
Gene intended. il was filed with
title dirty faced boys, whose heads
we're sticking out under tue cover at
very opening. This outfit was led
y a twO-bOr-e covered wagon,
Iriven by Joshua McDanieis, II pio-
.aar of lSll The pruce.-inu