Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-07-17
THE PIONEER DAYS OF '66.
A Graphic Description of the
Soci al Life of the First Set
tiers on Camas Prairie.
ANNUAL ADDRESS BY ]. H. ROBINSON
A Highly Interesting Record of "reminiscences
of Pioneer Life and Times Dentistry
Under Difficulties--A Mock Legis-
lature--Etc, Etc.


| Annual Address delivered before the Idaho
County Pioneer Association on the celebra-
ton of Its Anniversary, by the retiring
President ]. II. Robinson, at Mt. Idaho,
July 4, 1891
Pioneers Of Idaho County: Ladies and
Gentlemen:
1t would be unwise in one no better
qualified than myself to attempt a re-
view of the early history of our county.
This work has been most thoroughly
and ably done at our former Reunions
by our honored chief, l.. P. Brown, and
again by B. F. Morris. / do not hope
to interest you as they have done on
our anniversaries heretofore; bnt as a
duty enjoined upon the retiring presi.
dent, and in the spirit ola Pioneer |
shall do the best l can to overcome the
difficulty of pleasing you.
When the first settlers came into this
beautiful valley, they found it as nature
left it, and removed as they were from
most of the conveniences of life, accept.
ed the situation cheerfully. If they
could not ride they walked. So with
this Annual Address; if it does not at
tain to flights of eloquence and wisdom
it may contain some "reminiscences that
will reach the heart of those who rough
ed it here a quarter of century ago.
Pioneer and historical societies are AS
old as the first settlement of our coun-
try. The stern Purtans of the New
England coast, the Dutch of Manhattan.
the English, of Virginia, in their town
and parish meetings, instituted these
organizations, and from their records
the history of our country has been
largely written. AS civilization and
empire moved westward it became a
feature of every state, and almost every
county, to have its society for the per-
petuation of names and incidents that.
otherwise, would have been unrecorded.
The history of the great states that form
our country has been mainly gathered
from these associations; and when
America, like Europe and Asia, be-
comes gray with age, the subject of its
first settlement will be of absorbing
interest. Not only are these associa-
tions useful agents in the preservation
of historical facts, but they foster friend
ships among those who toiled and suf-
fered together the hardships that attend
the formation of new territory.
In no part of the Union have the
interests of these societies been more
closely looked after than on this coast
The men of '49 were quick to unite in
this brotherhood, followed RAPIDLY nv
Oregon and Washington; and now
Idaho, the youngest, but destined to be
the peer of them all, unites in perpet1a.
ting the names and deeds of men and
women who risked all there is of life in
founding great state. All over the
coast Pioneer Reunions are held as reg.
ularly as the return of our national hol-
ldays. Good times they are, too. filled
up with kindly greetings, with song and
story, with feasting and good will. Like
all else OF earth, however, there attends
these reunions a shade of sadness: the
older Pioneers note the deepening of
wrinkles, and the heads of their com.
panlons growing more white each wear:
and it is their sad duty to pay tribute of
respect to the memory of those of their
number who during the year have
passed away. But one of our number
has fallen since we last met, one among
the first ladies to make this country her
home, Mrs. John Mop Pherson, who.
through all the vicissitudes of frontier
life, bore well her part, and will be held
in grateful memory. 1t is but the com.
mon fate, and we'll we know that the
Pioneer, though he may have been har-
dy as the pine knot with which he once
kindled his camp fire, must Weld to it
when called. Their ranks are thinning
fast. Perhaps ere another quarter of a
century has gone all of those who first
climbed the mountains and trod the
plains of these four states will live only
in history.
Those who first crossed the plains in
these earlier years and tested through
sacrifice, danger and want, the fact that
It was possible to build homes, and in
the end add states to the nations
wealth in these wilds, were just as brave
and patriotic as those who made I'D the
great armies In the east; the veterans of
the war saved the Union, while the
Pioneers of the Pacific haye added
great empire to it. While we do not
object to an expenditure of treasure
that has no parallel in the worlds his
tory in behalf of the old soldiers. we
cannot but feel that
EQUAL JUSTICE HAS NOT BEEN DONE
the Pioneers of this coast in the LONG
delay of the government to make good
the losses sustained so often by attacks
from thieving, murderous Indians. we
came here under a pledge of protection
to life and property from the greatest
and richest nation on the globe; vet in
many instances savages have entered
little settlements of faithful citizens.
murder has held high carnival, property
that has been the fruit of many wears
toll Is destrnYal Or carriad anal. a.l