Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-06-29
ToAsTs BY OLD SETTLERS.

Toast Master Pelton in his brief address In
| opening the flow Of eloquence said: You Will
| not hear silver-tongued orators who are filled
up like race horses; you will not hear ranting
bOastful patriots who flop the old flag with one
ha nd and reach out the other for o Oribe; but
you will hear true eloquence-not polished
rhetoric; you will hear simplicity and not folly
You will hear honest truthful words and not
bombast for the old pioneer, the homebuilders
of the nation, are men who represent The best
IN the beauty OF human greatness, honesty,
courage, morality; and they are with you today
The first settler, was represented by Clay
Parke, and he is enc Of the best speakers in the
county. Clay is one of the first settlers in the
county and q representative man among the
/ pioneers.
Gus Fowles didn't sing, but he furnished
! amusement in presenting well executed club
drill by number Of boys.
Pioneer farming was ably responded to by
D. F. Benjamin, who is well qualified to discuss
this question, being pioneer farmer himself
and today one OF the best representatives ofth
noble profession in the county.
The pioneer merchant found J. H. Holsey
ready to illustrate the trials and glories OF be-
ing pioneer merchant, and he did it with
anecdote and narrative, which proved that there
was lots of fun as we'll as hard work in this
line. He said that great many people in early
days reminded him Of the Irishmans jackass,
they knew too decd much.
Judge Clifford gave the audience fine illus
tration of how the first courts Of justice were
conducted and how deputy sheriff In charge
OF prisoner, who, seeing that his man was not
likely to get a fair deal in the game, told him
to get OUT and go, while the court looked on.
Several pages on this subject could be written.
Which was the most dreaded, the grasshop-
pers or Indians by early settlers? Henry Wig
gin contended that grasshoppers were more
dreaded than Indians; that the red demons
could be driven off by powder and lead; that
they seldom destroyed crops or ate up corn
Mr. Wiggin made a strong plea for his side OF
the case but when Elder Guinter appeared and
began to picture out the horrible conditions Of
savage warfare he knocked the grasshoppe,
stiff, and concluded by asking the audience il
| they would rather part with their scalp thar
theircorn. He won the case.
George Woodley was down for story but he
delegated Ed. Norton to respond for him. Ed
| is noted as wit as well as lover OF fiction
ana he told story that came pretty near end
irgflis life .snd the audience sat. in wonderful
amazemelr until the denouement when tht
| spell was broken and Ed. was allowed to aepar
| in peace.
| Territorial legislatures was the subject o
Jere Gehon's address, and he handled it witt
his usual ability and directness. MI. Gehon is
u fine speaker and few are better able to give
picture of territorial law makers than he.
F. A. Leauitt had q broad subject to DISCUSS
to- wit: "Looking backward, around and
ahead" but he is capable OF handling anything
that maybe assigned him from discussion OF
reform measures to the ten commandments
Mr.. Leavitt is an earnest and logical speaker
and never afeaid to express his sentiments.
Lower Canton was a subject that Elder
Guinter spoke about, and he was able to dis
cuss it from the early wigwam to the flood.
Robert Connell carried the first flag brought
into Lincoln county, and upon this subject N
C. Nash spoke.
Several speakers were absent on account OF
sickness, but the program as rendered was
very enjoyable and the old settlers voted the
second annual meeting grand success.
Secretary DeLong is entitled to the thanks
| of the association for the careful and system
attic work he has done in completing the re
cords, and recording the old settlers, OF which
| about go are enrolled J. W. Hewitt waf
elected president for the ensuing year, p. C.
Parlse. vice-pres,dent: Thomas Wright. treas
urer, and H. H. DeLong, secretary.