Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-01-08
OLD TIMERS MEET
Hon. N. Richardson gave
New Years Dinner to Morrt-
u son o.Voters Of 1856. N,

Oh .prODACex Oh sMOcclSOn County. kuvG
|. Il New Yeur's dinner at the Batters
hotel yesterday to all the residents 1a
OF Morrison county who were here
and were voters in 1856.
There are now only twenty-One u
those old pioneers still living In Nor
rison county, including Mr.. Richard
son, and there were only twelve Of
those at the dinner. the Others for
various reasons, being unable to ne
present. Those present were O. A..
Coe and F. j. Farrand, Of Belle
Prairie. Louis Hamlin, E. G. Hill.
VIM. Pedley. VIM. Harrison, John
Shea. j. W. Tanner. OF Little Fails,
Daniel Trask, ofTwo Rivers, Richard
Traak and Henry Clark, Of Bellevue.
and VIM. Nicholson, of Pike Creek.
Those who were also voters Of Nor
rlson county in 1856, still residing
here are L. W. Aver. Alex Rieudeau,
John Hamlin, John Currle, f. j.
Kidder, Hon. Moses Lafond and
u OSepll L VltAC1s
The Batters hotel, where the re-
union was held, was the only hotel
in this place at that time. and ts
now conducted bv VIM. Batters, son
of Joseph Batters, proprietor at that
time.
= The dinner was an excellent rppast,
and although all the guest were
either over or near the three score
and ten mark, they partoOk heartily
of the good things provided by their
host. =
After dinner speeches were made
by the host and u number OF the
guests. Mr.. RichardsOn's remarks
were very appropriate to the oc-
casion. He thanked the old voters,
most of whom voted for him when
the was "a candidate for county
office in 1856, and no doubt have
voted for him at nearly every cleo
ton held since that time.
The remarks Of William Pedley,
who followed Mr.. Richardson, were
| without doubt the most pleasant
memories to the host Of old. times
called up during the meeting. He
referred to Mr.. Richardson's court
ship and marriage, which occurred
early in the sos, and of which Mr..
Pedley had a distinct recollection.
O. A. Coe. perhaps the Oldest of
those assembled, also made a short
interesting speech. Mr.. Coe was
perhaps the first one Of those present
to arrive in Minnesota. He came
to the state in 1888, going up the st.
Cro,x river ON the first boat on that
stream. He was engaged as CO.
worker with Frederick Aver in his
missionary work among the Mime
sofa Indians in the early days.
| VIM. Harrison and John Shea also
made remarks compljmenting Mr..
Richardson for his efficiency and
honesty in all the Offices he has held
since they knew him and also for the
work he mas done for Little Falls,
Morrison county, and many of their
residents during all the years that
he has lived here.
AS most OF those present desired
to attend the funeral OF Richard L.
Lambert, who was also resident OF
Morrison county though not a voter
in 1856, they shook hands and sepa-
rated, s>.me Of them perhaps never to
meet again, though not widely
separa ted, this side Of the grave.
The guests all thanked their host
for the generous way in which he
provided for this meeting of old
friends, and wished him continue
ton of the exceeding popularity he
has enjoyed during his long residence
! in Morrison county.
A short reference to Mr.. Richard
son political history would no doubt
be OF interest to all our readers. The
list of offices which he has held dur
ing his life time is no doubt, without
parallel in this state end perhaps
in the whole union, showing that he
has always enjoyed the confidence
and esteem, not only of the voters Of
this city ind coudty, but also OF
those in higher Offices. from whom
he received many appointments.
Mr.. Richardson was cleo ted register
of deeds for Morrison county at its
first election held on April IA, 1856,
nearly Al years ago. During his
term in that office he was also ex.
ofIicio county treasurer and auditor
end being appointed clerk Of court
shortly after his election held all four
Offices until Minnesota was admit.
ted as q state.
Since that time he has served three
terms in the state legislature, from
1867, to 1878; was enrolling officer
during the war; deputy states at
torney one year; census taker fol
Morrison and Todd counties in 1870
and for Little Falls town in 1880