Decorah-posten., 1898-10-07
The Old Settlers Of Winnesheik Co.
speech delivered by Attorney w. ~. strand, at
the Old Nsr~ egian settlers Meeting.
hsid at Decsrsh. iowa, on
Sept. -, tSos.


with you here to-day and partici-
pate in the festivities Of this occa-
sion, | congratulate you old Nor
wegian settlers OF Winnesheik
County for your present condi-
ton and surroundings. How dit
fcrent they are from YOUR sur
roundings 40 and as years ago
when YOU settled in the wilderness
OF the West And | congratulate
YOU for this great change and
iranSmutation.
Not many generations ago,
where we now are, in this beauti
ful city on the Upper Iowa. encir-
cled by blooming fields. beautiful
farms, gigantic structures cf trade
and commerce, schools, churches,
and colleges, in fact all that exaltS
and embellishes civilized life, the
rank thistle nodded in the wind,
and the wild fox dug his hole IN
scared. Here lived and loved an
other race of beings. Here in Our
beautiful CITY of DEBORAH. and be
meath the same sun that rolls over
our heads to-day, the Indian hunt
er pursued the painting deer. Here
the wigwam blaze beamed over the
tender and helpless, and the coun-
ell fire glared on the wise and dar-
ing. Now they dipped their noble
limbs in your Upper Iowa, and
now they padded the light canoe
along YOUR rocky shores. Here
they warred tine echoing whoop.
the bloody grapple. the defying
death song. all were here and
when the strifeS OF these aborlg-
ines were over. here curled the
smoke of peace.
When the pressure al advancing
civilization forced these happy In
dams farther towards the west, and
Iowa was opened for emigrantS,
there came and settled in this
County the most valiant and noble
sons OF Wisconsin, Illinois and the
countries OF Europe. English. Ger
mans, Irish. and YOU old settlers,
Sons Of the North.
Filled with all the bright antici-
pations OF hope, and lured by the
bright prospects OF obtaining en-.
ioyable homes and comfort, which
the fertile soil and healthful climate
OF this County proffered, YOU LETT
YOUR friends. fathers and mothers
and dear ones behind, braved the
hardships OF frontier life, made the
best OF and surmounted all the dif-
fculties and privations of pioneers
With little or no money in your
pockets. but with a stout, brave
and courageous heart and indom-
table will YOU went TO work anl
built your rude log cabins, oh
tanned a yoke OF oNen and a pillow
someway or somehow, and turned
the waiting sod to be seeded, and
which yielded splendid grain
The OK was your horse, the right
hand was your seeder, the scythe
was your mower, the hand sickel
or cradle was your reaper, and the
fail " your oNens feet your
threshing machine.
Thus with small beginnings you
have transformed this County from
a frontier and wilderness to one OF
the most enlightened and beautiful
spots on the earths surface. Yes,
YOU. sons and descendants from
the old Vikings, which were the
terror to all European waters in
the DAYS Of old, and sons OF those
valiant soldiers and seamen from
the North, which conquered the
whole OF Northern France, and
subsequently conquered England.
and whose blood circulates in
every artery and vein OF the proud
Englishman OF to-day, il was YOU
that performed the most c%onspicu-
ous part in this grand transforms
ton. II was your toll and the
sweat OF your brow that was the
most potent factor in making this
County what II is. II was YOU that
built wonder city, il was YOU that
built yonorr colleges, ii was YOU
that built the churches and school
houses that are dotting the entire
width and breadth OF this County.
and which form the foundation OF
our free government and future
safety.
And what are the characteristic
of the old Norwegian settlers OF
Winnesheik County, No people
are more industrious, no people
better educated in that branch OF
education which is the best OF all
education, that obtained in making
a living. No people are more re-
ligious. and no people more patri-
otic. Noted for your small per-
centage of i~lliterates, YOU contrib
ute freely and most readily to any
movement for the education OF
your children. Nor do YOU lose
sight OF your Maker and Ruler of
all things; you r pre-eminently
a Christian people. And as far as
patriotism and love OF your coun-
try is concerned. while YOU love
Old Norway with is beautiful hills
and valleys, and for the blessed