Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-26
OLD SETTLERS MEETING.
A Very Enjoyable and Largely Attended
Gathering-The Presidents Address.

Gathering Presidents Address.
The reunion of the old settlers at
the Opera house last Thursday
evening was probably one Of the most
interesting sessions ever held by that
body. One reason for it was in the
fact that there was plenty of room for
all. The ladies of the Catholic
church had prepared the banquet and
it was fine. The tables were nicely
arranged and artistically decorated
and seating room for 156 persons was
furnished.
At seven o'clock the guests were
seated and partOOk OF the banquet
and Hirzy's orchestra of eight pieces
rendered some Of their choice selec-
tions. At the close of the banquet
President Rufus Mcfarland delivered
an address which follows:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Friends Of the Old Settlers Club of
Wood County: Another year has past
and gone and we have met
again to renew acquaintances and
talk of early days, of the trials and
pleasures that then were our lot to
share. There is gathered here tonight
many familiar faces; though some
what changed hearty handshakeS: the
same warm hearts; the same bright
smiles as of old, and as our thoughts
wander back to those. early days when
our homes were small cabins. The
ceiling was the roof, and the floor the
unbroken ground, with blueberry
bushes for our carpet and the howl of
the wolf or the hum of the mosquito
for our music. Who will say those
were not our happIeSt days with no
fOrmalitieS, every thought and action
given on the impulse of the moment,
the latch string was always out and
needed but pull to gain admittance,
after the hearty welcome Come in"
was said
1t is indelably impressed upon my
mind, the appearance of Grand Rapids
when | first saw the place nearly a
half century ago. On the west side
was a row of small Shingle shanties:
on the east little more pretentiOuS
buildings with here and there an
empty whisky barrel in front to signify
what could be found within. Back
from the river on either side was an
almost unbrOken wilderness. The old
pinery road passing through from
Portage to Grand Rapids, Ployer and
Stevens Point, and often you would
meet the weary traveller on the road,
who would inquire 'How much mile to
Grand Rapid" The people here then
were mostly Canadians of French and
Irish descent. Migrating bands of
dOubtedly to get taste of the fire
water they loved so well. Settlers
continued to arrive and tavernS could
not hold their guests, sleeping room
was at premium even on the bar room
floor. Almost all nations were repre-
sented among the arrivals and all
trades and occupations. Farmers
soon commenced clearing farms,
carpenters a building houses, trade
began to grow and every body
prOspered. The children of these
| first settlers with later arrivals are
what constitutes the society of today
and of such this old settlers club is
found and it is founded on broad
grounds, it requires no pass to gain
admittance only a certain length OF
residence here, then each is welcome
and received upon their merits. But
of those first settlers how few are
left, how many have passed to that
beautiful Beyond, but may not their
spirits be with us here, though unseen
by mortal eyes. 1t is appropriate
that so many pictures of early settlers,
who have passed away, should adOrn
this hall tonight. May we ever
cherish their memcry and emulate
their virtues.
w. j. Conway followed with an
address specially prepared in reference
to the young generations and their
relations to the old settlers. 1t will
be published at length in our next
Issue.
The old officers were unanimously
reelected as follows:
President-R. Mcfarland.
Vice PreSidentS-Ira Purdy, Mrs
Caroline Rossier, Mrs. G. J. Jackson.
Secretary-T. J. Cooper
TreaSrer-GeO. W. Baker.
Executive COmmittee-GeO. COrri
veau, Sr., Mrs. Geo. W. Baker, Mrs
John Collier.
A most interesting feature Of the
| evening > cIlUcI IUdlIlllCllU was 81 oUtIuJ
of the pictures of old settlers that
have departed this life and gone or
before that were suspended on the
walls. Each picture was history in
itself and brought back to memory
many "reminiscences Of early days.
The evening program was CLOSED
with dancing and many of the ole
settlers partook of this pleasure witt
as much delight as they did in theil
youth. Messrs. Lemuel Kroner anC
Jos. l.. Whitney, both over seventy
years Of age, danced as if they were
''sweet sixteen"
Never before has the old settlers
annual meeting been any more en-
joyable and successfully carried out as
upon this occasion. The Opera house
proves to be the right place for such g
meeting. Other papers and letters
will appear in succeeding issues unit
they are all published.
| q Hnmp WnddinO