The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-06-22
OLD SETTLERS.
They Enjoy a Pleasant Day at
Sibley Park.
Exchange Stories of Old Times In.
teresting Papers by P. K Johnson,
Th0s. Hughes and Others.

The territorial old settlers enjoyed a
most pleasant reunion and picnic at
Sibley park Friday. There was fair
sized crowd present from all parts of
Blue Earth county, the day was cool,
beautiful one and all present, old and
young had an elegant time.
They gathered at about 10 a m Dur
ing the forenoon remarks were made
by J. L. Washburn, of Duluth; Joseph
Dobie, of Sterling; Rev L. W. Beattie,
of this city and Jas Miller, from near
Amboy. A letter was also read, from
p. X johnson, of Brainerd,
and which is given below. Thos.
Hughes also read an interesting
paper on the early history of Mankato,
and which is pronounced by all the old
timers to be one of the best papers on
the early days ever given here.
After the papers the election of Off
GERS took place. as follows:
President-James Shoemaker.
Vice-P resident-John Diamond.
Secretary-C. A Chapman.
Executive Committee-Jas. Shoema-
ker, G. j, Macbeth, Jos Schlingerman,
l.. s. Foster, A. @. Barney.
A fine picnic dinner was served, which
made the hardships of early days fade
away, and the old-timers gathered in
little groups and talked over some of
the chair raising" episodes of days long
gone by.
Brainerd, MINI June II, 1900.
C. A. Chapman Sec Old Settlers Asso-
citation:
Dear Sir-Your invitation to be present
and participate in the cold Settlers Pic
nic," l received 1 am sorry that can't
be with you, for it would be great pleas
ure for me to picnic on the spot where 1
camped 48years ago, where Jackson, Good
rich, Paddock, myself and few others
started from ST. Paul to seek a new loca-
ton where we could eventually lay the
foundation for a great city, our objective
point was at the confluence of the Blue
Earth and Minnesota rivres.
We reached the place. that is the first
team made up with w. w. Paddock, Dan.
Williams, John James. half-breed and
myself, aud there we camped in the early
spring of 1852. If Paddock is with you on
the 18th, perhaps. he can point out the ex-
act location where first we camped. 1t
was beautiful spot then, and since made
more beautiful by the handiwork of man.
1t seems to be highly fitting that your re-
union should take place on that historical
ground, beautiful Sibley Park! 1t is there
that the birds seem to sing more ,sweetly
the flowers bloom more lovely, the air
more pure than any where else.
IF the veil of obscurity could have been
lifted, revealing to us all that has taken
place since we camped onc Sibley mound
4S years ago, behold what panorama!
How different might have been our lives.
But won't reflect on what might have
been; we old settlers ''builded as best we
knew"
There are now living but very few fMan-
kato's first corners. l recall only ]. D.
Hinckley. w. w. Paddock, H. Fuller,
Henry Goodrich, and possibly few 9TH
ers Things have changed wonderfully
since we first came to Mankato; the mode
of education is different than when L. u.
NJ Fletcher taught the young sprout how
to shoot; the form of worship don't seem
to be as solemn as when good, old Father
Thompson preached the gospel of truth
and goodness. Changes and Improvement
have taken place that in their operation
cause US old timers to look in mystic won
derment. But there few things that the
later generation have not improved upon
they haven't improved upon common
sense" The Biblical teaching 'love one
another" hasn't been improved upon, and
the golden rule, do unto others as you
would have them do unto you. remains
the same as so years ago.
You have my best wishes for an enjoya-
BILE time; caution the old boys about going
in bathing, for you know the seductive
Minnesota river has lured many victim
to its watery bosom.
Yours, of old,
P. K. JOHNSON.