Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-12

Z fuHGN DdSkel9 were enjoyed.
Probably 1900 people were on the
grounds this afternoon. President G. H.
Shaw presided over the exercises, which
we're opened with music by the orches-
ira and invocation by Rev. Russell. The
welcome to the old settlers was extended
by Gen. b. A. Beeson, squartermaster of
the Soldiers Home. who, IN a five min
ute addrese extended the members of
the associat ton the freedom Of every
thing In sight. President Shaw respond
ed briefly. The annual address followed
and the program previously arranged
was observed with little change, as fol-
lows:
Music-Orcheetra.
Speech-Rev. f.. w. Parsons
Song-Midland Quartet
Ten Minute Talk-F. E. Northup.
Solo-Pearl Hughes.
Ten Minute Speeches-H p Clemons
James Finders. G. B. welker, James
Meyers. d. f. cooper, George Magee,
ii. n. Weeks. and Others
Song-Midland Quartet.
Reading OF Death RolI-Secretary
Northup.
Musc-Orchestra.
Adjournment.
,
In his annual address Mr.. Carney,
while speaking from non-partisan
standpoint, dwelt at length on the Lou
tstana purchase. of which Iowa and
Marshall county were part, and gave
some interesting facts not generally
known concerning that important tram
sactton. notably the fact that the lots
and lands of Marshall county alone are
today worth more than the government
originally paid for the vast territory.
i Mr. Carney said in part:
Mr.. President and Members OF the
Il Old Settlers Associations: 1t is some
thing which prize as an honor to be
asked to make an address to this gath
ering Of the pioneers OF Marshall coun-
~. county situated at the center OF
this great state, a portion of the Louis
lana purchase which. made in 1903, ex-
tended the territory of the United
States from the Mississippi westward
I to the Rocky mountains and from
Texas north to the British possessions,
an empire in itself. which has been
S since those early days carved into
states and territories. loyal TO the stars
and stripes. and giving from it's fertile
lands food and sustenance for it's pop
ulation nearly third Of that OF the
union and for tens Of millions OF in
habitants outside of its borders.
Z. AS one Of the earlier settlers or CEN
trail Iowa. pride In the growth OF this
unrivaled state has become part Of
my nature. Coming to this state in the
year 1854, my father and his family
were among that band OF hardy pio-
neers who broke the virgin soil Of the
nfro ~,
shiek, cornering with Marshall on the
\ southeast.
The log house was my first home in
Iowa. the miles Of unoccupied prairie
! tenanted only by the wolves and
prairie dogs. the grazing grounds OF
our cattle and a long file of red blan-
\ keted Indians. on their ponies, slowly
vending their way from one hunting
e ground to another, not unfrequent
I spectacle. With the nearest nelghbor
! two miles away, with postofice eight,
the rural delivery OF those days was ac-
cOmplished in the intervals OF farm
work. by driving old Jack and Charlie,
hitched to a lumber wagon. those weary
miles 10 the townsof Brooklyn, then the
nearest postoffice which Uncle Sam
could give to his children in what was
s then known as the far west.
70 those who, as we did, left the
thickly populated region to the east to
i travel to Iowa by covered wagon route,
central Iowa was indeed in the far
west. Never until my dying day shall
I forget the miles and miles OF cordu-
roy road thru the swamps and forests
OF Indiana. over Which the faithful
team pulled our prairie schooner, nor
the aching body which after each day
OF weary humping over logs laid side
by side, stretched itself by the road
side to get some rest for the weary
/ miles, that lay between US and our
home In Iowa.
AS I look over this gathering and
4 see 80 many OF the gray heads that,
with faith in God and a Arm hope for
< the failure, faced the trials and perils
Of such Journey to this state in the
4 early days Of Its history. my heart
softens with the recollection OF their
trials and privations, and can see In
5 It the finger of providence that has
pointed the way to this garden Of the
Lord, where you and yours and mine
4 can have all OF life's reaa blessings II
we only have the courage to take and
to hold them.
1T would be an objectionable Of
n tense at this time and place to choose
4 for; . topic to which to invite your at
4 tention any subject which would In the
/ iesst provoke or permit partisan dis
cussion. .5S
I. Another four years have passed
B since the beginning Of the last great
sstrpggle for political supremacy and
this social occasion. devoted to- good
d Seilowship and reimbursement % the
post z not the time and occasion for
- aseessti!sn !! se az. thssn.as upon