The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-08-27

compared with other communities, her
fields are blessed with a bountiful
fruitage, her homes with peace and
contentment; her hills are adorned with
temples of learning from the humble
school house to the pretentious college
of which we are so proud.
The old settlers Of Crawford county
have furnished chief executive for
the state of Iowa whose name will
stand engrossed upon the scroll of
fame; and, before we meet in another
annual picnic, the halls of our national
legislature will reverbarate with the
eloquence of another of Crawford
county's early sons.
All around us the old settlers are
laying down the responsibilities of
life. They have indeed builded we'll
Their efforts, their industry, and their
intelligence render possible the aspira-
tions of rising generation The un-
derlying principles of success ever have
been and always will be the same.
Some are prone to look backward at
times that are past as the period Of
achievement. But it Is mistake.
Never in the history Of Crawford
county or Of Iowa or of the United
States was there a time when such
grand opportunities await whoever will
but faithfully apply to the living ques-
tions the abilities that they by Provi-
dence have been endowed; nor, a time
when greater reproach rests upon who
ever slight or shirk the responsible
ties that are theirs. We, who are upon
the threshold of action, have received
a rich heritage from the early settler
that we should cherish, strengthen and
improve for the benefit of posterity.
Hon. J. P. Conner was the orator of
the day. His address was filled with
good things both for the old settlers
and the new. He was listened to with
wrapt attention and frequently inter-
rupted with outbursts of applause.
His address dwelt not only with the
struggles of the pioneers but with the
triumphs of today, and his speech was
an encouragement to optimism and to
determination to improve the wider op-
portunities which present themselves
to the present generation. We regret
that on account of lack of space we are
unable to print the address in full.
Crawford county's poet, John Aims.
worth, was next called on and he de-
lighted the audience with one of his
quaint and original productions. I'm
:. like the ordinary run of local poets
John writes verses which are readable
and witty and well-written. He con
sented to allow us to publish the verse:
written for the picnic and they will ap
pear in our next ISSUE
The formal part of the program hav
: ing been completed. the old-timers en-
) joyed an old-fashioned good time ant
experience meeting. They cracked
jokes on each other, but mingled will
the fun was vein of sadness for tn,
pioneers departed. Biographies o
some of the pioneers who have gon
before were read as follows: Mr.. Johl
Dobson read biography of Mr.. j. B
Huckstep; Hon. II. c. Laub a biogra
ply of Charles Noble, and Mr.. Morri
McHenry biographies of Esau an
Ethan Mckim and S. B. Greek
A call was made for the three oldes
people born in Crawford county, thes
were found to be Mr.. N. l.. Hunt, Mr.:
Mary Greek Carey and Mr.. A. H Rude
The three oldest settlers pre- ,ent were
Mrs. Margaret. Mason Richardson
John Dobson and John Rudd. Th
Oldest person on the grounds was MI
Claus Heller, aged S4.
The newly elected officers of tn
association are as follows: Presiden
Fl. c. Laub: Vice President, John Dol
son, Secretary, N. l.. Hunt; Historian
Morris McHenry. Altogether the da
was delightful one and one long to t
remembered Nearly all the me
chants of Denison closed their store
during the afternoon as mark of r.
spect to Denison's guests.