The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-05-30
Early Pioneers of the City Gather at
the Home of ]. M. Stebbins on
Park Avenue Wednesday.
A FESTIVAL OF Renaissance
Mr. stebbins Celebrates the sixty-fourth
Anniversary of His Arrival in Kenosha
With Notable Gathering.

For old times sake nine of the early
pioneers of the city gathered at the
home of James M. Stebbins on Park
avenue Wednesday evening to cele-
brate the sixty-fourth anniversary of
the arrival of Mr.. Stebbins in Keno
sha. It was a reunion ha11owed by
grey hairs-a festival of "Reminiscences
and gathering of the men who have
helped make Kenosha what she is today
They were all boys again Wednes-
day night and fond memories carried
them back to the days of "37," when
old Southport was simply one of the
little villages which had been founded
on the shores of the lake. 1t was an
impressive picture-the sight of these
pioneers, all save one having passed
three score, while three in the party
had passed the four score limit. But
no outsider could explain the pleasure
of the reunion of these old gray haired
survivors. Age may have affected
them physically, but in their memories
they ali returned to the days when as
young men they had laid the founda-
tons of old Southport.
The old boys arrived early in the
evening and before dinner they gath
cred in the par1or to cali up the early
times. In the place of honor was
Levant Stevens, SO years of age, with
a record of sixty-five years in Keno
sha. Henry Williams, now 70 years of
age, had come to Kenosha in '35; while
J. H. Kimbal1 joined with Mr.. Stevens
in bringing his four score and two
years as a representative Of 1886 in
Southport. The settlers of 1887 were
represented by James M. Stebbins,
A. B. Truesde1l and Hosea Barns.
Jason Lothrop, the veteran surveyor,
was a representative of the settlers of
1899. w. w. Baker, who came to ke-
nosha in 1916, and Waiter Dexter, who
was born in Kenosha in 1912, were also
present.
During the early hours of the after
noon the old settlers were entertained
with music, and the feature of it was
the fact that one of their number,
more than 81 years of age, furnished a
number of violin solos. Care was
thrown to the winds and something
quick and devi1ish'' was played and
the feet of the pioneers kept pace with
the music.
At ha1f-past six the guests were in
vited into the dining room where the
table had been spread. The table was
decorated with red carnations and the
light for the banquet was furnished
with a large number of red candles.
Around the festa1 board the old set
tiers held a feast of Renaissance.
There were no long winded set speech
es, but every man spoke from the
heart recalling the days of yore. All
the old story of the history of old
Southport was re-told, and at the men
ton of many names of the early pio-
neers eyes about the table were filled
with tears as d rush of memories
brought back the days of long ago.
It was with feeling of sadness that
the old boys left the table and retired
to the parlor again. At the request of
]. H. Kimba11 it was decided to make
the reunion an annual event, and his
invitation to the pioneers for next
year was unanimously accepted.
When the shades of night had fallen
the pioneers who had stood together
for so many years babe farewell and
with a verse of 'tAu1d Lang Syne"
they left for their homes hoping that
all would be spared for another re
union a year hence.