The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-31

SoSASS AO& LuSO1Cal auVlCSs 1IlR SWl
sofa. The country when he first land
ed was so densely timbered and the
roads so few that it was impossible to
get anywhere without great danger
and difficulty.
James Geegan told of his first trip
into Minnesota. He came here in '56
from Iowa City. He saw but one
house between Fort Dodge, Iowa, and
the Winnebago agency. Their living
on the journey consisted of fish and
dry wheat.
J. M. Barclay was pleased to hear
the "reminiscences of the old settlers
who had preceded him. He requested
all who had not already spoken to give
the date of their coming to Minneso-
ia and other historical facts, that rec
ord might be made for the benefits of
the descendants of those present.
Mark Wildes, with much feeling,
told of the trials encountered when he
landed in Blue Earth county. He said
in part: 81 came TO Madison Lake Al
years ago young man. What Won
derful changes time has wrought in
these years. Among the old settlers
whom he could recall were Smith,
Geegan, Sullivan Madigan, Terrell,
Doran, Mullen, Murtaugh, Cleary,
Meagher,, Lynch, Lyon, Riley, Nc
earthly, Davis, White, Doyle, Tarpy,
Gilfllan, Volk, Olson, Cannon. These
men were all settlers hardy. energetic,
determined and lovers of freedom.
Some of these men yet remain alive,
but others had gone to that cline from
whose borne no traveller ever returns. !"
After another selection by the band,
7. J. McDermott of ST. Paul addressed
the pioneers in his pleasing manner.
He was glad to be with people with
whom he had lived so many years.
After relating the story of Queen Phil
l1ppa and the seven patriots of Cadez
he said in part: The children of to-
day will be the guides to our posterity.
This gathering today can be called
the 50th jubilee of Jamestown and
Washington townships. Once these
surroundings were inhabited by savage
beasts and Redmen, but now it is
rich with culture and success. hope
an organization of early settlers will
be formed and so years hence will pro-
badly see larger assemblage here. I
thank the old settlers for this privilege
of addressing you.
Horace Cummins of Eagle Lake, a
pioneer and a man always ready to ad-
dress his neighbors and friends spoke
as follows ~ came here with my
father on the 10Th day Of July, 1857
We had three oxen, some sheep, cattle
and horses. We lost our way in st.
Clair. Chap Indian, a guide, guided
us around Tivoli. When we arrived
at the LIE Sueur river, we washed our
clothing and proceeded to LIE Ray
township, opposite Nels Nyquist' S.
Our early days were pleasant. We
were on the border of the Indian re-
servation, where red men were camp
ed. Father had a faculty of always
getting along well with these men,
and never experienced any particular
difficulty. The Indians moved away
in 1868. I see many kind friends and
neighbors and hope the younger gener-
alton may prove to be as good as their
sires. This has been made the grand
est county God ever looked upon.
This closed the "reminiscences and
the large crowd we're ushered to the
lake front or boat landing, where a
number of foot and other races occur
red. These races furnished much
amusement, and were participated in
by people of Madison Lake and vi
cinity.
The days pleasure was concluded
with dance in the school house.
Among the relics exhibited in one
OF the cottages were the following
Silk cape, bought in st. Louis in 1851
by Mrs. P. l.. Lyon of Jamestown,
pair OF slippers bought in st. Louis in
1862 by Mrs Lyon, silk purse or
handbag bought in New Orleans in
1S49, an oil lamp and sugar bowl
both made of brass or copper and pur-
chased in 1916, pictorial history of