The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-09-01
Pioneers Of the County Gather at
Paddock's Lake for the
Annual Reunion.
COREY BRINGS GOOD CHEER.
Four Thousand People Listen to An
nua1 Address of the Former KenOsha
Minister. Many Old Settlers Present

For Old Times Sake between three
and four thousand people from Keno
s'1a and the surrounding counties
gathered at the Old Settlers grounds
at Paddock's lake Thursday to attend
the annual reunion Of the Old Settlers
club of Kenosha county.
All roads led to Paddock's lake and
the great crowds came from all direc-
ton. Some on trains, some in car
riages and not few of them trudged
the way on foot all anxious to show a
little tribute Of respect to the early
days and to meet with the pioneers at
the annual holiday celebration.
With the exception of the fact that
the high wind filled the grounds with
dust the day was perfect one and
the picnic will go down in the history
of the association as one of the great
est gatherings of the pioneers ever
held,
1t was a day of memories, day of
"reminiscences and a day of tears.
Among the crowd that gathered at the
celebration were hundreds of men and
women, who had, resided in Kenosha
and Racine counties for more than
half century and yet with the large
number present there were many
faces missing and tears were mingled
with laughter as the early days were
recalled and name brought out the
fa ~ 4Lo+ Of tho Ivy co4+1orc
had fallen by the wayside since the
last gathering of the association.
One of the familiar faces was miss
ing and that was the face of r. f.
Roberts, the secretary of the associa-
ton. For second time in the history
of the club Mr.. Roberts was too feeble
to attend the celebration, but his work
was in evidence and many gathered
in the pavilion to read the Memorial
roll which had been prepared by him.
The morning hours we're given over
to reunions and all about the grounds
could be seen little groups gathered
about the dinner table recalling the
time when they had journeyed from
New York and other Eastern states to
Southport. The program for the day
followed the usual order and as soon
as dinner was over the great crowd
thronged the pavilion. On the plat
form were seated large number of
the old settlers of Racine and Keno
sha counties. President B. F. Stocker
was in charge of the program.
After music by the Stemm Bros.
orchestra and selection from the
Somers Male quartette President
Stocker introduced the Rev. l. w.
Corey, of Ravenswood, as the speaker
of the day. Rev. Mr.. Corey is great
favorite with the old settlers and he
delivered an eloquent speech speak
ing on the subject, ''The Power and
Influence of Old Associations.
In prefacing his remarks Mr.. Corey
spoke of the evidence of this power of
old association as shown by the long
ing of the pioneers for the days that
are gone. This influence and power,
he showed, was traced back to the
home, which was the center of the
light and inspiration. He pointed out
that, though the hair was tinged with
white sand the step feeble, the old
man and woman still recalled the
happy days of hoEle and mother, and
that these blessed memories of the
childhood days-of father and mother
were the real reasons for the love
of those early times.
He spoke of the love of home.
'Whi1e man remains man." he said,
''no treasury of song will be complete
that does not contain some song upon
the old home, that interprets man S
eager longing for the well that was
by the gate in the little town where
he was reared. Happily for the
younger sons of strength, it is given
to return to ones freshness of feel
ing-for old age may be again as 1ife's
morning. In the larger and generous
sense there is no such thing as old
age
Mr.. Corey brought word of cheer
to the hearts of the old settlers in en-
1arging on his central thoughts, and
showed that age was simply the
browning point in the life of the boy.
Simply the something for which he
had been striving. He said that
every hair of gray was mark of
honor, for it told of work we'll done.
In closing his address Mr.. Corey
drew a lesson for both old and young.
He spoke of the power of love by
which the old were made young again,
and by this way man may be made to
partake of the divine nature, and
though the years may be four score
and ten God, in his mercy, can open
still the fountains of perpetual youth.
The speaker said "There is sun
shine after the c1ouds-ca1rn after
the storm-trust after the long dis
quietude- and the man grown gray
has stopped again to cool his lips at
the spring from which his sweet
mother gave the child to drink, and
then mans age becomes indeed life's
morning"
After the address several other mu-