The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-08-22
Story Of Old Settlers Club Is
Interesting for Pioneers of
Kenosha County
ANNUAL REUNION NEXT WEEK
Little Unwritten History of the
Earlier Days of theWe1I known
Organization of Pioneers
of Kenosha County

On Thursday, August 10Th, the Old
settlers Club will hold it's annual pic
mic at Paddock's Lake. Old and
young to the number of thousands
will go to the Lake on that day to
have a part in the yearly hand aking
and real cordiality that has made
"Old Settlers Day"a synonym of un-
alleged pleasure and frien ly greeting.
Very few, if indeed any, of the
founders of this Club are living today
and the work of keeping up the high
standard of the Club is fast devolving
upon the younger settlers of the
youngsters, SO to speak, when the
happy idea of forming such Club
was made areality by the meeting at
Wilmot of group of twelve men,
headed by Joshua WILDER, and ably
assisted by Fl. S. Thorp, Ward Bene-
dict, Edwin Munson, j. w. Voak,
Charles Phillips, G. w. Voak, Vim.
Faulkner, Ansou Pierce, ]. w. Sabin,
John futile. Francis Bratt and E. H.
Hapgood, who there laid The founda-
ton for the Old Settlers Club when
they agreed to secure site on Fox
Lake, ILL.,, and there erect a Club
house for the uses of the Association.
The Club at that time consisted of
so few members that all could easily
find place in the little steamer
which ]. w. Voak owned and ran be-
tween Wi1mot and Fox Lake. 1t was
in this way that most of the mem bers
were taken to the little grounds at
Fox Lake.
In 1881 the Club had so gained in
membership that it was impossible to
convey all by steamer to Fox Lake,
and accordingly upon motion of Cap
tain Tuttle, the Club voted to hold all
future picnics at some central point in
Kenosha county. Messrs. ]. V.
Quarles, ]. M. Brown and Jas. Bryant
were appointed, together with the Off
GERS of the Club, to select such place.
This committee chose Bristol Station
las the next place of meeting, and on
Sept. 1st, 1881, basket picnic was
held under the shady boughs of the
old oaks where Fred Lavey's house
now stands,-at that time just north
| of the little village. President Will.
Der and others responded to requests
for speeches, which the Secretary's
~ xvs% 1.
marked attention by all present. !"
The next meeting of the club was
| held at Wilmot On June 9, 1882. The
records show that good1y number
were in attendance. Friendly greet.
| ings we're exchanged and then the
club took up the business of disposing
of it's Fox Lake property. On report
of George. c. Kroncke it was agreed
to advertise the property for sale in
the Chicago papers. This was done
and the property purchased by Asa
| 3. Paddock, of Antioch, Ill.
We next find the club holding it's
little picnic on the banks of Hooker
Lake at Salem Station. The club
was addressed at this meeting by the
president, S. Y. Brande, who in a few
we'll chosen words spoke of the hard
ships that had been braved by the
lpioneers of Kenosha county, and
asked all to take new courage and in
SEPARATION from the fellowship which
the meetings of the club afforded.
After discussing permanent site for
club grounds, the meeting adjourned.
In 1883 the club purchased three
acres of ground at Paddocks Lake,
cleaned away the leaves, removed the
stumps and underbrpsh and fenced
the property in. On Sept. 6, 1883, the
club met on it's new grounds. At this
meeting Col. Michael Frank was the
speaker Of the day. He delivered an
historical address on the early settle
nent of the county, taking his hearers
back to the time when the Indians
made a camp on the same ground
where the Old Settlers were then
meeting. He told of the first white
settler to reach KenosI1a county; of
the many hardships the early settlers
encountered; how they slept under
their wagons by night while telling
the timber that was to form their lit
tie log cabin; how they industriously
worked to prepare the sol chat was to
yield them bountifr, returns for their
labor.
Thereafter all meetings of the club
were held at Paddocks Lake. About
this time the club was incorporated
under the laws of the state of Wis
consin with F. Robinson, Edward
Jones, r. F. Roberts, Ira P. Helms
and Alexander Bailey as incorpora-.
tors.
The secretary's records show that
the business matters of the club were
in the following mems hands.
L o.