The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-06-18


prove their time Ia Dakota shacks.
Over - ysars $50, We came here
Ia tho prime of life. and mAnhpsd.
some at the age 81 free men; direct
from the home Of childhood, - the
model and magnet Of their ambition.
We came to carve homes from the
crude materials mother earth had pro-
vided for us. Heroic women came
with US OF soon followed. leaving ev-
cry luxury and comfort. father, moth
er, brother, sister. all the associates
Of childhood, left all those. pleasant
hours and comforts. accompanied Or
followed husbands to this western
wild, bravely smothering their long
ings, cheered our weary hours Of toll,
shared our joys and. lightened our
griefs and sorrows. Bravely put the
bright side before rs when we were
the most downcast, did all they could
to secure the home for which we
came to acquire. Thank God, we OBJ
tanned that home. Is 1t anything
strange that those gray haired peo-
pie are a little egotistical in saying,
Il have the best wife that ever lived"
or "My man is the smartest man in
this whole settlement. My friends,
may you be spared many years, and
may those sayings become pare and
parcel Of your blessed lives. The pio-
neers must and do live pure lives.
They cannot do otherwise. The sur
roundings are such that they must,
and they truly and surely do so live,
and when called from earthly home
on the eve of declining life, to the
eternal home on the other. side of the
dark river, will hear the joyful greet
ing Well done, good and faithful SER
want, enter thou into the joy of the
Lord" Their lives leave lasting
legacy, eagerly sought by many" Oh,
that might live as good life as
Grandma, So and So, or vice-versa. .
Yes, my good friends, the records of
the past year, press home the fact
that the old settlers are passing be-
yond into the undiscovered coun-
try from whose bourne no traveller
returns, but we trust they are max
ing preparations to welcome us into
the happy organization, when we are
called from our labor, here, to enjoy
the everlasting joy and refreshment
there. oh, my brother and sister. of
the Old, Settlers Association, of Ward
county, are. we living lives that will
enable us when the secretary calls
the roll up. yonder, we can answer
present, and in good standing?
l wish to call the attention Of this
association to q few facts today, while
there is time and opportunity. While
we are not possessed Of the learning
and polished composition of those who
will follow us, cannot compile our ide-
as and facts in the polished langu-
age of the historian, who in the fu-
ture will write and compile the his
tory of Ward county, N. D., but we
can and should make the few neces.
sary facts pertaining to the early set
Elements, the date place and by whom
made, growth, development, for the
first fifteen or twenty years, giving
all the facts pertaining to our indi-
vidual locality. Let each and every,
one contribute our mite during the.
coming year, and those of us, who are
spared to enjoy the old settlers out
ing in 1909, will have material for
comment, and adopt all that proves
true. Let a synopsis be taken of the
whole, and when the time comes for
facts, Of the early settlement of Ward
county, our secretary can produce true.
facts and Ward county will have a
true and correct record for future
generations to examine and pass iudg.
ment upon.
A few words to orr friends Of later
years. The founders of this associa-
ton came here from % to ~ years
past. Your coming when you may
make you think the pioneer was slow,
and perhaps a little indolent for the
reason that you have succeeded so
very profitably, and we are certainly
glad that you have been successful.
Will you kindly allow me to draw a
few of the comparisons as they exist?
Twenty-Five years ago, the condi-
lions were vastly different. One humid
red to one hundred and twenty-five
miles to railroad, no improved land
waiting for tenant, "a scarcity of
teams, (more for necessary trappings
than animals), no grain to be had,
little money, homes and shelter to
build, nothing to frame it from, ex-
cept native sod, and the growing tim.
her. Instead Of going to town, haul,
ing few loads on good roads, we'll
bridged, 1t took us longer to get the
few nails and necessary hardware,
than it would for you to draw ma.
terial and build your houses and
harms Won can hire holm wv o,,,J1