Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-07-16
PROGRESS OF LAST FIFTY YEARS
As Portrayed by Dr. Byron Robinson of
Chicago in His Address at Hollandale
on the Fourth of July, 1908.

sons 4th or July ADDRESS delivered OF
the farm where he was born TAT Hol
landale, Wisconsin, so years ago, H,
chose for his subject Progress" which
win speak for itself Ed, Tribune
/ appreciate the honor of this home.
coming to observe the celebration OF
Hollandale's prosperity. Over 60 years
age, my father. William Robinson set
tied in Moscow township IL was prac-
tically a wilderness Land was 81. %
an acre and thousands of acres to spare.
The nearest railway station was Mil
waukee to which he hauled his grain
with a yoke of oxen. Indians rode over
the country on ponies. The deer de-
ivoured the crops The wolf and the
rattlesnake infested the country Game
was abundant. My father built his
first house, in partnership with Mr.
Taylor, on what is now the Adamsville
road some 20 rods from the Pecatonica
bridge. 1t had not been built long when
a prairie fire swept the country, the
flames consuming almost everything
but the house. He finally rebuilt on
the location now occupied by his son,
Joshua's present residence.
Hardly can the present generation
conceive Of the condition Of the region
SO years ago as the main landmarks
are swept away from view. Almost
every original pioneer settler Of this
immediate neighborhood is dead. Prac-
tically all have passed to the unknown.
The deprivations and loneliness of our
early pioneer settlers cannot be appre-
ciated by us. The history of the events
of this region for the past SO years has
been replete with stirring times that
tried mems souls. The terrible civil
wal arose and passed in favor Of mans
liberty, and our pioneer aided in its
success. The panic of 1873 came and
went, but remained vivid in our memory
In 50 years the appearance Of the
country has wonderfully changed. In
my early boyhood | have heard nightly
the one howl Of wolves 50 close t 4
was afraid they would enter the house.
The deer ran in herds over the hills. On
the west endsof my fathers farm was
an Indian slaughter ground for deer.
The deer bones and flint arrow heads
were scattered abundantly over the
ground. Where we now stand the
prairie chicken was shot annually by
the score, the pheasant beat his drum
and the rabbit furled his flag. Clouds
of pigeon darkened the air and the wild
duck swan upon the streams. Sleek
fat cattle wandered over the great I'M
fenced common. The OK team with the
creaking cart transported farm pro-
duets to distant markets. Schools and
education were sadly neglected. Now
all is changed. Cultivated fields have
robbed the game of their living places
and the hunters gun completed the
destruction. The deer, the duck, the
pheasant and the quail are fast disap-
pearing. Fat, sleek cattle wander
over the fenced, green pastures and by
the quiet waters. Waving fields Of
golden grain occupy the place of for
ests On rich farms we now see the
straw-stack' CLEAN of gold and the
sumac's flame Of red. The rustling silk
en- tassel in fields Of waving corn greet
the eye instead Of barren land. Flower
gardens and vineyards now ornament
the home of Moscow folk. The electric
light has displaced the tallow candle,
the automobile, the pedestrian and the
locomotive whistle, the creaking Of the
ox-cart. Educated sons and daughters
surround the family board. We live in
an era of progress. The signs Of pro
gress are the changing Of questions
and shifting Of grounds. Old questions
are put in new forms Old grounds are
discussed on new principles.
The progressive tendency pervades
every department Of life-its theories,
its philosophy, its material develop
ments, its brickyards. Of what does
this progress consist? Is it materia
| growth? Is it because Iowa county
possesses increased population, or car
raise more cattle, hogs and grain
Does progress consist in individual eff
fort, in self-control in the distribution
Of education, in the application Of jus
tiae, in The cultivation Of imagination
Progress eomprehend8 all these anC
infinitely more. Progress consists il
the conquering of useful fields. Thu
weapon Of progress is persistent think
ing. Progress consists Of continuou
change and reimbursement Of views.
Among the great factors Of progress
we mention the following
! INDIVIDUAL EFFORT,
Individual effort is the handspring o
progress. 1t Is the pendulum whicl
< swings the race forward. We live in al
p age Of achievement. but the achieve