Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-02
oLo SETTLERS CELEBRATION.
Ideal Weather With a Big Crowd
And Amusement for Every
Body.

The old settlers and the new set
tiers and all kinds OF settlers, young
and old, married and single, enjoyed a
celebration here last Friday that was
easily the best ever held In the coun-
ty, and all parts Of the county was
represented in the whirl Of pleasure
that began early in the day and con-
tinued until shutdown.
Secretary Kundert's tent was a
busy place and all voters for the "best
farmer In the county registered
there, and when the polls closed a
can of the ballots awarded the
honor to Paul Eneboe Of Highland
township.
The grandstand was in the court
house square where a good platform
had been erected with seats in front
under the shade of trees that protect
ed all from the hot sun. The opening
number was a selection by the band
after which Rev. V. b. Conklin de-
livered a beautiful and expressive in
vocation which was followed with a
song by the Jubilee singers. Then
came Mayor Deans address OF well
come and a response by Hon. II. ID.
Fitch OF Hudson. Another song by
the Jubilee Singers and then came
the annual address by James Lewis,
president of the association. 1t was
an address worth hearing and Mr..
Lewis won additional fame as an ora
tor on that occasion, and was highly
complimented by Gov. Vessey who ar
rived while the speaker was enter
tanning the big audience.
Address by President Lewis:
Old Settlers OF Lincoln County; Ladies and
gentlemen:
assure you it gives me great pleasure TO
greet you this beautiful June morning. bid
you welcome to these exercises. and address
you as president OF this association.
l deem 1t d distinguished honor, after q resi-
dence among you of nearly thirty years, to be
classed among those who have, even In q small
way, been in the development
and upbuilding Of this county, the expanding
OF her resources and the extention OF her great
hlOo oShook y ~
by the early settlers.
It has been one OF the dreams OF my life to
help make the Old Settlers picnic the great
meeting day OF the county. the day above all
others given over to festivities, fluctuations,
good feeling and social entertainment.
1t has seemed to me that We owe something
to those pioneers who left home, severed fam
lily ties and with o strong heart turned their
faces to the west, with a courage born OF true
determined to make themselves
homes in that undeveloped country toward the
setting sun.
Many OF us have felt that the Old Settlers
Picnic had not fully met the hopes and ambi'
lions OF It's founders and 1t was with the hope
only OF being of benefit to the association that
/ accepted this ofice Ut the last annual meet
ing.
Whether the ideal can be realized only the
future may disclose, but certain 1t is the onic-
ers with the business men OF Canton have done
what they could TO make this meeting q sue
cess.
The trials and hardship OF the early settlers
have been so graphically told Mt previous
meetings thar II IL unnecessary to recount
them Mt this time and I will confine myself
mainly to a retrospective view of things ac-
the future.
parallel to the settlement and development OF
the great northwest and viewed In the light OF
things accomplished II Is stupendous.
Little more than o third of a century ago this
vast empire. embracing North and South Da-