Arizona republican., 1913-10-06
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC
 IS GRAND SUCCESS
Perfect Weather, BountifuI Supply of Eats and Large Attendance Afford
 one of Most Enjoyable Gatherings.

An assemblage of nearly two hundred pioneer residents of the Salt River val ley enjoyed a days reunion and pie nicking at the home of James C. Good win, in this city Saturday. Edibles enough to satisfy the hungriest, inn prOmptu speaking by local and valley residents, and perfect fall weather af fOrded thet Old Settlers one of the best picnics they have promoted since the inauguration of the annual reunion, years ago.
 Not a day more perfect than that of Saturday could have been picked for the occasion out of the whole year It was perfect fall weather from sunup until sundown and the temperature was just right for one to enjoy the in- Vitjng shade of the huge trees on the picnic grounds
 The forenoon was well spent in re- neWing acquaintances and talking over the experiences of what might right fully now be termed pioneer days. They all had their experiences, and it was interesting to all to hear of the settlement of the valley, and the many thrilling scenes surrounding the lives of the early pioneers.
 The tables for the picnic were laid in the shade of the big trees and loaded With a spread far larger than those present could do justice to, were almost enough to satisfy hunger at first sight. While it is truly said that the world is rapidly progressing just as truly may it be stated the best cooks ever may be found among the old Settlers.
 Dinner over and a social hour past the gathering came to order to listen to number of imprOmptu speeches W. T. Cummings, one of the most en- thusiastic promoters of the Old Settlers reunion, acted in the capacity of chair man.
 Taking them in order of years first comes Niels Peterson, a t date of set tlement no more than a ranchhand and today one of the Wealthiest ranchers on the sOuthside. MT Petersen came to the valley just fOrty-four years ago. , located on the north side for q year, and then, following the partial com pletion of the Tempe canal moved to the vicinity Of Tempe. From the con structiOn of the first house in Tempe 10 this day ne has watched the towns growth. Reciting in detail the experi- enccs of the pioneer residents, Mir. Petersen's talk was interesting from beginning to end
 Reese M. Ling. q member of the first graduating class from the Tempe Nor mai in 1887. told of the early history of that institution. Then, there was nothing more than a little four room building situated in the middle of a twenty acre alfalfa patch. It was an odd location. and little did the resi- dents then look forward to what the { school is today.
 Col James H. McClintock of Phoenix. 1 also a member of the class of 'S7 from | the Normal. was another interesting 1 speaker. Telling of the general devel- | opment of the valley. Tempe and Phoe- 1 nix in detail and the Tempe normal | even more so, innumerable vivid rem 1 inIscences of old times were recalled i to the minds of the Settlers.
 The detailed history of Tempe fell to Andrew Nielsen, close onto thirty-two | years now a local resident. and during i that time a holder a different times of ! practically every public office in the city.
 James C. Goodwin, mine host in chief. | was another interesting speaker on the general development of Tempe. the valley and Arizona at large. His home. the spot where the listeners were then gathered, was the first real dwelling house to be built in Tempe
 Jack Stewart, the only representative of the Mesa section in the speakers stand did full justice to the new cot ton locality. And yet. he IS just as much interested in Phoenix and Tenn pe' telling of the general development in each.
 The Old Settlers reunion was truly
 q The proceedings on this one occasion ! are only afforded once during the year and from year to year that coming date for the Old Settlers picnic is held in mind by every pioneer resident of Mar IcOpa county