Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-30
BEGIN MAKING PLANS
POLK COUNTY PIONEER ASSo-
CITATION rs PROPOSED.
Mr.. Ford Believes Society to Perpetu-
ate the Memory of Their Achieve
ments Should be Perfected.

Although the county fair is quite
distant as yet, plans are being per-
fected for the organization, on the
second day of that event, of a Pio-
neers' association, and to that end U.
S. Grant and J. G. Brown are serving
as a committee to enlist the interest
of the early settlers of Polk county in
such as society. The undertaking is
most commendable, and should not on
ly have the membership of all pio-
neers but their support in furthering
the organization. John T. Ford, a
we'll known pioneer, writes The OBJ
server on the question as follows:
Editor Observer:-As announced in
The Observer Of last Friday move
ment is under way to organize Pio-
neers' association on the second day
of the Polk county fair in September
next. The roster is to include the
pioneers, their children and all des-
cendants Of pioneers, and it has been
suggested that persons interested in
such organization communicate with
U. S. Grant and John G.. Brown of
this city, who, as I am informed, have
the matter of organization in hand.
The writer hereof has also been invit-
ed to participate in the organization.
Of course, he is willing to aid this
commendable movement in any way
that he can, but, in his opinion, there
are others more competent to take up
the good work and carry it forward
to successful conclusion than himself.
We should be patriotic, not selfish in
this matter,
The Oregon pioneers were highly
developed type of people, virile, ener-
getic and intelligent. They were
unique in this: They constituted the
most energetic, adventurous and in
telligent element of the community in
which they lived, they were more than
representative class. Only the pro-
gressive and daring had the moral
and physical courage to undertake the
hazardous task set before the noble
men and women who settled the Ore
gon country in the early 4O's and SOS.
But, in these so-called degenerate
days, the fortunate descendants of the
Oregon pioneers hesitate to get out
side the environments of the county
where they were born lest they starve
to death, yet our noble forebearers
did not hesitate to tumble their chill
dren, goods and chattels into an OK
wagon and start upon long and dan
gerous journey through an inhospit-
able wilderness infested with wild
beasts and inhabited by cruel and
treacherous savages, hoping to find an
Eden on the vernal shores of the
moaning Pacifc-and they found it.
Yes, they found the worlds long lost
Eden, and by their prudence, energy,
courage and intelligence they built up
a splendid commonwealth in this new
Hesperian world. We, their descend
ants, and thousands Of other happy
people, are now enjoying the fruits Of
their labor, and the very least their
descendants can do is to perfect a fit
ting organization to perputate the
memory of their splendid achieve
ments. This is the purpose, as un-
derstand it, Of the organization pro-
posed. Other counties of the state
have done what we purpose doing, and
the people of those localities are tax
ing hold of the movement with energy
and intelligence. What others have
done we can do. In the not distant
future some one of these good old pio-
neers will be "the last leaf left on the
tree in the spring" then who will be
so despicable as not "to do him rever-
ence7" Why not show him respect
while living, and not wait until he has
dropped into that dreamless sleep
from which no awakened voice has
ever yet returned to us. One touch
of sympathy in this life is worth
flooded river Of tears after the slug
gish clod rattles on our mortal casket.
The noble old pioneer will soon be ga
bright, brave memory, his a stainless
shield; no shame defaces and no envy
mars the record of an honored life
revealed; his name, star among eter-
nal stars"
1t should be our aim to perfect a
permanent organization, have our an
nual meetings, capable speakers to ad-
dress us, and suitable amusements to
entertain the people. Who will be
the next to speak up in meeting7
the next to speak up in meetingf-
j. I. Ford.