The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-07

siastically received, and his apt re-
marks were enjoyed by all.
Remarks BY Judge keysor.
Judge Keysor, of Lincoln, Nebraska,
son of Captain and Mrs. Clark Keysor
of this city, gave an interesting talk
during the evening. e.
My friends, l feel that it is one of
the greatest honors that / could have,
that l, once a barefoot boy on the
streets of Mankato, half a century
ago, should be here tonight to address
you at Mankato's first home coming"
He spoke of the present national crisis
expressing the hope that there would
be no war with Mexico, and that the
"boys" would return safely to their
hcmes. He stated that he appreciated
the beautiful flowers which the florists
had donated, the automobile ride ten
dered to the visitors at the close of
the afternoon picnic by the Mankato
Automobile club, of the picnic dinner
served by the ladies, and of the hos
pitality of the people of the city, say
ing that he took great pleasure in
taking this opportunity to greet the
"boys and girls" of Mankato, Judge
Keysor dwelt on the pleasant memo
ries of the past, speaking in detail OF
the old days when his parents had
their home on the site where the arm
DRY was now standing, dealing in a
humorous way with the hardships they
had encountered. He stated that as he
looked straight back over his life it
seemed short, but when he remem-
bered the many incidents of the past
it seemed long, and that although he
was not born in Mankato he was glad
to have lived here long enough to be
counted an old resident, and on the
future centennial of the city, although
by that time he would be over ninety
years old, he intended to come back
to Mankato and celebrate the event.
This remark was hailed with enthusi-
astic applause. The meeting of old
friends, and pleasant acquaintance
Judge Keysor summed up by the well
known poem:
"Ships that pass in the night, and
speak each other in passing,
Only a signal shown, and a distant
voice in the darkness,
So, on the ocean of life we meet and
h speak one another,
Only look and a voice, then darkness
again and silence"
Address by Senator johnson
Senator Johnson of Brainerd, son of
P. K Johnson, one of the founders of
Mankato, spoke as follows:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gen.
itlemen: l can assure you that at
this time and on this occasion it is
highly gratifying to me to be given
the privilege of meeting and ming
ling with the old and new settlers
of your beautiful city. My father
came here in 1852, and l am told
that on a cold winter morning, jan
uary 2, 1859, first saw the light of
day in little house, then located
at the corner of Front and Jackson
streets, where J. B. & d. Richards
store now stands.
my earliest recollection of events
dates from the time of the hanging
of the thirty eight Sioux Indians,
December 26, 1862 l was with my
father at that memorable scene. I
remember of visiting with some
member of my family at Camp Re
lease located in this very park where
the Indian prisoners were confined
and guarded. / recall their prison
in the leech, later called Higgins
building, in the block where Fred
Kron's store now stands / have a
vivid recollection of the departure of
the Indians who were not hung. They
were transported by steamboat in the
spring of 1868. Everybody was at
the river to see them off to some pris-
on. A young Indian boy came run
ming up the bank and / thought he
was after me and so legged it for
home as fast as l could.
Il have distinct remembrance of
the hanging of half breed, Camp
bell, who was instrumental in the
killing of the Jewett family in 1865.
That day is vivid and distinct. can
see Dan Tyner, the sheriff on a
horse, waving broadbrimmed hat
and little Ben Pay; the deputy, sur
rounded by crowd ON the corner in
front of the old Mankato house. And
later in the day came the hanging on
the hill where the court house now
stands. was right there with all the
curiosity and enthusiasm of an Ameri-
can kid
"My remembrance of my first
playmates is of little Doc Wicker
sham and the Bradley boys, Ed and
VIII. Little Doc lived in a house
where the First National bank now is
and the Bradley boys, on the corner of
Front street. l went to school in the
little old log school house and later
attended the Union school. l had for
schoolmates and classmates: Horatio
and Nellie Pay, the Hubble girls,
Billie Thurston and his sisters. Charlie
Wise, Ben Bangerter, Henry Himmel-
man, Billie Hoerr, Judge Comstock
and others l do not now recall. Judge
Comstock turned out to be the BRAIN
lest of us all. / remember / thought
Nellie Pay the prettiest girl in school
and / note she hasn't changed much
/ remember the now corpulent John
O.. Wise, Jr., when he was so small
and young that you couldn't tell to
what gender he belonged by his
clothes.
In the summer of 1873-4-5 was a
worker with AL Wheeler, on the
brick yard. My friend Wheeler re-
coivod about 60 n do,, x,,l,;Io .ro+