Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-04-25

| in the settlement. Several OF these
old bits Of handicraft are still in ex-
Iistence in this city.
So many "reminiscences were ex-
changed that complete gccount of
each would be impossible, but sever
tal extremely interesting ones are of
moment. B. r. Brewer sixty years
ago shot deer on the spot now occu-
pied by the Younkee lumber yards,
and, by-the-way; deer meat was the
"sirloin" OF the early day dinners.
During the early part of the evening
among other pleasantries exchanged,
two of the most frequently heard
were holding your age SO well" and
Give to be a hundred, yeti"
The group of pioneers were re-
markable from the standpoint of a
younger person, for their rugged
hardihood although wrinkled, grey
and in few instances little hand
licapped by slight deafness or fail
ing sight, their faculties were unim-
paired and their appearance could
bat give rise to the unspoken query
whether any young person arriving
in Webster City today at the age OF
L 20 or Whereabouts could appear so
we'll mentally and physically after
sixty years OF life's vieissitudes, as
this remnant Of former days. 1t is
hardly possible on account of the
restless, racking life now led, as
compared to the peaceful occupations
and hard out of door work ofapion-
eer days. =a t1J "a.2' a
Uncle David Beach remembered
one instance OF tiny-one room
and garret-cabin here in the early
days whose hospitality was called
upon to shelter over night seventeen
persons s.
The first school house was located
upon the spot east of the Baptist
church, now occupied by the Mrs.
Geo. Ship residence, (Mrs. shipp
being unable to be presently, and it
was here that Mr.. Bonebright first
met his wife, at some social gather
ing. Nv ~ - .,-e.s
There was no court house at the
time, but later a frame one was
erected upon the northwest corner
of the city park and later moved to
the spot on Bank street where it has
since served as residence. This is
now occupied by ]. v. Kearns and
family. t5s.t &
The host Of the evening has dis
tinet recollection. of the first relig-
ious services he ever attended in
Webster City, the Sunday after his
arrival. The meeting was held In the
Office of the hotel-a small room,
and the service was conducted by
Rev. Thomas N. Skinner, who had a
few months before organized a
church consisting Of five members,
four OF whom left in few months,
the other, John G.. Hancock, stayed
about year. The school house,
which was then in course of erection,
was the place where all religious
services were held for some time. In
that little white schoolhouse church
here in Webster City, some of Iowa's
most distinguished men have spoken.
Among these were Hon. James Har-
Ian, afterwards U. s. senator and
later member Of President Lin!
coins cabinet; Gen. VIM vandiver,
our first congressman, and Gov. Car
penter.f astt 49,
The evening was entirely devoted
to "reminiscences, and while the oc-
easion was not by any means the
first reunion OF the old settlers of if
ty and more years ago, it was the
first for many years and as such was
heartily enjoyed. The guests We're
then all conveyed to their homes af
ter expressing their pleasure over
the happy associations of the even
ing. Mrs. w. s. Worthington, an
other pioneer Of sixty years residence
in this city, was unable to be pres
ent at the anniversary dinner
Heeeland- Hill. a