The Mankato free press., 1919-08-15
MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY
SHOULD BE ERECTED
SUGGESTED BY GRESHAM
Idea Is Developed At Outing of
Old Settlers Yesterday
Afternoon

bC SiCSlCu dl SiDlcy fdTh, DIS
suggested by JuIge w. G.. Gre
sham of st. Peter at the an
nual picnic Of the Territorial Old
Settlers association at Sibley Park
yesterday afternoon, met with the en-
tire approval of the association, and
the support of Senator Henry Benson
Of st. Peter was also pledged
Following the serving of the picnic
dinner the entire audience sang the
Star Spangled Banner, under the diy-
ection OF Miss CCornelia Mansfield. A
short program of musical selections
was then played by the Sandon Harp
Orchestra.
Officers of the association and the
speakers were seated on a raised
platform, and the audience assembled
around the platform, sitting on the
park benches and on the grass, and
listened attentively to the program
Charles A. Chapman, president of the
association, presided. and in the alb
sence of P. W. Pitcher secretary of
the association, his duties were per-
formed by Hugh Jones. Following the
memorial address by Attorney Thom-
as Hughes an address was delivered
by Hon. Henry Benson Of st. Peter.
Address of II. N. Benson.
Senator Benson expressed to the old
settlers his appreciation of the privil-
ege of being present to talk to them,
saying that it was an honor he would
never forget He congratulated the
community on having such an asso-
citation. remarking that other coun-
ties would do well to emulate the
NJ In h4 hn 4,
him to the meeting some representa-
tive old settlers of the adjoining
county of Nicollet. including his own
mother. Judge Henry Moll, and Judge
W. G. Gresham, all pioneers of Nicoi-
let county, and now residents of ST.
Peter. Reviewing the early pioneer
days Of Minnesota, Senator Benson
spoke eloquently of the great serv-
ice the early settlers had given, COM
ing TO the unbroken forests and wild
erness, hoping for the opportunities
they could not secure elsewhere, and
reclaiming the lands from the wild.
They had built their homes, their
schools and churches. and raised their
families, making of the state of Min
nesota a monument to their labor and
perseverance. performing a work as
great as any every achieved any
where. and giving an inspiration to
proceeding generations that viii never
die. ~
Life Of n. n. SibIey.
Senator Benson dwelt at length on
the life Of Henry Hastings Sibley, the
famous reneral of early days who had
served Minnesota so nobly and so well,
who had served as the first territorial
governor and later as governor of the
state and who had at one time con-
Quoted a trading post at Sibley Park.
General Sibley had seen the great
possibilities of the state and when he
was in congress had succeeded in OBJ
tanning many laws which had resulted
to the lasting good Of Minnesota. Sen
ator Benson maintained that Mime
sofa owes more to General Sibley
than to any other man or group of
men in the state. and is especially in
debted to him for the educational ad-
vantageS and high standards Of the
state. He secured the grant of two
sections of land in every county for
permanent endowment fund for
public schools, and set a township
apart for a state educational institu-
H.
endowment fund of over thirty million
dollars. a bigger fund than that of
any other state, excepting Texas.
There will be fund of from two hun
There will be fund of from
two hundred or four hundred mil
lions of dollars when the school
lands are all sold. For his
work in this regard Senator Benson
stated that General Sibley is entitled
to the eternal gratitude of every cit
izen of Minnesota. He also spoke Of
the wise Judgment of General Sibley
when meeting with the Indians and
rescuing white prisoners. Since those
early days Of hardship the state has
been transformed into land of
plenty, law and order, and happy
homes.
eff we wish to serve our country we
must do more as Henry Hastings Sib-
ley did," said Senator Benson. eve
must live less for ourselves and more
for the public and nation, and not
underestimate the duties which fall
upon us"
Election of Officers.
Election of officers then took place,
resulting in the reelection Of all the
old officers as follows: Charles A.
Chairman. president: w. H. Pay, vice
president; P. w. Pitcher, secretary
treasurer: executive committee: ]. B.
Coy A. C. Barney, w. F. Jewson,
Thomas Hughes.
President Chapman appointed w.
H. Pay general manager of the asso-
citation. paying him a compliment for
his good work in the past and contin-
uing him in the managership.
Mr. Paw publicly expressed the
thanks nf the association to those
whose efforts had contributed toward
rnakino TIE picnic great success, in
Guiding Mrs w. W. Davis. who had
charge of the picnic tables. Miss Cor
nelia Mansfield. who had charge of
the sinoing, ]. B. Coy. who furnished
the taxi to carry people and baskets
from the end Of the street car line
to the picnic grounds. l.. w. Andrist.
who loaned the organ, and all others
who had assisted.
Monument Is Suggested.
Judge Gresham. who is a brother of
the late Walter J. Gresham who serv-
ed as secretarv Of state under Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland gave a short
talk in which he suggested that a
mnnurnent to General Sihlev be erert
ed at Sibley park. He stated that he