The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-17
OLD SETTLERS meet
Reunion Mapleton- SterI-
Ing Association
SPEECHES AND MUSIC
Program Successfully Carried
Out and Attendance Very
Large; Sports


1t is vIewed-Ions If we look
back upon;-iong in anticipa-
ton to those young in years;
short to the elder man who lives
In the past;-lone to those who
wait the call from above, but
short to him who sees much to
do within its limits. 1t matters
not, however whether time iags
or rushes by, the past twelve
months have written fms to the
life. of many of the old settlers
Of this locality. We would glad
-iy euloelxe upon the lives and in
fiuence of each of these departed
friends without discrimination but
time would not permit. We do,
In behalf of this association, wish
to extend sincere sympathy to
the families and friends of those
who have Joined the gathering on
the other side.
among the departed are those
who came to this section when It
was In the forming and gave Of
their young lives to make it what
IL Is today beautiful garden
with every possibility for happi-
ness and prosperity. Others were
born here or came when but small
and their happy childhood in a
new and undeveioped country has
added q charm to memory as well
as exempiifying the need of and
bringing about conditions where
a following generation might en-
10y a far more pleasant child
hood and profitable manhood. The
usefulness Of mans life is not
rightly measured by great deeds
and fiowry sentences which blaz-
en- forth and blind the eyes as.
under the glare of the MONDAY
sun. The unheralded sacrifice
made for another the devotion
to his country's flag, the little
deeds of kindness, the whispered
word Of symp athy that makes the
neiahbor's cup of happiness over
flow, a helping hand to the world
weary, these are the things which
are worth while and have carv-
ed the names of this years dead
In bold letters upon the tablets
of memory"
The above was the eloquent trib
lite paid by Mrs. H. c.. Hotaling o
Mapleton to the members OF TIT
Mapleton Sterling Old Settlers AS
ISOLATION who had passed away dur
ng the year at the annual reunion o
he association held in the grove OIL
Judd Cornell's farm in, Old Mapleton
The 1921 reunion was ont
of the most successful in the hlstor.
Of the association, and while the at
tendance may not have been so larg'
Is on some of the previous years
yet the program and every featur'
with the affair was as sue
cessful as any reunion ever held
The ranks of the sold settlers are rap
dly thinning out and at each an
nual gathering many familiar face
Are missing-they have passed to tn
Great Beyond-and indeed the reun
Ions of these later years are NOR
largely attended by the younger gen
erations-members of the families o
the sturdy pioneers who came to thi
section in the early days and who il
their younger years formed the as
ISOLATION which has been continue
and now meets from year to yea
ried out to their memory. Very fey
of the pioneers were seen at yester
days reunion, but the missing ones
who were always so regular in at
tendance at the yearly gathering
were there In spirit-and Throughout
the program many beautiful an
eloquent tributes were paid them.
4. Yesterday Flag Day.
A more appropriate date than Jun
l4th-Flag Day-for the holding G
t 1921 reunion, could not have bee
selected, for the patriotic Observance
of the day was in keeping with tn
tributes paid to the members of tn
Sterling Old Settlers AS
those who have passe
away as we'll as the few who wer
able to attend in person and partici
pate in the program as carried on
The lives of these sturdy pioneer
were recalled in words and music
and their noble characters picture
to those of the younger generatio
who largely composed the assembling
and, too, the spot selected for tn
holding of the reunions could not b
improved upon-a most beautiful an
historic location-with every accom-
modation for the complete entertain
ment of the large number who attent
All honor to those in whose hands tn
details of these gatherings are en-
trusted. For genuine hospitality, tn
good people of Mapleton and Sterlin
have won reputation that is nc
surpassed anywhere and seldoI
eQualled, and for which those com
munities may justly feel proud. Tn
details for yesterdays reunion wer
in the hands of several committee!
and nothing was overlooked or lack
ing for the complete entertainer
and enjoyment of the many presen
passed off smoothly, jus
like clock work, and only words
praise were heard from all side!
ly entertained, to those who were |
.l..sc of the affair. All hail to tn
good people of Mapleton and Sterlin
and thoughtful.
The weather in the morning wa
threatening and locke
as though rain was approaching. Thi
kept many from attending the morn
ing session. But the clouds quickl
passed away and the sun show
brightly for the remainder of the da!
About noon, many autoists VIII
were kept at home by the heav
clouds joined the throng at the grove
partook of their picnic dinner an
in the afternoon, pro
gram.
Morning Program
The morning program was delaye
In starting, and il was eleven o'cloc
when President John McGregor, VIII
was master of ceremonies, appeare
on the platform lin the large ten
where the exercises were held, an
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