The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-09-07
NUMBER II

: home almost exclusively. He and John
: Nagle knew no other language but
English. Yet this German girl, bv
natural brightness of mind and close
application, won the prize for pro-
tciency in a language foreign to her
and native to them. He thought it a
commentary on the character of the
early settlers of Meeme as well as on
the quality of the towns schools.
Chairman Schneider next introduced
W. II, Bennett a prominent Milwau-
kee attorney native Of Meeme, who
delivered the principal address of the
day. Mr.. Benefits address follows:
To be one of the "old Meeme bows"
invited back home to take part in these
dedication exercises is compliment
and honor that | keenly and deeply ap-
preciatei and | wish at the outset of
what have to say to you on this occa-
sion to thank you most heartily for
this honor and the great pleasure it
affords
The work of the prime movers in
this enterprise and of all who CON
tributed and assisted to make the erec-
tlon and dedication of this liberty pole
a success is most highly to be com
mended and should and does afford
great pride and satisfaction to all in
terested This good work is at once
suitable memorial to our forefathers
and a fitting testimonial of your devo-
tion to liberty, justice and democracy.
Speaking of memorials to the brave
men and women, our revered ancest-
ors, who first inhabited and settled this
land, we see them on every hand. They
are not confined to grave yards where
are monuments and gravestones bear
ing names and inscriptions that inter
est and inspire us. They are seen in
buildings and other improvements, such
as railroads, public highways, in fact,
in all Improvements of a public and
| private nature. Their memorials are
plainly seen in the improved and we'll
| ordered farms and farm buildings that
| everywhere surround us here, and bear
eloquent tribute to the thrift and en-
terprise past and present, of the good
people of the town of Meeme, and of
Manitowoc and surrounding counties.
| Wherever | travel through the country
and see the stonewall fences, especially,
| am very forcibly reminded of the
men, women and children now gone to
their final reward, who in former years
toiled in the fields with the hot sun
beating down upon their bent bodies,
digging out and removing the stones
and StumpS SO that in their stead there
might grow grass and grain, and that
eventually the land might be titled and
the crops planted and harvested by
! time ana labOr-saving machinery A
very few of those early pioneers yet re-
main to enjoy the fruits of their toll
and thrift They are, mauy of them,
now almost alone in the I'D and
must feel quite lonesome. The com
panionS Of their brighter and better
days are gone to return no more, and
these aged survivors of the early days
are like the last leaves on the trees in
autumn.
"lhe mOssy marbles rest
On the lips that he has prest,
In their bloom;
And the names he loved to hear
Have been carved for many year
On the Tomb"
We mean to honor them as well as
to honor those we know only in mem
ory, legend or story. This liberty pole
is intended to be and is a suitable
memorial to all who have Travelled on
these roads, to the living and the dead;
to all who painstakingly and earnestly
toied and struggled to develop and
build up this country and make it what
it is today The results of their strug-
giles and sacrifices remain with us in
a substantial way and are everywhere
evident, but the names, faces and lives
of these sturdy sons and daughters of
toll are all too soon forgotten No one
else here today is in this respect so for
tunale as our dearly loved and much
respected Judge Kirwan. His name
and principal life work, a long and
honorable record of service as circuit
judge, is perpetuated in the court rec
ords for the enlightenment and guild
ancc of many future generations.
This liberty pole will coatinue
wonderful and needed service to all
who pass by and see II, If it will re
mind them of the virtues and labors
of those who have made this country
what il is like to think that that
was one Of the prime objects in view
Of those who planned and carried to
completion what we so gladly behold
here. Finally, II is not enough that We
be frequently reminded of the ideals
and achievements of our forefathers.
We should take them to heart and
strive daily to emulate and live up to
them. If we do this all over this land
we cannot go far wrong and the future
of our beloved country will be secure.
We have good reason TO and do feel
Drou1 nf pur hprftapp proud that we