Wright County, Minnesota - Chapter 34: Old Settlers' Association, 1915

The Old Settlers' Association of Wright County dates from January 7, 1868. At the time of its formation, the oldest permanent settler had lived here less than fourteen years, the state was not quite ten years old, the last soldiers had returned from the war less than three years before, and it was less than five years since the settlers had fled from the Big Woods terrified by the Indian massacre. With the eoming of prosperity and settled peace, and the arrival of so many newcomers, those who had lived through the stirring times of pioneer endeavor felt themselves drawn closer together by the ties of memory, and it was therefore decided to form an association of old setlers who could meet once a year, feast together, renew old friendships, and talk of the days gone past.

On January, 1868, a meeting was held at the residence of W. V. B. Moore, at Monticello. It was decided that membership be confined to residents of the county prior to January 1, 1858, A committee consisting of T. R. Briggs, J. E. Warren and George A. J. Overton was appointed to draw up a constitution and bylaws. Temporary officers were elected as follows: President, D. RK. Farnham; secretary, George A, J. Overton; treasurer, W. V. B. Moore. Each was represented by a vice president as follows: Robert S. Holmes, Albion; Amasa Ackley, Buffalo; B. Ambler, Chatham; Charles Gordon, Corinna; T. C. Porter, Clearwater; Jacob Bingenheimer, Frankfort; J. P. Lyle, Franklin; A. D, Kingsley, Marysville; S. E. Adams, Monticello; <A. McDonald, French Lake; J. L. King, Middleville: Sam. Allen, Mooers Prairie ; W. G. MeCrory, Maple Lake; John MeDonald, Otsego; William Sleight, Rockford; J. 8. Locke, Silver Creek; Edward Brewster, Victor; Ezra Stacy, Woodland.

February 22, 1868, the first regular meeting was held at the Jackson Taylor Hotel, Buffalo, with a large attendance. The constitution and by-laws presented by George A. J, Overton, previously selected as chairman of the committee, were duly accepted. The officers elected were: President, Jaekson Taylor; vice president, William Sleight; secretary, George A, J. Overton; treasurer, J. M. Keeler. Speeehes were made, a pienic lunch was served, and a dance was held. According to the minutes, the whole meeting was a grand and joyful success.

The meeting for 1869 was held at the courthouse at Buffalo, February 22. These officers were chosen: President, S, H. Dean; vice president, G. A. Ruckoldt; secretary, G. A. J. Overton; treasurer, Amasa Ackley. The committee on arrangements consisted of: 8. E. Adams, Monticello; Benjamin Ambler, Chatham; W. W. 'Webster, Clearwater; W. H. Roberts, Rockford; J. M. Keeler, Buffalo; Mrs. Mary L. Hagar, Monticello; Mrs. Sarah E, Irvine, Monticello; Mrs. Henrietta Dean, Rockford; Mrs. Rachel <A. Keeler, Buffalo; Mrs. Mary Ackley, Buffalo.

At the meeting of 1879, a committee consisting of D. R. Farnham, J. N. Stacy and S. A. Putnam was appointed to compile the records of the association, to make a record of the names of all the old settlers, and to present at the next meeting suggestions which would lead to the preparation of a history of the first settlement of the county,

This committee proposed that a society be formed to be known as the Wright County Historical Society, This society was to publish a complete and well bound history of the county, and to gather for future preservation all the documents, books, letters and that like that could be gathered regarding the early days of the county. People not members of the Old Settlers' Association were eligible to membership, but were te pay more than the mem- bers of the Old Settlers' Association, The history was to be compiled from reeords, documents and statements of the early settlers by the secretary, Agents were to be appointed to take subscriptions in each township, the agents to receive a percentage. Subseribers not members of the Historical Society were to pay for the work on delivery. Members of the society were to be special subseribers, and were to obtain the work at a lower price, but were to pay in advance. The special subscribers were each to be entitled to one copy of the history, and were also entitled to have one page printed in the history, giving their family record, history or biography as they might wish.

When the committee reported at a meeting of the Old Settlers' Association, it was decided to postpone the matter indefinitely. In the meantime, I. Gutzwiller, Jr., had published in his Delano ''Ragle,'' 192 pages of an excellent History of Wright County, by D. R. Farnham, and a History of the Upper Mississippi Valley had been published, containing a history of this county.

It was in 1880 that the constitution of the Old Settlers' Association was amended to extend the membership privilege to all who had resided in the county prior to the year 1860.

In 1906 a committee consisting of J. H. Wendell, George W. Florida and Will McDonald was appointed to consider the matter of erecting a monument in memory of the Wright county victims of the Indian Massacre,

The meetings of the Association haye been held at Buffalo with the following exceptions: 1867, Monticello; 1874, Monticello; 1875, Clearwater; 1877, Delano; 1878, Rockford, The first meeting was held January 7. Then all the meetings were held February 22, until 1882. In 1882 and 1883 the meetings were held June 17, but were poorly attended, so that in 1884 the former date, February 22, was resumed. This continued until 1893. Since then the meetings have been held on June 17, with the exception of the 1901 meeting, which was held June 25, in order that Governor Samuel R. Van Sant might. be present.

The first president of the association was D. R. Farnham, who served from January 7 to February 22, 1868. Then Jackson Taylor and S, H. Dean each served a year. William Sleight took office February 22, 1869, and served until his death, December 7, 1884. His successor, J. N. Stacy, served from February 22, 1885, to February 22, 1892. Then George W, Florida served until June 7, 1898. He was followed by Henry Krier, who served a year. On June 17, 1899, Mr. Florida was again elected and served two years. June 25, 1901, D. R. Farnham, the first president, was again elected and served two years. J. D. Young served from June 17, 1903, to June 17, 1907. Since then the presidents have been: 1907, J. H. Wendell; 1908, R. G. Wedgewood; 1909-1910, C. E. Oakley; 1911, Charles 8. Hawker; 1912-1913, J. T. Alley; 1914, William Green.

The first secretary, G. A. J. Overton, served from January 7, 1867, to February 22, 1870. Then D. R. Farnham served until June 25, 1901, with the exception of the period from February 22, 1877, to February 22, 1879, when I. Gutzwiller, Jr., served. George W. Florida has been secretary sinee June 25, 1901.

D. R. Farnham is authority for the statement that Benjamin Ambler, of Chatfield, was president and I. Gutzwiller secretary in 1879, He states that James Sturges was treasurer for the term beginning in February, 1881. He also declared that the vicepresidents for 1881 were as follows: Charles Judson, Albion;

James Sturges, Buffalo; Benjamin Ambler, Chatham; T. C. Porter, Clearwater; A, P. Mooers, Cokato; 8. A. Gordon, Corinna; I. Gutzwiller, Frankfort; J. P. Lyle, Franklyn; S. B. Hutchins, French Lake; Charles McCarthy, Maple Lake; T. S. Gunn, Marysville; A. E. Cochran, Middleville; A. C. Riggs, Monticello; John McDonald, Otsego; J. M. Powers, Rockford; J. N. Locke, Silver Creek ; Andrew Barron, Southside; Carl Carlson, Stockholm; A, D Pinkerton, Victor; Cramer Swartout, Woodland. The officers year by year as given earlier in this article are taken from the records, and are doubtless correct.