Dakota County, Nebraska - Chapter 18, 1893

Chapter 18

From time to time there was talk of organizing aii old' settlers assoeiation, but no action was taken in tiie matter until 1882, when the following call for a meeting appeared in the county newspapers:

First Call

Dakota City, Xeb., August, 1882. At the suggestion of several of the pioneers settlers of Dakota county theie will be a meeting at Homer on Saturday the 26th of the present month at 2 o'clock p. m. to effect an organization for this county and appoint a time and place for our first regular meeting. We will be glad if all those interesred in this organization will make it convenient to meet with

First Meeting

It was agreed to hold the Jirst annual reunion on Saturday the ~;ird day of Steptember at Baird's grove. A committee of the following named gentlemen were iippointed to draft a constitution and by-laws Tor the a-soci;itinn to report at the annual meeting: Joseph Jlolhiian, -T. F. Warner, Danniel Duggan, Joseph l?rannan and E. B. Wilhur.

A committee of arrangements was then appointed to make all needful preparations for the reunion as follows: From Omadi precinct - J. W. Davis. Thos. A^hford. Wm. Xi.Nou; Dakota -J. O. Fisher, John Joyce, K. W. Frazer; Covington - Wm. Frazier. James McKenna. P AEonahan; Jackson - Gerald Dillon, P. O'Neill, P. Barry; Summit - Michael Mc- Kivergan, P. Twohig, John Dennison; Pigeon Creek - Tim Carrahine, Wm. Minter, Wm. Farrel; Hub iiard - John Howard, John Hartiiett, James Lehey.

It wa^ aii;reed that all who came into the county prior to December 31st, 1860, shall be denominated as pioneers and all who came after that date and prior to Dt'.cember 3 1st, 1868 be denominated as old settlers. The committee of arrangements is requested to meet at the Court House in Dakota City on Saturday, September. l)th 1882, at 1 p. m. for theptirpose of making the necessary arrangements for the reunion.

The committee of arranjreinents appointed by the Homer meeting, met at the Court House in Dakota (yity. at 1 p. m. Saturday. September 9th, 1882, pursuant to notice. Gerald Dillon was elected chairman, by re(juest John T. Spencer acted as secretary.

Col. I]. Baird was selected to act as iiiarslml. and Tim ( )'('oiiiior, James Twohig, Henry O'Neil and E. I^>. Wilbur assistant marshals. L. M. Warner. Dnt Lane. Daniel ()'Connor and Tom McMalum were appointed a committee on grounds, music, dancing, etc.

Every )nan, woman and child in the county is especially invited to be present and bring along baskets of provisions for self and visiting friends. The committee hopes there will be a very large gatheriiig at this, the first reunion of the old settlers of Dakota county. The place selected is Col. I^aird's grove The exei'cises are to commence promptly at 10 o'clock. Geram) Dillon, of Jackson, Clniirman. John T. Spencer, of Dakota Citv, See. pi-o tern.

First Annual Reunion

Saturday, September 23rd, 1882, was the time and Baird's grove the place - in the southwestern part (d" the county, for holding the first annn;d ivunion of tlie pioneers and old settU'r.s (>r<;aniz.a. ion of Dakota county. Fi'om early morn until nearly noon tlie roads I'loni all directions U-ading to rlie litautil'ul grove was thi-onged with teams. |n;iil(Ml down with happy people going for a day's eIljo^ iiieiit, until good judj^es esti-

At the request of the committee of arrangements I have the ])ri\ilege of extending a cordial and sincere weirome to all present today, for I can assure yon the latch string ever hangs out to all old settlers and fi'iends. A How me to congratulate ^ on on this tii'st coming together in I. )ak'ota county, and 1 pi'cdict the arrangpinents made hei'e today for our annmd coming together will he the source of many pleasant )-ecollectioiis in the future.

Moi-e than a quarter of a century has passed away since I first met many of you whom I see before me today. Others of those have been gathered to their home, while many have left here for otiier localities. Twenty-tivfc! years ago 1 remembered it was no comfortable task to pitch Your tent and build your cabin west of the Miss(mri river, and it is said that on this ground where we have met was ei-ected the first log cabin in this county, and for this reason this place was selected fur our reunion today. The recollections of life in the early times of loy- cabin, puncheon floor, the sour tioui- -AWi] Corn l)read, the dangers and privations underiioiie bind the old settlers together in a bond of frifud.-hip tiiat c;innot l>t" understood by any people (iifferenriv >itn;i;Ml. While we may congratulate ourstL'ivt'.-> on t lie ini proved conditions of Dakota 'iouiity from pioiicer o:i\,- yet we may be certain that the iVifinMiip ai!(l brotliei'ly love of the first settlei-s has not heeii improved upon or excelled in the cnnnty sijice ir,- si'tlUMiient by the wliite inHii. i)nt this can only he appi-fciateil l)y those who lived here in ;in eai'ly day. The tiehls of waving siuall i^rain, atid rustling corn have taken the phice of the wild prairie grass; the lug ca!>in has l)een replaced l)y a coinforlal.)le residence, ami I might say the canoe hy the steamboat; churches ;;nd school houses dot the prairies, luibi'okeii then, hy the teepee, the Indian, while the whistle of the iron hoi'se was not heard west of the Mississippi. The old settlei's ui'ider Divine Providence were tlie advance gr.ards of ci\ ilization in opening np this country and performed their work fearlessly and well. I believe it was once said hy Mark Twain that if the settlers were hi g" to lieaven and find they could go no further west. ti;ey would not want to remain. There is gi'eat profit in these meetings. The old settlers meet and talk over the scenes of olden times and ]-enew the friendship of their youth, detailing to one another the many liardshii)s and privations they endured, which must and will he very intei'esting. In conclusion let me again .-ay that in hehalf of the committee I again e.\tend to you a cordial welcome."

Col. J . F. Warner was then introduced. lie s])i)ke at length on the early settlement of tiie county, the rapid progress u)ade by the pioneers; the constant increase in population, wealth and prosperity; the iK^dthy climate and many other interesting points which was I'eceived with great applause. As soon as the CoU)nel had Hnished his bidlliant remarks a recess vvas taken for dinner. The heavy laden baskets were soon emptied, and spread indifferent parts of the gro\e where, the hungry ones were supplied.

After dinner the younger generations indulged in (lancing, swinging, etc., while tiie oldei' ones were seen ai'ound in groups talking over the scenes of ear!y times with all its trials and privations, and pleasant memu- I'ies.

At 2 o'clock p. 111. tiie meeting was ac^ain called to order, to elect otHcers, effect a pe;MTianent organization and to adopt a constitution and bydaws arid receive members. The following- was adopted:

Article Ii

Sec. I. The object of this association shall l)e to ])romote friendly intercourse among its members, keep a record of events occurring in the early history of Dakota county, and to preserve for our children and those who foUow us, the memories, incident to tlie settlement of our prosperous state.

ARTICLE in. Sec. I. All persons who settled in this county prior to tlie 31st day of December, 18(K), ai-e entitled to admission as "pioneers.'"

Sec. III. Any pei-son of the classes named in the two preceding sections, who desire and shall pay into the treasury fifty cents, and shall sign this constitution, shall be members of this associatitu:.

Sec. V^. In all aimual reunions and business transactions the classes named in sections one and two of this article third, are blended in this association.

Article Iv

Sec. II. The officers named in the preceding section shall be elected at each annual meeting of the association and shall hold their respective offices until their respective successors are chosen and installed in office.

Sec. III. It shall be the duty ol the president to preside at all meetiiii^s of the association and when re- (|uested by live members in each precinct of the county to call special meetings of the association during his term of office.

Sec. IV. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep accurate minutes of all business transactions, conduct all correspondence, receive all monies due the society, and which may come to it, and piy the same over to the treasurer, taking his receipt therefor, draw all orders on the treasurer fur disi)ursements, and to keep a careful record of all deaths or removals of members during the year and report the same to tlie next annual meeting of the society.

Sec. V. It shall be the duty ot the treasurer to safely keep all monies and property of the association, to disburse the same upon on the order of the secretai-y countersigned by the president and to turn over to his successor, all books, accounts, monies and property of the assuciation remaining in his hands at the expiration of his tern) of office.

Article

Sec- I. There siiall l)e an annual meeting of the society at such a time as may l)e agi'eod upon by the association at their annual meeting and such special

Tlie associativ)ii may adopt sucli by-laws v-r l-ule'^ not inconsistent with this coiistitntion as a majority of the menibers present at a i-egnhir meeting may agree upon.

Article Vii

See. 1. This eouttitntion n.-ay be amended at an\ rntruhir meeting of the society by giving three nujiith.-- notic i>f tlie pio])osed amendments to the secretary. \viu> shall cause the same to oe published in some newspaper in the county, at least four conseeu ti'sc weeks, and such notice to be complete thirty days prior to the annual meeting of the associati<)n.

The organization was perfected by electino the following officers for the ensuing year: President, (leorge T. VV^oods; Vice President, Daniel Diiggan: Secretary, i\ . li. leaker; Ass'stant Secretary, Chas. II. Potter; Treasni'ei-. Thos. Asliford.

A large nundiei' of the pioneers and old seftler> became mem hers <»f the association, and when they departed for theii* homes were well please-i with theii' day's enjoyment at this their iirst Hnnual reunion.

--That the con.--tirut ion be so aineiided as to admit all per.-ons whd .-hall have li\td in the eminly for tifteiMi years, at the' time ..f tln'ir enrollment as iiiem- (d''rhis s(.ciety.

'-Tliat the society appoint u historian whose duty it shall he to write a short biography of the old setrlei.- in a book, to be purchased for that purpose, and l]\v L'oiupeusation to be ^25. 00 per annum." Adopted,

Third Annual Reunion Fourth A.Wnual Reunion

The tbiirtli reunion was held in Hileman's o['ove. two miles north of Homer, August 22, 1885, William Xiff/jcrer acting as chaplain. The pi-esident, Col. J. F. Warner delivered the annual address of welcome, which was followed by toasts and responses: "JS'e- ;>ia>ka,*' hy Andrew Bevins of Omaha, Nebraska; --The Old Settlers," Gen. Joseph HoUman; "The New Settlers/' Mell C. Jay, -Dakota County," D. C. Dibb!e; "Our Schools.'" Siipt. A. Matthews; '-Early Times," VViliiani Huliswortli; '-'riie Old Settleresses and the New SHttleresses."' (-ol. ]]. Bates. The ofiicers of the association were all I'e-elected.

No poor words of mine can convey or give utterance to the feelings of niy heart and express the welcome I a-n called upon to fxtend to one and all hei'e to (hiy. In the welcome hei'c your President can only in an imperfect manner [)ertor!n his part. Tlje work of niakino' this a most, a(rrt'ed»;e and pleasant reunion, to be a complete sccees.-, must be d-uie !>y each and evcrv «>!ie. To this end let us lay aside all stiff" formality and cold reserve and greet each other and all who :v:c wiili us as we did in the early days when vivited in lude rabins and '-dug outs.'' Let us try for a <1 ly to live the past o\er ai'-ain, and our gatiiciMMg will then be a perfect success. With a ijjJl lieai-r I o-i-;.("r yoii and extend a most cordial wej-

We do not claim snperioi" merit for the old settler.-- nvei- tlie, new, but from natni-;d causes and coiMlitioiib t liey uiu» cut loose from old homes of the oidei communities - who leave the graves of their ancestors and the homes oi* their f;ithers to bring the savage wilds of a iie\v Country under the hand of man and present as an :iC(juisition to civilization must necessarily l)e brave and ('oura^ei.us. They must he intelliii'ent and self i-eliant. Tliev mnst have outgrown the gregariousness of theiihai'baric ancestors and arrived at the full measui'e of J'ldepiMident manhood. Not that they ]ia\'c outgrown tliL' tine social character of oui- race, hut on the conti-ary they become niore cosmopolitan and regard all men as brothei's. The pioneeis in all countries are I lie ujost hospitable a-nd generous class of men. ever ready to welcome the strangei" to the humble home and to divide the meager rations with him.

That our lot has beeji cast i?i such a goodly laiu! we should be truly thaid<ful. WIkmi our eyes lirst heiicld this counti-y with rank liTowth of vegetation and herbage, nothino short of nronhetic vision could luivi;

rlie Dakota coiiutv (if to-diiy with its wealth of cro])s and especially the wilderness of growing com which is not excelled by any comity in the state or United States. I ha\e never been so fully impressed with this thought as during an extended joiirneY to the t'a>t of u> this se:is(tn. throuo-h the states of Iowa, Uli- !ioi.~. Miehioan. New York, all the New England states, [-"ennsylxania, ]\ew Jei'sey and Maryland, also a long run throuoh Canada. I assure you that on my return 1 fo'iinl more corn in ludk to the acre in our county tiian (HI anv two acres 1 saw in ail niv ramble. l>ii .-iiies I found tliat tlie people in far east are behind us. In neai'ly every instance east of Michigan they were iMit! ing tlieii" hay with the old scythe and the wheat with the cradle. This may !)e becar.se a machine could Mi>r pass between the rocks and their neighbor -'vouldn't Jet tlieni iiavu room to tui'u around; their fields ai'e too small to null in -L'i'ey are aliead ot us in one thing 4)nly and that 1 obsei"\ed; their harvest begins earliei' than ours. In tact, the first woi'k when the snow is with them is to gathei- the annual crop of rocks. I'he yield is the only heavy ci'op tliey harvest. 'J'hey ^)uild fences with them until their little fields are about co\eied with fences, and then build jnveiiile mountains ami still their lan<l is covered with r(»cks. In many places tliey import the dirt by cars to br.ru brick. Out there is u rompen.-atioii in all things, no i(;ss withuut some gain. Tliey have I'eady made monumriiis enough to hu-t until the last S(»n of Adam is laid nwny. wliiL-h Could not be done too soon for me if I had to scratch among tho>e rocks and roll them ;iroiind for -I scanty cro[). J think I >hoiild want to m(i iiit(» ca up beside the Hist bio- bo'ulder. A man must either be buried in s(mie iirtle creek llat where the waters would .How- over his orive or wait the pi'ocess of interment M-hiif ids lrie;ids bhist out a loinb iu the rocks of the Jdo-her land, oi- rather rocd<s. [or all abo\-e high water jjjyi-k is rock. 'J'lie L(.u(.l lias been kind [o the peojiif;'

111 !')!(' tiiiiif.', their i& no luini and all tlieii- r^acU arc iicadaiiiiziMl for rliein l)y tlie Great Creator. This is an iiiijji'oveinent on onr mud roads, hut I rather like the materials tVoiri wliicli mud is made, provided always that it is uot too thin.

Tiie first yeaj-s of Dakota county were cast on a sr<trniY fHid tempestuous sea. In 1S57 and '5S the i^reat crisis completely paralized our infant s-ettleuient. Scarcely had we commenced to I'ally when the war chjud, which had been gathering for years. bnr.^t with all its fury upon tiie nation. Nehrask.n cut no small ligr.re in the great contest. In fact, tlie very enuhliiig act which gave political existence to our ten-it(U'y rekindled tie tii'es which Inid been smouldei'- ing since 1820, - revived the old animosities and completed the estrapgenieut of sections nntil brother wa^ ready to meet brother in deadly coutiict. Wliile Nebi'aska was the innocent cause of the trouble her |) irt in the great contest was necessai'ily limited, yet the territory of jN'ebi'aska did her little part noldy. In proportion to members she g.ive of her sous as frt-ely ;is the states. Some ol Dakota county's bloud miugied witli that of the nation which flowed so freely in a holy cau^-e. Some of her smis sleep beneath the sonthern shades.

The hiviouac of the dead.' During the great contest the wheels of progress in lui- section were turned backward. A threatened h\- dinn war almost de])oj)nlated the conntv. I'or a time it looked as if ihis fair land \\(Uild again be the iieritiiue of. the Indian and the buif ilo. l>iit when tiie white winged d(.>ve of peace once nunc brooded over our ;d'- llicted country ami war's desolation ee;ised, a new era dawned upon our county. As with the nation at laigiout of death s|)rnu.o- new life. The oreat energu'-- which tlic wai- developed were turned to tlie paths of peace until today tlie nation stands a century aiiead where only two decades ai'e passed. In this genera! progress we liave also shared liberally.

But I must not longer trespass upon the ground of other speakers in an address of welcome. I fear I have already stolen some of our orator's thunder.

Another year is past and we see many of the familiar faces of 20 to 25 years ago. Time has dealt kindly with our pioneers Many have survived the (juarter of a century since first we met in Dakota county. k5ome have removed to other lands; others have gone to their long homes. They sleep beneath the soil of their chosen county. Since our last meetiivg some have gone to the silent land; but still a larger number live and remain with us. Let us rejoice that so m.ttiy are v.itli us to-day. Aii;ain I welcome you. one and all. and expi'ess the hope tliat we may enjoy many more of these annual meetinos.-'

Wl;en the tiivt white nnui placed foot within tlu' con lines of wliai is now known as Dakota county, or to whom belongs that honor is yet unknown. It is proliab'e though that some wandering Arab of the prairie - ibe restless Indian trattei- - first overlooked the broad ]\ris,-(.\iri liotfom, saw tlie j)eaks of the adjacent hills overlnpping one another in sytunietricai l)eauty and oj'zed down upon theeN[)anse of ri ^-er. sparkling in riie sunlight like a silver ihr-nid, meandering in endless con''u--'on to the sea. V/l at must have bten tiic tloHohts and feelii gs incident to a scene like tlnit; And if he were l;ere to(\'iy what a change must iia\i: come o\er the spirit of his di'cam.

Where not fifty years ago, you now sit circled with all that exalts and embeilislies civilized lil'e, r!ic raidv thistle nodded in the wind, today the thistle still nods and is considered by experience to be raid-;, xury indeed. Then the wild coyote dng his hole iinseared. today he is dug out of his hole by a medley of men and hounds, who are all in a hurry to be in at the death and give chase until he gains another hole, also unscared. Then lived and loved another race of beingbays Sprague; beneath the same sun that rolls over your heads the Indian pursues the pantiiio- (leer - today the panting hunter pursues the deei'; gazing on the same moon that smiles on you the Indian lover wooed his dusky mate; the pale face still wooes, l»iit today the smile of the maid has more charms than the smile of the moon. Change tomdies the dimpled cheek of the infant and he becomes the bearded man; he ti'aces wrinkles upon the brow ot the aged and iiitei-sperses silver threads among the iiolden tresses. lie places his hand upon the cradle and it btcomes a t'othn. Nations rise cast abroad the luster of th-.-ii names; change says '4^resto'' and they fall.

'Turn, turn my wheel all tilings must cliauge. 'I'o something uew to soruetliing strange, Nothing that is can pause and stay, moon will wax, the moon will wane. The mist and clouds will tuiu to rain, Ihe rain to mist and cloud again, To-morrow le to clay.'

This law of mutation which is jiere, there ami" everywhere, a part of nature's pUiii^ yields willing obedience to man, hiiuself a servant and creatiife of change. It can be for better or for worse, areording as he wills it by his energy oi- his sloth. lietter that a child should never be born tiian that he .-hould join. the army of sluggaixls. Better that a legion shonhl^ i-emain in its pristine wilderness, its native grandner than that it sluiiild be iilolently or carelessiy redeemed.

1S55, dulv christened Dakota after the Dakota Indians, and sent forth to battle with the world to gain riclies. fame, glory, success and perforce happiness; and now that the thirtieth milestone has been reached, m)w that thirty harvests have been reaped, garnered and dii^tribnted. it is pre-eminently a pn>per time to ]-ake ovev the embers of the fire and listen to the cricket on the hearth, and it does not require an acute ear to hear this philosopher say that progress has been steady and great. To an inhabitant of the slow, conservative eastern coast it would seem incredible to hear related tliat in a growth of thirty years within an aiea of lii(),(JOO acres, and without any lai'ge town a county in the west luid attained a population of 4,005, it would cause his 'diair to stand on end and his voice to stick in his throat" when he realized that without a sign to mark the pi'esence of man 35 years ago. There are now 225 S(piare miles in Dakota county, d jtted thickly willi neat, commodious and elegant dwelling houses, the native bareness relieved by 700 acres of homemade forests, traversed its entire length by the iron horse, .and supplied with busy thri vino-. energetic towns. What old settler is there here today who would liave been bold enough to prophesy thar in i8b5 there would l>e in cultivation and raising wheat 10,000 acies, corn 15,- <IO(l acres, oats, bai'ley and potatoes 3,000 acres ^ Tell me old settlers, if in your wildest di'eams id* Utopian plenty, did you dare to think that in thirty years, scarce tiiirry years, there would bj U.O'IO hoi's^s. t2,0l)0 cattle, ii).'00U hitgs and [)i-op M'ty to the taxable value of 8S()0.01)1):: Ir there wa^ or U such a, man let him seep forward. f<u" he is a proplu't greaic^r than Kli.-li i. lie was an optimist, he had undmited conlidence ;iu;l he has seen it vertiiied.

for the most part cnine here poor men and whatever competence they may have attained has not been the result ol big interest on big investments but a moderate income due to good judgment and hard work. The student of political economy sees mucli cause lor congratulation in a, condition like this, all things are on a tirni equitable basis; where all men are comfortably well off there may be fluctuations but never distress, there may be hard times but the people of '-JJakoia county" will live and make money. The spirit of change njeans here the spirit of progress. Note the improved machinery, tlie better grade of cattle, the introduction of tauie grass, and the raising of the standard of the farm in every particular; and yet they have not gone too fast. There ai'e very few mortgages hanging like an angry thunder 'dou'd over the farms and it is to be prayed there may never be more. Finally allow me to ask what l>etter lot could fall to man than to be a farmer in the county of the Dakota. The turtle dove cooes of peace and good will in the foi'est which his hand has made in the pasture, his cattle chew the cud of contentment, the tassels waving in the breeze and the golden grain produced by a soil which was never known to fail, tell him of a good living and a little more. This is the picture and it represents work of thehands and work (»f the brain luxury and liberty culture and contentn)ent.

Any person who owns a farm in Dakota county and has it paid for is fixed as '-snug as a bug in a rug" and if he is nor fairly satisHed it is a foregone conclusion that he couidn'c i)e; that if he rolled in the wealth of Croesus he would oI)ject to the color of that if he sipped of nectar wiUi the Gods he would find fault with its flavor, but foi-tunately tiiei-e are few of such people in this comiiiuniry. If they occasii)n;illy see the opposite side of the picture I have portrayed, if the cows throw away the cud of contentment and get into the corn they (piietly di'ive them out and flx the fence.

If once in a life time a gentle zepliyi' rudely nproots a IVw of the trees and hastily overturns a few windmills or.r people on the morrow plant some more trees and erect better mills, (there are also caves promptly dug. I'ut that is irrelevant to the question.) If occasionally it is too wet for wheat or too dry for the corn oui- people do not don the brow of despondency and look as if ihey had seen their last friend and had a iij^htwitii him but the chances are they will be planning for iiextyears" ciop and pointing with pride to the fact this is the very iir.*t reverse in the last ten or fifteen years. And by the way don't be ashtimed of that word "Pkide," fondle it, cai-ess it and don't lose it. Have a proper pride in the county which has made you and" which you have lielped to make. We love qur government, our state and let us extend the same spirit to the community in which we live. Let us- try to make our part of the United States of America as progressive, as beautiful and as moral as we can. It is a part of us, "bone of our bone and Hesh." If we adorn our homes let us do it with the thought that we are adorning our county, onr state and our Union. As a single ray of ligl)t pa&ses throngh the prism and becomes the seven colors of the rain-bow, so will a strong pride in our county foster s^icial relations, coml)at selfishness, instill patriotism and till the soul witii noble and happy thoiiojits.

Dakota connty in tlu^ past has been progressive, Dakota county in tiie present is on a iirm foundation witli the outlook good; what will Dakota county be in the future^ Old settlei-s, your heritage to youichildi-en is great and wortliy of your vnior. Settlers of today, it is a pertinent question to yon. what shall your heritage he( Again thei'e v>-ill be a change; it can not he avoided, it mu>t I»o made subservient.

And Ihitter and fly away. Tliei^eloi-e it iiiav rea;=onably be expected that '>y The time Uiirty s-eat-ons shall have come and Joined those that have ^oiie on before, that many of those who are j)ioneers and (dd settlers now Avill he Jiesv settler.- ill the land which is JDeyond the rising snn. and that the yoiino- nien of the present will be old settlei's then. It may reasoua!>ly be expected, even amid the vicissitudes of hiinuui fortune, that Dakota county will coiitinne to prosper and increase in wisdom and plenty. It is expected of you yonno; men and women, into whose hands this tsaist will soon be given, that you will advance the county in intelligence, morality aiul wealth. It is expected of you that you will keep step with the march of pro;;'ress, i:hat you will -

-Be bold, be bold and everywdiere be bold- -Better the excess. Than the defect, better the more than less, Better like Hector in the held to die. Than like a perfumed I'aris, turn and fly."

Fifth Annual Ulunion Pionekks And Old Settlers Association

City. Lowa. The following officers were chosen for the eusuiiii; year; Col. Plarlaa Baird, President; Leonard Bates, Vise President; Thomas Ashford, Treasurer; D. r. Dibble, Secretary; Tim Carrabine, Corresponding Secretary. Memorial committee: William Holsworth. (rerald Dillon and Curtis B. .Bliven.

Sam A. Combs offered a resolution that the society >e!ect a historian whose duty it shall be to write biooraphical sketches of the members, The resolution was adopted and M. M. Warner chosen historian for the association.

Sixth Annual Reunion

Once more the association met in its sevenrli animal reunion at Hileman's grove, on Satnr<]a'v. September 1, 1S88, David Boals acting as cluiplain. The president, Dr G. W.Wilkinson delivered the address of welcome. Speeches appropriate for the occa^ion were then made by Leonard Bates, J. C. (\ lloskins of Sioux City, Iowa, Jesse Wigle, N. S. Porter nf Ponca, Col. C. D. Martin, Col. Jesse F. Warner. S. A. Combs and Dennis Ai-monr. The following officers were elected for the ensuino; year: Leonard Bates, president; D. C. Dibble, vice president; ]\L M. Warnei', secretary .and Justorian; Atlee Hart, cor- I'csponding secretary ; Thomas Ashford, ti'easnrer.

Eighth. Annual Reunion'

The eighth annual reunion wns held on the gi'ound of the Homer Driving Park associatioiu neai- Homer, on Saturday, August 17, 1881). Ptev. I'eanlsheai', of Ponca, acted as chaplain. The ])fesi(lent. Leonard jjates, delivered the address of welcome. The orution of the day wss delivered by Gov. John Rl. Tha\er. The memorial conimittfe had recorded tjie death of the following during the year: Daniel McETitarffer, Ellen T. Jones. -lohn Williams, Jclia L.. Mai'y L. and Daniel C. O'Connor. Anna A. Latnp-on, Elma J. Taylor, Ellen G. Gribble, Martha Taylor ai;d Jtjseph Smitlu Officers foi- the ensuing year were elected as follows: Dennis Armour, president; Joseph Br;inn;in. vice picsident: M. M. Warner, secretary and historian; S. A. Combs, L. M. Warner and Dr. G. W. Wilkinson, memorial committee.

Ninth Annual Reunion

Aoraiii the association met on the gTouiids of the llomer Driving Park association, in tlieii" nintli annual reunion, on Saturday, Septeinl)er 6. 1890. President Dennis Armour delivered the annual address of welcome as follows: --Friends and Neighboks: -

Moses has it in the program that I am to deliver the openincp address. I don't mean Moses, the law o'iver and liistorian of Israel, but Moses, the historian and secretary of the Pioneers and i)]d Settler's associatiun of Dakota county, Nebraska - the man that is doing the n'ost work to preserve from oblivion the luemory of the early settlers of Dakota county. Moses, the son of Col. J. F. Warner, our departed friend and associate and one of the most eloquent men of the northwest. He has crossed the dark river and is on the bright shore where sorrow comes not and tears never flow; but we miss his genial presence and the warm pressure of his hand.

It is part of our lot to mourn departed friends. Onr bodies are but earth and it is according to the laws of natiiie that all bodies composed of matter should have a period of life and end in dissolution. Sience teaches us that not for eternity is written on the stars of heaven that light with beauty the midnight sky. Hilt the soul, the spirit, is not composed of matter, is not subject to the same law and it has bct'ti believed every since the first dawn of intelligence among human beings that this life is out the moi'ning of an eteriud existence; that tlie soul will be ever growing. (>ver iiicreas'ng in happiness within itself.ever more ca|);ilile of imparting happiness to others. It is to be hoj)ed tliat we will all niake a good use of our life so as to secure hapf)iness.

Welcome, pioneers! Weleonie, old settlers I Welcome, new settlers! to our reunion. To those who have removed from our county we say. Welcome! May your hearts be gladdened by meeting the friends of your early years and your eyes view with joy the wonderful prosperity and beauty of your old home, Dakota county.

Tu onr friends from fSioux City we say, Welcome! We are glad to meet you here. You are our friends. We feel and know that the prosperity, that the beautiful homes we possess, are largely dne to onr living near a good market town. Your enterprise, your public spirit has been of great benetit to Dakota county. Tnat muddy stream that liows between does not divide (uir interests nor our sympathies. Sioux City is the commercial metropolis of Northern Nebraska.

The memorial committee made their I'cport showing the deaths of thii'ty-live people within one year, anmng whom wei'e: Stephen Siniuitt, KdWiii Briindi, Mrs. Emma F. Whitehorn, John rwoiii^r, Aii's. J. O. Fisher, liotleib lierger, Airs. N . D. Crippm. Alfred Vigo Clauson, Estelle Victoria Hunt. Sumn. r NViii trier. Thomas Cnrren, Col. Jesse F. \Varnt'r. John Shelock. Frank O'Connor, Jacob Sides, John Smitli, Sr., Eimei McQuilkin, Mrs. Mafgaret Endei\-by, Aii-s, iviary Mcintosh and Rebecca Jane I>aird. Speeches weie made by William R, Sndth, J.C.C. Lloskins, John LL Chai'les. E. C. Palmer, Mr. Kirk and A. (Tro.iiinger, all ot Sioax City, L)vva. Remarks were also made by W' iliiam Uoh worth, Gen. Joseph IlcUmaii. J. J. .McAllister, Meil C. Jay and J. J. McCarthy. OtHeers tor the ensuing year were cho.-en as follow.--: Josejiii Ibannan, Fi'csuietir; Thomas J. King, Vice Presidenr; M. M. W^rn r, Secretary and llistoi-ian; Atlee llait, (\ii; (-.-pondin::- Seeretary: Thomas Ashfoi-d, Sr.. Tre;i!-ni-er: S m ..('onil)-. John T. Spencer and C. 15. i>liven, Menmi'ial (Jommittee.

Tenth Annual Reunon

The tenth aiiiinal ixMinioii was held in C'liiiton Park, adjoining- Dakota City on tlie west. Saturday. August 22, 1891. Uncle David Boa Is aoain acted as chaplain. The president, Joseph Brannan. omitted his annual address of welcoine to shorten the proifrani in conse(i[uence of threatning weatlier. William Jj. Joy. of Sioux City, Iowa, delivered the oration of the day. He iriade an eloquent speech tracing this country from its geological period down to the present time. The memorial committee reported thirty-three deaths during the past year, among wdiom were: Thomas Ilodgin. Miss Elizabeth Lapsley, Miss Maggie Gribble, Samuel Gatton, Anna Booney, Mrs. Cliarles Tennant. Matt Coilins, George Herb, Daniel McMillen. Patrick Twohig, William Winkhaus, Col. Charles D. Martin, Mrs Alex Nixon, Jermiah Lucey, Christina Jacobson, Jame? McKeiina, Samuel Osman, Mrs. B L. Thompson. Mrs. John Naffziger. Katie O'Connor. David W. Shuil and William Kelsey. Election of officers for the ensuingyear i-esulted as follows: Gen. Joseph Hollman, President; D. C. Dibble, Vice President; M. M. Warner. Secretary and Historian; Thomas Ashford, Sr., Treasurer; Sam A. Coinbs, John T. Spencer and Gerald Dillon, Memorial Committee.

Eleventh Annual Reunion

It was tho-iglit best to change tlie locatioii to different parts of the county, cot^sequently the eleventh -annual reutiion was held in Barry's beautiful grove, west of Jackson, on Saturday, August 20, 18U2. Tliat venei-able pioneer chaplain. Uncle David Boals offered a fei'veiit prayer uppropriate for the uccasion, after wliirii the president, Gen. Joseph Holhnan delivered the ii'.iuu.il address of welcome Ed. T. Kearney in l)ehalf of Juri^ Mill welcomed '"Our Guests,"' and did it well and l-I..- (|nently. The nieniorial committee made their icjiurr for the past year recordino- the deaths of tvveiity-eMlit uid settlers as follows: Airs. Thomas llooan. Father Wm. Hamilton, P. J. Keetfe, Charles E. Hazel or,, ve, Daniel E. Diigtjan, Mrs. Maggie Kelley, Mrs. Pin.- Neff, George E. Ii-onsides, Mrs. John H. I3ridenb;iiigh, Thomas L. Grilfey, John Ryan, Charles Donahue, Mrs. Marinda Westcot^ Mrs. John Dillon, Hugh Myer>, Dntton I^ane, Michael Keel, Martin Dewire, James Williams, Michael Dewire, Joachim Oesterling, Mrs. F. A. Eobinson. Williani A. Campbell, John Howard, Mrs. Caleij Antrim, J i\, Mrs. Joseph Goodiiow, John McGee and James Laiiey. In the afternoon Mell C. Jay delivered the following eloquent address:

The proo-ress of niaid<iiid embraces the histoi-y of the world, and tiiis our civilization, imperfect as it may l)e, is the result oi lon^- centui'ies of struggle and toil. This fair land of ours, covered with homes and harvests, filled with the sound of indnstiy. has been made possible only by a C(»iitest that has been as l)itter as the human passions .and ;is long continued as the ceni-uries.

Ilunnin pi'ogi'ess is only possibu' with human liberty. You chain a nnuTs hands and you chain his heart and brain. It has heen fre(|nently ashed how it w;is possible foi- this I'epuUic to make the advancement in a liundred vears that other mitions h:,ve failed to reich in centui'ies. The answer is, because this government believed in the ])i inciple that before na:ions nuide citizens.

A¥hen the leaders of the revolution were canvassing the advisability of issuing the declaration of independence. Tom f*ajne said: ''Tliat under tlie priuciples of the government, resting upon the will of the people, there would spring forth upon this continent, an empire that would stretch frum sea to sea, and whose j^uwer and influence would be felt world wide, and whose civilization woukl be reflected wherever the liearts of men throbbed with the love of justice, liberty and law.'' It was a prophecy, to be sure, but it came true. Then was lit tlie great beacon light of progress, that wms tu light, and guide, and direct humanity in the Solution or tiiat most diflicult pi'oblem. govei'iiment, for and th rough the people. The contest was long and bitter, l)ut tiie progress has been sure.

A Conflict that was to test our form of government in the great crucible of conflict; a contest that was to [)e(»pk' our soil with thousands of graves, whose occupant- hail given ail, that the light of liberty and pi'ogressshonni not go out, and that the love of human rights ---houki at la?t bear down all opposition. W'e have not yet I'eached that p(jint, but have made wonderfiii ad vai.ci-ment in that direction.

Not ill one direction only have we seen the advaneenieiit of the wheels of jirooress. hut in everything that adds to or contributes lo the happiness or comfort of man. In the in<liistrial and intellectual worlds tiie peo- |ile have kept pace with the centuries, and umler the impulse <»f American ueiiins the great piiwers of electricity and sream have \vr(»noht a re\-oliitioii in the commercial and industrial world.

()ur ci\ili/.;ition has e\tende<l to the furthermost parts of the earth and the history of (Uir progress lias stirred the hearts wherever intelligence and enterprise is known aiul I'espected by men. I)o not nndei-stand me to say that our government is yet perfect, but the great wheels of progress are turning the I'ight direction.

Lincoln signed but one page of tlie emancipation of ineii;tliere is another yet to sign, and soon, and when that is signed it will take out of the cotton mills and coal mines of the east, thousands of little chiidren and feed and clothe and school them. Then will never be heard the tramj), tramp, tramp of armies of men out of work. Then it will not be necessary to settle disputes between em plover and employee by gunpowder and steel. Then will be taken from the streets of our cities tlie thousands of young women and gir's driven there by the want of bread. Then shall be declared that Divine law, that man is a man, entitled to the rights of meiu freed from the iron grasp of king, maii-stealer and monopolist.

Ceaseless growth means ceaseless e)nancipations and the chorus that Lincoln lieard in the guns of Fort Sumpter and the Wilderness, plays on, and one by one the cry of the imprisoned and the iinprisoner blend into the strains of a widening freedom, and the wheels of progi-ess will roll on until every question hetvveen man and man will be considered a question of moral economy..

till one man will not l)e allowed to offer charity where he offers justice. But the other day the news was flashed over the sea that even aristocratic England had declared in favor of home i-nle for old Ireland. Yes, the light of human liberty and progress is still shining on land and sea. Let ns hope that its light may never grow dim, but let it light poor humanity "until the great chorus will roll round the' entire earth. "Peace on earth, good will towards men."'

To do justice to the early settlers of Dakota county as I view them, to tell of their good qualities as I have known them, to set them before the world as I have seen them, to re-count their heroic deeds in the army and their noble deeds at home, would require not five minutes, but days; not a short paper like this, but a 1>ook.

The early settlers of Dakota county came here from almost every state in the Union, from the Do- !ninion of Canada, and from every country of Europe. They jostled down together, rounded off each others square corners, copied eacli others good qualities, drank water out of the same tin dipper, drank sometliing else out of the same jug, faced the same blizzards, cussed the same grasslioppers, shared the last ten pounds of corn meal, divided the last pecic of potatoes, until they came to be l)ound together by ties that can never be broken in this life, more like brothers than neighbors, and became knit together into the best and the most harmonious community in the state of Nebraska.

I wish I had hours of time in which to tell you of the surpassing excellence of character of the individuals of the early settlers but that is impossible. 1 hope and lielie\e that the coming race of men and women of Da kota L-ounty will be an honor to the state and to Immanity. The best I can wish for them is that they may \>v an honor to their parents, the early settlers. And I predict that these young men and maidens lifty years from now, when tlieir hair is grown gVay and their eyes ai'e grown dim, will gratefully remember, the early settler,- (it Dakota county, and say, we nether shall see their like again. _ .

Already the people of Dakota county ai-e beginning to I'ererence the memory of VVm. McBeath, of Daniel Duggan. of Col. Warner, of Jas. Stott, of John Howard, of John Heit'ernan, of John Maun, of Goodwin Taylor, of John Ryan, and scores of others who have ^(»ne before.

And of the early settlers who are still living, whar -hall we sa\ ? To look into their faces, to take them by liie hand, to lieai' tlieir cordial trreetincr, to breathe the ;:tniosphere of tlieir honest welcomes of each other and ol one and all, is a tiaie inspiration. They are worthy :-ons of a noble state. To name them would take all I ay. They are all about you here. You can't go amis^. That man at your elbow is one of them. When these ( hiidren come to lo(d\ Icick thi'ough the golden haze of fifty years they will appreciate the true worth of these, (lod's noblemen.

])Ut if we sav so much of the men of the early ^ettlers, \\hat can we s;iy ot the women r They shared onr hardest lot without complaining. Oiir privations '\cre here only in gi-eater deuree. If we iiad but tlnee I dtaldts ibr dinne!'. she ate but one. ISlie has siuiinn.'red :iii(l winteied us all liiese ytai's. 8he has siimotlicd oui- ^uiula\- shirts, and our rufHed temper. They sewed on t 111' buttons ..nd spanived our babies and boiled our poi;it<ies, and now ami then, when occasion re(juired it, .-he gave us a ju't ce of iiei' mind, and told us lot^ of truth ;diout us, and. it did us good. And then siie took np the burd"n of lite iigain, patiently toiling, burdene.l witii cares and anxieties we could not share; with Cliristian spirit she led her children and us in the hetter way. Time's footprints are putting wrinkles on her hrow. The frosts of many winters are gathering on her head. But to us she- seems more beautiful than eve;-, (lod hless hei".

The early settlers are the crowning glory of Dakw , county and Dakota county is the crowning glory of Ihi - the lie.-t state of all this glorion-s American land. On., early settlers are the best pioneers of the whole woild Their wives ai-e a little better than the men. Our yoiin:: men are the most promising of all anfl our young womc;! have promised to marry them, ov will when rliey -aw asked to, our children ai'e tJie brightest and our bai)ie> a,re the sweetest, our apples are ihe biggest and our cherries are the reddest, our corn is the tallest and oui soil is the richest of any in this big round world. Ami away down in the bv-ttom c.f our hearts we do pity pimple who don't live in Dakota county."

The followin>j^ officers were elected loi- the cnsiii:ii^ year: John Naffziger. President; 1). C. Dib!)le. X'w Pi-esident; M. M. Warner, Secretary and Historian: Thomas Ashford. Sr., Treasurer; Atlee Hart, Cmiih' s|)ondiiig Secretary; Sam A. Combs, Joiiy T. Spencc.innd Gerald IJillon, jMemoiial Comniittee.

Twelfth Annual Kkiwiox

The association hehl theii- twelfth annual leniiiun tlie beautiful shoi'es of Crystal lake, aiKiut midway between South Sioux City and Dakota City, on Thursday. Auirust ;-51. 18<J3. At l():;iO the president, Jolm Nafiziger, called the vast assemblaue to ordei". which estinnited to iia\'e been about 5,000. V. A. Roli'n L-on offered up a pi-ajer suitable for the occasion, aftej which the president delivered the usual address of welcome. He recalled the fact that thirty-eight years a<j;u Jesse Wigle nuule the iii'st penuaiient settlciueut in Dakota county. He recalled the ])rivations and sufterings of 1856-7; remenihered Father Tracey and his H'ish colony, that had camped on the very grounds where the children and grand cliiidren of the colonist> were now assembled to pay tribute to those who . had lain the foundations upon which ihe present piosperity of the county has been built. The men who camped on the lake thirty jears ago were youths or men in the prime of life. They revisit its sliores and there are luany feeble among them and many gray. But they came to Crystal lake upon a great mission thirty years figo. They came to found homes and they founded them. His address touched the heart of every pioueer who heard him because they knew he was talking from actual experiences, having shared alike with thejn the trials and privations of early times.

Sam A. Coml)s, chairman of the memorial committee reported twenty-six deaths during the yeai*. among whom were: Peter Carney, Mrs. Di-.E. J. Deljell. John M. Moan, John Sohn. Mrs. O. H. Lake, Abraham Drake, Jamos T. McHenry, W. I. Broyhill, Mrs. Gustave Berger, George Franulin Wood, Col. C. C. Orr. Mrs. Peter Rooney, Jesse Wigle, Mrs. Thos. C. Clapp. Mrs. Flora Whittecar, William Cullen, Mrs. Carl Larsen and Mrs. Jeanette Armour.

John T. Spencer of the memorial committee made some very appropriate remarks on the lives of those who had departed to the silent land during the past year.

Remarks were made by Dennis Aruiour, Ed. T. Kearney and Isaac Pendleton. Following is a beautiful poein composed and read on thisoccasion by Mr.Kearney in opening his address:

Kail Pioneer - through the woodland - glad resounding, Come the shouts of joy and glee; Banners waiving, mirth abounding. Causing -sorrow grim to flee.

While the autumn still is young. And thou- oh, Pioneer - who in these sylvan shades Didst first Dame Nature battle give, lirst rudely mar The foi'ests grim repose - carving from out her rugged trunks* A lowly, happy home -aye, upon her bosom, wildly fair. Made there thy haven and thy rest. Hail, J^ioneer - nor deem it wrong, When the autumn with the ripened stores comes tripping ture flung. Unfair seemed then the conflict, as a gnat against lion strong But (iod was Willi tlie I'ioneer, to Him the thanks belong. Full long thy arduous labor - full sore thy grievous pain, Init now the victory's won -thy toil hath beautifled the