Outagamie County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1895 (part 3 of 6)

A request was made for all pioneers present who settled in the county previous to 1850 to arise, 20 arose; between 1850 and 1855, 22; 1855 and 1860, 8.

Judg-e Sam Ryan was called and told some of his pioneer experiences, and spoke of the importance of preserving the recollections of the early pioneers.

The annual meeting- of the Outagamie County Pioneer Association was held in South Masonic Hall, Feb. 22, 1887, with a large attendance of old residents of the county, whose coming was favored by mild weather and the excellence of the roads'. The meeting was called to order by President John Dey at 10 o'clock a. m.

The first order was the election of officers for the new year, and by the list of those chosen it will be seen that many of the old officials were retained: President, John Dey; vice-president, Charles Wolcott; secretary, E. Spencer; treasurer, John Leith; executive committee, W. F. Johnston, Joseph Rork, John McGillan, Charles Spicer and Julius Buck.

The pioneer dinner, which had been brought in baskets, was spread upon a long table in the middle of the hall, and when all was in readiness a very merry company of about seventy-five persons sat down to taste its flavor. At 1:30 the assembly was then called to order and the president, John Dey, made some opening remarks in an appropriate vein.

The day of memories and retrospections has come again. Time turns backward in its flight and carries us down along the trail of our lives, not only through our experiences here, down to the day we made this county our home but still back of that along the windings of our previous path down to the time when as children we congregated in the rude temples of the vigin goddess and with other things that were considered necessary to fit us for life and make us intelligent citizens of a government controlled by the people, we were taught in all our country's previous history, from the first appearance of Columbus and his "big canoes with white wings" to the wondering and frightened savages, up through the history of the colonies to the day they dared to shake off the tyrants' grasp and declare their independence. Then loom up all the incidents of a weak people with the most powerful nation of the whole earth and he, whose birthday we celebrate, appears as the leader ordained by heaven to lead our father's to victory and give to the new world freedom from "crown and crozier" that till now had "ruled the world." Of the great leader all that need be said is: Almost more than human in mould and powers of body, and God-like in wisdom and virtue was Washington. He made no mistake during all the war and proved himself king of the battle-field. But once did he show a human weakness, and this when stung and driven almost to despair by the cowardice and insubordination of one of his associates in the midst of battle. His ambition was only for his country to make it free and a land of freedom - rejecting in disdain the offer of a crown, stung to the quick that he should be considered weak and base enough to betray the divine mission and cause that had been entrusted to his hands. Truly "the sun in all his course shall not look upon his like again." It is well that he should be held as first in war, first in peace and first in the affections of his countrymen, and that every method should be taken to preserve the memory of his deeds and character and plant them indelibly in the minds of those coming after us. It is fit then that his birthday has been chosen for the meeting of the Pioneers of Outagamie County.

Some thirty-eight years ago Amos A. Lawrence contributed $10,000 for the establishment of a school at Appleton; put it in the hands of the Methodist conference of the state, conditioned, that they should add to it a like amount and take the work into their own hands. It was a daring undertaking to attempt the founding of such an institution in the very heart of the wild wood, almost beyond the verge of civilization, leading to and from which there were no roads, only Indian trails. The donor knew, however, in whose hands he was placing his gift, and trust to their indomitable energy, knew that they would come and bring their children with them and stay. Were there no other way in furnishing pupils, for the school ? His confidence was fully satisfied, in about a year a fine building was erected and the school opened with a respectable attendance, which, in less than two years increased to 200 pupils. In 1853 it was chartered as a college and has sent out more finished scholars - men and women - who have filled and are now occupying more high and responsible positions than any other institution of the state, with all their superior advantages of position and means and has become not only the bulwark of Methodism in Wisconsin but has made Appleton the Athens of the State. The location and opening of the institution advertised our county throughout and beyond the state, and brought an influx of people to Appleton; and although as compared with the prairie lands the dense woods presented an unfavorable and discouraging aspect; yet they were soon taken up and filled with a superior class of strong handed farmers who shortly pronounced the open sesame that gave the forest to sunlight and civilization, making the wilderness to blossom into beauty; and as early as 1850 we had more inhabitants than some counties of the state whose lands when first occupied were ready for the plow and invited cultivation. Though for a few years, hard labor, deprivations and inconveniences were the farmers' lot, they yet proved their wisdom in locating their homes. To-day their lands are more valuable than the average prairie farms; and not a county in the state, except perhaps Milwaukee, has had all along and now has as good a market as ours. All the conveniences and luxuries have come; good and direct highways instead of random roads; excellent schools and churches in city and country, convenient to all. While all the railroads south are ours, over our own county and all north of us up to the great lake has been spread a net-work of iron rails, giving- us easy access to all parts of the land and vastly improving the value of our farms and every thing they produce; giving us also many things cheaper than to those living further south.

It may be true that with these great improvements other changes have come less pleasant to contemplate. In those early days we were all friends and equals. Neither wealth, education nor position lifted the head of one above another. There was no aristocracy. All were neighbors in the highest sense of the word and ready to give the helping hand at all times. In these things and some other social customs and practices coming with the influx of wealth and population we may have deteriorated. The saddest, however, of all changes that confronts us here to-day is the absence from our gathering of many of the oldest and best of our former associates. Some have left us to become pioneers in more western lands. Some have sought the very Occident, beyond which there is no west, and made their homes on the very shores of the Pacific. One of these by faithful labors, though his methods were not always the most acceptable, did good work in our county schools and greatly elevated their character. Another, whose name a thriving village of the county bears, is now a millionaire. A third is there, an upright and good man, who, on week days, shod our horses and on Sabbath frequently dispensed to us the Word - by the foolishness of preaching, aiming to elevate our moral and intellectual nature. Many more of our old friends have floated out upon that unknown sea that lies all around the world. Within the past year, with others, two of the oldest and most venerated of the pioneers, one of the patriarchs of us all have left us and passed over and joined friends and loved ones on the further shore.

Friends, the period passed by us here has been notable, not only to ourselves, but to the whole world. Terrible wars have been waged, yet their outcome has been to the advancement of civilization. One great empire of Europe has fallen and its people inspired by the spirit and workings of ours, have transformed it into a great republic.

England lias been slowly yielding to the people their rights; and it is not presumption to predict the downfall of its aristocracy and elevation of its masses to their full rights. And we also predict that the very means they have been compelled to adopt, the support of vast armies, for the maintenance of their thrones, will finally cause the overthrow of the great monarchies of the continent. When we made this our home, our country itself was but half free; and the southern slaveholder, not content with absolute power over the persons and lives of its millions of human chattels, in his pride and insolence aspired to dominate the North; and upon its first show of resistance brought upon us a war more terrible in its savagery, more fearful in its sacrifice of life and treasure than the world had ever known. In our extremity two men of different mold and mind were given us:

In religion and law great progress has been made; as also in science and literature. In discovery and invention and all human progress, all previous time has been outstripped; and our countrymen have not been outdone in the great work. Two of their inventions have revolutionized the earth. Howe's great cylinder press, that has supplanted the old hand-press of Franklin, throws from its embrace with almost countless velocity, the printed sheets that, filled with news and intelligence, pass as educators into the hands of the people. Morse's telegraph interlacing all this country, laid across the ocean by Field, an American, has brought the tongues and ears of all men together, and annihilated time and space. At the great Centennial, Europeans conceded us the palm of works and utility, which also excited the highest admiration for their contrivences, taste, adaptation, beauty, delicacy, and elegance of design and construction, when compared with the lumbering vehicles, unsightly machinery and old plate of inferior beauty from over the ocean. Well may we be proud of our country and thankful that we have lived to see many of the deep things of God revealed; and the knowing of these things has certainly made life worth living. We must recollect though that these things are but the "pebbles thrown upon the shore of the ocean of truth."

Friends, our time here is nearly spent and we cannot expect, during our stay to see much more; but our children will learn truths, so deep, see made discoveries so vast and wonderful, that beside them these we have seen will sink into comparative insignificance. Prediction is useless. The furthest stretch of the imagination would fail in attempting to picture what the coming generation will see. As the world needs and is preparing for them they are sure to come, and, old associates and friends, I believe we shall see them, too. Of one thing I feel most sure: that when, as soon as it must, our summons comes, we shall not pass into oblivion nor indolently "lie down to pleasant dreams," but shall awake to a life of tireless activity. And while there is no doubt we shall be allowed a closer view, and deeper insight into the workings of the universe and mysteries of nature, there is no reason why we may not be permitted to revisit this earth and keep pace with all things new to it revealed. Perhaps, too, from our higher standpoint we may anticipate many of these relations and be enabled to hasten their coming by whispering them to the ears and understandings of men, and thus excite them to study, experiment and research, and thereby be the means of accelerating invention, discovery and all human progress to the perfection dimly foreshadowed in the millenium of the prophet. Many are predicting its immediate coming. No doubt it will come in its own good time; not though to be restricted to a thousand years, but to continue with us during the world's existence. And we may confidently expect that by the vast unity of intellect and power the floodgates of light will be opened upon the earth, when the great questions now agitating it shall be settled to the satisfaction of all, bringing justice and peace, when religion shall be wholly purged of its errors and image only divine truth; when the physical laws of our nature shall be perfectly understood and followed; when knowledge shall become exalted and universal; when labor shall be relieved of its fatigue and allied to pleasure, and evil "its name and nature banished from the world."

After a solo by Mrs. McGillan "Ah, I Have Sighed to Rest Me!" Mr. A. B. Whitman was called upon and spoke of the pioneers who have died within the year. He said that Esquire R. R. Bateman's face and form had been familiar to all pioneers. He was in some respects a typical pioneer, who lived to enjoy the fruits of an energetic life. He came to Appleton in 1849; was born in Plattsburg, and witnessed the battle of that name in 1812, part of which occurred on his father's farm. Jared Lanphear, recently deceased, came in 1849. He lived to see the greatness of this commonwealth which he assisted to establish. The late John McGillan settled at McGillan's corners in Center at about 1850. L. B. Mills always lived at Greenville and had it not been for accident would probably have been a vigorous man for many years. He came to Outagamie in 1854. Otis Bessy, of Dale, is another pioneer lately departed. Mrs. Joseph Rork will be remembered for Christian graces and virtues. She resided here since 1851. Mrs. James Gilmore came from Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1852. Both she and Mrs. Rork during later life were invalids and were best known to the older ones present. The date of Mrs. G. G. Randall's removal from Vermont was 1852.

Rev. John Faville, upon being summoned forward, said he was a pioneer, having lived in the state nearly forty years and being the child of parents who came in 1844. Mr. Faville related some of the hardships of traveling in those days when his parents spent two days and a night in going fifty miles, from Milwaukee to Gake Mills, and said he was brought up a farmer and owed a great deal to this period of his life. He impressed upon the younger ones present the thought that education is needed to increase

Mrs. Daniel Huntley in a brief address said that her experience of pioneer life had been frought with less of hardships than those of many present and that her recollection of" them was very bright.

Mr. Kethroe, of Hortonville, spoke of the wonderful difference in the wages paid now and in years gone by. In 1848 he worked in a woolen mill in New York, thirteen hours a day, for $16 a month and boarded himself; and his position was considered a good one. In 1849 he came to Outagamie where everybody was glad to get hard work at fifty cents a day and there was no grumbling or strikes. More than this, the pa}^ was usually in orders worth about twenty-five cents on a dollar. At the same time money could not be had for less than 50 per cent interest.

After a song by the quartette, Mrs. Ross read a paper describing her pioneer experiences in Appleton, relating the expedients resorted to in house furnishing, when hardly anything in the way of furniture was obtainable, and the laborous transportation of provisions from Neenah.

Judge Harriman who had come up to invite the pioneers to take a ride on the electric street cars, thought that an advantage had been taken of him in calling upon him for a speech. The judge said that when his bearers were young a rough sled or board was considered the height of human attainment in the way of a vehicle with which to slide down hill, but now it has been reduced to a science and he would like to show them a toboggan slide. In a more serious vein the judge advocated the need of education and said that the worse thing fond parents could do was to hoard their money to bring up their children in a life of idleness. The younger generation should be made to realize what their parents had endured. The judge closed with a cordial invitation to the county members to enjoy a ride on the street cars which would be in waiting at 4 o'clock.

her own family, and outside, little else than snow and tree trunks. She described some of the primitive methods of house building which allowed dogs to gain the roof and on occasions fall through, to the consternation of awakened inmates of the dwelling.

Charles Breiterick, of Ellington, said he came to the county in 1859 with $120 in his pocket and settled near New London when about the only dwellers thereabouts were Indians. At first he became discouraged but at length built a log house and settled down with a determination of making it a home. He now had only the pleasantest memories of his former hardships and was grateful to Heaven for the measure of blessings and comfort that had crowned his early efforts.

William Briggs said he remembered starting in 1852 from Maine to Wisconsin, and being like most Maine men, a lumberman, he went into the lumbering business at Hortonville. He had $150 when he commenced, having spent $150 in the journey coming out. This $300 represented all the toil of a man who had reached his twenty-ninth year. He said it took fifty dollars to commence housekeeping and the remaining hundred was put in the business. Mr. Briggs said that at that time manufactured lumber rafted down the Wolf and through the lake to Fond du Lac brought only $4.50 a thousand; and it was the finest kind of lumber too.

Dr. Kanouse said he was in full sympathy and accord with the spirit of a pioneer meeting. The pioneer must be the man of patience and fortitude, ready to adapt himself to all the possibilities that presented themselves to him. He is not a man without plan, but one with some definite purpose of will, that urges him on to success. The prominent element of pioneer life, the doctor thought, was a consciousness of right.

Daniel Huntley directed attention to the urgent need of better facilities for the education of farmers' boys. In the matter of education he said, farmers are far behind the times. He instanced many places where a $500 school house, illy maintained and with no adequate instructors, was surrounded by $5,000 pioneers' homesteads. The need in the matter of education, was for an exhibition of a little of the spirit that has animated pioneers in the past in other undertaking's.

H. D. Ryan uttered a serio-humorous warning- ag-ainst woman's suffrag-e. He said he desired to see all men standing- on a level, but he didn't want women at the polls. He said that women were not needed to straig-hten out tang-led political questions; that the great trouble in the world was that men did not understand each other better and better appreciate each others' ideas, and thus render possible effectual and concerted work.

Henry Dickerson spoke of the delig-htful quality of pioneer hospitality in the old days even when the comforts available were scanty. The heart that dictated and the hand that executed were moved by the true spirit of hospitality. Many of the warmest friendships found their beginning- in pioneer days, and their ending is not yet.

At the conclusion of the speeches a vote of thanks was tendered to Mrs. McGillan and her associates for the excellent music contributed, and the meeting was closed by the singing of "America," in which all joined.

The Outagamie County Pioneer Association met pursuant to notice in South Masonic Hall, in Appleton, Feb. 22, 1888, for their annual festival. The meeting- was called to order at 10 a. m. by John Dey, the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary.

The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing* year. John Dey was elected president; Joseph Rork, vice-president; John McGillan, treasurer, and E. Spencer, secretary; executive committee, Wm. F. Johnston, John McGillan, Matthew McComb, Charles Spicer and Geo. H. Myers.

The afternoon session commenced promptly at 1:30 o'clock. The day and occasion had broug-ht out a very full attendance of pioneers and their friends, from both the city and country, and the somewhat restricted dimensions of the hall were almost uncomfortably crowded. Music was furnished by a quartette consisting of the Misses Mead and Woodhead and Messrs. Cole and Wheeler.

When order had been restored the first exercise of the afternoon was an organ solo by Miss McGillan. Rev. John Faville followed by offering a prayer. President John Dey spoke feelingly of the ones who, since the last gathering, had departed hence to be at rest forever. After music by Mrs. McGillan and Miss McGillan the annual address was delivered by the Hon. Humphrey Pierce. This effort requires no praise, it speakes for itself. The full text is as follows:

Sympathy is one of the great controlling powers over the actions of mankind; that feeling common to the human breast, quickening in unison in a cause in which an interest common to all centers, often resulting in great good, always, when guided by reason, rarely in evil.

Depicting- the wrong, insults and sufferings of the people of the Holy Land, inflicted upon them by the barbarian Turks, aroused a religious enthusiasm that knew no bounds. It was the first great power laid hold upon and wielded with so much success by Peter the Hermit and Pope Urban II.

The element of power is present and as active to-day as of old. It takes hold upon and moves the few as well as the many; it serves the bad as well as the good purposes of men; anarchy builds upon it and thrives by it when turned from its true purpose and guided by unreasoning passion.

The pioneers of Outagamie county acknowledge its power for good and obey its mandate in coming together on this national holiday to pay tribute to the memory of those who have gone before with the record of a well rounded life, and renew and repledge, among those who still remain, one to the other, the ties of lifelong friendship.

Having by choice settled within the limits of what is now Outagamie county they united in one common cause, the subduing the wilderness to peaceful homes, producing farms and thriving cities.

The comforts and advantages of a high civilization, won by industry, persistent toil and economy are theirs to enjoy with a gratification known to those only who possess by right of their own individual eflort.

Starting out as an organization as late as the year 1872, the right of membership limited to those who settled in the county prior to July 4, 1853, the pioneers have already extended the right of membership to all residents prior to 1860, sweeping away the bar to fellowship of seven years, a full period in life's journey, in an organized existence of sixteen years.

Looking backward the line of pioneers already lengthens until lost to the remembrance of those now living. Death has thinned the ranks; the spirit of change and adventure has taken some into far western lands, away from the circle around the altar to day; time has laid its hand even upon the fold and forced a recognition of the inevitable.

Into the thinned ranks the new ones welcomed have come, the battle half won, taking- their place to share in victory or suffer defeat as they prove true or false. It is the history of the human race since the beginning-, repeatedly within this limited circle.

Later pioneers have ever been taking the place of the elder. Men do not live for themselves alone; else life were void and not worth the living. All cannot succeed equally; that seems to be the law of necessity. Were all, perforce, equally successful, ambition would die, and ambition, rightly directed and controlled, is a noble and essential quality of the human character; without, there would be nothing to pioneer, no pioneers.

Those who came and made for the family a home, gathered and enjoyed the first rude comforts of early life in the forests, have made a record worthy of the best, and dying leave behind them a grateful remembrance by those who, living after, inherit the fruits of the early toil, and taking guide, stride on to fortune.

Those who came and still are here may well feel proud in forming this circle to-day. Amid the wilderness they have homes with plenty and to spare. The struggle, long and hard, the spirit of the pioneer has been equal to the task; nothing short of victory would satisfy.

That which is hardest to win is prized the most; the harder the task the greater the joy in the finishing; looking backward upon the trials, the risks, the doubts and fears, the harvest is doubly prized.

Those who gain to save are the most valuable to the world. Waste is not a virtue, but a lack of it; sloth and indolence are waste in its worst form, and those invested with them are burdens to the industrious and saving; to these faults and improvidence, may be traced the cause of nine-tenths of the pauperism of this country. Take away the habits of industry and economy and the whole world becomes a pauper in creation.

That Outagamie county has been and is now the home of an energetic, industrious and saving people, needs but a glance to show. In years the county is young; in all things that go to make up human happiness and lift the people in the scale of existence, it is second to no other county in the State. In intelligence., the people rank with tjie best. Compared in population and age, as much money and effort has been spent for religious and educational purposes as in the most favored county in the State. The evidence of this and of the general thrift of the people is everywhere abundant, in general wealth among all, none can make a better showing with the same limitations.

The natural desire to better one's condition led some who were early in the struggle to seek a more favored spot. Tracing them up from their going will not satisfy one that they have reason to rejoice in the parting with the place of their first choice.

The old adage "A rolling stone gathers no moss" often brings to them regrets in its reminder of their mistake. A few may have escaped its force. Every rule has its exception, and, in taking risks, all hope to get within the exception, but the heart most often grows sick from hope deferred.

To those who seek to shirk the burdens of life, success never comes; the seeker of an easier way never feels the real joy of victory. He who grapples with the problem he meets with all the force he can bring to bear, though it take a lifetime to solve it, finds in his success that which repays him for all and which none other can enjoy.

To those who bring about results, having abundance to aid them, should not be given the greatest, nor equal credit. Washington, whose birthday we celebrate, won not his greatness by doing what he did for his country, having all his heart could desire at his call. His great genius and love of country shone brightest in his contest with a powerful foe, well armed, well fed, well clothed and thoroughly disciplined; while his own band of defenders, comparatively, were few in numbers, poorly clad, half starved, at times almost without means of defense. There was no song- in his ears, "We are coming- father Abraham, 300,000 more," to cheer and encourag-e. The work stood out before him a great barrier to the march of liberty and justice. It was enoug-h to appal the strong-est heart. An easier way lay open to his choice. With no thoug-ht but that of victory, he went straig-ht forward to the work. To fail was ignominous death.

History shows us an example of constancy, stern devotion to country and to duty, unyielding determination and perseverance through the darkest hours and the greatest uncertainty, characterized by a Christian spirit and crowned glorious success that has never been equalled in ancient or modern times. What must have been the feelings of Washington, when, after victory had came, his country, an independent, happy and united people, he looked back over the ground scene of his successful pioneer life through which he had passed with those he loved. Public honors, military rank and political preferment, all left out of the account, there was that still left which brought supreme happiness and contentment, a mind at piece with itself, the consummation of all human desire.

Generations may come and go and the long years may never bring about the time when another shall be called upon to prove his worth and devotion, to the same degree, in a cause upon which hangs such grand results. But the way is open to every one to make his life as grand, noble and devoted in the common affairs of life. True greatness does not hang upon the size of the affairs with which we have to do, but truly rests upon the well doing of that to which we may be called. Anything worth doing at all demands energy, integrity and persistence.

False pride and pomp are the weak points in life; they capture and hold fast and rule through their very weakness; they rob us of true courage, make integrity wait upon vanity, constancy upon popular applause. Every stroke guided and tempered by them is shorn of the true ring of life's battle and gives but a hollow sound.

point to their churches, colleges and schools, their homes and the evidences of great thrift, energy and civilization, that are found on every part and parcel within her boundaries, as proof, and truthfully claim for themselves an honest-and persistent effort to leave to those who may come after them the best results it were possible for them in life to obtain.

Anecdotes and experiences of pioneer life were then related by Rev. John Faville, Mr. Breiterick of Ellington, Wm. Briggs of Appleton, Mr. Manley of Ellington.

After a song by the quartette the committee, consisting of P. S. Bennett, Joseph Rork and G. H. Myers, appointed in the forenoon to prepare resolutions upon the death of the late Col. H. L. Blood, reported the same as ready to be submitted. The resolutions were read by Rev. Mr. Bennett as follows:

The committee appointed to prepare a suitable notice of the late Henry L. Blood, so suddenly removed by death, respectfully present the following for your consideration:

Whereas, Wc the members of Outagamie County Pioneer Association assembled in Appleton on this 22d day of February, 1888, for our annual reunion, have just learned of the death of one of our most esteemed members, Col. Henry C. Blood, he being- among- the earliest settlers of Appleton, and ever holding- a warm place in the hearts of those who knew him, be it

Resolved , That as it has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove him from our circle we reverently submit to the sad event, but shall ever cherish a pleasant memory of our honored brother.

That this Association tender to the bereft and sorrowing- family our earnest sympathy in their affliction (such as none but those who have experienced it knows) and pray that while the right hand of the Infinite has inflicted the blow, the hand nearest the heart may sustain the sufferers.

That the secretary be and hereby is instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to the bereaved family, and to the press of the city for publication. J. Rork, j

Matthew McComb of Hortonville then related some of his pioneer experiences, among- them an amusing- account of the fish wedding- once solmonized in the town of Hortonia. Mr. McComb was followed by Mr. Huntley. The last speaker was Joseph Rork, who spoke of his former relations with the late Col. H. L. Blood. The closing- music was by Mrs. McGillan and her daug-hter, and the benediction was pronounced by Elder Bennett.

The annual meeting- of the Outag-amie Pioneer Association met pursuant to notice at Odd Fellows' Hall, at 10 o'clock a. m. The meeting- was called to order by John Dey the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary. Forty or fifty pioneers from the county were present, a very g-ood representation, considering- the severity of the weather.

The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing- year, which was accomplished as follows: President, John Dey; vice-president, Joseph Rork; treasurer, John McGillan; secretary, E. Spencer; executive committee, William F. Johnston, Henry Kethroe, C. E. Spicer, J. S. Buck and Daniel Huntley.

Immediately after the noon adjournment a sumptuous repast, prepared by the ladies, was partaken of in true pioneer style. After the remains had been cleared away, at 1:30 o'clock order was ag-ain called and the afternoon exercises were inaugurated. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. C. Jackson and opening remarks made by the president. Vice-President Rork then spoke of the departed pioneers. After music by Prof. Silvester and choir, the annual address was delivered by Mr. H. D. Ryan, as follows:

These meeting's are profitable and pleasant to the participants, and valuable to the great procession behind us. The deeds done by those who made the early beginning's in our county are here recalled and recorded. Then the history so made is written and will soon be inestimable. Therefore, any event, however trivial, should not be neglected. Many of you have in your libraries some history, or books giving- the events of the late war, and when the last page is finished, only a broad sweep of the larger events of that war have been read; yet when the participants gather at camp fires or reunions and recount ag-ain the story of the war, fresh from the lips of the gallant boys who stood in the midst of raining shot and shell, and looked at the red carnage in the jaws of the monster war - only then does its magnitude, its events, its very life in death, enter fully into one's thought.

In December, 1852, a small lad had a choice of either learning a trade or going to college. His parents, then living at Fort Howard, opposite Green Bay, preferred the latter. Bargaining with them for the choice of trade and the kind as well, the boy selected the former. Therefore, in January, 1853, a few days before Franklin's birthday, which usually is celebrated by printers on the seventeenth of that month, accompanying a load of printing material on a double sleigh, the team driven by N. A. Schmit (living, I think, in Ellington), the speaker came to Appleton. 'Twas nearly lip. m. - the coldest night of that very cold winter - when he left the sleigh at the "Edgarton House" (now "Park") at the corner of Drew street, and trudged through the snow and over stumps to the National Hotel, on the corner of Lawe and the avenue. Thomas Hanna let him into his hospitable inn. There was no fire and the bed was awful cold that dreadful night. When the lad looked out next morning and saw three houses in the vicinity ("Squire" Bateman's, J. P. Buck's and "The Store") then a sea of stumps to the west, and asking the little landlord where the town was located, received reply

Homesick! Oh no! Just a trifle subdued like! Only a sort of longing- for something lacking, mingled- with a sickly effort to feel proud and courageous. I want to say right here that any boy or "feller," who never was the least bit sentimental about "Home, Sweet Home" on his first venture out in the great world, must have inherited other than human blood or else must be less than human.

When the first Crescent was printed, with Henry S. Eggleston as political editor, Sam Ryan (then Junior was attached to the rear of his name) as local editor, C. D. Foote, as pressman and compositor, and Henry D. Ryan as devil, it was about 8 p. m., I believe, in Feb. 1853. The office was surrounded by a large crowd of excited people eager for the event, and a great struggle for the first copy ensued, which fell to the hands of Ansel B. Briggs or A. B. Everts. A few evenings after, the event was celebrated by a public meeting and speeches at the wooden school house, then located on the present site of the Second ward school building on Appleton street. I only recollect one incident of this meeting, and that was when a man named Fuller, who was somewhat celeberated as being rather tedious as a speaker, but who generally had something to offer, arose, cleared his throat with emphasis, addressed the chair, was about to address the meeting, when a strong voice in the rear part of the room broke in upon the scene with: "Haw Buck! Haw Bright!" and the hit was so pat that the audience broke forth in uncontrollable laughter, that continued until the speaker sat down. The would-be speaker was in the practice of thus driving his oxen through the village in a loud voice.

About those days the leading business men were J. W. Woodward or C. G. Adkins, A. McNaughton (J. S. Buck, manager), Phinney Bros., A. C. Darling, a druggist named Bennett, W. S. Warner, Reeder Smith, Charles Mory and "Uncle Peter" White.

Mr. Packard, who was clerk of the county board under a deputyship, was a scholarly, educated man, but quite eccentric. One morning' a farmer had been waiting' from an early hour for Mr. Packard to open his office. As the latter finally appeared, he said to that official: "Mr. Packard, you know 'tis the early bird catches the worm!" The reply came instantly, with a dry chuckle: "Served the worm rig-ht! Served the worm rig-ht ! He'd no business to g-et up so early!"

Some of the other leading- men here in addition to those named were the late Henry E. Blood, O. W. Clark, Theo. Conkey, Jackson Tibbets, John F. Johnston, Col. William Johnston, J. H. "Squire" Marston, Wm. Rork, T. P. Bingham, A. B. Randall, Amos Storey, Geo. M. Robinson, A. B. Bowen, Dr. B. Doug-las, James Gilmore, Robert Morrow, J. P. Hawley, Joseph Rork, R. A. Lawe, C. P. Richmond, and many others.

The Avenue was larg-ely filled with stumps, which were mostly burned or dug- out during- the years 1853-4. There was then a rickety bridge (impassable) over the big ravine, afterwards dirt-filled by Thomas Hanna's persistency and skill under much opposition.

Every new enterprise, from the building and location of the court house to that of a sidewalk, met with discussion and opposition, and charges of corruption were as rife then as now, with generally no basis except a vague imagination. Public men are usually liberally lied about in this "land of liberty." My own opinion is, that there is less dishonesty among our public men than in any of the great nations, considering the opportunities; and I really think these charges are made largely as political ammunition for use in firing the prejudices of the dear voter just before election more than from an honest belief in their truth.

The people here lived in a frugal way, were moderate in their demands. One limited meat market, usually having a scant supply of meats, sufficed for the village. The National Hotel didn't indulge in a printed bill of fare, yet the landlord always presented enough of quality and quantity,

The roads were bad enough - often impassable. In the spring of 1853 I returned by stage to Green Bay, going from Wrightstown at 9 p. m. and reaching the Bay at 9:15 the following morning. Much of the distance of fifteen miles the mud and water reached the hubs. It rained nearly all night, only interlarded with lightning and thunder. Trees in many places had fallen across the road, necessitating the passengers getting out and walking around while the driver (Jones) drove over the obstruction. Speaking of a similar storm at the same locality, the late Judge A. G. Miller said in the old United States Hotel, Green Bay, one day at the dinner table: "I never was out in such a terrible storm. The rain poured down in torrents; the lightning belched forth in livid sheets, lighting the whole sky. I got under a large oak tree, and expected every minute the lightning would strike that tree." Just at this point Hon. Moses M. Strong, who was present exclaimed: "Why in thunder didn't you take another tree, judge?"

The college was in those days a powe,r, a strong force in shaping the tone of the community through its literary exercises, and a guide and leader in public opinion. Every Saturday forenoon the chapel of Lawrence Institute was filled with the town folks to hear the students' oratoricals, essays, papers, etc., and the other exhibitions were similarly appreciated.

There were many notably pretty girls in the college at that time, among others Miss Helen Day. Miss Emery, Miss Thomas, Miss Sanford, Miss Hannah K. Smith, Miss Ada M. Grant, being the most noted (in fact, the early girls are always lovely.)

Those who were pioneers in settling and founding this western civilization are rapidly passing into the newer and better land. The ranks of veterans are yearly growing thinner.

A few years and other eyes will look into other eyes, other faces will till those assemblies, other voices will break in upon the quiet air with laughter and song. Yet little to us will it matter if our record is rounded out in deeds that shine. The pioneers here will soon be a memory. May they never be forgotten.

At the conclusion of the address a collection to defray expenses was taken up amounting to $14.40. Those who spoke subsequently were Henry Kethroe of Hortonia, Rev. John Faville, M. R. Barteau, Charles Breiterick of Ellington, Mr. Thirteen of Ellington, Rev. A. A. Drown, Daniel Huntley, Rev. J. C. Jackson, Judge Sam Ryan, and John McGillan of Center. Historical papers were presented from James Dean of Seymour City, G. R. Downer of Seymour Town, and Charles Wolcott, now of Georgia.

A vote of thanks was tendered to the singers and to the executive committee for their services in making the day a success, and to the gentleman who put a five dollar bill in the contribution. Notwithstanding the extremely cold weather the hall was well filled and every one was highly pleased with the exercises.

The Pioneers7 Association met pursuant to notice in South Odd Fellows' Hall in Appleton, Feb. 2-, 1890, for their annual festival. The meeting was called to order at 11 a. m. by Mr. John Dey the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary.

The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing year : John Dey was unanimously elected president; Joseph Rork, vice-president; John McGillan, treasurer; E. Spencer, secretary. The following executive committee was chosen: W. F. Johnston, Henry Kethroe, C. E. Spicer, J. S. Buck, Daniel Huntley.

Resolved , That the date of the settlement of the pioneers as conditions of membership be stricken from our constitution, and all actual residents of the county be considered as members of our society.

The afternoon program of the pioneer meeting was of a highly interesting nature. When, at noon, after a brief business session, the company adjourned to partake of a sumptuous dinner the ladies had prepared, over seventyfive of the old sturdy pioneers of Outagamie county filed into the dining hall, and took seats about the heavily laden tables, which were spread with all the substantiate and delicacies imaginable. An hour and a half later, when President John Dey called the meeting to order, the hall was unusually well filled with representatives from all parts of the county, who had come to share the pleasures of the event. To look over such an audience of grayhaired old settlers, who have withstood many a storm, impressed one deeply. The vicissitudinous lives they have lived, the dangers they have braved, the privations and hardships they have endured, together with the weight of

As soon as all had become quiet the colleg-e quartette favored the audience with a song-, after which Rev. Faville led in prayer. President John Dey made a few very appropriate remarks. At the outset he requested those who had come to the county previous to the year 1849 to rise, and only four responded. In the year 1849, there were nine; in 1850, five; in 1851, two; in 1852, six; 1853, one; in 1855, five. Besides relating- the chang-es that have taken place and the progress that has been made in the county, Mr. Dey called attention to the painful fact that since the association last met a number of old pioneers, who were present at its last meeting-, had been called home, and that the annual death rate in their ranks was exceedingly hig-h.

Rev. Gardner followed next on the program, and he was not long in getting everyone in good humor. A letter from the Rev. P. S. Bennett was read by Rev. Faville. Mr. Bennett is now visiting his native place in New York, and in the letter related his pioneer experiences as a resident in the Empire state. The president then called on Henry Ryan, who excused himself by presenting Judge Myers and H. W. Tenney. Mr. Tenney responded. He spoke in a humorous vein and kept his listeners in continual laughter. Mrs. L. B. Mills, formerly of Greenville but now of Appleton, spoke next. She related a number of her early experiences, all of which were entertaining.

This is an hour devoted to reviewing the past. You are mostly aware that since your last meeting a novel method of looking backward has been introduced by that fanciful romancer, Mr. Bellamy. It is in the modern style of "French without a teacher," or, retrospection made easy. The fiction is a piece of brilliant imagination of a people who have retired from individual competition and achievement, who have delegated the direction of most of their affairs to the paternal instincts of a central government. The scheme leaves out the imperfections of our humanity and so avoids much that has humbled us in the struggles for perfection. Mr. Bellamy's hero has never known toil or struggle. He does not even patiently await on the promise "He giveth his beloved sleep." He gets hypnotized in the forenoon of life's busy day, and enjoys a century and more of mesmeric slumber. Then he awakens, with no aid of a general resurrection, awakens prematurely to a new order of affairs. Mr. West's fancy, wonderfully fertilized by his long rest, disports itself luxuriantly among the promises of a new earth, and realizes at once upon all such as he had a taste for. He modestly chronicles himself as awakening at the threshold of the next thousand years, but his illusions are freely fraught with the most of material hopes possible to the whole millennium.

Now it is nice enough for us old boys, foot-sore and wearied with the ground floor of real life, to go a kiting once in a while with a child of a vivid imagination; but we know very well that our humanity is too heavy for that balloon. The young enthusiast for social perfections has our sympathies; we should be glad to have him land his air castle, and anchor it somewhere upon our planet and bequeath all that is practicable to posterity. But we strongly suspect his imaginary republic won't materialize. For the kind of people he so easily fancies as living happily together are "not born of the will of man" alone, much less does fair progeny come forth from the paternalism of any human government merely. It must itself be be born from above. When the spirit of the Divine Father shall have descended upon all, and be in all and through all city fathers, and state grandfathers and national great grandfathers, then Mr. Bellamy's vision may be realized.

But our looking backward is over the real earth, wherein we have not prematurely rested underground in profound sleep. Our awakenings have not been under any overshadowing gourd of a night's growth. We are reviewing a period of unbroken toils, in which we have borne our parts. We have dropped in here to-day from the real battle field of principles where the struggle for righteousness has been constant and severe ; where nothing has been looked for in the perfections of the organisms, civil or ecclesiastical, that does not arise from and is not sustained by the individual perfections of the majority. Mind, I do not say, that each one of the majority must be superior to our social institutions, but each one helps to mass a grandeur of character, and to voice a sublimity of thought, inherent in the majority, which is greater. Even republics cannot bequeath eminence to their citizens. In any democracy must be found a plurality of men and women whose characters are grander than the nation which they build, the commonwealths they fashion, the institutions they found. Every town and county has had settlers and pioneers intellectually great or morally grander than their municipalities. Just as Washington, whose birthday we commemorate, was nobler than the confederation, and just as he and his worthy compatriots gave the rich overflow of lives fed from the supernal fountains, to the securing of surer forms of a more perfect union, so may we continue to arise out of the increasing excellence and probity of more enlightened and purified majorities or we may gradually fall through their decadence.

The revered Washington, both in his inaugurals and in his ever memorable farewell address, was a supplicant to that Almighty Being "who rules over the universe ; who presides in the counsels of nations," that His benediction might enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.

Now I wish to emphasize again that this Washington, instead of being the child of the colonial paternalism was the father of his country. It was his virtues, his heroism, grandeur of his character that gave his country renown. What is a country, my hearers, but a landscape of its notable men and women, good or bad? What is the proudest nation, but a chart of earth, whereon are marked the birth places, the scenes of toils, of sacrifices, of heroism, of victories, and the resting places of her noble dead?

What has made our country more glorious than any other on the round earth ? Was it her mountains, her valleys, . her lakes, rivers, forests, mines, skies and climates ? All were here with the red men. Was the home of the savages either lustrous or of high repute ? No! No! But there migrated hither, some noble men from the best bloods earth ever nourished, and they and their descendants have given it all its fame, all its splendors and sublimities.

It was those pioneers who cleared our Atlantic shores, and made way for the majesties of civil and religious liberties; who gave large place to broadening manhood, but none to crowns and thrones; who welcomed a democracy of brawn and brain, among which should be neither preference of aristocrat, nor proscription of plebeian. It was such men as could camp in a wilderness and plant it with a civilization of free churches, free schools, free presses and free governments, that gave renown to the former land of savagery. It was the clusters of heroes that planted these institutions in the wilderness. It was the circles of their defenders, that gathered like "coronets of flame about the wise leader of freedom's battles," together with the unconquerable recruits that swept up the north for their second maintenances, that made the nation.

O the dignity of men that can survey wilderness and give immortality to their pathway. That can found a government that shall change the world's choices of its social institutions.

It is an immense, pleasure for me on this 22d day of February, to look into the faces of self-forming men, who have also formed new societies and states, worthy successors of the revered Washington, who have imparted your own excellence to your rising institutions.

Venerable pioneers you have not been solicit ants of governmental nutriment. You have not been reared as leeches or parasites living upon benefice or sinecure, nor at the expense of public or private virtue. You are men who were in at the fights, but not at the spoils; you have not grown fat upon jobbery or robbery of towns or states. But you are representatives of the hardy sons of labor, and honest industry by whose toil all that is sublime in our past has been achieved, and by whose exposures to the perils of war, that which is best has been preserved.

I could pray that each of you might go late into heaven to join the company of your coadjutors who have been promoted to the other world solemnities.

Our anniversaries are made less lustrous by the passing of their familiar faces behind the veil, their heads grown hoary in the way of service were crowns of glory to our assemblies. But other crowns awaited them beyond the river. We deem it not strang-e nor wholly sad that they should be advanced to other fields. For the sake of their better portion we can rejoice in their rewards. But let the distinguished privileg-e remain to us and to our anniversaries, of wearing- some chaplet or wreath of laurel, that long- may breathe the essence of their lives and the fragrance of their memories.

For the best manhood of every ag-e is enriched by the heroic lives of preceding- centuries. And every philosopher and historian, every poet and orator should incarnate ag-ain something of the spirit of Old Mortality, whose chief pleasure was found in unearthing the buried monuments of the old Scotch heroes; clearing the mosses from headstones of the covenanters and rechiseling the inscriptions of their hardy virtues, their enduring fidelities, and in erecting fresh memorials of hitherto unheralded fame, belonging to men who had neither been bred nor fostered by paternal governments of kings, but who were really purified and perfected by the fires of their persecutions and the narrow intolerance which drove them apart with God.

But the memorialist should not forget that we are a composite people, having a blood enriched from heroes' veins from every land and race. That the whole world is here made kin, in the amalgum of one assimilated humanity, in one affiliated brotherhood. Let true worth be commemorated in all our pioneers alike; in the French missionaries of the Romish church; in the children of the Netherlands and Germany, and in the sons of Lrin with equal pride.

Worthily mig-ht we pause to read the whole eleg-y over the grave of every village Hampden, or mute inglorious Milton, whose patriotic or poetic fires were consumed in burning the forests' primeval, from fields where posterity is to enjoy its earthly paradise. Let their obituaries be prepared with care and so become an inspiration to our children.

But I will not leave you with the fascinating picture of Walter Scott. There is an English painting of no less present interest. The artist names his fine conception, "How they met themselves." It is described as a man and a woman, haggard and weary, wandering in a somber wood. Suddenly they encounter the shadowy figures of a youth and maid ; some mysterious fascination fixes the gaze, and stills the hearts of the wanderers, and their amazement deepens into awe as they gradually recognize themselves as once they were - the bloom of youth upon their rounded cheeks ; the dewy light of hope in their trusting eyes ; exulting confidence in their springing step ; themselves blithe and radiant with the beauty of the dawn. Pioneer couples, turn to this picture as your own. Let me introduce you to your former selves, and now I close, with a picture of, your first home, as De Tocquevill looked in upon you while visiting the American Democracy. He sees a pioneer in a new retreat, felling a few trees and building a log house. He says nothing can offer a more miserable aspect than these isolated dwellings. The traveler who approaches one of them toward nightfall sees the flicker of the hearth-flame through the chinks in the walls, and in the night, if the wind rises, he hears the roofs of boughs shake to and fro in the midst of the great forest trees. Who would not suppose that this poor hut is the asylum of rudeness and ignorance, yet no sort of comparison can be drawn between the pioneer and the dwelling which shelters him. Everything about him is primitive and unformed ; but he is himself the result of the labor and the experience of eighteen centuries. He wears the dress and speaks the language of cities. He is acquainted with the past, curious of the future, and ready for argument upon the present; he is, in short, a highly civilized being who consents for a time to inhabit the backwoods and who penetrates into the wilds of a new world with the Bible, an ax and a file of newspapers.

My knowledge of some of you verifies the description, and my reverence for the "noble rage" that is now repressed within your genial souls bids me make room for the embellishments of this feast that you will give.

When Mr. Drown had concluded, Henry Kethroe occupied the floor for a few minutes. The audience was then favored with a selection from the Appleton Banjo Club, which received a tremendous encore. Judge Ryan followed with a few minutes' speech, which he made in his usual pleasant style. A letter was presented by Rev. Drown, written by Mrs. B. B. Murch, giving her experiences of the settlement of Grand Chute, in 1840 ; a letter from Charles Wolcott, now residing in Georgia, was also presented. Among those who were called on later for a few remarks were: William Briggs, William Whorton, K. Spencer, John McGillan, Mrs. J. F. Johnston, John Bottensek, Mrs. Alexander Ross, Mrs. T. W. Brown, R. Randall and Rev. Faville. This closed the exercises of ono of the most successful pioneer meetings ever held in Appleton.

The annual meeting of the Outagamie Pioneer Association met pursuant to notice at Odd Fellows' Hall, at 10 o'clock a. m. The meeting was called to order by John Dey the president; E. Spencer was present as secretary.

The first business in order was the election of officers for the ensuing year, which was accomplished as follows: President, John Dey; vice-president, John F. Johnston; treasurer, John McGillan; secretary, E. Spencer; executive committee, William F. Johnston, Joseph Rork, A. H. Burch, E. A. Abbott and A. A. Winslow.

The afternoon session was called to order at 1:30 o'clock by President John Dey, who in his opening remarks, regretted that the attendance was not as large as formerly, and returned thanks for his re-election to the office of president of the society.

The opening speech was made by Henry Kethroe of Ellington, one of the oldest pioneers in the society, who came to this part of the country in 1849. He related in a vivid manner the hardships through which many of the early settlers passed and told how at the first town meeting held in 1850, John Rynder was elected chairman, and before spring had held as well the offices of assessor, treasurer and town clerk, on account of the incumbents'stepping out before their terms expired.

Mrs. Joseph Rork told an interesting story of what was probably the first torch light procession ever held in Milwaukee. She was living in 1840 in that vicinity when a neighbor's son was approached one evening by an Indian whom he guided to the Indian encampment, two miles away. He was a likely young fellow and the tribe wanted to adopt him. He replied, however, that his father needed him, and. after being entertained royally until late in the evening, all the Indians, some sixty in number, lighted torches and escorted him home. Mrs. Rork also told how, while a preaching service was being held in a barn in the neighborhood, a gust of wind came in and blew the pastor's sermon under the barn floor. It took a boy half an hour to find it and the congregation meanwhile took a recess.

Daniel Huntley said he was glad to live in time of plenty and progress, and wished he could live another fifty years. He disagreed entirely with the sentiment that the "good old times were the best," and drew a graphic picture of the comforts and enjoyments now almost the universal possession, in distinction from the hardships of the past.

After more music by Bertie Johnston and a brief and happy address by President Dey, Rev. John Faville delivered the annual address upon the topic, " Wanted - More Pioneers," as follows :

The subject I have chosen to-day is : "Wanted - More Pioneers." Nothing is more evident nor inevitable than the thinning of the ranks of the original members of this association, those who came to this county before 1853. This is the twentieth year of your life as an organization. In another twenty years hardly one of the 124 whom you may call the charter members will be here to tell the story of their struggles and triumphs.

We do well to devote part of our time to-day to a memorial service for those who have left us the past year. But we cannot regret their going, for the honest, faithful pioneer must have a better inheritance awaiting him. We may rather congratulate those who have already emigrated to their new homes. But every arrival there makes a vacancy here, and if there was anything valuable about their work and life, we may well ask, who are to take the places of the old pioneers?

The early settlers of this county bore a peculiar relation to it. A certain kind of pioneering- is a thing- of the past. Many of the outward conditions of the days of 1850 can never return, but what is a pioneer? First, a worker. You cannot separate the idea of work from a pioneer any more than the quality of hardness from iron. Second, a first worker in a certain place or a worker in a new field. No matter what kind of work, if one g-oes out into the woods, or on the prairies, in the shop, or schoolroom, or laboratory, and works, when others have not been at work before him, he is a pioneer. The credit due the pioneers in a county like this, however, is in the amount or breadth of pioneer work done. They found nothing- done for them except by the Almig-hty. They came to found new homes, to make new farms, and roads, and mills, and cities, and schools, and churches, and g-overnment. They helped do what is the lot of very few in this world, lay the corner stone of a great state. In a word, they broug*ht civilization toOutag-amie county. And so marked are the chang-es they have made, so brilliant their success in turning- forests into farms, and log's into houses and mills, and Indian camps into cities, that we sometimes sigh for more such worlds to conquer, and because we cannot have them, say pioneer work is done.

But that isn't true. We are not yet through with Outagamie county. There is still work to be done, and fifty years hence it will not all be finished. So the question for this hour is not what pioneer work has been done, that is an open volume before us, but what needs to be done, that is as yet an unwritten volume. Not how many pioneers could be mustered in 1853, but how many have we in 1891 ? We cannot go back to 1850. We must go forward as a county to 1950.

I said the old pioneer by his coming to our county brought a new, a higher civilization to it. That was his mission. So is it the mission of the pioneer of to-day. That would have been a poor kind of pioneering forty years ago that had only kept the conditions of life and society and government it found here. So they are not pioneers

Civilization means the developing- and using- the powers of matter and mind. We shall have a perfect civilization when we g-et a complete mastery over and use of physical forces about us, and the spiritual forces in us. That's the pioneer's task, then, in any ag-e - to do new work in mastering- the world, to make new conditions for advancing man.

1. Wanted, then, in our count}' to-day, pioneers on the soil. The old pioneers would have made poor work of it had all insisted on becoming clerks or teachers or preachers. An ax and saw and plow are as necessary in the civilization of this world as a yard stick and spelling book and testament. He is a pioneer who clears ten acres of woodland, but not less. He who first experiments as to the kind of crop it is best fitted to, the stock to be raised, the fruits to cultivate, the barns to be built, the feed to be prepared, the machinery to be used, the homes to be made healthful and beautiful. There are a hundred chances on every farm in our county to-day for the pioneer, the man or woman who can improve on the farm life of the past.

2. Wanted, pioneers in the industrial world. What a wilderness we are in on what we call the labor question. We haven't any roads made yet we can fully rely on. We have blazed our way along like the early settler on the Indian trail.

You read this week that there are seventy tramps in our jail. Outagamie county is housing and feeding them at an expense of a dollar a day. The farmer and his wife who work twelve to fourteen hours a day, the hard working mechanics and merchant and manufacturer, is paying the bill. We quarter from two hundred to three hundred tramps in Outagamie county each year, and it seems that all the combined wisdom and efforts of our officials cannot devise a way to make them work. Here's a chance for pioneer work for some of us. To get rid of the wild- cats and wolves' and bears, was the mission of the old pioneer, but a far more difficult work is before us. Something- is tremendously wrong in ous industrial system in this country, if we must care for hundreds of able bodied men as we would for invalids or babes.

3. Wanted, pioneers in our school matters. The Indians in Outagamie county had as good a body as the white man, but not as good a brain, or rather, a brain he didn't use as well. You old settlers brought muscle to this county, but you brought something more important, i. e., the mental training you got in the district schools and acadamies and colleges of the east. It is because you planned and studied, because you could think that you brought a better civilization. You founded schools here, but there's plenty of pioneer work needed in them yet. If what is reported in one of our papers last week in reference to a school in the town of Osborne is true, then pioneer educational work is needed there as surely as thirty years ago. The school question has been an embarrassing one to some, politically, the past year, but that will all blow over. I judge it has already, and then the men and the women in this county will have to take it up and do pioneer work. Some work that will impress on us the fact that civilization in Outagamie county will go back, that we shall approach barbarism again if we do not see to it that every child in our county is well educated. Statistics prove that a common school education adds 50 per cent to the productive power of the laborer, considered as a man machine, an academic or high school education increases it 100 per cent, and a college education 250 per cent. Pauperism is increased twenty-two fold by illiteracy. See how well it pays. We have four to five million illiterates. Suppose they can earn $100 a year, now increase that 50 per cent by a common school education and you have $200,000,- 000 more than we pay for education. Wanted, then, more pioneers in the schools of Outagamie county.

4. Wanted, pioneers for our newspapers and our pulpits. Aside from our schools the great educational forces in our counties is the newspaper and the church. Neither are where they cannot be improved, but as a minister I can very clearly see the mote in the eye of my brother of the newspaper, while he as clearly sees the beam in his brother minister's eye. Our papers rank well with the papers of any county, but the coming- paper will give more attention to industries and schools and reforms and science and arts and religion, and far less to scandals, trials, prize fights, races, crimes, and accidents. Far more to fair discussion and far less to unfair partisanship. I would like to see a paper issued in which every article should have the author's name signed to it, no matter if it was an editorial or a personal. The old settler with a paper once a month was not so far behind those of us who have two papers a day, and books so cheap no one can read a hundreth part of those accessible to us, because he thought upon and used the intelligence he had. It has been said "civilization has given us ears and we have lost the use of our feet ; it has given us watches and we cannot tell the hour of the day ; it has given us the nautical almanac and we do not know a star in the sky ; it has given us vast libraries and we have ceased to think." And there's some truth in that. The pioneer needed in the mental field to-day is one who will read less and think more, read fewer books and better ones, and who will make the paper and the book that is sent out to our county something that will educate instead of degenerate.

5. Wanted, pioneers in the moral field. The people who settled in Outagamie county believed in the decalogue. They started a society simple and strong and moral. If we, their children, do not do pioneer work in moral problems it will not be their fault. Outagamie county sent 1,400 men to the war of the rebellion. But there is more chance for pioneer work in morals now than forty years ago. A community, like a child, has greater problems to solve as it grows in age and experience. So there faces us to-day questions in reference to rights and wrongs that were hardly thought of by the pioneers of 1850. I spoke of the tramp problem ; forty years ago they did not know the meaning of the word.

Forty years ago almost every man and woman was working for themselves. Now three-fourths are employed by the remaining one-fourth. Then social life was simple, now we are crystallizing or hardening into sets and circles and grades and classes. Then there were a few foreigners, now a large majority are of foreign birth or parentage. Remember, the pioneer is one who works and who works in new fields. So the woman who to-day is helping solve the servant girl question will be just as much a true pioneer as the one who, forty years ago, barred her little cabin against the Indians. The man who will shoulder a moral principle to-day and walk out into new places in government or society with it is just as much a pioneer as one who shouldered an ax forty years ago and went out to make a clearing in the woods. And all this pioneer work will do as great things for the coming fifty years as surely as the old settlers' work did the past fifty. The romantic days, the stirring, the effective days are not gone. There's more to be done for our counly than has been. Greater improvements can be made the next half century than the last half. So that fifty years from to-day some of you can meet here and tell of . as great changes, of as honest struggles and toil, and of great victories, as those of us here to-day who have seen the changes of the last century.

And here we shall have to learn of and follow the old pioneer, for he had the spirit and the aim that must enter all pioneer work. Our methods will not be the same but our characteristics, our qualities of life must be.

You cannot make a pioneer without a large number of these qualities. If then we, who are here to-day, have inherited or will cultivate these graces we are not going to disgrace the old pioneers or squander the inheritance they have brought to us.

When we shall, all of us, see that it is a duty and a possibility for us to better our condition. Not sink down into the ruts of any business and be moored there, when we see that the great aim of every one should not be to find the best job, but to make the best of what he now has, and make that a better one. When we get ambitious to have a home of our own, when we take a pride in our work and put into it our very best self ; when we go out into life in the great spirit of neighbor and brother, not whining but hopeful, not discouraged but full of good cheer; when we see that any one to win must have some faith in himself and then must remember that he cannot get along in this world unless God is his friend and helper - then there will be no longer a call for more pioneers.

I congratulate to-day the old pioneer who is with us, but more the one who has again emigrated. The qualities of life they developed, the characters they carved out, must surely have better fields, more room, choicer championships for growth there than here.

But I also congratulate the coming pioneer. I do not care whether he be on the soil or in the shop, in the store or school. We need them all. There's a magnificent field before us.

President Dey at this point gave a brief historical sketch of the old pioneers who had departed this life since the last preceding meeting. A somewhat remarkable circumstance is that for the last three years, some member of the society has died either on the day of the meeting or very close to it. This year it was B. B. Murch. The other pioneers who had died during the year were : John Stephens, S. J. Perry, Miles Perry, Stephen Root and wife, William Root, William Young, William Nau, Elizabeth Rupple, John McMurdo, Sr., Mrs. M. McComb, Rev. M. Harrington, Mrs. Leach, Mrs. A. C. Beach, F. E. Adsit, Mrs. Spofford, Mrs. Mullet, F. B. Torrey, Caspar Herman, Isaac Cobb, James Lake, Rhoda Watson, Fred Wise, Mrs. M. R. Barteau, Mrs. Lempke, Mrs. Zhart.

A letter of greeting from Mark A. Mosher of Milwaukee, was read by J. F. Johnston. Brief remarks were then made by Mrs. L. C. Baer and Mr. Joseph Rork, portraying the difference between pioneer life and existence at the present day. James Webly related the sad story of his boy who wandered away into a swamp in early days and although three hundred men searched, his clothes and

Brief remarks were made by E. A. Abbott and J. F. Johnston. Mr. Johnston built the first shanty in Appleton and was first postmaster of the village. Volunteer speeches were then made by C. E. Spicer, and Rev. A. A. Drown. H. D. Ryan moved that the society next year purchase a bell to be placed on the president's table and each speaker be limited to three minutes - especially the president ! He also protested against so many "fish" stories. He was something of a liar himself and proceeded to prove it much to the edification of the audience, but he didn't like to hear other people tell such whoppers.

This concluded the speaking. Mrs. L. C. Baer and Mrs. E. B. Mills were appointed to prepare papers for the next meeting, and the president was authorized to appoint some member of the society to prepare during the year, short obituary sketches of any members who might be called to join the majority. The meeting closed with prayer by Rev. John Faville.

The surviving pioneers had a glorious reunion at Odd Fellows' Hall, a large representation being from the country towns, the city also furnishing its quota. The forenoon meeting was for the purpose of selecting officers for the ensuing year, with the following result: President, John Dey; vice-president, Henry Kethroe; secretary, E. Spencer; treasurer, John McGillan; executive committee, W. F. Johnston, John McGillan, C. A. Abbott, W. W. Briggs. Adjourned for dinner, which consisted of a sumptuous repast, furnished from ample baskets brought by the pioneers' wives and daughters, which was partaken of to the excellent music of the Center Cornet Band, which also added greatly to the afternoon entertainment, the music being well interspersed among the speeches.

The afternoon session was called to order by President John Dey, who proceeded to pronounce brief eulogies upon the late Judge Myers, W. H. Sampson and others.

A vocal selection was admirably rendered by Eugene McGillan, followed by a recitation by little Wells Nesbitt, which brought out great applause.

Mr. Whitman showed how this pioneer meeting- was typical of many other reunions held this day in Wisconsin; and taking- Washing-ton's birthday for the occasion of such meeting's was very appropriate, because he was also a person who did a great deal of pioneer work in Western Virginia," Ohio and Kentucky.

The history of this part of Wisconsin and Fox River Valley is rich with achievements of the old explorers, Fa Salle, Marquette and others, back in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

He also told how the French voyagers and trappers traversed this country coming up from the St. Lawrence River Valley, and many of these French names are now given to places in this state. He also gave a brief account of the different Indian tribes that occupied what is now Wisconsin, speaking of the Sioux, Chippewas, Menominees, Winnebagos, Outagamies and also spoke of the chiefs of some of the noted Indian tribes, Black Hawk, Gray Eagle, Dekorah and Oshkosh. He showed how Green Bay and Sheboygan were the principal ports to reach this part of Wisconsin and described the early means of traveling by battaux and ox-cart along the blazed pathway*. He also showed that the principal immigration started into Wisconsin in the '40's, coming from the eastern states and the western countries of Europe. He also spoke of these early settlers as a sturdy class of people; and that both men and women were the very people to build up the great commonwealth like Wisconsin. He also spoke of a few of the early settlers in different parts of the county, mentioning the Grignons, Lawe, Meade, Beaulieus, Verstegen, Simpson, Conklin, McNab, Batley, McGillans, and mentioned a few of those in the central and western part of our county, Leith, Johnson, Breiterick, Smith, Rexford, Pews, Hyde, Horton, Walker, McMurdo, Steffens, -Briggs, Perrys, Culbertson, Young, Williams and many others in different parts of the county. He also described the early settlers of Appleton and town of Grand Chute.

tog-ether with the hardships of early life in Wisconsin, and he pictured how the men and women of those days lived a happy, simple life and gave their hospitality and sympath}" to strangers and neighbors coming into this wilderness.

"Within less than fifty years it is remarkable how this county and vicinity has been transformed into a settled state, filled with cities, some strung- along- the Fox river like a string- of pearls; with the railroads, steamboat lines, great mills and factories and all the other advantag-es and inventions of the ninteenth century."

He mentioned a few of the incidents of pioneering-, showing- some of the humorous events as well as the sad and serious that happened years ag-o, and how they spoke of a person as a neig-hbor althoug-h often living- five to eig-ht miles away. In closing- he spoke of the character of the pioneers.

The pioneer must be a man of strong faith filled with bravery and capable of hard labor; his wife must be a strongminded and noble woman, ready to underg-o what they had to for the sake of bettering- the condition of their family. How the memory g-oes back to those days when she, the pioneer wife and mother, fulfilled her duties in the family, yet a friend to welcome the strang-er. How she worked and planned for the comfort, with her limited means, yet how much of life she g-ave to us in those days when without notice and preparation she welcomed all with hospitality. The pioneers were neig-hbors in the truest sense of the word. They expressed sympathy to all in the need of assistance, or g-ave aid to all ; and an acquaintance made in those days will be a lasting- friendship forever. The aid and comfort that they gave was meager, but it came with a true, warm spirit and was sincere and heartfelt.

We often turn back to those days as the best and happiest, and so they will always be remembered, not because they were freed from suffering and care and work ; but because in sharing each others hardships and living in that common sympathy, we fully became acquainted with each other, met as neighbors on a same common level. And it is that simplicity which binds us to these early days. The history of Outagamie county has not yet been written, but some one who is a ready writer should begin now to gather material to write such a history, so as to preserve the early life and reminiscences of the pioneers before they have passed away ; then this history will be read by the future generations who must always be thankful for what those early settlers have done for them. Such a history must show the plain, simple pioneer with his family slowly entering into this wilderness, who often had to hew the road for his team to advance, and who in the beginning had many years of hard struggle to get a bare existence ; those men planted the seed of civilization, out of which has come the present condition of our state,, cities, rich farming country, great mills with lines of commerce and travel, schools, churches and colleges ; all built upon the basis that they commenced.

The history and record of the settlement and development of Wisconsin in all its different counties will be filled with the scenes and pictures which show how the wilderness was converted into a commonwealth. It will require the best historical talent to fully set forth the work and character of these men and women who came here from 1830 to 1860, and settled among and in the forests of this state, preparing homes for their children and future generations.

In closing I will add that this small remnant of pioneers have assembled here to-day and the others that are scattered over the county should meet to recount these scenes and events of which so much can be said, so that their children and the people living here to-day can always give them due respect and veneration. And when all you pioneers shall have passed away, it will be right for your children and their children's children to meet and commemorate it as the Forefathers' Day for the State of Wisconsin.

The Pioneer Association of Outagamie County held its annual meeting- in the Odd Fellows' building-. The attendance was unusually larg-e. The meeting- was called to order in the morning by President John Dey. New officers were elected as follows : President, John Dey; vice-president, Henry Kethroe; secretary, E. Spencer; treasurer, John McGillan; executive committee, W. F. Johnston, C. F. Abbott, A. A. Winslow, Ira Scott, Joseph Rork.

Then the meeting adjourned for dinner. Four long tables were stretched the length of the hall and at least one hundred and seventy-five sat down to a bounteous repast furnished by the ladies of the society. This was the most largely attended anniversary meeting the society has held in many years.

The afternoon session was opened at 1:30 with prayer by Rev. John Faville. The audience sang a national air to Miss Anderson's organ accompaniment. Daniel Huntley read a paper on the late George Lanphear. A collection was then taken up to cover the expenses of the meeting and amounted to $13.18.

The report of the finance committee was read. President Dey made his ninth annual address, in which he spoke fittingly of the members who had passed away during the preceding year. Following is a list of those who have died, 29 in all : Jackson Tibbets, George Lanphear, Fred Hecker, Wm. Masefield, Michael Wood, Duncan McNabb, Frederick Baker, Louis Buchman, Tim Farrell, Patrick Grogan, Mrs. Peter McGregor, C. Mitchell, Mrs. Boy, Mrs. Celia P. Doane, Albert Balliet, Theo. Kober, A. H. Burch, Mrs. A. Wood, Jos. Gmeiner, Jos. Jack, Jacob Rupple,

This memorial day bring-s its sweet thrill of joy to you locally, and also to our national millions widely scattered, because it bears in its brig-ht sunshine the music of patriotism.

Washing-ton's and Lincoln's birthdays, with seventyseven years between their cradles, occur the 22d and 12th of each February. The greater of these men, orators and history have failed to decide, but tog-ether they represent the truest type of the purest Americanism that has been or is likely to be known. Great men are inspiring-. They are the solitary landmarks. History crystalizes about these as rock candy crystalizes about some firm substance. They are vastly more than steel engraving's ! History traces the great social movements of our world, whether malevolent or benevolent to these few individuals. Perhaps history raises great men unduly above the commonality of humanity. But far be it from me to lower Washington an inch on the magnificent pedestal where a grateful country has placed him- - Washington, great in the field, greater in the cabinet, noble in the home, grand among his fellows, illustrious before his God, masterly wherever duty called him, or fiery trials and ambition tested him, till proved in every joint of a patriot's harness, he stands forth invulnerable, the most triumphant specimen of a nation's pride. But a great man is largely made by the occasion, brought into being by other men and forces, and so he becomes great through the unsung eminence of others. And for the same reason that Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe, because standing upon other repeated elevations rising from the sea, so our nation, the last and greatest is chiefest among her fifty other sisters, because she had profited by their civilization out of which she has developed. Our splendid liberties did not hatch from the Mayflower or from Washing-ton's cabinet, but rather from Mt. Sinai and Mt. Olivet two and three milleniums ag-o. Nationally we owe a debt to the past we can never pay; and so our patriotism must justly extend to the liberty loving nations of all lands. We spring from the loins of gigantic fathers, who lifted us upon their shoulders that we may be taller than they. Our sympathies and patriotism may be too narrow but can't be too broad. We are the only civilization of history founded by a civilized people. American institutions began with the flower of the seventeenth century culture, and the glory of the Anglo-Saxon stock, the Miltons, Cromwells and Shakespeares, and were bible-loving, Sabbath-keeping and God-fearing men. Now society may call you pioneers common people, but God calls no faithful man or woman common. And when this nation wanted its Washingtons, Lincolns, Garfields and Grants it has always looked among your kind to get them. But you pioneers have reasons to feel proud that you stand in the last century of the pioneer business; and this fact is rendered so because of written history, which forbids great discoveries and inventions to be lost, and thus repeat themselves. Written history will cause the world henceforth to hold the good it attains. Wisconsin will never have any other first settlers but you.

We owe much to written history, which has preserved the greatness of the past for our profit, and will retain for the future the best we can achieve. We have not achieved it all. Be it remembered that in a vital sense we are slaves yet, if not externally, internally. There is no true liberty save internal liberty. No nation is ever free until its individual members are free, and no man is ever free until he is free in his conscience and affections, leaving unselfish and selfsacrificing. Outward freedom on statutes may mean inward bondage, but such is not true self-government - which is a better term than the much abused word, liberty. No man or nation is truly free until there is a mastering desire to restrain the lower nature, and love the higher laws of existence. The animal must go down, the man come up ! But the love and practice of these hig-her laws is the result of patient and gradual culture.

Washing-ton placed us in the school of democracy and self-g-overnment and we have not yet graduated. Selfg-overnment is yet partial, for selfishness, cruelty, injustice and hate still live. Popular g-overnment does not emanci pate, and our boasted institutions are no safer and strong-er than the nature of the people is pure and truth loving-..

And authority must not cause Americans to think by proxy - this means slavery! Neither must authority be arrog-ant. but conducive to loving- and intelligent obedience. Superiors must not think for inferiors in a democracy, hence, education among- the masses must be studiously encourag-ed. Voters must be enabled to think for themselves and think rig-htly. Every voter is a king-. The prime duty of a democracy is the spread of general intelligence among its people indiscriminately. Six hundred thousand voters in this land that cannot read and as many more that cannot write is a dangerous record to let stand. We are writing and talking much about the dangers of our social life, and the remedy is not negative but positive. That positive remedy is the spread of education among all classes. The thing of supreme importance to the liberties of this land is the common school. The point of supreme concern with us is not the upper but the lower stratum of society. Educate the lower stratum. General intelligence in a democracy is master. The district common school should be the very best school in this republic; and manned by the teachers of finest brains and truest hearts. The education of every child to self-denial and obedience is the only way to a better manhood, and a solution to our knotty questions. As a nation we have attained our first stage of progress which is material wealth. But the desire* of wealth without work will work our ruin, as we have seen in ancient civilization.

are discouraged by monopolies and organized wealth when they consider their unproportional progress. Yet this stiT of life at the bottom of the social fabric indicates strength and high ideals in the government. The high bottom pressure can be managed by plying wisely the principles of love, fraternity and equality of opportunity to all classes alike. The common school is the fundamental organ of our safety, along with which moral principles must move as a deep guiding force, rendering the idea of self-government more practical as we go on thus to attain a larger manhood, we shall inevitably have better laws, better order, better homes and better citizens, all pledging perpetuity.

Then all sang the "Star Spangled Banner." President Dey told a funny story of how he bought his first hog. Short volunteer speeches were given by Sam Ryan, Henry Kethroe, Jos. Rork, Henry Dickerson, Wm. Briggs and Dr. Riley of Ohio. After singing "America" the meeting adjourned.

In pursuance of notice the twenty-second anniversary of the Outagamie Pioneers was observed at Odd Fellows Hall. A very large number assembled to greet the members of of the association whose ranks are thinning so fast. There has never been, perhaps, more interest manifested in this organization than on this, its twenty-second birthday and never a larger and more characteristic attendance. About 125 sat down to the heavily laden table. Many white heads were present and many friends greeted one another in groups that will never celebrate another anniversary entire. John Dey, the venerable president who has held the office since 1875 with the exception of three years, occupied the chair, and had gathered to the occasion all his sons and daughters. Elihu Spencer, secretary of the association for almost as long, still held his pencil as badge of office.

The officers were all re-elected as follows : President, John Dey; vice-president, Henry Kethroe; treasurer, John McGillan; secretary, E. Spencer; executive committee, William F. Johnston, H. Hardacker, E. A. Abbott, A. A. Winslow and Ira Scott.