Sauk County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1861 (part 6 of 13)

During a period of three years but two deaths occurred among thenames recorded on the minutes of the association. which numbered, prior to this meeting, 171. When we reflect that a large share of this number are aged persons, it would seem to have been a period of unusually small mortality in a class of this age of life.

Friend* and FtHmv-M mbt r» of tin Sauk Couh tii E.tA>i Settler $' Association: - 1% \s with some reluctance that I appear before you, ;is I havt.. notbing prepared for this interesting occasion. - I will, however, commence by saving that, with a full heart I greet you. I see before me many of the old -.'.nd familiar faces of other days - men and women who, twenty-five years ajro, were in all the buovanev of vigorous youth, full of hupe fur the future, hut. with heads now whitening f<> their last res'.im; place, who have come from re mote parts of 'he county to this reunion of our society. May it prove truly " a feast of reason and a (low id' soul,'" and as we again look upon each otht r and exchange the friendly grasp ul the hand, may we each call to mind memories »( the olden time .when we "felt for other's woe* aui had patience for our own."

Twenty-eight years ago I stood upon the nisrfcod horde? of l>evH's L-ilie. Two or three Indian canoes floated upon it> placid waters, while on ttve not them shore lay -encamped a small told that a railroad would ever pass through May these meetings be long contiuued , mar those gorges with twenty trains n day freighted the? become sources of pride and pleasure tons with the products of the great Northwest, I all, and however much we may differ in politics should have regarded it as the "baseless fabric or religion, may those differences be ail laid of a vision" existing only in the morbid imagina- aside, and we come together on one common tion of one "more to be pitied than blamed." - ground of social brotherhood ; and thus may we Vet so it is ; "Westward the star of empire takes live to love and cherish each other until the last its way." I an told that Mmnesota last year gray-haired patriarch among us shall have passproduced 50, f>00,000 bushels of wheat, and that ed to that '-bourne from which no traveler rein the coming harvest that amount will be great- turns," where "the wicked cease from troubling ly< augmented, -and tne weary are at rest."

for improvement as the more receni immigrant. ajj almost the best man living. His Ou a certain occasion Henry Ward Beecber de- i.ul<TUajre was warm and strong in praise livered a discourse in the presence of his aged OI "£[r. F. He thought him almost the father, Dr. Lyman Beecber. At its close, when father ot Christianity in Sank county, some of his audience were congratulating him on and an excellent pattern of his faith his very fine effort, the old sent leninn, straight- wherever he was, not only because he ening op In his pride, and significantly pointing was a good christian, hut hi 'cause Into his son, Paid. "If it bad not been for me vou was naturally a good man. He related would never have had that sermon." And' so. anecdotes of him, most of winch we :umv friends, had it not been foms these l.iv- ready have in a reminiscence react by . . ,4 u v » Mr. Fullerton at our first meeting, tiugered upstarts would never have been here. - ... . . -,, ,, . . :,. .... * « which was printed with the proceeding.- In all former tunes the pioneer has been .he con- ^ fa nQw ^ ^ ^.^ of th., secretarv early settlers were men of sterling character, as Up witit much care ; and that young T.vrwas indicated in the phvsi.ignomy of almost all. sous sliould hare the opportunity 01 ed downward-men of character and of iron will; alive their recollections of this most mi i -. - -. - . .u . f .i tere^tiiiO" time ill tne lustorv Of anv

While we nvet and part from year to year, ^ He l'efeivcd to our bountiful avereach time hut makes the number less. Since at,p (>r()pS -s» compared with those of

Wm. Johnson took the stand and said that he brought the first breaking plow into the county. There was then but one white woman residing m the county. That they arrived at the river at night ; after a while Jim Enspringer came with a woman. It was cold and they all lay down together under the same blankets. In the morning all was right, and they were rested from their weary fatigue of the previous day. The woman fixed them up an excellent breakfast. They then crossed the river, and he thought that this woman was the second white woman on Sauk Prairie.

He moved up with one of those large Pennsylvania wagons, drawn by three yoke of oxen. He then told the story of their crossing the river. (This story has been printed.) He worked 100 acres of land down by the mines the summer he was building and breaking up here.

The marshal, E. D. Evens, formed a procession, and, led by the band, it proceeded to the tables in the two long rooms of the main building. This was advertised to be a plain farmer's dinner, gotten up in "New England kitchen style, by James Cowles, the veritable yaukee we read of. " The yankee had forgotten those old dinners, for this one, to speak in stock-breeding style, was a cross between a banquet and a rich visiting dinner. The only objection to it was that fifty cents apiece for the meal hardly paid for getting it up.

Mrs. Rosaline Peck

President Crawford said : The old settlers desire to present you this cake as a token of our appreciation of your enterprise, courage and endurance, as the pioneer white lady settler of Baraboo, and also of your kindness to those in need : and we trust you will accept it with our best wishes for your present and future happiness.

To which Mrs. Peck replied, that while she was not aware of having done anything to merit special commendation or notice, she still felt very much gratified and pleased at this manifestation of kindly feeling; and she should be farther pleased if this beautiful cake. for which she offered many thanks, could be so distributed that every old settler could partake of it.

11th. At 3 o'clock the dinner visiting was broken up by the president calling the meeting to order. The time had arrived for the election of new officers and looking over the finances of the association. The following officers were elected in due form :

The place for the next meeting war. then discussed. W. H. Canfield contended that out of justice, and policy, and every other principle of right it should be held in the rich valley of Honey Creek, with our German friends, who compose so large an element of this county, and so many of whom are old settlers; that there is a beautiful place, worth a journey to see, at which it might be held, viz., the Natural Bridge near Konig and Pagle's mill.

Mr. Geo. W. Bloom also proposed having it held at Bloom. But the Sauk vote stood as a unit against us, and it was carried to be held again at Baraboo.

12th. After the election was over, Arba M. Seymour came forward and took the stand. He said that it had been his fortune to travel much over this county (as an agent of the Madison Mutual Eire Insurauce Company and as a surveyor). He came here a young man. Years rolled by. His wife began to pick white hairs out of his head. What would his head look like now if all the hairs were picked out. He told several anecdotes, some of which have been before" published. He felt it a great privilege to meet again with his old friends.

The old settlers did not respond to the call to bring articles of antiquity, paintings, photographs and other relies, as much as could have been desired. The stand for the speaker was made of a pine board floated down the Wisconsin in the first raft ever ran down that river. Eben Peck bought lumber out of this raft at §80 per M, besides drawing it to Madison; and out of that lumber this stand was made. On it lay a Bible from the Nash family, now in W. H. Canfield's family. A little medicine trunk (wooden) that is over a hundred years old. Also a china tea canister, holding a quarter of a pound, a quantity that in the earlier history of tea drinking would last about a year. The canister is of about the same age as the trunk, and was handed in by Mrs. Hatch. A pewter tea-pot, very small, that was used before the revolutionary war; the American Almanac, date 1713; The Ulster County Gazette, containing the death of Washington; The Providence Gazette of Oct. 6th, 1708; the first number and first volume of the Sauk County Standard; a large photograph of I. A. Lapham, LL. D., wdio settled in Milwaukee in 183G, and at present has charge of our geological survey, and a

Of Photographs Presented

Jonathan Hatch and wife Polly ; Charles Hallasz and wife Emma ; Martha Jane Prethero ; Adam Dunlap ; Archibald Hill ; Martha Hatch, wife of Archy Hill ; John Metcalf, deceased (the picture taken after death) ; H. D. Jones.

Photographs Ox Exhibition

John Caldwell and wife Minerva, (deceased); S. V. R. Ableman; Gen. A. W. Starks, (deceased); Albert Jameson; Wesley Clement; Eoswell Clement; Gridley Clement; Jabesh Clement, (deceased); Mrs. S. F. Eoot; Frances A. Canfield (deceased), late wife of H. G. Angle; Martha Shepard, now of Watsonville, Contra Costa Co., Cal. ; Cornelia C. Canfield, wife of Mark Shepard, of same 7)1 ace; Charles O. Baxter, and sister Eachel, (deceased); Orrin Noble and wife, of Eugene City, Oregon; Jonas Tower (deceased); Jas. W. Babb; John Wilson and wife Janet, (deceased); James A. Maxwell and wife Martha Dartt, of Colorado.

This album was constantly in the hands of some one, and was an article of much interest to all present. The secretary would here remark, that if any persons will send their photograph, he will take pleasure in putting them into the album, to the gratification of all who look over its pages.

would his head look like now if all the white hairs were picked out. He told several anecdotes, some of which have lieeii before published. He felt it a great privilege to meet again with his old friends.

The old settlers did not respond to the call to bring ai-tieles of antiquity, paintings, photographs and other relics, as much as could have been desired. The stand for the speaker was made of a pine board floatrd down the Wisconsin in the first raft ever ran down that river. Eben Peck bought lumber out of this raft at §80 per M, besides drawing it to Madison; and out of that lumber this stand was made. On it lay a Bible from the Nash family, now in W. H. Canfield's family. A little medicine trunk (wooden) that is over a hundred years old. Also a china tea canister, holding a quarter of a pound, a quantity that in the earlier history of tea drinking would last about a year. The canister is of about the same age as the trunk, and was handed in by Mrs. Hatch. A pewter tea-pot, very small, that was used before the revolutionary war; the American Almanac, date 1713; The Ulster County Gazette, containing the death of Washington; The Providence Gazette of Oct. 6th, 1798; the first number and first volume of the Sauk County Standard; a large photograph of I. A. Lapham, LL. 1)., who settled in Milwaukee in 1S36, and at present has charge of our geological survey, and a

Of, Photographs Presented

Jonathan Hatch and wife Polly ; Charles Hallasz and wife Emma ; Martha Jane Prethero ; Adam Dunlap ; Archibald Hill ; Martha Hatch, wife of Archy Hill ; John Metcalf, deceased (the picture taken after death) ; II. D. Jones.

Photographs On Exhibition

John Caldwell and wife Minerva, (deceased); S. V. R. Ablcman: Gen. A. W. Starks, (deceased); Albert Jameson; Wesley Clement; Roswell Clement; Gridley Clement; Jabesh Clement, (deceased); Mrs. S. F. Eoot; Frances A. Canfield (deceased), late wife of II. G. Angle; Martha Shepard, now of Watsonville, Contra Costa Co. , Cal. ; Cornelia C. Canfield, wife of Mark Shepard, of same place; Charles O. Baxter, and sister Rachel, (deceased); Orrin Noble and wife, of Eugene City, Oregon; Jonas Tower (deceased); Jas. W. Babb; John Wilson and wife Janet, (deceased); James A. Maxwell and wife Martha Dartt, of Colorado.

This album was constantly in the hands of some one, and was an article of much interest to all present. The secretary would here remark, that if any persons will send their photograph, he will take pleasure in putting them into the album, to the gratification of all who look over its pages.

Of The

Pursuant to previous notice in this paper, the OKI Settlers' AssociationjUiet on the 25th inst. for its fourth annual meeting. At day-break there was" a salute from the 3 pounder field-piece, and another at sumise. The artillery service -was under the direction of Sergeant L. O. Holmes. At 10:30 a. m. the Baraboo Cornet Band, under charge of J. Prethero, formed upon the public square and marched at the head of a procession to Mrs. Rosaline Peek's grove upon the east edge of town, where a speaker's stand and dancing floor had been built.

1st. At 11 o'clock Capt. Levi Moore, president of the association, called the meeting to order in a very appropriate speech. One idea presented was that we had come together not to cry over our hardships and troubles of the past, but to commemorate them. * * *

2d. Prayer by Elder Kezerta. It was fitting the occasion. He referred to the privations and hardships of a pioneer life and to the blessings that have grown out of it.

saying, however, he was not an "Honorable." but came within one of it in 1850. There were at that time three parties in the county, Whig, Democratic and Freesoil. Old man Brigham, Whig, Delando Pratt, Democrat, and himself, Freesoil, were the candidates. The vote stood thus: Dem. 61, Freesoil 60, and Whig 59. He regretted being so far from his audience and above them; would like to be en rapport with them, still could see their joyous faces and catch the twinkle of their eyes. He gave a cordial greeting from the bottom of his heart, and felt we had met on one common ground of brotherhood. These meetings had a tendency to draw us nearer together "to feel for others woes and patience for our own." He referred to our excellent band of mnsic, an indication of progress, contrasting its beautiful strains with the primitive whistle of the scnool boy in bygone days. He spoke of our educational progress. There were but three school- houses in the county when he came into it. Now each township was divided into from three to nine districts, with good school-houses filled with a corps of teachers who would compare favorably with any class of teachers in the world. He would call attention to our old log school-house in the northwestern part of the town, now by ruthless hands razed to the ground, in contra-distinction to our 840,000 structure with eight departments from primary to acndemic, furnishing its quota of pupils to our University. Of such things we may well be proud.

He also made mention of the characteristics of the old settlers, a hardy, generous race, whose latch strings always hung out, who always gave a kindly greeting to the wayworn traveler, the hoceuke and hominy of those days contrasting strangely with the strawberry shortcake of to-day.

Fourth Annual Meeting Of The

The women of Sauk county bad contributed us much to its material prosperity as the men, and deserve as great a meed of praise. We owe much to them, and in the language of Mark Twain, "were it uoc for them, we would be scarce, almitjhty scarce."

The old settlers were a class of people who were not always waiting for something to "turn up."' but turned things up themselves. If circumstances were unfavorable they created' circumstances. 'Tis well, 'tis fitting we should hold in grateful remembrance those who first broke ground in this our beautiful county. When a people cease to do honor to their glorious ancestry they are drifting away towards barbarism. It is therefore fitting and right that we drop a tear of regret for those who have gone down to their graves, since we last met, members of this association, "as shocks of corn fully ripe," leaving behind the aroma of a kind and generous life. He said he hoped that in the future some one would be selected to address the association who would collect facts and statistics of such a character as would be interesting and instructive, and lay them away on our archives, to which those who should come after might refer.

Our agricultural prospects wero never better. An abundant harvest is just upon us. Let us rejoice. The chaplain thanked God for the measure of health that so generally prevailed. It might be doubted by some whether the doctors could respond to a sentiment so damaging to them. You see, my friends, there is not much to be said in a- rapclap speech like this. When you throw out of the account science, politics and religion there is not much left. Hoping these meetings may continue with increasing interest from year to year, I take my leave by saying to ore and all, Be virtuous and be happy.

9th. President called on the Hon. C. C. Remington to address the audience, adding that all of the speeches to-day must of necessity be impromptu, for no time has been given the speakers for reflection.

: thanking the president for being so col i siderate iu his introduction, but ; thinks people would have found that i without telling them. He would rath* disagree with the former speaker in rd lation to set speeches. He thinks \\l 1 greatest inducement to call people tq 1 gether is to exchange friendly grc ings. If the old settlers could not meet these meetings are a failure. H\ thinks of all men James. W. Babb wi! long be remembered. For a long thai where Beedsburg now is was calie Babb's Ford. It was to have been t! chief feature of this day to have ha the old Virginia wagon repaired nr equipped and drawn by four horses! ' bringing the Babb family to this test val, but death had stepped in and take the father to his resting place, hence tl. hilarity planned for this occasion wai put to an end. The time was when td see "Old Babb" with his saddle <vh< ej horse and big wagon was as much of 4 sight as a train of ears is now. It would have been grand to have seen him in hi^ old wagon, marching at the head of a procession through the streets of ou village. The speaker referred with thusiasm to the generos - said he was a man that counts, and he believed he est hearted man that ever lived. H^ said, I once conducted a law suit fori ' him, growing out of a water power, thai finally went against him, and as a conse-j I quence he went back upon his lawyersJ ' and in the end it seemed to become uec-j essary for me to sue in order to collect! my fees. I sued him on account. He I 1 came down to court on the return-day ofj the summons and called for the bill. Itj ' was presented. That, said he, is allright. But, said I, you have paid some I on it, naming the amounts. Yes, sui.l he, I suppose that is so. And, said 1. I had your horse a week, and have staid sometimes at your house. That is nuth- 1 ing, said he. When I let a man have i ' anything in the way of friendship I uev er go back on it, and the old man re ' fused to take any credit on that.

Mr. R. thought the old settlers no I ' better than the new. They came ben j 1 to do the best they could, not to plant I the cross. We should not arrogate too j much to ourselves. It is the fashion of. j the day to talk about the degeneracy cu we have given them, they must take a higher stand, but we should be careful lo '"not impress upon the young that they are superior to their parents.

Mr. R. said that the Doctor was the man that was expected to make the main speech, therefore he had but little more to say, and he saw that the young people were in a hurry to get to dancing. He desired all persons to take a look at the Win. Johnson mill nailed upon vonder tree! That old planter's mi 11 -cracked the first kernel of corn m Sauk county and perhaps the first in the northwest. * lie thinks this climate is, after all, the best that he knows of this side of the Rocky Mountains; that our county is not half settled yet and there is no need to emigrate. The Captain is pulling my coat-tail now and telling me to quit. [Spoken mirthfully.] Captain wishes to explain. It is so, yon know it j is Captain. [In a low tone to Mr. R. the Captain said: Do not cany the idea that yours is the last speech, for there j aro two others to follow you.] To which Mr. R. savs, the Captain is again telling me to quit for there are two better men ; to speak when I get through.

The captain seemed somewhat discomfited, much to the amusement of the audience. Mr. R. took his seat amidst bustle and much merriment. The president then explained that before the audience should break up for dinner there would be two more short speeches.

My friends, I am not an orator, neither am I an old settler. I have never smoked the pipe of peace, or even any other, in my life. Nor have I ever scalped an Indian. I did come across the bluffs a few years ago, and thou thought I never would come again. He said that we have the best schoolhouse m the county, and that he thought Sauk county could boast of tho best doctor in the United States. (Dr. Cowles took the joke.)

We have in this county all we desire and should be happy. We say to our sons 'Go and do as we have done and take these young ladies with you. They will go; try them. Go aud settle this great West.' He referred to our last year's chaplain as a great pioneer, but was now silent in death. He said the scenery in Sauk county is almost equal to that of the Rocky* Mountains. Sauk county has a back bone that stood out of the waters wheu this country was all a sea, a backbone that stayed the icebergs of the North aud held them until they depositee! their burden of boulders all over our valley aud retired back to their native element, and left as a memento of their vastness a spring in the very marrow of its highest peak, called the Spirit Lake. [The Doctor here appropriately referred to the geological hypothesis, or fact, that in the paleozoic age this salnriau group of rocks of the Bamboo Bluffs stood with the tops of the highest of them out of water (the so-called potsdam sea), while the whole Mississippi valley, in fact most of North America, was submerged. He: miglit have mentioned another fact of interest, viz.: That the Highest point of this chain of bluffs is the highest land in the state. Hence Sauk county is really the backbone of the state. It would be our pride could she also be its backbone in true religion, virtue, science and industry. Of this we do boast, but how truthfully others can better see. w. n. c.j The Doctor finished his remarks with a short religious exortation.

New Members Fourth Annual Meeting

17. At 4 o'clock a business meeting was called from the stand to meet a few rods distant. After the people had assembled the president stated the object of the meeting to be, first, to select a place for the next meeting. The secretary again this year insisted that the 5th annual meeting should be hf-ld among our German neighbors in the valley of Honey Creek, but, as there was no one at this meeting to represent their wishes, his proposition was tabled, aud the Sauk people insisted that it should be again held at Baraboo. The Baraboo - iaus thought that some other point, as North Freedom, Ableman or'Reedsburg, should share the pleasures and burdens of the fifth meeting. It was put to vote, and carried to be held at Baraboo, and, after some discussion, the officers of the association were empowered to select the time and place of the next meeting.

Along with the old corn-mill there was exhibited a tarsal bone of "Old Clare," a horse that was driven in the first team that crossed the Baraboo Bluffs. She was then owned by "Uncle" Richard Clark, who afterwards sold her to Wm. Rabb, in whose hands she died in 1857 at the age of 25 years.

Old Settlers' Association

The Old Settlers' Association of Sauk County met pursuant to notice at 2 o'clock p. 51., July L 1S76, at the stand where the national celebration was held during the forenoon. The president, Levi Moore, Esq., announced the opening of the meeting. The exercises were then as follows ;

2. Prayer by Elder Kezerta. The prayer was appropriate and good. He thanked the Lord that we had been permitted to again assemble upon an occasion like this; that these pioneers opened the sray of civilization for their children and children's children; that many of them had laid up treasures here, and some treasures that perish not.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gcnttmn a of the Sauk County Early Settlers' Association: I appear before you to-day for the fourth time on the anniversary of the organization of this social and historical gathering. We meet as friends to extend to each other the hand of greeting aud generous sympathy. Our hearts are one. In all our former trials and de privations we had a common sympathy for each other. We propose to foster that reciprocity of interest which has ever characterized those who early learned to endure hardship for those who should come after us. Many of those early veterans have passed away. Others still linger on tiie slimes of time to cheer us by their presence, while we extend to them that sympathy and care which a christian civilization inspires. Here to-day at my left is father Crawford, at 85, to enjoy with us our aunual festival. He, like the Nimrod of old. was a "mighty hunter before the Lord," and here is ttie same old rifle (Here holding it up) with which he, at long range, could bring down the fleet-footed deer, sometimes two at a shot, and supply his family and the neighbors with that which money couid not buy. He is a man who was never known to back down. And here also is my venerabbuncle. Alphns Cowles, at nearly S8, one of the first old abolitiouists of the Garrison school. Always true to his conviction.-, never swerving one jot or tittle though eggs were hurled that had passed far beyond tiie line of culinary purposes. I remember well of learning my A. B. C's under the spreading branches of a white-wood tree that stood near his hewn loghouse, on the Western Beserve, in Northern Ohio. And now we would say to these dear old friends, while we welcome you we bid you adieu. May your departure from us be peaceful and your eyes close upon us "as sets tiie morning star, that goes not down behind the darkened west, nor hides obscure amid the tempests of the sky, but melts away into the light of heaven."

It seems proper on the present occasion to take favorable notice of those who, in our late war of the Bebelliou, stood between us and the canuon"s mouth. In justice to human nature, we are bound to believe they jeopardized their lives from motives purely patriotic. Let that spirit of self sacrifice which they manifested call from our hearts corresponding and responsive gratitude. Three thousand men enlisted from our county, many of whom never returned to cheer us, who fought and fell, but are not forgotten ; and many tiresides today, like Rachel, ''mourn for their children because they are not."

Standing as we do on this Anniversary of our nation's birth, as well as its centenary, let us pause and consider the mighty past no less than the more imposing future. As most present are the honored yeomanry of the soil, let me as au illustration of progress refer to the old fashioned wooden mould-board plow. Its structure was peculiar and unique. It was made in this wise: A white oak tree was sought that wound against the suu. It was felled and a suitable portion being taken out with chisel, gauge and plane, was constructed into a mould-board, after which it was attached to a triangular piece of iron, known as the share. All being ready, the old cattle were hitched on. A gad in the hauds of the big boy urged them on, and if by sundown an acre was turned under, and very indifferently at that, they did well. Mark the charge. The same implement, all of steel, hardened by a new process next to diamond, polished to the last degree, attached to a sulky, drawn by horses fat and sleek, dm en by one unable perhaps to perform more arduous labor, turning upper-side-down from three to five acres in a most capital style. What is true of this single implement of husbandry can be said of every department of human activity. in the track of the "Mayflower," a schooner of a hundred tons burden, taking a period of three months to cross the Atlantic, are now moving palaces of four thousand tons, making the trip from Liverpool to New York in nine days! "The world moves," panting and out of breath with the exclamation, What next ?

In our moral condition as a people, it is no less startling. The Puritans hung Quakers, and, as they supposed, by Divine appointment would not suffer a witch to live. Now, who cares for a creed, so long as a man's acts determine the principles which govern him. As to witches, ghosts are seen almost everywhere without molestation ; and if Impossibility they are admitted into good society, their credentials arc subjected to the closest scrutiny. Toleration is the order of the day. We hail it as a good omen.

Our material prosperity has indeed been marvelous. Beginning the century with a population ol 3,000,000 we now number over 4G, 000, 0)0. doubling every twenty-five years. Taking that ratio, 1070 wiil nee 640,000,000 human beings pressing oar American soil. With all the advantages of our higher civilization we may reasonably expect in the coming century the dawning of that better day, that golden age. sung by poets, and dreamed of by seers of the olden time. We are proud of our heritage, we thank God for it : and if those wo leave after us prove true to the high trusts imposed on them, no ideal can portray the glowing future that awaits our beloved hind.

Let us, friends, then, on this memorable occasion, repledge ourselves, one to the other, removing from dnr hearts every vestige of unhallowed bitterness; let us strike hands for an enduring brotherhood, a lasting fraternity the true ideal of which is infinitely above all political strifes, or dogmatical ecclesiasticism, and is in fact the key note of -that sonc, sung by angels at the advent of the Prince of Peace : "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will to men."

7. N. W. Wheeler, Esq., being loudly and repeatedly called for by the people, took the stand and made one of the humorous speeches for which he is celebrated, and of which the following is an imperfect outline :

He was glad to be able to fulfill his promise, made at the hist centennial meeting of the old settlers, to speak to them. Ibid been thinking ail day that some great and good man ought to address them. Eelt that li is words would be inadequate to express all his thoughts, but was aware that this might however be a good thing for the people. He came here twenty-five years ago, when he was young, very young. Like other of the old settlers he had grown better, but unlike them lie LacT not grown oliler. Dr. Oowles had said that twenty-live year* ago the settlers were all good men. He believed it, for was not he one of them ? Dr. Cowles had mentioned in a general way the sufferings and trials of tiie old settlers of this eouuty, but had not mentioned the poor lawyers, their hardships and the difficulties they surmounted ; and their poor clients, who shall tell what thev endured ?

The speaker thought a meeting of the association once a year productive of great good. He always respected the intelligence and ability of the people of this county, and notwithstanding his own absence for several years, could not see that the average intellectual capacity had depreciated as much as might have been expected. He felt in regard to the condition of the people of this county, and his own relations to them, very much as Col. Xoyes did about his paper many years ago. The Colonel being complimented in regard to his paper, said that he having supervision of it as editor and publisher, it was a very good paper.

These re-unions should cement old friendships form new ones and subdue malice. For his part he had malice toward none, and he knew that his nature was such that no one could have malice toward him. In conclusion, he hoped to meet with the old settlers each year for the next hundred years.

June 1851, and at that time had a valuable collection of Indian curiosities, which, was destroyed by tire at the burning of the hotel at McGregor, Iowa, June 1851. Mr. Grubb handed the association five dollars, to apply on membership fees in time to come.

Seventh Annual Meeting

This meeting was advertised to be held on the public square in Reedsburg July 11th, 1878, but owing to very heaw rains, it was postponed to Aug. 2"2d, 1878.

August 22d the clay was pleasant, and soon quite a large number of pioneers were upon the ground. At 11.30 the president pro tempore, J. F. Danl'orth, called the meeting to order.

Opening address by the President. He felt himself incompetent to till the place. The death of the president eleet. John Rork of Reedsburg, had necessitated the appointment of some one, and he had consented to accept the chairmanship of the meeting. As he had aeeepted the position he would do the best he Could. We have met today to exchange friendly greetings. We have met in this pleasant way this makes the seventh time. These meetings are profitable as well as pleasant. He compared early times with the present: the unbroken forest and prairie with the cultivated fields that we have harvested and shall harvest this fall: the wild animal.- with the domestie: tlie wild expanse of thirty years ago with civilization and wealth of today.

Elder A. Lock came forward and opened the meeting by prayer. The leading thought was, "As we sow. so shall we reap.'" Our nation had sown an evil spirit ami had reaped war. He asked that we miglrt have a Christian spirit, to reap peace and good will therefrom.

!>!-. Charles Cowles «-as P{flled for to deliver the address of welcome. He -a- not present, although he had beeu on the ground. It was postponed until afternoon.

Song, "My Cottage Home.''' President * Danforth continued the subject of his opening remarks, comparing the past with the present. The contrast was pleasantly painted. W e old fashioned people had not come here to make a display of rhetoric oifrgrammar. yet we could talk something about the geography of the county thirty years 'ago. ' * *

\V! H. Canlield was reminded of coming into the country in 1842. Following a new road by "blazes (as yet not a wagon track upon it) from Madison to Sauk (upper town) and from Henry Teal's, at the Baraboo Bluffs, an Indian trail that wound over them and among the rocks and ravines to Richard Clark's place. Found the little dried up old man felling a white oak tree three feet through. He .-aid he was woing to make clapboards out of it. He Va- very talkative. His dirt floor bachelor 'cabin, the --clapboard tree, his dried-up face, big eyes and squealing voice, and high spirits wa- to me, "a greenhorn,'1 very amusing. He directed us to Capt. Levi Moore's. We were warmly greeted by the Captain and S. Griffith and wife, who were stopping in the same cabin. The lessons in the geography of Sauk county that 1 learned in those yearare very fresh in my mind. 1 was al-

The president said it was about lunch time, but we would first sing- the song of "Auld Lang Syne/' The plain English of that gooil old Scotch song is "The Old Long Time Ago." It was heartily sung as he "lined it oft""' Its touching strains warmed up the pioneei's" hearts, and they went to lunch, inviting everybody to partake with them.

To the President and members of the association. I would say thai there has been no transaction since our last meeting, July 4th. 1877, because there has been no money at our disposal. You will remember that our last meeting was held on the Reedsburg fair ground and all of our expenses paid by A. P. Eilinwood. There was no money passed through our hands. Robert Collyer. of Chicago, delivered an oration addressed to the old settlers and citizens. Subject, "The ability to do an Honest Day's Work." It was ably discussed, and we all felt eddied anil highly entertained, and that we were well, and very wall paid for coming here. Yet the old settlers declared that they had not hail an "old settlers"1 meeting, and our Reedsburg friends desired that we should hold another meeting here upon some day other than July 4.- Hence at our business meeting John Hork was elected president, S. J. Seymour treasurer, and Win. II. Cantiehl secretary. The treasurer and secretary invited' J. F. Danforth to till the chair pro tempore of our deceased president, who kindly accepted the invitation.

So it is. that this year three of our presiding oiiioers have passed out of the river into the ocean of eternity. Also my kind neighbor, Abram Allen.

i have not here given even the dates of the death of these brethren ami our sister, for it is the duty of this association to prepare til, least a short memoir of every one of its deceased members. to be bound up with the historical matter that has been and may be collected. It is very much to be hoped that at this meeting money enough may he collected to pay for the printing of these memoirs. If not, our association becomes in part a failure. We have one memoir, that of Albert Jameson, that his wife paid for. I recommend that sketches be prepared by the friends of our deceased brethren and sent to the secretary, accompanied by a photograph, and I believe that means will be raised in some way to defray the expenses of printing. It is from memoirs, addresses and reminiscences that we collect historical data. Perhaps it would be advisable to draw up a circular and send to every member asking him to donate twenty-five cents to one dollar for the purpose of printing memoirs. Thirty pages of our past proceedings are already printed and laid one side for binding. There are 260 members of this association, if each member would punctually pay his yearly fee of fifty cents, we would have ample means to publish what we wish, and in a little while have a most interesting volume, which could be sent free to each member contributing. W c think the association has erred some in the past by paying out its means for music and entertainments, which id course vanish like the fog of a morning. Wm. H. C.\XFiEr.n.

The Congratulatory speech by Dr. Chas. Cowles should properly appear here, but the copy having not vet been received by the printer, it will necessarily have to appear in another place.

Fki.i.ow CmzEXS: We have been called to he pioneers, to blaze :i track into the wilderness for roads on which other generations are to travel, to fence fields, open farms, erect dwellings, build shops and stores, and mills, and school houses, and churches for our children and successors to occupy. Have the foundations which we have laid been Well laid ? Has our work been as perfect as it ought to have been ? If so, we have a right to rejoice and thank God for the opportunity to perform such a work. If not, we can only seek the Divine forgiveness.

How little the settlers of anew country understand the magnitude of their work : how little the importance of it to posterity : how short-sighted in respect to the future ! When the first Puritan settlement was made, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. on Charles river, where Charlestown now stands, in 1630, they knew but little of the vastness.of the work which God had given them. It is a matter of history that a \'t'\v years after they landed there, commissioners were appointed to lay out a road into the wilderness towards the west; They engaged in their work, and upon their return reported that --they had laid out a highway twelve miles, and they thought it was as far as one would ever be needed in that direction.'" Short-sighted men! How little they knew of the value of the foundation- they were laving; of the importance of their work: of the vastness of this land they were settling; of the greatness of the nation that was to grow up on these western shores! And vet it may be true that our conceptions of the future, of the changes which are to take place around US in the next two hundred and fifty years, may be almost as vague and dim as were theirs.

As some indication that this may be so, let us look for a few minutes at some items of statistics showing a few of the changes of the last forty years or so. In is;.'', nearly all of northern Illinois. Wisconsin and what is now Iowa, and nil of Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska, was in possession of various tribes of Indians. The forests almost unbroken, the prairies unfurrowed, the streams nnbridged and their waters just beginning to be plowed by pioneer steamers. Over much of this then new Northwest the Indian from his wigwam, and the wild beast from his lair roamed in undisputed possession. I think the population of the states we have named, including a strip sixty miles in width on the northern line of Illinois, was in 1836 not far from 30,000. It must now be nearly 6,000,000. Ill 1836 there were ten or twelve' villages, of which Chicago. Galena and Dubuque were. I think, the largest, with a population in each of these of probably from 1,000 to '2.500. Now there are more than 100 incorporated cities of from 4,000 to 500,000 each, and in all of them a population of 1, 250,000, besides villages almost innumerable.

In 1836 the post-offices, schools, gospel ministers, churches and circuits. must have been limited to twenty-five or thirty each, while the grist mills, school-houses, newspapers and church edifices could have been numbered by counting one's lingers. I will take four items and show the changes of forty years. The post-offices in 1836 were not far from 2,0: in 1876 about 4,483. The weekly newspapers in is;>i5 were six; in LS76 not far from 77-">. In 1836 the school-houses I think did not exceed ten. and were worth not more than 82,500. In 1876 the common and graded school houses were about 8,540 and valued at $17,000,000. The church edifices in 1836 1 think did not exceed live, worth not far from $"2,600: in 1876 there were 7,224 worth not far from S19,000,000-

When I settled in Wisconsin in 1836. its population was less than 12,000. in 1876 it was about 1,250,000. It had then four counties, with some fourteen voting precincts: in 1876 it had 61 counties and 7S2 towns. In 1836 there were 12 villages of from 200 to 800 inhabitants in each; in 1876 there were 35 cities of from 4,000 to 100,000 iu each. In 1836 there were fourteen postoffices; in 187ti it had 1,280, while the weekly newspapers had increased from 3 to 21'.', of which 19 were also pub- li>hed dai'v. me there were.onlv the dai of Una nuif schools; in '.-.:-; there were di common -oho<>;<. together with those which were private and parochial. nearly 6V000. In 1836 there was one framed school house and a few of loo-s; in 1*7(3 there were 5,299. Most of the graded school buildings were worth trooa 85.000 to 830.000 each, and the whole worth about 85,000,000. In addition to these are buildings for private schools, normal schools and Colleges worth many hundreds of thousands' of dollars more.

In 1886 there were thirteen gospel ministers; in 1876 there were 1554 of Protestants and 204 Roman Catholic priests. Jn ]s.sr, there was one church edifice built of logs and valued at 8200; in 1*76 there were not far from 1664 owned by Protestants valued at nearly 86,000,000, and 543 by Roman Catholics valued at about 81,000,000. _ In 1836 there was not a white inhabitant in Sauk county, and hardly one in all the vast region northwest to the St. Croix river. In fact almost the whole of Wisconsin was a wilderness except the settlements on Lake Michigan, at Green Kay. at Prairie du Chien and in the lead mines. How changed is everything to-day. Our capacities are not large enough to take it in. None but the Infinite one who wheels the planets in their course can fully comprehend it.

Hut I must not enlarge. It is a matter of satisfaction to me. and I presume it is to you. that we were allowed the privilege of being pioneers of Sauk county and of Wisconsin, arid of assisting in laving the foundations of institutions governmental, educational. and religious of this large count}' and of this grand commonwealth:

May our last .lavs on earth lie us full <>t peace and joy as our pioneer days were of toil ami" trials May our children and other* who may receive and enjoy this inheritance fie qualified to take it. improve it and transmit it to future generations. And when it is ours to die. as soon it must be, may it lie found that by lives of trust in our Divine Redeemer ami of obedience In Him. we have honored Hi- name and blessed our general ion.

I see you call for reminiscencei from any of the old settlers of Reedsburg. 1 don't know how early or how long a residence is considered requisite to entitle one to the honor of an oh! settler, and a plaee in that album thai is to be handed down to posterity. 1 certainly was among the early residents of that historic town, having taken tie my abode there about one o'clock on the afternoon of July 2d, 1851, and. if time is measured by heart beats according to the poet's standard, I must have lived there twenty years or more. I went there a little girl 'in short dresses and should in all probability, like the Widow Bedotfc, have made it my native place and never gone away any more, if a certain tall and whiskered specimen of humanity had not persuaded me to change my mind and /my name and commence a new life in a new state, and thereby I fear forever blasting my hopes of belonging to the Old Settlers' Association of Reedsburg. for I am obliged to confess that according to the almanac I removed my residence from there on the afternoon of October 29th, 1857. But I have j many reminiscences of that period laid j up on' memory's shelves. I can't help flunking that I lived in Reedsburg hi the ''Golden Age.'' In the age of sewing circles, of lyeeums, of singing rehearsals and writing schools. The age when the old school-house flourished, when all denominations took turn.- in holding forth, and whe there same congregation listened, to Elder Conrad. Mr. Bean, or Mr. Lock, as the case might be: where the Sunday School was held that we all attended. Mrs. Sperry had charge of the infant da - that \\ as the pride of the school. After we lia. I finished reciting it was our custom to -it and listen to them, and Mrs. S. would have them .-peak up loud so v. t- could :ill hear. Q»e d.:\ she had ' been training them for exhibition on the story <>1' Cain and Abel, ami when the showing off time came she asked them among other questions, "What was Cain's occupation ?'" "He killed his brother.'* shouted some little chap. We all laughed, little thinking that in a few years members of that same school would really be engaged in this occupation - of killing their brothers.

1 remember one 4th of July celebration, in 1858 I think, when we girls, all dressed in white, marched to the public square, each carrying a little flag with the name of one of the states printed on it. We had an oration by somebody, Judge Wheeler I believe, and a real band from Baraboo. I have never since been able to hear such sweet music as they made. We had a picnic dinner spread on a long table, and toasts after dinner. I remember rather an original one offered by Rodney Sage and supposed to refer to the representations of the states: '"Behold the lilies of the field, they toil not. neither do they spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory Was not arrayed likeoneof these."1 l wonder where those said representatives are now? Most of them are living, as far as 1 know, but all changed by Father Time from blooming maidens to care-worn matrons of forty or more years. Gray hair? are sprinkling the charming tresses, and wrinkles are replacing the roses of the cheeks. The eager expectation of youth has given place to dark forebodings, and we stand upon the summit of the hill of life dreading to descend. Time beckons us up the hill of life, and pushes us reluctant down. Yet there are pleasant dales and shady nooks on the downward sidei nhd the smiling faces of the "old folks"' around usjjinvite us to join their number, and there are none among whom I would rather be counted than the old folks of Reedsburg, Their good sense, energy and sterling worth have made them honored and respected by all who can appreciate such qualities. May they live yet many years.

bis recolb't'tioiis. My attention was diverted and I did not get any of his first remarks. He came to the country poor and held his own yet pretty well. [Most all men would like to enjoy Mr. Groat's poverty. He has reasons for thanking God for a competency. Y\ e hope he will write out his recollections and let us have them some time. - W. H. C] It was by reading such biographies as Daniel Boone's when he was young, that brought him into a new country. There was much good society in the country when it was new. He hoped that the old settlers would all feel on a level. He took land to work of 1). C. Barry, on the west side of Babb's Prairie. Mrs. Barry is his cousin. He got three bushels of wheat of John Babb and took it to Baraboo to be ground. It lasted until spring. He went to many log raisings. He loved the warm hearted people. His "latch string" had never been drawn in. He settled in Ironton where he now lives. Several times he expressed great thankfulness for the manner in Which God had blessed him and his family.

troubles going back to Dane county. David C.Reed let them take an old yoke of oxen. They tired out the first day and laid down, as they thought, to die. That night the mosquitoes almost ate them up. When they got home they found the family nearly all sick. Reed induced them to sell their farm. Joe Mackey paid them 61.000 (for a mortgage I'think). She enumerated great fosses in their family by death. She now, in her lonely situation and old age, looks to her Heavenly Fat Iter for comfort and support.

A paper from R. P. Clement, now of San Francisco, Cal.. was read. This paper was very gratifying to all. as the Clement family was so well known in Sauk eountv. ' Three of the boys became lawyers. The whole family did extremely well in migrating to the Golden State".

Seventh Annual Meeting Of The

mountains and desolate plains of state ol' Nevada, 1 found a pjx> gpanime of the contt inputted meeting of your association ou the eleventh of July. I had hoped, and partly promised myself, to be present at your meeting this year, but circumstances and business demands have not admitted of my indulging in so great a pleasure.

The twenty-five years which have passed since I left old Sauk for this side of the continent have brought little forget fulness of my early experiences and friendships formed, while a resident of lovely and picturesque Baraboo. The little log school house, where 1 had my first and last experience as a teacher: the old court-house; the little brick offices; Mother Garrison's store: the Adams' House: Col- Maxwell's store; Kirk's and Taylor's stores and other buildings about the Square at Adams were so photographed on my mind, that I have always a complete picture of them to look at at will. I was greatly attached to the old place and its people, and it cost me real pain to leave them.

A considerable number of our early Baraboo friends had preceded me to this coast, and from time to time others came until we have sometimes numbered nearly fifty in and about San Francisco. The Parishes were early here, so were Gen. and Col. Haras/.thy and other families: K. P. Locke and family. Mark Shepard and wife and my brother Wesley. The later arrivals were Col. Sumner and family, Robert and John Thomas Taylor, my father and hi* family, and still later John Taylor and your son. and others whom I do not so readily call to mind. Of these Gen. Harass* thy and his wife, Col. Haraszthy, H. P. Locke. Ransom Parish ami hi- wife, my father and mother and brother Jabtsh, and John Taylor, have passed beyond life's river.

in remembering those whom I first knew at Baraboo ami who became especially dear to me as friend-, your father and mother, yourself and wife. Uncle Alex Crawford ami saintly Aunt Hannah, John Crawford, Col. and Janus Maxwell, C. ( '. Reinimrton, VV.

II. Clark, .Judge Clark. Judge I and Dr. Cowltfs come, first in order, I the list increases so rapidly and I such an extent that to name tin m all is impracticable. Dear old Sauk county: except for the severity of it* climate in winter, which my impair-'! health made dangerous to me. 1 would doubtless be one of her citizens now. I trust her old settlers may have a happy reunion on their coming anniversary, and oh, if I onhj could be there j and see. 1 would like to avail myself of the occasion of your meeting t<> communicate, through you, to as many of my old friends as possible, the fact of my kind remembrances and sincere regards, and I have an abiding faith that you will gladly do me the favor. Very truly your friend.

Dr Cowles came to his feet and said there were no ''tramps"1 thirty-live years ago. (A voice said except t<> come to a new country.) Compared the past with the present fearful state of society. The women then were not so nervous. The dietetics and the frivolities of to-day undermine the health and morals of the people - the nation Hysterics and dyspepsia were not common then as now. Our old ladies have more of the real mettle in them to-day than the young women.

W, H. Canfield told a part of the --Sauk War" story. We have tinstory already in print in our former proceedings \is told by James Taylor. now of Spring Green.

A reminiscence (sent to the See'v) by T. J. Morgans, of Franklin, who has \ been confined to his house, or nearly so, for a year past, was then read.

Deau Sir: I received your programme. Would be glad to meet you and others at the appointed time, hot cannot this time. 1 send you a lew lines and mv photograph. I was born in South Wales, on the 29th of Jan., 1814, under .he Dominion of Johnny Hull. Not fancying Ids mode of government. I hade him good-bye landed in New York the first day "J Julv, 1841 Being single. 1 roamed about Xiw York, Pennsylvania and Illinois, and arrived at Dodgevflle, Wis., ia 18-43, quite a small place then. In the spring of 1845 I came to Helena Bottom; was oue of those proposing ami adopting the new name Spring Green, and so the place has been called ever since. There were four families in die place prior to my arrival, viz.: Rev. David Jones, now of Arena, whose claim I bought, the land not yet being in market; Thos. Williams, now of Hridgeway, Iowa Co.: Evan Jones and James Thomas, both dead. The Hon John Wilson and family lived at Wilson Creek prior to any of the above, I think. Not being a farmer, I rented my place, and returned to Dodgeville to follow my calling, i. e;, mining, intending to make my fortune in a short time in the mines, but instead of making :i fortune, ran in debt six hundred dollars. I returned home, sold ray claim, paid the debt and was left penniless to begin my life anew.

On July 7th, 1848, I was married to Martha Ann Slauter. Soon after I removed to where I am now - section M, 10, 4. The only family here then was my father-in-law1 s, Dewitt Slauter. Have seen some hard times here. Many a trip 1 made to Prairie du Sac on foot, carrying over a hundred pounds home within twenty-four hours, being forty miles going and coming. People talking now of hard times; suppose they would make one trial-trip as above. Once Father Slanter anil I traveled over Sauk Prairie for a few bushels of wheat, and could not find any for love or money: none to be got. In three different places we succeeded, by hard begging,in getting three bushels of corn, at one dollar per bushel: took it to thf mill, and surely the miller took tiie grist, but, being a merciful man, allowed us to take the toll to feed our families. On our way home I found one bushel of very -mall potatoes for one dollar. The next day being the 1th of duly, and hating no ground broke and nothing to break it Willi. I dug holes with :i spade and dropped three of the small potatoes in each hole, and covered them with sod. So my first crop was planted, and they turned out fair considering the time thev were put in. At that time deer. n\ olves, beats and snakes were common tVvngs to be seen almost every day. Once, coming home from Sugar Grove, I had to run for dear life, being followed by wolves. I had barely got within my house before they were at toy door, and by the sound, 1 don't know but there were a legion. L saw one elk killed a short distance from my house. I think its horns are to be seen now at the village of Prairie du Sac. Hail an awful Indian scare here once, but it is rather too ridiculous to mention. In 1860 1 assessed the town of Honey Creek, now divided into live towns, viz.: Spring Green, Bear Creek, Franklin, Honey Creek and Troy. Had. by order of the town board, to go to Barahoo three times for the abstracts (from Mineral Point). My bill, I think (I quote from memory), was twenty dollars, considered then by some to be enormous. Had the honor also of tilline- other town offices, at different times. Although I have not stated the tenth part of the hardships 1 have suffered and endured in raising a large family. 1 have no reason to complain. i" generally take things easy and am thankful for the little comforts that surround me. I love Sauk county and its people. I wish you and all the old and new settlers much joy at your meeting July 11th, and at ail times thereafter, and whenever it will be convenient for you to call on int.- adu will always be welcome, whether you'll have any cigars or not. I remain yours truly.

Ladies and Genteemejj:* - It is well to look on both sides o{ a question?. There are momentous consequences involved in becoming first settlers. o word of caution might not be out v.i place, lest some of this company may catch the emigration fever and inconsiderately venture where nature runs riot, in frisky freak.- of unrestraint, from the reputed lords of creation, as she formed the Prairie, woodland, mountain, valley, lake, river and roaring cataract, whose inhabitants ran no higher than '"poor Lo," wild

Suwious beasts -1...1 hissing swrp< nts. I migiit mention Mr. Seymour, among others who ufere victims to this fever, that left warm hearted friends and loving relatives, in a land of plenty, where luxuriant pleasures, arts and sciences flourished, to encounter vast responsibilities of cares, of trials, disappointments and solitude, who. by such recklessness, drew upon themselves the ardent duties of managing good productive farms, stocked with herds of animals, comfortable dwellings, and nice surroundings.

Young men, if you wouid avoid such inconveniences of being lettered with such cumbersome responsibilities that -would subject you to their constant demands and cost much sweat in time of harvest, be careful how you expose yourself to such catching" fevers, especially if your habits call for beer, whisky or tobacco, but stay where these demands may be supplied from the sound (?) civilization, where churches and distilleries si and looking at each other: where science and law protect the manufacturing or preparing of candidates for the demands of our extensive penitentiaries and hio-h i elevations of gallows swinging!

Young women, be wary now you | leave the fashionable circles of social lite to waste your sweetness (?) in I temporary comparative solitude, where | there arc no walks to sweep with silken , trails, no large fashionable audiences j before whom to exhibit your latest \ styles. Log houses and jewelry ciake a hideous contrast in such comparisons, where courting and Hirtin" is narrowed down to a point suitable to , the demand- of the time and of those reckless adventurers who might want ' a wife t<» assist in the demands of common domestic life. Would you be decoyed where there are no fancy milli- | nery ami fashionable dressmaking shops? and use a pail of water to make a toilet by? ami then in some future day lie called upon, before an assembly like this,, to make the humbling confession of an old settler's life? bo not be dazzled with the imaginary sight of, a heroine, battling with the stern roalilies of individualized life, to make eonquest of all the virtuous possibilit an ; uses belonging to a noble woman ; unto whom the world is looking forth.- i redemption of her posterity from l< j galized crime ami festering'cesspoob Irony aside. 1 would speak in all j candor and truthfulness of some of the advantages suggested by switching off, out of the old ruts of traditions,0 fossilized notions and stereotyped monotony, that often drowses for want of propelling necessities, to rouse up invigorating energies. This often forms a vacuum into which new thoughts and new ideas rush, to speed the onward march of human destiny.

It was a common remark twentv-tive years ago that this was a very health y country because there was but little sickness, and many who came here ailing became invigorated, if not entirely cured. By observation, as old settlers, we are forced to the conclusion, that habits in life, of eating. drinking and clothing, had very much to do with such conditions. 'Force.) away from the extravagant, unhealthy diet and fashionable changes of dress", so prolific of disease, we were 3ompelled to live more as nature demanded, ami she rewarded us accordingly, but as we were able to resume our old habits, the old effects were as certainly upon us. We are eommendably engaged in educating our children in the scientific and literary acquirements of the day, but 1 regret to say that we sadly," if not wickedly, neglect the most important and simple teachings of life, a record of which is stamped upon us in letters of tire. Had we studied nature's lessons as she gave them to us, we and our children would have been more healthy and more wise; but we would not. It is believed by many that, in trving to teach children liberally, their lives~are endangered thereby, through a forcefeed process. It is'a truth that is hard to deny, that all our places of learningare detrimental to children's health where there is not a co-operation of natural productive labor, a crime. which, if perpetrated through more direct means, woidd be thought worthy of censure. T desire not to be extravagant in expression, mil justice demands that this slow torture be noticed. We wish oui- children to be prodigies and deprive them of the only means of their becoming so. i moan those who arc deprived of productive labor. The first principles of education should be to teach children to sustain themselves with their own ham1- In neglecting this essential point, v. j are producing very many soft-handed, soft-minded and soft-brained men and women, who might justly utter maledictions against parents and schools for having blasted their lives and deprived them of the only solid foundation of honor and prosperity. It is thought by some that education undermines health, but education means development and growth of our powers, and organs, and their true education combined is necessary, healthful, and pleasant; the stuffing process of a par ticular organ is what derano-es. The physiological, industrial, moral and literary, or intellectual, these should work together. Every organ of the body, and every faculty of the soul, brought into legitimate action, grows and develops aided by the others, and at the same time adds to the sum total of vital and spiritual power, that sustains and impels the whole, which will harmonize society with itself, man with nature, and earth with heaven. The moral ethics- of man's duty to man, as embodied in the "Golden Rule,*' should be the salt to season all the food to build up a dignified humanity, that all first settlers should be more interested in, to carve a more enduring monument to their fame than all the paltry trash they eould heap up by violating their obligations.'to humanity, to their neighbors, to their children, and to themselves.

Instead of teaching our children by example and precept, to outwit in trade, to deceive for <rain. and take advantage of the innocent, in designs upon them, filling our coffers by the miseries we create in the world, we should, as soon as they comprehend "ur language and action, so imbue them with the principles of a just and Holy life, that their innocent imitative natures would at once revolt at -'wron** and outrage with which earth is filled.'3 Ibis is the garden in which to clear the

If we accustom ourselves to associate with pestilence, we breathe in its devastating fumes, innoculating our vitals with 'its corruption, and we succumb to its devastation.

If we make comparisons of the trickster and the deceiver, the swindler and the thief, the gambler and inebriate. the contagion is as corrupting to our morals as was the pestilence to our physics. With all these combined, humanity becomes a foul blot, a stench in the'nostrils of earth and heaven.

When we come in the presence and feel the atmosphere surrounding a healthy organism that encases a pure lovingspirit, we catch the exhilarating scintillation of happiness that ever reaches out to uplift and benefit the world with heavenly radiance, that it may obtain the blessings in store for those who are willing to seek them where they may be found in obeying the laws physical and spiritual. These powers, co-operating in their most lofty aspirations, are the highest ideals that, humanity can claim and for which worlds and systems of worlds are developing.

First settlers should feel the responsibilities of their situation, for they are great: laving the foundations of the country's good or evil standing, to a very great extent, for many years; for such is the power of magnetic influence, that it unconsciously sways according to the power of the battery, whether for good or for evil, and a well balanced mind, knowing the importance of influence, needs to be panoplied with the whole armor of truth and righteousness, to guard well the paths that lead to the best interests of life and prosperity for themselves, their children, and their neighborhood; sowing such seeds as they would not lie ashamed to harvest in the sight of angels. It is pleasant to contemplate a colony of settlers: all fraternally working for the best interests of society, and where that is the dominant motive, it cannot fail of yielding all the minor necessaries to a competence. Through industry, economy and perseverance, every evil weed would be plucked up by the ro its that would endanger the harmony am! purih of life, the largest chafitj would he extended to those who should fall into temptation. A kind feeling of love and good will should be extended toward such, for their deliverance from evil, instead of denunciation and threats of vengeance. When we learn how much more powerful kind persuasive words are than brute force or punishment, penitentiaries, the gallows and unkindness will dwindle into insignitisant contempt.

All intolerance, for opinion's sake, will then be buried among the sickening relics of ignorant ages, and a glorious advance made towards that long looked for time, when the lion and the lamb will lie down together and a little child shall lead them.

I would apologize for the ironical and short manner of hinting to evoke thought in the above essay, necessarily short, but worly of exhaustive eilbrt.

A copper kettle owned by Mrs. N. W. Sallade, which has passed through three generations, and came from the borders of Germany in the year lo70. It was manufactured in France and holds about two gallons. It was made in three parts dovetailed together and brazed with brass, and looks substantial enough for three generations to

A very large German Bible own* I by Dr. N". W. Sallade. It is peculiar;;. arranged and very substantial, ainl was got up by subscription and published at Lancaster, Penn., in 1819.

An old Arithmetic which formerly belonged to Elihu Fish. It first teaches spelling, then reading and then numbers, and was published in 1774.

A mound-builder's skull taken from a mound upon Mr. Edwards" farm near the Butterfield bridge. About twenty were taken from the same mound in 1877 by Darius Palmer. Mr. Edwards and \V. II. Canfield. They seemed buried in a circle with their faces towards the center of the mount!, and were of all ages.

Sauk Co. Old Settlers' Association

Our 7th reunion is chronicled with the past now. It was not as lar^e as some others, but we believe it to be in some respects the best that we have ever had. In the historical data it exeels any other. President Danforth conducted the ceremonies very pleasantly. The singing of the Beedsburg Glee Club and others was excellent. Xo \ ill age could have produced better or more appropriate music. It was an I oversight that there was not a vote of thanks given them. The secretary | votes them his earnest thanks, and I I '! "iht not that every person who was ! on the ground will join with me. We I noticed a good many old people upon I

There was another oversight. Five members have died during the last year. Three of them had been presidents of the association. We did not pass the usual vote of condolence, or show any special regard for the deceased. I hope the time is soon to come when we can write up memoirs of these persons to be bound up with our other historical matter. Following is a list of the. deceased members:

N. M. Risley, A. Hoege, N. H. Drew, Lewis Butterlield, David P. Crandall, Rose Hoover, Charles Hallasz and wile, Arba M. Seymour, Abram Allen, John H. Rork - eleven persons in seven years: how light the mortality with us has been.

We look forward to our next meeting with many hopes, believing it will be a very large and interesting meeting, North Freedom being midway between Baraboo and Reedsburg and almost the exact geographical center of the county.

on annual lees, 85. We received troni new members 87.75. We paid out for printing circulars and envelopes, and stamps, 89.25, leaving 83.50 to pay on printing proceedings.

Addrkss Of Gen. W. S. Grtjbb

It is very properly expected that all present shall, , in some manner, contribute, to the pleasure of this gathering, and, though unaccustomed to public speaking, I was reminded by the officers of the association, at last evening's meeting, that, excused on that occasion, they expected I should, to-day, relate something in the way of general or personal reminiscence. Such orders cannot with propriety be disregarded, and, having prepared a few notes, I yield cheerful acquiescence, but confess to some embarrassment in appearing before you. There are times when an individual, impelled by some hidden impulse, is prompted to give utterace to the sentiments which at the moment may possess him. and I recognize this as an occasion when both tongue and heart yield willing accord to the invitation. Who can look upon this vast assemblage of the old, the middle aged, the youth and the beauty of this fair enmity, and knowing the motive that has brought them together, not feel a kindred spirit arising m his own bosom, and the desire to participate in this most happy reunion. It is a marked sign of western progress, - affording hope in a high state of future social development, - that no t only in this county, but in hundreds of places all over the west, organizations similar to our own are in existence; that on each recurring anniversary gather increasiug numbers, not to mingle in political discussion, debate or argument - but for the single purpose of meeting in love and harmony, talking over subjects of interest, dropped by necessity long ago; reviving old friendships; bringing together the young in social intercourse; and helping to build up society upon the basis that we are but members of one great family. Is this not a most noble object ? I would to Ctod the fraternal spirit that pervades this gathering, embraced not only the section in which we live, but extended to the uttermost limits of this country. To the learned and worldly wise, many of the subjects discussed on these occasions may seem trilling and unimportant, but it is far otherwise. The im- I pulse which unlocks the heart, and 1 prompts to mutual utterances of love I and friendship is always sacred and holy, but how dignified and proper when coming from these weather beaten and stur- | dy pioneers; men of courage and iron will, whose daring enterprise led them ! into the depths of the western wilderness; whose ringing blows leveled the j forests and caused to blossom the counti less acres that stretch beyond us; who, . by their honest industry helped to ele- ' vate labor, opened the way for the coini ing of the more delicate and cultured, I and made it possible for them to find homes where else had remained a wil- ' derness. Necessarily great are the changes which these men have witnessed. Waving fields of grain and corn have replaced the forest; the log cabin lias given way to more pretentious ami beautiful homes; and where the slow toiling oxen dragged the old wagon amid stamps and brush and mire, the ever wonderful locomotive, with its magnificent traiu, glides swiftly by. Amid these scenes of new and varied life, the old pioneers may sometimes feel themselves forgotten, but such vast assemblages as these brought together to do them honor, bear ample testimony that they are yet a recognized and living power among us.

Although a member of this association, and young in comparison with many present, nearly thirty years have elapsed since, as a boy, I crossed the great lakes and landed on the soil of Wisconsin. Thirty years is but a dot in the history of some nations, but it marks an epoch in that of ours. Crossing this state in a stage coach, in company with my brothers, we took steamer at Prairie du Chien, and ascended the Mississippi to St. Paul. At that time large Indian villages occupied the present sites of some of our most flourishing river cities, and the savages crowded the shores as we passed by. At one point the branches of the forest trees, which here lined the stream, were laden with their dead, it being a singular custom among them to wrap in some protecting material the bodies of the departed, and in lieu of Christian burial, lash them by thongs of sinew or bark to the larger branches, thus protecting them from the depredations of the wild beasts that roamed the forest. Landing at St. Paul and crossing the present site of Minneapolis, then an uuoocupied prairie, we reached Fort Saelliug, and there witnessed the rare sight of 1,500 Sioux warriors assembling for treaty purposes, said to have been the largest Indian gathering ever seen in this country. As some of the numerous bands of painted savages hied in upon the camping ground, they beheld in astonishment the pale laces present - having never until that moment gazed upon a white man. Returning to Wis cousin, in the spring of 1854, I purchased several hundred acres of oak openings, near Madison, and proceeded to clear off the timber preparatory to embarldug in the healthy, but, at that time, not very lucrative vocation of farming. All prospects of becoming a Vanderbiltor an Astor speedily vanished when the hope was found based upon wheat at sixty cents a bushel, or a like quantity of oats or potatoes for a shilling. Yet it was not until several years of untiring effort, and fearing that some fine day the sheriff might be inquiring my whereabouts, I accepted an offer and sold out. I trust that this experience of many years ago will not dampen the ardor of any farmer present. In eveiy- business their are disappointments as well as successes. May be I did not uuderstand the economic art of farming, as did my old German neighbor, who, upon one occasion, so kiudly admonished, "That the farmer who wished to thrive, must dispense with the ham and eat the snout." That beiug the reverse of my style of operating, I queried whether the old gentleman was not right; but then, it did seem a rational proposition, that the man who raised the animal hud the right to some choice in the matter.

It is possible the man was "poking fun;" however, I attributed his success to the aid afforded by the sturdy family that followed his own vigorous frame into his small but well tilled Melds, while I, Yankee fashion, spread over too many acres. It is with much pleasure, however, that I recur to the many attracious ot rural life. All the influences that surround it are elevating and enuobling, and it is an untold misfortune that so many of our farmers' sons forsake their father's calling, and drifting into tingreat cities, sink their individuality a>id are swallowed up in the vortex of rash- j and by our magnificent autumns, whose mg humanity. My advice to the young | pleasant days beguile us along so impeople present is, that so far as possible i perceptibly that the recurring winter, you should stand by your parents in i with its crisp and invigorating air, finds their declining years, and, succeeding to j us still willing sojourners here? These the old homesteads, become the same I are the characteristics of our home, active, industrious and valuable mem- j made doubly dear to many of us by ties hers of the commonwealth that they of the strongest nature. My experience have been. Let us be satisfied with our in life lias been that of many of you - lot, for without contentment success is | good fortune has been tempered with well niglr impossible. Heed not the adversity; but it was unalloyed by the Lo, here! and the Lo, there! for are we latter when, twenty-three years ago, the not dweller.* in one of the noblest states | genius of good luck led me to seek one of this great Union? Some there are, | of the fair flowers that bloomed among dissatisfied with the slow accumulations | your hills (a wife), followed by Heaven's of honest toil, and hearing the marvel- choicest gift, our children. Then came ous tales of hidden wealth uinid the sun- \ the seeming penalty of the enjoyment burned and desolate regions of the far cf too much human happiness, and now West, who left us in the vain search, ! this beautiful valley, forever hallowed but, weaned and disappointed, they ; as the resting place of one loved most sighed for the green hills and volleys of | dearly, and further endeared by associtheir old home, ami have returned, ations of the most attractive nature, is Others, dreaming of wealth with little ; the home to me most prized of any on exertion, sought the sunny South; but earth. .Therefore my lot is cast with they fled, finding the pestilence had this people, and trusting you have all joined hands with the more terrible de- i reached the same conclusion, may we in>.»n of discoid, and have come back, be permitted to meet again and again resolved not to wander again. in these happy reunions, blessed by

What if at times the fierce winter God and man, and that go so far to eswiuds do seem to sweep down upon us a tablish among us the priceless blessings little too boisterously! Are we not rec- I of love, fraternity and good fellowship, ompensed by the glories of our summer '

J 2 . Eighth Annual He- Union Of The

The Old Settlers' Association has yet to learn a financial lesson, of some arrangement to get hold of more money. There are but few that pay their annual dues, and the initial fes3 of a -".v members and the lemonade stand have been our only source of revenue. We have not been able to meet our incidental expenses and have our proceedings printed i"a pamphlet form without leaving us a trifle in debt. We should have in ourpanrphlet a memoir of every deceased old settler. The secretary stands ready to furnish such memoirs when there shall be means provided for putting them in print. One error we have always committed, i. c. in having the secretary's report read, and the business meeting, after the address of welcome and reminiscences.

In looking over the list of- our members we recognize but two deaths during the past year. The first is Jonathan Hatch, who died at his residence in the village of Lyons, .January 14, 1879, aged So years and four months to a day. He was (lie oldest white settler then living in the concty, having come here in July, 1839, except, perhaps A. Barker. I have a memoir of him prepared for publication. The other one is the Rev. S. A. Dwinnell, of Reedsburg, aged G7, who had been an invalid for several years. He came to Reedsburg July 2, 1851. He for many years was pastor of the Congregational Church of that place; was one of the outspoken abolitionists. A man of strong sympathies and a tender heart. He was a natural historian, always collecting and chronicling events that came under his observation, often making quite long journeys to obtain information. He wrote and published in pamphlet form his recollections as a pioueer of the state, and has published much county history and a long series of articles showing the part that the soldiers of Sauk county, especially those of Reedsburg, took iu the late Rebellion. Iu his death the society baa lost a valuable member.

Old Settlors' Association

A box over 100 years old that belonged to Mrs. Parker, who was born in the early part of the eighteenth century. She was the great grand-mother of Mrs. Chapman, who is now 73 years old: by S. M. Burt.

Six specimens of singular natural formed rocks of sand stone, and of flint and ironshot sand stone. One he calls a bird's nest, one a duck, one a picklft dish. Also an Indian axe, by C. W. Gulliford.

We saw at our visit to the old lug cabin, deer horns on the roof at the gable end. An old fasliiontd long pendulum clock was put up on the outside near the door, keeping good time. It has been in the Hackett family 49 years. The old lady, Mrs. Dency Hackett, now 72 years old last July, sat in front of the door spinning flax on her little foot wheel that her husband's mother brought from New Jersey. It is 75 years old. A squirrel cage sat on the edge of thfc roof.

At the right of the door stood a monument of Washington about half size, of iron, sent here by Col. S. V. B. Ablenian, with his kind regards, saying that it would not be long before he would be on the ''other side of the river." God bless the old Colonel, who is now unable to leave his house. He has been one of the whole souled pioneers.

On the north-east corner of the cabin hung the huge bear trap of Dad Kingsley. Beside it stood a large, awkward dung-fork forged out by the first blacksmith at Madison. Here is Dad Kingsley's very old grind stone that he manufactured out of a sand rock from the neighboring bluff. It is 2j feet in diameter, and had awkward wooden hangings. An old fish spear lay on the corner of the house. We now enter the cabin and notice a box full of native tobacco, with pipes in it, which seems to say to every body that uses the weed, "help yourself." On a tshelf lay a jack knife used by Mrs. Dency Hackett 4.0 years; also a tea chest 52 years old; a pair of e spectacles used 56 years. Next a towel woven by Sally Haines, mother of J. M. Hcines, 40 years ago. A milk pitcher, Mrs. Timothy Hackctt's, 43 years old. A sugar bowl, 65 years old, Mrs. J. M. Haines'. A necktie worn by our first president. (Query: who and when? W. H. C.) A pair of yarn slippers 45 years old, Mrs. Annie Powell's.

We were so busy that we did not go into the cabin until towards night and there may have been articles exhibited and taken away, for the people were nearly half gone when we were there. There were articles that bad been before exhibited and described at other old settlers' meetings, still they were of interest, especially the old planters' mill of Wm. Johnson, that ground the first corn in Sauk County and southwestern Wisconsin.

Before closing this report I must take the liberty to relate a couple of anecdotes of him who claimed to be the first white settler of Sauk county.

The First Law Suit In The Baraboo Precinct

We hope that it will not offend our neighbor, Archibald Barker, to repeat the story of the first law suit and duel fought in the Bamboo precinct as related by D. C. Barry. Barry says that Capt. Finley and Barker were continually having trouble which culminated in a law-suit before him. After hearing their jangling until he got tired of it, he proposed that as the Captain was a Southern man (a Teuuesseean) that he and Barker fight it out and not bother him; that he had a couple of pistols recently made out of a gun barrel by Hosey King that would make good duelling pistols. The Captain said that he was agreed. Barry gave Barker a knowing wink, and he consented, except be would not take oue of those long pistols, he wanted his old shot gun. The Captain's back was up so high that he consented to that, provided the distance should not be too long. It was arranged that they place their backs together and march to certain stakes set np for the purpose, then at tbe given word, wheel and fire. It w;is understood between the seconds, Levi Moore and D. C. Barry, that the weapons should be loaded with powder only. As agreed, they marched to the stakes and at the word "wheel and fire", Barker quickly wheeled and hallooed out, "You are a dead man," and blazed away with both barrels of his old shot gun. Capt.

F. never even raised his pistol, but exclaimed Oh !! and for a moment thought ht was hit. In a little while he saw the ioke and the matter was all settled satisfactorily over a bottle of whisky. Thus ended one of the first law suits, if not the first, in the Baraboo precinct.

It would seem that our neighbor Barker was in his yonng days quite a duelist, for in a private circle at the present old settlers' meeting he related another dueling anecdote running thus: In 1840 a man who was a stranger came into the settlement and was about Wallace Bowen's. It was whispered about that he had recently been an inmate of the Auburn, (N. Y.) State Prison. Barker, among others, repeated the story. The stranger was much enraged and challenged Barker to a duel. Barker said that after dinner he wosld fight him. Dinner over they agreed to go to the island with seconds and fight a pistol duel. Barker politely invited him into the boat and pushed it off shore. Giving it a skillful careen, he threw his antagonist into the river, completely immersing him. As soon as the stranger straightened up on his feet all dripping, Barker raised his paddle and eaid, "You, miserable scallawag (or using language a little rougher than I care here to repeat) draw that boat to shore and bail it out or I will split yon down." (Intimating that he, the stranger, bad tipped the boat over.) It took the duel all out of him aud he summarily left the settlement.

Election Oe Oeficep-S

A kind and watchful Providence has permitted us to meet upon this beautiful day to warm up our old friendships, rekindle our old loves and inspirations, revive our old recollections, stimulate our old hopes, recuperate our wasted energies, bury our dislikes, smother our prejudices, and in harmony with that glorious pioneer spirit which has made Sauk county blossom like the rose, exchange with emotions of profound gratitude the most heartfelt congratulations.

At the time that I received your kind invitation to address you upon this occasion, I had perfected my arrangements for the purpose of enabling me to go to tbe Devil's Lake to speak upon the Fourth; aud I assure you that I have been for some time past disturbed by the unpleasant thought, that I should sooner or later land somewhere in that vicinity, and I never fancied the landing. Your invitation thrilled my heart with unspeakable joy aud satisfaction at the time I received it, rendering its rejection impossible, a compliance with your wishes agreeable, and a determination to be present not at all improbable.

Permit me to state to you that I am present myself. I came from Chippewa, in the cold and icy North. I left without consulting the Indians as to the propriety of the trip, hoping that melancholy results of my absence from their midst they would soon outgrow.

has followed the great pilot of pioneer civilizatiou into the red man's hunting ! grounds. I managed iu some way, I ' hardly know how, to get into a first class | passenger car, where I rode a considera- I ble distance before the eagle-eyed conj ductor discovered me; aud when he did, I he suddenly approached me and said I something about cattle car, which I was too much of a gentleman at the time to understand. I stuck to my seat until the train reached North Freedom, where it stopped; and I got off with but little difficulty aud as quietly as possible, iu order to escape the annoyance of too enthusiastic a public reception, bringing I with me a little speech written by myself | and which uo other man would have the ; folly to attempt to read; and I assure i you that it possesses at least the merit | of brevity, for I do not wish to anuoy j you too long at once, for should I speak I auy great length of time I might say i some foolish thing, difficult to explain i away, which you would be sorry to hear