Sauk County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1861 (part 7 of 13)

E1Geth Annual Re-Union Of The

You look happy and contented to day. j You feel full as well as the Prodigal Son did when he returned to his father's I house, and a great deal better than he ; did when he was away. You feel as though the surviving members of a hap- j py family had come home to have a glorious old visit, a real, genuine old-time frolic, a heart-felt reunion.

The Old Settlers' Association of Sauk County ! Those words are full of gentle pathos, poetry, music, hope and good cheer, although fchey tell us iu soft and eloquent tones that human life is short, and in expressive silence point to the tombs which mark the resting place of Sauk County departed heroes.

Fellow citizens, why have you met? : For what purpose have you assembled'? What is the Old Settlers' Association of Sauk County for? For what purpose : was it created? and by whom? aud what benefits if any are expected to flow from its organization! Is it a political organization, instituted for the | purpose of giving ambitious and reck- less politicians an opportunity to meet once a year to wrangle, compare swindles, Bear one another's consciences, exchange lies, cultivate slander, deceive the people and disgrace themselves? Or is it a religious association, called into being for the purpose of giving noisy theologians au opportunity to discuss the quality of the grass, of which Nebuchadnezzer was so fond? Is it a medical association to be run in the interest of physicians, undertakers, aud grave- Btone peddlers? Or is it a legal association, organized for the purpose of giving a dear people a chance to get some law and a little justice near home, and without money and without price, if I am not mistaken? No, fellow citizens; I understand the association is eminently social in its grand designs, bo;-;i of friendship and good will. The Old Settler's of Sauk County, without distinction of party or sex, a Few years ago made up their minds an organization <jf some kind was needed; they felt as though the little band of brothers aud sisters, gradually passing away, required a more formal union; they felt the need of more mutual protection, encouragement, and the want of a more concentrated human sympathy, in order to euable them to present to the world in a more taugible form their deep and undying regard for each other; an opportunity to strengthen and cement their friendship, quicken the recollections of thrilling scenes almost forgotten; an opportunity to clothe with fresh interest old reminiscences, old hardships, privations and dangers, lengthen their lives by recuperating their energies and increase their happiness by brushing away the blues.

And I can think of nothing better calculated to bring about some of the beneficial results to which I have thus faintly alluded than the Old Settlers' Association. Nothing better calculated to smooth the rough paths of human life, lighten its burden, extract from its disappointment the withering sting of misery, subdue its fears, silence its murmurings, and in order to urge men on to the discharge of higher aud holier duties, charm their visions with the soft and mellow light of human nature elevated and man redeemed.

Fellow Citizens, who is it that usually settles new countries? It is an old and true saying that fools never leave the door-yard. The lazy and shiftless stay with their father and mother, eating up their substance-, with hardly energy enough to dress themselves; languishing upon fashionable lounges, or grassy lawns: dreaming of a life of rest and n utterworthlessness could desire. Again I ask you who is it that settles the great wilderness of life? Who is it that leaves the foreign land to escape starvation, and with perchauce his little family crosses the briny ocean, and imbued witli that spirit of determination and indomitable pluck unknown to luxury, but born of human misery, rushes into the trackless forests, scattering broadeast the seeds of civilization, and with strong hands and brave heart builds in all the grandeur of its harmonious proportions the enduring structure of a well ordered, useful and happy human life? Who is it, I ask, that leaves the crowded eastern cities, whose industries are paralyzed, employment contingent and idleness sometimes inevitable, rather than endure the pain of incurable poverty and the anguish of rindying destitution? It is the young, ambitious and enterprising; it is those restless spirits who have severed the cramping shackles of eastern fogyism, shaken off old, silly, superstitions, the black mantle of intolerance, the sickening odor of puritanic bigotry, and have ceased to worship at the cold shrines of a dead, valueless civilization; whose energies, faculties and powers need more room for actiou and development, who want fair play; who do not believe that human life is a mystery, which no one has a right to fathom, or a conundrum, designed to puzzle guessing Yankees, but who do believe that it is a grand and sublime reality, worthy of all study, and that every man should play well his part in life's great battle. They believe that wheu God placed man upon the earth, He did not say to him, "Go to sleep and rest until Gabriel's horn shall wake you up"; but lie said, "Man, go to work; cultivate the earth and elevate yourself". In order to cultivate the earth, it must be settled. If men desire the regeueratiou of the world, they can not accomplish it by staying on Plymouth block - they must leave the rock and stir around. If New Englanders desire the civilization of the continent, they will in order to succeed have to leave New England. Civilization is easy to carry, but hard to send.

Fellow citizens, the spirit of progression and civilization never sleeps. It traversed the rock bound shores of New England and whispered in the ears of her hardy sous, those thrilling words, "Young men go west", and the inevitable Yankee buckled on his knapsack and went. It tells the people everywhere that the enrth is larye enough to accomodate the entire human family, for the present at least, if they are properly distributed; that crowding is unnecessary and unhealthy; and the people who understand these great truths, some of them at least, are wise enough to act in harmony with them, and the balance will reap the consequences of their ignorance and folly. Why do men go to new countries to live? There are a great many reasons which operating in harmony frequently induce men to settle in new countries. They generally pro stimulated by the hope of bettering their condition, pecuniary and otherwise; for the emigrant is usually poor. Some times the heartless sneers of a wealthy neighbor make" the poor man discontented and miserable. Some times the cold and cruel slights of the aristocratic annoy and chafe the proud spirit of the unfortunate poor. Sometimes blind devotion to wealth and the base social ostracism of the poor, render life a curse. Sometimes men tire of and get disgusted with the criminal eccentricities of fash- ionable life aud pant for something sub- - stautial, thirst for something useful, : long for something decent; sicken of I brainless affectation and fashionable dissinvulation, get enough of costly ego- . tism and a poverty-stricken hypocrisy, : and actually become tainted with the ' charming essence of meanness, besmeared with the oil of swell-hcadativeness, filled ; with the sap of greeuhoniativeness, which i asually ultimates in general distressed- | ress. Some go into new countries to get rid of debilitating effects of sickly j sentimentality, the legitimate offspring j of a decaying civilization. Some go to I get more intellectual and physical free- I dom, to shake off unwholesome restraint. Some go in pursuit of fame and worldly ! glory. Some go to achieve a more man- ' ly aud womanly independence, to devel- ! op a purer and more reliable individuality. Some go to strengthen their bod- | ies, expand their minds and purify their hearts. Others are urged on by the love \ of adventure. Others are attracted by the strange fascination, varied experi- '. ences and occasional dangers incident to pioneer life, and a few out of idle , curiosity, follow the car of empire to the ragged edge of border civilization.

The major part of the old settlers of ' Sank county were poor aud plucky, i coming as they did from the different states of our great Uniou, and some : from foreign lands. And when they met each other in Sauk county for the ; first time, what do you think they did? I will tell you some things which I think j they didn't. They did not stand and I gaze at one another and examine each j other's clothes from head to foot; did ! not bow until their bodies described a j horizontal plane, then straighten up and i simper, pucker and strut. They did . not try to look pretty, talk soft or ap- j pear interesting. They did not ask for ' recommendations or send East foi class introductions. No, they ni God's plane, the plane of human e< ty, human fraternity and human d cv. They met like men, not like n eys. They met in person, not by pi They shook hands. It was not the i clammy shake of formality aud iud. ence. It was not the chilling sua! . a disgusting hypocrisy nor the % and senseless shake of aristocratic iu cilit}-, but au honest aud vigorous sh of honest hands. It was the shake ( respectable manhood. It was the sh of a generous and hearty welcome. was humanity's shake. It meant frie ship and betokened good cheer; i, when they held each other by the hat perchance the tears glistening in th eyes coursed down their cheeks. ^ the deadly eye of the basilisk, or tread erous cheek of the deceiver, but t frank aud honest eyes, beainiug wit love and human sympathy, aud the ru gpd cheeks of the sturdy pioneer. The separated and went to work like who had business on the earth au meant to do it. They did not com here to dream life away, or spend it i worthless inactivity. They did no come to visit, to stay to tea and return they came to live aud to fasten upot their little house-tops the bright unc fadeless banner of a youug and vigorous civilization, to float forever in the soft aud balmy breezes of human progression.

Venerable Settlers of the County of Sauk, you struggled hard from year, to year, you did not sleep on beds of down, but frequently slept with your weary heads restiug upon earth's broad bosom, with no candle to light you to bed but the little star twinkling iu the golden firmament of heaven; with no music but the tornado bla.st, aud no companions but the wild beasts, or the as you worked, with a hearty good will, gloomy solitude of the forest. j with elasticity and vigor, with life and

You laid the foundations of a civil- j animation, and not with the sluggishizutiou, the widespread effect and far j ness of genteel stupidity. You came reachiug result of which will live when I together like the happy children of a natious shall have ceased to breathe, and ] large and prosperous family for comfort be felt until the weary pendulum in the j and sociality. A hearty longing for the great and musty clock of time shall have | sweets of social intercourse brought you ceased to swing. You encountered hard- j together. You did not go in fashion's ships and endured many privations; you l glittering garb. You did not mean to faced dangers, seen and unseen; you j pick one another's pockets, laugh at one have seen .the majestic forests fall j another's clothes, sneer at one another's and on its ruins waved the golden har- i deformities, traduce one another's charvests;yousaw in solemn grandeur rise i acters, magnify one another's vices, boast those beautiful churches, colleges and of each other's virtues, or ridicule each school-houses, whose lofty spires glis- i other's misfortunes. You came together toning in the sunbeams, point away | to dance, and visit, and counsel with from earth to God. You came here, each other. A common desire the same many of you, even before railroads were as a common danger draws men together. born. You were happy because you i Your amusements were few, but they wore free; you fainted not, because your were innocent, natural and beneficial, courage never faltered; you murmured You mingled your sympathies, chastened not, for your patience was ample; you your thoughts, purified your desires, turned not back, because the bright star , blended your emotions, shared each ot hope illumined. You succeeded , other's joys, brightened eaeh other's because the meaniug of fail you could i hopes, assuaged each other's griefs, not understand. You had a rigorous cli- and threw around each other the strong mate to contend with, and some of the \ and confiding arms ox a warm and durland was poor. You did not go from ing friendship; and those arms of propoverty to wealth in a single bound, I tectjon have not, we trust, as yet been but you kept the wolf from the door, withdrawn. The friendships that were You had your amusements, you had formed then are fresh aod vigorous now. jour dances, and some of you can dance The friendships formed in those primiyet; dances in which persous of common tive days were healthy and pure, unsense could participate; in which mus- tainted with shining alloy of policy or cle as well a» mind joined; dances that weakened by the paralyzing touch of a people enjoyed and. which promoted vacillating expediency. They were born Uealth and comfort; dances where the , of human peril, tested in the furnace of contemptible question, "Is he rich or human agony, strenghtened by the incultivated?" was never asked or thought i vigorating influences of a common danof. You were not embarrassed at those | ger, guarded by the sleepless vigils of a dances with broadcloth, gold ringo or ; common hardship, cemented withthesoft kid gloves. You were not annoyed , and mellow influences of human forbearwith the fragrance of musk, the rustle | ance, and resting upon the broad and sol - of silk, the monkey grimaces of fops or i id foundation of human fraternity. Such the nonsense of flirts, but you danced ' friendships were worth something. Such friendships nioant something. There was nothing uncertain abont tbem, nothing equivocal or formal about them. The modus operandi of their formation, poor hurnaaity cannot explain, anymore than we can undorstand the mysterious action of the hum^n brain or keep pace with the lightning-like rapidity of its operations. We witness the results, we feel the effects, and there our investigations cease, and the light of our discovery goes out, By dint of perseverance and industry, you surrounded yourself with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. You had pride, the pride of respectability and common sense. Yoa did not learn the aristocratic art of putting on airs those days as eas;Jy as it is acquired now-a-days. You could talk without lisping, laugh without fainting and work without groaning. Schools were not f.s plenty then as now. There were many in which the rough rudiments of a common school education were taught. Latin, Greek, French and music were wofully neglected, but you endured the terrible privations like martyrs, for you knew that any well regulated family can live longer on pork and beans than on Latin nouns. French verbs and B fiat. What was taught wa3 practical, sensible and beneficial. You taughtyour children simplicity and honesty, frankness and industry. They grew up to be useful members of society. Some of them are staying with their parents and rejoice with us to-day. Some of them weut to the front in the late war, struggled manfully for the Union and nobly died upon the battle field of glory. Some of thorn, imbued with the same spirit which glowed in the bosom of their auoestor3, are now struggling on the frontier of the western civilization. Some of them fell at homo in maubood's primo and are no\?

You have aided in the construction of railroads and other public improvements and in the development of the rich and varied resources of the county of Sauk, until to-day she is regarded as one of the bost counties in the state, standing high in the scale of moral and intellectual worth, high agriculturally, mechanically and scientifically. A county of wealth, with a promising future, with a record made by her gallant sons in the late war, as brilliant as the moBt ardent patriot could desire.

Old Settlers of Sauk county ! Some of them have passed away, and in the soil which gently presses their sleeping dust may be found blooming, in the freshness of the eternal spring, laden with the fragrance of youth, the beautiful flowers of peace, hope and happiness. Some of them still live, wtaosa iron frames for almost balf a century have withstood, like the giant oak upon the mountain, and with insolent defiance, the palsying touch of the decaying hand of age. And yet those hardy sires will 6ooa pass from our midst. Their strong and vigororous frames are beginning to quiver iu the arms of relentless Time; their raven locks are whitening beneath the blasting frosts of years; their dark and flashing eyes are growing dim; their once strong and elastic limbs are beginning to^remble and grow uncertain; and their manly forms beginning to droop, for death never loses a victim and human life ia short.

You have doubtless your unpleasant reflections and gloomy regrets. You have without doubt made mistakes. w~d 110 human being: ever lived without blundering; and when a man cease* to err, he ceases to be human, and soon booornes unfit for earth, for Adam'te Fall has bothered us ell. The soothing philosophy of resignation you learned early. The follies of modern times you resisted nntil submission became inevitable. Fashion reared her senseless and empty head and drove fr^ni the shining throne of primitive simplicity, the charming queen of common-sense. You stood manfully at your posts, although I fear that the manly and life-giving spirit which pervadwd your souls in the olden times, in its trannussion to your descendants, has in some instances become somewhat diluted.

And now, my dear friends, permit me to BUggest in closing, that if there are any old settlers who still cherish in their hearts old grudges against each other, let me say to them in all kindness, smother your grudges and upon their black and grimy ruins plant the rases of eternal friendship. Watoh them with eagle eye of sleepless constancy, water them with your tears, and if need be nourish them with your blood, and let them bloom and blossom and shed their fragrance from year to year, until human sympathy and human love shall hare abandoned the human heart for ever.

And now, Old Settlers, farewell! Let us return to our respective homes, better and happier for having met to-day, and let us earnestly pray that each and every year, for many years yet to come, we shall be permitted to meet each other around the glorious altar of a common friendship, and bask in the sunlight of a common sympathy, in pursuit of a common destiny, animated by a common hope, and sustained by the strong and tirelsss arm of human philanthropy.

Old Settlers of Sauk Count}/, Ladies and Gentlemen: - We have met again to celebrate the annual reunion of the Old Settlers of Sauk county. When we look at that log fire, we remember the time when the first Rettlers came to clear up their farms. In 1847 this town was a wilderness; in June a few settlers came here. There were no roads, no bridges, no churches, no school houses. We had to go down to Freeport, 111., to mill, and if we could not get our own grist it was agreed we should bring home our neighbor's.

I lived in Wisconsin a good many years before I ever saw a stovepipe hat. We were at work near the school house one day, when a gentleman came along who had on kid gloves and a fine hat. He told the children he was going to preach to them.

Ladies and Gentlemen: - My theine will be developed to-morrow; but as 1 sat here I had one thought, and that was, how necessary for each one to spi*ak distinctly. I shall be interested to hear every anecdote, as I have been a long time resident of Sauk county.

Thirty three years ago I first set my foot on its soil; I came down through Webster's Prairie. At that time there was not a finished building there. I had a hard time to got anything to feed my horse, but finally succeeded in finding some wheat bran; this I got from Marvin Blake. He lived in a little shanty on the prairie. I preached my first sermon in it. Mrs. Blake's utensils filled about half the space, and my audiouce filled up about half what was left. The lady has often

You have heard a good deal abont the road over the bluffs. It was fearful in those days. Brother Wells was going to ride over with me once. We had not gone far before he said: I can go a foot. He got out accordingly and I had considerable exercise in my attempts to keep the buggy balanced. We drove down under the bluff and stopped at Mr. G's. They welcomed us very kindly and invited us to stay all night. They gave us a very humble candle; it looked as if it was made of tallow. We had to climb up into a sort of loft; we could not stand up, and the bed was pretty close to the shingles. I said: Brother Wells, how are we going to get into bed? I believe the usual way is to go to bed and then lie down, but I guess we will have to lie down and then go to bed. This we did, and we were held down by the shingles.

Friends ami Neighbors; - 1 do not like to get up in this formal way; I should have liked it much better if we had left the stand and gathered around the log heap. I have au anecdote that came to my mind, and I will make a few words in this way. In -12-43 they were making 9. government survey. I was engaged to help them, but before 1 went into camp a veiy heavy snow lei!; it was about eighteen inches. Join. Crawford came from camp to my house; we tried to persuade lorn to iXny, but he insisted on going back that night. He lost his way; night overtook him; he kept going forward, however; often hallooed. Jimmy Bell, who was in camp, said: T hear John. They all listened bul could make out nothing; they would not believe Jimmy had heard liim, but he was so impressed with the fact that he had, he msisted on starling out to look for him. As good luck would have it they found him, but he was nearly exhausted; was holding on to a little tree ju>t ready to fall down. They built a lire there and then went back to camp and got some food and medicine. It was the means of saving Mr. Crawford's life, and he says he shall always hold Mr. Bell in grateful rememhrauee.

I think I shall have to relate you another story. One evening Mrs. Lydia Clark came iato our house in a highly excited stale. She said that a bear had caught one of her hogs. I fixed up a gun and went back with her. I found where the bear had killed the hog on the creek bottom, and had dragged it up the bank and was not in sight. I walked along on tho trad up the bank when I came in sight of my game not more than six tods olf. He stood over his hog that he had been making his meai out of, and would look at me and my dog seemingly very defiant. It seemed to me that we were in almost shaking hand distance. I raised my rifle to shoot but dare not for 1 trembled like an aspen leaf. I bad a severe attack of "buck fever." I had sense enough not to fire until the nerves became quiet, which they did in a moment or two I then drew a "bead" on his ear and "let off." I thought I hail killed him. I put a new oharge into my rifle very quick. I fancied from his looks that he was just fixed in a position to spring upon me. I was then within ten feet of him, and spring he did. I believe I never before in my life was so frightened. I gave him a nervous shot and he lay kicking about among the leaves. My first shot went through the brain and he had not begau to make his death spasms until I had got up very near him.

Mrs. Seeley: - We came here in 1850 in the spring. We had friends m Baraboo and I wanted to go down; brother Locke was going so I asked to ride along. We started about seven o'clock in the morning. You know how they have to urge oxen, and how much haw, whoa, gee buck, and ail that sort of tiling it takes to get them along. We got within five miles of B iraboo that day. The next day was Sunday and Mr. Locke went yelling along; so we got into town when the people were going to church. On Tuesday we started for home. I got tired of that kind of riding and set out ou foot and reached home first.

I want to tell you about our meetings. They were not Baptist meetings, nor Methodist, nor Presbyterian; but they were our meetings. We held them in the shanty that Austin and I called home. It was l!2xlG. I lit that church myself with two caudles. We had no organ, and would not have known what to do with it had we owned one. The preacher - bless his soul - lie preached for nothing and boarded himself. I enjoyed those meetings just as well as I do now, that we have six churches and six church organs and six choirs.

Report Of Meeting Of The Old Settler'S Association, June 24, 1880

We come before Thee this day. oh God, our Heavenly Father, in order to thank Thee that our lives are spared, and that we are permitted to assemble to renew old acquaintance, and that as old settlers and young settlers we are one - as citizens, as neighbors, as friends. We thank Thee for this goodly land that Tiiou hast given us; for the preservation of our lives"; and we pray that we may so live here that we shall have life eternal. May we see that it is fit for us *o humble our hearts before Thee, thanking Thee for the gifts we have received at Thy hands. Let us this day confess His name; resolve He that is our ever present help. Grant that we may find thaT Christ is sufficient for all trial, that his way leadetfa to all truth and right, and that we may be called among His children. When we enjoy this goodly land Jet as invoke Tuv spirit Unit we may find, through Jesus Christ, that we are not only a favor.-d people, but a redeemed people. Let Thy favor abide with us that we nriy realize that Thou art the guider and preserver of life ; and when we are done with earth grant that we may receive eternal life through Christ, our blessed Redeemer. Ameu.

Tune. - "John Brown." Come raine a song of greeting to the Pioneer Band, Who left their homes with gladsome hearts to seek a western land; To fell the stalwart forest, and privations to withstand As they went marching on.

Ghoshs: Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah ! As they went marching on. Not as the shouting warriors come, with devastating tread, Mid scenes of blood and carnage, were our valiant heroes led;

How oft around their camp fires would their hearts instinctive fly, To each dear home of childhood when the years passed sweetly by, And the thoughts of distant loved ones would draw from each heart a sigh,

We meet to welcome here to-day and pay respect to thoife Who toiled to conquer nature )n her wild and stern repose, Whose labor made ttie wilderness to blossom like the rose, As they went marching on. Chorus: Glory, etc.

Write their names in song and story, with the victories they won. Be cherished iu our heart of hearts the deeds that they have done; And may their honored memory descend from sire to son, As they go marching on. Chorus: Glory, etc.

Address of Welcome, by Dr. Chas. Cowles, of Baraboo: Friends and Fellow Citizens: - I believe this is the seventh time I have been permitted to stand before you and welcome you on this joyful occasion. Each succeeding time my heart swells larger and larger, till I can hardly find words to express my gratification. This morning I greet you with a full heart. I welcome you to this " feast of reason aud flow of soul." May it be a feast of reason you will long remember with tliriiling hearts.

Only three, siuce our last meeting, have been swept away - Col. Vittum, Mr. Mackey and Mr. Carver. On their names I will not dwell. Their Memorials have been given in the papers far more fully than I could give them. They nave gone from us never to return. *********

While I greet you, I would also greet our brother Rev. Warren Cochran, who has lived and toiled among us in past years. I would remember to you his sacrifices; his earnestness in the cause of liberty aud temperance; his sous who lie buried - his dearest gift upon hi-* country's altar. The man who has united our sons and daughters; the man who hai stood beside the graves of our friends and children .nud aunounced the resurrection and the life "m tones almost divine." * * * * * * * ^ *

Ladies and Gentlemen: - I am not useJ to speaking to an audieuce like this, and can not now for my voice will not allow me; but this is old uncle Bill. All I cau say is I am glad to meet you. There are many here that seem almost like my own children. I am ninety years old and was sick all last winter. I am thankful, if I never see another meeting of old friends, that I have seen this. I could tell a good many anecdotes and stories, but am not able; I want to say that I respect you all, aud that it is one of the best thiugs that ever happened for friends to meet together and eucourage each other, through, I may say, this weary world; though I do not know as I found it so, for I have made it as easy as possible. Tnere are a great many that I don't remember any more.; but I ain glad to Bee you.

Dr. Cowles rose aiid gave some reminiscence-*: I remember" when I came into the couuty that the roads were intolerable. We generally waded the streams. The mud used to be as deep as they tell About ia Ohio. A man came along and saw a hat lying in the mnd; he took a pole and lifted it up aud fouud there was a head under it, which cried out, "don't be alarmed, there is a good horse under me.**

Once when I was fording, having got out into the middle of the stream, as ill-luck would have it, the str.ips broke and my hor.^o walked off and left me there. I had to get out, it was cold as Greenland, and get my horse to pull things out.

Then the camping out - a man that doesn't kuow anything about camping out doesn't kuow anything about high life. Those were first-rate days. I love to look back to those good old times. Men that were yonng then and full of vigor, their locks are now silvered over. I remember Uncle Bill, how smart and vigorous, - "I am smart yet!" Mr. Jolinson cried out. I bog your pardon, I know you are. These men were down on the prairie grubbing out their farms; now it blossoms like the rose. So it is iu all this county.

There was only one school house in the county then, the old log school house; it has been pulled down; I do not know the man tliat did it, but I wish somebody would pull him down. It should have been preserved to help to make the struggle and progress of civilization iu the dajs in which we live.

Men must have iron nerves aud constitutions to settle new countries. I don't think there is as mucli regular back bone as there was then. These arts of life have a tendency to deteriorate man physically and mentally. Notwithstanding all this there is no county that has a better population, more intelligent, more liberal, more social.

"I love her rocks and rills; Her and templet) hills." My heart goes out for her interests. I expect to live here and die here, and be buried with those who have goue before.

I have been urged to tell a story, so I will tell you how we built Reedsburg. We came here thirty years ago next fall, and had our city all laid out - on paper. .We Lad to come over the bluffs, and when we got to Baraboo they said, "3Sow stay here." Well, most all of them did, and we wished we had lots of times.

Well, it was a grand old city, built of solid blocks - of lots. Undo said the way to build a city is to raise citizens - build it yourself. He offered lots to the children that should be born. I went down to Baraboo and got a child; but it would not do, nothing short of a real, live, kickiug, sqnalliug baby would be accepted. Well, we had been there two years before a child was bora. They gave it a lot. The week after that there was another, and the week after that another, till in the course of a year nearly every family had invested in real estate. I want to say that our city grew, and those children have staid by us and make the very best citizens.

I want to speak because I heard a man say once, "Self praise is the Uest, because you can have it wlieu you want it." I thought I would tell a doctor story, you know doctor stories are always true. You kuow, too, when a man is from Ohio you expect to hear something from him. There was a doctor iu Ohio who was good at doctoring children. It was quite a fasliion then to steam patients. He was called to see a child, and he did not kuow what was the matter, so he thought he would steam her and then throw cold water over her. Wheu he thought she had steamed long euough, he went to pour on the water; but, behold, the child was dead! - smothered. His doctoring was like the one Mr. Cochran told about last night. He said, "A man called to see a sick woman, did uot kuow what ailed her, but said, 'I'll give her something to throw her into fits and I'm death on fits'"

Mrs. Hackett arose and spoke in regard to the journey she had made to Utah and back. Sue stated that she was obliged to travel 330 miles in heavy wagons, both on her journey to and from Utah.

Mr. Terrell Thomas spoke on fiuaucial matters, especially of the pystem of internal improvements. He spoke especially of Ohio as a leading state iu that particular.

Afternoon

The President made a brief address in regard to money matters, and was followed by Mr. Woodman, who recommended that the young settlers be given a chance to contribute. On the suggestion of the President a motion was made and carried declaring Mr. Woodmau an honorary member.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: - I am glad of an opportunity to express to the early settlers of Sauk County my gratification, that, in view of the honor bestowed upon me, is only equaled by the pleasure I feel in seeing your faces.

Thirty- three years ago next October I came to Sauk County, and with the exception of nine years I have been here continually. No spot on earth, for obvious reasons, is so dear to me. More than a generation has passed away. It has seen abroad three devastating wars - the Franco- Prussian, the Turko -Russian, and the Afghanistan; and it has seen civilization rise and degenerate. Turning from the Old World to our own, we see the terrible destruction and devastation of our Civil war. We see, too, slavery, that greatest of all evils, expunged from our Constitution., Liberty has made more rapid growth than ever before, from the seed sowu in those dark days. Our most sanguine expectations have been realized. Enemies who met us with the bitterest opposition shake hands with us to-day and say, "I always knew you were right."

Death, too, has been among you. 1 can count at least fifty that have passed away ; but the result of their labor remains. We f.ee wealth, population, growth, fruit that lias sprung up from this commingling of a large Plymouth Rock element with the various nations of Europe. We see retiring forests, costly railroads, and, grandest of all, our public schools - these have far surpassed expectation.

As regards this association, I know that your combined resources have been called on both financially and mentally; some make speeches like old senators, and somo like gr<reu ones, like myself; but they are valuable as testimony from your lips of the trials you have borne together, and the friend. ships* cemented, out of which comes the Old Settler's Association of Sank Couuty. It will keep alive friendships and hand thorn down t<- a new generation. The events of these days are recorded. I hav.5 preached freedom and have been ridiculed - called an abolitionist, a hot-head, aud many other bitter names. Now many pro-slavery men pay, "I was always as mnch an anti-slavery man as you were," but our children shall rise up and by

I wish to call your attention to permanent friendships, and their growth from virtue. That old Roman was right when he peuued these words: "Friendship lies at the foundation of all that is good." Men have endorsed it in all ages. Its opposite brings crime, bloodshed, treachery. The laws of friendship forbid us to make much of faults, but coinmiQil us to make much of virtues; to magnify the noble, make less the iguoble. There is no height more soul inspiring than that of contented civilization graced by light and love, undivorced and undivorceable twin sisters.

Now my friends it is seldom good to change law; the same is true in regard to friendship. It should kuow no chauge except increase. It should grow broader, deeper, higher, through the eternal year3 of God. True friends are confidential. They say things to each other they would not say to the world; hence it sometimes happens, when something comes up to separate old friends, one goes abroad abusing confidence aud injuring the other. The most terrible euemies are those who have once been friends. In the language of Paul, "Yea, mine familiar friend has lifted up his heel against me." Hence I say, once a friend always a friend.

Notice some of the things which strengthen friendship. The first is virtue, in the good old Bible sense - a person strong for truth. Virtue must lie at the foundation of all friendship; There is a wonderful uniformity in men. Men never have, never can, respect vice. They may be vicious toward each other, but after all they condemn vice. One who is trying to benefit mankind ought not to be discouraged, eveu if he stands alone. Men are bound to respect virtue.

I come into Baraboo now, a man meets me, shakes bauds with me, and invites me to dinner; he used to be my enemy, but he says, "You blistered us terribly; but I know now yon were right. If two vicious persons are friendly, and one reforms and becomes virtuous, he may still love the other, but he can not love his vices. Confidential nccpjaiutance, being the basis of true friendship, is therefore one of the sacred ties of domestic bliss. Nothing in the world cements friendships like mutual toil and suffering. If my lot was to be cast with those who are poor and struggling for daily bread, I would go to a new country. I should find tiiere that my neighbor would diyide his loaf with me, yea, were it needful, -would give me the whole.

In order to perpetuate friendships yon must strike down deep where humanity is. Clashes and issues bring distinctions, but men must go down deeper than that. You must learu to love your neighbor no matte! what his condition or color, unless he is blue with whisky ; even then you must remember that he was a human being before he was a devil. The Lord died for human beings. Behind the curtain of woe and shame may be a tempted, struggling brother; hence, my friends, strike your friendships deep down to the basis of humanity. David Crockett said, two rules I leave you when I am dead. Be sure you are right, then go ahead. You will be obliged to leave certain pleasures behind if you wish to be a friend to mau to lead him to a higher, nobler civilization. Blister the mau till he has taken off the habiliments of sin, theu take him by the hand. Then he will say to you, "You wore always right." The worst enemy I have I can take by the hand; before he was a ruffian he was a little iuuoceut creature in his mother's arms, by the grace of God worth saviug.

True friendship is the soil on winch everything valuable grows. It must always be regarded as the foundation of every social good. This is the iubred order of humanity. Suppress friendship and you have a hell on earth, wrangles spring up, quarrels disturb the community and destroy the good influences of the churches and schools. Loss of friend? hip has wrought revolutions most destructive to the human family. Oat of peace with God flows personal peace, out of this grows ueighb >rhood peace, out of this grows national peace. Where all are united much cau be done. I believe to-day without any doubt that all nations on the earth can not destroy the American nation unless she destroys herself.

We old settlers hive, rather pre-occupied the day, but I want to say to the young settlers that fights do not all consist iu swimming rivers aud shooting bears. You will not know anything about frontier life unless you go farther w*»"*; but you have got to front life. You are on the frontier of your life; you have got to meet it; you have got the contest to go through. We have got past the simple days «ben men could live plain and cheap. Your mother could make a dress good euougii to wear to church out of six yards of calico. It did uot take more than six garments to tit out a woman in those days. They knew and attended to their own business. They did not ruu after the god of fashion. Young mau, before you get married think of this, consider it well. It costs more to ruu a fasuiouable woman than it does to ruu a Corliss engine. Young man, do you think you are a mau of back bone? Your wife may take that out of you! You hive got to how down to fashion. I have tried to make way against it, but I have worked out. got to the end of my stock of patience, then endured. Bear your burden then patiently, it may have at least this effect: it may become a means of grace whereby you may work out your own salvation.

Young gentlemen, right over against you stand these young ladies. To them I say, the young young men of these days kuow everything. They hardly gt>t to be sixteen before they know everything. They have wouderful foresight but dreadful poor hindsight. They know, among other useful things, how to make butter, bread and pies, how to set a table, etc.; so you must have on a good stock of patience when he coufes into the kitchen and explains these little matters. Young gentlemen aud ladies, either keep out of matrimony or make up your miuds to endure many things; so that you can say, when you consider the whole matter: We have got out together, we have done pretty well.

Iu conclusion I will say, I shall meet this congregation no more. God knows I wish you all the highest prosperity. When storms are all over, rain, flood, winds, all passed, may your friendships endure eternally because founded upon a rock.

Secretary'S Report

The proceedings of last year were printed as news matter in the Baraboo Republic and afterwards made up into pamphlet form, and a thousand copies struck off. I folded, bound and mailed a copy to each member of the association. The remainder I have laid one side for future use.

- After these proceedings were printed it left us in debt $33.35. After consulting w ith the officers we concluded to send out a circular asking the members to send in their past dues to the Secretary, that the debt might be liquidated. The following members responded: Robt Hawkins, 50 cents; T. J. Morgans, $1; Spencer Fish, 50 cents; Josep!) Lunn, 50 cents; Moses Young, 50 cents; John D. Sanford, £1.50; E. O. Bunnell, of Blue Springs, Neb., SI; Isaac Gibbs, $2; J. P. Dangertield. j?l; Daniul Pruyn, $1; John Thilke, 50 cents. Several have handed me their dues within a day or two of this meeting. If the members would be punctual in paying their dues, we should have enough money to meet all the requirements of the association. The Secretary believes that the officers of the association do not wish to make the paymeut of our anuual fees burdensome to auy one. If it is not convenient to pay them, do nut pay them.

In looking ovor the list of members we notice that Z. T. Carver, of Recdsburg, died iu July; D. S. Vittum, of Baraboo, April 10th; Joseph Mackey, of Reedsburg. We now number over 300, hence the death rate stood this year 1 to 100.

We have added to the photograph album seven portraits, viz. : Mrs. Rosaline Perk, of Baraboo; X. W. Wheeler, Esq., of Oippewa Falls; Mrs. N. W. Wheeler, nee Victoria Peck, of Chippewa Falls; Mr. Victor E. Peek, of Milwaukee; Mr. J. F. Sanford, of La ValieJ Mr. Wm. S. Grubb. of Faraboo; Mr. Wm. Bell, of Baraboo.

The Secretary is sorry to say that he did not make a very perfect list of aut:qne articles on exhibition this year. Of articles not exhib. ited at other meetings we notice:

A bayonet that had been hung upon the limb of a tree which had grown over it so as to imbed it completely; i. e., the timber had grown over it; brought by Fabry.

We visited the old cabin to make a list of articles too late (the same fault as last yeat) when a large share of them had been taken away. There were many curiosities and relic-, that had beeu taken away.

The old Virgiuia bruad track and broad tire wagon that the Babb family moved into the country with in 1846, was brought on to the ground by J. W. Baker.

Business Meeting

Wm. S. Grubb, of Baraboo, was elected President; W. H. Canfield re-elected Secretary; and Enos Kimball, re-elected Treasurer. It was decided to agaiu hold the meeting at North Freedom.

Receipts

At this moment the Secretary is not able to state when the pro" ceedings will be printed. When the new board shall have met it will then be settled. They were reported by a stenographer and are full and complete and are ready for printing.

The Secretary takes pleasure in speaking of the liberality and hospitality of the citizens of North Freedom in carrying through the festival. First, they paid half the expenses of the brass band, $12.74; second, the} at the preliminary meeting subscribed 810.50. Total §29.23. A part of this last sum was used to pay tavern bills, drawing of water and getting ice, etc., payiug a residue of about $7.50 into the Old Settlers' treasury.

The Secretary, on behalf of the Old Settlers, tenders their heartfelt thanks to the people cf North Freedom for their kind cess at this festival

The Old Settlers' Association Of Sauk Co

The meeting: was culled to prder byjal greeting, our annual reunion, our an-> the President, Mr. S. J. Seymour, and nual pioneer festival holiday. This is the exercises of the day were opened by not au ecclesiastic tl holiday, nor cremu<dc by the North Freedom BrassUted by statute; bnt it is our owu holi- Band who together with the Reedsburg'd «y, the oue which weold settlers of Glee Club ftmiislud the musical part ut Sank C 'Uuty have appointed, and which the day's eutertainineut. wetodav, devote to ihe laudable and

The oldest old s«ttters were then call Uatisfwctory purpose of - nit eMng and ed for, and quite a uutnber Ortrae. fur- greeting old friends, old settlers, some ward aud were seated uu the speaker's) of whom perhaps we have n »t s^en, or stand. jeven heard of since our last annual pio-

ThejEtev. Mr. A. Locke, oue of thejcfer holiday, and we expect that tins early settlers, off red the following iaunual festival is ^.permanent institution pra er; laud will contiuue to be celebrated from

We desire O G >d, our heaven ly^vear to year, until the last old settler father, to come before Thee, in thejshall have passed away, aud probibly depth of humility awl thank Thee for for generations afterwards, the presxrvaMna of our unprofitable! Wecme feeling that it is good to be lives to thU time, >o,d we tfiauk Thee |iere; that, we may enjoy ourselves and that we have the pleasure of again meet U) BOme ,-r'eut, at le*st, live over some ing in this Deautiful grove aud behold ,,f the most interesting portions of our ing each others laces. We remember |jves, our pioneer days. Som* of our that it is in Thee that w« live, audj0)d seit!ars cuue fr'.m Europe, some move, and have our being; aU blessing- ,r.,m ^esv E-gland, some from the flow from thy bountiful hand. andki^.He States, some from other Westwhile we are assembled to-day, may we ,.ru States, and some fr on the Southern greet each other once more, lookingstates; but oil came, not for the sole forward, O Lord, to the time when we L,ul,ose (,f settling and making prossdidi meet all those who have goue be pemus a new country, but we came to fere, us and greet them around Thylbetter our condition. A very large porthrooe. He!,) us to lead good Iives;jtio0t aod j thluk £ may jQ truth . say, hear us for all we are in duty bound to:,b.lf the mosfc ua came wjt|j Dut Vrty pray for, and at last save us in Thyjilttie ()f tbia world's goods, and little or kingdom. These mercies aud favor*' mouey; but with strong hands aud we would ask iu the name of our Ra wjUing minds, all deb rmiu,-d to do our deemer. AmeU. little mite towards making so >d, com-

The president, Mr. S. J. Seymour,;f()rtab|(, homes for our families and is re*d an address contrasting the present so doing Have, to a certain extent, acand past m regard to facilities for pro ;COcDpHsbed oue of the objects most ductiou, transportation, travel, and|denr to an American heart. And while communication. Wt ;. ,,v \uieu makiug our homes whit we

Otd Settlers. - Ouce more wo meet iirsourees of Sauk Couuty, ami tusking, this beautiful grove, to havo our auuu-, rough though aho is, one of the most

While we are considering these thingssof these old settlers, we would uot forget what has been done; The greatest rebellion ever known in in other parts of our country. history has been inaugurated against

Those portions of our state that were our government and persisted in by already settled, when the first pioneersjthosa engaged iu Lfc, till they had lost came to this county have grown popa--kvndreds of" thousands of human live.* lous, rich aud prosperous, and will and untold millions of dollars iu the compare 2 ry favorably with an equal destruction of property; and causing amount of territory iu the eastern or the government and the loyal people middle elates. who sustaiued it a loss in men, rnateri-

Other counties north and west of us al and money still greater than tiieir in this state have been reclaimed from own. Sauk County did her full share ;he occupancy of the Indians aud wild in furnishing men to sustain the govbeasts, and been made the homes of'ernment.

While this has been going on around ment the world has ever seen, the re us and we have been quietly plodding bellion was crushed after a terrible four along in our daily routine of work to years struggle; aud our free institutions get a living aad make more profitable, jplaced upon a surer and tinner basis ttr active and comfortable our homes in thau ever before; no part of the fabric Souk County, vast events have beeu of our government now resting on the transpiring in other parts of our com- \corner stone of human slavery. mot county, fas/ territories west of us While these events have been tranhave? beeu settled ami developed into spiring, others of great importance iu states. The "Great American Desert," the development of our country's rets laid down in our old geographies, sources and earning forward the mahas dissapeared, and to ? great extent, terial improvement and prosperity of been peopled and transformed into rich the- people, have been equally signiti- -aud prosperous states and territories, cant, resulting iu a more genera! diffu- The vast mineral resources of Califor- sion of the conveniences and comforts nia, Oregon and the Rocky Mouutaiu of life among the masses of the people, Territory have been discovered; and while the general and rapid iuterb .ve yielded their millions and millions change of products of the different parts of dollars worth of g"ld and sdver, and of our common country with each other other metals that have to that extent ia- is being carried on, by means of our creased the wealth of the world. - railroad and water transportation i'acili -

Three rail roads to the Pacific Coast'ties, Inventors are busy producing have been built, furnishing rail road various kinds of machinery, by means '3ommunic;uiou and tratic across the of which t Lose who labor upon farms continent. 'or iu manufacturing establishments can

Thousands and thousands of miles of accomplish more work in a given time, railroads have been built, traversing and with less manual effort thau was the different states and territories in all necessary when vteoldsettlerscom&ienced directions, furnishing rapid commupj the battle of life in Sauk County thirty cation with all parts of the country, or forty years ago. The telegraph has been put to practical We then, to break our land, hitched

- and telegraphic communication basjtwo, three, or four yoke of oxen to the been opened with all parts of the land. lon<j, bt lined, heavy breaking plow, and The telephone has been invented, eu-iwhile one man, wiih his long Jiskjiolt abhng people to talk with each other whip, drove the oxen, another held and who are at considerable distances apart, [managed the plow, and they could the amount depending largely on the daring the remainder of our allotted condition of the laud and the strength timfl here, that \s hen the great Harvestand smartness of the team. jer, Death, calls us to join them there,

Now, to do about the same amount of the world, or that part of it within the work, we can hitch our team of two bounds of Sauk County, will be, at heavy horses, or three lighter ones to our least, a little bet er for our having lived tulky ploio and With one man to mount in it.

Then our bay was cut with the scythe, mnst 8ay to n that never before iu wielded by our own strong arms, at the mv life\1.<Ve T met a crowd jike this, rate of one to two acres per day. bote ^ such heprt felfc jny and sach Qyer. we cat from Jive to re/i acres in the same flowi greeting as I do you this morntime, with team and mower while we . UQ(j*r fQe gbade of ^^ u^ y sit on the seat and drive, and again the welcomP you *itb ali mv hearli a1}^ j machine does the work. 'trust that' while wo are here together to-

Our hay was, then all raked by nana. ;day> these greetings will recall to oar while now, ahorse attached to a wheel |minds pleasant memories never to bt rake aud guided by a boy will rake as eg>aced rake in half a day. Our -rain was then rhere "re fclf3 that bind , h?arts, to" all cut with a cradle, and raked ancf^Nr. ties that are wrought in adverbound by hand, at the rate of two toi«'*7? »«' affliction, m sorrow, rhese kind three acres per day, while now the self °* ties bind our hearts together in a binding reaper, propelled by the power manner that nothing can break here of three or four hor.es, and one man to earth. As we look about us, we drive will cut and bind three or f0Ur^e many heads frosted for the grave timeaasmuchins day. .reminding us of the autumn time and

At the same time that these improve .^ ^aves that fall, and thus meeting tuents in cheapening the cost of produo- we greet each other with that tendering agricultural commodities have *&* ^ affection, that heartfelt regard been made, equal and steady advance ^at becomes us as old settlers of bank has been made in lessening the cost bounty.

and increasing tho facilities for produc ; It is not proper for me, after wh.it ing articles of manufacture necessary has been read before you, to descant for our comfort aud convenience, and upon tho history of the past; but I see tSauk County has kept pace with the here veterans representing that time, rest of the country in this respect. |f or instance, the lion. Moses M. Strong.

While we old settlers have been per Of Wm. H. Clark, it was said he was mitted to witness, and to some extent the lion of Sauk, but Moses M. Strong at lea>t, enjoy the benefits of fhese is tho Cromwell of Wisconsin demoachievements, we have at times, and cracy, a regular old ironside. We those times are becoming more and greet him to-day, we welcome him, and more frequent, I e< u ealle lupon to drop feel proud that we can call upon perour tears over the gra^ es of .'. se of car sous so tar distant to gather with u , number who have been called to | Then too, here is qur friend Kelson the great river, and are now on the otii-IWheeler, whose countenance, you know. er shore awaiting our arrival there. lis "child- like and bland," He would

In c *pclnsit»n l^t me Fay once more, perhaps for a year They are inter stwelc^me, thrice weleoine to this pleas irg also for the opportunities they fnrant gathering, and may we feel so greatjuish of rtceiving information of the a r«- torrd-ior if, that it shall be per pet u [history and reruiuiscpncf 3 of by gene at*d to the end of rime. [times, which, are rapidly passing from

The Hon. Moses M. Strong was in- the memory of man into obscurity ai.d tr- dnced by t lie president and made-oblivion. They are pr fi'alile for vari the following address-: >>U8 otht-r reasons; it is an old sayiug

' Citizens of Sauk County, - I fear that that all play and no work is a very bad the announcement widen I understand tlnng, and it is a verv good thing for has l;t en made in the newspapers oi my vou farmers especially, and sons of toil, mteiishd pretence on this occasion, and that you should occasioi ally take a day e»-p chilly the unautl>ojiz-d but very (for recuperation, as opportunities like e mplimentary remarks of tiie gentle- 'his give you a chance of doing. But men who welcomed us on this occasion, jyou "ill expec* something more than may have been gieatly misleading, tbai'm^re bounties like ihi-«. I ought to be may have induced \on to expect ul jaxe ab-e.to g've you some instruction, I what you will not hear, and not bear- [ought to be ahie to remind you of some ing, mav create. I am sorry to believe, things which the ea'ly pioneers nnee no li'tle degree of disappointment, knew, and which the younger ones This leads n>- to explain the cocum [ra>eht learn of the history of tire past, stances of my ben. g here. Y ur county is bounded on the south

My excellent friend, Mr. Wheeler, by the Wisconsin liiwr which forms a met me by BCeideut al Madison last [portion of the great highway of nature Friday after ray return fr-m a jonrne> jtietween the Gulf of St. Lnwrence and to the-north of the state, and urged me 'the Gulf of Mexico, a highway winch very strongly to he here on t ois oc >>as no paiall 1 in the ton of the cation. 1 did not promise bim that IITJuifed States. Ths Wabash and the would, because I did not know in whaiiMaumee are near together, and there condition I shouid find my business at-'n > other streams that flow into tha and domestic affairs on my return. AjMis.siss:upi thai com- wry near to those dav or two afterwards Mr. Wheelerjtbufc flow into the Great Likes, but having repeated that conversation t> rbere are none that furnish so good a your secretary, I r« cieved from bim a liighwa\ as the Portaaa, Fox aod Wis very flattering, complimentary aud cousin Rivers. That route was known pre.-siug invitation to come here and mid utilized nearly rwo hundred and address the old settlers. I replied tint' titty years ago. It was frequently trav- I would come. hut as for the address. m\ <-!-d by the traders and stih m >re otteu -/.her eogagetnents would deny fhe op bv the Indians themselves. ponnnity for making any preparation, j The Sauk r»ice of Indiana werelocatand that he was not at liberty to an ed near the mouth of Fox River, where n-uii.ee that 1 would make a speech, jis now the City of Green Bay. They but that he might say that I would in remained there until nearly the dulge in such impromptu remarks as middle of the seventeenth century, uutbe occasion might, st-em to cill for and til about 1746 when they were drivou that is ail you have a right -to expect, iwav, and ascending the Fox river and attdifyonr expectations exceed this, descending the Wisconsin, they located yon are doomed to disappointment. upon that beautiful tract of land.

It is good, I know it is good for me, [where now stand the twiu villages of it must be good for all of you to assern Prairie dn Sic and Suik City. They hie on occasions like this. They are of! were the first settlers of Sank County interest for the opportunities they fur (Mr Strong forgot the mound builders uish nM friends of meting each other W. II. C.) anJ it seems a very appropriate name for the first tribe that settled became settled and still later settle there. I have said it was about 1746 nv.nts were made in the eastern port: m that they first came there. About;, )t- the state. It was frjw 1836 ri 1810 twenty yeara la'er Jobnathau Carver, Itbat the first, settlements that b e id whose. name has become listorieal con- lierm aueut were made iu S-aik 0 unty. sequent upon what was delineate. 1 opon j Dave incmire-1 of some few of the old the early maps of Wisconsin as the .^triers but cannot give yon iofornia Carver Iract, set ont npou an exptor- as t( uh0 was the first se*tler. iug expedition, and lie found at what i-< Though the information seems to o >int dmw Fraine du Sac the Sauk tribe ofjro jauies Albin, it is sufficient to know Indians. Permit me to read to y<m the;r|,at, three or tour yeara prev.om to account he gave of what be then ft-nud. |840 quite a number did se^t'e upon He says lie there found the largest and n.lt, beautiful prairie. (Hiesumme. of ber-t built Indian town he ever saw. It 1339 wa3 the first Rummer Mint the c»Dtained aboht ninety houses, each 01viliz -d white man occupied that prailarge enongh for several families, bniU rie. \V. H. (J.) On the 11th of .January, of hewn plank, before the d > -rs were ig40, au a(Jl, WrtS }M-sed to establish 'he DlHC-d sheds in which the inhahitauUjCj,.unty fVf Sa(lk ailS dweribe its limits, sat when the weather permitted. It up- I:J ig42 Bichlaud county was estab'i n>- peared more like a civilized town than je<j Its b-mndaries were also fix-d by the abode of savages. ,|.nv> The cn>;lt.joa of Richland c

Perhaps ttris account is somewhatlcut off fonr towns from Se.uk on the overdrawn, as it is entirely different '.Vest, leaving Woodland still attached fr'-m what we know of the aborigines! »o Sauk county although surrounded of ihis territory. by four other counties. This is the

But it did U'>r 1 »ng continue. One of formation of the boundaries nf y .ur the oldest set-tiers of Greeu Bay, Augns j couuty so that since 18-12, they hava retine Greeno who gave bis personal 11 u- roained as they at present exist. But rative to Mr. Dniber, states that in the delineation on the man of what 1795 less than thirtv years after Carver) were to be boundaries did riot tnake it wat there, he visited the sain-' spot and a c nntv in any such sense as the Suthat there v. is no vestige of a hon.se re preme C '»rt have decided to constitute raaiuing, so that the Sink triba did ie*r 1 county which is organized with probably occupv the territory longer lOMchinery forcarryiugouits judi-'iai and than thirty years. B j it logger or civil affairs; so that it never iu rea'ity shorter, it is a well known historic il. became a canity until as late as Lsl4, fact that they did occupy this portioujwuen an act was passed to organize of the couuty and it is probably the on the Couuty of Sank, which provided ly portion -of what constitutes Sauk it hat the first, election should be. held on Couuty that was occupied by any bu-jrhe 2nd of March, 1814. By the sain 1 man being, civilized or savage, excep»jact three commissioners were appoiotthe Mound Builders. Nor d d settle ed to locate the e >unty seat. The ! .- ments immediately ensue. There wereiCited it, acordiug to mv preceut v.nm the state but two or three points pression npon Sauk Prairie, at any rate where there were c .y c msiderable set it continued there until 1S1G when ir tleuieuts. One was at Green Bay, on* was located by the vote of the people. at Prairie du Chieu, md there Were a. The result wis that the county 3 tat few settlers at Portage who were engag was located at Adams. Do any of ed iu trans] irtii . men, wagons, pro-jwish to know where Adams was ? I visions, aud so one side I can tell von that Adams was Bur.

were no settlements in Wisconsin untiljpractiee, 1 practiced at Adam tl ibout sixty years ago. From sixty to'eounty seat. After Adams was 1 sixty-five years iigo liie load mines; tirst'the couuty seat, it was 730 days before a til be of interest to others, hence old li wa3 »Jjt lo»K after this county v as : mi talk over their personal arTau^settlea tliafe efforts were w.ut: to irnmuch to the disgust of the ris neoei prove the roads. On the 13th of Janu- - a but .very much to their i ids try, 1810, an act -was passed appoim j .n John Maun and D. B. Crocker and

Bear Ore A: from edory is it to tin ! uk Indians that they Creek. It was a misty, moist, drizzlj be tirsi settlers of Sauk Co.? They o i\ ch has preceded them, aod;sawt>fi inm|,er ami run it bo Sauk, 'i tbegloryoi continuing that which was \ya5 -0oss of the raft myself. :iv. bo well begun. "Ob friends permit me; terbury enid to me, ,5L» live vears vuu t the work oi iifeis not all- WOnt know von ,.,,,.. burned out " 1 ied oiife. It is not all of Iiie to ten vou . .. sg ,, goo \ Wt r.\ , , . ,. live nor of death to die.'' It should be.com:aeement an<j a^ood word g0 . our aim to s i live that we may be bt tter .,,, j . ..., 3 mt .; ies_»» pi pared to meet that destiny which is ;° ;0 cer| _ j ,-:\ ; y 0f na so , ,;1 ^ Jr. Johnson gave his age as a trb veon arth m reference to the great ..,.--;. , .... ffice jn q , . ; - to make that preparation :oarr"jed tbemail to Delton and Bai font which is necessary, and it we live( jre had onc-hali the proceeds oi t - i as we should wish to live hereafl for pay and his only means ui - will tafte our little family nud I \v;ll not wish to say anything upon this ocpromise never to c »mplain" - and shejcasionj I am at this time physically very never Las. I came iutu this country weak, intellectually very >.aivoe. My poor but I can say a* this time, that I speech yesterday called lor sueh au outhold my own. 'Mr. Grott's circnoi tlay of nojseaae that I anl almost entirestances are easy. He b:s acquired a ly out, aud nave not iiad time to reeue npettncy judging froua appearauces Derate sufficiently to give you what von W. H C.) Wh«n we got into the Mil really desire and what I can ordinarily watikee woods the slush came up into furnish.

onr wagon 1>. x, ;md the corduroy roadsj There was one thing paid this m-rawere mere logs floating on tne water, ling to which I took exceptions at the I landed here aud took a farm fr >m a time. A physicin said I could extract a man her* present to-day, Uarl B-irry. (smile from the very face of dea h, and When I gut to Baraboo I enquired forli am inclined to think lean, as I have Reed.sbnrg and the Barabuo people made s una of the doctor's ptfcieuts laughed at me, What is u<»w the m*m]l>iugh after they had been under his street of R.'-d-b ng was then a fr<»g|care a week.

pond. R-ed had built a saw miil audi Another reason why I do not fee! old mother Clark bad two strauties; called upon to make a speech is that I Bbe kept groceries iu one and lived in UaVe been the means - tne hnrtfble the other. means - of inviting him out here to

The secretary and the treasurer offer- 'ilKlKe a ape JCh. I knev tint his u-ime ed their reports which were accepted. ka« a familiar word, -that the people

The seeretaiy then made a motiou!w^0 ^n't know the name of Mo-es Vi. extending a vote of th-tuks to Mr. Siroug!ytrong. d.m't kuowao much, but that wh en was carried, and re-pondtfd to ^y[it is the-duby «if their p*reufcs to keep Mr. Strong in a few words tn which he tliHUJ ioSjJH the door vard. called the attention of the old settler- j ju aot w,.[)t to tei~Ate 0f mv ertr_ : ; his bo Is - a history of the territorial iv history, - I didu'tcome here as "early times of Wisci.n>iu and the years pre jas s,»mei because I didn't get driven ceding the territory. . aw»v as early. I could have come here

Mr President, Ladies and Ga;nt7c?/ie/i:jproteeted state. I came into the terri- - 1 did uot . y.p-c* r i be called upon t t rv of Wisconsin uuaououuced. Numake a speecn t<> r lii^ intelligent assem-fbody knew I was ab<>ut to c >me. I bly i > il iv, and I am pi rimp* not in us was as yoaug as I could be under the good couditi<»u to make a rem:irkable!circumstauces. I live here, audi prospeech t>»y u nn this oco-isi'iu a- some pose, to stay her-', and 1 give you advice other men are at some other time. I;to Uveas long as you can as I never was called upon unexpectedly t<> make!talked with an old settler who had passa speech t<« the old pioneers of the state ed away but that regretted his untimely in the coy of Madison. My snbj ct'departuro.

was "The Fho of t Lie Olden Time," aj I live made two or three remarkable subject about which I ku >w perhaps speeches here before; it is wonderful to less than any man in the state, a subjec* me, it is pleasing t<> you, it is surprismore distasteful to me tiiau any otiurmg to all, that ui_v life, pirtly unprofitsnbject the mo$i ingenious man in the'able ami partly profitable, has been si ute could have selected. I will al any -'pared to make another of these interesti say anything and do almost any ing speeches to you, and Ipledge to you - to benefit t'ne race, and 1 respond upon all the honor a lawyer has, and ed with ;i pr - apti -- rl s reetuess wh i ants more, or needs less, that it surprised the audience and tickled just as long as the president, or any othme. There is another re isou why I do er individual calls on mc for a speech 1

9- shall respond and now I bid yon fare- {reminiscences mentioned. I never read well. I am perfectly -Rilling* to giveja report ot one of your meetings without j on a reasonable amount, but I want feeling that I have, somehow, been disyou to understand that jewels are scarce loyal to old Sank county in nfver having and jewelers not always at leisure. returned even to make her a visit during

1). C. Barry, of Obrian Co., Iowa, and all the long years since 1853. first settler of Reedsfeurgwaacalled up- I would so much like to see again the on and responded as follows; placet, aud frets which were so dear to

"I connot make a speech but would.me in my early years. I am reminded say I was very much pleased to meet that many of those dear faces with many of my old neighbors, and are no lunger with you, and that tuey came from Iowa here almost on purpose are not again to be seen except in memto attend this meeting. I do not ex-|ory. My early and greatly esteemed pect to meet with yoa at my advance friend, C. C. Remington, is now of this age (75) perhaps ever again. I shonllnunaber. He may have had faults but be very glad to have you call on me. I be had so many noble aud generous ouslbid you a good bye, and as long as I itie..; was so honest, sincere aud talented live shall most kindly remember my old that, to uic, it would seem like rank in- Sauk county friends. 'justice to remember that he was notalto-

The following letter was received by Iff ether perfect. I fancy that Miss Ida W. H. Canfield, Secretary of the Old Remington, who reported your proeeed- Scttlers Association. froinR. P. Clement, iugs, must be his daughter. Col. Alban, of San Francisco, Gal., which was nut. whose memoir appears in your pin.; received in time to be read before the' was also an early friend of mine, aud I Old Settlers at the annual meeting: concur in what is said of him.

I received, this morning, a copy of the Do you remember James E. Freeman, proceedings of the last annual meeting a surveyor, who iu early time= surveyed of "the "Old Settlers Association" of some townships of Baraboo lands? We Sauk county, and have just finished often talk of Baraboo, and early times reading it. Nearly thirty two years have then. He is no longer young, but is, as passed since I left your grand old shite, always, a man of sterling character. and that gem of her t erritory Sauk poun-j j notice that your society is to hold fry, and that wonderously charming and Us Qext annual meeticg on tbe 15ch of attractive town oi Baraboo. During the fchia moatl)> j wilj bear vou ;D mhu\ o:i

It i3 wondeful what flood of recoUec- A hunt with an Irishman, t ion s are revived by reading the names Mr. JeTiies tells a fish story. Sets appearing in your pamphlet, and its hookB foi Cat, on what is now ealledtbe

I)r. Blachley says that in Ohio blackloo^ed to, he supposing that from her snakes will run fetrught upa tree.a'id heiappearaace she was a squaw. This, as would like to know now it was done, every cue knows by the looks of Mrs.

Tuttie saw a rattle snake swirn across or complexiou Lear no resemblance oi Devil's Lake and killed kirn just as he a squaw. Mr. Johnson says his remarks struck the shore. It -was very an 1 were of a family of Southern people 6wam like a cork on the water. In cut who were dark complected and resided tingofT the rattles the wind discharged at the Eapids at that time. We are hapfrora the inflated body an it assumed py to state that that report did not get its usual size. iinto the aunals of our society, but was cient to put into pamphlet form the pro- fe°S.us^« and M 'wife Dictasy .an*it00 oeedings of last year leaving not oue1 wife 1.00 Joseph Green 50 into print aud kept with the archives oi \vm. «. Grabb 1,00 Wm. H. Canfield this society; also to hand or send to the r p- l>ana:erfield 50 bill for printing secretary a photograph of the person. j**1}}* babb and].00 ^fe and Be%m It is verv much to be honed that at this C. W. Gullerford 50 Miss Ida Itemingfestival "there will be meaus enough to J- °J ^r"b §'* ^a. for report-

About The Camp-Fire

The place selected for the meeting was the same as last year, to-wit: John Hackett'a grove at North Freedom. As we arrived upon the ground, June 21, we noticed that there were ample preparations made for a large gathering. The log-heap already to be lighted. As the evening grew on, there assembled quite a large concourse of people, to enjoy tin: free-and-easy anecdotes about the camp-fire.

Ladies and Gentlemen : - It would accommodate us very much if you would take the scats in front of the stand. TA'ill you get seated and come to order as soon as possible so that wu can go on with the program? We vvill now listen to a song by Philip Check :

Ladles and Gentlemen and Old Settlers : - I am glad that we have been permitted to meet here in this grove once more, and I hope we may all enjoy ourselves. I did not expect to be called on to sing for you, but I will do the best I can. The only thing that I lack is "cheek," but I sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." I want al 1 to join in the chorus that can. I know some of you are good singers. /

Ladies and Gentlemen: - I did not expect to be called upon to speak to you this evening, and I am not prepared to say much, but I will give you my experience on coming into this count)', [This anecdote was related at a pric- meeting and is already in print, therefore I omit it here.] That summer broke some land for myself aud some for my neighbors, who had no plow. The plow that turned the first furrow in Sauk county^'stands by my house now. I used to bring in provisions for our neighborhood. [ used to go as far a3 the river and then drive my cattle across and then put my wagon in my boat and take it across, aud the same way when I came back. After awhile we got a ferry a little above upper town, and then I used to go up there.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : - I did not think of being called on to speak to you this evening. I am a mere boy I suppose to 'Jncle Billy, although I am nearly SO years old. When a man gets to be 30 or 90 years old, he is getting along in years. [Dr. Blachly's remarks lame as last year, and, therefore, are omitted here. |

Ladies and Gentlemen .- - I am glad that I have been allowed to meet with so many of you on this, the ° Old Settlers' Visiting Day." I have been here for about forty years and great changes have come over this country since I came. I received no instructions as to what I should say but I suppose that a story i3 wanted. I do not know that I can tell you anything new. 1 will tell of some little incidents thai happened when I was surveying the State road from Portage to La Crosse, in '44. Our company consisted of Air. Wood, D. C. Barry, Air. J. Van Olstein J. W. Babb, Stephen Inman, Souls, Hostetter and myself. After we had been out a few days some of the camp had a fow words and a squabble. By that we lost our team and some of the company. Now we had to carry our camping outfit on our backs and work all day. Our camp-fires used to bring up a spirit of story-telling. One night, as we were all sleeping soundly, a deer passed along within ten feet of the camp, walked leisurely by us, as we could tell by its tracks in the light snow that fell during the night. It was a habit of mine to leave my compass at night where I stopped work. One night I left my work as usual and went to the camp and next morning when I went back my compass was on the ground and one sight was bent to an angle of about thirty-fivo degrees. Otherwise everything was all right. There were pony tracks about the place. Undoubtedly the Indians had been meddling with it.

Mr. Babb had an old horse that he called, "John the Baptist." One day he went out with his horse to prospect and was gone all day. Along toward evening, I was wandering around to see what I could see and I beard Babb a-coming, and I stepped behind a tree. There was a little narrow creek with a high bank at this place. Ilia old horse, John, refused to jump across. Mr. Eabb coaxed and talked until finally John gave a jump and his fore feet landed on the other side all right, but his hind feet were in the water and there he stood at an angle of about fort}-- five degrees and Eabb slid off into the mud and water. 1 d.o not like to repeat an oath, but I will this'time. All Babb said^ 1 believe, was, "You damned old Methodist."

3Ir, President and Old Settlers: - I did not expect to be called upon this evening to speak to you. I shall not say much for if I do I will bo telling you what I intend to say to-morrow. Dr. Blachly has told you that he was "a mere boy as compared with Uncle Billy" and I wonder what I would be as compared with the Doctor. The land that my fnther bought after he came to tbis county was Dear where I live now. I shall tell you of an instance that happened soon after we settled here. "We had a dog that used to hunt a great deal, and one day this dog came home with his hair full of porcupine quills. You will see the connection of this to my story after awhile. I asked the boys what they were and the}' told me. They also told me that the porcupine could throw them twenty or thirty feet. Well- one day 1 went with my father to work on the land. 1 Worked until about 3 o'clock, picking up brush, when it began to get warm and the mosquitoes began to bother and I began to grab first this way, and then that, and kept them off the best that I could. By and by, my father came around, and he asked me what was the matter, and I told him that the mosquitoes bit so hard and that it was so warm 1 wanted to go home. lie did not want me to and so hegot a brush for me to keep the mosquitoes olf with. I staid awhile and then started home, lie was afraid I would get lost for it was one and ahalf miles home and all the guide 1 had was our path through the pea vines and nettles. Well, I started out and everything went well until T got to the nettle patch and when I was about half way through J saw u big snake lying- in fny path. I did nut have courage to take a club andgo for him, and so 1 went around him through the nettles, and when I came out I was very well nettled up, you can imagine. I went on and soon I saw an object in the path directly before me and went up and got a club and tried to scare it and very soon it began to bristle up and I concluded it was a porcupine. The boys told me that they could throw their quills about twentv or thirty feet and I began to think I had better skip and I did skip. But there I was -lost in those pine creek bottoms. After awhile, I found my way home. Soon after I passed the snake there was a man came alon<£ and he saw it and got a club and went after it j after be had pounded it awhile, the snake began to spit sand, and the man did not know what to make of it. C.ime to find out, there had been another man along and killed and stuffed the snake with sand. This is about my first experience in this count}', so 1 will not occupy more of

Ladies and Gentlemen : - I did not come prepared with any story to tell you but 1 guess I will have to tell you my buffalo story. When I wa? coming back across the plains I had two companions and we had to make our living out of what game we could shoot. One day one of the boys was out all day and did not get anything, so I concluded to try my luck and see what I could get ; so I started up and went two or three miles and I came to a creek or spring, rather, and there I concluded to stop. I sat down and waited, and, by and by, a great, big buffalo came along with a head bigger than a bushel basket. I had heard it said that you could not shoot them in the head, for they were too shaggy. I thought I would try it, so I drew up my rifle and shot, then I thought my time bad come, but the old fellow started off over the hilL Then I thought I would follow after him, and J did. Just as I came up over the hill 1 saw another, off wme distance, and I crept up to shoot at I him and there he stood. I did not dare to move for fear he would coma at me. It began to grow dark and soon the wolves began to howl, but I dare not move for fear the bufTulo would go for mo. Finally the buffalo started off and I started for the camp as fast as my legs could carry me. That was the last of my hunting that day.

President - Mr. Canfield will make a few remarks. lie told the story of Jacob 3rirschinger, when a small boy out hunting partridges, found a nest of six or seven brasskettles, in a cave. Probably they had been Indian sugar kettles. The neighbors shared in the valuable find.

President - I think we all begin to feel the need of rest. We do not want to tire you out this evening so wc will adjourn till to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.

President - On account of thi3 little shower we will have a recess of five minutes. It is not going to last long. Let everyone keep as dry as the}- can.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Old Settlers: - I was not conscious of tlie iact that this duty would fall upon me until a few moments ago. I have just been drafted into service, for this properly belongs to Dr. Cowlcs, and he being absont, they have called on me. This is my first year at this, and I have not as yet got tho lesson very well learned. I first desire to thank the people of North Freedom for their efforts in behalf of the Old Settlers. You haye worked hard in fitting up this grove and making such preparations for the comfort of those who have assembled here to-day. And now, in behalf of the people of North Freedom and the Old Settlers, I wish to say that all who have come here, old or young, are perfectly welcome. I do not know as it is necessary to say so for the people of North Freedom, for you can see it in their faces. We are glad to see so many present, notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the weather at about the time to start. Tho Old Settlers are not so easily scared by these little summer showers. A littlo "water will not hurt us, and it will do our crops good. It will make us feel better to think tbat our crops are growing, and we will go home feeling the better for having had a short shower. I think it is not necessary in giving an address of welcome to use very many words, Now, once again, to all who are here, I say, enjoy yourselves, and feel that you are perfectly welcome to this grove and the company of the Old Settlerd

President - Uncle Billy Johnson, an old settler, 93 years of age, is present. Mr. Hirsehingcr will now help him to the aland and introduce him to you, Mr. Johnson.

Ladies and Gentlemen: - I shall try and speak a few words to tho ladies and children, for I do not care for the men. I loyo and admire the 3'oung folks, and I would like to say that most of them that are here to-day have been born and brought up since I came into Sauk Prairie. Let them take care of themselves and follow the example of some cf these old men and they will live to see a good old age. "When a mother has a young baby she is proud of it, and likes to show it to every one. So am I to Mr. Hirschinger. 1 am like a child to him, and he delights in showing me to you. I am not ashamed of it, but I am proud of it, to think that I have been spared so man}' years and allowed to come before you. It is not strange that my faculties should not be so strong at my advanced age, for this is my second childhood. Now, what I have said has been said much as a child would say it, and I hope you will take it bo.

Mr. President and Dear Friends of the Old Settlers Association of iSauk County : - There is an old and well-established rule of this Association which forbids the shirking of an imposed obligation, and I shall not assume the responsibility of breaking it, and, therefore, am glad to respond to the commands of our worthy President. In my opening salutatory, I purposely avoided the formal, though usual and proper form of introductory, and have substituted the more impressive and equally apppropriate words, "dear friends," aud have dpnc so feelingly and advisedly, for, if after so man}- gatherings we are not, in a measure, dearer to one another, it is time we were moving in that direction.

This is our tenth anniversary; and as many times have we met together, each time in God's great tabernacle, beneath its canopy of green leaves and blue skies, and securing to these many assemblings, brought about in the spirit of good will aud good fellowship, is it not in