Sauk County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1861 (part 9 of 13)

I am happy to meet so many of you here ; late in that cold November evening. I put to-day. Many changes have transpired! in a few days ou the prairie and then for since we met in nature's beautiful grove a the first time met the old settler. -'Uncle little way up the valley one year ago. | Billy Johnson," the Hoovers at the foot of Some of our number have removed to other the bluffs and some of the Waterburys. i places in cur country. Some have gone j looked and wondered what was on the over the river, never 10 return; we will not ! other side of the high ridge of bluffs at the forget them here to-day. The secretary will j north. Being a Yankee, 1 ha 1 the inherent give us their names later. We see change, i right to ask questions, so 1 made the inmy dear friends, in every «iep as we move quiry: ''What is there on the other side of along tiie jourueyings iu this wonderful life I those bluffs ?" 1 received for answer thai we live here on earth. What changes we "there is a river over there balled the Barahave see:; since souie of us settled in this j boo; there will be some lumbering done great and grand commonwealth of Wisconsin! . there, but if is a country that will never be In 1844, September 1-^t. 1 left my native settled :" 1 came near believing that I was heath up in the Green Mountain state and j near the north-west end of the unicanie to the territory of Wisconsin, landing 1 verse [taught a school a few month'- in at Milwaukee on the 17th day of September | Dodgeville, read law far a time in the of that year. Thar was a great change for ifiice of Moses M. Strong and Chauucey me. There were no railroads in the United ] Abbott at Mineral Point, worked a short State.- n; (hat time west 0/ Buflalo. Every- {'time for my old friend Haggles on Mill tl-'ug was new and changing. Milwaukee 1 Creek. (He said I was a good hand, particwas then a city of 8000. Note the change j ularly in hunting coons, it" Mrs. Ruggh now; a city of 200,000 Changes must be I carried the lantern. ) I split rails at 30 made; the prairie had to be turned over in- cents per hundred and couldn't split > to fields to raise bread, and the northern j hundred a day; couldn't get much money. pines must be cut and sawed into lumber I for the good reason that there was none to for building houses for our families and! get. May 13th, 1846. war was declared by barns for our cows aud horses. Our vener- ! our government against Mexico. I had able gray beards here to-day will tell you j been mining or prospecting, by sinking we had plenty of work and seemingly small sucker boles for lead on the prairie ! pay. We did not live ou turkey dinner- Dodgeville, in company with my old friend and oyster supper.-. Also our immense General Amasa Cobb, whom many of you miues of ore had to be opened up. Coming ' very well know, as he ably represented us from old, staid New England, all was a | in congress a number of years and ichangetome. [soon learned that smarter | chief justice <>f the state of Nebraska. and sharper men had preceded me in the I Neither Cobb nor I had anything. We change ot locating in a new territory. They , raised not a cent in the mine?, and as a last were naturally sharp, or the change into desperate conclusion we decided to enli this new, fruitful country made them in a the army and go down into Mexico and be true sense g od at changing, for they were shot to death by Mexican Greasers. But as very soon u<>.e to gel what little change I luck would have it we didn't get killed, lothad out of my pocket into theirs. The i I didn't go. Our company raised in the principal settlements at that tine were I mines was not accepted, Wisconsin being a along the lake shore and in the lead mines territory. Judge Cobb went in an tlliu at Mineral Point :m i Dodgeville, where i the mines and went to Beluit on "Wal saw different social life than any 1 had ever Hue." I had no "chases, ' There 1 enter* 1 seen; business life w.t? also different. All the office of Noggle & Spaulding, a stuJ lit. money in the mines was specie. Murders j Jit.lge Noggle was a member of the first eouaud homicides were quite frequent in those stitutional convention, which me; iu Madi- - iialiy in 'he mines. , - ti that year on the ">th day of Oi I ote of tlie p] of i lie ten ii r;, u the first Tuesday in April, 1847, ami was rejected. Our old frieuJ Major Clarke was the member of this convention from Sauk an i received the sobritpiet of the hLion of Sauk." Another convention was assembled at Madison on the loth of December, 1847, framed a constitution, which was sul mitteij to h vote of the people on the second Monday in March followiug and adopted. Sauk county had do member in this last convention. So we became a state in 1848, and we have been loyal ever since. I wis admitted to the Bar as a young lawyer before Chief Justice Dunn at Mineral poinl in March 1-848, the committee on my examination being Haas. Chauucey M. Abbott, C. C. Washburn and Benj. C. Eastman. All of them became highly honorable men, holding prominent positions. All offliem have changed this life for one on the other side. They were pioneers, old settlers in this, then a wild roucth territory. We remember them all in realms of a blissful immortality to-day.

1 tame here to Baraboo to reside in June. 1847, put up a shingle, ''Law and Loud Agency," but there was nobody coming in to buy land that season. Judge Remington i dealt out some law, perhaps more law than justice, and more law than pay. There v as no money. Kails, slabs and verbal orders were a lawful tender. We could try any sort of case in our learned justice's courts, arson a.- easy as burglary, or assault wiih intent to kill i yoke of oxen. All Criminals we cleared, or they cleared nut themselves. We bad pretty goo'd I There were u number of royal good fellows

! live here. Some succeeded. Our old friend, the head and front of this old old settlers' association and ever the untir- - . retary, was up here on Skillett ere-,'!:, ia the woods, as happy as a lord to all appearance, lie lived up in the wools so long that he pays no more attention to the li >iing of an owl than the crowing of the rooslbv in the morning. We went through thai summer and the B flowing winter of ' 1 7 ' 18 without much trouble, lived on salt barrel pork raised in the east, freighted here from .Milwaukee by horse and oj teams,

Some writer lias said that the first settlers : give the character to that place in after . years. I believe that there is much in that. < The early settlers of this county were £en- | erally intelligent and honest people, aud 1 i believe that the inhabitants ot Sauk county j are ahead of the average of countits in the i slate for intelligence, honesty and morals. As 1 a community we have a county pride, a state i pride, a national pride, we glory in all our ! achievements, whether it be in agriculture, the arts and sciences, or in arms.

Great changes hive transpired iti our couuty, state and nation sine - many of US ' have lived. To be sure many mighty rivers 1 and mountains, seemingly, remain I the same as ihey were fifty yen's i Mount Shasta and other lofty heights of the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas remain about as they did when the noble "path finder" crossed over them and to >k posses- ; sion of an empire in the name of his gov , eminent, planting the grandest flag that I waves on laud or sea on the shot'.- of the i great Pacific Ocean. I visited the city of | Monterey the past winter aud was on the j identical spot where that American tlag was I first raised and possession of the coast taken in the name of ihe (Jutted States. Monterey was the first capital <_i( the great state of California. Here General Fremont was elected the first U. S. senator from Cal- 1 ifornia in 1850. The Mississippi and Hudson rivers wend their way to old Ocean now as then, and loud toned Niagara, fit organ for this western world, sends forth her everlasting nieau. Maps of nations have been wonderfully changed since many ot us here to day cau remember. Every war in i Europe brings a change, yet Mont Blanc ' with her white capped summit towers in ail her magnificent splendor, as at the time when the first Xapoleon with his in iriny of invasion ci osse ! the towering Alps. But my thought is i more particularly on the change- that have been made on the maps of our own country. I'he limits of the original thirteen - i were 407,000 scju ire miles; western < laims ceUe 1 l thefS ral I lovernmeni , no Tei rii - . 1 1 ire miles. Loiti

Florida punehased of Spain in ,1$19, far I comrades, that his remains bare been re- 5.i)OJX),00Q1 (JO.OOO square miles, moved from that rough and hurried soldier

New Mexico and California, ceded by Pruyne was our Marshal Key. Mexico in 1848, 546.00 I square miles. Hon. Jas. S. Aiban, Col. of the 18th Wis.

Gadsden purchased of Mexico in I Vol. Inf., an early settler of our county, was 1848, 40,000 square miles. j killed on the bloody field of Shiloh Judge

Alaska, purchased of Russia in 1867, for C. C. Remington, Joseph Mackey, N. W. §7,200,000, 578,000 square miles, making in ! Wheeler, Charles Armstrong and Dv. I '. all a total of 3,600,000 square miles. Thus j Cowlesand others are not with us; they have we see a change en our country's map very great - 407,000 square miles when we became a nation and 3,600, 0(K) square miles now. Bui the greatest event of ancient or modern times remains yet to be mentioned. 1 would feci that 1 bad not done my duty if 1 did not on this, old settlers,' day before these venerable frierfds, make a passing] remark on the stirring scenes ofl861^-18G5, times that awakened every lover of his ' country's freedom to action, throughout the j civilized world. I have, a vivid and personally painful recollection of those years, tor' 1 went South and got my foot in it. There ; were many who went out with us who might; have been old settlers with us here to-day, bu< 1 tbey went down amid the roar of cannon j and clash of arms. Thousands never re-| turned. They yielded up their lives that 1 the nation might live. I sav it boldly au<< j without a blush, that the Union soldier in I his co:it of blue saved the life of the Kepub- i lie in its unity. Who were they who responded to the call "To arms 1 ' when their j country ealle I it: its great and dire necessity, when the nation was in danger of being' swept under by the great flood and mael- | strom oi wrld, fratricidal war and who came : not back to home and friend-* 7 They were ' our fathers, husbands, brothers and friends.! They died that the Republic might have a higher, gran ler and nobler life and destiny.! I will mention a few names of those we kneii well, some of whom carried their arms very near, and walked elbow to elbow with us. but they cannot be with us to-day, for they are sleeping that sleep that knows no waking. Sleep on, '-Sainted Dead," until that resurrection morn when you will ri^i to a higher and grander life. 1 name Lt. a L. VValbridge, whom many of us knew -o well, ttii whose integrity was never a ". . . a ) oung a i

We have assem >led lot the second rime, in kindly reinetnbrauci ol the tin] when we lived iu Sauk county wheu Wisconsin was a territory, and may it be with us all that we have so ass bled, and may we do the same for many a yea? to come. Wisconsin became a state 25 years ago; I had been here a little over a year, aud s>o barely ring into - sircle. I might perhaps be exeused for taking advantage of this my border position in our border settl ment, and in lulgt io general praise oi the old settlers, as 1 played so small a part e v«u in point oi time and fact. If. will be as well, however, uo the whole, to leave it for those who come after to sound the trumpet of our praise, although

[u the forenoon of life, it 25, the world seerns to lie before us. We are with the rising suu and may hope for anything. The question is what wi i do. Iu die afternoon, at 50, we are with the sun as it s^oes down. The question then becomes what are ... what, have we doae ? We have at' what we may reasonably expect. ' We have our harvest, whether golden or Th" twenty-five yeats we have just : seems to hare equalled in event science, an:i improvements any hui years that ever preceded it. To d nearly all our railroads, telegi the trreater part ..i the labor-savin chinery now in operation, is . to our government, no lender an ment, but an established fact, tri the fiery furnace of a civil war wi I parallel - a war ia which civilizatioj and liberty triumphed over b t> ism, vice and s' tv^ry. This war: , to have settled the practicability ot --a of the people, for the people, I by the people/' not only for us b all. The light of our candle h - i I her youug men and no' the schools ot America. Th ; time to-day to name all the stare and national and individual, rhat i to the doors oi i sa of the o! * settlers of tint ir.'e you to the :.r off wilderness. iik eouotv '- -' 'at svjnty/' and if i t thi "i st county in the st< te," it is g< id one. It i^ about the bo3t place for you that you c ta Had, or at I i ist you can make it so. Ir is not over half - t. Do you like a fruit country ? x- on the northern limit of the . pc.tr, avA ir;iio eou id that is the I " latitude for fruit. (Jo but a way joutb, and our winter apples become ripe in the fall aud ft-1' not k^;i. r you go Bout i fi q here, on - ?ulf, the mor< here is done by the frosts. Our clear, cold : 3 we m )i % pi asaot, and fc tter in respect, than the southern wet ones. If you go to the I coast, you mu-f choose between the of California and the i . i rains an - damps - . m. Travt I, i. yi i have the in ; :he m ins; but :;. a ol di get an education. Get what you cm of it in :.y. She ouii at t furnish all i anilities in that line you re i setili lown p ttiently to work, in y »ur own native country. There is no'- on! room for you here, but there i- ){ you, ' And as so »n as your savii 3 or mnual income will warrant, it yon a numerous family; ; is the divioe injunction, minus the . ition There is more ol good, J

. ; ! mBe in it, perceptible t'> : naked, unregeuerate eye, thau ti ire is in many of the holy prec pts. At all! - that is the way the old s< r tried to d >. There is i .

iou, and rather thau ippei ,vn k< >p it the lowei .. ed it to Bamboo That was an uo- I .. quarrel for Sauk, - as we ca d this prairie part of our county - a i quarrel. Ic was jusi like all other

Is iu that respect. Wisd im m depart to make room for a quarrel. H i the county buildings been located : ii half way between the two towns i\i 'y would have grown together long igo Baraboo was the lucky :{third candi late that me. this was before my time. Baraboo eourracted considerable of an obligation to trie lower town in this art' ir. She was uot allowed to rorget it. and she didn't want to. The two villages often afterwards sent up double delegations to county conventions. The lower town set seemed to h i v ^ regularity on tlfbir si ie At all events they were admitted to the exciusiou oi their neighbors. At one lime the upper town got its revenge by also - jading a do i ilegation to the

Portage Senatorial District Convention. Tnis senate district at that time comprised what is uow theeouuiies ol Columbia, Sauk, Juneau, Adams, Marqu ti Wood, Portage and Marathon. The resuit of it all was, that out of the quarrel ut the double delegation grew su I s tisl :tion that the opposition candid Col. Jas. S. Allan, then of the pinery, was elected Although he was one of our st settlers, he was not the candid it ut ei her of the other puguaeious tactions. Had the Sauk county delegation united oa one mao from ."Saul; he would Live been nominated and elected. Since theu these two enterprising villages have buili one more bridge across the Wisconsin than they oeed to, had th one beeu built by an umpire it Ii i force an - Si im i . said town:

We have nothing to brag of in the j of being taken fur a part of the same way of peace and harmony on our side] town. Indeed, Baraboo has done amazu the bluff, i'he Bamboo valley was j iugty well in improving upon the strenj

,-t to settle. The farms were ni - of the push the lower towu gave her. - -r. and it fell inn., under the sway >i ' VVhutsay you? Lot us give Upper 3 '..: the claim laws thaB Sauk prairie did. equal credit, for the lower town coul I When the'early settler eatne, he could not not have quarrelled without the upper buy his farm ft he La 1 the money. The town to help her in tbe muss. Besides ; md was our in market. When it did ' all that, the lower town wanted the a in mark.;:, he had id many cases I county-seat just as much as either ol ''- >paut his money, ani he held his farm three. She h|ad sense enough to see that by claim - a neighbor institution not there was no sight for her between the known or respected at the laud-office, the other two, and so made cho

Shortly after tny arrival, orat least] what was deemed the lesser evil, and within a year or so thereafter, I was Baraboo was chosen. Another town has gravely informed by a very intelligent,] dune remarkably wed since Wise st and conscientious man, in a eon- was a territory. Tb&f is Babb s Ford. Sdential way, that he had begun to euter- With that spirit for novelty and restlesstaio serious doubts as to whether it was" ness m^st. unaccountable, the name has i. tit to kill a inao ior jumping a e ifer. been changed to [teedsburg. Although 3 ich a thing as a man's buying against' Reedst ctrg bad a member in the legislatlie eiaim law the home 40 on which a iure all winter long, \ don't know as he I ior man lived and worked did not occur, j did anythifag toward getting the name It would mn have been a sate, invest- changed back. The member was not to ment for any man. Such was the first] blainei There were a good many tenure under which the soil was oc I. j to alter. You know our laws don't

We had our rival towns, Barab lo, known I much longer than eggs without turning, as Brown Town, and Lyons. The vil- j and the turning of eggs and the making _. of Baraboo was then merely one 40 of laws is very much the same kind of acre tract, extending but a few rods business. Anybody that- can. do one can south of the river. The quarter section the other. The talent required for ,n which the county-seat was located' either is to know enough to count twelve, was north and west of Baraboo It was and repeat. But as this is chieflj an bought by the early settler. Prescott old settlers' arrangement, let us return to Bri»gham, of the governmeol tor the the subject, or rather turn to it. emnty.. The county had no money in I I am not going to undertake any days. County orders were lift reebrd of events that fell under mj h - on the dollar, and heavy barter at servation in this country under territiwt. The reason this quarter section Uorial times, tor several reasons: 1st, I .'.ht up before "was, it did not observe anything worthy of bill would have accumulated on my hands, and this acknowledgement is all £ can do towards squaring the account. I might report to you rhe trial or some men in a justice court held in the log school house (jhe only building on the county-seat), Squire Garrison presiding. The offense charged was burglary aod arson. Col. D. K. Noyes and I were counsel for the defendants. There was a jury trial. After several adjournments and delays, the jury became aware of the nature of the proceedings and wisely concluded that a higher court alone had jurisdiction. They refused to attend court any more, and the defendants escaped punishment. They had only been trying to enforce the claim laws. But it is not worth while to go into such things. A second reason is, that if there was anything worthy of note it would not be worth while to attempt to impale it now, for we have our Josephus contemporary historian, yea, social histographer and geographer. We are sketched and mapped out with outlines and in lines by - well, you all know him. But for him, many noble sayings and doings, and some ot our highways and byways, might now be "sleeping the sleep that knows no waking." By the aid of his maps and diagrams of the ancients and moderns, and sketches and certificates of the same, we may reasonably hope tor all the immortal fame in this world that we are in any wise justly entitled -to. More than that would be a sin not worth committing. So, on that head, we may rest in quiet, easy indifference that all is well, or as well as can be.

It is said "distance lends enchantment to the view," and that "blessings brighten as they take their departure.' It may be the case in regard to the territorial times. But it we could now, with our present experience of high taxes and hard times as the normal condition, vote on the question of whether we would let toe general government pay all the ex- '- ' - a oi our legislature, the salaries of ir principal officers from governor 'i"Wtt to clerks of courts. I think we would let them do it, at the expense even ot trading off our present respectable delegation of eight in congress lor one delegate who could talk but not vote. Or, in other words, if Wisconsin was now a territory, aud all the inhabitants there of knew as much as they do now of the costs and troubles of a state ^oveinmeut, she would remain a territory for some time to come, and we would be much better off than we are now, * Et is true we would not have as many great men. of greatness measured by official position , I but then the common run of us, who do I the voting and paying oi taxes, would j have an easier time ot it than we do now, l aod be just as well governed at that, i And more than all that, there are not ; halt enough of paying offices now to supply the demand, and there is many a poor man who has rendered valuable aid to his party who comes before the public calling lor charitable look with pitying eye upon his needy and worthy condition, whom that same public reluctantly turn away, because the race ot needy applicants tor office is too numerous for the offices that are at the disposal of the people. We might as well be under a territorial form of government as I any other, for these fellows, for they will j multiply faster than the places they dej sire to fill. Query : Can there not be j some kind ot civil-service reform arrangej ment inaugurated, or some suitable proi vision made whereby poor and needy and j worthless office-seekers can have a better i show for getting into office ? Some ot i you old settlers think you had a hard j time keeping them out; but let me assure i you they have had a much harder time ! trying to get in. Our United States judges, after having a certain period ot good old age, are allowed to retire from office and have their salaries continued. And now allow me to suggest, as a measure in behalf of poor and needy, bu( worthless, othce-seekers. that they be allowed to retire and board at the county poor house half of the time free oJ charge, provided it did not eall tor the buying oi over two or three more poiti farms.

in all, was better than the goveri we have qow. The tru;i> is, we are governed too much, aud on quite too extravagant a scale tor a people's government. It will be corrected. Some day the people will wake up to the humbuggery or continually making aud unmaking law9. The Wisconsin legislature is a comic congress, modeled on the house of lords and house of commons of England. Our senate i^ a plaything house of lords, and the assembly is for the house of commons. Odc is a representative of the aristocracy originally, aad tbe other is supposed to represent the people. The English house of common? is a more democratic legislative body in style than there is in America. Each of our legislative houses has to have a post-office, postmasters, deputies ana assistant attaches too numerous to mention. A man who has been in tbe habit of feeding his dogs. and doing his own chores, like you and me, or peddling out small parcels o! tea ani soap, sugar a tuff, to his customers, like some of you, becomes a member of assembly, and is at ODce transformed into one of the foremost men ui the earth. No wonder he experts to do things on a big scale, lie will vote nearly all the printing jobs that the printers ask him to. He has so much dignity .m.; importance that he can not -_ro to the splendid marble post office of the United States, just oo one corner ol the public square, and call for his mail like a common man. Be must put on style, and be waited on - have his mail or to him at the public expense. When In- was a common man he used to ! one newspaper, perhaps not that. Now that he is a member, lit- subscribes lor or less, at the expense of the state, under the plea that be should be well So is provided d lily with a luivi >.uue items ol news iu them. Thi be so that a member, by reading the same thing aver and over, may at 1 . . get something beat into hi- head. Or it . .'. . from i . s of his constituency, whom he \ too poor or too stingy to gee a su: ; papers in any other way, and whom the ! member deems vaiu enough to be ti by the complimeut. Tbe state pa 2je, and the state pays the boj i rolls the papers in tbe envelope for the member and he directs it for nothing. There is another thing that every ber has to have that was unknown in territorial times. That is a Blue Book - or the blue look, for it is the Sam thing re printed, with an addition of present members a:iJ a diagram i assembly room and senate cbaml the name of the member en the seat be occupies. You can see that it is a thing each member has o have in his r and knowing this the printers take the advantage of him, or rather tb state, and several thousands of dollars are judiciously expended iu this Way, The state has one substantial advanta; it all. What time the member on the blue books and newspapers is cot employed id other mischief, or more harmful making and unmaking ol

We cannot go back into a territorial form of government. Uncle Sam i: !" -mart to allow nfi to do that. But we can renovate and go back on the | foolish, extravagant aud aristocratic of things. We ought to have our aud house of representatives together with ail their extravi sense. In the place of them we te have one legislative body, that -. have a room provided for it. light I warmed, with benches for scats, wil desks, cupboards or post-offia : Bach member should buy all his pay his posta buy his new; | go wil I ti id it he w ml I allowing ;.

governed will be lessened iiy three fourths, and we wit! be governed four times as well as we are now. We will to that I trust before long. It will not all be done at a juLnp \Vt must grow to i;. Th « butnbug ol our two houses of legislation, and theiT peonliar style, ought to be understood and ridiculed. It i* a wonder that it has not broken down ot its own inherent comi ealify. Nothing but vanity sustains it. That weak side of human nature cannot sustain the imposition a great while r, one Would think. At all events it ia worth something to a mao 10 know tl it he lived here before the farce began ; and as long as be lives let him hope thai he may live here tili it ends, it it ends in any kind of decent season.

Wisconsin is uoi worse than her neighbors in these respects. 1 claim h»r our country that she is better governed than any other, and with all this I claim that our country can improve, should improve and will improve. Perfection is not attainable, it can only be ap- [ roach ed, an I that approach should be commenced at once and pursued constantly. "Well, how sha". I help to right the things

One thing is certain, t here is a good &od,.and he was here before us, and wiil .in here to look after matters : so we are gone. VVe can see in America, as it now is, that the settlement of a new ;y by the gathering together therefrom ail quarters, is th<

At South Freedom, June 23

In Old Japan, ouce a year, the jolly party meet together to talk over old timos, relate adventures aud have a lux uriatit supper. They then proceed to business, which is to arrange all the marriages or the coming year. They have a great many skeins ol red and white silk, which are the threads oi fate of those t>) be married. The white Is an the men, the red are the women. At first they select the threads very carefully and tie a great many pairs or couples neatly together so that the matches are perfect. All such marriages ol threads make happy marriages among human beings. But by and by they get tired and lazy, and, instead of tying knurs carefully, they hurry up the work and then jumble them carelessly and finally toss and tangle all the rest. This is the reason why so mauy marriage? are unhappy. This work done they begin to frolic like bt^ boys. Ben teu plays the guitar and Bishamou lies down on the fioor, resting on his elbow, to hear it. ETotie drinks wine out of a shallow cup a.- wide as a dinner plate. Others begin to wrestle, aud when one gets his man down he pound.-, his head with an empty. gourd Others of the party begin to eat fish. When this fun is over, by pairs they begin to play checkers, and the* others look on nod bei on the e . exc ;pt i few fai fel themselves for gambling, aud after a few days the party breaks up md -ach one goes tu bis regular business atraiu. This was the wa) the old - Japan did it many centuries [i the past, provided for the future and [deeds and blunder! and mishaps of went iD fur a good time generally, but | another. The past is lived over again, compared with the style and manner of The old fields, the pastures, the bush, doing such things to-day, 76 think they j the brake, the trout stream, brook or came pretty near making a botch of u. i pond, where they went fishing; the pool The custom othaving Old Settlers' meet- where they went swimming; the hill iuu-= and thereat a gay and festive time, its nut a new ooe. It may not always take that particular Dame, nor is it limit e.d to that precise class of persons who where they went slidiug down; th lane to the school house and to the church, all are revisited and talked about. And, too, never to be forgotten, first entered and erected their tents and i with subdued voice and gentle step cabins in a new country. Its Dame ; visit the little1 inclosure, from the [ varies according to the event designed to ; gaze and intrusion secluded, whe; commemorate. The anniversary of the one ot their former number, the birth of Christ, the founding of the ! smartest and loveliest of them all. An- Uhristian religion, was instituted by the nually, as these reunions occur, the staid and sober christian fathers with ; heart of the parent and child is good cheer and great hilarity. The yule dened, filial and fraternal love lit up log, decked with garlands, rolled and anew, and though when the hoar of hauled into the big open fire place, sur- separation comes the bosrjin will swell, rounded by frolicsome and dancing toys the voice stiek in the throat and the tear and girls, began the least, followed by stand in the eye, there remains ia the the regulation plum pudding, roast boar's . hearts of the good old parents who stay head, vension and pastry and all the and of the younger who go, the b! dainties of the season, with butts of ale plant of family affection re-watered, reand malmsey, and r.)ut and wassail. All j invigorated aud renewed in growth by were participants, the old, the young of deeper root and broader foliage. every degree. The Thanksgiving festi- i Akin to this are the class days among ?al of later date, established and handed I the students of our higher sch< Is; down to us by our forefathers and I alumni gatherings of college grada borrowed by them from aDeient heathen j whereat their struggles up the hi observances, is another ot the same class, learning are reviewed, and the good old On that day is a reunion of the family times of student days recalled, grown up and scattered. Then the and tiffs of boyhood days forgotten and aged parents, with glad hearts and open the mantle of brotherly love thr arms, receive, at the old hearth stone and around and over every name in the under the ancient root-tree, the hoys and catalogue, making all as members of one girls oi their earlier years. The boys, common lathily. Then, too, comes the now men, bearded and whiskered, and, j soldiers' reunion, the annua! meeting -! may he, growing bald and hoary like the j the so called buys in blue, around b sire. The girls, now dignified and staid ' camp fire. They repeat their cxper around the festive board, the thoughts' return home, tattered, ' ot all go back to the early years ol the.) maimed, halt, shattered aud u family. They tell - ;ain the oft told tn zeal they enumerate the I under the sod. They live over the iong and tedious strugg iog in vivii pictures those days and uioutlia nod years replete with stern, lorn, over present, living tacts oi r- [stance. Nq farther shalt thu go, . the prohibitory command. A sturdy, wily, skillful foe, confronting, screarred ii. The elements, with heat, aud coid, storms of wind. rain, hail and snow reechoed it. Impeding forests, marsh, stream and mountain repeated it. Wounds, disease, fatigue, scant rations an 1 scantier clothing leuewed the warniog. Notwithstanding the prohibition . iiitered not, and despite aii opposing Forces, they went on aud through ; turned to tell to one another the incidents. From out these bitter trials, ships and sufferings, often beyond the measure of human endurance, they piuck the blessed fruit of happiness in '- fling the) :» hieved safety, security the perpetuity of a Lome, a country, i nation. As Ivesdeuioua loved cue -\Loor for the dangers he had undergone, and he loved her that she did Ijsteu to his story; so, when the annual campfires are lighted, and the army boy rethe story of his soldier life, will the civilian love the soldier lor the i tngers and sufferings he endured - the -r love t he civiiiau that lie listens iu iathy and admiration to his tale, ami r the soldier that lie was a sharer, participator and actor in the strife.

were in the prime aud vigor of manhood, Sauk county lay in the wild uncultivated stare of uature; Us prairies uubroken aud untrodden; its forests silent and pathless, save the trail of the Indian. From different homes, one by one, with no preconcert of action, sell-reiiaot, trust iug in the future, in a strong will, with courage that cannot be too much admired, you drove the first stake, built, the little cabio aud axed your home. In ancient times such undertakings were made with great preparations, great circumstance and parade. A colony was raised, composed of all the essential elements ot an organized society. Like the equipment and mobilization of an army for active service. tUoy were, provided with means tor subsistence, protection and mutual support. Whole families, neighbors and communities were embraced in its catalogue, each with its flocks, herds, iinpl e men is and* utensils, and with /wes and penjates of the household, ready to start off" anew in the new home. Help ing, comforting, sustaining one another, they experienced little of the deprivations, loneliness, hardships and rough ues« you can Weil remember in your early setl i.ment lure. Around you was silence upbroken. On the, prairie no smoke from a neighbor's chimney to greet and gladden you in the morning, and not a ray ui ttie flickering candle from his window in the evening to fla: h you a iTood-m^ht, and bespeak you companionship and aid in extremities during the darkness or uti the morrow. For companions, the brav -. plucky young wife, aod< perhaps, some toddling wee ones within Hid the patient, plodding OX forest your only n igh ors, and vi ices of its denizens the only answers to your spoken words, you felled the first tree and let the sun-light in u ion your future farm of abundance and luxury. out doors was work ! work ! ! work 1 ! ! Man and oxen made a new farm on the nation's domain, but by patient, steady work. To subdue the ground, plant, sow, dress and keep it, is no garden of Eden pastime, but work that wrings from the brow. Was it a holiday to the little wife within the door ? Fresh from the old homestead where bog establisbed rule and syst m, and many hands to help, had made the ordinary routine of housekeeping, witSi its Burner ou» conveniences ind contrivances for lightening labor, a simple kind of play work that would almost go iti-elf, the - little woman assumed this Hew D l< risking. Will she fail ? Nay. VV hen the strong husband shows signs of faltering she strengthens his flagging and with equal step and firm resolve beers him on, bearing even with him her end cf tbe yoke House work to do. though all the bouse be par -or, chamber, kitchen an 1 scullery, ail in one. With little to do with, no conveniences, do labor saving contrivances, id of running itself, said work mu-t be done by main strength of muscle aud will. She cares for house and children, and then helps the good man in the field. i i' man who is a ' help-i the wife and mother to bear and brim, up heroes. T I 'ginning.

ads and bridges were c i There Were stalls and cattle in the a school house, and ehildreu many going to it; a meeting house with glittering spire, and a smiling, ebeenul band of worshipers wending its way thither. What bat A lit tl was no man's land, and hud never known the rule of law, is now owned by many and becomes subject tr, tbe laws of propeiay. Mme add thine are stri tly d fined, and divisi ins into towns and districts follow, with home rule and : tions. No longer a pioneer but a municipality with a government by it* people and for its people, baek a little: In those earlier daya lies cur chief interest, when al! was new and you were yet ia the primitive struggle. In those days bounteous nature and a generous soil quickly responded to the tickling of the plow and hoe, and of the substantial -and necessaries for the support of animal life there - was a surfeit. But man cannot live by bread alone. The life is more than meal, and the rounded existence of man requires more than i he farm and the dairy can produci In all your abundance of wheat and corn and curd- and cream, tl -. lack and a hunger toivsonsething else. i'iu would exchange, some of your full store for such comfort:- and d

_- nor beaten path, could not be kept hi k by boit or bar. nor yet by iroest pr yer. But according as the so was your strength. Patience, r ice and endurance carried you . and all the hardships, deprivations and harrowing experiences chat at the time seemed to cat ineffaceable furrows in yc^r history, are relegated to the past arid looked at from the distance With pleasure than | in you review the whole I and take delight in repeating the story to one another at these --, and it you do uot feel proud o; :he history, we who followed Iter, who came to reap - jaie of the fruits of your sowing and planting, can with unfeigned words laud your her- , and with deep emotion thank you for )penin^' :be v.ay and wbh eordiai

..-s intersecting it. All unbroken, ! unused, as nature planted and nursed it. A beautiful panorama of her adorning. i Shut your eyes and open them L>' j here a smoke curls up, yonder another | and there another. They come from the i huts of the settler. It is by some river j or stream he begins his home. A litrle : clearing appears, a few furrows are I plowed, the first disturbance of the Boil i since the last grand cataclysm or revulsiou. Shut y on r eyes and open again. ; The little field is broadened. Others i have been opened near and many can j be counted I'rom north to south along water courses. Lines, straight, I curved and crooked, stretch and wind j acro.-s the prairie and forest and around bill and marsh seeking the fords froun ; one settlement to another. A way of j communication is opened. Shut and ! open a_;aio. The bei_rionimj; of homes ! are too many to count. They dot the 1 whole . landscape over. Where before I was but one, you sea a cluster. V illages are starting out. Fields widen into . far ns and tarn; joins farm. The crooked j paths become straight and broad highi ways and bridges span the streams and rivers. The primitive hut. stands yet, I but in front of it is the more pretentious I house. Barns and out-huildings give the air of the old homestead. Flock and herd:- graze the meadows and hillsides. School houses u^stle by the - ay Churches lift tall Bpires. and busy men with team, cart and plow ar-> f"llowing tbe'r "ecup ;tion.

rains >>t set up a hum; the smoke of the furnace a dense cloud. The highways' y with travelers. Eostead of the m with the lumber wagon, horses wirb gaih

We say nothing of the other millions of wealth locked up and hidden ' away irom the eyes of the assessor, of which imagination must supply the amount. VI itli this cursory review as the outcome of your humble beginnings, do ye no well to rejoice? To have your stated times and set days when as old setthra Vou meet, sit down together and talk over all these things; to fan anew the flame of neighborly love kindled on the altar of pure friendship at a time when friend and neighbor, weighed in the balance, was of more value than shekels of silver and gold? You take the hand imd look in the eye of such a neighbor and friend, almost as one who help d _,'.:; the roagh places are already made th the fiowess never Side, and the tree of life yields its fruit in all Be; and we have a home not made with hands, eternal in the leavens. You leave accomplished your work, uad rounded out in full the measure of your appointed labors, and richly deserve our plaudits. Well done! Enter noi" the joy of your labors. Throw care aside and achmg toil, and leave to who come reaping and garnering of your bounty to bear the burdens incident, to the harvest.

Held fast to the custom you have instituted of commemorating those historic days; mark Us annual return by a bright stone iD the calendar; enjoin upon ; j children and your children's children to continue its observance, and to hand down the traditions of the father: ti I in later days the festival shall e regarded as sacred, as the Forefathers1 Day of Sauk County.

The eightbteenth annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Sauk Co. was held in a beautiful oak s;rove at Prairie du Sac, Juue 2-i and 25, 1S90.

On the evening of the 2-ith u goodly number net with the old settlers at the usual camp fire, to listen to their jokes and anecdotes of old times.

Mr. Wo. H. Caofield arose and announced that their president, D. K. Noyes, on account of illness was prevented from neetiag with the old friends this year.

He said Mr. Owen in his younger days started out one evening to c^ll on a lady friend, lie was accompanied by his dog, aril ou the way they discovered a coon. The dog, ot coarse, was ready for battle, and as there was no tree near into which the coon couid make its escape it proceeded to climb Mr. Owen, The gentleman did not enjoy this part of ihe play and tiled to shake the creature off, but it clung with the pertinacity of fife and seemed determined to occupy the top of his head as its safest position, and he w i elf upon the ground in order to rid of it.

had, once on a battle field and again in a mill. Then finished with on amusing story of a Welch sailor out in Washington, who delighted in telling of his wonderful fights with tigers in thejui of !r,di?., but forgot all about his past bravery when he found himself unpleasantly near an American grizzly.

Mr. Waterbury spoke of the hard times lie had during his early life in Wisconsin, when provision was hi^\: a money scarce. He thinks the sell. Dakota will never have just the same hardships to bear, because they havi railroads, which Wisconsin did not have.

Next day at 10 a. m., a large crowd of old settlers and their friends formed in line at the tJriggs House and b< . by the band proceeded to the grove.

A letter was read from Mr. D. K. Noyes regretting his inability to be present and speaking of the old settlers that have passed away since las6 year.

secretary then read two pri from Mr. Leland, an old pio who died but a few weeks ago. these letters seated that ho gave Sauk county its name.

i ' til! 1:30. - frh uds had arranged for a I picnic .: . m . procc :ded to gather around the tables :>nd in little gi here and .here under the trees. Hearty laughter a id the chatter of merry voices in all directions bespoke the good eheer which prevailed.

Mr. Oha.s. Payne compared the frugality of the hoy of* fifty years ago wills that of the average boy of to-day. Ilis boyhood was iu Vermont, where he was taught to work and frugality was the order of the times. He u;:s married in in horn.' spun clothes. His boys now only know about machinery in doing farm work - they hardly know how to mow out a fence corner now. lie never had Irom his parents S3 00 for spending money before he was 21. His hoys want So. 00 every little while.

Rev. Mr. Bicklord then gave the address of welcome. Mentioned the past history and the future hopes of Sauk county, its schools, the cultured brain and moral character of its people, the productive soil etc.

Mr. Bickford replied to Mr. Payne that the sterile hills of Vermont were good for raising men but are a garden patches compared with the His boys and himself cau dress in broadcloth, have plenty of money, can use, machinery instead of doing hand work and have -ilk dresses and broad-cloth suits to get married in,

-- ; lowed remarks fi ai Mr. . \ concerning the nresem lime with it; iudcrs and the i d time when t)*ey had few i ouvenicnet - U t ha lie si wed a sir' I

? i r . Alexander Stuart Wa3 called for and though on account of sickness hardly able to stand, responded with good will and told about, coniing tn this county with but one dollar in his pocket.

Mr. McCrcady traced the career of several well known old pioneers and described some in) in uing points that he had visited in the iar west.

lor (he ensuing year: Wm. 11. Canfield, secretary; John Dickie, Jr.. treasurer; Win. Christie and Geo. W. Bloom, standing committee. The treasurer was not present, and uo report was rea 1.

There is much credit due Roswell son for the holding of this annual meeting at Prairie du Sac. He spent a good deal of time and expense from the firal of ii (which we think was largely i.:-i to its finale. Mahiah Willis was auother burden bearers of the occasion, and a very pleasant president pro tern.

health too po> r to u; e tuu :;i mns tortile brain and carefully w did much for 'he occasion Furthei we may not particularize. Tile entire town of Prairie du Sac kept the "latch siring ' uc the outbide of ihe door, and we h . , i have been a very large one. [I rer, it was very well up in numbers. T.. . iniwns ofSumpter, M cm mac t'reck were well represented. From i'ree- : there « ere Fr tnk Hai ken, Mi . O. Gray and son of the treasurer, Jol n t : Pi iv -.. n Jticed VVm. MeCr« '. McCready and wife. From S] the vivacious, jolly Ales. Stuart; a.'- and a ncrvou li re telli ti - effbr he gave us a speech relating recollections ofhisadv-eui into Sauk *.- We regrel that tlrs and other remiaisc a es given on this occasion could not have tieeu make the green s. ure cheese '.' | Nay ! you would hardly undertake employments such as these. , Tet, some there are - let me be just - who do

The "Old Settlers' of Sauk County" 19th Reunion just in the past was pronounced by many as the iargest and best meeting they have ever held. Buc this is not true. It was a large and pleasant mectine; the speaking seemed unusually good; but there was one unpleasant feature about it, viz.: the young people's dancing iloov was so near the speakers' stand that the calling off of dancing figures was unpleasantly plain and annoyed the speakers. The mistake will be remedied in the future. The following report is from the assistant secretary. Miss Jennie Tin k ham:

According to the program the Old Settlers convened on the evening of June 23 in the Petteys crove. Quite a large crowd collected, and about 'J o'clock the log heap was lighted, and its glow soon tired the enthusiasm of the Old Settler.-, and their minds went back to the '40's, when log heaps were au every day occurence. Mr. Canfidd opened with a short talk and on leing 3eated called upon Mr. Hubbard, who responded with brief remarks. John Elanger, who always tells very marvelous tales, was called for and responded with one of his most thrilling suake stories. Mr. Canfield told them they need uot believe all of Mr. Hanger's yan;s but must believe every woid of this story, and he proceeded to tell a snake story that was about as incredible as the preceding had been. Mrs. Seeley was called for but spoke ^nly a lew minutes. At 10 o'clock adjourned.

June' L' t, the meeting was called to order by the president about 11 o'clock. Music hy X. Freedom Band, followed by prayer by Rev. S. V. Kezetta, As the meeting Id at l'r irie da Sao last send to the members the pamphlet of printed proceedings, he said he would read the full report, commenting as necessary. It was moved and seconded that the report be accepted. Carried.

Chas. Hirschinger expressed his surprise on Suding himself ou the program i for an address of welcome, but as he had either owned the town or the town had owned him at the age ol ten and all OU Settlers were friends bound by a common tie, Freedom mubt aliow him to welcome ai! again to their town, for he had belonged to the town if he didn't now. He said many had heretofore expressed a desire to hold the meeting elsewhere, and accordingly two years ago wc met iu the park at Baraboo, but there was grumbling because we trampled on the grass, and there wa> no word of welcome by the mayor. Last year it was held at Prairie du Sac, and 1 know nothing about it. We had thought that Haekett's grove was the best grove, but this is good, and the owner is an Old Settler, and we are always welcome on their grounds. In fact, we feel the welcome, and more than ever when we see that the good people have even sent out teams to meet us. We wonder if we shall be permitted to meet another year. There have been many changes in the past year. La grippe has claimed many for its vi.-tims, Uncle Billy Johnson has passed away, and very many others that Qrst met together at these meetings. Mr. Farnum here was one of my nej in those early times, though living 10 miles away. We used to get up early on Sunday morning and go across lots through the woods and brush for a visit. -N Pre lorn has done much lor ou.

tertainrnent, and the grounds are tree, now we must make our conduct such that we will be received again next year and hear an address of welcome by the chaitman of the town.

Mr. Canfield was reminded by Mr. H's remarks ol that first 0. S. meeting, which wis held at Uncle Billy's, at d how he succeeded in producing the first report while the cannoneers were yet sleeping at the early dawn of day. He threw a board upon another board with such force that it made a noise quite similar to that of a gun. The fatted calf had been killed, and that morning a hall score of Barabooans, who had stayed the night with him, partook of it. Uncle Bill had been a wide-awake man in his day. We had brought the Baraboo cannon over here the day before the meeting.

In the president's address he eulogized the 0. S. gatherings as grand and noble but not altogether to his mind. He thought they could be nade productive ol great good by teaching the young of the trials and hardships endured by the pioneers. He thought that Old Settlers should run it and not the young settlers and that it should be made such that all might indorse all proceedings, all might be on a common level, and all enjoy it as though it were their last meeting. Pie then exhorted the youns to respect the veterans and especially the mothers, paying them a glowing tribute.

It being about 10 minutes to the dinner hour, Dr. Kezerta was called upon to fill that time, which he did in his able rammer. He was glad to have them all there, glad to see so many young people who would some time be Old Settlers somewhere, though the regions were getting scarce that were to be newly settled. He wanted to encourage all to good words and works-tho old to so live as to be patterns to the young, and some time there will yet be a land of Eden, and the rum hop shall be known no more.

Kider Snodirra.-s then made an announcement regarding the dinner whL-:. was furnished on the grounds by the M. E. society. He said he went in on a half fare ticket but added that there was more joy over one man that pays his way than over ninety-and-nine that deadU-a't their way.

The afternoon session opened at 1:43 with another piece by the band, after which Miss X. Kester, of Ileedsburg, gave a very fine recitation.

Mrs. Seeley then took the stand to say a word in praise of Reedsburg, of which she had been a resident for more than 40 years. She said they raised more babies there to the acre thau in any other place in the county; that it was growing aad was a city and fully alive. But it was to the soldiers she wished to speak, for no one had spoken of them. Then she recalled the army scenes, the joy of receiving letters from home, which was shared by all the comrades, also that of the home friends upon receiving news from the boys in the army, which was too often turned to grief by sad news of killed and wounded in battle. These letters were never private, but on hearing of one being received people would come for miles to hear the news.

Judge Huntington, of Green Bay, being present, was called upon. He spoke of not being prepared with a speech but was always prepared to speak a word for the 0. S., for though not a very old settler himself he had never found an old one who was not an honorable man. Sauk county had furnished its full quota of brave men to quell the rebellion, at the head of whom was Uncle Alex Crawford. The mountains of Greece have given the Greeks their sturdy character-, so the rugged nature of Sauk from narrows to narrows has brcd.strou^, patriotic citizens.

Mr. Brigcs was called upou to Bpeak lor Prairie du Sac. He made a good speech, judging from the one remark which we were able to catch. He is a thorough temperance man, and though he keeps a hotel, not a drop of liLjuor can be obtained there.

At the completion of his remarks music was heard in the background, and the Reedsburg band was found to be present and was invited to thu platform. The down train was four hours behind, but still the Reedsburg delegation and band came. -

Senator Burrows was then introduced and spoke in behalf of Lower Sauk in his spirited and enthusiastic manner. His reference to his late European tour was full of interest, and his praise of his old Sauk City neighbors was very high. He thought Mrs. Seeley, who had made the declaration that Reedsburg produced more babies to the acre than any other part of Sauk county, was entirely mistaken, for Sauk City could certainly beat Reedsburg on babies and handsome women and good men.

The president ottered a few remarks in regard to dancing being allowed upon the grounds, and was followed by Mr. C. Hirschiu^rer on the same subject. The latter then made the motion that il dancing were allowed on the grounds hereaiter it must be farther removed from the speakers' stand or discontinued during the exercises. This motion was Bccondod and after further di-- cushion by the above named gentlemen was put and carried.

Senator Burrows referred to a portion of Elder Snodgrass's speech relative to the broad inviting acres of our country and that the 2 million annual influx of foreign population could find a resting place and a home for many - many - many years to come without any crowd ing. In his recent European tour he had noticed that their large farms measured about five acres. He told an in teiligent farmer it he would come, to America Uncle Sam would make him a people of the Eastern states used to think they could tell big yarns, but alter stretching the trutB all that they thought consistent the Westerner easily covered it without a lie. There are two parallel forces always at work, one contending for the old way, the other reaching out. to the new, but the tendency to cohesion is overcome the world over, and the 0 . S. are no exception. The remotest parts are filling, and to day we have the wealthiest nation on earth. Although first in creation it was the last in development and was thereby reserved as the temple of civilization. For 5000 years genius has opposed the diurnal motions of the earth and there has been a steady migration, resulting in advanced civilization. Whenever transplanting occurs improvement is the result, therefore soil. The man looked at him in such a manner as to mutely say that is fiction. He had seen women yoked in with ani mals in preparing manual labor; - had noticed women carrying mortar and bricks to the very top of an 8 story building. Their R. R. cars wore small and poor, a common box car of ours would put to shame their common coach car, and our vestibule train would be such a palace as has not yet appeared on their railroads.

there is always a strife for something better, and although nations have risen and falleD, armies fought and died, workers lived and wrought seemingly in vain and students toiled on without solving their problem, still they have not lived in vain but their efforts and influence are pushing the world still farther toward the dawn - farther from barbarism toward civilization. The greatest progress has been made in the 19th century. When this man at my side (Mr. Filber, who is over 90) was 7 years old Fulton invented the first steamboat, in his 'JOth year the first iron plow was used, at 30 I he first R. R. passenger cars and at 40 the first telegram was sent. At the begining of the centurv everything was done by hand, now almost everything is done by machinery. In 1847 it took Dr. Atkinson 8 months to travel from Maine to Oregon, and

A brief synopsis of Mr. Snodgrass's remarks: - I was born in Madison Co., (not Posey Co.,) Iod., but settled in Wisconsin at the age of two years, getting my living whether I earned it or not. I worked on a farm until 21 years old. Some peopie think Methodist preachers brethren down our way say they never I message that in 1815 would require 3 knew one to have a garden, but they j days to reach its destination forwarded ought to see mine now. I have 100 1 at utmost speed, now spans the same hills of bean.-, 200 hills of corn and I distance in as rnauy minutes. There other things in proportion, only I didn't were 280,000 African slaves at the beplant any watermelons because there arergining ol the* century, and now slavery too many Methodius around there. ! i; destroyed. Our manufacturing at that But it is oi the progress and character time was insignificant, while now it rivals; ol our country that I wish to speak. The thai ol England, the greatest manufacturins: country of the globe. Progress in the West has been most rapid, 1.0 years beyond the Mississippi equaling 50 years east of it. Placing Texas, our largest state, on Europe it would strech from London to Warsaw. From Dakota could be made a half-dozen countries like Greece. Were our 60.000,000 people all placed in Texas it would be no more crowded than Germany, placed in Dakota no denser than England and Wales, and Texas could sustain this vast number and still raise its cotton and as many cattle as are raised in New York. Our entire country could sustain 20 times the population it now does. We used to bear a sreat deal about the Great American Desert, first in one place, then removed to another as civilization advanced, until now we hear little of it. Our wealth exceeds that of Great Britain by 830,000,000. Greek sceaery had a vast influence on ihe character of its citizens, so must American when everything is on so much grander scale. When Chief Justice Chase visited Patrick Henry's birth-place and breathed the pure, atmosphere and looked at the mountain scenery he is said to have exclaimed, "'No wonder a Patrick Henry was born here!" In America all are equal before the law. The wisdom of the people governs, and democratic ideas are fundamental. Religious freedom, though sometimes a seemim: weakness, is really a blessing, for religion flourishes best when separate from the state. Free education is the foundation of American iiovernment. Tbe next time I speak to you I shall try to confine my remarks more to the history of Sauk Co.

Mr. Burrows came to the stand with the reminder that we are all growing old. He found his strength failing him and was reminded of it that day by Weariness occasioned by h.wir)_r to walk from the depot to the grove. He came to represent Lower Sauk, and in reply to Mrs. Seeley's remarks would say that his town could discount Reedsburi: on the number of beautiful women as well as on babies, colts, (.-.live.- and beer. He -aid he always came to the O. S. A. with notes in his pocket like the old Vermont singing master, and it was his aim to be at each and every meeting, but owing to absence, sickness and various reasons he had cot been present since 13SS. Some appropriate verses he had clipped from a paper and wished to read. He then referred to his foreign trip and feelingly .~>poke of our old flae, telling how a year ago on July -ith he was in a city containing a thousand hotels but not one floated the stars and stripes until he had one made and flung to the breeze. The last meeting he attended Dr. McKenuan was with him, and little he dreamed he would so soon puss away. Nels Wheeler also used to enliven the occasion with his wit and drollery. From the Bamboo Ptepubkc, which he had taken many years, he had kept a record of the deaths of the old settlers and would read it. His friendship for the German was as strong as ever, but while in Germany the degradation of the women was noticeable in comparison with free America. (Mr. B's visits to our meetings are very gratifying. We wish we could have had a stenographic report of the many good and instructive words spoken.)

abide : Back of the sorrow and back of the care, Back to the place where the future was fair: If you were there now a decision to make, Oh! pilgrim of sorrow, which road would

Twenty-Third Annual Meeting Of The Evening Camp Fire Session Of June

The twenty-third annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Sauk County was held near the village of North Freedom in John Hackett's grove. A cool pleasant day. It was a large corning together of the people of the Raraboo valley and the interchange of friendly greetings was cordial and all things pleasant. Not any of our meetings of former years have been more so. There was but one gaming, catch-penny plant upon the ground, viz: Throwing balls at a mark for a consideration. The speaking, the anecdotes, and the songs were ample for the occasion, except we missed the music of the well-trained North Freedom brass band, that has heretofore cheered and led our services. It was generally acknowledged that it was a serious mistake in not employing them on this occasion. EVENING CAMP FIRE SESSION OF JUNE

Mr. Hirschiuger, the president of the association, said: It is always customary for the oldest settler to tell the first story. Mr. Can field introduced.

moved into the woods and put up a log house: I built a chimney, and stayed all winter in that house, and the chimney smoked. I built that chimney over three times before I got the chimney so that it would draw. That winter I must have shed a pint of smoky tears - more or less - but we survived. At last I made a very fine one, which in after years was a source of great pleasure.

Mr. Frank Hackett: I don't see any story in this for me to-night, but I am here and will start out with a story. I killed a bear and I did not kill him, but I came near it. The facts in the case are these: When we were building a railway up there a bear came across the land, and there were quite a number of hands with me: they called me to come and shoot the bear: they kept me running until I was nearly out of breath; I had a gun, and went across through the brush, and there sat the bear, and was ready to take me in his arms: I did not care about that kind of a hug: I shot and the bear went over; the fact is the bear went across the blutt' and got away. That bear cost me a good lot of "run,'' and I did not get him either.

was Davis: he was a good hunter: we went out one morning and thought we would kill a bear before night: we went up to a big tree and a bear lay beside it; I said, l'I will shoot, I am the oldest man." There was a young cub then? and we shot him right in the side of the head.

When my father came to this country he had only three shillings in his pockets. Now, what can you do with three shillings ? We had to root like pigs: we had to lay in shanties: that we can prove: you don't know anything about it: we were all wet: we lived through it: folks said we would get sick, but we did not.

Remarks by Mr. W. H. Canfield: What I have In my mind I have told before: I will tell about one greenhorn experience I had while surveying a state road from Portage to La Crosse. J. W. Babb could sing all night and tell stories. I will tell of a little incident which occurred on the road. Babb attempted to coss a ditch with his horse: the country was new and we had to pitch our tents and examine the country to see the best place to locate a road from Portage to La Crosse. Babb always rude on his old horse ."John." In his young days he was almost a Methodist preacher: afterwards he became quite an apostate. I saw him coming on old John, he called him "John the Baptist."' Babb wanted his horse to cross a ditch; the horse questioned his ability to jump across; finally he ordered John on, and he got his fore feet Over, but the hind feet went into the ditch. Babb went into the bottom of it. The first thing he said was "You mean old Methodist."

Remarks by Mr. Lueth: Ladies and Centlemen - I am not a public speaker: I must admit that I never went to any English school, What I know of the English language \ have learned myself. My father went away from the J old country in 1850, in the summer time: jl don't know exactly the "month: we landed in Milwaukee the 8th day of October. 1850; I was then eleven years old. Of course T was not confirmed: I went to Milwaukee to school, I went with old Mrs. Ringling, she was there. I lived in Milwaukee three years, then . moved west between Columbus and | Lowell: it was all wilderness: I worked ! for Mr. Manning in Columbus for twenty years: then I started to go west, I ! thought I would go to Pike's Peak; we got along on the Santa Fe road and one after another our party backed out, and I was left alone, so I backed out too: I went to New Orleans and stayed there about three months: I went to St. Louis and stayed there some weeks and then j went back to Wisconsin. In 1858 thought i I would go back to Mr. Manning and he I was very glad to see me: I went south again: started for St. Louis and I could I not get any work: I was a miller by I trade: I started for New Orleans: in I New Orleans in 1858 they had the fever I the .worst of any year, and folks said it ! was bad for me to go there: I did not I get the fever; in the spring I went to { Fort Leavenworth: I used to drive a team from Fort Leavenworth to Salt Lake City. I hired out for forty-five cents a day: in 1859 we again came and passed by where the Indians had killed thirty-six people, their bones were lying there: men and animals; if the white people would use the Indians well they would use the white people well. hi 1801 I went back to Wisconsin am! got married. Some people think we have hard times, but we have no such times as we had then. My father was hired for fifty to seventy-five cents a day in the harvest field, and that was big pay. Was it cash ? Yes, we will pay you cash, but it was all in store bills. T have seen some hard times and I have seen some good ones. We should alwavs be thankful for what the good

Remarks by Mr. Chas. Hirschinger: There are some old settlers who are nut able to be here with you to-night: they have been called from this land of trial and hard times. There will be less at our next meeting, until there are ouly a few left to tell the story.

When this meeting- started I was entitled to be called an old settler: when I came to this country and to that house built with a chimney I was about 10 years old; only a iad. Now I will tell you how we got here: in 1S4(! we traveled down the Ohio and up the Mississippi: we got along all right: we had to stop a day; we weut to Freeport, 111., then we started for Wisconsin. When we were at Cincinnati whisky sold for 25c a gallon: we brought a 4'5-gallon barrel along. In the spring of 1847 we started for W7;~consin. I was drivingcattle and we did not find any water. Every place we stopped we would find they were sick: it got along about two o'clock in the afternoon and I fell in the road: they put me into a wagon box.

I will tell you about the first licking I got in Wisconsin. One morning I started for school: the school teacher's name was Peter La Pete: he was a Frenchman: he did not make much of a school teacher: everyone called this man Peterly. When T went to school that day my mother told me to be very polite: when I got to the school house T went up to the teacher and said: "Good Morning, Mr. Peterly."' And I got a good threshing for it.

Ladies and Gentlemeu and Old Settlers: - It is with pleasure this morning that I undertake to make a few remarks in regard to welcoming you to this grove. It was not until last night that, I knew that I would have any part to perform in this meeting. I welcome each and every one to-day on an equal basis. I feel glad in my heart to have this privilege to stand before you and say. "Welcome to you old settlers."

As we look around we realize the fact that many who were with us last year are not with us now. They have gone to the country from which no traveler returns. We are fast traveling on. We all want to know the best way to travel, and have the very best time we can. If we had a little more kindness we would not have this diitieulty of quarrelling and lawing. We would not need any lawyers or justices to settle these matters. We will have to go one by one and meet the old settlers on the other side of the river, and we will meet them there and have the best time we ever had. I believe it because Christ, the master, is at the head. I tell you all are going to be there. every one of us. So you had bettersquare yourself because you will have to be there. I welcome you to this grove and hope you and everyone will enjoy yourselves.and that all will not regret having come here. I like to see the same principle instilled in the young settlers that is among the old settlers.

As I look around I see a number ot the old settlei-s of the village who are not here to-day. One of whom I will mention is "'Uncle Billy Sprotri." I present this as a tok>-n of respect: it is a cane that the. old gentleman used to have, and he gave it to me as a token of respect; he wanted me by his side; he said he might die when I was not by him. I am going to bring it to the old settlers' meeting as long as I live, and give it to my boys and tell them to bring it to the old settlers' meeting when I am gone. When you went to Uncle

The ladies of the Grand Army ha..- made a quilt, we are going to hang i;, up: the proceeds are to be used to buy a monument to the old soldiers to '.. placed in the North Freedom cetnet :ry.

Remarks by Mr. Chas. Hirschinger: I O. S. A. of Sauk county, Wis.: Now friends it is not an easy task for j Very Dear Friend - It is with fee me to reply [a behalf of the old settlers j ings of high esteem for your kindoe this morning. When I look around I find that the old familiar faces that used to meet us here from time to time, from year to year, are no more; they are not in our midst. T was well acquainted with them, and as my thoughts follow them alonjj I find that some are buried in extending to the undersigned an invitation (as per card) to attend the O. S. Association of Sauk county, Wisconsin, at Hackett's grove on the 20th and 27 inst., myself and wife thank you most heartily for the same, and at the same time express our regrets that eirdown in the g-rave yard at Sumpter. j cumstances do not favor our coming to Yes, there are a half dozen resting j Baraboo at this time. It is an occasion places scattered over the county, which j that would give us great pleasure in they once inhabited. They are gone | mixing with and enjoying the society never to meet with us again. I remem- j of old acquaintances. Inasmuch as w<- ber when we used to be ten miles apart, | cannot be with you (at the suggestion and as Mr. Hackett said, when you got j of our better half) we send you our to an old settler's house you were wel- j photos, lately taken, with our age? come. You could stay all night whether marked on back of same at the time they had a bed or not. But there are | they were taken. It will give us much only a few left, and these few may not j satisfaction to have them placed in the grove forever, but they will not be all i that it is done. We love Baraboo and pioneers. A few more years will thin j Sauk county and its people and especialour ranks. In the first place I will say j ly the old settlers thereof. The many that we old settlers like to come to j kindnesses of friends we have experi- North Freedom because we are wel- enced, the many favors we have recome, and second, because it is about the oldest place iu Sauk county. [First settlement of white people was at the Sauk towns: 2nd. at Baraboo: 3rd. at Reedsburg: 4th. at North Freedom. - W. H. C.j" ceived, the many pleasant social scenes and intercourses we have enjoyed there, and then - the loved ones of our family that are now laid in the silent <rrave in our own pretty lot in the beautiful Baraboo cemeterv. all form many chords

Now I want to say that we propose to of affection that we cannot ignore but do the business work this morning, and will remain with us while we live, about 11:.';0 we will have a right good We wish to be remembered to the Aspreacher here. About 1:30 we are go- 1 sociation as an organization that has ;i

-oft place in our hearts, and especially , to those O. S/s of 184H to JJ3G9 and '70 that are alive and with you. The his 'ory of those year's are full of interest - to ns and we would enjoy a reference to I the events of that period with old Baraboo friends once more wi^h much pleasure. With kind regards to your- ; self ami family,

P. S. - The photos are sent in a sep- 1 arate package with this mail. You j may consider the residence your prop- j erty also the court house, unless the society would want it to go with our photos. Please let me know that all come safe to your hands. - Truly.

B. L. Purdy

Elect.on of officers: - Chas. Hir- ! schinger. president: W. H. Canfield, j secretary: John Hall, treasurer: execu- ! tive committee - Mr. GunnisoR, John Donnghey. John Dickie.

Mrs. Rosaline Peck. 86 years oW. present. Probably her last meeting with the old pioneers. She has been bed-ridden for 3 or 4 years and for the last year has failed quite fast. The first white woman to settle at Madison and at Baraboo.

About two weeks ago the secretary and Mrs. Peck and Mrs. N. W. Wheeler had a call from Mrs. Raymond, of Stevens Point. Wis. She is a daughter of James S. Album whose family was the first white family to settle on the west side of the Wisconsin river, north of Prairie du Chien. She desired very much to meet with us this year. She wished to be remembered.

Mrs. Peck in her carriage (which stood near the speaking rosterumi was saluted by the band playing an air and al Hie same time marching sing!*' lib: aiound the carriage several times. Also, that tine artist of Merrimac, S. D. Coates. took a negative of the carriage and Mrs. Peck, taking in many of the old settlers. A proof can be seen at the Democrat otlice. He has made a good picture. Price. 50c.

Address by James L. Bonham: It I have not anything to say it is Mr. Hirschinger's fault. He told me that I was to talk from 11:30 until dinner time. Now I think dinner time is when a man is hungry. My wife says I am always hungry. If so it must be dinner time. and know that most of you would rather eat dinner than hear me talk.

I never had the pleasure of attending an old settlers' meeting before. What to say and how to say it has been a very serious question with me. I asked Mr. Hirschinger what to say, and he said "say anything - talk about anything."

However ancient I may appear I am uot an old settler, but I am here by right of representation, as the son of an old settler of the southern part of the county, where my father came and made a home for his family and reared his children, and where he lived until the day of his death. They tell me that I was born in Sauk county. 1 am here by right of representation.

Mr. Bonham spoke of the many social evils we have to face. The saloon destroyed over eighty thousand young men annually, and sends them to a drunkard's grave. Spoke complimentary of foreign emigration, and thought if it could be done, restrictions might be put upon it: of the great wealth which is constantly flowing into the hands of the privileged class.

He spoke of the great inventions and improvements of the l!Uh century, and said that to the 19th century all rime pays tribute. Mr. Bonham's address was a very excellent one and we are sorry our reporter did not get more of it.

A quilt auctioned off. On this quilt appears the names of about 250 of the best men of the state - of Reeds-burg, Baraboo and other places. Among others are Gen. Fairchild and wife. ( Quilt sold to James Sproul for £S.25. I Proceeds goes to the fund to build a monument to soldiers of the army to j put down the rebellion.

Address by Rev. Bushnell: I think I am about as well fitted to deliver this address as the irishman who attempted to make a 4th of July address, and his commencement was:

He did not get very far with his address j because he had only been from the old sod a little while, and did not understand very much of this country.

We live in an age of progress, the world moves and we move with it. So I far as I can learn by strict inquiry 1 discover that the settling of Sauk eoun- 1 ty is covered by a period of half a een- 1 tury. He spoke of a number of old' settlers who had died within the last tfoctheii; families: -sixty miles being the | shortest distance,.. and Dodgeviile the j nearest place, and thirty-live and forty j ctmti.being the highest price paid for I wheat. He said: the. postage -on letters way live cents, and it was optional | whether you prepaid. or not. and some p«-wple. did not prepay. HerispilJWI of a young Judy whose lover hud come i to Ahe West, and one day lie went to the 'H'stromce Jitid found a letter awaiting hinirand lie had to go around and net. the eeats before he eould get the letter. He said we eould get =?ueh sweet letters for two censs a piece and postage prepaid at that.

Remarks by Mr. Seymour: I cannot help thinking of the postage on the letters in those early times. Instead of being five cents it was ten cents. One day there was a letter in the post-office for me: I had no money, and I could not get it. It was there six weeks before I got ten cents, but you can imagine my surprise when I got the letter to find a twenty dollar bill in it, and that twenty dollars was sent from the state of New York a year before that time. My sister collected twenty dollars for me and sent it to me. She wrote me that she sent it by Tom Collins, that he was coming to Wisconsin: I wrote back and asked her where Tom Collins was. I was in the Baraboo valley, and where Tom Collins was I did not know as there were several places in Wisconsin. In the course of six months she wrote that Tom Collins was in Oshkosh. He sent it to me. He said that my sister had given it to him, and he lent it to his brother and could not get it until it came back from the proceeds of the mill.

Remarks by Mr. W. H. Cantield: He said that a record should always be kept of the old settlers' meetings, (what was rubbish for one generation was history for the- next) and published in a pamphlet yearly for the members. - Song - -'America." - Song by Rev. Bushnell. Mr. B. made pertinent, pointed remarks but outyoung reporter failed to get them.

Cigars, Tobacco, Pure Wines And Liquors

-"-* Woolen Cloth*. Flannels, Yarns, Blanket*. &«>. A full stock always on hand to exchange for Wool, at reasonable rates. Particular attention given to Custom Work and Roil Carding. Baraboo, Wis.

InXCHANGE HOTEL. Corner of Water and East Streets. Baraboo. Wis. This u House has been neatly furnished, and no pains will be spared to make my guests comfortable. Charges Reasonable. A. J. Moore, Proprietor.

~WT w- WOOLCOTT. Manufacturer of and Dealer in Sash. Doors, and \\ . Blind*. A full snpply kept constantly on hand. Comer of Oak and ,5 Fifth streets, Baraboo, Wis.

TtTM. SCHARNKE. Practical Watchmaker, and Dealer in Watches-. Clocks. Jew- V\ elry. Silver and Fluted Ware. Baraboo, Wisconsin. Watches, Clock* and Jewelry promptly Repaired and Warranted.

GRAY & STEPHENSON. Dealers in Hardware. Stoves. Tinware, Rope. Plows. Pumps, and House-keeping Goods Generally. Tin, Copper, Sheet-iron Ware aLd Jobbing a specialty. Oak street, Baraboo, Wis.

McCLET.LAN & WALLACE. General Dealers in Hardware. Stoves, Tin and Preesi d Ware. In the Maynard Buildinir, South sJde of Public Square. Tin, Sheet Iron and Copper work done to order and on Time.

JHAWES. Fashionable Boot and Shoe-Maker, for Ladies and Gentlemen desir- . ing work in the latest style, and warranted to suit. This card is to correct an error in giving a wrong initial, on another page, w. h. c

Q K. ELLSWORTH. Livery, Sale and Boarding Stable. Baraboo, Wis. This card is to correct an error in giving a wrong initial on a former page. w. H. c.

Ciiipjian, Priest & Co

Successors to Barn hart & Chipman. announce to the public that they have opened a Furniture Store in Reedsburg, with uu entirely new stock of Furniture of all general descriptions, which they will be happy to show, and which they will sell at satisfactory prices.

In connection with our Furniture Shop we have established a Paint Shop, and are prepared to do all kin. is of ILmse. Sign and Carriage Filiating, Paper Hanging, Graining, Glazing, Wall-Papering and Porcelain Finish for Parlors, <!ke. Farmers, no»y is the time to have your Boggles, Wagons and Sleighs repainted. Mixed Pain's tor Sale. Paints and all other materials furnished if tyesired. Having bad a long experience in the business, we pledge ourselves to give entire satisfaction to all who may patronize us, as we have permanently located in Reedsburg. We wish to a my the Ladies that we have one of the best Paper Hangers in the State. In conclusion we announce as our motto, "Live and L"t Lice."

Sauk City As-Vehtssemonts

Published by CRRSIUS & KLEINPELL. Terms: $2.00 Per Annum. JOB PRINTING of every description in the German and English Languages correctly and neatly executed at Reasonable Terms.

Three Terms Per Year

N. B. - Instrumental and Vocal Lessons given on Piano, Melodeon and Organ. Also Pianos, Mclodeons and Organs for sale. Prairie du Sac, Wis. W. J. PECK.

Wood Turning And Sawing

Manufacturer and dealer in iron and brass castings, and will furnish Steam engines, water-wheels, mill gearing, shafting, leather and rubber belting, iron and wood working machinery, -wrought and cast-iron vices, bellows and auvils, machinist and Wucksmiths tool-;, etc., etc.

CHawes, Fashionable Boot and Shoe Maker. For - Ladies and Gentlemen Desiring work in the latest style, and warranted to suit. Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Saddles For Ladies And Gentlemen For Sale

A full ripply of nil kinds of JIAltXESS I UK MTU RE always on band. 'Whips that CAN HE HEAT without injury, wo always bavc a good supply of. Old Stand, North Side, of the Public Square, bamboo, Wisconsin.