History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 64

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998

USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 64

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FATHERS AND MOTHERS! MEMBERS OF THE OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY OF WALWORTH COUNTY: To-day you meet on your annual festival day, to fulfill the object and aim of your society, as expressed in Article II of your Constitution, the first and prominent object as therein written, being " to revive and perpetuate the friendly associations heretofore existing among its members." All who came into the county to reside in 1845, or previous thereto, are cordially invited to attend this, our annual gathering. And well it is to assem- ble annually on this festive occasion, and to extend to each other the grip and password of a squatter sovereign, and meet with that heartfelt greeting which only a pioneer can know or feel.

A quarter of a century has gone since those of 1845 first united themselves to Walworth County, and to-day they can celebrate their silver wedding. A generation has passed away since you, the first pioneers, pitehed your tents in this Land of Promise.

As you explored what is now Walworth County, you found a country of prairie and opening, with a mostly undulating surface, with no hills nor mountains, but a range of bluffs extending across the country. north and south. Not a solitary white inhabitant could he found; the red man then reigned-sole possessor of the land. The prairies and openings, swept from the rubbish of the year by the annual fires kindled by the red man were as destitute of any undergrowth of shrubs as the most earefully kept lawn, and presented to the

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

eye an extended and unobstructed range of vision, ever opening to view new delights and fresh beauties. No sound of the ax had then invaded these solitudes; no plow had turned the rich and virgin soil, but delicately tinted flowers bloomed where now are seen fields of growing grain, or meadows over which herds of cattle roam. No habitation met the traveler's view, giving promise of welcome; no track was seen to mark his route save a little path made by the former occupants. This highway of a nation was but a narrow path, scarce fifteen inches broad; but deep worn by the tread of many feet. One trail, extending from Chicago to Green Bay crossed the country, passing through Geneva, Whitewater and other towns on the line. Another extending from Milwaukee to Mineral Point, crossed the northern part of the county, passing through La Grange and Whitewater. These crossed each other on Section 5 in Whitewater, while paths less worn branched off leading to their hunting and fishing grounds. Such, farmers, you who were first to erect a dwell- ing, first to stir the soil, first to bring forth food for the new-comers-such was this land when you first spied it out. You looked over the land; you saw it dotted with small lakes and traversed by creeks, brooks, rivulets, but with no streams worthy the name of river. You examined the soil, you pronounced it rich and product- ive, and for the purposes of agriculture, unsurpassed. You came not for commerce, you came not as manu- facturers, not as miners to dig for gold and silver, but you came to till the soil, and to combat the thorn and thistle, if any there should be, by " the sweat of your brow," to secure for yourselves a comfortable dwelling place, and to provide the means of support in your declining years. Yes, farmers, you are the first in any new country to follow the fur trader and trapper. You came the first of pioneers; you realized when you selected your location that a dwelling must be erected, the yet undisturbed soil must be plowed, roads laid out and worked, bridges built, schoolhouses and churches erected, marshes drained, and highways constructed across them; yet, having energy, strong muscles and a determined will, you here pitched your tents.

When your dwelling was ereeted, each stood ever ready to throw open his door and welcome the trav- eler in search of a homestead, and often from two to eight, or even more, would find a well-prepared meal and rest in a log house, 16x20 feet in size or less. After the new-comer had selected his quarter-section, came the raising at which all around stood ready and willing to lend a helping hand, and a right jovial time you had. With a hearty good will you rolled up the logs (men six feet and strong were then in demand). You talked and chatted, and chatted and talked, occasionally drinking something from a jug or bottle that added glibness to the tongue. After a game of ball or other athletic exercise, all turned homeward wishing blessings and nothing but blessings on the new-comer. Next, roads and schoolhouses were to be located, and to say where commeneed the fight. All did not think alike, one wanted it in one place, and one in another-each was sure he was right, each expressed his views freely, and was often tenacious in maintaining them; would get together and spar, call hard names; sometimes, not often. would have a brush-all showed pluck. But one thing was of note; after the location was decided upon, all was then good feeling, no pouting, no grumb- ling after; the hatchet was then buried, the pipe of peace was smoked, and the next day were as good friends as ever, and as ready to assist each other. * * *

Following the pleasant remembrances recalled above, Mr. Cravath, continued, giving remin iscences of early times, and alluding feelingly to the recently deceased members.

THIRD ANNUAL MEETING.

The third annual meeting was held June 14, 1871, at the court house in Elkhorn. Mem- orial resolutions were passed on the death of A. C. Goodrich, of Lyons, and officers chosen. After dinner, Hon. J. W. Boyd addressed the assembly extemporaneously. Short speeches were also made by Hon. Samuel Pratt, P. G. Harrington, Hon. Wyman Spooner and many . others.

FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The fourth annual meeting was held June 12, 1872, at Elkhorn. The programme was as follows:

Called to order by Vice President P. G. Harrington, President Hon. C. M. Baker having died since the last meeting.

An examination of the list showed four members deceased during the year, viz .: Hon. C. M. Baker, of Geneva; J. Ward, of Bloomfield; Samuel H. Tibbets, of Sugar Creek; Samuel Dun- bar, of Geneva. Fitting resolutions were passed and short eulogies read by E. Elderkin, Rev. P. S. Van Nest and others.

Officers chosen, and the general number of short after-dinner speeches made by the old settlers.

FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The fifth annual meeting met June 11, 1873, at Elkhorn.

Proceedings were opened by prayer by Deacon Daniel Salisbury, no clergyman being pres- ent. Music was furnished by the Springfield Cornet Band. The Secretary read the proceed- ings of the last annual meeting; also, the constitution and list of members. The only member reported deceased during the past year was G. Frank Brewster, as to whose life and character appropriate remarks were made by O. Hand. No oration was pronounced, but, in its place, the

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

address of Judge Andrew G. Miller, recently delivered before the Ohl Settlers' Club of Mil- waukee, was read by F. J. Harrington. Officers were elected, and the meeting adjourned to assemble in Geneva next year.

SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The sixth annual meeting was held at Geneva June 10, 1874. The weather being unfavor- able for out-of-door exercises, the meeting was held in Walker's Hall. Prayer by Rev. J. D. Pulis. After singing by the choir, the minutes were read by the Secretary. and four deaths of members, occurring during the past year, were noted, viz. : Asher Johnson, of Darien: John Hutton. of Delavan: Newton MeGraw, of Delavan: Myron E. Dewing, of Elkhorn.

The ammal addresses were delivered by James Simmons, Esq., of Geneva. and Hon. T. D. Weeks, of Whitewater. The addresses were followed by the election of officers, report of the Treasurer, reading of communications, and short speeches from members and guests. Appio- priate resolutions were adopted in memory of the deceased members.

A resolution of thanks was passed as follows:

Resolved, That the thanks of the old settlers of Walworth County are hereby tendered to J. Simmons, Esq., for his very excellent poem; to Hon. T. D. Weeks, for his eloquent address; to Hon. Robert HI. Baker, for his appropriate address: to lon. A. T. Wheeler, of Iowa, for his excellent speech, and also to the Springfield Band for the splendid music discoursed to us by them.

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The seventh annual meeting was held at Geneva June 9, 1875. The day was stormy. The meeting was holl in the office of C. L. Oatman. Little was done except the routine business of hearing the Treasurer's report, and the election of officers, when the meeting adjourned, to meet again at Geneva in two weeks.

The adjourned meeting was held in the grove, in front of the Seminary Boarding-House. in Geneva. June 23, 1875. Nearly six hundred old settlers and their descendants were pres- ent.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Orra Martin. a pioneer of 1840; a hymn was sung to the tune of old " Lenox." under the leadership of W. H. Hammersley. Hon. W. C. Allen, of Racine. delivered an excellent address, full of reminiscences of the past, and sketches of the lives and characters of prominent early settlers. "Auld Lang Syne" was then sung, after which the fol- lowing resolutions were adopted:

WHEREAS, Since our last annual gathering, eight members of our organization have been called to their last account, to-wit: Lemuel R. Smith, of Spring Prairie, who was the first presiding officer of this society, and claimed to be the earliest settler of Walworth County; Maj. Ira Buell, of Linn: B. B. Freeman, of Rich- mond: Mrs. Patience Meacham, of Troy, widow of the late Maj. Meacham; N. HI. Carswell, Joseph Viles, and Gen. Sheldon Walling, of Elkhorn, and John B. Shepherd, of Delavan, Thereupon,

Resolved, That this comparatively large number of deaths from our society during the past year, cannot but remind us, each and all. of our own mortality, and, that before many years shall pass-and it may be within the current year-many, and perhaps an equal or greater number of us may also be called to bid adieu to all things here below. In view. therefore, of the great uncertainty of life, we may well ponder on the truism. "In the midst of life we are in death."

Resolred, That without discrimination we, as a society, will cherish in memory the virtues and the useful lives of our departed members, among whom are two of our very first settlers, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Meacham, even as we hope that our own may be cherished, when the places that know us now, shall know us no more forever.

Resolved, That we sympathize with the more intimate friends and relatives of the deceased in the greater loss they have sustained, and trust that they have a consolation in the hope that these friends have gone to a higher and a brighter sphere, where they who have gone and they who remain will again be united.

After further addresses the meeting adjourned.

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The eighth annual meeting was held at Elkhorn June 21. 1876.

Opened by prayer by Rev. G. A. Cressey, of Elkhorn. The election of officers was held. and it was voted that Rev. A. C. Barry, the oldest pioneer Universalist minister in the West. should be invited to address the meeting. The records give no account of his response to the invitation.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The memorial resolutions passed were as follows:

WHEREAS, The following named members of our society have deceased since our last meeting, viz. : John Curtis, Stephen Ingham, Israel Stowell, Mrs. David Vaughn, Robert W. Warren and John Williams,

Resolved, That we, as old settlers, having experienced suffering and sorrow, know how to sympathize and do sympathize with those more nearly related to the deceased. in their afflictions, and with them will ever cherish in memory, the virtues of the departed.

Short speeches followed from J. W. Boyd, P. S. Van Nest, C. F. Ellsworth, Luke Taylor, Osborn Hand, P. G. Harrington and others. " Old Hundred " was sung, and the meeting ad- journed.

NINTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The ninth annual meeting was held at Delavan June 20, 1877. Music was furnished by the Delavan Cornet Band. Prayer was offered by Rev. D. E. Halteman, and an address of welcome by Rev. Joseph Collie. A severe wind and rain storm interrupted the proceedings. After the abatement of the storm, addresses were made by Hon. Harrison Ludington, Governor of Wisconsin. and Hon. Pliny Norcross, of Janesville.

The memorial resolutions adopted were as follows:

Resolved, That we learn with great sorrow of the loss from our ranks by death, during the past year, of eight valued members, viz .: William Bell, Charles S. Bailey, Willard Isham, Robert Stewart, Perry G. Har- rington, Mrs. P. G. Harrington, Jedediah W. Peck and Samuel Pratt: that by their loss we are reminded that we, too, are mortal, and shall soon pass from earth; and that having experienced much of sorrow and suffer- ing ourselves, we know how to feel for and with the relatives and more intimate friends of the departed, and we tender them our sincere and heartfelt sympathies.

Short eulogies of the deceased members were made: On Perry G. Harrington, by Stephen G. West: on Samuel Pratt, by Otis Preston; on J. W. Peck, by H. S. Winsor; on William Bell, by W. C. Allen; on C. S. Bailey, by George Cotton; on Willard Isham, by A. D. Thomas. Mr. West also spoke of the death of A. B. Beardsley, an old settler, not a member of the so- ciety. After singing "America," the meeting adjourned, to meet at Delavan the next year.

TENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The tenth annual meeting was held at Delavan June 19, 1878. The order of the day opened with a procession, led by the Delavan. Cornet Band. and Delavan Fire Department. The Dela- van Glee Club furnished the vocal musie.

Prayer was offered by Rev. D. E. Halteman, and the annual routine business done. The annual address was delivered by Rev. Joseph Collie. Obituary and culogistie addresses were given on the members deceased during the past year by the following gentlemen: Otis Preston, in commemoration of Hon. Wyman Spooner: N. M. Littlejohn, for Hon. Samuel A. White: Charles Martin. for Mrs. Daniel Salisbury: S. G. West, for T. P. Barker and C. F. Ellsworth; Rev. T. C. Wilson, for Hiram Downer and Daniel Rowe; and Edward Elderkin. for Mrs. Bet- sey Bradley.

The meeting was one of the most successful ever held, and, in addition to the enjoyment of the occasion, resulted in the addition of fifty names to the list of members.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING,

The eleventh annual meeting was held at Whitewater June 18. 1879. This meeting. ow- ing to its being held on the direct line of the railroad from Milwaukee, and the exertions of President Preston and other members of the society. drew a large concourse of old settlers, not only from all parts of the county, but from all parts of the State.

At 10 o'clock A. M., a procession was formed under the direction of the Marshals, preceded by the Whitewater Cornet Band. The military was represented by the " Custer Rifles." Pio- neer life was represented by a covered wagon drawn by an ox team and loaded with the house- hold goods and numerous family of the emigrant: a large plow, drawn by several yoke of oxen --- a moving scene of industrial life in-doors, and one of farm life without. Following were the St. Patrick's C. T. A. Society, in uniform, headed by their cornet band; the Whitewater Hose Company, and a long procession of officers, committees, guests and old settlers, on foot and in carriages.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The meeting was held in a large tent provided for the occasion. After music, the exercises were opened by prayer by Rev. S. C. Thomas: music, song of welcome, by the Whitewater Glee Club: address by Hon. N. M. Littlejohn; volunteer addresses from John Nazro, ex-Gov. Luding- ton, W. P. Merrill and James S. Buck, of Milwaukee; William Rumsey, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Henry Keep, of Chicago; and Prosper Cravath, of Whitewater.

Dinner occupied two hours, during which time sixty-five new members were enrolled.

The afternoon exercises were opened by music by Evan's Orchestra, followed by an address from C. R. Beach. of Whitewater. After the address were the memorial addresses on the mem- bers deceased during the past year. They were as follows: S. G. West. on Mrs. Tibbets: C. R. Gibbs, on Emery Thayer; O. Hand. on John Dunlap; James Simmons, on the deathis of Thomas W. Hill and Reuben Rockwell.

The following resolutions were passed commemorative of the deceased:

Resolved, That in our joy at meeting our old friends and acquaintances, the men and women who were our co-workers in laying the foundations and building up the walls of our civilization, we do not forget nor will we ever forget, those who have been taken from our ranks by death during the past year, but the names and virtues of Thomas W. Hill, Reuben Rockwell, Samuel F. Randall. Emery Thayer, Allen Merriam, John C. Ford and Sylvester G. Smith shall ever be cherished in our memories. We feel deeply the rending of the cords which bound us to them, and we sincerely sympathize with the families and more intimate friends of the deceased.

The following preamble and resolutions, which embody the inception of the plan which has resulted in the publication of this history, were presented by Hollis Latham, and adopted:

WHEREAS, It is among the declared objects and aims of this society "to collect and preserve such sta- tistics of the early settlement of the county as may be of interest to the present and future generations," and, WHEREAS, our pioneers are fast passing away, and many facts worthy of preservation, which are now unwritten, but stored in their memories will soon become inaccessible and utterly lost, therefore

Resolved, 1. That we cannot better carry out that object of our society, than by taking measures to aid or procure the publication of a brief and authentic history of this county, and that in the absence of any present prospect of such a work being provided, we deem it high time for us to move in the matter.

2. That while we recognize the utility and importance of extended and minute town histories, and would give all encouragement in our power to the collection and preservation of all the incidents of pioneer life in this vicinity, which can be of interest to our posterity or the world in general, yet, we deem it a sufficient undertaking for us at the present time to procure a more general history of the whole county.

3. That in the effort to accomplish this object, we need and have a right to expect the earnest co-operation of all the surviving pioneers and of their descendants, and we confidently appeal to them for written state- ments of such facts relating to the early settlement of their own, or other towns as have come to their observa- tion, aud sketches of the lives and characters of deceased pioneers, as they may think will be useful in the preparation of the proposed work.

4. That the President and Vice President of this society be authorized and directed to appoint, as soon as practicable, one or more such persons in each town as will be most likely to interest themselves in the work, to collect material therefor, and transmit the same to the Historical Committee, consisting of three members of the society, to be in like manner appointed by the President and Vice Presidents, and that it shall be the duty of said Historical Committee to examine the material so collected, and advise as to how much and what portions thereof are not of sufficient general interest to be inserted at length in the proposed history, but the whole shall be preserved among the records of the society.

5. That for the purpose of directing inquiries for the needed facts, the Historical Committee be authorized to issue at the expense of the society, and circulate as widely as they may deem advisable through the county, letters of inquiry containing questions to be answered.

6. That said committee be requested to use their best efforts to push forward the work, so that it may be completed during the present year, and that they be authorized to select and employ some suitable person to take the materials so provided, and from them and all other authentic sources of information accessible to him, whether heretofore published or otherwise, to write, prepare for the press, and superintend the publication of a history of the whole county, giving the history of each town with as much minuteness as said committee may deem practicable, without too greatly enlarging the work, and that they be authorized to make such arrangements for compensating the person so employed out of the proceeds of the work, or otherwise as they may be able to do without seriously burdening the society or its members.

The meeting adjourned, but, in pursuance of the resolutions last quoted, a special meeting was held at the court house in Elkhorn September 2, 1879.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting was held at Elkhorn September 2. 1879. At this meeting, the Histor- ical Committee appointed was as follows: James Simmons, Geneva: Stephen G. West. Elk- horn; Rev. Joseph Collie, Delavan. Town committees for the collection of historical infor- mation were appointed as follows: Troy. Soldan Powers. J. R. Kling; Lyons, Z. B. Burk,

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Enos Kinney, C. P. Taylor: Darien, H. A. Johnson, Arthur Maxon, C. D. Long, Julius Seaver; Sharon, Henry Denuis, Julius A. Treat, Jared H. Topping, Alfred L. Mason; Sugar Creek, Jesse R. Kinne, John Rand, Daniel Bigelow, Harmon Gray; Whitewater, P. Cravath, C. R. Gibbs; Elkhorn, Hollis Latham, S. G. West. The other towns not being represented, it was resolved " that the Vice Presidents of the towns not now represented here be appointed Chairmen on the committees in their own towns, and be empowered to appoint such persons as they may select to assist them in the work."

TWELFTH ANNUAL . MEETING.

The twelfth annual meeting was held at Whitewater June 22, 1880. A procession opened the exercises of the day, led by the Whitewater Cornet Band. Like that of the year before, it had moving representations suggestive of pioneer life and early times. The exercises on the grounds were opened by prayer by Rev. Daniel Smith, a pioneer of 1847, followed by an ad- dress of welcome from Hon. T. D. Weeks; song of welcome, written for the occasion by Mr. Goodman, and sung by the Arion Club ; the oration, by Hon. Eleazar Wakeley, of Omaha, Neb., a former resident of Whitewater. After the oration, short addresses were made by George W. Peck and others. A poem, "The Old Breaking Team," was read by its author, Prof. S. S. Rockwood.

Dinner was followed by a business session, more speaking, and the customary resolutions of thanks to the officers, speakers, musicians and citizens who had rendered, by their joint efforts, the re-union a grand success.

The resolution in memory of the dead was as follows:

Resolved, That our memories shall ever cherish the virtues and good deeds of Loren Ferry, Freeman Pratt, Seth M. Billings, Mrs. Jennie Williams, E. O. Vanghin and James Holden, who have left us during the past year, and gone, we hope, to join the band of pioneers in a higher and better sphere. Their faults, if any, we will forget, but emulate all that was worthy in their lives.

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirteenth annual meeting was held at Elkhorn June 22, 1881. The programme for the day was as follows:

Musie, cornet band; opening remarks by the President; invocation, Rev. S. E. Sweet; music. East Troy Glee Club; address of welcome, E. H. Sprague: address, Rev. J. Collie; music, cornet band; poem, Mrs. D. L. Fairchild; music, glee club: dinner; music. cornet band: business of the society; obituaries; music, glee club; Early Settlement of Bloomfield and Linn, Mrs. Buell; Early Settlement of Big Foot Prairie, Cyrus Church; music, cornet band; doxology, everybody.

The address of welcome by E. H. Sprague was followed by the annual address, by Rev. Joseph Collie, of Delavan. It is given below, as embodying the spirit of the good old times which still stirs the hearts of the old settlers who yearly come up to the Mecca of their early memories:

FRIENDS OF OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION :

The memories of olden times, like wine, grow richer with age. Again we meet to sit down at the banquet of these memories.

There can be but a single race of pioneers in a country. A first settlement ean come but once ; but memories of it are for all time.

So many are the recollections which throng upon us at such an hour, that in order to avoid utter confusion we must fix attention on some single point, and bid memory busy itself around that. I would place prairie breaking before you as that one object. The days of prairie breaking ! In the center of the vision which rises before you at the utterance of these words, stands the prairie-breaking plow. We know the name of the inventor of the locomotive, and his name goes down illustrious to posterity. But what genius contrived the prairie-breaker ? Let our antiquarians take up the subjeet as it deserves, and let the name be linked with that of Stephenson and Fulton, and, in the midst of our grandest prairie, let his monument arise !

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 64

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 998

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998