Excerpts from the Minutes of the Old Settlers' Society
Source: The History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Union Publishing Co., 1884
The following call for a meeting, looking to the organization of an Old Settlers' Society, appeared in the Northwood Pioneer, of June 28, 1877.
"...We, the undersigned, having experienced the privations and hardships of Worth county pioneer life, and being desirous of uniting in an association all those who located in this county prior to July 4, 1858, hereby join in a call for a meeting of all such, to be held at 10 o'clock, in Northwood, on Wednesday, the 4th day of July, 1877, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Association and agreeing upon the time of future meetings."
"...The meeting was called to order by Samuel Egbert, and Reuben Wiggins elected temporary chairman, and William Rhodes, temporary secretary."
"...The society then proceeded to organize by the election of officers. J. Bickel was chosen as president; William Rhodes, secretary; William Dixon, treasurer, for the ensuing year. The following vice presidents were chosen, one from each township represented: Knudt D. Johnson, of Hartland; Otis Greeley, Bristol; Lars. Larson, Silver Lake; Knudt W. Johnson, Kensett; L.O. Anderson, Deer Creek; J. M. Molsberry, Union; William Rhodes, Fertile; A. Leverson, Brookfield; B. H. Beckett, Northwood."
"...On the 12th of July, 1878, was held the second reunion of the old settler's association at Northwood, at the court house in that town."
"...
John Bickel was re-elected to the office of president by the hearty accord of all present. William Rhodes declining a re-election to the post of secretary, J. M. Slosson was elected to fill that position. Hon. Lemuel Dwelle, was chosen as treasurer....The vice-presidents of several townships were all re-elected (and) appointed a committee to prepare a history of their respective townships, with the assistance of an addition to the committee, of Hon. Lemuel Dwelle, Isaac M. Bolton, Dr. James Keeler, A. L. Towne and S. P. Cravath, who, it is expected will write up a complete history of the county to the year 1861."
"...Of the third annual reunion we have a full and extended account, taken from the local papers of that date. The Society in preparation for the 4th of July 1879, revised the list of vice-presidents, adding representatives from the townships not heretofore represented. The amended list: G. Olsen Mellem, Northwood; J. M. Molsberry, Union; Martin Hanson, Deer Creek; L. O. Anderson, Barton; Samuel Trebilcock, Danville; Amos Leverson, Brookfield; Knudt D. Johnson, Hartland; Otis Greeley, Bristol; William Rhodes, Fertile; William H. Perkins, Lincoln; Lars Larson, Silver Lake; A. J. Boutell, Kensett; Samuel Egbert, B. H. Becket, Northwood incorporation."
"...Secretary's Report...At the afternoon meeting of the Old Settlers Association, for reminiscences and business, addresses were delivered by H. V. Dwelle, I. M. Bolton, Wm. H. Perkins and George Gardner, now of Northwood, who settled in Freeborn Co. Minn., in 1854, but is so well and favorable known that he is claimed as one of the old settlers of this county, also by J. U. Perry, who settled first in Albert Lea, but moved to this county in 1860, and others."
"...
An incident, related by I. M. Bolton, was pretty good for a blue ribbon man. In substance, it was about this: He and one or two others went to Albert Lea to get flour, but not finding any, they got the best substitute they could, and that was $1 worth of dried apples and a gallon of whisky."
"...
In the afternoon amusements were in order. These were ushered in by a tub race. Nels Ouverson, T. S. Rice, Guy Doud and Jesse Carter were entered."
"...
At the conclusion of the tub race a running race was next on the program. Nine entered for the race, named as follows: G. Hening, F. Rickard, O. K. Rargo, A. T. Retsloff, Jesse Carter, John McQuatters, H. T. Finch, Guy Doud and A. Larson."
"...One old settler, in speaking of his experience, said: "I have been through the varied scenes of pioneer life, attending the settlements of a new country, and any one having this experience will indeed count it a pleasure to meet associates of the time when neighbors were few and far between, and this we did with old time friends as J. M. Molsberry, Silas White and Philo Towne, of Union; William Perkins , of Lincoln; L. O. Anderson and Martin Hansen, of Deer Creek; Nels Trow, of Silver Lake; Tommy Christian, John E. Towne, A. L. Towne, Elias Towne, M. Perkins, J. Anderson, of Hartland; Dr. Keeler, of Bristol; J. M. Slosson, Orra Perkins, of Kensett, and many others which space forbids me to mention."
"....This, for some unexplained reason, was the last reunion of the Old Settlers' Association (in Worth County)" |
