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Linn County History


OLD SETTLERS DAY

October 1, 1891

The Annual Reunion of the Old Settlers of Linn County at Marion Today a Grand Success.

The City is in Holiday Attire to Welcome Her Guests, The Pioneers Who Braved the Hardships of Frontier Life and Were the Founders and Builders of Many of Our Present Enterprises. Some Stirring Addresses Made and Early Reminiscences Related – Who They Are.

Marion, Oct 1 – The old settlers meeting today is a grand success. As early as nine o’clock the teams began rolling in and long before the time for speaking arrived the streets were lined with the gray haired pioneers, the sturdy young farmers and the sunny faced children. The enrollment has reached 450 and still others are coming. The city is in holiday attire, the stores and restaurants are beautifully decorated. The people of Marion are vieing with each other to contribute to the success of the occasion and the comfort of the visitors and everything that can be done to render the meeting a success has received attention.

Secretary Davis’ office is crowded with new arrivals who are registering and receiving their badges. The officers of the association are: President, Charles Weare, Cedar Rapids; secretary, J. C. Davis, Marion, treasurer, A. J. McKean, Marion.

Executive committee: J J Daniels, Bertram; J S Butler, Brown; Edward Crow, Buffalo; J C Kelley, Clinton; Wm Ure, Fairfax; Thos Lewis, Fayette; Robt Smyth, Franklin; R M Moles, Jackson; H C Platner, Linn; Preston Daniels, Marion; Ormus Clark, Maine; F Kershner, Putnam; Robt Ellis, Rapids; A Snyder, Washington; A Lyons, Otto Creek; J M Robbins, Monroe; Cord Gilchrist, Grant; J M Worthington, College; Henry Reece, Spring Grove.

This association was only organized Aug 13, 1891. To entitle one to join this association be shall have been a resident of Linn county, Iowa, prior to such joining for the period of thirty-five years and pay to the secretary fifty cents as a membership fee. The association is now on a firm footing and we may rest as sured that the meeting will each year hereafter be a great event in Linn county. Those who have registered up to an early hour this morning are as follows, being arranged under the years of their arrival in Linn county:

1837

Ed M Crow, Buffalo twp

D S Hahn, Mt. Vernon

1838

A J McKean, Marion

Edwin Clark, Marion

Rob’t Ellis, Cedar Rapids

1839

Thomas Hare, Cedar Rapids

John J Ives, Cedar Rapids

Andrew J Kramer, Cedar Rapids

Elihue Ives, Cedar Rapids

Geo A Patterson, Cedar Rapids

Wm A Kramer, Cedar Rapids

Giles R Martin, Cedar Rapids

Mrs. Dorcas Beall, Cedar Rapids

Mrs. A Bussenbarick, Cedar Rapids

Geo W Cone, Cedar Rapids

Lewis A Kramer, Cedar Rapids

Oliver B Cone, Cedar Rapids

John B Ives, Cedar Rapids

Byron Cone, Cedar Rapids

Sarah Lucore, Marion

Ormus Clark, Central City

Geo Yiesley, Mt. Vernon

Dyer Usher, Covington

Sarah Webber, Lisbon

I W Carroll, Cedar Rapids

Barnett Luiz, Cedar Rapids

Mrs. L T Mentzer, Robins

John Railsback, Palo

 

1840

Geo. C Perkins, Anamosa

Edward Oliphant, Toddville

Milton Squires, Center Point

Dr. H Ristine, Cedar Rapids

J. Butler, Springville

Saml T Brazleton, Coggon

Fred Beeler, Marion

Dr. T. S. Bardwell, Marion

Richard Gray, Marion

Joseph M Oxley, Marion

Saml D Thompson, Marion

Saml W Durham, Marion

John W Gray, Marion

Oliver Clark, Mt. Vernon

 

 

 1841

E D Waln, Mt Vernon

Elias Doty, Bertram

Phillip Stinger, Mt Vernon

Wm Ure, Fairfax

Ed C Preston, Cedar Rapids

Cyral H Clark, Central City

John Cone, Marion

Jeremiah Beall, Marion

Joel M Courtney, Marion

Eilab A Vaughn, Marion

Albert Oxley, Marion

Eliza A Bardwell, Marion

Edna A Harvey, Marion

Richard Thomas, Marion

James Oxley, Marion

 

 1842

W H Goudy, Mt Vernon

J C Goudy, Mt Vernon

Peter D Harmon, Cedar Rapids

C W Hollenback, Cedar Rapids

Dr Geo W Holmes, Cedar Rapids

W W Higley, Cedar Rapids

M A Higley, Cedar Rapids

John M Robins, Robins

N C Gillilan, Central City

L P Bardwell, Marion

John N Greer, Marion

Dean Cheadle, Marion

J S Alexander, Marion

Mrs. C D Winters, Marion

 

 

 1843

J W Kepler, Mt Vernon

Sam’l Hollan, Cedar Rapids

A J Fuhrmeister, Ely

Oliver S Hall, Marion

Xenophon Kemp, Marion

Mary A Daniels, Marion

 1844

Chas W Kepler, Mt Vernon

Conrad Kepler, Mt Vernon

John Johnson, Mt Vernon

Geo Clark, Cedar Rapids

James M Oxley, Springville

Ferdinant Kershner, Ely

James M Gray, Marion

W C Thompson, Marion

1845

John Pugh, Cedar Rapids

Alexander Paul, Marion

John P Glass, Cedar Rapids

Wm Howard, Cedar Rapids

Joseph Cooper, Marion

Sarah P McKean, Marion

Margaret Courtney, Marion

Isabella Robbins, Marion

T S Ovington, Marion

John Beckner, Marion

Elizabeth Beckner, Marion

Lydia L Nott, Marion

1846

Rachel Wisehart, Central City

Warren Harmon, Cedar Rapids

Sarah Martin, Center Point

Samuel Daniels, Marion

Preston Daniels, Marion

Jas M Huffman, Marion

Lenord Starbuck, Marion

 

1847

S S Johnson, Cedar Rapids

J F Charles, Cedar Rapids

Dr John M Ristine, Cedar Rapids

Alex Torrence, Mt Vernon

Samuel Miller, Robins

Joseph McManis, Palo

Perry Oxley, Marion

C H Kurtz, Marion

Oliver B Cone, Marion

Geo W Newton, Marion

 

 

1848

Jerry Thomas, Mt Vernon

N S Rickert, Cedar Rapids

Charles Weare, Cedar Rapids

Wm O Johnson, Cedar Rapids

Daniel Travis, Lisbon

David R Wallace, Marion

D R Kinley, Marion

John C Wallace, Marion

Martha J Gray, Marion

Henry C Oxley, Marion

Joseph A Howe, Marion

John Bussenbarick, Marion

1849

David Dorwart, Cedar Rapids

Godfried Quaas, Cedar Rapids

Eras P Ford, Central City

D G Gillilan, Central City

Hosea White, Springville

J J Nugent, Coggon

B P Wickham, Marion

Dr. Geo E Fullerton, Marion

Preston S Dean, Marion

 

 

 

1850

E D Wilson, Troy Geo H Andrews, Coggon John Brown, Central City Wm Wagner, Prairieburg
John P Carbee, Springville J O Stewart, Cedar Rapids Fred Enders, Cedar Rapids John T Oxley, Marion
A L Daniels, Marion Wm E Beall, Marion Lucretia Thompson, Marion

1851

J C Ringer, Lisbon Christian Cordis, Cedar Rapids Acquilla Miller, Cedar Rapids John Dunlap, Springville
John B Leigh, Mt Vernon Jacob McShane, Paralta David Reece, Troy Mills Malone Mills, Central City
Ida Finson, Central City Alex P Houston, Coggon John Lanning, Lafayette Jacob R Shinn, Marion
W J Kendall, MarionLawson B Ives, MarionJames Fleming, Marion

1852

Mary A Hall, Coggon Geo Buchanan, Cedar Rapids James L Bever, Cedar Rapids John Q Denny, Waubeek
Girselda Anderson, Waubeek A T Shanklin, Waubeek David P Long, Paris John Freeman,Paris
James Evans, Paris Jesse Beechley, Mt Vernon M D Snyder Bertram Margaret Lanning, Lafayette
L F Dance, LafayetteDarwin Smith, Cedar RapidsJ H Nott, Cedar RapidsBenj H Nott, Cedar Rapids
Jos A Hansell, Cedar RapidsJ W Whitnack, Cedar RapidsJesse C Bixby, Cedar RapidsEli Bunting, Cedar Rapids
J J Snouffer, Cedar Rapids

1853

Wm Stick, Lafayette H M Forsythe, Cedar Rapids John Coulter, Cedar Rapids J S Anderson, Cedar Rapids
L D Benedict, Cedar Rapids Robt Lockhart, Cedar Rapids N K Beechley, Cedar Rapids Dr J H Smith, Cedar Rapids
C O Plumley, Springville Braxton Yount, Mt Vernon Seth Bishop, Central City James Slife, Central City
Wm G Thompson, MarionJ C Davis, MarionD T McAfee, MarionJay J Smyth, Marion
Wilson Certain, MarionRichard Harris, MarionJacob Crowl, MarionVirge A Lathrop, Marion
Crawford White, MarionMarshall Oxley, MarionPolly Wilson, Marion

1854

D Catlin, Cedar Rapids Wm O Johnson, Cedar Rapids Darius Dawley, Cedar Rapids John M Dawley, Cedar Rapids
S G Smith, Cedar Rapids John Smith, Cedar Rapids J H Davis, Central City Simeon Blodgett, Central City
Robt M Moles, Paris H C Platner, Mt Vernon Lewis H Odell, Mt Vernon W R Neff, Mt Vernon
J V Myers, Mt VernonA Runkle, LisbonThos G Snyder, RobinsGeo Miles, Robins
C A Houston, WaubeekH O Bishop, WaubeekJ M Houston, WaubeekW H Weeks, Coggon
Henry Reece, Troy MillsH H Fay, Troy MillsIsaac Bice, Troy MillsR R Penn, Viola
F Martin, Center PointA P Butcher, ParaltaJ B Scott, MarionS Simpson, Marion
E L Sampson, MarionGary Treat, MarionC W Braska, MarionW B Armstrong, Marion
Benj S Ford, MarionGeo A Davis, MarionD C Taylor, MarionMathias Carsner, Marion
Geo F Groll, MarionWm A Austin, MarionWm H Goodlove, MarionEdwin R Mason, Marion
Louisa B Stephens, MarionZ E Ellsberry, MarionJames Bice, Marion

1855

Wm Burtis, Paris A T Crosby, Central City Lee R Finson, Central City Austin Blodgett, Central City
Thos C Martin, Central City A L Willis, Coggon E L Ware, Coggon Joseph Whitney, Prairieburg
H A Collins, Mt Vernon S K Young, Mt Vernon Robt Smith, Mt Vernon James Yuill, Cedar Rapids
Milo Smith, Cedar RapidsJames Johnson, Cedar RapidsL L Davis, Cedar RapidsThos Bassett, Cedar Rapids
Mrs. A M McKeel, Cedar RapidsA Snyder, Center PointGeo Kinkead, SpringvilleJohn Becks, Marion
Henry Patmore, MarionM Parmenter, MarionHenry Sutzin, MarionGeo Tardoff, Marion
Wm Dunn, MarionA B McKean, MarionRobt Smythe, MarionEarl Granger, Marion
John J Ives, MarionSarah M Burchell, MarionMerit M Oakley, MarionSusan M Oakley, Marion
Mary A Bixby, MarionA Bussenbarick, MarionAlex S Marshall, Marion

1856

John D Moles, Central City H S Waterhouse, Coggon A J Ware, Coggon I P Bowdish, Waubeek
Louise Bishop, Waubeek Sarah A Bowdish, Waubeek, Josephine P English, Waubeek Isaac Nash, Springville W H Rogers, Covington
W C Halstead, Prairieburg Seth Byam, Paris Charles Wright, Paralta Amos Lyons, Trentham
Chord Gilchrist, WalkerJas Kirkpatrick, Mt VernonGeo Thompson, Mt VernonAdam Runkle, Lisbon
Geo W Wynne, Cedar RapidsJ W Henderson, Cedar RapidsM M McCaully, Cedar RapidsLyman M Ayers, Cedar Rapids
I H Shaver, Cedar RapidsD A Dingman, Cedar RapidsJ P Usher, Cedar RapidsLeroy Wallace, Marion
Henry E Smith, MarionAdelbert H Smith, MarionWm A Thorn, MarionM E Bunting, Marion
B W Gibson, MarionJohn E Elliott Jr, MarionJ K Gibson, MarionWm Cook, Marion
G W Thompson, MarionMilton L Elliott, MarionLuther P Owen, MarionJacob A Gill, Marion
Benj Bowman, MarionJas D Giffen, MarionThomas M Giffen, MarionBenj Mathes, Marion
M W Howe, MarionEphriam P Taylor, MarionM B Allen, MarionMary E Mason, Marion
Lydia A Kinley, MarionDr. N Rathbun, MarionH C Winsor, Walker

At 11 o'clock the park was well filled with people, the seats provided being scarcely sufficient to accommodate the ladies, while the men crowded about the stand or sat on the grass under the trees. The Robert Mitchell drum corps, composed of fourteen young boys and two leaders, furnished excellent music. President Weare called the assemblage to order and requested all over 70 years of age to occupy seats on the stand. This request brought forward about fifty veterans with their wives, who presented a fine appearance, revealing in every face the lines of care and a life of toil, but softened by smiles of happiness that revealed kindly natures and a joyousness as fresh and real as can be witnessed in the face of a class of college graduates. The exercises consisted of music, prayer by Rev. Marshall of Marion, and an address of welcome by President Weare. He referred to the growth of the county from a mere prairie forty years ago to a wealthy community of nearly 50,000 people, and congratulated the pioneers that their lots had been cast in a county where such growth was possible.

The people were much disappointed when it was announced that the orator of the day Judge Hubbard, could not be present, having been called from home by a pressing business engagement. He sent a letter expressing his regrets and referring feelingly to the early days and his early associates. The letter read as follows:

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept 30, 1891

Hon. Chas Weare, President Old Settlers association

My Dear Sir: I am very sorry to be obliged to tell you that I cannot be present at your meeting tomorrow, as I am compelled to be away from home on business which cannot be deferred. I read, with great interest, the account in the newspapers of your first meeting, containing a list of nearly two hundred names. I read those names carefully and I know every one of them, and their faces come back to me as they looked 30 and 35 years ago. The untrodden prairies, the unfathomable sloughs, the bridgeless streams, the total lack of means of communication the sparse settlement, the 30 cent wheat and the $1.50 pork, after hauling it all the way to Muscatine, compared with the gardens and farms of Linn county today, its large and prosperous towns and cities, its railroads and public highways and bridges, and the marvelous wealth and comforts which we now enjoy tell the wholes story.

This same epitome will apply to almost every county in the United States. I think we may all congratulate ourselves that we have lived in a generation which has both made and witnessed greater progress in the acquisition and enjoyment of wealth and the luxuries of life than any generation which has preceded us. As you go over the tolls and privations of pioneer life, you may surely congratulate yourselves on the fruits of your labor that  you now see all about you on every hand. We come in columns of generations, do our work and pass out of sight, leaving our place to new columns which come after us. It is fitting that as we near the end when we are to lay down our work for other hands, to halt and survey the work of our hands and the institutions that we have aided to build and which we are soon to pass into the keeping of those who come after us. However, I do not think it well to halt too long, nor to look back too often. A great majority of those who began work with us 37 years ago have passed over the river. Looking at the list of my professional associates, nearly all with whom I began work have passed away. Judge Isbell, Judge Smythe, Judge Cook, Judge Green, Col. Preston, Major Young, Jas J Childs, A.S.Belt, Donnell McIntosh and Mr. Dudley were all here and either gracing the bench or in the full tide of a successful practice of the law. There is really none left of the first generation of lawyers except Major Thompson and myself. I have no doubt but each of you will find nearly as large a list of your immediate associates that have passed away. All these contemporaries worked to the last and died facing the future and not the past. You will all recognize many of the names I have just quoted as having been among the first men in the state in their time. 

While it is exceedingly pleasant to recount the early tolls and poverty and hardships of a new country, which have resulted in such splendid results of wealth and comforts we must not forget that the good soldier falls with his face to the front. There is no consolation at the close of life so great as the consolation of duty faithfully done; and the paramount duty of mankind is to labor for the achievement of just such results as you now see before you and which have been wrought by labor out of many trials and much poverty.

Were it not for these considerations, which I have stated, I should have dropped all other engagements to have been with you today. When I read that you had honored me by making me your orator of the day, I wanted very much to write some fitting tribute for the occasion on "My Contemporaries at the Linn County Bar," but I found that I did not have time to do so, nor was it certain that I could be present. I hope at some future time to be with you on such an occasion as this and will always take great pleasure in doing anything I can to make your meeting enjoyable.

Regretting exceedingly that I cannot be with you, I remain, Yours truly, N. M. Hubbard

Mrs. Winter was called for and she related her experiences with homony, pork, ox teams, trip to Muscatine and gave many amusing instances of early days. She said she was glad that young people of today do not have to suffer as we did but she sometimes almost wished they were obliged to take a taste of those privations. But, she said, we have gained great privileges and I fear we are not doing what we should to preserve them. Only last night she had seen two men reeling drunk and she thought the people should be interested in ridding our country of the curse of liquor selling. She declared that liquor had robbed her of her youthful home, of her own father and she appealed to the voters to cast their allots for "God and home and native land."

Horace N Brown of Brown township, who is in very feeble health, sat in his seat and spoke words of cheer and good feeling to his fellow pioneers.

Source: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 01 Oct 1891, Thu, pg. 1