Old Settlers Society 1920

Waupaca Post

August 24, 1920

OLD SETTLERS HOLD PICNIC AT OGDENSBURG

LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE ASSOCIATION HAS BALANCE IN TREASURY

GOOD PROGRAM ENJOYED

The Little Red School House Pioneer association held its twenty-sixth annual picnic at Keating’s grove, Ogdensburg, last Thursday. It was without doubt the most largely attended afternoon gathering in the history of the society, the program was one of the best ever enjoyed and the day was one of the most perfect ever selected for the popular meeting of Waupaca county pioneers. The number who bring their lunch and spend the entire day at the grove is smaller than it was before the advent of the automobile as the majority now arrive in time for the program and remain later than they could when the lumber wagon with its big box and spring seats was no uncommon sight on these occasions. Thursday, hundreds of automobiles were parked about the grounds and few horse-drawn vehicles were to be seen.

Iola orchestra dispensed pleasing numbers whenever opportunity was afforded.

After the invocation by Rev. Lewis of Manawa, J.B. Jensen, president of the association, gave the welcoming address. He cited some notable changes that have taken place since the organization of the society a little over a quarter of a century ago.

After a selection by the orchestra Milton Stanley, one of the first residents of the town of Little Wolf, told of his coming to the wilds east of the present site of Manawa, in 1856 and recounted much of the early history of that section of the county in the ten minutes he allotted himself.

E.W. Smith, former resident and county superintendent of schools of Waupaca county, now a life insurance agent of Appleton, was called upon for an extemporaneous speech and made a strong appeal to his hearers not to be misled by the false alarms that politicians are making to cover up the plundering by exploiters of the public. He expressed confidence in the people who live in rural communities and gave a hint that both old parties are controlled by selfish, sordid interests that are holding up the great mass of consumers and producers.

Atty. L.D. Smith of Waupaca was one of the principal speakers of the day and directed his remarks principally to the women who will at an early date be given the opportunity to exercise their influence in governmental questions directly through the ballot. He admonished them to study well the issues upon which they will be expected to make a decision and vote more intelligently than many male voters have voted and are still voting, simply because they are members of a political party. Mr. Smith was in a most hilarious mood although he announced that having recently returned from a business trip to Madison via Milwaukee, he was suffering from lack of sleep and consequently was somewhat “grouchy”.

Although the speaker addressed his remarks to the recently enfranchised members of his audience giving them useful and timely suggestions as to the use of the ballot, there was enough reference to practices among male voters to insure close attention by the men within reach of his voice.

Peter Robinson of Chippewa Falls, a former resident of this county and well and favorably known here, responded to an invitation to speak and made some very appropriate remarks in behalf of such gatherings as the old settlers’ picnic and a tribute to Wisconsin as a state to move to and live in and make a home in.

County Clerk L.F. Shoemaker, Register of Deeds H.D. Stone and b. Meyer, candidate for District Attorney, spoke briefly.

At the business session the minutes of last meeting were read and approved, the treasurer’s report showed a balance of some $140.00 in the treasury.

The following were unanimously re-elected officers for the ensuing year. J.B. Jensen, president; Chris D. Peterson, vice president; E.E. Russell, secretary; Henry Smith, treasurer.