WAUPACA COUNTY POST

August 18, 1921

THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE PIONEER ASSN.

REUNION OF OLD SETTLERS AT KEATING’S GROVE

INTERESTING CHAPTER FROM COUNTY HISTORY

The Old Settlers’ Picnic of Waupaca county will be held at Keating’s Grove, Ogdensburg, Thursday, Aug. 25^th. This picnic marks the twenty-seventh anniversary of the Little Red School House Pioneer Association of which J.B. Jensen is president.

An excellent program of music and speeches is being planned by those in charge.

Organization and History of Old Settler’s Meeting.

The following facts are gleaned from the early history of Waupaca county as recorded by J. Wakefield, "Historian of Old Settlers’ Society of Waupaca County".

The society was organized in 1872 in pursuance of a call signed and published in the county papers.

The first meeting was held at the Tarbell House, Weyauwega, March 18, 1872. Meeting called to order by W.F. Waterhouse. Hon. Louis Bostedo of Weyauwega, was chosen chairman; J. Wakefield, Fremont, secretary; Ira Millard, New London and Judge Ogden, Waupaca, were chosen vice-presidents.

The following were chosen to present a constitution and by-law; G.W. Taggart, John Fordyce, Weyauwega; James Smiley, Mukwa; G.L. Lord, Waupaca; Giles S. Doty, Larabee.

The program committee consisted of Lucius Taft, New London; A.D. Smith, Lind; Wm. A. Springer, Fremont; M.A. Stinchfield, Waupaca; W.F. Waterhouse, Weyauwega.

Opening address by E.L. Browne, Waupaca. Supper at the Tarbell House. W.F. Waterhouse, toast-master.

A residence of seventeen years in the county was required as a condition of membership in the society.

Of the sixty or more men who signed the charter, Hon. E.L. Browne is the only one remaining from Waupaca.

Of the forty-three "lady members" Mrs. Hollis Gibson of Lind is the only member in this locality still living.

Judging from Mr. Wakefield’s history the toasts at the first gathering were highly entertaining. Toast by W.F. Waterhouse – "The good ship Mayflower, and the good steamer Peggy; the one landing her passengers and cargo on Plymouth Rock to people and civilize the wilds of New England, the other landing her cargo and passengers on the marsh at Gills Landing, to people and civilize the wilds of Waupaca County."

Toast by W.C. Potter – "Staple nourishment of the river towns Suckers and Milk."

Toast by Hon. E.L. Browne – "To the memory of the Peggy."

The second Old Settlers’ Reunion was held at Waupaca, Feb. 12, 1873. At that meeting ninety new members were added. Among those from Waupaca were Mrs. D.L. Manchester, Martha Axtell, John M. Ware, Mary and Sarah Ogden.

The third reunion was held in New London Feb. 19, 1874, at this time forty-six new members joined the society; of these, Mrs. William Dayton is the only member now living in this locality.

The fourth reunion was held at Weyauwega, Feb. 17, 1875. This year they break their record by holding two meetings, the second a picnic in July at White Lake. After dinner addresses were made by Elder Ashmun, Dr. Brainard, N. Livermore, A.V. Balch and others.

The fifth reunion was held at the Court House, Waupaca, Feb. 16, 1876. Officers elected: Pres. Hon L Bostedo; V.P., James Meiklejohn; Sec. E. Selleck; Treas., Evan Townsend. Among those who joined the society at this meeting wer Miss Fanny LeGro, Carrie Calkins, S.S. Chandler, Miss M. Gordinier.

The Sixth reunion was held Feb. 14, 1877 at Craig’s Hall, Royalton.

There was no meeting in 1878.

A called meeting was held at White Lake, Aug. 1, 1879.

The Historian concludes by saying he "can find nothing that is worthy of particular mention in any subsequent meeting of the society." At the time this was written, 1890, the Old Settlers’ Society had been in existence eighteen years.