Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/675

 HISTOEY 01 GOODHUE COUNTS 593 F. F. Philleo and Cliris Graham. At a meeting February 4, 1869, the following officers were chosen : Chairman, George Wilkin- son; secretary, S. J. Willard; treasurer, J. C. Pierce. E. T. Wil- der. W. AY. Sweney, J. W. Hancock, J. C. Weatherby and F. F. Philleo were appointed a committee to report a constitution and by-laws at the next meeting. Those present were : H. C. Hoff- man, J. C. Weatherby, J. AY.. Hancock, W. H. Wellington, E. P. Lowater, C. Spates, D. Hancock, F. F. Philleo, C. Cogel, E. T. Wilder, T. J. Clark. W. W. Sweney, J. C. Pierce, J. Ashton, Jared Sexton and S. J. Willard. March 18 a meeting was held and the committee on constitution submitted their report. The articles of the constitution were read and adopted. The officers chosen were: President, J. W. Hancock; vice-president, Dr. W. AY. Sweney; corresponding secretary, A. W. Pratt; treasurer, J. C. Pierce. The executive committee was composed of H. L. Bevans, Jesse Melntire and E. T. AVilder. The next meeting of the "Old Settlers Association" was held March 7, 1882, at the court house at two o'clock in the afternoon. Rev. J. W. Hancock at that time presented to the association the first bell ever rung in the county. Another meeting was held in Zumbrota, Minn., June 30 the same year. January 3, 1883, the association met in the court house and the following officers were elected: President, Rev. J. W. Hancock; vice-president, Hon. E. T. AVilder; secretary, L. A. Hancock; corresponding secretary, A. AY. Pratt; treasurer, Hon. J. C. Pierce; executive committee. S. J. Willard, Jesse Melntire and E. T. AA T ilder. In 1897 a notice was published to the effect that a meeting would be held at the court house June 14, 1897, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers Association, and extending an in- vitation to all those who came to Minnesota prior to its admission as a state to attend. About forty old settlers were present at the meeting. J. W. Peterson moved that the association be known as the "Old Settlers Association," and also suggested that the books and copy of the records of a former organization of this nature be turned over to this organization. A committee of five, composed of W. C. Williston, J. W. Hancock, J. W. Peterson, A. W. Pratt and E. H. Druse, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. The regular meeting was held July 17, 1897, at the old opera house, and the meeting called to order by Rev. J. W. Hancock. The committee on constitution submitted their re- port, the articles of the constitution were read and adopted, and the association was called the "Territorial Pioneers of Minne- sota." The officers elected were: President, Rev. J. W. Han- cock; vice-president, Hon. J. W. Peterson; secretary, E. H.