In conclusion of what we promised on the 4th, of July, 1876, we have but little to add.
As a primal history it has been a much more difficult job than we anticipated and yet we regret not the labor. For the innumerable facts, names and dates, we think our book is reliable and will promise a fund of material for- the future historian, far better qualified than our self, for the task of putting it together in readable shape-we have endeavored to do no injustice to any one-we have had nothing to refer to but our memory and an imperfect diary of events as they passed, and if we have succeeded in doing a good thing for Meeker County we shall feel amply compensated for the time we have spent.
Our printer boys have aspired to have the entire job done up at Litchfield-printing-binding road all, and if they can make anything out of it we shall be pleased to have them.
If the punctuation is not in all cases strictly in accordance with the “Merrill School Book Law” our readers will bear in mind that the boys had a double font of commas, semicolons, dashes capital letters &c., and it was thought best to have the thing punctuated a little too much, rather than not enough-then again we never was a good proof reader, and there are now and then typographical errors, but none so bad but what the reader can readily understand the sense-we know the good people of Meeker County will criticize us lightly for our faults, and feel kindly toward us for our good intentions-and as for outside criticism we care not a fig-they’ll waste their ink and paper if every county will get up as good a one as we have done, what a noble fund will be in store for the future historian!
We conclude this chapter with a brief recital of the celebration at Litchfield, July, 4th I876-the close of the first century of our national existence. A canopy was erected on block sixty-eight in Litchfield, covering something over one acre of ground, and it was occupied by something over four thousand people.
Officers Of The Day
Hon. A. C. Smith, President.
Vice Presidents:
W. W, Hobb, Acton;
Isham Collins, Collinwood;
T. Pennoyer, Ellsworth;
Geo. S. Sholes, Sen. Forest City:
J. K. Polk, Forest Prairie;
John Sampson, Greenleaf;
John Dougherty. Harvey;
Caleb Hull, Dassel;
Isaac Wheeler, Cedar Mills;
N. J. McDonald, Cosmos;
M. Henderson, Darwin;
Charles Hanson, Danielson;
Orin Whitney, Kingston;
G. B. Waller, Village of Litchfield;
O. H. Ness, town of Litchfield;
Charles Maybee, Manannah;
Hans. Peterson, Swede Grove;
Jos. Hubbard, Union Grove.
Chaplain, Rev. J. S. Sherrill;
Orator, Hon. Wm. L. Kelley of St. Paul; Reader of the Declaration of Independence,
Chas. H. Strobeck Esq. Chief Marshall:
Col. J. M. Howard; Assistants:
Capt. J. B. Atkinson, Capt. Perekstrom.
The procession was formed under the direction of the Chief Marshall, in front of the Lake Ripley House, at 10:30 A. M., marched up Marshall Avenue to 6th, street, thence to Sibley Avenue, thence down Sibley Avenue to Weisel St, thence to Holcomb Avenue, up Holcomb Avenue to the bower.
Order Of Procession
1st.–Litchfield rifles preceded by martial music.
2nd.-Fire Company.
3d.-Societies Represented.
4th.-Gen. Sherman’s Rag Muffins, preceded by the Litchfield Brass Band.
5th-County Officials; Officers of the Day; Reader Orator and Clergy.
6th.-Citizens generally, preceded by Atwater Band.
Opening prayer by the chaplains.
The Star Spangled Banner, preceded by a brief historical sketch of this old patriotic song and of the American flag, by the President of the day.
Reading Declaration of Independence by Charles H. Strobeck, Esq.
Hail Columbia, by Litchfield Brass Band.
Oration by Hon. Wm. L. Kelley.
Music by Atwater Band.
Grand Centennial salute, by the Litchfield Rifles.
Auld Lang Zyne, full chorus-both bands-
Martial music and the entire Congregation standing.
Prayer and Benediction.