tale that is told? You know it was real, actual and yet how dim and shadowy, how like a tale it all appears now! But all their experiences, every early impression, as well as everything, that has happened to us or which we have done, have had an effect upon our lives, an influence which we cannot even now overcome. All these things have been worked up into the very texture of our being, and made us what we are. Had it not been for all these associations and influences we would not be what we are to-day. Our characters are the rich ripe fruit of all these complex forces.

And as it is with the history of our individual lives, so is it with the history of a community or of a country. As we think of the early history of this country, the bloody scenes which marks its pages, the struggles, hardships, dangers, and sacrifices of the early settlers, of the condition in which this country was at that time, the valleys covered with tall prairie grass, the rivers and creeks lined with forest trees and the whole overrun with the Red Man, and the wild animals peculiar to this district of territory at that time-how difficult is it for us to throw ourselves back into the spirit of these trying days, and make the conditions, which actually existed, and the things which really took place, seem real to us now! We can read the facts connected with the massacre of Enoch Brown and his ten scholars, but we can't make them as real to us as they were to those who found their mangled bodies, and buried them together in one large box in one great grave. And so it is with the story of John McCullough, the burning of Ft. McCord, the killing of men and women, and the taking of prisoners. All these facts and incidents, as well as hundreds of others connected with the early settlement of this county, seem now very much like tales that have been told. And yet the history of those early days is a true account of the struggles and conflicts and dangers of real men and women, who labored to get a foothold in this new district of country. Had they not endured, toiled, fought and bled as they did, our country to-day would not be what it is. They did a grand, noble

work, in times, too, which tried the mettle of which men and women are made. In the midst of peace, prosperity and plenty, we should not forget the pioneer settlers who helped to secure the blessings which we now enjoy.

Their

labors of love and sacrifice should still be held in fond remembrance.

As we think of the condition of this county and its people one hundred years ago, and their situation to-day, what a contrast! If we take a position on the top of one of our high mountains, and cast our eyes over the surface of Franklin county, we can see hundreds of beautiful farms, in a high state of cultivation, yielding rich harvests of almost every kind of grain, vegetables and fruits. The whole number of farms in this county, according to the census of 1880, is 3,602, and their estimated value, with their improvements, is in the neighborhood of twenty (20) millions of dollars. Upon these farms are comfortable dwellings, large barns, good fences and every machine. to lighten labor, and make the soil fertile and fruitful. Why, the value of the farming implements and machinery alone is to-day in the neighborhood of nearly one million of dollars. All these facts indicate a prosperous condition of affairs in this county to-day.

But look back one hundred years, or more and what do you see? These same acres were covered with stones, bushes, briars and trees, and it was only with hardest labors that the inhabitants could secure enough from them to satisfy their necessary wants. It required the honest labor of hundreds, yea, thousands of persons, extending through a hundred years or more, to make their farms what they are to-day. If all the persons that worked on these farms for the past one hundred years, or more, to make them what they are, were to assemble in one place, what an army would there be; what labors and patience and sacrifices and sorrow would they represent ! In the enjoyment of present blessings how prone are we to forget what others did to secure them to us!

To-day there are roads and lanes running East and West, North and South, intersecting one another at almost every angle, so that we can travel anywhere and everywhere in perfect safety, feeling assured that the law which rules and reigns in Franklin county is no dead letter, but that it is powerful to protect her citizens, and terrible in its punishment of the transgressor. One hundred years ago

these roads did not exist in the condition in which they are

at present, and men had to travel from place to place as best they could, and with that feeling of insecurity which belongs to first settlers in a savage, barbarous country. The contrast in this respect is very great.

One hundred years ago, there was not a post-office in the county, nor was there one in it until about six years after its organization. Letters on business, letters on friendship or love, had to be sent, if sent at all, by some traveller. News from parents at home, or from friends and lovers on the other side of the great waters, or even in this country, could be secured only at long intervals, and in the most unlooked for and unexpected manner. The facilities, therefore, for communication in those early days were very poor and irregular, indeed. When we think of all these things, we cannot help but exclaim, what a deprivation! what an inconvenience! Why, we feel terribly disappointed and chagrined if our mail does not come twice every day, and even if it is an hour behind time, as it has been so frequently of late,

it annoys us not a little. And if it were not to put in an

appearance some day at all, we should almost consider it a personal bereavement. In that case we fear the third commandment would be violated by not a few.

There are now within the county about 60 post-offices, and the facilities for communicating with one another are getting better every year. We get our daily newspapers, weeklies, monthlies, quarterlies, so regularly and promptly, that we are liable to make light of the blessing and advantages which we enjoy over and above those who lived one hundred years ago. We can receive news from the Old World by telegraph every day, know all that is going on in civilized countries, aye, by putting one ear to the telephone and listening, we can hear the pulsative throbs of the world's great heart. In our complacency and self-satisfaction in thinking over the deprivations of the early settlers, we are apt to make light of them and say, "O they wouldn't have enjoyed these advantages and benefits anyway. They would not have had the time, nor the inclination." But we should remember that they were men and women, just as we are, with the same feelings, sympathies, infirmities, hopes. They had hearts, too. They loved the Fatherland, the dear ones at home just as tenderly and truly as we love our nearest

and best friends.

The tears which they shed

News from them would rejoice and cheer their hearts, and give them as much satisfaction as news from our friends and relatives do us. over their deprivations in this particular, and the sorrows which they experienced are known only to themselves and to God. And we do not refer to them to magnify them, but that we may see how much more highly favored we are than they were, and to show what wonderful progress has been made in this one respect, not only in this county, but in this country and throughout the world during the last one hundred years. The contrast in this particular is as great,

if not greater, than any other.

They must

But then think of the schools in those days. have been primitive, indeed. The merest elements of an education only could be secured, and many of the children, on account of bad roads, the distance to be travelled, and the dangers incident to a new country, would be deprived almost altogether of the privileges and blessings of the most limited education. The number of schools must have been very small. The school buildings were anything but inviting or comfortable. But what a change has taken place! There are to-day about 290 schools in this county, and there is spent annually in the payment of teachers' salaries nearly sixty thousand dollars. The estimated value of school property is nearly three hundred thousand dollars, so that no boy or girl can have any excuse whatever for growing up in ignorance in such a favored county as this one is. Would to God that every parent might appreciate the privileges and benefits of the public school system, and show their appreciation and good sense by sending their children regularly and daily to school during its sessions.

We have yet to speak of the influence of religion in moulding and shaping the history of this county. It has always been, and always will be, the conserving, preserving power among any people. It has been so in this county. The majority of the men who settled in this county belonged to some branch of the Christian church. They sought to practice the principles of God's word in daily life. It is true, their characters are not models of human perfec- · tion. They did many things which would not meet our approval.

But we cannot be too thankful for what they did

in advancing the cause of the dear Redeemer. They organized congregations, they built churches, they united their voices and their hearts in the worship of the triune God on the Sabbath Day. Many pure, noble, righteous characters stand out prominent in the history of this county. Hundreds of men and women, noted for their love of righteousness and abhorence of evil, have gone out from this county, and have been a power for good in other communities, who owed all their influence to the splendid moral and religious training which they received under the parental roof. And while we have no statistics to verify the statement, we venture the assertion that the Christian religion has a stronger hold upon the people of this county to-day than it ever had before. There are churches enough to accommodate all its people, and would to God that every soul within its borders would bow at this time in submission to the dear Redeemer, so that the rejoicings on this centennial occasion may cause rejoicings among the the angels in heaven, over the sinners saved in the blood of Jesus.

One hundred years have passed away-one hundred years of mingled joys and sorrows, of labor and blessings.

When we think of the hundreds of families that were organized and then broken up by the hand of death—when we think of the great army of persons who walked over these hills and valleys and mountains during all that time—of the plans which they laid, of the pleasure which they enjoyed, of the trials through which they passed, of the work which they performed, of the emotions which filled their souls, as they looked upon the very scenes which meet us on every side, and then think that their souls have been called back to the spirit world, and their bodies are moulding away in the silent cities of the dead, does not the whole history seem like a tale that has been told? Yet, how real was it all.

One hundred years ago you and I were not. One hundred years hence we shall not be. As God has vouched to us a favored land, with so many privileges, blessings, advantages, let us live to some purpose. Let us live to God's glory, that our lives may reflect His principles, that heaven may be our eternal home. And to God be all the praise.

Amen.