Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XXXI - Old Settlers' Annual Picnics 1909
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CHAPTER XXXI.

OLD SETTLERS' ANNUAL PICNICS IN FAULK COUNTY.



    The great events of the year in Faulk county are the Old Settlers' picnics

held in the month of June each year. The Faulk county Old Settlers'picnic is

held at Miller's grove in DeVoe township, and the Western Faulk county, Potter

and Hyde counties Old Settlers' picnic is held at Seneca.



    The two picnic associations were organized about the year 1895, and were

only attended by a few hundred the first years, but have steadily increased in

attendance each year until now the attendance at the Miller's grove picnic is

three thousand five hundred, and twenty-five hundred at the Seneca picnic. The

entire county turns out enmasse to these Old Settlers' gatherings and all enjoy

the splendid programs arranged for the occasion.



    The pioneers of this part of the state were an intelligent, social, hopeful

and industrious class of people. The physically or mentally weak never

emigrate—the strong and courageous do. The true pioneer is a person of

indomitable courage, of great capacity for seeing into the future. To such men

and women we owe much. The younger generation and new settlers appreciate and

feel the debt of gratitude.



    The annual picnics are held for the purpose of bringing together the

pioneers who suffered privations, endured hardships and braved the dangers and

storms of pioneering in a new country. It is a pleasure now and quite the right

of these early day settlers in these years when they are beginning to rest, to

meet and talk of the old times and to exchange stories and reminiscences of the

hardships of bygone days.



    It is interesting to note some of the changes that have occurred in Faulk

county since the first Old Settlers' picnics were held. At that time the

majority came in lumber wagons from claim shanties, sod houses and dug-outs. Now

they come, a well dressed people, in top buggies, carriages and automobiles,

from large well built farm houses with big red barns and artesian wells, driving

through thousands of acres of waving grain and corn fields. We hope that there

may be many more days in future years when the people shall meet to pay honor

that is due the pioneers.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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