Much of the collecting and preservation of local history prior to the establishment of the Kearny County Historical Society can be credited to the Kearny County Old Settlers’ Association. Recognizing that few of the county’s first settlers were still living, the nucleus of the organization was formed at a Sunday School picnic in August of 1906 to “hand down to future ages the early history, customs, trials and privations endured by the people who have lived in Kearny County in the years that long have passed.” Lakin founding father John O’Loughlin was elected as the first president of the organization with F.L. Pierce as vice-president and Maude Pearl, the first child born in Lakin, as secretary-treasurer. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws.
The first annual picnic and reunion was planned for Thursday, Aug. 8, 1907 in the School House grove; however, an unexpectedly heavy rain and hail storm on August 3 had flooded the school park. The gathering was postponed until August 20, and a cordial invitation was extended to everyone to come with baskets full of good things to eat. Unfortunately, inclement weather hampered the success of the inaugural event. The crowd gathered in the school building rather than the grove. A number of officers were elected, and the Lakin band provided musical entertainment. A marker was placed in the school park in memory of the Old Santa Fe Trail. This marker, a project of the Daughters of the American Revolution, now sits on the front lawn at Lakin High School.
The charter members of the association were all persons who were residents of the territory embracing Kearny County prior to Jan 1, 1885, but all persons who had been residents of Kearny County for a period of at least 21 years could become members by registering and paying the membership fee of 25¢. Over the course of its existence, more than 700 members enrolled in the Old Settlers’ Association, and the membership fee never increased.
F.L. Pierce, who lived to be 100, came to Kearny County in 1897 and served as the association’s secretary for 17 years. In a 1922 newspaper article, he wrote, “The mingling of old timers is somewhat akin to the soldiers’ reunions of bygone years. They have much in common, those old timers: They have fought the same fight, endured the same hardships. Their lives have been considerably interwoven and they have proven their loyalty and fidelity, and made friendships that are true and lasting.”
Pageantry, parades, musical numbers, necrology reports, readings, races, baseball games, tennis matches, speeches, and an evening dance were often included in the annual gathering along with ample reminiscing. The outings were laden with “good old western hospitality and socialibility.” Although many of the gatherings were held on school grounds, others were held at the Deerfield City Park and Lakin’s first fairgrounds that were located just west of Bopp Boulevard on the south end. During the 1940s, the picnics were put on pause due to the world war.
The organization helped to keep Kearny County on the map historically. A club historian was appointed to gather newspaper articles and first-hand accounts of events in Kearny County and to safely keep this historical information for future generations. Long-time association historian India H. Simmons documented much of our county history through articles that she wrote. Among the projects of the Old Settlers’ Association were the erection of signs marking the location of John O’Loughlin’s original trading post and Indian Mound/Chouteau Island.
The final Old Settlers’ reunion was held in 1948, the same year as Lakin’s Diamond Jubilee. A large number met in Lakin at the grade school playground on August 26 for the picnic, but a heavy rain drove the attendees undercover before the meal was finished. In the afternoon, a program was conducted at the high school building which included an old-time fiddling contest as well as a style show featuring fashions of the 1800s and early 1900s. Prizes were awarded to Sarah Taggart for being the oldest Old Settler in attendance and to Virginia Pierce Hicks for having resided in the county longer than any other member present.
In 1959, the decision was made to disband the Old Settlers’ Association since the group had not met since 1948. A $100 war bond that belonged to the club along with the monies in the group’s bank account were transferred to the Kearny County Historical Society which had been organized in 1957. Association documents and other items of importance were also given to the KCHS and used to assemble “The History of Kearny County” books.
Still today, the Kearny County Historical Society carries on the Old Settlers’ original mission of preserving our county history. We invite you to join our organization for a lifetime membership fee of only $20. For more info about membership, please refer to the membership page on this website.
SOURCES: History of Kearny County Vol. I; archives of the Lakin Investigator, Advocate and Lakin Independent; and Museum archives.