On august 31, 1899, the members of the Pioneer Society gathered again at the old spot to do honor to the men and women who made Genesee county what it is today. Professor Loomis, of Chicago, was present as one of the speakers, his theme being :Expansion,; Judge Waite, of Detroit, also spoke on "Pioneer Life," and the Spanish War, and Milo C. Campbell, of Coldwater, spoke on "Pioneer Patriotism."

On Thursday, august 29, 1901, a crowd of over five thousand persons gathered for the pioneers' picnic, President Horton being the presiding officer of the day. Rev. Mr. Holland, of Perry, addressed the society, comparing the modern methods of life with those of the past, and speaking also on good roads. Rev. Mr. Halliday, of Fenton, was also one of the speakers of the day, and Judge Waite, of Detroit, formerly of Fenton, paid a tribute to the founders of his former home town.

At the annual meeting in 1902, Edwin O. Wood, of Fenton, was elected as president of the association, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of former president, Mr. Horton. On this occasion George E. Taylor, of Flint, gave a most interesting address replete with narratives of the early days. Rev. S. A. Northrup, of Kansas City, formerly of Grand Blanc, spoke of the benefits of the present educational system, and Clyde McGee, of Farmington, Frederick Dewey, of Grand Blanc, and W. S. Wood, of Howell, also made brief addresses.

The pioneers' picnic held at Long lake on the 3^rd day of September, 1903, was largely attended. T. J. Allen, as officer of the day, acted as master of ceremonies. Prosecuting Attorney Williams, of Flint, Mark w. Stevens, of Flint, and Rev. Francis Blades, of Detroit, whose father came to Genesee County in 1835, were among the speakers. Mr. Blades spoke at length on historical matters relating to the Fisher Indians of the Chippewa tribe.

At the thirty-eighth annual pioneer picnic, held at the usual place on Long lake, august 25, 1904, Edwin O. Wood, president, called the gathering to order, Thomas J. Allen acting as officer of the day. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Dunning, of Fenton, and speeches were made by Senator James E. Scripps, of Detroit; Charles A. Gower, of Lansing; Judge Joseph B. Moore, of the Supreme Court, and Dr. J. B. Bradley, of Eaton Rapids. Officers elected for the ensuing year were W. A. Garner, of Flint, president; H. N. Jennings, of Fenton, secretary, and W. A. Wadley, vice-president. At this meeting an organization of the supervisors, officers and ex-officers of the county were effected, with James Van Vleet, of Flint, as president; Thomas J. Allen, secretary, and Stephen Mathewson, treasurer. Charles Bates, of Grand Blanc, aged ninety-five, was the oldest pioneer present. Other aged pioneers were, Timothy Kennie, of Flint, aged ninety-one; Benjamin Rall, of Clayton, aged ninety-one; Mrs. H. A. Kennedy, of Vienna, aged ninety-one; Mrs. Morgan Baldwin, of Mundy, aged eighty-nine; Damon Stewart, of Flint, aged seventy (the oldest pioneer from the county), and a number of others. Mr. and Mrs. R. a. Carman, of Burton, who had been wedded for fifty-nine years, and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Buck, of Fenton, who had been married fifty-three years before were of the gathering. Mrs. Ambrose Johnson, of Mundy, mother of fifteen children, grandmother of twenty-four and great-grandmother of three, was also present.

In the year of 1905, on august 31, the society was favored by addresses by D. D. Aitken, mayor of Flint; W. H. Wood, of Howell, and the Rev. Charles A. Lippincott, D. D., of Flint. Jarvis E. Albro, was elected president for the ensuing year. In 1906 the speakers were Governor Warner, Lieutenant-Governor Patrick H. Kelley, and Congressman Samuel W. Smith. The governor was greeted by Charles Bates, of Grand Blanc, aged ninety-seven; John Ransom, aged ninety-one; David handy, aged ninety, and Thomas Dibble, aged seventy-seven, who had lived in Genesee county for seventy-five years. the Rev. Thomas Wright, ninety-two years old, was also present. Among the speakers was Dewitt C. leach, aged eighty-four, who was delegate from this county to the constitutional convention of 1850.

In the year 1907, the speakers who addressed the picnic were John J. Carton, and Mark W. Stevens, of Flint, and Daniel Davis, of Pontiac. The absence of a number of old pioneers was noticeable, but among those present was Mr. Sutton, of Fenton, who had just celebrated his ninety-ninth birthday. In 1908 the addresses were made by congressman Samuel W. Smith, of Pontiac; Mark W. Stevens, of Flint, and L. V. Curry, of Flint township, one of the old pioneers.

A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a county historical society was held in Loyal Guard hall in Flint, January 26, 1915, and a committee appointed to formulate a tentative plan of organization reported a proposed constitution for the society. The meeting, which was largely attended, was called to order by Fenton R. McCreery, chairman. The report of the committee was adopted and the plan of the organization approved. George N. Fuller, secretary of the Michigan historical commission, was present and delivered an address.

George W. Cook, president of the city board of education, addressed the meting, followed by William L. Jenks, of Port Huron, member of the state historical commission. Chauncey Cummings, of Flint, was also one of the speakers, as was also the Rev. Seth Reed, the oldest retired clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal conference.

The organization of the Genesee County Historical Society being effected, the following officers were elected: president, Miss Helena V. Walker; vice-president, Fenton R. McCreery; curator and historian, Francis H. Rankin; secretary, William V. Smith.

The museum which as been established by the society now occupies the second floor of the public library building and is a creditable collection, which promises to be much larger within the next few years. the nucleus of the collection were gifts made by Byron E. Dodge, of Richfield, and Silas Collins, of Grand Blanc, both of whom has been for many years collectors of historical relics of the county. These have been added to by other members and the museum at present occupies all of the available space in the building. The Genesee county Historical Society has aroused an enthusiastic interest and bids fair to become a permanent and lasting influence in matters pertaining to the history of the county. The present officers are: President, Fenton R. McCreery; curator and historian, Francis H. Rankin; secretary, W. V. Smith; president emeritus, Rev. Seth Reed. The above named officers, with Chauncey Cummings, and Edwin O. Wood, constitute a board of directors.

The following big of verse, whose authorship is well known to all, well reflects the spirit of the pioneers and pioneer days in Genesee county:

Who were the men and whence came they
Who bravely swung their axes,
And felled the forest day by day,
Unterrified by taxes?
Of Puritanic stock were some,
Self poised, serene and saving;
New York spared others, glad to come,
Red men and ague braving.
They brought good wives their toil to share,
More than their share oft taking;
A heaven on earth with woman's care,
Of their log cabins making.
The social life of early days,
How pleasantly it glided.
Each vied with each in social ways,
And no one felt one-sided.
Around those cabins oft at night
The skulking wolves came prowling.
And, half in dream, half in affright,
The sleepers heard their howling.
The timid deer that roamed the wood
Fed round the little clearing,
And in the distance often stood
Half curious--half fearing.
Bright shone the ample fireplace,
As winter crept on slowly;
Contentment beamed on every face;
Home's altar fire was holy.
How groaned your tables with good cheer
When, resting from your labors,
Guests came to dance from far and hear,
A jolly band of neighbors.
What changes in this city fair
Have passed before your vision!
Old-timers, you did your full share
To make our town elysian.
You courted by a tallow dip,
A feeble glimmer shedding;
Sometimes, perhaps, there was a slip,
But oftener a wedding.
You've seen the lamp with kerosene
That once your parlors lighted,
Give way to gas, whose radiant sheen
Made every heart delighted.
Then "press the button" came this way.
And women now are looking
To that not-far-off happy day,
When it will do their cooking.
The Fenton stages, h--- on wheels
When boss was in his vigor,
Fond memory to you appeals,
You've felt their ancient rigor.
Where now broad, busy streets you see,
You have been drawn by cattle;
But on our year of jubilee,
You heard the street car rattle.
New ways of thought are also here,
There's less of brimstone Sunday;
If in our hearts there's less of fear,
There's more of live on Monday.
Some feathers dropped from faith's white wing
Prove not that faith is bolting;
With sweeter note God's love she'll sing
When she has finished moulting.
You heard the guns in days of yore,
When treason stalked defiant;
You saw the time when peace once more
With freedom stood reliant.
Now looking forth from jubilee,
From banners, music, speeches,
How strange the contrast that you see,
As, backward, memory reaches.
Hats off to you who gave out town
Her glorious beginning,
And started her towards that renown,
More of which she's winning.
Old-timers, times has thinned your ranks;
But few are left to tell your story;
You smile when speaking of your pranks
Before your heads were hoary.
But some, thank God, are living yet;
Old times they all remember;
Those days they never will forget
Till fades life's dying ember.