PIONEER TRIBUTE

Andrew Madsen
The following is taken from Andrew Madsen's Personal History

At the 1909 Dedication of Mt. Pleasant's Pioneer Monument this poem was read by Moroni Pratt, who was a Mt. Pleasant pioneer boy.

PIONEER TRIBUTE

Now unveil the shaft of honor

Monument to Pioneers

those who bravely fought life's battles

long ago. e'en fifty years

Let each name appear resplendent; 

As 'tis chiseled full and deep,

Names of these who built Mt. Pleasant

Many now who peaceful sleep.

Sons and daughters now beholding,

What your willing hands have wrought, 

Let now the toil and hardship 

That with Pioneer Life was frought.

Days of toil and nights of danger,

Danger from a savage foe,

Danger from a myriad of crickets

Bringing hunger, want and woe.

Danger from the frost and winter 

Late in Spring and early Fall

Scarce could they secure a harvest 

But their God was over all. 

And in time those troubles vanished

Smiling Spring and welcome rain,

Kissed the land and made it fruitful

Bringing forth the golden grain.

As we gazed upon the Pageant

Counter marching through the town,

In today's grand Celebration

Of its fifty years renown.

Oh, we noted well the changes

In the picture then and now,

Then bright youth and early manhood,

Silver grays and bent forms now.

But those grand old gray haired veterans,

few are left to form in line,

We'r today the guests of honor of 

Pioneers "59".

Hail, ye noble Fathers, Brothers,

Who began a City here,

Hail, all Hail, Ye Wives and Mothers,

Hail Ye Faithful Pioneers.