The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1867-01-09


propricty in this line. On Thursday eve,
Dec. 9th, there was most happy social
excitement or reunion at the Mendon
House, North McGregor, w. MCNAMARA,
Proprietor. One hundred-more or less
of the employees of the McGregor Western
R'y., assembled at the MExDoN, and it was
not long before nearly hundred invited
outsider" lady and gentlemen guests,
came in to see what "the boys were
about. Superintendent W. B. STRONG
about "as good q man as they make
had been notified to DO present, but for
what purpose he could not imagine. We
suppose he thought Of all his sins Of
omission or commission as IN old railroad
or and concluded . general judgment
was about to retire him to the shades Of
private life. After the organization of the
company was effected in the dining hall,
W. b. was SCALED into court" Raphael's
picture of ISxocExcE could not have ex-
cccdcd the blank, wondering embarrass-
ment Of our friend STRONG when an ele-
CANT $500 service of Silver Plate was I'M
covered and Chief Engineer HUNcERroRD
addressed him in tho following well-cho-
sen words:
Mn. STRONG We, the employees of the
McGregor Western Railway, have met
here this evening for the purpose of ex-
tending to you our most cordial and heart
felt grceting-and the very pleasant duty
has been imposed upon me Of presenting
to you, in their behalf, this Silrer Service,
as token of the deep and enduring afec-
ton we feel towards you.
As look around me I see many Of the
old familiar faces that were gathered to-
gethcr once before, on an occasion similar
to this, for the purpose Of showing their
respect and esteem for q former Superin-
tendent, but old Time has wrought his
changes and now we meet to greet anoth-
or. 1t seems - yesterday that you came
among US an entire stranger few, If any
of us had ever seen your face until the day
before you assumed the duties of your po-
sition but with the hand of friendship
and good will ever extended toward US !;
with your strict integrity and impartial
dealing on all occasions, you have not only
gained the highest respect of your superb
ors, but you have risen in your position
among us and gained place deep-seated
in the affections Of US all.
We do not present this to you for the
purpose of influencing your conduct to-
ward Us, either individually or collectively
in any matter whatever-that has ever
been most kind-and we feel assured that
your duty to yourself, to your superiors
and to those around you whom you have
in charge, will on all occasions dictate to
you the right course to pursue-neither do
we present this to you because Of its in
trinsic value, but a. substantial and last
ing evidence of our affection and esteem,
81 chat in the ennree Of time, when we
shall have become scattered, each one GO
ing his own appointed way, this service
may be silent monitor, ever reminding
you Of old-time friends, tried and true and
in whose hearts the same feelings Of af-
lection shall be cherished toward you un-
til time with them shall be no more.
It is hardly probable that We will all re-
main together for any length of time
some win 60 one way and some another,
seeking now places, while some of US may
soon end our career here below. Others
will then be called upon to take our pla-
ces-new acquaintance will then be made
and new friendships formed, and should
you yet be spared to many years of life's
busy scenes, and your life be extended be-
yond the ordinary usefulness of man, un-
~ 49, N-v<Ay sl,aAi vecvmo UAa sssa soev,o
with age-when you stand on the brink of
the Eternal River that never ceases to flow,
waiting and watching for the Omnipotent
Hand to beckon you on to the other shore
-as you turn and look back on the past
scenes of your life, we would oil of US be
remembered by you then, and may the re-
membrance of this scene be the brightest
spot on memory's page, and light your
pathway down into the dark valley while
you feel that you have the assurance that
those of us who have gone before will meet
you in that celestial sphere where friend
ships are formed to endure forevermors.
WILLIAM, for moment, scarcely knew
if he was on the main track, or switch
a collision was evidently impending: Hun
cERroRD put on the "brakes'' of his intel
lectual train and STRONG was signalled.-
After the half-choking, embarrassed sound
which locomotives and all men of true
modesty exhibit just prior to start, our
friend, the Superintendent, realized the
situation and in very handsome manner,
expressed his thanks to those who had so
highly honored him in this splendid testi-
monial. We have no copy of his remarks,
but we know they came straight from his
heart. You can imagine what would be
said by man of warm friendship, ofgen-
enial character, of official integrity and Of
grateful heart and-that was W. B.
Strong's speech.
Then came short and appropriate speech
cs from Gen. Lawler, r. Noble, Judge
Williams, Rev. r. Nagle, D. Hammer,
Col. Merrill, E. II. Barron G. L. Bass and
others. Mr.. Strong was justly compli-
mented on his success in the management
of the road since its superintendent was
assigned to him. A fine collation. was
next in order. Then dance until 2 or 3
A. NJ, when Atwood rang his special
train for cresco, and tho employees and
guests left the Station for home. Messre.
Tkayer, Stevens and Burnell were the
Committee Of Arrangements. Engineer
Hungerford and Conductor Swartout were
at the head of the movement, but the
body of the work was participated in cor.
daily by all the employees and all lit We
knew them) should be mentioned with
honor. A. French, Esq, Of our city furn-
ished the seryice-Medallion, with ivory
handles. The engraving,
"Iresentcd to ". b. Strong, Superin.
tendeat, BY the Employees cfMe AcGrego'
Wesiern Rnilr0u0