The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-07-14
THE 4th OFT WEST.

BY the urgent request of my friend,
in Red Oak, Iowa, l was induced to
remain with them and help in spread
ing the centennial eagle.
When came here few days ago, !
was told that great preparations were
making to celebrate Uncle Sans birth
day in becoming manner, and to
stimulate the patriotism of people, if
stimulants were required, the citizens
of Red Oak had offered as prizes to the
two townships sending the largest del
egations, according to population, the
prizes being the American flag in bunt-
ing. Into a competition for these flags
several townships Lad entered with all
the energy and determination of the
Western spirit. was assured that if
l would only wait j would see the
biggest crowd ever assembled in the
town. Well, waited, and took some
pains to watch the preparations being
made, and from conversations of men
from different townships, concluded,
that should the weather prove auspi-
cious, a very respectable number would
be assembled.
1t rained nearly all day on the third,
and faces began to elongate, and fears
were expressed that all would be dis
appointed. The Fourth was ushered
in by the ringing of bells, firing of
cannon, explosion of firecrackers, md
al, the other noisy demonstrations
which the universal Yankee nation so
much delight in. 1t had rained all
night, the roads were bad, the sky
lowry, and it did not even now seem to
bid fair for a pleasant day, and many
anxious eyes were cast heavenward, to
see il the clouds were not breaking.
But the rain held up, and flags were
cast to the breeze, people began to ar
rive from the country on foot, on horse
back in wagons, i'm professions, in
groups and singly, until the town and
country round about was literally COW
cred with people.
At 8 o'clock the business houses were
closed, and everybody gave. themselves
up to the work of celebrating. The
crowds of people, and numbers of vehi-
cles far exceeded the expec' atiOns of
the most sanguine. II was by all odds
the largest assemblage of people ever
held in this county, and to one think
ing the county but sparsely settled. it
was a matter of wonder where all the
people came from, for | think the
crowd was fairly estimated at seven
thousand.
At about IL o'clock the procession
began to move by the judges stand, by
townships, Grant township taking the
lead, with 156 wagons, and S37 people
Next came Walnut Creek township
with 135 wagons and S31 people, fol-
lowed by Frankfort township with 81
wagons and 304 people, when Sherman
township came in with as wagons End
3S7 people, these four townships
alone having competed for the flags.
There were hundreds of wagons and
thousands of people from the other
townships who did not join in the pro-
cession. Aside from the numbers in
the procession, the costumes and ban
ners were most beautiful and apropri-
ate. After laughing at a procession of
outlandishly dressed and outlandishly
acting men and boys calling themselves
Calathumpians, the people repaired to
a beautiful grove west of the town,
where a speech of welcome was de-
lived; very fine and appropriate ora
ton was delivered by Hon. Clark Carr,
of Galesburg, Ill. The assembly was
then dismissed for dinner, which was
an old fashioned picnic. After din
ner toasts were announced and respon-
ded to, when the first prize was award
ed to Walnut Creek twp, and the see
ond to Grant twp. The assemblage
was then dismissed.
To say that was surprised at the
magnitude of the demonstration, know
ing, as did, that two other villages in
the county were also celebrating, would
hardly be strong enough; was aston
ished. Everything passed off pleas
autly, and without accident, and did
not see drunken man during the day.
The whole affair was well conducted,
in good taste, and reflects lasting credit
on the movers in the matter, aud on
the town of Red Oak, and the county
of Montgomery.
might speak of many incidents OF
the amusing kind that came under my