The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-03

A Goodbye Party.
On Saturday evening last, the old friends
and neighbors Of Mr.. and Mrs. j. A. Duna-
van, of Dayton, gathered in and treated them
to handsome good bye surprise, it being on
the eve Of their departure to their new home
in Colorado. Some valued presents we're
given them AS memorials, on the offering Of
which, Mr.. Frank Trumbo, as spokesman for
the visitors said:
"MR. AND Mrs. j. A. DUNAvAN:-Your
friends and neighbors, learning with sincere
regret that you have determined to remove
from our midst, and make your future home
in another State, take this opportunity to
bid you goodbye. For more than half a
century you have been with US, even one of
US, sharing without complaint the hardships
of pioneer life, and at last rejoicing with
US in the reclamation and progress Of this
marvellous country; with your mental abili-
ties yet undimmed, and possessing an amount
of your former vigor and strength that Is
seldom retained by persons Of your advanced
age, you have decided to build for yourselves
homo in another locality. In far off Sunny
Colorado, protected by the giant Rockies,
We trust you will be permitted to enjoy
many years of life that, from the activity
Of your minds, must be spent in deeds of
usefulness.
Language forms an inadequate channel
in which to express our sorrow at your de.
parture from among us. and only through
the silent olasping Of our hands can We show
our regret. In remembrance of your many
sterling qualities, of your unimpeachable hon.
esty, and your much priced friendship, We
present you, Mr.. Dunsvsn, with this cane.
and you, Mrs. Dunavan, with this album;
and also, with these, the knowledge that
deep in the recesses of our hearts the names
of MIR. aud Mrs. J. A. Dunavan will be re.
vered % among the founders Of our beautiful
Prairie State.
"To you, Miss Alice Dunavan, to whom
an indulgent nature has given the attributes
Of true and perfect woman; your devotion
to your parents in the declining years of
their lives deserves recognition at the
hands Of your friends. We, therefore,
tender you this album, with the wish that it
will soon be filled with the pictures of your
Illinois friends"
To which Miss Barbara Green responded:
81 will in behalf Of the family, as this is
all a surprise, and they are not prepared to
respond (if their feelings would permiD to
the presentation Of these gifts, that, aside
from their value, will be cherished as COM
ing from life long friends, as purely disin.
terested tokens of respeet-may not say
affection!-I will in few words express
their qualification in seeing you here to make
them farewell visit 1t the old homestead,
where in young welded life they began the
battles incident TO new country at q
time when, with the exception Of two, who
crossed the river to commence the family
circle in that happier home, all the others of
the large family that grew to manhood and
womanhood in this same home nest and
have made homes for families, are now
taking their places in the busy world, that
has been transformed from q wilderness to
its rank Of the highest civilization, almost
under the notice of generation. know
that oil will be glad to see this family that
through misfortune and causes that are con.
stantly taking place in this seeming hard
world, starting anew with the ambition and
vigsr Of youth to begin life again in new
country, but very different from pioneer life
in Illinois when they began their home that
they now leave with many heartaches, and
the greatest is caused in leaving the old Ii f.
long associations and friends, never to be
forgotten. Ard they hope to retain place
in the memory and hearts of all who have
proved friends in adversely as well as in
prosperity.
al will now thank you all in their name
for the testimonials of affection that your
kind hearts have prompted you to tender
them tonight
The formal portion of the occasion over,
bountiful refreshments were served and the
evening was spent in social amusements.