Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-02-24
MISSOURI REUNION.
Large Attendance. Fine Dinner, Lively
Speeches and . Permanent
Organization.

Speeches and n Permanent
Organization.
washington's Birthday was duly cele-
brated in Rocky Ford. The day opened
with the reunion of Missourians at Odd
Fellows hall. This class Of adopted cit
izens have special grounds for holding
reunions in the valley as citizens OF that
state were among the pioneers who first
frightened of the Indian and the buffalo
and started the country on the upward
road to civilization.
The first item on the program was n
dinner, better and more liberal feast
than which was never set before a Colo
RADIO gathering. The ladies who provid-
ed the bill OF fare were doubtless good
cooks back in Missouri and hnve steadily
improved since coming to Colorado.
The successive tables which were filed
satisfied the appetites of l5O persons, for
mer residents OF Missouri and those who
came in on proxies and rs privileged
characters, such as preachers and news
paper men.
After dinner A. @. Conner was elected
chairman. After prayer by Rev. G. E.
Burton and the singing OF hymn Rev.
b. l.. Mitchell addressed the meeting.
He paid glowing tribute to the memory
of Washington and then spoke OF the
hospitality, generosity, and material and
intellectual greatness OF Missouri, a state
which had the largest river, the finest
railroads and the best people in the Un-
ion. He was grateful that he was born
in Missouri-a state which, II fenced in
from the world would come nearer taking
care OF herself than any other in the ma
ton The speaker then got on debatable
ground, contesting the claims OF Ken
tucky in the matter OF the finest horses
and handsomest women. fortunately
no Keptnckian was present with a shot
gum We Missourians did not leave the
state because we had Todd not depart
between two days-but came because it
was our privilege as free American citi-
zens to follow Greeiey's advice. We are
here to help make Colorado. il possible, a
better state than Missouri. They were
proud OF Rocky Ford and the surround
ing country and had great expectati ons
of the future prosperity uf their adopted
home.
A. c. Conner said that the former
speaker had not told all the excellencies
OF the state OF their nativity, as Missouri
raised higher grade Of cattle and finer
hogs than any state in the Union.
Neither had he covered all the ground as
to the generosity OF Missouri, as she was
SO liberal in her views as to help both
sides during the Civil war. Had himself
been chased half across the state by some
OF his fellow-citizens in gray.
Judge Coughren SAID that the previous
speakers had said SO many good things
about Missourians as to leave nothing
more for him to boast OF. Colorado, he
said, was settled by the best, most enter
prising, most ambitious citizens from al
most every state in the Union. The list
less. sluggish fellows stayed back east,
but the rustlers came west.
Rev. Warren Mayo said that in his
younger days he had a great prejudice
| against Missouri-not, however, as strong
as against Texas-but this had vanished
ter. They were not all of the Kansas bor-
der ruilian type depicted by the papers
just preceding the war. While much
had been said complimentary to Mis-
souri,, the former citizens OF that state
now present were not fully satisfied with
the advantages they enjoyed there or
they would not be in Colorado today.
The meeting closed with providing a
permanent organization. A. @. Come r
was elected president OF the Missouri Re-
union Association and appointed the fol-
lowing executive committees: H. W.
Potter. J. N. Kinney and A. d. Best OF
Rocky Ford; j. N. Beatty of Man
zanola; L. @. Graham of Ordway; and G.
L. Miller of La Junta. DIR. Mcdonald
was elected Secretary.
The next reunion will be held at Rocky
Ford, Feb. %. 1889
For pictures of few OF the prominent
Missourians see Illustrated supplement
with this ISSUE.