Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-17
HOLD A REUNION.
Pickens Family Met in Large Num-
bers Thursday.


[From Saturdays Daily.l
A very enjoyable reunion was held at
the late Alexander Pickens homestead
three miles north of Kirkville, Thurs
day, Sept. IL, by the survivors of the
Pickens family and friends. The day
was spent in a delightful manner by
the many relatives, to the number Of
about 200, who had come from nearly
every state in the Union. A large tent
was provided for the dinner, in which
were three long tables, seat
ing about 125 people at one time.
The afternoon was spent in listening
to speeches from old settlers and visit
ors. Benjamin Slemon made very
appropriate talk, by which he held the
interest of the crowd in excellent
shape. Wesley Millisack, an old time
friend OF the Pickens family also spoke
in very pleasing manner. Mr.. Mil
lisack said:
My Friends-Ladies and Gentle
men:-This is indeed a pleasant occa-
sion where we gather from different
and distant localities to testify by our
presence to the respect and friend
ship we bear to the worthy people who
invite us to this feast.
1t revives within us memories of
pleasant days spent in the society of
the older members of the Pick
ems family and now we come
together not only to talk of them and
of what they did in their day and gen.
GRAFTON but to renew acquaintance
with their descendants and with those
who are allied to them by marriage
There must be something good in
the record of the Pickens family that
can attract such a gathering as this
| 1t certainly teaches lesson; it shows
that there is such a thing as true
friendship among men and women,
that is far above all mere selfishness.
Why is it that you come here? Surely
it is not because you are assured of a
feast Of good things in a material
sense, because We have good reasons
to know that those who are invited
are accustomed to good things of the
table. There is higher motive that
impels you to come here; you are here
because you desire congenial society
and because you love to speak of the
days that have gone by, when you
came in contact with Pickens and
lenjoyed his conversation and become
acquainted in this way with the Sc
crets Of his soul, you have found in
the past that the members of this
family We're honorable, true and de
voted to their friends. You have fell
the strength of and power of the
chords of affection and you believe
that there is not Pickens nor any O
their descendants but is imbued will
that principle of friendship and fra
ternity that makes man social and hui
man.
There are fraternal orders wher,
men and women bind themselves b,
oaths and affirmation to be true t,
, each other and we have nought to sa,
against them; they are needful socie
ties and promote the common goo
but we have here a fraternity that re
quires no oaths nor affirmations w
know each other and are bound t
each other by higher principle tina
requires no VOWS. We are brethren i
a way that is as binding as any c
these and the cord is silken one tina
draws us near to each other, and neal
er still, as the years go by.
We meet now, and part, but it
not without hope. We hope to NEE
again in similar reunion at the boar
Of Pickens; but whether we a
{ meet again in this life or not there
! something that assures us that som
l where and in some way beyond whs
is now present there is to be grea
er reunion where happiness will b
supreme and joy will be eternal.