Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-25
Sessions Open.

Sessions Open.
Promptly at IL o'clock in the morn
ing the program Of the day was start
ed at the platform in the north end Of
the grove with President Samuel Ma
hon presiding. The exercises were
opened with prayer by Rev. T. B.
Hughes Of Agency, after which the
Agency chorus rendered song, accom-
panied by Professor ]. H. Rheem, OF
Ottumwa This was followed by the
address Of welcome given by Rev. E.
Carey Of Agency, who acted in the
place of the mayor Of that city. The
response was given by President Sam
uel Mahon.
The address was followed by song,
in the rendering of which the audience
Joined. This was followed by the re-
port of the historical secretary, j. L..
Harmon. who read the list of the de-
parted members who passed away be-
tween August 10. 1905, and August %,
1906. There were ninty-six names on
the list.
This closed the program for the
morning and the session was then adj
journed until o'clock in the after
noon
The exercises Of the afternoon open
ed with all the old settlers gathered on
the rostrum, where they had photo
graph taken. Several old time melodies
rendered by Professor Rheem, who
chose Lilly Dale, "Old Dog Tray, "
and a descriptive song entitled, "The
Old Piano." were the opening musical
numbers.
Judge Roberts Talks.
After the music the address of the
afternoon was given by Judge M.
A. Roberts of Ottumwa, who delivered
a very interesting talk appropri-
the chorus followed the address, after
which five minute talks of early pio-
neer life were given by L. F. Newell,
! ]. G. Mitchell, Oliver G. Graves, Major
A. H. Hamilton, Senator S. H. Harper
and David Jay.
| A very interesting feature of these
talks were the "reminiscences of events
which happened in the lives of the
speakers, who came here in the early
days, and who told Of the advance and
progress this part Of >the country has
experienced in the past fifty years.
The days program was closed with
the singing Of the doxology and the
benediction.
The Program.
The following is the program, rem
dered during the course Of the day.
| Call to order at II o'clock by Major
Samuel Mahon.
Prayer by Rev T. B. Hughes.
Music.
Address of welcome by Rev. E. Car
rey. of Agency
Response by President Mahon.
/ Music.
Reading roll of departed member!
since last meeting, by the historian,
L. Harmon.
4 Adjournment for dinner.
/ Afternoon Session, O'Clock.
Music
i Address by Judge M. A. Roberts.
i Music
F1ve-minute talks by L. F. Newell
Major A. H. Hamilton, Judge ].
Mitchell, H. j. Israel, of Washington
township, and David Jay Of Adam
township.
i Music.
Dexology and benediction.
In Roseate Hues.
, j. c. Mitchell said in part:
Il have heretofore made short ad
dresses at such gatherings as these 0
the old settlers in Iowa and have a.
ways talked on the early hardships an
+, privations of the early settlers Toda
: am going to talk in different strair
"Now did the early pioneer lack TO
food? He certainly did not lack 70
meat. Prairie chickens abounded b
, the thousands on these broad prairie!
. Pheasants and wild turkeys were thicl
/ the rivers were alive with fish, an
e wild fowl and deer were plenty. Ce
$ tainly he did not want for meat. Di
3 our pioneer want for sweets? VIII!
n if he did, all he would have to do woul
= be to hew down bee tree and Their
was plenty of honey. Habitation
S were easily made from the logs an
: they were the healthiest kind Of dwell
ings. They did not need mansions nc
tbo.y paad fy,a fIirnit11r