Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-24

last dTElVdlS Calu6 III, swelling Iuo
total to more than 300, picnic spreads
were laid throughout the lawn adjoin.
ing the Kirkpatrick home and while
the Highland Center band played,
lunch was eaten.
Nonogenarian on Platform.
After lunch loving hands lifted the
centenarian and his chair and placed
him in the position of honor on the
platform. Then his only surviving
daughter, Mrs. Matte Kirkpatrick.
took a place on the stand beside her
father. Caswell Dennis, the father of
j. B. Dennis and Mrs. w. H. Stevens
of Ottumwa, who is past 80 years
of age and the second oldest man in
the assemblage, was given a place
of honor. The speakers, Major A. H.
Hamilton, Major Samuel Mahon, Hon.
George w. Dickens and the Rev. Mr..
Petit, took their places and the pro-
gram was begun with scripture
reading by Mrs. Kirkpatrick and pray.
or by the Rev. Mr.. Petit.
| Through the scripture reading
and prayer, which added a touch OF
solenmnity to the occasion, the veneer.
able Mr. Lentner sat with bowed head
sing America his face frightened and
he tried to join in the singing. His
thin. tones were drowned out by the
could not keep time, but he enjoyed
it and the smile that spread over his
face then remained until the last
speaker had finisned, the crowds wend-
ed their way homeward after bidding
their aged host an affectionate fare.
well, and the chair was again carried
inside.
Major Mahon's Address.
Major Samuel Mahon. introduced as
| the first speaker. dwelt in opening up
on the inspiring sight afforded in look
ing over the assemblage Of relatives.
comrades, friends and acquaintances
of the venerable Mr.. Lentner, the
grandfather looking back generations
and the little babies Just ushered into
life, with everything before them"
"This is notable occasion" he said,
1--WE meet today to pay homage to a
long life: q life lived bright and clean;
a life Of which we are all proud to do
honor"
What vision is opened to us as we
stretch back 100 years. The year 1907
when our venerable friend was born
witnessed the launching Of the first
steamboat when Robert Fulton's In
vention revolutionized sea traffic. Our
friend seen land transportation by
wagon and canal give way to the rail-
road, now covering an empire with
100000 miles Of track
when Stephenson developed his
little engine which made rail traffic
| L. % Ia WA
years old.
"Our friend talked as youth with
: men of middle age who fought with
Stark at Bennington and Gage and
Morgan and Arnold at Saratoga and
who saw the contamination OF indie
pendenca at Yorktown.
/, "Our friend has lived through al
: but two of the illustrious line of presi
t dents.
$ "He has lived through four out o
the five wars which have been tough
by this country
I 1--WE have read history, but here \
r a man who saw it,"
; Jennie Shook, young girl and
> descendent of Mr.. Lentner's, FOLLOWED
d Mr.. Milton with an appropriate poem
y and Major Hamilton was introduced
t Major Hamilton Reminiscent
"Such 9 gathering as this goes clea
to mans heart" said Major Hamilto
In opening. ~ know but comparativel
Y. few here, the old white heads, but tn
IS Younger generation has outgrown me.
Then Mr.. Hamilton propounded
query.
"Do any of you remember the frs
countyfair we had?" heasked Their
we're several shook their heads in a
sent. sit was during Fremont's TIM
1t the speaker continued.
"And do you remember the meetin
we had across the river on the point
y, Do you remember it Demosthenesi
Y ne asked of Mr. Newell. Mr.. Newe
~ did not remember. but had ofte
heard of 1t.
80 "You see," he said speaking to tt
- younger generation, the river We
a. a. low and there was good grove owe
=. on the point. but we hadn't any bridg
q So we took the running gear of Wagon
and fastened them together by tt
IL tongues and we had bridge GOO
I'd enough for anyone"
to "The pioneers who settled tn