Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-09-17
FAREWELL BANQUET.
Given in Honor of David Will
liams by His Friends.

doubt the most magnificent event OF
the kind in the history of the city. The
banquet was given by his friends in
Webster ane as invited guests were
many of Mr.. Williams old and tried
friends from other parts of Day county
and also number from other parts of
the state. II was fitting tribute to
the love and esteem in which Mr..
Williams is held by his friends and
each We'd With the other in showing to
Mr.. Williams that there is warm spot
in the hearts of his friends tor the man
who has done so much for them indi-
vidually and for the city, county and
state,
While the occasion was an expression
of regret at the departure of Mr.. Will
liams from the state, still 1t was an
occasion for congratulation upon the
enlarged opportunities which he
will enjoy in his larger field
of endeavors.
At9:O0 o'clock the spacious parlors
of the hotel were opened and recep-
ton rendered Mr.. Williams as the guest
of honor of the evening, which gave
expression to the delight of his friends
to honor him. The parlors were taste
fully decorated with smilax, cut
flowers and potted plants, the music
for the occasion being furnished by the
Imperial orchestra of Webster and
several duets by Messrs Helherg and
Bicknell accompanied by Miss Koenigs.
At 10 o'clock the assemblage was
invited TO the large dining room OF the
hotel to partake of the good Things
which the management OF the hotel
had provided for them. The dining
room was beautifully decorated with
smllax and the tables resplendent with
silver, cut glass, ferns and cut flowers,
including an American Beauty rose for
each guest.
After short invocation by Rt. Rev,
Monsignore Mensing corps of walters
appeared and the banquet commenced
For more than an hour and half the
guests were served with an array OF
viands which tempted even the most
jaded appetite and when coffee and
cigars appeared TO nd the material nar'
of the banquet, even the most critical
epicure must have been thoroughly
satisfied.
The material part of the banquet hav
ing been dispatched the guests next
enjoyed program of toasts which viii
long be remembered. e. A. WeaIue
POSTMASTER, made short preliminary
addressSwhich was we'll received aftel
which letters of regret were read from
Senator A. B KIttredge, of Sioux Falls
f. w. Taylor, of Aberdeen, ex-Con
gresham Eben w. Martin, of Dead
wood, Q. M. Day, editor of the Sioul
Falls Argus. Leader, O. j. Mcleod
editor of the Aberdeen Daily News, anC
others. Mayor j. l.. Harris mex
responded TO the toast The Man of TIN
Hour" in which he testified TO IN
regard for his fellow townsman Attor
ney II H. Potter contributed his eulog.
in response TO the toast american Cit
izenshlp" and Fred H. Russell, IN hi
inImltable way, threw some light OF
Mr. Williams most prominent char
acterisllcs IN numerous response &
the toast Early Days" ID. Q. Kidde
-. Acs rafarrah n fh
long friendship existing between him
self aud Mr.. Williams and the help h
and his friends had received from MI
Williams, and the public spirit of TN
guest of honor in his response TO tn
toast "a Man of the People," Judg
]. H. Mccoy, who, as the toastmaste
said is claimed as a resident by at leas
three counties, vol, ed his and the Who'll
assemblages appreciation eloquently an
forcibly in the toast assigned to hir
.'Our Neighbour" and Ri. Rev. Mon
signore Mensing testified to his appre
citation as a minister of the gospel @
the private life of Mr.. Williams i
response to d toast "Moral Influence
Ex.Conglessman Chas II. Burke, Q
Pierre, acknowledged Mr.. Williams
statewide influence and gloriei in hi
friendship and associations In an espee
tally stirring and eloquent eulogy @
the guest of honor in responding to th
toast assigned to him "A Man OF th
State and to give spice to the program
INDUCED in some humorous sallle
directed toward one of the speaker
who wac to follow him. Prof w. a
Thompson respoD led to the toas
"Works that Endure and voiced hi
feeling of friendship and also directe
attention to the achievements of Nj
Williams as something to remain as q
example to his fellowmen, and /
Cannon, president of the First Nations
bank of Aberdeen, recognized Mr.. Wi
liams' financial abilities and his capaoit
for true unseIfish friendships in respon'
TO the toast Financial Ability" Hor
Granville Jones, of Rapid City, in N
happy yet serious way addressed I'll
banquetors describing the beauties {
friendship and commented on the nun
Der of Mr.. williams friends and th
quality of their friendships in respont
ing 10 the toast "Friendship" M
Albert Smith IN q few appropria'
remarks added his testimony in eulog