Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-15
Geo. DUFFIELD
MAKES ADDRESS
VAN BUREN, co. MAN, AGED "a
YEARS. 0BITUARIAN AT KEo-
SAUQUA HOME COMING.

Crowds began coming early today for
the second day of the home coming
and by noon record breaking crowd
was in town. Despite the threatening
weather yesterday large crowd was
present and with the perfect weather
today the farmers came streaming in.
The program began this morning
with a band concert, first down on
Main street and later in the park.
This was followed by the presidents
annual message by VIM. j. Johnson.
Mr., Johnson is eighty-seven years old
and well preserved He was one of
,, the very oldest on the grounds If not
the oldest. He brought message to
the old settlers that only one of his
years could, and one that was Of in
terest to the younger generation as
well. This was followed by the an
nual obituary address by George G..
Duffield. This makes the twentieth
time that Mr.. Duffield has given this
address and everyone hopes that he
may give it twenty more He is
eighty-four years old and has lived in
| Van Buren, country for sixty-two years
or ten years before the state was adj
mitted to the union. He expects to
| start next week for his fiftieth state
fair, having attended all but three or
| four
The afternoon program will consist
of an address by Rev. j. w. Holland,
| formerly of Milton, and now of Chi
cago, who was born and raised in this
county. The speaker will be Hon.
Geo. w. Reed of Denver Mr.. Reed
lived here during his boyhood days
but has not made this his home for
over a score of years.
1t was with deep regret that is was
announced that Senator W. E. Mason
of Illinois would be unable to be pres
ent owing to the bitter political fight
in Illinois. Everyone wanted to hear
BILLY 'as he is called by his old
associates. Senator Clark was also
unable to be present. His father lies
buried in the cemetery here. Van
Buren, claims to have the home of
these two living senators at one time
and many others who have now passed
away. Among these are Hon. Geo. g..
Wright Of Iowa and Senator Delazon
Smith first senator from Oregon The
program was completed by an address
of the most brilliant colored attorneys
| "
this town his home.
The evening will be given over to
a concert by the band.
| Gen. Weaver Talks.
| Yesterday afternoon Gen. James b.
Weaver, twice candidate for president
of the United States and one of the
most prominent men in Iowa politics
gave the address of the afternoon.
i oto 10
he ever saw Keosauqua was sixty-six
years ago the coming winter. which
winter he spent just a few miles up
the river from here. He then went on
to say that it was here that he was
married stating the exact spot just
/ fifty years ago last month. Although
Gen. Weaver Is seventy-fve years old
he is still as active as If he were forty
five. He says the reason that he
never amounted to anything, and why
4 Keosauqua had produced SO many
4 great men as that they have lived at
one time or another inside or near the
great horseshoe bend on the Des
Moines which nearly encircles Keosa1-
qua, and that it has acted as magnet
on them. He said that he had explored
everything in this county from the
corn pone and venison steak to the
finest that society could offer today.
That he had attended everything from
the country dance to the inaugural
ball and that old fashioned integrity
and industry was all that counted for
anything in this life.
1 He spoke especially to and of the
old soldiers, he himself enlisting in
the first company. He said that he
heard Gen. Grant give Voltaire Twom-
bly,, who was present here yesterday,
the command to carry the flag to the
top of Fort Donellson, after every
other color bearer had been shot
down.
i He then spoke of how he had helped
to elect Lincoln by making speeches
for him in the same park and near
the same spot he spoke yesterday,
forty-eight years ago. He stated that
although he was seventy-five years old
he was 120 years old in experience
and he felt as If he were only As.
coats and work for the success of the
Republican party from Taft to Carroll
| and from Carroll to township trustees