Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-05

pletely bald had better take a sud i>n
tangent end get back to the moment
when your Mr. Powell met my wife
ana at the Ballingall and escorted US
10 line carriage in which we three
were conveyed out upon and along
Court street. paved, py shimn,ing! out
past the beautiful cemetery that has
been located and inhabited since we
LETT Ottumwa, and along frightfully
dusty road that curved round and run
ny the "old field, = where we disem-
barked and were Immediately pounced
upon by the assembled people who
were congregateds to celebrate ''old
settlers and "old soldiers" day. The
warmth of that greeting was as genu-
inely welcome as 1t was unexpected, as
the hundreds Of old timers and new
acqulsitions-the latter mostly the
sons and daughters and younger reln-
ttves Of those whom We knew,-flocked
about and gave us the glad hand and
extended US the hospitality of the oc-
casion. would sure like to name each
and everv one whom we met there, but
l am afraid to venture. from fear that
/ will commit the void that have done
in the "reminiscences and which caused
me more pain and sadness than the
omission of some endeared name when
the person in the flesh clasped my
hand, looked me in the eye and said.
Billy, you forgot to name me!' You,
gentlemen Of the press, and you only,
can realize what that sort Of structure
means. II were wealthy enough
would rather shell out a hundred tai
ents than to have had that reminder Of
my falling cast up to me. Invariably,
an omission, or mistake made in
public print occurs right when and
where you would not for kingdom
have 1t occur. The first person to greet
us on the grounds was my young
friend Cant think Of him being on the
last hitch of life) Will Daum, president
Of the Old Settlers association, to
whom we are indebted for the lmpor-
tunate invitation to visit Ottumwa on
that occasion. l say importunate, be-
cause 1t was, backed up with gener-
Gus personal draft on one of your
banks to pay our expenses. Could such
cordially be resisted-nay, verify: so
We hustled into our Sunday buds and
went. and 1t was the most blssful went
that we ever went up against. The next
that ! now recall to greet us was my
cousin, Mrs Clara Graves, (widow OF
Ed Graves, and formerly Miss Cald-
we'll, daughter Of my uncle Paris Cald
well,) whose guests we were most of
the time in her home the old Laid
residence, opposite my old friend Nick
Bakers home. out there on East Sec
ond street: after that they came so
fast and thick that / dare not attempt
further names. excepting those at the
spread Of dinner on the hallowed soil
over which my youthful feet have trod
every inch. That was an old fashioned.
jolly picnic dinner, and my wife and
We're the honored guests of those who
prepared it, and who were: Frank
Whitcon1o and family. w. A. c. Brown
and family, Geo. Wilson and family,
Mrs. Eliza Picken and daughter, Mrs
Dempster and granddaughters the
Misses Wellman of New York Vale
Kirkpatrick and family SAINT Kirkpat-
rick and sister Mrs. Lentner. Mrs. John
II. G. Nosler and wife. ]. C.
Wycoff and family. Chester Wilson
and wife Mrs. Walker Proud. Mrs
Laura Joliffe and w. r .Daum and
others cannot now recall.
After dinner speeches were in order
There was an array of orators on the,
platform Some Of my cver-zealo"s
friends Unlisted upon me appearing on
that platform and make a speech." O,
Lord: Before that vast audience! Well,
got up. rendered few incompref1en
sihle words and--hroke down. You say
that there was chance and the oc-
rasion was the one where and when a
man coull talk. Granted, br,t put YOU.
self in my place--not public speaker
to begin with, and the rush Of tide Of
memories overwhelming me as Look