Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-24

Ezra Meeker, 81 years old, the old
| frontiersman who blazed the Oregon
trail, is paying Ottumwa his third
visit. He arrived in the city yester
day afternoon from Fairfield and will
leave late this evening or early to.
morrow morning for Des Moines where
he will attend the Iowa state fair.
The famous prairie schooner which
played a prominent part IN the spread
of civilization and the white race
throughout the United States. and q
team OF oxen, are the means OF Pioneer
Meeker's travelling and wherever he
chances to stop, a large curious crowd
gathers round to inspect the outfit
which bore the first settlers to Iowa.
At present Mr. Meeker is shipping his
outfit as he Is making several dates
throughout Iowa.
In October. sixty years ago, Ezra
Meeker paid his first visit to Ottum-
wa, or rather to the site Of the pres
ent city. He was at that time on his
way to Oregon, blazing the trail which
opened the way to the rich northwest
In 1906 the frontiersman came to Of
tunwa for the second time. renewing
the old trail which had almost been
lost in the intervening half century.
He was then on his way to Washing
ton upon the same mission as he Is
today.
Would Erect Monuments.
After the close of the state fair Mr..
Meeker will journey overland with his
OK team and schooner to Omaha, TAX
ing up another branch of the forked
trail. From there he will continue his
journey east to Washington, D. G.
When the cold weather arrives in the
month Of December he will place his
oxen In winter quarters. They have
already travelled 5000 miles and will
travel hundreds Of miles more before
their years task is completed. The
purpose Of this trip to Washington is
to secure an apportionment Of $780,
600 from congress. Whether or not
congress will grant his request he does
not know but he is very optimistic
over the probability. This fund will
be asked for the establishment of TOO
granite monuments along the Oregon
tran that it might be establish for
ever. Mr.. Meeker is passing over the
trail for the third time arousipg in
terest in his work by lecturing. From
Oregon to Ottumwa he has succeeded
n establishing TWEEN y-nine granite
twenty-nine granite boul-.
lers and about forty stakes. It is his
Intention to have monument erected |
It every heavily travelled cross road
o the Oregon trail. In this part OF
he country It will require one every
nile but farther west in the mountain
egions the distance will be much
,reater.
The frontiersman lectured on "The
lost Trail at the corner of Market
nd Second streets last night and for
everal hours was surrounded by a
arge audience. Mr.. A-eeker will lee
ure at the same place this evening.
The OK Team.
Mr.. Meeker's outfit consists Of two
ken, Dave" and Dandy" He left
near Tacoma, Washington,
anuary 20, 1906, with prairie
schooner which had been constructed
rom the parts of three wagons which
lad made the overland trip to Oregon 1
ixty years ago, his tar bucket being
0e years old. When within three
undred miles of Omaha one Of the {
Ken Twist" died OF poison vegita- !
lon and he bought COW, which he
7orked until he reached Omaha. At
be stock yards at that place he
ought FIVE year old wild steer as a
nate for Dave" and named him
Dandy" He broke the steer and BY