The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-12

Va SSs sL'S hioA uluS. "A party lIOIn tilS
the east coming to inspect the water
power works was the reason for not
coming this morning. However. the
disappointment was somewhat miti-
gated by the news that the engin-
Ger would come down later in the day
to speak. Mr.. Cooper will speak on
the Water Power Works. The trip
down here is to be made by auto in
order that the man at the head of
Keokuk's big project will not disap-
point the big crowd of Alexandria
home-comers.
Tho Afternoon Program
! The afternoon program commenced
at one thirty o'clock, with the Hon.
Nathaniel T. Cherry, circuit clerk OF
Clark county. In the presidents chair.
j. H. Best OF Quincy was to have pre-
sided. but was unable to come.
Tho Letters From Absentees.
AS Is always the case there were
some Of the old citizens who either
from one cause or another were I'M
able to be present, but who sent re-
minders in the shape of letters. These
letters contained messages OF interest
and all OF them sent greetings to the
assembled home-comers, regretting
that they were not among those
present" These letters were read by
Mr.. T. w. Murphy to whom they had
been sent Next to seeing the authors
Of these interesting epistles. listening
to their heart spoken words was q
good substitute.
-s
Mrs. George Harrison.
| Mrs. George Harrison. OF Norton
vile, Hopkins Co. KY. ono OF the
very prominent women Of the era Of
the 30s In Alexandria, wrote As fol-
lows:
"The extreme heat and the feeble
ness 1t has brought or Mr.. Harrison
conyinces me we cannot come to the
homecoming. The disappointment Is
very great, the prospect of again meet
ing some of the friends of our earlier
years has been very alluring and has
been the theme OF our conversation
almost every evening since your let
ter came.
You know I have always been 30
proud of our Alexandria people;
when misfortune came with the floods
they were so loyal to each other, no
calling on the public for help. How
loyal we were to each other, and
how real the kindness extended, none
but those friends of earlier years can
ever know how sad 1t seems that so
many Of those warm hearts are for
ever stilled-but I think will know
and understand even now we pay trib-
ute to their kindness.
I'VE extend cordial greetings to all
our old friends and while we regret
our inability to be with them now,
will look forward to that "other home
coming" where we hope to meet with
all those we loved and have lost for
'llA .-,-'vr
MIR. J 3. Pollock.
/ ]. B. Pollock, who is now contract
or In Karnes City, Texas, but who was
one of the we'll known citizens of Alex
andria regretted his inability to be
present. He writes:
"I regret that cannot come to Mis-
souri, at this time. I am not an old
settler farther back than '62, not be-
ing much more than 45 year old
boy. All the names on the program
are familiar by acquaintance or hear
say. hope for you a big crowd and
a full report 30 we who cannot be
there will enjoy reading what others
; got to hear. have deeper regard
for the old pioneer fathers and moth
ers than for any people Of my rank
In the world About half of my life
was spent along the old Bloomfield
road at time when there was still
some hardships to be endured, even
after the old M. I. & N. Ry was built
the balance Of my days out here in
the southwest, that was until recent
years very new country.
'I have heard from the first settlers
OF both sections the truthful hard
ships endured Stories that should
put to same the lives of many idle,
pleasure-loving, non-producing men
and women of today II they have any
real conception of the leaderships OF
the pioneer life that their parents and
grandparents endured Some people
smile at the founders OF the west
with hteir uncouth language and I'M
cultured ways, but those people had
manhood and womanood far above
graft and dishonesty and to west be-
ga many years ago at the Allegheny
mountains An only ended recently at
the shores Of the Pacific"
Steamboats, on tho Des MoInes.
Capt. c. H. Patten of Fort Madison
was to have spoken on the subject of
Early Steamboating on the Des
Moines river" Owing to the heat and
various other circumstances he was
unable to come, but sent his speech
in the shape of a letter.
Il was IL years old when was on
the Badger State on the Des
Monies river as cabin boy. T will he