The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-12
Home Coming Of Those Who Left the Little
Town and Have Taken Up Their Abode in
Other Parts of the Country
LONG LIST OF FORMER RESIDENTS
Tears Trickle Down Wrinkled Faces Of the Old
er Citizens When the Band Plays
Home Sweet Home.

er. While waiting he met many Of
the old boys and girls" with whom
ne had been associated. The greet
lngs were all SO cordial and friendly
that Immediately Mr.. Murphy be-
thought himself Of Homecoming. He
put his plan into action and sent out
circulars asking many of the old
citizens and native sons and daugh-
tiers of the Missouri town il they
would join him in a grand home-com-
Ing. The answers being eminently
satisfactory he set to work at once
10 formulate plans with the result
that hundreds of Alexandria's citizens
are being brought together and the
old is meeting the new and past times
are being recounted while present his
tory is not neglected.
/ And right here one must not forget
to speak of the music which is being
played by the Citizens Band of Keo-
kuk. under the leadership of Mr. w.
/ Q. Hummer. All the old music was
played today and it brought back it's
memories. Home, Sweet Home" and
Aud Lang Syne' brought tears to
the dim old eyes, and fond memories
to the hearts of many.
Tuesdays Program.
tuesdays program commenced at
Two O'Clock and the meeting was cal
ed to order by Mr. Roy STARTS OF
CORN, who presided in the place of
Judge Callihan of Kahoka. Mr.. Sharts
introduced the Rev. Seymour Of Alex
andria, who offered a prayer, which
was listened to reverently by the
crowd. Music by the band came next
and then Mr.. STARTS introduced Mr.
Rebo, who welcomed the gathering.
c. L. Becker and the War.
Mr.. c. L. Becker of Keokuk, was the
first speaker, his subject being Alex.
andria During the War" Mr.. Becker
/ spoke at some length and was given
goodly amount of attention. He had
with him several interesting souvenirs
In the shape of photographs and cir
culars which he passed through the
audience at the close of his speech.
Mr.. Becker told of the feeling that ex.
listed between the people of Keokuk
and the people Of ALEXANDRIA during
the war, the latter being rebels at
heart for the most part Mr. Becker
/ said:
81 have been requested to give
| some of my experiences during the
war. In 1861. when there was talk OF
/ war, the people of Alexandria began
to organize home company, Dave
Moore, of Union, ran for office, but
was beaten by Puter Johnson. Moore
went back, bitterly disappointed. Most
of the company deserted later to the
! southern cause
"At the time of the battle of Athens,
Ben Stanley, of where Wayland now
is: went to Keokuk, saying the rebels
were going to burn the town. People
objected and rang the bells, ana all
! the citizens turned out armed to the
teeth and took the ferry to Alexan-
/ dria. But 10 and behold no rebels
were found"
Here Mr.. Becker related the ex-
periences the citizens suffered many
being arrested for various drum
head reasons. "The late j. Fred
Kiedaisch," he stated, told him he
was deferred from joining the army
by the thought Of arresting innocent
people" Mr. Becker inherited some
humor into his address when he said
the soldiers from Keokuk cleaned out
his stock of knives and razors and
that was the reason he hadn't shaved
for fifty years. OF all the prisoners
at this time, Mr.. Becker Is the only
one left In conclusion Mr.. Becker
related one or two humorous Incl
dents Of the tire that he had witness
ed.
J. w. Murphy.
In introducing Mr.. Murphy, the
chairman said, I'VE will listen to an
address by the man to whom a great
part of the success of this meeting is
due" Mr.. Murphy was greeted with
applause and listened to very atten-
lively.
Mr.. Murphy recounted the various
attempts made to establish paper
here, the first one being published In
l1s47. "The Old Commercial was es-
tablished in 1s49. THE North Mis-
sourian" was the next paper to be
published, the first issue appearing
In November, 1853 In 1856 1t ceased
to appear and the Delta came into
being.
EuIogIzes Sam Clark.
In 1865 N. q. Rutherford was pub