The Dickinson press., 1913-08-23
REUNION AT 0AKDALE
NEARLY 1000 PEOPLE
Biggest Gathering Ever Held in Dunn Co. Thirty Autos From Dickinson
Barbecue Fne Bukng Contests Real Thing. Simpson, sekney
and Richards Speakers. Ideal Weather Saturday. Deneh
ing Rain Next Morning Caught Many on Road nome

The attendance at the Dunn county
reunion at Oakdale on Saturday, Aug
ust 10th, was much larger than had
been anticipated. Conservative esti-
mates place the number of people at
the Kildeer mountain for this grand
event at from 1900 to 1000. The
day was ideal and all the forenoon the
people were arriving. Horseback riders
were in evidence everywhere-probabl
more than 200. A great many came in
automobiles. Thirty cars of people
went out from Dickinson alone and it.
is probable that the total number of
autos on the grounds was not less than
so to rs. Families came in lumber
wagons and in all sorts of conveyances
and from great distances.
1t was the first old settlers reunion
ever held in Dunn county, and it is not
believed that as many people will be
gathered in one place in the county
again for many years. The date had
been we'll advertised and those who
could leave their work for the day did
so. Many farmers, however. could hot
leave the harvest fields as much as they
may have desired to.
M. S. Cuskelly, W. L. Richards and
A. B. Curry were the originators of the
Dunn county reunion and to the untir-
ing efforts of these men is due, in a
great measure. the success of the gath
ering.
The picnic grounds were along the
north bank of the creek on the north
side. of the Mike Cuskelly homestead
The people we're able to get good shade
in the oak and box elder timber that
fringes this stream. 1t was here that
Campbell Scott had roasted the two
beeves for the crowd. Improvised
tables had been placed under large oak
trees. where the carving of the splen-
didly Cooked meat and the siicina OF,
hundreds of loaves Of bread took place
at noon time. The good people of Oak
dale had ordered great quantities of
bread from the Dickinson bakeries and
had themselves cooked gallon after GAL
lon of beans and supposed that they
had made ample provision for all who
might not have their luncheon along.
Coffee was prepared in great wash
boilers and every one was served gen.
erously, without price, as long as the
supply lasted. Most of the people,
however. had their lunch baskets
along, and pot of coffee and a few
slices of the delicious barbecue meat
was all that was desired.
As soon as the meal tour was over
at about O'Clock the speaking began
at the stand in the bowery.
William Connolly, :.one Of the pioneer
settlers of the county, was chairman.
He stated that it was the first reunion
in Dunn county and he was delighted
to see SO many people gathered. He
then called upon Senator L. A. Simp-
son whom he said needed no introduce
tion to an audience in the western part
of the state.
SENATOR L. A. SIMPSON
Mr.. Simpson expressed his delight at
seeing SO many old friends and many
new ones in the audience. He said
the people who blazed the trail in a
frontier country were truly very
brave people. They endured many
hardships which the younger genera
tion and those who followed should ap-
preciate. The struggles of the ::early
day pioneers in great measure
contributed toward the betterment of
mankind in later years.
The thing that goes the farthest,
said Mr.. Simpson, is the smile. 1t
drives away gloom and brings in re-
turn a smile. 1t costs nothing to
give and it is worth millions of dollars
10 any community.
The1e are men and women gathered
todal laid the speaker, who will never
meet again. We have no promise of
the morrow and know not what day
will bring forth.
Dunn county was named for j. P.
Dunn, one of the early residents of Bis
marck. Kildeer mountains. according
to the speakers information, was
named by jeff Mcdonald, who went
through the county in 1879. He was
short Of provisions and killed deer at
the mountain which satisfied his hum
ger. Many residents of the county,
however, had been taught that Ki]deer
was the name handed down by the In
dians. Anyway, the Oakdale country
was noted in early days for its number
Of deer and other big game animals
roaming in the locality.