The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-18
Captain J. F. Daugherty Replied 70
Welcome Address at Old Settlers
Reunion Exercises
Yesterday.
CRAIG WAS ON PROGRAM
Local Man Took Place Of Just'cs
Horace E. Deemer Of su-
preme Bench Who Was
Not Present.

Keokuk was we'll represented yes
terday at the forty.fourth annual re
union of the pioneers and old settlers
of Lee county: Besides generous
delegation from this city. Capt. James
F. Daugherty. one OF the pioneers OF
Keokuk as well as OF the county, re-
, sponded to the address OF welcome
from Mayor A. P. Brown. The Hon
John e. Craig, non-partisan candidate
for district judge, took Justice Deem
er's place on the program.
Capt. Daugherty spoke OF the earl
lest meeting of the association and
called to mind such men as General
Augusts Caeser Dodge, Col. William
Patterson and the Hon. D. F. Miller.
Capt. Daugherty's response to the
welcome address was as follows:
Mr.. President
In response to your mayors cordlal
and generous welcome to the pioneers
and old settlers on this, their 44th
annual reunion in your city in which
was organized and held their first
meeting in the old fair grounds July
"a, 1871. This was a great gathering
from all parts of the county and a
gala day for the visitors estimated at
between four and five thousand in
Guiding old and young visitors who
came in farm wagons. riding on horse
back Or in OK wagons as there was
them none OF our modern means or
travel as now.
The first president OF our associa-
ton was Col. VIM. Patterson, one OF
fKeokuk's Oldest and most venerated
citizens, who presided at this meet
ing. General Augustus Caesar Dodge
OF Burlington, Iowa, was the orator
Of the day and our venerated friend
Hon. DanI. F. Miller, ST., made one
OF his characteristic addresses. There
was selected one vice president from
each OF the several townships in Lee
Ecounty and believe there Is not "a
Fsingle member today living OF the
original organization.
And now in behalf Of the pioneers
and old settlers we heartily thank
you for your generous welcome to
your city. sts&4 -
Feel at Home Here.
The old settlers and pioneers OF Lee
county assembled here today in your
beautiful city are no strangers TO your
kind and royal treatment Of them ana
of your hospitality that has been
often tested, on many similar annual
reunions of our association, when our
membership was much fuller and
composed Of the older and most prom
inent citizens of the county OF which
there are very few still living. The
pioneers and Old Settlers association
has been on wheels and we have neio
MANY enjoyable reunions In other
places, but when held in the initial
CITY OF our organization, Fort Madi-
son, we feel at home.
And repeat that we are all glad
to be with you on this occasion ana
I hope that many of US may be spared
TO meet in your city on several more
annual reunions Of the pioneers ana
old settlers, and they all Join me IN
the sentiment.
Happy to meet, sorry to part, glad
to meet again"
Now pioneers, old settlers and TEL
low citizens, want to say that feel
highly complimented and honored IN
having been selected to respond to
your mayors generous welcome 10
your city on this forty-fourth anniver-
sarv OF the reunion Of the Pioneers
and Old Settlers association OF Lee
county.
Few Pioneers are Left.
Tbera are a very few of the old pio-
neers left who migrated and came
west overland through trackiess will
derness. crossing the great Father OF
waters between the early COS ana
4O,s. They are nearly all gone to
their long homes, "the great unknown
beyond." and, those who are left are
living on borrowed time and will soon
follow them ''to that undiscovered
country from whose borne no traveller
returns"
Those early, spartan pioneers, both
men and women, were q brave ano
| God.fearing band of patriots and good
samaritans, and did yoeman service
| in aiding and assisting the new com
orc Inv dividing with them their
scanty supplies and small homes until
such times as new homes could be
huilt for them, and in which they
were cheerfully aided and assisted by
all the able-bodied men in the towns,
and In the country the neighbors far
and near joined together and did the
same. assisting them in many other
! ways by many kindly acts until their
| first crop could be raises.
| In those early days we had no rich,