Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-25
ANNUAL REUNION
.|NCALDWELLPARK
Large Number Present at
Old Settlers and Old
Soldiers Picnic
M. B. HUTCHINSON is
PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
Many Take Part in Program
of Speeches and Musical
Selections

The old settlers and old soldiers of
F., Wapello county united in their annual
picnic and celebration Friday at Cald.
j well park, where after the picnic din
ner. music and speech prevailed
! throughout the afternoon hours. The
crowd numbered into the h, 1dreds and
was composed largely of the oder gen.
Grafton, who look forward to this op-
j portunity to meet and talk over old
times with comrade or pioneer friend.
| The officers of both the old settlers
and old soldiers associations were
nominated by committees and unani-
nous election followed their report.
The program opened at 1870 o'clock
with G.. l.. Nye of Agency, presiding.
Mrs. Louise Adler read the names OF
those who had answered the final
summons since the last reunion, and
the long list bore witness to the fact
that every year the ranks of the veter-
ans and pioneers are more rapidly de-
creasing in number.
| Veterans Parade.
The old soldiers then formed in line
and paraded for short distance, and
| q
and bent forms struggled to stand
erect when the lively strains of martial
music were heard from the fife and
drum corps. The Highland choir fol-
lowed with Just Before the Battle
Mother" and Rev. J. G. Kendrick de-.
I, livered the invocation. A choir from
Salem gave "Juanita.' H. Fl. Ken.
needy, one of the old time fiddlers, play
ed THE Soldiers JOY" and "The Ark
, ansas Traveller" which brought back
memories of long ago to many In the
audience.
John H. Fish, the first speaker of the
afternoon. dwelt at some length upon
scenes and incidents which happened
in the days when the county was
young. He called attention to the
many blessings which Iowans have to
be thankful for, among which was the
fact that the green fields of the Hawk.
| eye state had never been converted
into battlefields. He compared the
present age with the pioneer days and
pointed out the wonderful progress
! that has been made along various
j lines.
| After the clo~c # Mr.. Fish's ad-
dress. mike .tet composed OF
! Mrs. A. w. Slaught, Mrs. Nellie Hughes
Ed Mathers and j. J. Trenneman, sang
j"Darling Nellie Gray" and "The Vac
ant Chair" M. B. Hutchison, the prin.
cipal speaker of the afternoon, was
then introduced. The Highland choir
| followed Mr.. Hutchison's address with
another selection, after which Major A.
H. Hamilton told the audience some.
thing about the state as 1t was when
he came across 1t in June, 1854, In a
stage coach, and arriving at Council
Bluffs saw the town of Omaha being
! surveyed. There were two log cabins
on the site at that time A few months
! later he came to Ottumwa, then vii
/ lage of about 400 population.
| An Old Acrobat.
Jacob Myer, 60 years of age, and
shoulder high by eight men, perform
dollars to any man of his age VINO
would duplicate it. The stunt" con
sisted of standing on the board and
bending forward until his hands were
! fiat on the surface of the plank without
bending his knees. Mr.. Myer did the
feat with such ease that many did not
fully appreciate the remarkableness OF
the performance; but no one ventured
to take up the hundred dollars offer.
| Short talks were heard from sew
eral representatives of different com
munities, and the Salem and Highland
choirs contributed musical selections
at intervals. After the program had
been completed most of the picnickers
returned to their homes, while few
remained on the grounds for supper
| Relics Are Shown.
Mrs. M. c. Carlos, COS Ellis avenue
brought with her several relics of the
past, which were the objects of much
interest to old and young alike. Among
the collection was printed ribbon
which dated back to the days wher
! Wapello county was opened for settle
ment. The ribbon reads: Taylor ant
Fillmore, Wapello county. First to ad
lvance-the last to retreat. Constitu
ton and laws; we know but two super
liors-the God Of heaven and the laws
of our country. We bow only at the
altar of deity and to the shrine O.
beauty. Iowa, 1S4S.'
A document yellowed with age rep
resented the muster order Of Mrs. Car
los father and read as follows:
James Randle:-Slr, you are here
by notified that the musters for thu
present year will be held at the follow
ing times and places, viz Regimenta
muster on the 7th of October between
the farms of William Bullock and N
|Gasaway; battalion muster on the 22nt
day of May in Charlestown; compan!
|musters on the following days: thu
second Saturday in April and the frs
Saturday in September; when ant
where you will punctually appea
armed and equipped as the law directs
precisely alto o'clock each day.
! Aaron Martin, Jr., Capt.
lC. R. Johnston, Orderly Sergeant.
Morch Ok 1SOAD