The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-22
Random Sketches
Trlstate Old Settlers.

| The Tri-Sate Old Settlers assoc
citation was organized and the first re-
union held in 1884, composed Of resi-
dents OF Illinois, Missouri and Iowa.
only about two other annual reunions
followed and the movement was aban-
doned 1t was notable organization,
in which great interest was taken in
this vicinity and deserves to be re-
membered as part Of the permanent
historical memories of Keokuk and
vicinity.
| 1t was organized with the best of
feeling owing to an earnest desire on
/ the part of many old citizens Of Keo-
kuk to meet their friends Of early
days and review old friendships and
acquaintances and to form new ties.
as the Citizens association was asked
to take the preliminary steps towards
establishing on permanent footing
an association that would bring to-
gether, in annual reunions, the pio-
neers OF the three states Accordingly
the Citizens association invited the
citizens Of Keokuk to meet together
in the evening of July g. 1884 at the
United States court room, then located
on the second floor of the Estes house,
to determine the question as to wheth-
er such reunions should be held, and
if so. the time and place, etc.
There was liberal response to this
call, and 1t was resolved unanimously
to organize a Tri-State Old Settlers
association, and the following execu-
tive committee was selected: ]. M.
Reid, DR.. George r. Jenkins, J. o.
VOORHEES,. ID. F. Miller, ST., J. B. Paul,
S. E. Carey and J. H. Cole. On &C.
count Of the local fairs. October 2,
1884 and Rand park In Keokuk were
agreed on as the time and place for
the holding of the initial reunion. At
the meeting Of the executive commit
tee fixing the time and place, consti-
tuition was reported with an elaborate
program of exercises which was strict
ly adhered to, and in addition there
was a dancing platform, a soldiers
dinner of hard tack, pork and beans,
ETC., for all old soldiers, a game Of
baseball and other features Of So
cial nature. including interesting
|
periences.
At the program exercises In the
park, Samuel E. Carey, chairman OF
the executive committee called the
meeting to order. BY invitation, Rev
l.. B. Dennie, we'll known old settler
preacher, OF Knoxville, ILL.,, invoked
the divine blessing. He had follow
ed his calling in all the three states
named. General Belknap madc an in
teresting address and Judge Edward
tombstone made pleasing and co
jquent address Of welcome Gen. John
W.. Noble, former Keokuk resident.
then of st. Louis, gave the response
on behalf of Missouri. Hon. Henry
Strong, also former resident Of Iowa,
gave the response for Illinois.
| In the afternoon the late Rev. VIII
liam salter Of Burlington. opened the
lexercises with prayer and the late
Mayor A. G.. Adams of the same city,
entertained the listeners with an In
itertaining address. Other addresses
we're made by Hon. William Hatch of
missouri, Capt. ]. w. Campbell of Fort
/ Madison, Capt. William Hillhouse.
Hon. Edwin Manning, Col g. A. Haw-
Hey of Hamilton, Ill, which program
was occasionally intercepted with mu-
sic, vocal and instrumental
| A committee appointed by the ex-
ecutive committee to report officers
and an executive committee for the
ensuing year submitted the following
which was adopted:
| Hon. VIM. N. Glover, Hon. Thomas
c.. Sharpe, Hon. Samuel M. Chitten-
den, for Illinois; Col. David Moore,
Major R. D. Cramer. Joseph Mccoy,
esq, for Missouri, and Hon. Edward
tombstone, Capt. ]. w. Campbell and
/ Hon Edwin Manning for Iowa. The
committee further recommended that
| Hon. Edward tombstone be selected as
president Of the board and the other
members be vice presidents, and also
! the election of John H. Cole as secre-
tary and j. O. VOORHEES, as treasurer,
Officers and Committees.
The following Is complete list Of
| officers and committees from the in
ception of the association to october
2 when the first reunion was held.
! Look over the list and note how many
. have gone to the other shore, in your
recollection
d. F. Miller, Sr., chairman of the
1 first meeting held July 3, 1884; D. c.