Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-07-30
OfD SETTLERS
Will PICNIC
According to Enthusiastic
Meeting Held Monday
FIRST CELEBRATION
ON FRIDAY, AUG. 20
Residents of Rocky Ford and Vicinity
for Twenty Years and Over With
Their Families Are Invited

HCH FduIiiCS hiS "NtsSa
A most enthusiastic meeting, in
which nearly all of the old fami-
lies were represented, was held in
Grand opera house on Monday af-
ternoon-pursuant to the call
formulated by Mrs. NJ. J. Ander-
son and published in The Enter
prise last week.
An informal discussion of the
project showed that everyone
eagerly favored the proposed Or
ganization of old settlers, and the
organization of "The Early Set
tiers Society of Rocky Ford and
Vicinity" was perfected by the
election of w. G. Steele as presi-
dent and Mrs. NJ. j. Anderson as
secretary.
1t was decided that every per-
son who has resided in Rocky
Ford or vicinity for twenty years
or longer should be eligible to
membership, and the following
were appointed committee to
draft bylaws for the organization:
w. B. Goblin, Chas. Recker, Annie
b. Elser, Kate Steward and Belle
Daring.
The third Friday in August of
each year was decided upon as
the date for the annual picnic, to
which all members of the society
and their families are invited.
The following were appointed
committee on arrangements for
the first picnic which falls on
Aug. 20: w. B. Goblin, o. j..
Baxter, Lulu M. Maxwell, Belle
Daring. P. j. Reifel, A. P. Kouns,
George Jones, Julia Best, Nellie
Thompson, Laura Elmer, Andy
Nicholes, l.. N. Hendricks, W. L..
Sickenberger and J. Z. Gauger.
Some Old Time History
A feature of the Old Settlers
picnic program will undoubtedly
be "reminiscences of early days,
and to assist in this laudable un-
dertaking The Enterprise will
give short summary of notable
events and arrivals as chronicled
in this paper from the date of its
founding-June 2, 1SS7-until
twenty years ago, in which we
will try to avoid mention of such
old timers as the Swink, Swift,
Best, Potter and other families
who have resided here between 40
and 80 years, and of L. N. Hen
dricks-who taught school at the
old Ford, time runneth not to the
exact date:
The first public sale of lots in Rocky
Ford was held on April IL. 1887, and
netted the sum of $4,000.
J.R. Simpson and G. W. Miers of But
ler, Mo-, were new arrivals mentioned
June 2. 1887.
On June l6 company had been form
ed to sink our first artesian well.
The State Bank opened up for business
on July z. with Col. Frank Clendsnnn's
genial face behind the bars as cashier.
JIM. and Sterling Tucker were arrivals
from Butler, NO., on July l, 1887.
"Our worthy farmer. gardner and nur-
seryman," J. H. Crowley, was given a
glowing write-up on July Ia, for the fine
orchard that was then less than year
old.
Jeff Burson had all the plastering he
could do in July, 1887.
Fred Leonard, w. A. Black. J. W.
Decker, T. H. Emerson and Miss Ella
Laramey were arrivals in July.
j.. S. Piper came down from Pueblo on
Aug. to superintendent work on the
Hendricks block.
Rocky Ford became an Incorporated
town on Aug. 6, 1887.
A. [. Kellogg, L. H. Hearn. J. Coug-
hren, W. H. Burgess and Jas. Fulton
were arrivals 10 August
The first official Watermelon Day was
held on Sept. z. 1897. and 1000 people
participated.
]. H. Phillips. E. S. Smith, B. Padfield
H. H. Clock, W. J. Clark, E. j. Robb