Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-08
0TTOKEE SCHOOL REUNION
Fifth Annual Reunion of Teachers and
Pupils of OttOkee School, 1850 to
1S70-SOme Of the Boys and Girls"
Cut Capers-Others Write Poetry
All Have a Good Time.

The teachers and scholars of, Ot-
tokee school from 1850 to 1870 met at
the most historical spot in Fulton
county-Ottokee, June 2 for their
Filth Annual Reunion. The day be-
gan with rain but by nine o'clock the
sky was clear and by 1920 one teach
er, Mrs. j C. Aldrich, who taught in
the Fifties, 36 scholars and IA visi-
tors were present and greeted each
other with a warm welcome. Many
were unable to meet with US on ac-
count of sickness and distance that in
tervenes.
Three long tables bountifully laden
with good things to eat (H. G. L. not
considered) were prepared; after din
ner, called to order by the President
W. H. Handy of Ottawa, Ohio, follow
ed roll call and minutes of the last
meeting read and approved. Treas
urers report read and accepted. Elec-
ton of officers resulted: President W.
II. Handy, Vice President, Allen
Shade, Secretary, Erv Verify, Treas
urer, Ann Shade. Letters of regret
and greetings read. Moved and sec
onded the poem of R. Handy Rice be
given the press for publication car
ried. Remarks by our President in
regard to our dinner, he favoring the
Cleaners to furnish our next dinner
carried, and Dan Brown and Jerry
Jones appointed to confer with the
Cleaners and report. Our President
gave an interesting talk on our old
happy school days and read the
names of the old settlers who lived
when Ottokee amounted to some
thing. Then a hush of sadness came
in the report of the passing out of
one of our willing workers, the wife
of a scholar, Adney Crout. All stood
with bowed heads for a brief time in
her memory.
Mrs. J. c. Aldrich gave greetings
to her many scholars who were pres
ent from Indiana, Michigan and many
from Ohio. Select poem "Old Friends"
read by the President. Recitation by
Anna Atkinson Todd of Ft Wayne
The perplexed housekeeper" which
merited applause followed another en-
titled 'My New Silk Dress"
A letter from Roxie H. Rice who
lives in Marshall, Michigan, and has
gone into the food producing craze:
l surely have learned. it is work all
right,
For against weeds and stones, l am
having some fight.
When it come to burdock, and stones
on a small acre lot
Dandilions bobbing up in every known
spot
Their yaller blossoms the eye to be-
dazzle,
Michigan, has Ohio beaten to a fraz-
zle.
I go out in the morning, pull weeds
for awhile
Then gather huge stones to dump on.
the pile
Wondering, deep within my own secret
heart
"What the dickens they are good for"
All these stones that l cart?
| look out at my cherry trees loaded
with bloom,
The pear trees and plum trees, too,
seem on boom
The apple tree buds are all swelling
with promise,
Leaving naught to encourage the
doubt of a Thomas,
The raspberry whispers "I will do
what I may
Towards supplying you dainties at
some future day
Even strawberry vines peep up from
the soil
And promise good interest on all of
my toll.
With so much to encourage a fellow
to work
And so little to tempt a fellow to
shirk-
Unless one a profitable future would
carve,
He should be stranded in laziness to
beautifully starve.
Of course, such orders from the Capt.
tol, coming
To "set all the farmers utensils a.
humming,
To get out in the open and take off
our coat"
Naturally gets on the nerves (maybe,
gets your. goat.)
1t might in measure, somewhat
tighten our groans
To just for one moment, see WOODY
carrying stones.
And now Ny Dear Schoolmates, this
jingle I send
Were it oozing with wisdom, 'twere
not like your friend;
As the years glide around, leaving
scars in their wake
Our friends passing from US leaving
only heart ache,
We have much to be thankful for
when praises are sung,
That through all Life's sad changes
our hearts are still young.
ROXIE HANDY RICE.
The next reunion will be the first
Thursday in June 1918.
EN-. VERIFY, Sec'y.