Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-04-10

Special to the Democrat.
On last Thursday April 3 a great
throng of people estimated at be-
tween 700 and 1000 left their farms,
stores, mills, shops, banks and homes
and met at the home of Thomas M.
Greer on the Boone Trail Highway
near Rutherwood, N. C. to celebrate
the one hundredth birthday of his
father Riley Greer. 1t was a most
beautiful and lovely day; not cloud
floating in the sky, and the sun SEEM
ed to point down with fingers of
warmth, light and love, amid the
| songs of birds, to honor the grand
| old man.
The services were opened by Rev.
L. c. Wilson bs reading the first
chapter of Psalms, following with a
prayer, A number of noted ministers
and speakers were present who ad-
ded much to the occasion by deliver
ing very pleasing and attractive ad-
dresses. First speaker was Rev. Con-
ley Greer, a relative of the aged man
who made very appropriate talk,
closing with the pathetic little poem
Rock me to sleep mother, rock me
to sleep"
The minister was followed by Pro-
fessor |. G. Greer of Boone who
paid a fitting tribute to the pioneers
who had blazed the way leading to
our present civilization Prof. Greer
said in part: "The man whose birth
day we have met to celebrate has liv-
ed during the lifetime of every pres
ident of the United States except
Washington"
| He was born on April 3, 1924, in
what was then the wilderness of wes-
tern North Carolina; John Adams
the second president, Thomas Jeffer-
son, Father of the Declaration of In
dependence and third president, JAS
Madison, father of the Constitution,
and fourth president, were still iiv-
ing. He was born the year that John
Quincy Adams was elected president
Here is man who with one hand
can reach back into the cradle Of our
national life and with the other he
can feel the throbbing pulse of our
onrushing civilization of 1924.
| When he was born there were
only twenty three states in the Un-
ION, two of these were west of the
Mississippi. During his life time 25
states have been born and added to
the Union. Not foot of railroad had
been built when this man came into
the world. Our mighty industrial sys-
tenn has been built up during his life
time. | could enumerate at length the
wonderful changes that have taken
place during the life of this man.
But amid all these rapid develop
ments, there is one thing that has
never changed, it is the value of a
citizen in community who has liv-
ed the clean, courageous life that
our own Uncle iley Greer has lived.
(At this point the speaker empha-
sized the Importance of clean life)
In the midst of our marvellous pro-
gress let us not forget that we owe
to the pioneers of this country, who
made it possible for us to enjoy the
blessings of our present civilization
Over every modern luxury there is
lurking the shadow of ancient hard.
ship wrought out by these men OF
valor AS we speed along our splen-
did highways, let US remember that
this would not have been possible
/ had it not been for the OK cart that
first blazed the pathway. Let us not
forget that where our great cities and
factories now stand there once stood
the mighty forests that had to be fell
ed by the woodman's axe. All these
blessings we enjoy because such mer
as our distinguished friend today hao
the courage to face and complete the
task that lay before them"
Prof. Greer was followed by Rev
G. w. Sebastian and Uriah Farthine
who delivered very touching address
es on the Importance of right living
and true citizenship.
The vocal music was in charge o1
the Rutherwood and Stony Fork sin
i ginging choirs, and was highly enjoy
ed by all.
j A sumptuous dinner of the mos
j palatable food was then spread before
the multitudes, There was no reason
for anyone going away hungry, fol
like the miraculous feeding of th'