The Bismarck tribune., 1924-08-20
1900 FORMER
n. PEOPLE AT
ANNUAL PICNIC
Many Gather in Defiance
Park on Puget Sound, with
Unusual Attendance
RENEW ACQUAINTANCE

Tacoma, Wash, Aug 2O.-The an.
nual North Dakota picnic, in Point
Defiance park, with an attendance
which approximated 1900. was con
sidered one Of the largest and most
successful the association has held
Not only were many Puget Sound
cities represented, but other sections
of the Coast. California, Oregon. and
Canada. sent their quota. There
were also visitors from North Da-
kota and Minnesota.
No formal program was arranged
as the majorlty wished to renew old
friendships and meet former neigh
bors Instead of addresses, Frank
Fl. Parks. president of the organiza-
ton, called for short talks. Re-
sponses were made by w. H. Stuts-
man OF Mandan. visitor in the
city: John Sorlie, formerly Of Grand
Forks. now Of Tacoma: f.. Ostlund,
former resident of Hillsboro. now
of Seattle, and John Fea of Enum-
claw, who came to North Dakota in
1871, sent there by the Hudson Bay
Company lS years before North Da-
kota became state.
50 "OId Timers"
Fifty of the picnic throng removed
to North Dakota between the years
of 1868 and 1885. Mr. and Mrs. w.
n. Murphy, who came from Bremen
ton to attend the picnic, settled in
Pembna, n. d., in 1881.
Registration in charge Of Dr.. John
Arnason Johnson was arranged un-
der seven localities, each city and
vicinity listed in separate book
The largest and most fully repre-
sented were Bismarck and vicinity,
with 800; Minot and vicinity, 147;
Grand Forks and vicinity, LAG; Dick
inson and vicinity, ll5; Valley City,
Jane stown and vicinity, Ill; Fargo
district, 80; and Williston and vi
cinity, 43. Ward county had " for
mer residents present, with Stark
county registering 81.
The University Of North Dakota
was represented by an enthusiastic
group, talking over college days
The Valley City State Normal also
had former students among the
crowd of picnickers. Among them
was Mrs. Anna Cook Denny of Ev'
erett, for many years secretary OF
the Valley City Normal and former
ly teacher of penmanship. She
drove from Everett for the day, ac
companied by group of norma
graduates. Other educators, former
ly of North Dakota, included Mrs
Esther Pike Griffin of Seattle, who
taught calisthenics at the University
Of North Dakota.
Preparations for the reunion were
most completely perfected under th'
direction of an able committee, co
operating with the president, MI
Parks, and the association secretary
Mrs. John Arnason Johnson, VIII
carried out plan of publicity whlcl
announced the picnic gathering in al
or very nearly all the newspapers o
the Northwest.
Registration books used at the re
union, with names, places of resi-
dence, and other data, will be KEEP
on file by the secretary. forming
convenient state directory OF MORT
Dakota people now living in tn
west.
Many ~" People
The following former Unlversit
of North Dakota people were pres
ent: Mr.. and Mrs. F. W. Grlffl
esther Pike). Mr.. and Mrs. ber
johnson mabel Holt Johnson). Id;
Laura. and Edna Myre, Luelia Co'
A. B. Comfort, Miss Cora B. Adam
Miss Amy Gunther. Miss Anna Ber'
DR.. and Mrs. John Arnason Johnso
Inga Knudson Johnson).