Pioneer Program Honors - September 1939

HASTIE, MILLER, LUNDY, SCIESZINSKI, SCIESINSKI, EASTER, HICKMAN, HILTON, ROWLES

Posted By: DJ Scieszinski
Date: 5/25/2018 at 14:19:30

MONROE COUNTY NEWS
Monday, September 25, 1939

PIONEER PROGRAM HONORS 270 OVER 65

Approximately 270 men and women over 65 years of age were honored guests for the special pioneer program on the southeast corner of the square. The elderly people were seated inside an enclosure and their names and ages registered at the entrance.

The Rev. W. J. Hastie gave the invocation for the program and John Miller, president of the Commercial club, welcomed the crowd. Hugh W. Lundy, secretary of the club, introduced Charles Miller for the principal talk. Miller spoke briefly, but to the point He said in part:

“It is a privilege to look into the faces of the men and women who are the pioneers of this community. Your contributions have made life decent for yourselves and people round-about. We rejoice to honor ourselves in being sons, daughters, friends and neighbors of you.”

Concerning the Pioneer day’s festival, Miller said: “Today I have heard on all sides that this is the most outstanding community affair ever held in our city. It is completely sane, reasonable and sincere.”

Prizes were given at the close of the program to Mr. and Mrs. A. Scieszinski of Melrose as the oldest married couple present. Scieszinski is 94 and his wife 86. Both came to this county in 1871. They have been married 69 years.

Mrs. Mary Easter, 90, was given the cash award as the oldest woman of this county present for the occasion. Mrs. Easter has lived in the county 73 years. S. G. Hickman won the prize for being the oldest county resident at the program. Hickman who is 98, lives two miles southeast of Albia. He came here in the summer of 1866 and taught school in the Miller district nine miles northwest of Albia. He taught one term in Lucas County in 1867 and returned here to the Miller district. He settled in March 1874 on the farm where he now lives. The oldest person present born in the county was Miss Jane Hilton, 88. W. A. Rowles, 86, was disclosed as the oldest man present born in the county.