Mt. Zion Church New Year's Party

ATCHER, BAUMAN, IRVINE, HIGDON, SHEROD, SMALL, WORKMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Paul French
Date: 10/6/2006 at 14:16:38

ANNUAL NEW YEARS’ PARTY HELD AT Mt. ZION CHURCH

The annual New Years’ dinner and program was celebrated Monday, January 1, at the Mt. Zion Presbyterian church. A cooperative dinner was held at noon to which all did justice, followed by a program in the afternoon. Two songs, “Happy New Year” and “As Years Roll Round” were sung at the opening of the party as they have been sung constantly for years and years. The Rural Youth of Harrisburg and Van Buren townships presented an entertaining play. The Rock Creek Rangers with Sunshine Sue and their comedian Mr. Randall Atcher, radio entertainers from station W. H. A. S., Louisville, Ky., were present and gave a radio program which was very enthustiastically [sic] received and it was a real treat.

The Rock Creek Rangers are John (Ned), George (Merlyn) and Sam (Earl) Workman, sons of Mr. and Mrs. George Workman and grandsons of Dr. S. H. Bauman of Birmingham. Rock Creek is one-half mile east of where these Rangers were raised one mile east of Mt. Zion. Sunshine Sue is the former Mary Higdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Higdon, also the wife of John Workman. She was raised at and near Keosauqua. Mr. Atcher is a native of Kentucky, who joined the company. Mrs. Sam who joined the Workman family a short time ago is a nice looking lady from Louisville and it was her first trip to Iowa.

Mrs. Theresa Sherod and her niece Mrs. Small were the only ones present that were living when this event was inaugurated seventy odd years ago.

Next was the candy treat. About two hundred were present. A collection was taken and the budget came out 17 cents to the good. Robert Forbes started the candy treat about 70 years ago and it became a feature of the day. 190 sacks were passed out this year.

The meeting closed by singing “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” and benediction by Rev. Irvine. It was better to be there than to wish you had.

Source: undated newspaper clipping with no source cited contained in “Family History” of the Barker, Sherod, and Forbes families and descendants compiled by Bernadine Forbes Clark, December 1980.