Reunion of Mills County Pioneer Families and Descendants
Many Former Residents Returned to Renew Old Acquaintances at Picnic Dinner,
Held in Glenwood on Sunday,
Organization Perfected
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
June 24, 1935
Some 200 sons and daughters of Mills County pioneers gathered on the Methodist church lawn Sunday for a 1:00 o'clock picnic dinner.
The affair was in response to a wish having been expressed by several early day residents who were visiting here that a "get together" day might be arranged in order that
they might meet a larger number of old acquaintances.
Mrs. J.W. Carter, Mrs. C.E. Dean, Mrs. T.Q. Records and Mrs. M.J. Williams were the voluntary sponsoring committee and to them goes the credit for what all who were present agree
was the most pleasant social affair of the kind ever experienced.
The weather was ideal and the pot luck picnic dinner dishes were spread on a long table in the shade of a protecting tree which tempered the mid-day rays of the early summer sun.
Smaller tables were arranged on the lawn and the meal was served cafeteria style.
After all had been served and no more responded to the appeal for the second or third helping, there were still platters of fried chicken, plates of meat loaf, dishes of salads and many kinds
of cakes which were untouched. The bounteous repast gave proof that the domain of Queen Mills is still in the land of plenty.
It was a jolly social hour these old friends spent together, and incidents of yesteryear were told and re-told as the years rolled backward, carrying many of three score years back in memory
to school days and to the days of the Gay 90's.
No program had been arranged but at the close of the dinner hour. J.W. Carter called those assembled to order for an impromptu series of talks, turning the meeting over to Frank W. Choate, who acted as toastmaster.
The first address was by Fred Wright, well known attorney of Omaha, who, with his wife, had returned to this, his boyhood home, and who delivered an excellent address contrasting the past and present,
and expressing the belief that while changes are taking place in our economic and governmental life, yet that changes are inevitable and are evidence of the fact that progress is in process of fulfillment.
Among others who spoke briefly were Bertha Tubbs Patrick Alexander of Evanston, Ill., a former resident of Emerson and Glenwood; Mrs. Willard Gaston of Shenandoah, who will be remembered here as Mary King, daughter
of an early day merchant in Glenwood; Rose Claiborne Leachman, of Des Moines, daughter of a well known pioneer Glenwood family.
Mrs. Rose Lyon LaChappelle of Denver, daughter of H.R. Lyon, a well known former Glenwood business man; Dr. and Mrs. R.B. Tubbs of Emerson, while those from here who responded with reminiscent remarks were
Dr. George Mogridge, Mary Tolles, Dr. F.M. McCluskey, Mrs. W.F. Hill, Mrs. J.W. Carter, Mrs. C.E. Dean, Dr. and Mrs. J.M. Donelan, Mr. and Mrs. T.Q. Records, Mrs. M.J. Williams and C.R. Buffington.
Lack of time prevented calling on many others.
So pleasant had this experience of renewing old acquaintances and reliving old incidents been that those present were unanimous in the expressed belief that such a gathering should be made an annual affair.
A permanent organization was formed and the following officers were chosen for the coming year to arrange for the reunion, which is to be on the third Sunday in June.
President: Mrs. T.Q. Records
Vice President: Frank W. Choate
Secretary: Mrs. W.F. Hill.
In the course of the afternoon it was ascertained that Mary Tolles was the oldest native born Mills County resident present, she having been born here in 1859.
Ann Terry, who is in her 91st year was the oldest person present. Hon. E. Starbuck, who had intended to attend, having come in from his home at the west edge of Glenwood, would have been
the oldest person present as he is now in his 95th year, but he was slightly indisposed that day and it was thought best for him to just hold open house on the porch of the home of his daughter,
Mrs. M.J. Williams, which was only half block away and where all of the out of town visitors and many from Glenwood called to chat with him during the afternoon.
Among those from a distance who were present and who have not been previously mentioned, were: Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cheney, sons Horace and James, Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Warren and son Rollin,
and Mary Birdsall, all of Emerson; Mrs. J.F. Martin, of Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gipe of Strahan, and her aunt, Mrs. George Moon, of Yankton, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest DeLashmutt of Omaha;
Mrs. Charles Follett of Malvern; Mrs. E.G. Whipple of Carson; Dr. W.G. Alexander of Evanston, Ill.; Wm. and Eugene Leachman, of Des Moines.
