LETTER FROM MRS. BELLE BURNS HARVEY

BURNS, HARVEY

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 11/14/2001 at 23:37:48

From: "Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert"
Subject: LETTER FROM MRS. BELLE BURNS HARVEY, AS FOLLOWS:
Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001 7:41 PM

Decatur County Journal
March ll, l909

Yesterday we attended the Iowa picnic which has come to be an annual
affair in southern California. The crowd was estimated at 20,000. As
early as 8 o'clock the street cars and autos were whizzing by filled
with Iowans. Scattered about the grounds could be seen ladies in white
dresses and all minus wraps. The section of Agricultural Park inside
the race course had been made to represent a map of Iowa, arranged
according to the location of the ninety-nine counties. Each county was
designated by placards at the top of high staffs, with state
headquarters in a tent marked Des Moines at Polk County. Every county
had its table and registration book, and, such a hunting for old time
friends. Of course, we went to Decatur first of all. After lunch came
the election of officers. J.H. MCCORD, formerly of Des Moines, was made
President; J.D. LYONS, of Knoxville, Secretary; and F.N. NICHOLS, of
Waterloo, Treasurer. Music was furnished by the band of the Whittier
State School and the various Fife and Drum Corps of Los Angeles, also
vocal numbers were intermingled with the speeches. The speakers were:
Ex-Senator W.W. DODGE, A.H. STUTSMAN and ROBERT J. BURDETTE. Every time
the music or a speech would begin, the crowd would make a rush for
headquarters and it seemed about half of them would run across old
friends whom they had not seen for ages and stop to exchange greetings,
so you can imagine about how much of the program we heard. Think of
meeting EMMA SNYDER RICE, after so many years. Her father, J.A. SNYDER,
was postmaster at Leon forty years ago. It was certainly a great day
for the Hawkeyes. I will enclose a list of those who registered at
Decatur County Headquarters before we did and no doubt many others
registered later in the day:

MR. and MRS. FRED TEALE, Decatur; MISS CHARLOTTE TEALE, Decatur; I.H.
POLLOCK, Decatur; ESTIN KOGER, Decatur; ETTA MILLER, Decatur; S. STRONG,
Van Wert; LEAH D. SHEELEY, Van Wert; J.D. SULLIVAN, LeRoy; GERTRUDE
LITTLE GREEN, Lamoni; ETTA SHOWERWOOD (?), Lamoni; EDITH N. FRAZIER,
Leon; FRANK ROBINSON, Leon; WINNIE ROBINSON, Leon; FLORA ROBINSON, Leon;
MAY SANDERS, Leon; EMMA DORN WIDNER, Leon; EMMA SANFORD TEN BROOK, Leon;
EVA HASKETT FERGUSON, Leon; EMMA ALEXANDER PROCTER, Leon; C.M.
ARMSTRONG, Leon; KATE PENNIWELL WEATHERBY, Leon; CORA BROOKS FITHIAN,
Leon; MISS IDA BROOKS, Leon; MRS. CARRIE HYATT, Leon; ETTA MCCLELLAN
HALL, Leon; EMMA SNYDER RICE, Leon.

Following is the song written by MRS. HARVEY to be sung to the tune of
"Marching Through Georgia."

Bring along your lunch baskets

And bring a plenty, too;
Bring along your sweethearts,

Your friends both old and new;
This is going to be a time

For everyone of you.
This is the gathering of the Hawkeyes.

Chorus--
Hurrah! Hurrah! We hail the Hawkeye band,
Hurrah! Hurrah! The finest in the land.
Wo we'll sing their praises
While on this golden strand
At this gathering of the Hawkeyes.

We'll come from every county seat,

From hillside and from plain.
From Sioux to old Decatur,

From Blackhawk down to Wayne;
We'll ring in Polk and Story

With every glad refrain
At this gathering of the Hawkeyes.

Chorus-- (repeat)

We'll talk about our pretty girls,

Our hogs and hay and corn,
The glorious fields of waving grain

Our rolling hills adorn.
And all about our senators,

The greatest ever born
At this gathering of the Hawkeyes.

Chorus-- (repeat)

Soon we'll call a president

From out our shining ranks--
A.B. CUMMINS fills the bill

In front and on the flanks,
He will surely win the race,

As did one NANCY HANKS
At this gathering of the Hawkeyes.

--BELLE BURNS HARVEY

Leon, Iowa.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 8, 200l

Messages In This Thread

• LETTER FROM MRS. BELLE BURNS HARVEY (views: 1869)
  BURNS, HARVEY
  Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert -- 11/14/2001 at 23:37:48
  • Re: LETTER FROM MRS. BELLE BURNS HARVEY (views: 462)
    BURNS, HARVEY
    Volunteer -- 8/27/2019 at 18:41:40