Ida County IAGenWeb

FIRST OLD SETTLERS PICNIC 1899

First Old Settlers Meeting
Ida County Pioneer, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Sep 14, 1899, p.3, col.3 (synopsis of the article)
The first meeting toward organizing an old settlers association was held in the Williams Park last Tuesday.  The audience was larger and more enthusiastic upon the occasion than had been anticipated.  Fully 600 people were present. The program began at noon by the calling to order by James F. Wilkinson, who read the call and nominated Hon. E. B. Baird as chairman, and the exercises began.  The first was a prayer by Rev. A. E. Smith followed by an address of welcome on behalf of the citizens of Ida Grove by Mayor George T. Williams.  Dr. G. C. Moorehead then made the response on the part of the old settlers.  Moved and carried that the association be known as the “Old Settlers Association of Ida County.”  Moved and carried that to be eligible to become a member one must be a resident of Ida County for twenty years. President, Dr. G. C. Moorehead, Secretary, James F. Wilkinson, Vice Presidents, George T. Williams of Corwin, Hon. E. B. Baird of Maple, William Colvin of Blaine, William Pilcher of Hayes, A. R. Dunn of Logan, H. H. Lund of Battle, Henry Ashton of Douglas, William Higgins of Silver Creek, John Heffner of Griggs, J. H. McCleary of Galva, Dave Warnock of Galva, D. Countryman of Grant.  George Harvey was elected treasurer and J. C. Preston, Robert H. Todd and Rev. A. E. Smith appointed as a committee on by-laws.

*Note: Julius C. Higgins’ wife, Nancy Cosner,  died Mar 13, 1898 in Ida Grove.  Julius married Betsey Long on June 16, 1898 in Woodbury County, Iowa, therefore, this 1899 newspaper account of old settlers lists Julius’ current wife, Betsey Higgins.