| Show THE OLD FOLKS EXCURSION OF 0 1884 tue tiie annual old folks foik sE excursion has come to be a regular event anticipated at edwith with pleasure by the aged people of this city and adjacent settlements it was started out of pure love and respect for old age it is nonsectarian non sectarian has no politics discriminates against no race and looks for no reward except the tile joy of witnessing the happiness of the beneficiaries it has always been successful and each year of experience makes it more and more prosperous ergus erbus and ag agreeable rateable on tuesday morning mornin a special train of fourteen cardall car sall told tm moved out of the utah central depot southward containing nearly six hundred passengers the engine was gally gaily decorated with national sags lags and from each car fluttered a small edition of the stars and stripes pes ane morning was as bright anti and sunny and a cool but gentle gentie gentle gentie breeze subdued the heat there wasa was a s smile mile upon almost every countenance here and there was a feeble form evincing slight indisposition but the prospect of a days recreation gave promise of revived health and everybody every Dody was che cheerful erfur and animated the committee us as usual were on the alert to administer to the comfort of the guests of the day and a plentiful supply of cakes candies and lem iem lemonade was distributed keeping all the members of the committee dusy busy during the trip the old folks choir led by brother W 11 foster passed through the train singing ia familiar songs and mel mei melodious odous glees lees in excellent style and in familiar chat about old times the veteran ladies and gentlemen whiled the time away at all the stations on the route accessions were made to the party and by byr the time american fork was approached f ully fully six hundred Ier ler persons dersons sont sons were on board the oldest lady ady on the train was sister mary bishor bishop of the tenth ward a aged edca 05 and aud and t the e oldest gentleman eather father a her james burgon of union in his gist year sister almina covey was present the oldest living member of the church in the company and probably in the territory she was baptized by david whitmer in august 1830 and was confirmed by her cons cousin in the prophet joseph smith there were tickets presented to persons over seventy years of age and there was a sprinkling of blue ribbons in the company denoting those between eighty and ninety years we missed the g good old bishop edward hunter hunten from among the ni nineties he lias has gone to his rest crowned with the blessings of all who knew him al 11 old oid and young father wilder was not present he is now a centenarian and was not quite able to take his usual trip with the old folks brother george goddard always active as one on of the committee was absent on amis anis slon in europe and his cheerful voice and hearty presence was missed on this occasion af after ter the train traill left lef t the depot some old people about fifteen in number arrived and were in great grief f at the loss of their hol hoi holiday ldar idar their appeal to superintendent john sharp was too much for his big heart and he fixed up an eng ong engine lilt and car as a special and sent them c on n their way rejoicing to american fork where they ar arrived rived in good time to partake of the festivities comment is needless praise is super flukus at american fork a grand reception was given three bands were out ant an a large 1 I concourse of citizens with teams enough to convey the passengers to the christensen grove part ot 0 the chipman estate which had bad been beer prepared f for or the party one hundred and thirty young men under the direction of win W hunter son of the late bishop hunter of honored memory had cleaned out the underbrush aila aill made the grounds pleasant setting tables for picnic and erecting crestin a bowery and platform for the exercises of the day it took some time to convey the people to the grove as many of them needed careful assistance into theve the vehicles but they were all ali taken there in safety and being joined by many man others from different parts of ut utah co ormed a company of considerably over a thousand persons the gr ground aund was a trifle damp in consequence of high waters in early summer but there was no dust and the shade kasnot was not dense so that while the sun shone in the gro pro grove was nice and cool stoves ahad been set up and the old ladies who wanted a comfortable cup of tea teay were well supplied there was plenty of picnic for c everybody very body and the american fork people with bishop bromley at the lead were kindly attentive to the wants of the visitors the bands discoursed excellent music and the members of the pleasant grare grove band 13 in li umber number led by N 1 B walker looked gay iu in their fine new uniform after the uie picnic the company was called to order ly by brother CR sava savage e the old folks choir moir san sang a glee elder eider warren off offered ered prayer and after music from the A F band the company was heartily welcomed by b bishop bromley in a brief and pointed speech the pleasant grove band liand played and president angus M cannon made an eloquent and patriotic speech after which the lehi band performed apostle george teasdale spoke in a 3 spirited and pointed manner then followed a quartette by the old folks choir mr nir T A lyne the veteran tragedian recited a scene from william tell in his forcible and telling tellin style it was received with loud and well deserved applause brother savage announced that presents had bad been prepared f for or theold folks folls of american fork foik over 70 0 years of age they were distributed in large numbers one of the chief being awarded to uncle richard phillips of toms river elver the oldest lady present mrs mary bishop of the tenth ward was given a very handsome plated teapot the oldest man present james bu burgon burron r on sang a son song andaas and was presented W with R I a valise containing sundry useful articles also a walking walking cane A anum number of parasols were distributed to old ladies ladles who had none and walking canes to old gentlemen A lot of corsets were given giyen to those ladies who could wear no and caused a good deal of merriment an order on dr stanley clawson for fora a set of teeth was given to the oldest lady present without a tooth in her head mrs ann white of alpine and a similar order on oil dr aima alma dunford to jonathan householder of the eleventh ward elizabeth householder obtained the prize for having raised the largest number of children now living over 21 years of age viz 17 almina covey in her soth year received a handsome clock as the oldest female member of the church present prel pres seat she was greeted with three cheers win wm cahoon caboon also received a clock as the oldest milt member of the church present he wis vis v baptized sept 1830 am alice dobson aged ja 77 77 ann baker 73 harriet davis 72 42 and catherine wilson 81 each secured a prize for having drawn a hand handcart cart eart over the plains mary shelley of american fork who was absent sick aged 88 was iwas also remembered and george rowley howiey blind the oldest living pione rione r of 47 chas D barnum aged 84 received a present also ciara cian acker decker young absent as the oldest lady pioneer john roylance of springville Spring ville aged 77 received an armchair us as one of the mormon battalion aad the widow of dimick huntingdon as a lady that accompanied the battalion in its wonderful and patriotic march also received au an ar armchair me hair sister hard vard hardcastle castle castie a cripple aged 77 eif dif received a special prize A present by way avay oft off of consolation ou was given to mary who had been married 45 years without having a child and also to elizabeth godbolt who had bad never been married and Is 83 years old the oldest methodist presbyterian episcopalian co ll 11 an congregationalist etc were ok offered e d a prize but there were nere no BO takers and the present was wis given to llev rev Mr arday Day the presbyterian minister of american fork to bestow where he be pleased leased he having he helped ayed energetically chi y in conveying convey lna ina the tig ol 01 old oid people to totne the grove grose rove mother booth the only east indian present received a prize bro liro thor ther solomona a sandwich islander aged 84 made a speech interpreted by 13 rother brother win wm naylor na 0 r aud received 21 is several everil presents also aiso 1 sister Makao p pio plo 0 a native of the islands sister ii kingwood n of the ward was remembered as the oldest lady that gets her living by washing A fancy box of scented ed utah tuh toilet soap manufactured by henry snell co was awarded to the oldest lady tourist present and presented as a memento ol of the occasion to mrs lizzle lizzie S decker of philadelphia a member of the raymond me ex cursione party catherine beckstead had the largest number of living grandchildren namely and received a very handsome gonnet sonnet presented by mrs dye christina peterson 86 and anna C brudie 83 as the oldest danish ladies present received prizes sister haslam received a bonnet as the mother of 22 children stephen B rose pulled the first handcart over the bl big mountain in the relief company sent out to rescue the emigrants and received a prize also father thomas colborn 85 as the best hornpipe dancer john B lewis of the mth ward a aged g ed ki was avar awarded ded a prize and brought r 0 u lit out for the ladies to look at ds as the handsomest man over 80 number of prizes were given to other old ladles ladies and gentle haus haes and various comforts distributed the prizes besides those named consisted of dress goods hose I 1 handkerchiefs grawols gra parasols sols sois money in various sums i baskets of tea chairs and a variety of articles for use ornament or consumption and everybody seemed pleased ZI eased and satisfied A vote ote of thanks was tendered to the tho butah betah central the Commit teethe peo ipie ale aie of american fork the choir etc and and ana accompanied with three hearty idiots idle idie Ts the choir san sang the good old days of yore and the benedict oin was pronounced by bishop william brom uey the old folks were conveyed back to dha tho tha depot and the train moved out for lhome about half past nive tive the Americ american hn fork and pleasant grove brass bands playing a new piece com cosed byam grant entitled utah 11 the committee on board the train tram distributed re refreshments refreshment freshmen ta the teholt sang charming songs a and n d glees tee whole company chatted and enjoy ed the homeward lio ilo trip in the mellow severi evening ing lug alrand the train reached this eity city elty eity at without accident or mishap vehicles were in readiness to take the old folks to their homes and everything passed off in comfort aud and harmony conductor J AL cahoon caboon and all the train hands were courteous gentlemanly and prompt in their demeanor the cars were excellent and not crowded the U C company deserves the thanks of the party the rhe committee C R savage wm win eddington win naylor nels A empey john kirkman W L binder and andrew Jenso jenson were nvere ably assisted by mr george A and the refreshments f fresh resh ments were vere placed in readiness by mesdames naylor N A empey W WL L binder and W eddington and mid miss may wells who all deserve credit for their labors of love it was a day lou lon long 1 to be remembered by all who participated in its erl eri enjoy joy ments and we ho hope e that these annual excursions will te be continued Us as a blessing to the aged and an evidence that the people eople of utah venerate grey gres grev wrev hairs hair any and desire to smooth the pat path of life for those who are appi appl caching its termination god bless biess the fathers who are n earing the great change chan idana and fill fili their hearts with peace anu and siveret content conten tl I 1 |
