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Twenty
First Reunion Dakota County Settlers
Gala
Day for the People of North-eastern Nebraska
to Be Held at Dakota City
Good
Program Arranged for the Occasion
Special
Dispatch to the World Herald
Dakota
City, August 26. -- The twenty first
annual reunion of the Pioneers and Settlers
association of Dakota County, to be held
tomorrow, promises to be far the best and
most notable gathering that has ever been
held. It is the gala day of the whole
season for entire north-east Nebraska, and
on that day thousands of people will gather
from far and near to mingle and enlighten
each other as to the doings of many who
in years agone were engaged in gulding a
magnificent commonwealth out of the square
northeast corner of the state wander back
along the vistas of time, they see a heretofore
barren spot, a part of what was formally
and yet, today, is in the far east, regarded
as the "Great American Desert."
They recall the many hardships, the
encounters with want, Redskins, sickness
and drouth, with here and there a pleasant
occurrence to mark the ears of time.
Today,
as they and their descendants gather beneath
the massive cottonwoods and elders in Clinton
Park, adjoining Dakota City on the west.
their eyes roam over a ventable promised
land, flowing with milk and honey, excelling
even that spoken of in Holy Writ. Across
the river in the distance the smoke of busy
Sioux City, the metropolis of northwestern
Iowa, rises to the skies, nearer yet, the
mammoth beet sugar plant and Lamb Bros.
great novelty works greet the eyes, while
near at hand, ten miles to the northwest
and south, their eyes roll over one of the
most fertile regions of earth, a region
that raises seventy-
five
bushels of corn ninety bushels of oats and
thirty bushels of wheat to the acre, dotted
over its beautiful landscape with magnificent
farm residences, costing from $3,000 to
$12,000 apiece, a region where the naked
land is sought in vain by eastern investors
at $100 per acre. Truly, time has
worked few more wonderful changes during
the past quarter of a century than in Dakota
County.
The
meeting next Thursday will be of vaster
interest than ever before, when the old
settlers will realize from the reading of
Secretary John T. Spencer's report how fast
they are falling by the wayside. Old
eyes will grow dim with tears at the deaths
of many of those who helped carve a magnificent
commonwealth like this from a wilderness.
Secretary Spencer himself feels and
with the reading of his report, which he
has steadily rendered since the first meeting
at Homer, August 20, 1882, the call
for
which was written by him. He has rendered
his services faithfully and unselfishly
all these years, until it has grown to be
a labor of love. The program of the
day will be as follows:
Forenoon
- Music; prayer by Rev. J. D. English, Music,
President's address by William Nixon, Homer,
Nebraska, secretary's report by John T. Spencer,
music, address by R T. Rev Phillip J. Garrigan
Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa; music, short
addresses by honored guests, dinner at 1:30
p. m., business meeting.
Afternoon
Sports-Free-for-all trot or pace, county
trot or pace; bicycle, automobile and motorcycle
races, two games of ball, first between
South Sioux City and Monograms of Dakota
City, second between Pasdal's Redskins or
Homer and the Monograms.
Evening
- Band concert on courthouse square by Reed's
Fourth Regiment Band of Sioux City, fireworks,
etc., dance in courthouse hall.
The
democratic and republican nominees for governor
and congress are expected to be present,
also other candidates.
A
one fare rate for the round trip has been
granted on all railroads.
Omaha World Herald - August 27, 1902
Dakota County's Records 
They Will Receive Another Overhauling at the Urgent Demand of Citizens
Dakota City, Nebraska, May 14. -- (Special.) -- Judge Wilbur yesterday presented the following resolution to the board of county commissioners:
To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners of Dakota County, Nebraska -- We, the undersigned taxpayers of Dakota County, respectfully request your honorable body to make an order and spread the same upon the records, that the several offices of the county allow an examination of their books and files by private parties; provided, that such examination is made without cost to the county, unless such examination should show that there is still a deficit in the accounts of any of the county officers, and such deficit exceeds the amount of the expense of such examination; then in that event, all cost of such examination shall be paid by the county when such deficit is collected, not to exceed the amount paid per day to Thomas j. Welty and his assistants.
E. B. Wilbur
J. P. McIntyre
E. L. Wilbur
J. C. Gribbler
J. C. Bridenbaugh
Quite a ripple of excitement was created when the request was presented and read to the county commissioners yesterday afternoon in the presence of several of the county's leading taxpayers who were on hand to hear what the board would have to say to a proposition of this nature. Disappointment could plainly be read in the countenances of those present who oppose another investigation. Those who ware and have been most interested in defending a thorough and impartial reckoning up of matters have entertained the erroneous idea that the board's rejection of the Argus petition, which was presented to that body on the 4th, would settle the matter, and that Judge Wilbur would abandon all further efforts to bring about another investigation, but they had their minds most satisfactorily disabused of all such notions yesterday, when the judge presented the above request, and in language respectable but very emphatic informed them that all h--l would not hinder another overhauling of the records. He has had an expert, on his own responsibility, for several days past looking up certain points, and when Mr. Wilbur had finished addressing the board in reference to the above request he introduced his expert, and stated that he had a few questions which he wished to put ot Mr. Welty.
Mr. Welty was called in and several questions were put to him in regard to his report submitted to the commissioners last December. It was readily seen that Mr. Welty had come in contact with a man who understood his business, and it not only "rattled" Mr. Welty, but also put several others presentation "nettles," and today there are several who are occupying the "anxious seat." The board held the matter over till next Wednesday, when it will be decide whether or not the taxpayers have any right to examine the records. In case the commissioners conclude that the people have their right, an expert will immediately commence a re-investigation of the records, which work will be performed without any expense to the county unless a deficit large enough to pay the same shall be found and recovered, in which event he shall receive pay at the rate of $6 per day. The new man, who is to go over Mr. Welty's work, thoroughly understands his business, having conducted several county investigations and recovered large amounts of funds from tricky county officials, and he says that he is perfectly satisfied to undertake the tedious task on the conditions set forth in the proposition quoted above. A lively shaking up of "dry bones" is anticipated, as the county commissioners cannot refuse the people access to the records, and those who have been fighting a re-examination of the books are now at their wits' end to know how to evade "facing the music."
Omaha World Herald - May 15, 1891
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