With the ongoing celebrating of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, I decided not to search out articles that chronicled our division as a
nation but would commemorate of our unity in the Ozarks. I believe these next few articles point to the way to healing and the restoration that took years to occur in the Ozarks.
In 1902, a committee was formed in Baxter County, Arkansas,
to not only bring together citizens of this region, but give credence to the
old Civil War soldiers in their sunset years. This too is the origin of the
current Baxter County Fair. Though some of this has been chronicled in past newspapers and books, I believe I have found other articles that have
not been published since 1902 – 04.
As I have mentioned in the past, it is truly difficult for me
to point the accusing finger wholly at North or South. At times, both sides
possessed accolades tribute, and other times each held the disdain of atrocities which
seemed to prevail on both sides. However, after decades had passed and the
tender wounds had begun to mend, there were men willing to be leaders for the
next generation.
I believe history has the potential to change us.
I believe we can be a catalyst to change history by learning from the tragic lessons of the past.
How can we change our history?
Reconstruction will never succeed without Reconciliation.
The day Reconciliation is initiated...is the day History Changes.
As we walk the path of life, there will be opportunities to mend broken relationships. I believe the Father in Heaven can bring about these
opportunities of reconciliation no matter our history.
After reading these next few articles, I believe it may
be this very point of view the old soldiers of Baxter County would have us to
grasp in these days. I believe you too, Dear Reader, can walk away with this
same point of view. If this is so, maybe these old soldiers have accomplished their
task they initiated in 1902.
This migration from Division to Unity is a welcome
commodity in our Ozarks’ History.
Two days for
Pleasure!
Grand
Pic-nic
And
Reunion
of
the Blue and the Gray
AT
MOUNTAIN Home, Ark.,
Friday and
Saturday,
August 1 and 2
On
Friday, Aug., 1, PROF MURGLE of Tioga, Ill., will make a
Thrilling
Balloon Ascension and Parachute Leap.
The
exercises will consist of music, both Vocal and Instrumental,
Oratory by the best talent in North Arkansas,
Base Ball contest be-
tween
two crack teams.
Fire Works at
Night. There will be
swings,
Lemonade
Stands
and
Refreshments
generally.
Everyone
is invited to come and with well filled baskets, cheerful
hearts and
thinking minds. Come and let us
have a glorious time.
By
order of Executive Committee.
End of Advertisement
Pic-nic
And
Reunion
of
the Blue and the Gray
AT
MOUNTAIN Home, Ark.,
Friday and
Saturday,
August 1 and 2
program.
Music………………………………….……………..………….…………………….Band.
Invocation…………………………………………….……………………………………
Address of
welcome…….………..………..………………………Z. M. Horton.
Response……………….….Capt.
B. F. Bodenhamer, Maj. H. H. Hilton.
Music….”Yankee
Doodle,” “Dixie”…………..…………………………..Band.
Song…..”America”………………………………………………….…..……….Choir.
Dinner
1:30 p. m. Music
Address………………………………………………………..…….Hon.
J. C. Floyd.
Music.
Address………………………………………………………..….….Hon.
Chas Cole.
Music.
Balloon ascension and parachute
leap……........…………..Prof. Murgle.
Baseball Game……………….............……….Yellville vs.
Mountain Home.
End of Advertisement
The picnic
at Mtn. Home Aug. 1st and 2nd was a complete success.
Early Friday morning, the people began to gather from every point of the compass
and by 10 o’clock the town was full to overflowing with plenty of folks at the
grounds to keep the four swings and six lemonade stands running full blast. At
10 o’clock a procession was formed on the public square headed by a float
consisting of four wagons, pulled by a ten horse power steam engine. On the
float was seated the young ladies and little girls representing the several
states and territories, and the boys representing the signers of the
Declaration of Independence, all adorned with the red, white and blue, surmounted
by the American flag. This float truly represented the beauty and chivalry of young
America. Following the float came the old soldiers, both the blue and gray.
Next a long line of citizens and visitors. The procession wended its way to the
picnic grounds on the public school campus. Arriving at the campus, after music
by the band and “Hail Columbia” and “Star Spangled Banner” by the chorus class,
Rev. H. H. Hilton invoked the blessing of heaven upon the gathering. The crowd
was then addressed by the Hon. Z. M. Horton, who took for his subject, “The
greatness of our country.” He maintained this was the greatest government in
the history of the world and that it was greater than any political party or
faction, that it was safe in the hands of any political party and had come to
stay. That it was equal to any emergency and capable of settling any question
that could arise. In military strength it was invincible. He declared that any
government that could subdue and strike from the map of the world the
“Confederate State of America,” could bid defiance to any or all other
governments. He closed with a tribute to the soldiers of both armies and
especially Robert E. Lee, whom he had dominated the vanquished victor. Mr.
Horton’s address was timely and well received by the audience. After Mr.
Horton’s speech the crowd was dismissed for dinner. Everybody came with well
filled baskets. There was enough food for all and to spare. The amount of
eatables on the ground both days is conclusive evidence of the prosperous
condition of our people. After dinner the crowd was entertained by good music
and an able and eloquent speech by Hon. J. C. Floyd, the gifted orator from
Marion county. Among other things he referred at some length to our vast
mineral wealth, reviewing the various measures that led step by step to its
development and made Baxter county the most prominent of all its competitors on
the mineral map drawn by Prof. Branner, the best geologist in the world. Mr.
Floyd’s address was well timed, instructive and delighted his vast audience.
After the
speech of Mr. Floyd, the match game between the baseball teams of Mtn. Home and
Yellville was to be the feature of the
afternoon, but the shower of rain caused it to be postponed till the next
afternoon, as did also the balloon ascension, which was to have taken place at
4 p.m.
On Saturday,
the 2nd day, the crowd was entertained in the forenoon by able and
eloquent addresses by Mr. Joe Deatherage and Prof. L. A. Morton.
Prof. Morton
has accepted the position of principal in the Mountain Home College, and came
just in time to meet the big crowd and get acquainted. He needs no better
introduction to our people and the address delivered by him on that occasion.
On the manner in which he has met our people and taken to his work, we predict
that the success of the school under his management is assured.
After Prof.
Morton’s address the crowd was treated to splendid recitations by some of those
splendid elocutionists for which Mtn. Home has become celebrated, notably Miss
Annie Simpson and Miss Hazel Brown.
The crowd
then witnessed the balloon ascension and parachute leap by Prof. Murgle. This
was a great feature and was closely watched from the starting of the inflation
until the ascension was made and the aeronaut safely landed.
Dinner was
then announced and was as plentiful as on the previous day.
Dinner over
the crowd divided, part going to the ball game and the others remaining to hear
the political discussions between the candidates for governor. Hon. H. H.
Meyers, (Clayton Republican) opened the discussion, followed by Hon. T. M.
Humphreys, democrat, of Fayetteville, representing Gov. Davis, who was unable to
be here. Myers closed the debate with a 30 minutes speech. By this time the
crowd was weary, but listened to Judge Greaves (insurgent republican), who
represented his side of the case in a half hour speech.
All the
speakers are fluent talkers and made hard hits at each other, eliciting
applause whenever a good point was made. But the people were out for enjoyment
and seemed to take very little interest in the discussion. It is an old axiom
that a “a fool can ask questions that puzzles a wise man to answer.” There was
one in the crowd that undertook the role of questioner while Judge Humphreys
was speaking, but was soon silenced by a good natured, witty reprimand.
There were
2,500 to 3,000 people in attendance each day, perhaps the largest crowd ever
assembled in Mtn. Home. It was the most orderly and well-behaved gathering of
its size ever known in the place, and many say the best they ever saw anywhere.
There was no drunkenness, quarreling or boisterous conduct, and nothing to mar
the general good will that seemed to prevail all minds. Everybody seemed to
enjoy themselves and go away feeling glad that they came.
End of Article
The Ball Game.
The
Yellville boys were “too many” for the home nine, as might have been expected.
The home nine were “just jumped up” for the occasion and had only two or three
days practice, while the Yellville team is an old one and well drilled. However
there was some good work done by the home club. John Harlan was by odds the
best player on the ground, and if the catcher could have held the ball he
pitched the game would have been closer than it was 42 to 6 in favor of Yellville.
As it was Harlan “fanned” 13 in the game and would have got more of ‘em but for
being hard hit on the arm by the Yellville pitcher. Good feeling prevailed and
an ambition was aroused in Mtn. Home that we hope will culminated the
organization and maintenance of a home baseball team willing and able to cross
bats with any of our neighbors.
End of Article
Organized
The North
Arkansas United Veterans Association of the Blue and Gray.
Among stated
features of the picnic program, none was more completely carried out than the organizing
of “The Blue and Gray,” with thirty-one charter members adopting the following
constitution and by-laws:
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as The North Arkansas United Veterans
Association of the Blue and Gray.
Section 2.
As a qualification for membership the applicant shall offer satisfactory
evidence that he was a regularly enlisted soldier in the Federal and Confederate
army, during our civil war or in our war with Mexico.
Section 3.
The prime object of this organization is to encourage, cultivate and strengthen
that sincere relation of loyal and fraternal friendship which should ever exist
between us as Americans, although representatives of two once opposing armies;
earnestly blending our humble efforts in eliminating any and all feelings of
animosity that may exist with references to our said civil war.
Section 4.
This organization is entirely non-political, and is in no sense intended to
control, modify or influence the opinions of its members on any of the present
or current political issues of the day.
Section 5.
The officers of this association shall consist of one president, two
vice-presidents, one secretary and one treasurer, who shall hold their
respective office for a term of one year or until their successors are elected
and qualified.
Section 6.
it shall he duty of the president to preside at all meetings and perform all
duties usually incumbent upon such officers.
Section 7.
It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep record of all regular proceedings,
and conduct all correspondence of the association; providing himself suitable
record book, stationary, etc., with funds obtained by written order of the
president drawn upon the treasurer.
Section
8. It shall be the duty of the
treasurer to collect all annual dues, to have charge of all funds of the
association and make complete financial report at each meeting thereof.
Section 9. That
for the purpose of defraying incidental
and other expenses there shall be paid annually in advance by each member as
annual membership dues the sum of twenty-five cents.
Section 10.
That the following list of officers duly elected, this organization is hereby
declared permanent:
President -
B. F. Bodenhamer.
First Vice
President – L. A. McPhearson.
Second Vice
President – H. G. Shearer.
Treasurer –
A. J. Truman.
Secretary –
J. A. Surby. Buffalo, Arkansas.
Executive
Committee: Wesley Barnett, Robt. M. Hancock, Mart Bodenhamer, E. C. Cook, Sr.,
and W. D. White.
Next meeting
to be 1 p.m. on first Saturday in October, 1902, at Mountain Home, and during
which rally there will be organized a camp of the Sons of Veterans of the Blue
and Gray. Meantime, call at drug store and enroll your names, young men, with
your comrade “Dick” Cowan, giving descriptive data to facilitate the work of
organizing.
“Sergeant.”
End of Article
Expression of Public
Sentiment.
Editor Bulletin: Responsive to numerous earnest solicitations, and with heartfelt
assurance that we voice sincere sentiment of all concerned, it is highly
gratifying to publish the fact that without one accident or act of disorderly
conduct worth mention, throughout two long days, the promiscuous assembly of
about 3000 sociable, intelligent people of North Arkansas principally of Baxter
county, really enjoyed the complete carrying out of a picnic program at
Mountain Home, August 1st and
2nd , 1902.
W. J. Baker,
H. W. Redus, A. J. Truman, R. H. Hudson. Executive Committee.
End of Article
The Reunion of the Blue and Gray was a total success and continued as an annual event. Two years later, this next letter of praise to the editor of The Baxter Bulletin came from a spectator from across the state-line...Prestonia, Missouri, in Ozark County.
With all due of respect, this letter was written with poor grammar and spelling; nevertheless, I believe it was penned with sincerity from the heart of a gentleman from Prestonia. I will admit, the first time I read it, I my eyes were straining and my mind was in a whirl trying to figure out what this gentleman was trying to say. But looking back at this time period in Ozark' History, a public education was not afforded to everyone in this region. Hard times required tough choices, and its' settlers had to work hard in order to scrape out an existence. Therefore, as we read this last article, let us thank the Father in Heaven for those who have sacrificed many things in the past that we may afford the life we have today.
A Prestonia,
Mo., Spectator.
The picknick at Mtn. Home, your town, is what I want to
tel about. My wife told me if I’d sta at home frida and keap the chickins out
of the garden, I mout go saturday to the picknick. She and the chaps went. She
sent Gim bak frida nite so I could go saturda. I axed Gim who was their. He
said ever boddy. Wel sur, I found out bot bein their Saturda that Gim didn’t
no, cause ever boddy was their and ever boddy fotch somebody with them, then
thar was lots from our county, besides them. Then them foaks from Maryon and
Izzard County, what has so many babys thay was their, and thay brout the fokes
and their babys what lived tother side of them. Oh I gist wisht I’d had the
larnin so I cood have counted um. I axed for U, tha sade U was not thar. U
ediiter I mean. I node U had the larnin and cood count um, then you cood told
everboddy how many was their through the Bulletin. I believe I and ever boddy else would node U caz tha sed them pictors that lade thick on the platform
and all over the ground their was sum pritin on it too. I coodent read it but
sum seed it was the program whot was on it. I wish all of our county foakes had
bin their to seed everybody caze never seed so many at Gainsvil nor no other
place in Ozzark County.
I’ll tell it
as it comes to mind. Next was a joke on myself. Thar was a little boy, guess he
was acomin two ears old, was lost, come hugin round me legs, thout I was his
dad, atter a while he seed I was not but favored him, caze he then looked
around and broak to one of the ugliest that I seed that day and some one
said we favored. The way I felt I had
soon staid at home and minded the chickens out of the garden. Nother thing I
was like the Irishman that went to see a sitty but coodent see it for the
houses, so I coodent see the foakes at the picknick for the people bein in the
way. U all has got the best foaks down thar I ever seed. No fussin, I never
heard a cuss word nor bad word all day. All laffin and gassen with their heads
up steppin like a blind horse and acted more like tha was lookin for rain.
Everthing there was good and nice. Good speakin, good lemonade stands, good
show, good grub, good water, good musick, good racin, good throwin, and thought
ever boddy felt gooder, looked gooder, acted gooder, dressed gooder and was
gooder caze I felt like a sheep at a shootin match. That day at Mountain Home
will be in memory til I have to fall in line at the roll above. I wish we could
all meet again in Mountain Home then meet in a higher home afterwards.
Works Cited:
“Advertisement:
Blue & Gray Picnic.” The Baxter
Bulletin. (11 July 1902) 6.
“Advertisement:
Blue & Gray Picnic.” The Baxter
Bulletin. (18 July 1902) 6.
“Advertisement:
Blue & Gray Picnic.” The Baxter
Bulletin. (25 July 1902) 6.
“Advertisement:
Blue & Gray Picnic.” The Baxter
Bulletin. (01 Aug., 1902) 6.
“The Ball
Game.” The Baxter Bulletin (8 Aug.,
1902) 4.
“Expression
of Public Sentiment.” The Baxter Bulletin
(8 Aug., 1902) 7.
“Organized:
The North Arkansas United Veterans Association of the Blue and Gray” The Baxter Bulletin (8 Aug., 1902) 7.
“Our Two
Days Picnic.” The Baxter Bulletin (8
Aug., 1902) 4.
“ A
Prestonia, Mo., Spectator.” The Baxter
Bulletin (2 Sept., 1904)2 -3.
