The Brigade Banquet.
Later in the evening the President and party attended a banquet given by the citizens in honor of the First Brigade. It was a brilliant affair, conducted by the ladies of the city, active among whom were Mrs. Geo. Lescher, Miss Tillie Weeks, Miss Maude Stewart, Miss Winnie Hoover, and Mrs. Whiffen. Mrs. George Gale had charge of the table of honor, assisted by Mrs. Otto M. Smith and Miss Louise Tryon. Gen. Philip S. Post was Master of Ceremonies and presented General Harrison.
The President prologued his parting words with an incident of a visit he made to a small town down the Potomac. Although he was introduced as President all over the town, no special attention was paid to him, and when the local paper came out with a column and a half report of the visit of the Chief Executive, the good people of the town were astonished, but explained their lack of attention by saying they thought Mr. Harrison was president of some fishing club. Aside from jokes, said the President:
One serious word in leaving. This day in Galesburg I shall long remember. The enthusiasm and the cordiality of the citizens, the delicacy and kindness of their attention, have impressed me deeply. I shall ever gratefully recollect Galesburg as a spot of especial interest, as the place of the meeting of the old brigade. Comrades, I hope to meet you again when my time is more my own, and on several occasions like this to speak to you more familiarly, and to recall this time. I have tried not to be stinted in my intercourse with you, for I have wanted you to feel me warm and sincere. I have expressed myself, but not as freely as I would if by ourselves, or if I were but a private citizen or member of the brigade. But I would say to you and all your families, to the wives that sit here, to the wives and children that are at home, to those who have gone out from your roof-tree to prepare homes, to your grand-children—and I hope all of you have them—to one and all, I extend the hearty sympathy and best wishes of the "old-timer" you served so faithfully.
[OTTUMWA, IOWA, OCTOBER 9.]
The President's party left Galesburg the night of the 8th, arriving at Burlington at 10 o'clock, where about 8,000 people greeted them. The President was escorted to the Commercial Club rooms, where Mayor Duncan, on behalf of the city of Burlington, and P. M. Crapo, president of the club, made addresses of welcome. A reception of one hour's duration followed, during which President Harrison shook hands with 3,000 callers. Ottumwa was reached at 8 o'clock Thursday morning. A committee of citizens, headed by Hon. J. G. Hutchison, met the President at Galesburg. On arrival the President and his brother, John Scott Harrison, were immediately driven to the residence of their sister, Mrs. T. J. Devin, where they passed the morning.
At the Coal Palace the President and Secretary Tracy were met by Gov. Horace Boies and his staff, headed by Adjt.-Gen Greene; also Senator Wm. B. Allison, Senator James F. Wilson, ex-Senator Harlan, Hon. John F. Lacey, and the following Committee of Reception, representing the city of Ottumwa: T. J. Devin, W. T. Harper, J. E. Hawkins, W. B. Smith, Henry Phillips, Sam'l A. Flager, J. C. Manchester, A. W. Johnson, W. T. Fenton, J. G. Meek, Calvin Manning, Geo. Withall, J. W. Garner, J. J. Smith, W. W. Epps, H. B. Hendershott, J. H. Merrill, W. B. Bonnifield, A. H. Hamilton, C. F. Blake, John C. Fisher, Hon. John N. Irwin, J. T. Hackworth, W. C. Wyman, John C. Jordan, A. G. Harrow, Allen Johnston, T. D. Foster, J. W. Edgerly, A. W. Lee, William Daggett, G. H. Sheffer, W. D. Elliott, Charles Bachman, H. A. Zangs, R. H. Moore, Capt. S. B. Evans, Capt. S. H. Harper, H. W. Merrill, J. R. Burgess, J. B. Mowrey, A. C. Leighton, W. S. Cripps, R. L. Tilton, Dr. L. J. Baker, D. A. Emery, Samuel Mahon, W. S. Coen, O. C. Graves, Thomas Swords, and John F. Henry. Other cities in Iowa were represented on the Reception Committee by the following prominent citizens: Hon. John Craig, of Keokuk; Judge Traverse and Senator Taylor, of Bloomfield; Gen. W. W. Wright and Gen. F. M. Drake, Centerville; Gen. B. M. McFall, Oskaloosa; T. B. Perry and J. H. Drake, Albia; Geo. D. Woodin and Hon. F. E. White, Sigourney; Hon. Chas. D. Leggett and Chas. D. Fullen, Fairfield; Hon. Edwin Manning and Capt. W. A. Duckworth, Keosauqua; F. R. Crocker and E. A. Temple, Chariton; O. P. Wright, Knoxville; E. B. Woodruff, Marion Co.; Col. Al. Swalm, Oskaloosa; Hon. W. P. Smith, Hon. Josiah Given, Hon. Fred Lehman, G. W. Wright, Des Moines; Hon. John H. Gear, Hon. John J. Seely, Burlington; Hon. F. C. Hormel, Capt. M. P. Mills, Cedar Rapids; Hon. Geo. H. Spahr, Hon. W. I. Babb, Mt. Pleasant; Hon. J. B. Grinnell, of Grinnell; Dr. Engle, Newton; Frank Letts and J. S. McFarland, Marshalltown; Hon. J. B. Harsh and M. A. Robb, Creston; ex-Governor Kirkwood and Ezekiel Clark, Iowa City.
The President and Governor Boies reviewed the parade from a stand in the park. The column was led by the veterans of the famous Third Iowa Cavalry. Three thousand school children participated in the demonstration, which was witnessed by fully 40,000 spectators. The public reception took place in the afternoon at the Coal Palace; the great building was overflowing. Hon. P. G. Ballingall, President of the Coal Palace Exposition, introduced Governor Boies, who welcomed the President in behalf of the people of Iowa.
President Harrison responded as follows: