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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] First Thanksgiving in Iowa
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 12:50:45 -0600


Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!



>From "The Palimpsest"; Thanksgiving in Iowa; December 1968; William J
Petersen

Thanksgiving in Iowa; pps. 556-558


...At the end of the harvest season in 1844, the pioneers of Iowa realized
they had much to be thankful for. Recognizing the general attitude, Governor
John Chambers drafted a suitable manifesto at his "Executive Office" in
Burlington. Duly countersigned by S.J. Burr, secretary of the Territory, the
first official Thanksgiving holiday in Iowa was proclaimed on October 12,
1844.

At the request of my Fellow Citizens, I have deemed it proper to recommend
that Thursday, the 12th day of December next, be observed throughout the
Territory as a day of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the many and
great blessings we enjoy as a people and individually, and of prayer and
supplication for the continuance of his mercy and goodness toward us; and
for the prosperity, happiness and ultimate salvation of the American people.
We are told that "righteousness exalteth a nation," and are taught by divine
authority that the voice of thanksgiving and prayer is acceptable to our
Father in Heaven. Let us then, on the day designated, unite our voices, in
the humble hope that they will reach the Throne of Grace and obtain for us a
continuation and increase of blessings.

The appearance of this Thanksgiving proclamation two years before Iowa
achieved statehood is both noteworthy and significant. It is significant
because it revealed the religious bent of the Iowa pioneers as well as the
New England origin of a considerable portion of the population. It is
noteworthy because Thanksgiving was not a national holiday in 1844, nor was
there any uniformity in the date of its observance among the few states that
celebrated it.

The Davenport Gazette of November 21, 1844, believed that "former residents
of New England" would rejoice to learn that Governor Chambers had introduced
the "time-honored custom" west of the Mississippi. "May it long prevail with
due observance," the Gazette concluded. The Iowa City Standard of November
28, 1844, declared: "We believe this is the first Thanksgiving Proclamation
ever issued in Iowa; we are glad to welcome the good old Pilgrim custom to
our midst, and trust when the day comes around with its plentiful cheer,
none will omit to send up to the Almighty Giver a tribute of praise."

Burlington celebrated Thanksgiving in a manner befitting the most populous
city in the Territory. Most of the stores and commercial houses were closed
and a "partial suspension" of business was generally observed. "During the
day" declared the Territorial Gazette," there was an appropriate celebration
by the Sunday School scholars, under the management of their teachers; and
in the evening the whole town assembled at the Methodist Episcopal Church,
to listen to a most delightful entertainment of vocal and instrumental
music, and an admirable lecture on music as a science."...


p. 595; Thanksgiving in Iowa Schools

Gentleman Gay's Thanksgiving

Said old Gentleman Gay, "On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away;"
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price,
And the shoemaker said,"What a big bird! How nice!
And since such a good dinner's before me, I ought
To give Widow Lee the small chicken I bought."
"This fine chicken, oh see!" said the pleased Widow Lee,
"And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me!
I would like to make some one as happy as I-
I'll give Washwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie."
"And oh, sure! Biddy said, "tis the queen of all pies!
Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes.
Now it's my turn, I think; and a sweet gingercake
For the motherless Finigan children I'll bake."
Said the Finigan children- Rose, Denny and Hugh-
"It smells sweet of spice, and we'll carry a slice
To poor little lame Jake, who has nothing that's nice."
"Oh, I thank you, and thank you!" said little lame Jake;
"Oh, what a bootiful, bootiful, bootiful cake!
And oh, such a big slice! I will save all the crumbs,
And will give them to each little sparrow that comes."
And the sparrows, they twittered, as if they would say,
Like old Gentleman Gay, "On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away."

--Marian Douglas, in Little Men and Little Women.



Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/
Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/


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