{"id":12730,"date":"2021-02-12T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T16:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iowahighwayends.net\/blog\/?p=12730"},"modified":"2021-02-09T18:49:51","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T00:49:51","slug":"tama-jims-send-off-banquet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/iowahighwayends.net\/blog\/2021\/02\/tama-jims-send-off-banquet\/","title":{"rendered":"Tama Jim’s send-off banquet"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Tom Vilsack is confirmed as secretary of agriculture<\/a> (again), he will join nine other men who have served in the same Cabinet post more than eight years<\/a> \u2014 and the first to do it nonconsecutively.\u00a0To meet Tama Jim Wilson’s record, though, he’d have to serve until a few months into 2029.<\/p>\n

Transcribed here is an article from the\u00a0Ames Daily Tribune and Times<\/em>, August 27, 1920, remembering Tama Jim’s departure from Ames to be new President McKinley’s ag secretary.<\/p>\n

When Ames united to honor \u2018Tama Jim\u2019 Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ex-secretary\u2019s death recalls old time fete here<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friends tribute unmans stoic Scot; had many friends<\/strong><\/p>\n

The death, yesterday at Traer, of \u201cTama Jim\u201d Wilson, for 16 consecutive years secretary of agriculture under the McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft administrations, and from 1891 to 1897 professor of agriculture, recalls the banquet tendered him by Ames people on February 12, 1897, after he had been notified of his appointment to a cabinet position by President McKinley and prior to his leaving for Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cFriday night last,\u201d says the Ames Times of February 18, 1897, \u201cwill pass into the archives that go to make up the history of the city of Ames and the state of Iowa. The reception tendered Professor Wilson on this occasion by his fellow citizens of Ames was an affair of which every citizen of Ames was proud. It was purely and entirely a nonpartisan affair from start to finish, simply an uprising of friends and neighbors of this good man to show in a fitting manner that they appreciate the honor that has come to their town thru him. It was a veritable love feast, a hearty hand-shaking time, with Tama Jim and his daughter as the center of attraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reception elaborate<\/strong><\/p>\n

A reception was held for \u201cTama Jim\u201d Wilson at the Odd Fellows\u2019 and Masonic hall, followed by a banquet, the most elaborate ever served in Ames, in the Ames opera house, second floor of the Stevens-Budd building, now the location of the Paradise Candy company.<\/p>\n

Guests from out of town included [a long list of names that I did not transcribe]<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the reception hall,\u201d the Times says, \u201cMrs. Julia McLain and Mrs. Abbie Drake by special request sang most beautifully, the \u2018Suanee River,\u2019 Mrs. Margaret Hamilton playing the accompaniment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hall handsomely decorated<\/strong><\/p>\n

The banquet started at 9 o\u2019clock at the opera house. \u201cHere a sight such as never before was presented in the city met the gaze of those who entered. The hall was wonderfully decorated. On either side of the stage in large letters formed of corn with a green background were the two words \u2018Tama Jim,\u2019 while strung from the pillars were beets, turnips, potatoes and numerous agricultural products. Over the stage hung portraits of Washington, Lincoln, Grant and McKinley, draped with flags.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two hundred and thirty-seven people were served at the banquet. Souvenir menu cards were distributed. The following menu was served:<\/p>\n

Cold turkey, cold boiled ham, cranberry sauce, cold tongue, scalloped oysters, pickles, celery, olives, French rolls, I.A.C. creamery butter, oranges, bananas, Malaga grapes, coconut cake, chocolate cake, coffee, I.A.C. creamery cheese and wafers.<\/p>\n

Dr. Richmond presides<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Richmond was president of the evening and made the address of welcome. Congressman E.H. Conger of Des Moines responded.<\/p>\n

The follow toasts were attributed to<\/p>\n