, 1872-10-22
q.
4 REMARKABLE REUNION.
Meeting OF nn Umbrolkcn Family Of
Thirteen Members i'll n1Ainc--U1-
cOn1lllo on Instances of Longevity.

meeting OF nm UmbrO{ICI1 Family o!
Thirteen Members i'll n1ainc--Un.
c0n1nlo1l Instances of Longevity.
From the Bangor {Jfe.) Whty, Oct, Il.
One of the most remarkable family reunions
ever held in this country was that OF the SWEET
family, on Wednesday, at Hampden. The late
Benjamin SWEET, Of Hampden, was the father o1
thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters
the oldest OF whom is now nearly II and thf
youngest 81, and no. death. has ever occurred
among the number. Business interests having
separated the family, the paternal estate wat
sold and passed into the possession Of DR.. B. r
Bnker, who now occupies it. Being . WARM
friend of the family, he has always insisted upon
their still regarding the old placs as their home.
Taking advantage of this kind Invitation, and
the presence here Of one of the daughters who
resides in the distant West, it was determined
this year to once more get together under the
November, 1858, where they celebrated Thanks
giving Day together. Accordingly the family,
with their husbands and wives, children and
grandchildren, with other relatives and invited
guests, met together on Wednesday, to the num-
ber Of nearly 100.
The house first erected by Benjamin swett
upon bis removal to this State, in 1898, having
been destroyed BY IRE, the present house Was
built upon its Bite, and Wss frat occupied Octo-
Der 9, 1901, seventJ-one yea1B previous to the
day Of the reunion. In this house twelve Of the
children of Mr. SWEET were born, the eldest hay
ing been born in the old house. During the
seYonty~one years Of it's existence but three
deaths have occurred beneath its root, only ttso
OF these being members OF the faniiy-the two
wives Of Mr.. Swett, he himself having died af-
ter removing to the residence erected by laia son
on the same farm, and the Same now occupied
,Rtfsl}r, Buker:
:: house wes yery tastsfully fixed up for the
oct&st1IA The host and hostess having exerted
theI4e#xea to their utmost to cooperate With
the :;santi9sen' snd make everything pleasant
Tor: The occasion- IN front OF the front door an
arch|a5 Taa erected, upon which was inscribed
the word *Welcome IN letters Of green, and
"hlch was 1estooned WITH tie national colors
and e1e"Inen WITH evefeTeene. n the parlor
over tae nfe-place wore tne "otas nome agaln,
aiso IN green. .oppoalte upon the Wall was
cne1n coil!posen " tnl:teen Aahe ., esefe1eeu,
i!epreseat'ng eae snlleeen' cnnoren, ano
" " oacn VI WHICH was lettsI, forming
u .ne "olos cna'n unploken! heneatn
sIls 1io ose1 tne pace N tHe ~a1!, "nefe Dal-
81 ense.eq 5ne noase aul1ng tne nsasion oy sne
i ota1lau ~ !o!4: a1o Mnlsu n01o"Ay nAaseu tne
mo.ne1 o. tnese cmlaren' Nno nad JUST LETT the
sRo5 wnefe II entefea, wreath was placed en-
clrclnG tn's ua1e, ana oI1et account OF 1.-The
aHalt n "as Written anu am1eu TO the val. upon
ne wa1is .,Sn we're re gate OF the brth Of the
elaest, ifso, o. tne youneest, 1ol5; "and OF
me }, occupation o1 Inc mousse "oct: ., l6o1, and
OF 1he presene anniversary, "oct. y, 1872,
eaca elclc1eu III "reatns restqons anu gar,
!anos ~ eye1eleens apo Ausuan 1eaFes covered
M. ehs Walls ~ plolusIon, "ale t9s loios OF the
y Ma!'onal colo5s "eee useu " aaa 10 tue enecs.
iWo o long taoies were e1tenoeo tne entire length
OF tne olo-1aen1oned Etcn9n, announcer meg the
o!o 15one room, ana stal anotner tne adJoln-