The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-04-15
A FAMILY REUNION.
A Patriotic Sire Brings Three
Generations Of His Prog
eny Together.


Mr.. MCCORD Knowing the interest
you take in local affairs in our county,
l viii give you short description OF
one of the most interesting occasions il
has ever been nv lot 10 participate in.
To-day being the S3rl birthday of Col.
IhOs. h Gordon, one among the first
pioneers of our country, he invited his
children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren TO his house TO dihueF,
and there grouped around the noble old
sire stood siXty-three OF his direct de-
scendants. They number sevemty-eight
in all, but all could not be present.
But the picture as il was was a beauti-
ful one. We had there representatives
from the eighteenth century linked with
many who will run perhaps tar into the
twentieth. There were the noble old
pioneers who sprung from the eigh-
teenth century, men and women 20
whom the war-whoOp of the Indian, the
fierce growing of the bear and hungry
bowling OF the wolf were once familiar
sounds; and there was the grand cid
white-haired hero himself, who, coming
to this country in 1908, when it was a
wilderness, met the terrible trials and
DrivatiOns Of new country, breasted
the storm, and with his iron frame, up
RICHNESS, integrity and industry, es-
tablished himself even in early life as a
man of note; for in 1910 we find him
holding commission as captain from
Gov. Blunt, an Office which at that time
was an important one.
And we lind him, too, by his honest
frugality accommodating an estate which
has made him the pOssessOr and giVer
Of more land TO his children than any
other man in the county. And To see
this pioneer and representative Of day
gone by seated in the center of group
for their picture, surrounded by five no
bic christian daughters and five manly,
patriotic sons; and they with their chill
dren and grandchildren, reaching down
70 the innocent, gOlden-haired abe, was
a sight worth witnessing. Nhat i'm
pressed inc still more was to see an old
cOlOTed women who had been Col. Cor
dnn's nurse, and who has remained his
true and faithful servant through ali the
varied troubles and changes of the last
fifteen years, walk up and take her
stand at the back of his chair in the very
center OF the group. This was old a unit
AggY. Her every wish is grauiied, and
every Gordon's arm would rise in mo-
ment in her defense. And then again
we had other scenes of interest, the old
Col. himself rose and addressed a few
short pointed remarks to his large fami-
~, particularly urging them to narture
thankful feelings TO the great God OF
human destiny for their good health
and pleasant condition in life. But his
manner more than his speech struck the
tenderer cords of every heart. He in
trOdnced and was followed by our hon
est, self-sacrificing preacher and pastor,
Mr.. StOddert, man loved By all, who
q NJ off. Il
appropriate address, bringing tender,
christian tears 10 the eyes of noble ma
irons and hOary-headed sires.
The whole scene was one for pleasant
reflections and mutual love, and often
in our imagination carried us back e.
tiie patriarchal age, when Abraham
Isaac and Jacob were surrounded by
and governed their large families; and
we thought, too, of a later day when
the ancestors of these same GOrdSns in
the mountains and valleys of Scotland
stood together shoulder to shoulder
loyal to their country and true to their
God, in despite to all opposition.
Above all in this impressive scene
one would be most enchanted by thC
noble matrOns and beautiful maidens
and they were matrons and maidens
who stood as firm and true to the Soutl
as the rock of Gibralter does upon iu
solid base, one of them with her hus
band even sharing the hardships OF
cam paign. The only unpleasant thing
connected with this pleasant, bnunteOui
entertainment was that we all haG
/ finally to break up and disperse 20 GU
different homes; but we did so with tia
4 firm hope and belief that our hospitabl
entertainer would live through NAM
! pleasant years TO repeat these Joyful
/ occasions. x
Buiord Station, April 6, 1875.