The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-08-19
Family Gathering.

| a remarkable and interesting family gath
ering took place at the residence of Mr.. JOHN
SHIFFER, in Hamilton township, Monroe
County, Pa, on the 18th inst. John Shift
fer was born Oct. 4, 1907, and his wife, f.
LIzABETH, December Il, 1877. They were
married in Plainfeld township, Northamp-
ton county, Pa, the 10th day Of May, 1919.
Nine children were born to them, eight of
whom are living One died aged AZ years,
the wife of James Stackhouse. To the nine
children were born fifty-si1 children and 2S
grand children as follows: To Catharine
Shiffer, wife of James Stackouse nine chill
dren, and fourteen grand children; to Ru-
dolph Shiffer ten children and eight grand
children; to Sophia Shiffer, wife of George
Hufford, thirteen children and five grand
children; to jeremiah Shiffer seven children;
to Alfred Shiffer ten children to Margaret
! Shiffer, wife of Reuben Thomas, three chill
dren, and one grand child; to Joseph Shift
fer two children to Ellen Shiffer, wife of
John Stackhouse, two children. Thus to
John and Elizabeth Shffer were born nine
children, ffty-six grand children, and TWEEN
ty-eight great grand children OF these, eight
children, forty-two grand children and twenty
five great grand children are living. al
of these, together with their sons-in-laws,
and daughters-in-law. grand sons-in- law,
and grand daughters law, except eight,
were present, thus making family gather
| ing Of about one hundred persons.
| They had dinner worthy the occasion in a
grove near the house, about o'clock p. NJ
After satisfying the inner man with the good
things, a collection was taken up among them,
every one, baby and ALL contributing \
| handsome sum was raised and equally divi-
ded between grand father and grand mother
Shiffer, as an additional token of love. Not
withstanding the frequent showers of rain,
all were cheerful and happy. They seemed
to vie with each other in the enjoyment OF
the occasion. 4 shower Of rain after dinner
prevented them from assembling in the grove
for an address. Some took shelter in the
house, some in the barn, others under UNI
brellas. The children, from the little three
year old up to the young Miss of fourteen,
with shoes and stockings off, skipped about
in the beautiful meadow adjacent to the
house. 1t was a cheerful and pleasing sight
Little girls and young Misses dressed in white,
bare headed and bare-footed, skipping and
jumping about in the beautiful green grass.
The older people looked on with admiration
and delight, ever and anon the unbidden tear
would fall; not tears Of sorrow, nor shame,
nor distress, but tears of excessive joy. 1t
was the happiest hour of their lives.
| | never saw sweeter contentment and
deeper expressions of love written on the
cQuntenance of an aged woman, than on
the placid face Of Grand mother Shiffer, her
cup was full Indeed, all seemed to catch
the Spirit of sweet contentment from her.
Such gathering is seldom witnessed. An
other pleasing feature was, all bore the marks
of honest labor, industry and thrift, none
bore the marks Of dissipation or prohigacy.
All in the enjoyment Of health. Many oi
them earnest christian men and women. Be.
fore we left they gathered in the yard III
| front of the house, when short address was
delivered suitable to the occasion. The chill
dren then sung several appropriate pieces.
! Many were moved to tears 1t was delight
! ful season. We could not but think of the
joy in store for the good, when they shall
meet in the beautiful groves on the banks of
| the River Of Life
As we We're leaving the Stroudsburg Cornet
Band arrived. Most of the families remain
ed until the next day noon. They will never
all meet again on earth. May they meet in
Heaven above where all is love, where
parting will be no more.
l.. NJ. HoBBs,