The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-09-26
GRAND REUNION.
The Franks Family at Chippewa Lake.

The Reunion of she Franks Family
took place a, Chippewa Lake last Thurs
day, Aug. Both. For q name that is not
common everywhere, they are host in
this part of the country. The genealogy
Of the Family can bestFaoed backs to the
yenr 400 in Franco and $50 in Germany.
The frs, representative in America was
Michael Franks, who came from Germany
one hundred and fifty years ago and settled
in Pennsylvania at Uniouiown, Fnyette
county. His descendents are the Franks
now in WAyne county, and the other couu-
ties of Ohio and other States.
These assem- bled at the Reunion, COM
ing from north and south, east and west,
and by eleven o'clock 4 crowd of over two
thousand people were ge,hered at the Lake,
over half of whom were the Franks either
in name or by connection. The Oldest of
the Family present were Henry Franks,
of Boylsstown, age 80 years, Peter Franks,
Of Saltereek township, 81 years, VIM.
Hatfield, of Easton, II years, Uriah Franks
of Fremont, 66 years, Mrs. Lydia Franks,
of Doylestown, rs years. The youngest
was Miliferd Stotler, five months old, the
eighth generation of the Family in Ameri-
ca; and the prettiest baby there was Lillian
Murry, Of Spencer county.
The record of the Family is full of incl
dent, and in this connection we may men
tion that Henry Franks, Sr., the father oil
Henry Franks above mentioned, was one of
the soldiers under Col. Crawford in his
campaign against the Indians in 1882. In
May they started from near the Ohio river
with force of 500 men for the Indian ter
ritory in the then wilderness of central
Ohio, and i'll June were attacked and de-
feated by 800 savages near Upper San
dusky, Wyandot county. During the dis
orderly retreat that followed Col. Crawford
was captured by the Indians and a few
days afterwards was burnt to death at the
stake, at point few miles west of Upper
Srndusky, in which Capt. Pipe, promi
nent Delaware chief, and Simon Girty, d
notorious white renegade, were the princi
pal actors. Henry Franks was captured
at the same time, and witnessed the crue
torture of his unfortunate commander
whom the Indians burnt, they said, fol
the massacre of their people at the Nora
9ian towns on the Muskingum. Franks
was made run the gauntlet. in mud.
state, between two lines of savsges, who
from both sides mercilessly beat him wish
fists and clubs, hoping to disable him
Through these opposing ranks by energy
and enduronce he successfully fought hi
way in the race for life, near the end O
the line 5eizing a stalwart Indian By thu
throat, and was strangling the LIE out o
the savage, when he was pulled off by th
other Indians, who patted him on the back
saying "you make good Injun" From
that moment his life was spared. He af
terwards made his escape, and lived ant
died in Doylestown.
The crowd assembled around tn
speakers stand on the shore of the Lake
where, after fine music by the Spence
Cornet Band, the Family was called to or
der BY S. NJ. Franks. of Wadsworth
President of the day. The "Greetin
, Song" was than sung by the assemblage
This scng, together with the "Partin
Song" was written expressly for the re
union by Thomas w. Browning, q mem
Der Oi the family. Both are neatly printe
together on a card, by John a. CLARK
Wadsworth, Ohio, who has them for sal
at five cents. The following are the word
J of
THE GREETING SONG:
We greet you gray-haired fathers,
Whose trembling limbs attest,
That when again we gather,
You may be laid to rest,
We greet you, grsy-haircd mothers
Whose youthful bloom is fed,
/ Whose faltering steps assure US
You soon will join the dead.
Chorus
, To whom come with greeting
On this our festal day,
With tears for those depaIted
e And cheer for those who stay
Ye men In manhood's MONDAY,
So strong to dare and do,
D Full clad in life's bright armor
greeting here to you.
Ye mothers In lifes zenith,
With ripened beauty blest,
Whose children gather round yon,
! Still in the brigh home nest Cho
fe men in life's bright springtime,
With aspirations high,
Just entering life's arena,
o Resolved to do or die
Yemaidcns fair and comely,
just blooming into life,
D With bright anticipatious
?, In life's forthcoming strife. Cho
Ye children bright and happy,
With life's work all to come,
Whose prattle lifts the shadows
From many darkened home,
On you onr hopes centered,
n On this reunion day,
To keep the Franks name living,
When we have passed away. Cho
Ye strangers, gathered with us,
10 To share our festal cheer,
a We bid you hearty welcome,
II As brothers, sisters dear;
Eos life is long before us
And you nor can know,
Nor can the Prophet tell us
= Where Franks blood may yet flow Cho
Ig In singing tbs the voice of Mr.. J
i. Baumgardner was prominent as one of t
le best. He is connection of the Fran
III family by marriage with the Roust,
family, of Wooster, who, from Samu
down are Franks, all of whom attend
:. the Reunion in strong force.
80 After the song, prayer wac offered
Bev. Mcintyre. Then followed appropri;