Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-08-07
PETERSON REUNION.
Held at Washington c H., ON the
day OF August. 1879.

- EtOn c. H., ON the Ist
day OF August. 1879
EDS. HERALD:
Tne reunion of family, so-called Pc
terson, has just been celebrated at wash
ton CHI.
On the beautiful morning of the 1st of
August could be seen hundreds Of men,
women and children, all crowding into
the cars, carriages, buggies and phaetons.
and they in turn running to one center:
that being the beautiful grove near Wash
ington c. H.
Very early many were on the grounds,
holding many tete-G-tete and passing the
friendly shake of the hand. At 1880 a.
m a very strong delegation came in on
the Dayton & Southeastern railway. The
numbers sgathered along at the various
points (Xenia and Allentown eontribut-
ing most) swelled the number to about
$50 persons. A more lively company of
well-to-do farmers, and farmers wives
and children, was never: seen. They all
had the same objectin view-to celebrate
a day which should be the fulfilling of
the prayers of fathers and mothers long
since gone to the Spirit-world. In this
they succeeded, because religion and re-
ligious exercises were no small elements
in the programme of the day.
! One thought passed through our mind
as we looked upon this throng (for the
number was over 500, men, women and
children), and that was: s'Who are you,
and what do you follow as profession ?"
twas not hard question to have a sat
isfactory answer given to. Upons second
thought, it could be very readily per-
ceived that they were healthy, Jealous
and intelligent family. Healthy, because
invalids are wanting, and practical health
is at par, and always enjoyed by large
majority. We believe that we never at
tended so large gathering and could say
that we did not see a cripple, nor real
invalid. l say healthy, because they pay
a very high tribute to the laws of nature.
You could very readily observe, from the
drift of their actions, that they are wOr-
shippers of God and respectors of his won
derful laws, which are written so plainly
upon Natures laws.
We, who are fast livers, but very, very
short-lived, fail to take sufficient note of
these things. Healthy, because they have
a wonderful surplus after they have set
tied with their physician. Healthy as a
family, because they are, generally speak
ing, tillers of the soil and workers of
wood; and healthier occupations cannot
be chosen.
Jealous, because when they take hold
of a work they eagerly press on to COM
pletion, and never adopt the unsuccessful
word, ''can't!" Jealous because many
noble works of earnestness stand written
upon the pages of their history. Tntelli-
gent, because many of them are ripened
scholars, and have held, and to-day hold
high positions. From their ranks came
many pulpit orators, among whom stand
the SpahrS, Baileys and Cars, and many
minor stars of noble workers in this
sphere. The political arena, too, has been
entered and nobly carried forward as SEN
ators. Representatives and Judges. These
places have been filled with consider
able degree of success The Bar, too has
a tribute of them. We might mention
names, but, at an early future, we expect
TO bring them forth i'll more thorough
form. Intelligent, because the mind is
very strong and vigorous.
One more observation that is worth
mentioning is, that they are people
wonderfully strOng-willed; as it were,
| GII0y are ulOuAGdIDS Only 10 DO UlOV6u Dy
strong and persistent faith; yet not stub
born nor sullen, but ready to reason, and
have high respect of their own views.
A gain, they value themselves very high
, ly, personally speaking; from this fact,
that everybody cannot be introduced into
the family by mattrimony, but they must
have some high degree of good qualities
or they can F'pass on
! Our observation, too, was that the
'FDuLch" element still holds her own, and
they are unwilling to depart from the old
} ancestorial paths. As a race of 'sDuteh''
f Commonly so called), they are not de-
generating from their old landmarks OF
round faces and rosy cheeks-the predom-
mating marks of the German; they, with
union of smaller markings, constitute
/ beauty. These are few of the observa-
tions that we took, believing that others
- had like obervatiOns.
Now to return, to fill out the pro-
L gramme, which was so completely ar
ranged by Grandpa Peterson and General
/ Carr The opening service was a friend
ly shaking of the hand and an eager en-
quiry as to the health and occasionally
S "Who are yOu?" was the Interrogation
: and then welcome and 60 on. The Sc.
r cOnd part was calling together and {
general uniting in singing; the selection
being "Hold the FOrt.' The piece was
!, well rendered, considering the conglom-
n Grafton of voices that participated. Every
one, and especially the children, assisted
The third part of the programme was tn,
= invocation and prayer, by Rev. G. w. H
= Smith, after which a short address wa
given, by the same; the tenor of the ad
d dress bearing upon the historical mucl
more than upon any other point. Afte
which, a brief explanation of the 'fPe
terson Treeo was given, apparently to tn
satisfaction of all.
The next part of the exercises was
very excellent repast. This was part i
Ol which all took very active part. Her
F. the pastors (there were five of them), tn
r, senators, representatives, judges, lawyer
- and farmers all came to a common level
s. and equally enjoyed the rich daintie
t. which were provided by the good ladies
al After dinner, social intercourse wa
n indulged in. Among their exercise
= was the tracing of relationship, and man
Il times was the old, reliable '"Tree'' refel
S, red to. | must say word for the tre'
1t is said to be a very fruitful one, an
M bears the names of over seven hundre
- sons and daughters which have been Dor
at into the Peterson family, whose recOT
ne dates back to 1907.
We Altogether, the reunion was a gran
90 success, and we hope to meet with the
oo again.
r, Hereto we subscribe ourself your hun
ne BILE servant,
at GEN. w. H. SMITH.