Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-10-16
Birthday Gathering.
sABINA, O., October 6, 1879.

had the pleasure of visiting Fayette
(formerly Little Bristle'') on the sixty
first birthday OF our old friend, Thomas
GOodson, formerly of this vicinity, but
now three miles west of Washington.
On Tuesday, the I'd inst, the family,
friends and neighbOrs gathered in, to the
number of 118, old and young, making a
complete surprise to both Mr.. and Mrs.
Goodson, well planned and executed by
the family of children and others, who
were all present and enjoyed it to the full.
After the friendly handshakings and
greetings of old acquaintances and near
relatives, they drove over to the camp
meeting grounds of the NJ. P. Church,
adjoining his farm, where were dining
tables, seats. shade and good water in
abundance for both man aud beast, and a
more pleasant place I seldom ever visited.
The NJ. P. Church was particularly IA
vored in their selection of site for con-
venience, pleasure and adaptation to its
| intended use.
Now, whether it was the place or the
surprise, or the well-filled table lover go
| feet long, grOaning with the luxuries of
a richly-cultivated county,, I know not,
but a more pleasant group of smiling
faces / never saw. Probably all con-
tributed, for the lightsome loaf, the sa-
worry meats, the pyramidal cakes, the
pies, tarts, jellies, etc, together with the
turkeys, chickens and other good things
contributed so freely by our lady friends
! from their welI-stOred larders, had much
to do with our sympathtes. I did wish
for the capacity of Captain John Fal-
staff, or that the 20 years were wiped OF
of the first end of my life and I permit
ted to begin life again at the two remain
ing ones, and enjoy life as it is enjoyed
in Fayette county.
After the blessing of heaven was in
yOked on the table, on the family and on
the occasion, Edwards and McCOrd, who
ruled the day, told us, " Help your.
selves 20 and we helped. Then the busy
hands, the well-merited compliments tC
the sisters and the manner in which much
of the dainties disappeared, showed the
receptive faculties of the brethren were
good and duly appreciated.
The family of James GOOdsOn, father
of Thomas, settled in the northeast corner
of Clinton at an early day, when it wa!
a new, woodland country. By hard la
} Dor and close economy he raised hi!
family, and died in 1862, over 80 years o
age. That day was very different from
the present, in roads, schoOl-hOuses
churches, mills and markets. Necessa
ries of life were scarce, luxuries rare anC
, 4 n al
in supplying our wants in fish, fowl ant
game, and pasturage free, etc.
Thomas GoOdson married Celia Sharp
daughter of John and Kesiah Sharp, o
this vicinity, and raised a family o
eleven children-eight girls and thre
boys-nine of whom are now living an
all present; four or five are married anC
n have about ten grandchildren.
: Ifound my friend-with whom 1 hav
been intimately acquainted for forty-nin
years-comfortably fixed in home, mean
and friends; indeed, if were to judg
IF by the demonstration on the ID, he seen
to have the faculty of making FRIEND
= wherever he goes, and his wife also. H
brothers, Belteshazzar and Elias Hun
were present. Orjas, the only remainin
member of the GoodsOn family, lives
Missouri, andwas absent from this fami
reunion.
After dinner some speaking was dol
by Thomas Goodson, acknowledging tt
surprise and the pleasure of meeting
> social reunion the family, friends al
acquaintances of former years, and h
high appreciation of their regards, fC
s lowed by j. Plymire and T. Douglas
who made some amusing contrasts
tween the past and the present in ever
=. thing pertaining 10 our style of livil
t and progress of the times.
- But one feature of the day must Il
omit, and that is the babies present
- eighteen in number-frOm twenty mont
old down to the infant in arms-nOt
fdntgy. And they are the best represen
tives of the social relations in old F.
cite. They were beautiful. Health
and all in white-perfect puppets,
rather the " nations Jewels" for th'
is her true wealth in time to come. We
. we got up ''free baby show;" appoin
committee of old ladies who knew
about babies-whO graduated in
school of babies. would like to ma
them, Mr.. Editor, but they are afr
they would be called upon again.
Al. they did we'll. After carefully exa
lining fifteen or sixteen-twO or tn
being ruled out for being over age,
months-mine took the prize! wa
happy man. One feature that was L
to me was, about One-half that had
bies were men! The other half, as usl
were women. How the little angels
- haVed SO we'll under such treatment
me, but it accounts for why the Fayet
are so smiling and kind-they are so Fl
NIX, chilu"oOo' @iso '7aFl,eu '','S S,,1 laoT -