The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-19
Published by Special Request

June z. 1883, goodly number of the
children, grand-children, and great
grandchildren of William and Lu-
cinda Wilcox assembled at the resi-
dence of A. H. Wilcox, in Deerfieid,
in what, to them, was D grand reunion.
| Only five of the eleven children are
living, viz: Julia Hallock, Emily A.
Rogers, A. HI. Wilcox, Harriet Steel,
and Clara MOwen.
The occasion was delightful to all,
and it was decided to repeat the gath.
ering at the old home farm in N. f..
Deerfield, the first day of June. 1884.
May all be there.
The following papers were read:
LET us drive away dull care today,
and let in upon our souls the precious
memories of the past. Here we are
met by two questions. Who are we?
and Whence came we? By relation,
at least, we are Wilcoxes. One ques-
ton disposed of. Whence came we
From the hills OF old Berkshire our ancestors
The hills of old berkshire are standing the same
But where are the friendsS Some have gone to
And the fathers have homes In the land of the
blest.
To those who still linger on earthly confin S,
To those who are gathered in reunion today
word Of kind greeting comes from far away.
The old home is not there that loved spot o.
Our BIRTH
The walls are now crumbled that once echoed
But the hills are still green where the older
ones played.
Where Julia and EA, Ham and Son their sports
made
light
Not far from Great harrington. that town mid
the heights,
But a star in the West attracted our eyes
And our footsteps were turned toward the occi-
dent skies.
We took mp our goods not for pass age by steam
But for passage by wagon behind OK team;
Our journey WIS long but tour journey was sur
Few dangers and accidents we had TO endure
We crossed the famed Hudson where Albany
stanas.
And continued our journey to OhI0's woodlands,
At Lima we tarried to nurse sick child
Then on through to Buffalo whore was red man
and wild.
Where the city of Akron now turns II ma chimes,
For we FASTENED to Deerneld to make our last
stay
In this wilderness h4me the family enlarged,
There came Mary and Clara Lucinda and George
Where Newell and Harriet were horn I'm not
clear.
Settle that among yourselves in this day of good
cheer
But Lawrence was born. was hs not, in Mot
town2
Not far from the spot where death cut him down
I'm M a yIrn fha AA,y If hi
As it also did George In the early Spring time
OF weddings and marriages there were plenty
on hand.
Both our boys and our girls were in rapid de-
There was Linus for Mary. and Riley for julie
A nd Jess came for EN- En- and jess bo tn taught
school.
Elias for Clara and Joe for Lucin,
And finally Caleb for Harriet came n,.
And Lawrence for Clara and Newell for Amele
Hamilton for Betsy las for Sen can't tell
Fleave it for you to put things as they should
be:
Grandfather died at about fifty I'm told,
But grandmother lived. as 1 know, to be old.
At three score and sixteen she passed from the
strife,
Having, fought well her course. having lived
well her life.
In life she was pure in faith she was strong,
long,
That he taught all the children to know mother
was head.
They might disobey him. they must obey her,
And do all she bid without any demur.
Of boys. four are gone-Newell. Lawrence.
George and Sen;
Of sisters, two are sleeping-gent'c Mary and
Lucin.
Julia. Emily. also Harriet are widows here to-
day,
And Clarissa alone has her husband as her stay
Of the nephews and the nieces, some are Sleep
ing meath the sod
And some among the living through their earth
ly duties pod
And Of those who still remain. they are scatter
cd far and wide.
From the edge of the great ocean to the Rocky
mountain tide,
II no one of our Family was born 70 lasting fame
IT'S true. also. that no was born to lasting
shame;
No one OF us has ever yet attained the Presiden-
We are glad to say that never vet has one
climbed the galIow's stair
Remote from worldly honors. remote from beg
gfng food,
We have lived as common people to promote
In every work of profit we have sought to bear
part,
To help our fellow men, with a humble, loving
heart
And now. kind friends accept my wish that
you may have good time.
And look with kind forbearance on the faults
that mar my rhyme
II ours tits not to meet again on this side of the
tomb,
May we have an abund ant entrance in the glo-
lious heavenly home.
WILLIAM HENRY ROGERS.
Swampscott, Massachusetts