The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-02
THE KINGS.
GRAND FAMILY
GATHERING.

heir children, to the number of one
and fifty-five, gathered on ,
he Fair Grounds in Kavenna, Thurs
lay, August 26, 1886. After hearty
greetings and much hand shaking, all
,at down to bountiful repast prepar'
ed in the dining hall. Good cheer and
prevailed. After the col
lation, all repaired to the grand stand,
and organized the meeting by calling
George l., King to the chair, and ap-
pointing Benjamin KnowltOn Secre-
tary.
After some preliminary remarks by
Captain Joseph d. King and others,
f. P. Brainerd. Esq of Ravenna,
being called for, came forward and
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman Ladies and Gentlemen:
Since coming here today, L learn
that much more Is expected of me than
1 have prepared for. From the few
hours allotted to nae for preparation, l
supposed I was expected to come in as
satellite only to those better acquain-
ted with the history OF tie King fam
lily, who, it seems, have failed to
make any preparation for this occa
sion. From the limited data within |
reach, and the few hours notice given
me. I have only been able to imper-
fectly trace one of the numerous branch
es Of the King family, among the
many represented here today.
At very early date DIR. Robert King
settled In Blandford, Mass. 1t Is his
descendants that we find conspicuous
among the pioneers in the early settle
ment of Portage county. I wish to
congratulate the Kings here assembled
for having at this late date taken a step
| in the right direction. We would fur.
ther congratulate 30 many of you as
are residents Of good old Portage, for
having your lots cast among q people
| who have been 50 painstaking in gath
ering up and putting In an enduring
form the self.sacrifcing hardships en-
dured by the resoluts. sturdy pioneers
of Portage county. and other incidents
of our early history, which will in.
crease In value and interest as time
rolls on. The King pioneers have
nearly all passed away. leaving but
little recorded history Of their lives.
1t remains for you, their descendants.
to collect the little now obtainable, of
their privations and hardships, make
it q matter of history that will be
sought after and read with interest by
generations of Kinge yet unborn.
To some of you it may be a question
why I, having no hing blood in my
veins, should assume to take a part
in the exercises and ceremonies of this
occasion. Unlike most Of you, am
not drawn here by the ties of consan
guinity, only those of affinity. For
more than forty years of my life have
been surrounded and intimately asso-
ciated with Kings. Strange as it may
seem, experience has proved l might
have gone farther and fallen into
worse company. I appear before you
today, claiming only the courtesies OF
brother-in law to one of your deceas
ed kith and kin. Thousands of vol
umes have been written, called history
Let US examine, for one moment
and ascertain, if we can, what history
is, and what makes history. Every
organization, of whatever character
, and the life record of every individual
born in given territory, forms par
2 of the history of that territory, anG
, who among you would care to entel
upon your list of friends, parents who
are raising up large families of chill
+ dren, who cannot tell the maider
name of their grand mothers either
c on the patsrnal or maternal side. This
ignorance is due to the neglect of pa
rents, and lilly comports with the Ell
lightenment and progress of the l9tl
century. Every household shOult
have its biographical and family rec
ord, the chief use of which consists il
the models of character in which
a abeunds. Our great forefathers still
live among us in the records of thei
a lives, as we'll as in the acts they hav
! done which live also, sit by us ut ia
ble, and hold us by the hand. furnish
: ing examples for our benefit, whicl
We may still study. admire and imi
: tate. Indeed, whoever has left behin
= him the record of q noble life, has be
>, ,Iqueathed to posterity an endurin
source of good, for 1t serves rs a mode
a for others to form themselves by In al
t time to come, still breathing fresh III
o into men, helping them to reprOduc
his life anew, aud to illustrate hi
character in other forms. Hence tn
8 family history of true men and wOme
y is rich legacy to their posterity
which never ceases to exercise an ele
waiting and ennObling influence. N
Iyoung person can peruse such a recor
II without feeling his mind and heal
II made better, and his best resolves in
vigorated. Such records increase tn
!. self reliance of young mon and youn
Il women, by demonstrating what thei
noble and patriotic ancestors hav
y done, thus fortifying their hopes an
q elevsting their aims in life. 1t Is i'm
possible to say where q good exampl
, may not reach, or where it will enl
Is if indeed it have an end.
Rank and riches have no necessar
II connection with genuine good quail
ties often the bravest and noble.
d character may be found under til
II humblest garb.
- 1t is an easy matter to trace the pl'
n ,ers, or first ancestors of q sing
II branch of family and their immed
l. ate descendants, but to trace thel
N through q series of generations, is lik
le tracing not only the trunk and mai
n branches of a tree, but following oil
,e the twigs and leaves as well.
~ The common ancestor of the Kin
8 family. DIR. Robert King, was bor
l. near Cork, Ireland, about 1744. 1
1867 he married Bridget Knox, AL
soon thereafter came to America, all