The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-09-19
Reunion of Clarke Family

uren, grandch1ldren ana other rela-
tives OF the late Joseph Clarke held
a family reunion at the old home
stead near this city, which was de-
lightful occasion. The children,
with their decendants, were gathered
from all parts of the country, all the
old family servants were there also,
and the hours spent on that day at
"Locust Grove" will not soon be for
gotten by those who had the good
fortune to be present The occasion
of their coming together was visit
of Mrs. Robert Parker, of Abilene,
Texas, who had not been here for
many years and had not seen her
sister, Mrs. James M. Buford, of
Rock Island, Illinois, since the day
the latter married, thirty-five years
ago.
Those present were: Mr.. Alex.
Julian brother-in-law of the late
Jos. Clarke; Mrs. Harriet Page, Of
Covington; Mrs. e. A. Grant, of
Louisville; Mrs. Robert Parker, of
Abilene, Texas; Mrs. Jas. M. Buford,
of Rock Island, Illinois, and Mr.
Chas. j. Clarke, of Louisville, daugh-
ter and son of Mr.. Clarke. The grand
children were-Mr. John @. Herndon,
wife and daughter, Miss Fannie; DR..
Thos. p. Grant and Miss Bette Grant,
Mr.. John F. Lewis and wife, of
Louisville; Mrs. DIR. Arch Dixon and
daughter, Miss Julia. Of Henderson;
Mrs. T. M. Porter, of Covington; Mr..
John Morgan, wife and son, Master
Dorsey, and Miss Halle Herndon, Of
Lexington; Mr.. w. @. Herndon, wife
and children, and Miss Annie Hern-
don, of this city. The neices and
nephews were-Mr. S. @. Bull and
wife, Mrs. M J. Gaines, Misses Mary
and Maggie Page, Mr.. w. H. Averill
and daughter, Miss Rebecca, of this
city, and Miss Lucy Julian, of this
county.
The company was handsomely en-
tertained by Mr.. Chas. j. Clarke,
who still owns the old place, and
Miss Annie Herndon, who keeps
house there. The dinner that was
spread was elegant and the guests
were served as they sat at the table
by Dolly Boots, who was the dining
room servant for the family nearly
half century ago, when the older
ladies present were girls. Another
interesting feature of the occasion
was the presence Of old Aunt Carey
Penn, who was a servant Of the late
Mrs. Clarke and accompanied her mis-
tress from Virginia when she came
to this county as bride. Aunt Carey
was then but ten years of age and
assisted in getting the first meal
for the family after their arrival at
Locust Grove, and also cooked the
last food Mr.. Clarke ate before his
death. She is now 81 years of age
and has resided continuously upon
the place for seventy-seven years
never having been out of the county
but once since her arrival from Vir-
ginia, and then only for short visit
to a sister in Bourbon county. In
her old age she was given a home
and is provided for by Mr.. Chas. j.
Clarke, in the quarters she occupied
all the years she was a slave. No
one enjoyed the reunion more than
this faithful old soul, who looked up
on the grey-haired matrons present
almost as her own children, having
nursed them in their infancy,
seen them blossom into womanhood
and then go forth to brighten the
homes of strangers. Her aged eyes
will hardly look upon the faces of so
many of the old family again and it
did her heart good to see them. She
was brought into the parlor and
given a seat in the midst of those
who had been her young mistresses,
where she was the center of attrac-
ton for some time.
The other old family servants
present were Robert Dane, now 90
years of age, who was born and has
spent the greater part of his life up
on the place, and George Penn, aged
81, who has always lived there, with
the exception of year or two in the
army. These two are still employed
by Mr.. @. j. Clarke as farm hands.
Horse DetacIler.