The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-06-08
Family Reunion,


Saturday, May 18th, was day
long to be remembered by all who
were present at the family reunion
of the venerable grandfather Hen
ry Huffaker and his estimable wife,
who live twelve miles above Knox
vile, on the banks Of the majestic
French Broad River. There were
present seventy-one, including the
old people, in honor of whom we
met. The old gentleman is eighty
seven and his wife three years his
junior, butthey are healthy and Wig
orous for people of their age. Their
forms are not erect as they once
were, the brow is furrowed, and
their locks are not as they were in
days gone by, but they are possess
ed of the huoyancy ofspirit as many
of us are in youthful days.
A great deal may be said about
these old people, but space will not
permit. They have spent the most
of their lives where they now live
and are surrounded with many
friends, beth young and old. There
were present seven of their children.
thirty-two grandchildren, and fif-
teen great grandchildren, who had
met to make it day of joy and
gladness, yet it was day of joy and
gladness very closely related to sor-
row and sadness, when we realize
that we will never meet again in
the saue capacity. On that beauti-
full morning when nature smiled in
all her loveliness and beauty, and
We We're blessed with the grand
privilege Of enjoying the pleasures
Of the occasion, we could not but
feel II thrill Of JOY and sadness inter.
mingling in our hearts when we
thought that we soon would say
goodbye, to those dear cid people
for the last time.
AT 10 O'Clock several were br0ught
from Knoxville on a steamer, wht
were met at the river by the crowd
led by the Hutfaker string band, and
here I will say, that | never heard
such sweet and mei0dious strains OF
enchanting music rendered by any
band, as / heard on the banks oil
that river. That band has no peer
and | will venture to say no equa
in East Tennessee. 1t consisted o
guitars, banjos, and a bass violin
led by Mr., B0liver Huffaker, viii
his excellent fiddle. Then the GROVE
proceeded to the house, a short dis
tance away for social enjoyment.
I Soon dinner was spread on Il lon.
! table in the lawn under nice shad
r trees, with the old people at tn
! head and the eating commenced
! All the dainties known to the Gull
q nary art had been prepared, an
you would be safe in betting tina
this part of the program was CON
plete success, but not in justice t
' many of the eaters. The afternOo
was used in making speeches b
different parties; among them wa
d old grandfather Huffaker, VIII
h gave brief history of his famil,
|, and then said, with tears coursin
O down his cheeks, the best thing |,
a could do, was to invoke the bles,
q ings of God on all present. Teal
were seen to fall from many cheek
that will never be forgotten. l fC
!, one can say that the recollection {
II that day will always be kept gree
in my memory.
l. The sun of their existence hi
G passed its zenith long ago and
e fast approaching the western hor
k zon, but it is my desire that it wi
e not go down for many years
J.. come. They are ready to hear ii
welcome plaudit, swell done," CON
% up higher, to where there is no SCI
aratiOn, no good-byes.
We all hope to meet again, in Il
s. better land where joy and happine,
'e will be fully realized. The mus
le and happiness of May 2Sth, were
u type of what that grand reunio
is will be. Time in his unweary fiigl
,e is waiting our barks across the grei
h ocean at a rapid speed, and the vo,
!e age of us all will soon be ended, an
r, we hope that none will be lost @
" their way. Then get aboard Il