The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-07-03
sIGGINs FAMILY REUNION.
Upward Of 800 Relatives Assemble
at Tryinet0n, Pa.


pleasant and enjoyable family reunion
has never been held in Western Pennsyl-
vania. In many respects Il was n most
remarkable family gathering, as many OF
the connections had not met for thirty
years, while most of those present to-day
had never met before.
The park which is one OF natures ideal
spots. was handsomely decorated and em-
| helshed for the occasion. The TiLioutc
full orchestra furnished the music. Tho
reunion found Its origin In the fertile brain
of NJ as Sabina Parker. OF ChRutauqua, N.
Y. was ably seconded in the grand under
taking by Mr. John Sigsins. one OF Tidi-
oute's most influential citizens and solid
| business men.
The ceremonies were to have commcn-
ced at IL o'clock, but owing to a refresh
| ing shower, II was nearly O'Clock before
| dinner was served The tables were hand
| somely decorated with flowers and spread
| with all the delicacies of the season, and
| II is safe to say IL was banquet of the
| finest order in every particular. When the
| inner man had been satisfied all repaired
TO the large platform where the program
me was carried out to letter with, but one
| exception.
| The orchestra rendered piece OF music
| entitled Flower and Fruit" after which
all Joined in singing the doxoloSy. \
FEELING and appropriate prayer was then
| offered by John w. Siggins, of Bradford
| Pa, followed by the address of welcome
| BY Mr.. John Siggins. of Tidioute. Mr., Sig
gins in substance said
Dear Relatives-I have bee wa: 4
this one quotation for the last six months
and even my wife says that | wake her
up nights saying: Dear Relatives" and
"SigginH Reunion" and Now Dear Rcla-
tives:' AS General Manager OF this first
| Siggins Reunion, l have the pleasure of
| extending n cordial welcome to YOU all
Year by year this reunion has been
talked. and planned, but nothing came OF
| 1t, until last November. when Mrs Sabina
Parker was visiting in this vicinity. Then
| II became a settled fact that by her per-
severance and helpful suggestions. we
would have n Sisgins reunion this year.
| She, like many OF us, did not think that
| "auld acquaintance should be forgot"
| but that oil of the numerous branches OF
| this family should know each other, and
| the best and easiest way to accomplish
| this, was by a reunion of the Siggins
| family. After a great deal OF considcra-
| tlon this place was selected. not only be-
| cause Of its beauty but also because
| of the railway conveniences. The poet,
| Lowell, has said: And what is so rare
as a day in June; then II ever. come per-
feet days" So following up this line OF
| thought together with the fact that Iupc
| was tho month that our ancestor, John
| Siggins. emigrated to America; We hope
that this month might be chosen for the
| annual reunion of this great family, which
ta hoped will be continued for years to
come. II is our earnest desire that no
one will be so formal, as to wait for an
| Introduction: but that young and old, one
and oil. will Join together to make this
day long to be remembered; and one of
| the most enjoyable of their lives
Mrs. Sabina Parker. OF Chautauqua, N.
Y, also made n short address of welcome.
| which was OF rather n humorous nature
and well received George Young. of Tren-
ton, Can, and journalist of some note,
| delivered the response in n very acceptable
| Nhan HAnll vva
sang by the entire audience.
The Siggins Family History.
Miss Justina Siggins. a talented young
lady OF West Hickory, then read a care
fully prepared history of the Siggins FAM
| ily which elicited the closest attention
| Following is a summary of her remarks:
This is not the history of some renowned
| family whose valorous deeds consisted in
destroying peaceful villages and laying
waste the fertile fields OF their neighbors,
but rather is 1t the pleasanter story of a
family who went as pioneers to a strange
and inhospitable country, who titled the
soil, who laid the foundations of future
| villages and who fought and bled only
| when the honor or peace of their country
| demanded.
We cannot ascertain positively to what
country we owe our origin, but the ac-
count as given by James Young Siggins
and others directs us to France, where
the family is supposed to have be-
longed to the prosecuted French
| Protestants or Hugernots. II we can
trace our ancestry to these people the
record of whose endurance is among the
most remarkable and heroic of religious
history; we have indeed. all reason to
be proud Of our origin. Our account as
| handed down tells us that our family, leaV-
| ing intolerant France. settled in Scotland
| where their Calvinistic Views were more
respected. How long they stayed there
1 do nt hf,t
| or civil they again emigrated, this time
10 the north of Ireland where our authen-
tic history begins.
Here. in County Sligo, Parish of Drum
kliff, william Siggins lived on his own
land, which was probably grant from the
crown in return for military service.
Nothing more is known OF William Siggins
and his wife Mary. They had a son, John,
whom we are told had the title of esquire,
and an income of f20O per year, and was
altogether pleasantly situated. He was
married and had family OF 1--WE children.
About this time the Holland Land COM
pany were offering inducements to any
disaffected people OF Europe to buy up
land in the New World. Small wonder II
was that John Siggins chose to turn his
back on the limited recourses OF Ireland
and seek new fortunes in America. In
vain his friends tried to persuade him
| to give up this plan. America had become
his load-star and nothing was to set aside
| MS purpose lie looked DeyOnu neaI
obstacles, all present difficulties, to a time
when his children's children should be
prosperous and contented in that won
derful land of promise.
1t was early in the summer OF 1898 that
John Siggins sailed for America with his
wife and Ave children the sons, George
John and William, and the daughters
Frances and Sarah. They had been or
the ocean four weeks and still had two
more before they reached Philadelphia.
When a very important event occurred
another son was born into the family
They named him Alexander; II may be be.
cause he had before him a new world to
r conquer.
The family first settled near Philadelphia
and later at Carlisle, where they stayed
only short time and then went to Centre
county. 1t is related that John 5igginl
| engaged in the lumber business.
At about this time he lost the remainder
of his money; we have heard, by going
security for a friend. We do not know
, the recourses OF that traditional bag OF
gold but they were evidently exhausted
; and he decided to lease farm from Robert
Whitehill.
This farm was about two miles fron
Centre Furnace at a place called Spring
Creek. They had lived there about three
years. when, in April, 1901, John Siggins
died, worn out by the trials and anxieties
, of his life. Through the generosity OF
Robert Whitehil the family were permit
ted to remain on the farm Throughout
their term without paying for IL.
1t Will not be out of place here TO give {
sketch Of the wife of John Siggins: Hel
maiden name was Sarah Hood, and Il hal