The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-06-09
WHITMER REUNION.
Report Of the Annual Gathering of
a Well Known Stark County
Family,

On last Saturday the members Of the
whitmer family held their fourth an
nual reunion at the residence Of John b.
Whitmer, two miles east Of Navarro,
on the Navarro and Sparta road. The
committee of arrangements planned to
have grand good time, and they real
ized Just what they worked fer, proving
that it always pays to set your mark high
and try to shoot above the mark.
The morning sky indicated fair weather
AMI at an early hour the relatives,
friends and ueighbors began to come, II
not from the four corners Of the earth
at least from the four points Of the com
pass and in all the ways of locomotion
known to man and suitable to their cjn-
venience, until about 600 were enjoying
themselves looking into each others
faces, bidding each other welcome and
having a general good time.
About 10 q. m. the society was called
TO order by the president, Lewis Whit
mer, who made short address OF vel
come After tho reading of the minutes
of last years meeting the fClowing
5bleCblOub WtEb BlNOh' AuO lNOuhlOht
Cosy Whitmer; Our Reunion, Hazel
whitmer; A Secret, Dora Rogers; All
Things Beautiful, Sjlome Whitmer; Lit
tie Things, Pearl Whitmer; The Little
Quaker Sinner, Edna Fuller; Speech,
Wilson Whitmer Defamation, Nellie
wbitmer; A Lost Hymn, Susie Fuller;
Ola Time Exhibitions, Ollie Burk1art;
The Inventors Wife, d isy Whitmer ;
Guess Me, Cosy Vanstrum.
At this point we were invited to table
over a hundred feet long, stretched out
under row Of stately apple trees and
erOaning under the weight of rich viands.
After all had done ample justice to the
feast of good things of the earth and
enjoyed the social chat, at $3.50 p. m j..
the society again gathered around the
speakers stand to enjoy mental feast of
goo1 things.
The nominating committee presented
the following repors which was adopted
President, Eli Bowman; vice president
Eli whitmer; secretary, Samuel Dirr;
corresponding secretaries, Lewis Whit
mer, Mary Ann Shellenbarger; treasurer,
David Whitmer; hist lrian, Daniel Keen.
Mr.. Keen then read quite lengthy
history of the Whitmer family giving
dates of marriages, births ana deaths
and present residence of various mem,
bers. Mr.. Keen is enthusiastic land
goes at the work with the right spirit. !,
Ths first speaker was Rev. G. f. Mong.
His address was along the line of eduoa-
tlon. He emphasized the idea that we
should be properly educated in order that
we may be successful in doing life's
work. He spoke of two ladies who at
tended the same college. The one
garduated at the head of class of twelve
the other at the foot. When life's work
was over, the first named lady had made
a failure and the latter grand success
He said that we must hold up the hands
of the teacher and spoke 1of two com
munities, one where they employed poor
ly paid and poorly educated teachers,
the other where they engaged well
educated and and we'll paid instructors.
The results were In favor Of we'll paid
teachers. His address was eloquent and
we'll received.
Rev. Mong was followed by Prof. II.
A. Richardson, principal of the Mag
nolis schools. He spoke of the tendency
of young men and women becomin q
tired of the farm and going to the city to
make their fortunes. He gave this
sound advice: "Young man stick to
the farm. The farm is mighty good
thing to tie to. Stay with the old folks
In taeir time Of need. Be not too ready
to go into your country's service until
your rvice is actually needed. Right
here on the farm you can lead as honor
able life as those who occupy the
highest position In society" The So
oiety hopes that Prof. Richardson will be
so situated that he can be with them
next year.
And then came that eloquent, self
educated man, Rev. Reuben Shroyer,
whom all love to hear speak because his
sentiments seem to come from the heart
and they go to the heart. He is man
that, like John II. Cough, goes through
the world with his eyes and ears open.
He sees too many young people drifting
bnrOuBu ohc WOfiu WlbHouU any hlui III
life We must have an aim in life If we
wish to become of any consequence to
the world. A great many people read
too much and not careful enough. We
should read tive best literature. Read
carefully the great book of books, the
bible.
Through courtesy to the other speakers
Rev. NJ. II. Fritz came Ia ON the home
stretch. He gave short interesting talk
and said that he was SC well pleased with
the treatment of the Whltmer family that
If they would invite him next year he
would be present If possible.
The Mt. Pleasant oornet band was on
the ground early In the day and enter
toinsd the people by disooursing many of
their best selections. Four of their
number Cullen and Clinton Myers,
Charles Leighter and Alvin Van Dor
stan, played brass quarte tie for which
they deserve special notice. The Shepler
andTrnity chorus assisted In the musical
programme and did much TO make the
pleasures of the day success. The
Columbia glee club, composed of Messrs.
Gerhers and Banker, gave fine quartette
that was appreciated, The band played
"a closing piece Of music entitled ROOD
... K &