The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-06-30
MILLER REUNION.
A Prominent Family Enjoys Day In
Social Communion and Renew.
ing Acquaintanceship.

ing Acquaintanceship.
The children of Henry Miller consist
ing of John A. aged 80, Saml. J. aged "a,
Peter aged 70, VIM. L. aged 6s, Harriet
A. aged Of, and Adam d. aged 81, with
their decendents held their annual re-
union in Nimisilla Park (old Fair.
grounds) on Wednesday June 18th. The
above named brothers and sister the re.
naming members of Henry Miller's fam.
lily of nineteen children, we're all present
together with many of their numerous
progeny, numbering upwards of 300 out
of a total known membership of Kinsmen
of $50 After sumptuous dinner Pho
tographs of the family were taken, after
ward group photograph of large Dor-
ton Of those present. After which fol-
lowed the explanation of the Geneologi-
cal tree by Saml. J. Miller, prepared with
great care by him.. Mr.. A. d. Miller (the
younger member of the family of In
dianapolis Ind. then delivered an address
on Fellowship, Companionship and
Kinship. He said:
KINDRED AND FRIENDS:
have selected for my subject, "Fel-
lowship" as the ground work upon which
l shall base my remarks.
The simple idea of Fellowship" is
"Companionship" state or condition
of sharing in common, intimate associa-
ton, to live on friendly terms. This
carries with it fraternity brotherly re-
gard and sympathy for others outside of
Immediate kinship or blood relation, a
mutually to interchange of acts of affec-
tion or Kindness. The prime thought is,
that Fellowship and Companionship
which makes one to share the lot of an
other, exemplifed, as a likeness of ones
character reflected upon the person of
an associate, beauty or the reverse of
beauty of the life lived. In the broader
sense, human fraternity and brotherhood
combining all the elements of Love and
Goodwill to man, fitting withal to be
considered in connection with this re-
union.
This Fellowship and Companionship
is the inspiration which has wrought
within us a fraternal spirit toward our
kindred and friends and by its operation
has the desire been created to meet in
family reunion, and to the extent that
we are exercised by this spirit will our
gathering to-day have been profitable
and pleasant to us.
Fellowship and Compansonship ante
dates by nearly six thousand years the
family relation we celebrate to-day, they
date from the time when God said, ut is
not good for man to be alone. Ever
since then it has been mans great desire
to live in companionship with his fell
lows-the human family, and because of
this God given principle implanted in
the heart of man, has association been
made honorable aud pleasant and has in
spired toward higher life and goodwill
to men.
Having in mind these Heaven born
principles and being actuated thereby,
we have met to celebrate the good deeds
of the lives of our kinsmen, the dead and
the living. Our reunion is not alone for
the commingling and interchange of
thought among our fellows living
of to-day, but also to bring to memory
afresh and more vividly the hallowed
association once lived with the departed
saints. 1t is to recall the days of the
long ago when father and mother were
the central figures and honored guests
in our homes. The highest purpose of
these gatherings should be the commem-
oration of those who gave us birth.
Considering our coming together in this
light it brings before us in grand review
the days of our childhood, those days so
interminably interviewer with the life
work of our ancestors that we see the
impress of kin fellowship stamped upon
the character of each one.
As we contemplate the scenes enacted
on the stage of our youthful lives, recol-
lections come to us which give us new
life and new inspiration to carry us along
with the tide of the ever restless of to-
day. AS we study the close resemblance
of character and the devotional trait of
this or that, we find in some the same,
while in others, peculiar to that which
characterized our parents, the diversity
is the measure and degree in which we
held fellowship with those who guided
our steps in the days of our youth and
training for this diversity of character
differing from the parent stem, we have
a clear illustration by looking into our
own homes. We find there widely differ
ent lines cast to-day from what we con-
templated at the time when we entered
upon manhood and womanhood. Right
here wish to remind yOn--who occupy
the position of the smaller branches of
the parent tree,-of the great divergence
of the first branch of the parent stem.
Notice how scattered) In the Provi-
dence of God ne the first branches were
scattered as it were to the four winds of
Heaven. You my elder half blood were
permitted to enjoy the blessings of the
parental roof Paternal and maternal in
fiuences guided your childhood steps,
and thus you came into possession of
those peculiar traits of character
which governed your parents. Your
home life was of that stern quality which
then governed society and the world,
that character of faithful toll, of earnest
effort to succeed in life, of kindly and
almost sacred fellowship and compan-
ionship with friends, neighbors and as
sociation with kindred around you,
marked your life, down to the present
time, and you are found in our midst to-
day honored and respected. The Mater
nal head of the home was called hence,
and another stepped upon the stage. a
younger generation sprang into life--of
which l am the youngest-and when /
was but child the paternal head was
stricken down and thus was left unto the
cold charities of the world this second
generation, the offshoot of the same
parent stem as you my elder brothers.
But how widely differently situated.
These drifted hither and thither, depri-
we'd of the blessed influences of the home
which it was yours to enjoy The hey.
day of oMr youth was not in close touch
with brothers and sisters. but the lesson