The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-16
FLETCHER FAMILY REUNION.
Meeting I'm Boston of the Descendants
of Robert Fletcher.

The following from the Boston Transcript
of Sept. relating TO reunion OF the
Fletcher family is of local interest, owing
to the large number of representatives of
the family in and about Indianapolis:
About three hundred descendants of Rob
ert Fletcher, who came from England to
Concord in 1880, gathered in Lorimer Hall,
fremont Temple, this morning to celebrate
the quarter centennial of the organization
of the Fletcher family union. The ar
rangements for the meeting included long
business and literary programme and din
ner for to-day and trip to Plymouth to-
morrow. Carriers Orchestra furnished
music at intervals during the day. and the
hall was further frightened by a large ar
ray of potted plants and cut flowers which
fringed the platform.
The president, Austin b. Fletcher of New
York city, presided and introduced Rev.
Mr.. Staples, of Lexington, who, in a brief
prayer evoked the divine blessing on their
deliberations. In a brief address the presi-
dent told of William and Mary, sovereigns
of England, having sent to the colonies in
1892 Benjamin Fletcher to govern New
York, and said that the Fletchers have
since then been found in gubernatorial
chairs from Missouri to Vermont. He
smoke of the advantages of unions of this
kind in bringing together long separated
relatives and strengthening family ties and
said that this fact had been emphasized
during the quarter century's existence of
Professor William l. Fletcher, of Am
herst College followed with a few words of
greeting, and INDUCED in humorous remi-
niscences of past meetings which he had
attended. He described at some length
the branch of the family to which he be-
lOnged, and then passed on to a more gen
eral consideration. He said there is now a
tendency to worship an ancestry, as is
shown by the desire to study family and
town histories.
originally occupied by members of the
Fletcher family as early as 1853 and 1896
were shown and passed among the audi
ence. 1t was announced that the Oldest
person present was Mrs. Maria l.. Need
ham, aged eighty-five, and the youngest
Master Charles Warren Fletcher, aged one
year The oldest member or the union is
lady ninety-eight years old. whose infirmi-
was read from Senator Redfed Proctor Of
Vermont, member of the family whose
absence was due TO the presence of Vice
President Roosevelt in that State.
Edward Parker of Bowling Green, O.,
sang with effect two selections. after
which Allen Fletcher paid tender tribute
d. D.. of Los Angeles, Cal, recently de-
ceased.
The union then adjourned for dinner.
On the reassembling of the union at 2
o cl0ck the following named officers were
elected: President, Hon. Austin B. Fletch-
er, of New York; vice presidents. Prof
William l. Fletcher, of Amherst; Hon. w
Fletcher OF Chelsea; Hon Redfeld Proc
of Ludlow, VT, and Josiah NJ. Fletcher, of
Nashua, N H. secretary. DIR. Thomas A
Fletcher, of New York; treasurer, George
V Fletcher, of Belmont; executive commit
tee George a. Fletcher, of Milton; Isaac
A Fletcher of Lowell; Jacob Manning of
Revere Captain Sherman II. Fletcher, of
Westford, and Walter Fletcher, of Dor
chester.
An original poem, entitled New England
Life" was read by ]. NJ. Fletcher, of
Nashua, y. II. Judge Robert s.. Parker. of
Bowling Green, o., addressed the meeting
briefly on the vicissitudes of his branch of
the family in New England.