The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-21
WONDERFUL REUNION.
Eighty-nine of the Pennington
Family at One Dinner.

Atchison, Kas, Oct 2L-The Globe
says: The high water mark for family
reunions in the west was reached at the
famous reunion of the Pennington fam
lily, twelve miles south of town, yeSter-
day. when eighty-nine Pennington's,
original stock and branches, sat down
to dinner at the home of James E. Pen
nington- Eleven brothers and sisters
had gathered their fiocks and assem-
together once more, and there was a
certain pathos connected with the re-
union because it will probably be the
last on earth.
The older members are reaching an
advanced age, and the families are
growing too large to be moved, or to be
entertained. The last previous reunion
was at Burr Oak, three years ago. but
only half as many attended as are meet
ing together this week. The following
are the eleven Penningstons and their
families, who are present: w. w. Pen
nlngton, age S. and wife. Lebanon.
Kas.; j. T. Pennington, age SO, and wife,
Durango, Col; Tilatha -Thorp age 81
and hunband, the Rev c. w Thorp, of
Forest City, Mo-; their daughter and
husband Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Thorp and
two children, of Marysville, No; Mrs.
July Denny, age, 60 and husband, Geo.
Denny, of Wilson county, Kas.; Mrs.
from Republic, Wash; Mrs. Nancy Mil
Ter, age Sc, a widow. of Little Rock,
Ark, and her daughter, Mrs. Clementine
Tillery and son, of Burr Oak Kas; J.
E. Pennington. age 81, the host of the
reunion, of Round Prairie, and wife,
and the following children and grand
children: Will Ehart and wife and two
children; Joe James and wife, and six
unmarried children who live at home;
Mrs. Sarah Robertson, age, 50. of Burr
Oak, and her daughter. Mrs. Lilly Manu.
! Of Burr Oak; Mrs. Mary Robertson, age
49. of Pleasant Ridge, and her husband,
| c. w Robertson, and daughter, Mrs
Nora Linville, and her daughter, of
| Wadsworth, New, and son, Frank
Robertson. and wife, of Paramount
Kas-, and daughter, Gertrude Hunde-
vadt and husband of Potter, and two
unmarried children; Mrs. Jennie Judy
age AZ, af Burr Oak, and two daughters.
and daughter-in-law and child; and
Mrs Roxana Graves, age IS, of Womer,
Kas. Mrs. Graves, who is the baby
of the family of eleven brothers and sis
ters, is the only one of the eleven who
has no children. It is usually believed
that it is a mothers love and influence
that holds a family together. and
promts these family gatherings, but the
mother of these eleven children died
when Mrs. Graves was IS months old.
| over fOrty-fve years ago, and their
father died twenty-five years ago So
remarkably strong is the tie of fra ter
nal love that binds them that though
the eleven have grown up, and many
| have reached an advanced age there
has never been the slightest family jar
or unpleasantness. Two of the members
took opposing sides during the Cfvh
war, but they shook hands before they
started off to fight. and shook hands
when mustered ont of service Though
enemies on the battlefield, they were
greater friends than ever wnen the war
ended. This record is the one the Pen
nlngtOnS are most proud of, and they
have reason to be, for it is one seldom
attained in the most eongenial of fami-
lies. There was present at the reunion
yesterday Dabner Pennington, age S3
years, brother of the father of the
eleven children, who had Travelled al
most four hundred miles to be with
them Also, B. NJ. Pennington and wife,
of New Market, Mo. This Pennington
was cousin of the eleven, but had beer
raised and brought up with them. There
were, in addition. cousins, second, third
and fourth, bringing their husbands,
wives and children, swelling the num-
Der to eighty-nine, all as welcome as the
sunlight.
To entertain such a host of visitors a
programme for the weeks entertainment
was printed, and it contains a reception
committee. and a list Of manage The
show was so large it was necessary to di-
vide it, and Mrs. G. w Robertson living
| four miles away, is sharing her guests
with her brother Mrs. ]. E. Pennington
provided extra bedding for twenty, and
has twenty four beds up. The corn crib
was divided off, like a Pullman sleeper.
with curtains strung across on poles and
in this, and not many bed rooms are more
comfortable Three beds were put in the
loft of the barn. and one in the granary
which was occupied by two colored cooks
Mr.. Pennington and family sleep in some
} of these inprovised sleeping quarters
turning their home over to their guests
r Mrs. Robertson provided extra room by
, putting up three tents She and her fam :
lily. and all its branches, sleep in the
tents, and the guests have the house. Ir
order to visit with every one, the guests
at Robertson's one day, progress to
Pennington's the next, and those at Pen
< nington's are sent to Robertson's- The
question of feeding so many IS a seriou:
: c-Ie and would swamp any town woman
f but these generous hearted hosts meet il
/ bravely. Mr.. Pennington killed three
! beeves and mutton Thursday night. anf
| killed again this afternoon He has 2
pounds of fish ordered daily from Leaven
worth, and all the bread IS also sent from
q + there. When the last table is cleared a
] breakfast. it is time to begin to set tn
: first table for dinner For dinner yester
day. and at which the eigf1ty-niTth CUES
r Jared well as the first. they had roas
D beef with potatoes. stewed tomatoes. escal
! loped corn. cold slaw, pumpkin pie pre-
: served peaches. cake, coffee, milk. crack
= ers and cheese, and preserves and pickle
a The Globe ate at the fourth table havins
j Seciined an invitation to eat at the first
[ There were seven tables. The dinner wa
n served Immediately after a family reunion
sermon at the Round Prairie Christian