The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-02
GREAT FAMILY REUNIONS.
Families That Branch Out Over Until
ed States Will Meet in St Louis.

A unique feature of the approaching
Worlds fair viii be the national family
reunion. By this is meant the gather
ing of the clans of Smith, or Jones, or
Johnson, from every state and territory
and even from the isles of the seas, to
become acquainted each with the other
and view the great exposition. The
idea, in fact, is international, for there
are families which are reaching out all
over the world for information as to
relatives who may be induced to join
the assembiage of kinsfolk at the ex-
position.
Already several prominent American
families have made arrangements for
reunion. The Tyler family, which in
Guided a president of the United States,
will meet at the Worlds fair on We'd
nesday, August 81, that day having
been assigned to the family by the com
mittee on ceremonies. 1t is expected
also that the Brigham family will meet
on the same day. The Tylers and the
Rrighams are said to be closely re-
lated, and therefore their joint gather
ing will be in the nature of double
reunion.
The Brighams organized at the
Chicago Worlds fair, and for the past
ten years the family association has
been growing, new members being ia
ken in from time to time. 1t is expect
tendance of the members Of this con-
nection on the day appointed
Another reunion that may be ar
ranged is that of the descendants of
the late Capt. James Estill, pioneer of
Kentucky, who are said to be very nu-
merous and to include some celebrities.
This family has applied for a date in
June.
Associations composed of persons
descended from a distinguished an
cestor or belonging to a family of note
are becoming popular. New England
families in particular eVince great in
terest in such associations. There is
a meeting, for instance, of two or three
members of the Rathbun family of
Connecticut. and the old homestead in
the rural town is visited. The SuggeS-
ton is made that something should be
done toward preserving the homestead
from ruin. The RathbunS present
thereupon write to all the Rathbuns
they know, and to those descended from
Rathbuns, and these communicate with
other members of the family known to
them-perhaps in New England. per-
haps in California, Alaska or Mexico.
The result is a permanent association,
with a family president and other Off
GERS, a board of directors, and reunions
at stated intervals.
Some such family organizations in
clude thousands of members. There is
more than one monthly magazine de-
voted exclusively to the interests of a
| single family association. In the maya
zine are published the names of new
members of the family as discovered
| from time to time. articles on promi-
nent members of the connection, re-
ports and announcements of reunions
and all things of interest pertaining tc
/ those of the name.
At these family reunions pleasant
surprises are frequent. Persons learr
that they are related to men and wo-
men of celebrity whom they have
known by reputation and long admired
! They sometimes learn also, that they
| are related to persons similar to the
| man Mark Twain found hanging to {
limb when he began drawing his family
/ tree; but these unpleasant discoveries
are not discussed at the reunions, which
are held with the purpose Of eDcourag
| ing that fellow-feeling that makes tbs
| whole world kin.
One of the most notable family gath
erings ever held in the west was tina
of the Gentry family. in 1899. The
Gentrys held a reunion in st. Louii
county. not far from the present site
of the Worlds fair. There were thou
sands of them, from Missouri, Ken
lucky and many other states A fam
lily association was organized, and it il
probable that another reunion will b
arranged for the Worlds fair. in which