The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-27

 HOLDS PICNIC Review Pioneer Days at
 Buffers Mill. ELDER ]. M. BARNS PRESIDES Over Seven Hundred People Enjoy
 Day. Interesting Incidents of Early Settlers Along PintIaIa Creek Recount ed-To Hold Picnic Next

Picnicking on the picturesque site of the old Buffers Mill, the descendants of the pioneer families about Sprague Junction reviewed the history of the past, and enjoyed the day making acquaintance with relatives, examining original parchment land grants, and Jelving into the old time history of the section of the state.
 The picnic was held on the banks of Pintlala Creek, nineteen miles from Montgomery and two and a half miles from Sprague Junction. Heralded as a reunion of the Barnes family and of the descendants of pioneer settlers. fully 750 persons were present at the celebration over which Elder Justus M Barnes presided. Included in the number were probably fifty negroes, three of whom were between the ages of 80 and 90, and who were slaves of the pioneers.
 MT Barnes presided at both the morning and the afternoon sessions. The morning session was opened by singing All Hail the Power of Jesus Name" followed by a short prayer. MT. Barnes then explained the purpose of the meeting as being the bringing together of the descendants, and friends of the early settlers on the ground first occupied during the early history of Alabama and to discuss their history.
 Mir. Barnes then asked that all of the descendants of Walter Boyd, Thomas Boyd. Mrs. Anne Barnes. and Thomas Lumpkin to stand apart in groups. The separating of the descendants of these settlers occasioned much merri- ment but when finally completed 1t was found that there were eighty six descendants of Walter Boyd present. while the three other families had just thirty-six representatives present.
 It was explained to the several groups that the purpose of the picnic was the collection of family recor is and histories, and to further this end the following committees were named: the Walter Boyd family. W. w. Sellers. William Sellers, Walter Boyd. George Boyd, and Miss Augusta NEkwurzel; the Thomas Boyd family, Hubbard Bell, Walter Bell. Billy Boyd. Colon Bel- sole, Leon Anderson and Sadie Bell; The Barnes family, Ellie Barnes. Will liam Luckey. Elkanah Luckey, Elisha Talley, Mrs F. M Kirkpatrick. and Mrs. Paul Davidson: the Thomas Lumpkin family. pr. M. B. Kirkpatrick, Dr. s. E. Jordan, Justus Jordan. Claude Mizell. Mrs. Ella Mizell and Miss Mary Barnes
 letter from S. l.. Arlington of Rock Mountain, s. C., who is the pres ent owner of the plantation upon which the picnic was held. was read to the assembly in which permission was given forTthe old mill rock, used for half a century, be placed upon the grave of Thomas Butler. founder of the mill, and whose remains lie upon the hill Just south of the picnic grounds.
 Mir. Barnes made a formal address during the afternoon, giving reminis- cences about the old family and the re lationships, exhibiting family trees, Bibles and parchment deeds, and other souvenirs of pioneer days. He nar- rated many interesting incidents of the Pintlala settlement, telling of the old race course, the activity of the old mill, of the groggery shop and the fights which were pulled off near the race track.
 Reassembling after dinner 1t was voted to have similar picnic on the | last Thursday of next August, and to | this end the following committee on | arrangements was appointed: Squire Walter Boyd. chairman: Walter R.
 Watson, Fayette Duncan, Wml Sellers w. T. Norman, Colon BedsoleS and Claude Mizell.
 Dr. Thomas M. owen followed with talk on the value of historical re- search and the importance of studying the lives of the pioneers closing with compliment to Mir. Barnes. John Fillmore also complimented Mir. Barnes
 saying that if the old pioneers could | look down upon the present genera
 ton they would be proud of the stand ing of their descendants.
 l The day was closed with a prayer
 by pr. s. E. Jordan of Mountain | Home.
 Among the prominent families rep. resented were: The Talleys, Ktrkpat- l ricks, Carneys. Tankersleys, Moores Carrs. Sharps. Staceys. Pools. Robert
 sons, Shackelfords. Moseleys, Buffers Pumpkins. Boyds. Barnes. The visitors
 included w. Seibels. Judge NJ. H. Screws. J A. Elmdre, Tom Peach. W T. Norman. Dr. S. E Jordan, Elisha Talley, w. J. Drum. Bob Taylor, Dr Robert Shackelford, Dr. Thos. NJ. | owen.