Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-15
LAST OF ORIGINAL MEMBERS
OF "REEcE sETTLEMENTn
Remarkable Woman Of "a Years Re-
eeives Homage Of Dozens Of Progeny
at Old Homo in Southern Hardin
County - Children and Their Off,
spring Number Seventy One.

county, was "a years, old today. This
statement alone would not attract es-
pecial notice. But when it is con-
sidered that from her sprung a family
which has run to the fourth genera
| ton, and that her sons and daughters,
and their sons and daughters OF two
more generations, total no less than
seventy-ore persons, Mrs. Reece looms
at once into prominence as a most
worthy motron.
| In addition the aged lady helped es-
tablish the "Reece Settlement near
New Providence almost sixty years ago.
She is the sole survivor Of the grown
people Of the company Of forty-foaIr
North Carolinians, who came 1900
miles in wagons to what was then the
frontier.
| Celebrate Event With Gathering.
| 1t is because Of some of these things
that today there was a great gathering
of the Reece family at the home OF the
son, William S. Reece, south OF New
Providence, where Mrs. Reece lives.
From all parts of southern Hardin
county they came, and from in and
around New Providence and Honey
Creek they journeyed to spend the day
with their mother grandmother or
great grandmotller as the case might
be. A great dinner family love
feast it was-was spread and all day
long there was reunion Of the members
of the family. This event has become
an annual affair in the 'sReece Settle
| ment," and Mrs. Recess sprd ghtlyness
and good health contain promise Of
many more such events.
Is Most Remarkable Woman.
Mrs. Reece is the mother Of eleven
children, seven living and four dead.
With others she forced her way for
hundreds of miles thru the wilderness
of the west to find the now home. A
devout Friend, her religion is to her
almost as life itself. These are some
Of the things that indicate the sturdy,
rugged stock from which she sprung,
and the lovable, inspiring life she has
led.
Thirty-f1ve men and women, who
have reached their majority, call her
grandmother and their children total
twaenty- nine. OF these grand and great
grandchildren there are sixty-four.
There would have been sixty five. but
one, a graudo1ild. Ethel Reece. the
daughter OF William 8. Reece. is dead.
Such an exceedingly small percentage
Of deaths in SO many ofsprings IS an
other proof Of the sturdSness Of the
parent stock.
Family Runs Far Back.
The Reece family is able to trace its
ancestry as far back as 1855 to
Abraham Reece. who as a bound boy"
was taken from Pennsylvania to what
is now Yodkin, N. c. He was one Of
the first settlers in that country: In
ITO he married Mary Hough. Levi
was one Of their family OF twelve sons
and daughters. He married Sarah
Shugart in 1896, and William Reece
was the next to the youngest OF their
thirteen children.
William married Mary Ann Dobbins
Sept. S. 1889, and from this union
sprang the great family that now
thickly inhabits a part Of Hardin
county.
Came West From Carolina.
Mrs Reece was the daughter OF Will
lam and Sarah Dobbins. She was born
June Is, 1915. The then heads Of the
Reece and Dobbins families lived sixty
odd years ago in Yodkin county, North
Carolina. It was there than a COM
pany. of forty four of them banded to-
eether to go west in search Of a new
home.
Their large families gave no prom
Use OF anything but poverty; the soil
Impoverished by years Of tillage at
forded only the bare necessities; slav-
cry was disturbing the people; the use
Of intoxicants was becoming common;
and the lure Of the west and the call
Of the fitch virgin prairie soil was in
their blood. These were some Of the
reasons why this handful Of Friends
started on pilgrimage OF 1900 miles
for the west.
Were Months on Road.
This company, including others, con-
sisted Of Mr.. and Mrs. Reece. Mrs.
ReecA's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Dobbins, and Mr.. Recess parents. Levi
and Sarah Reece.
Starting in their wagons they cross
ed the Blue Ridge mountains, passed
thru valleys, fording streams, splash
ing thru swamps and creeping over
virgin meadows they came on, slowly
but surely. It was on April "a, 1851,
that they said goodbye to the old
home tt was July / when they ar
rived at Salem, Iowa, where Friends
naQ td1FedQy Established a Setuement.
Here they rested q week, and then
went on to Richland, iowa, where they
remained for sdx weeks. Continuing
their journey they followed the setting
sun. Within month less than sixty
years ago this caravan passed thru
what is now the site. OF this city. A
lone cabin stood on the blur overlook
ing the Iowa. The day they journeyed
thru what was later to be Marietta, the
town site for. what was later the first |
county seat. was being laid out,
Suffered Terrible prsvat3ons.
William and Mary Ann Reece. and
the family, then numbering six chill |
trta suffered untold hardsh4bs the
first year In the new home. The wealth |
er was severe, their home was poorly
built and thru its cracks snow drifted
in the winter time. Il was oftenneces- |
sary for the children to stay in bed to |
keep warm.
Strong in their religious faith this |
band OF North Carolians were not long |
in their new homes before religious |
were held. In 1852 = meet. |
Ing" house was estIniisa1e1, tho 49, |
religious ga*hering Of Hardin county |
being held IN the home OF Mrs. Reece's |
father, william DobhtnA. . snort dis |
tance usetheast Of Nhefe <hs Honsy ]