Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1914-05-21
MCKINLEY FAMILY REUNION

Saturday, May 16 reunion was hel,
at the Mckinley home near Chestnu
Mound in w'''ch the relatives ant
friends participated. 1t was a gal;
day n every respect. Dinner was ser
we'd in the orchard on a table 129 #
long and fl. wide. The decoration
scheme was lovely. All along thu
lengthy table with it's snowy damasl
were embankments of spring flowers
A delicious course was served to &
guest list of over 200, but it was esti
mated hat there was enough to feet
thousand.
Rev. Matthew Ford gave a talk be
fore dinner in which he related the
history of the Mckinley family, which
Is one of the most interesting as well
as historic families in Tennessee. The
homestead has belonged to the Nc
Kinleys since 1902, and Messrs. James
and Robert Mckinley are now the own
ers. Both are Confederate veterans
having served throughout the Civil
war
In 1927 part of this place then
known as Mt. Richardson was decided
to Uncle Jim" as he is called by ev.
cry one The deed was witnessed by
Samuel Houston who was governor at
that time. Uncle Jim" is now 80
years old but still hale and hearty. 1t
is with no difficulty at all that he re-
members things. He can relate Incl
dents that happened 70 years ago as
vividly as If 1t were TO- Uncle Bob"
and Uncle Jim" can solve hard prob
lens, mentally SO rapid that it would
BATTLE most teachers
Rev. ]. M Horn, the popular preach
er of the country people gave a short
talk VII ch would have been lengthy
had it not been for the universal hun
ger of the crowd. DR.. knight intend
ed to make an address, but was called
away much to It regret of tine people.
Relatives from over the country and
even the far west were present. Miss
Henry Young a niece of the family
came from Ogden, Utah to attend the
reunion. Aunt Barbara" the old
fam'ly servant, aged LOG years failed
to be there owing to an attack of
grip"
A large crowd from Cookeville was
present Among those were Mr.. and
Mrs. p Y. Jared and family, Mr.. and
Mrs. s. F Carr and family, Mr.. Will
Slagle, Mr.. Harding, Mrs d. E. Slagle,
and Miss Grady Hughes.
Mr.. Hal ding, the popular photog-
rafer' was on hand with his picture
apparatus" and certainly got a good
supply Of pictures
In he afternoon fifteen gallons of
Union ice cream was served to the
crowd.
An interesting fact about the rela-
tives was that the oldest present was
Mrs. Mary Mckinley Brindley aged Sc
year, and the youngest was Master
Will Slagle Mckinley aged months.
The Mckinley home is famous be-
cause of its hospitality. Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Mckinley, more gtlerally
known as Uncle Bob and Aunt Mol
lie" have fed and sheltered more tierd
travellers than any two people in Ten
nessee. For q period of fifty years
the Mckinley mothers have annually
furnished sumptuous dinners for the
preachers. Another point of interest
about the McKinleys Is that little Mis-
Virginia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs
Clinnie Mckinley is he first girl that
has appeared In the family line for
70 years, both Of Henry's children BE-
ing boys as usual.
The next reunion will be at the home
of Aunt Mary" Brindley. Another
great JOY meet is promised for next
year.
On May 18th, 1914, there was held
at the old and historic Mckinley home
on the Walton road in the western end
of Putnam county family reunion.
There were about two hudred persons
present, of which number the larger
portion were the lineal defendants of
the Mckinley family. A bountiful
dinner was spread in the beautiful
grove adjacent to the house and the
occasion was enjoyable in every re-
spect. The Mckinley family is one of