The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-12-17
As Members of Family Gather
for Reunion; Ten at
First Dinner
HEAR RADIO BROADCAST
Pioneers of Family Came to
Minnesota in 1889; Took
New Land

The home OF Hugh Mckay OF Del
hi recently was the scene of a
Thanksgiving day gathering which
marked the thirty ninth annual meet
ing Of the Mckay family on similar
occasions. Forty-five members Of
the family were gathered at this an
nual meeting and 43 were absent.
The first Thanksgiving day dinner
was held at the home of Mr.. and
Thomas Mckay at which ten mem
bers of the Mckay family were pre-
sent, three of whom are still living.
Thirty-nine years is long stretch
and many have been the changes in
tervening. To Neil and Peter Mckay
it does not seem long since that day
in June, 1889, when they and their
deceased brother Thomas first look
ed over the prairie lands west of Red
wood Falls and decided to buy and
make it their homes. The fact that
there was but one transfer of title
between the government and its pre-
sent owners shows the newness OF
the country which met them.
The following spring they moved
here and started breaking land. Their
first crops were good and news which
they sent back to Illinois was such
that the balance of the family, con-
sisting of the mother, sister, Mar
garet, and three brothers, Daniel,
John and James, joined the three
brothers already here, locating on adj
joining farms. One other brother,
Archie, located in Michigan and still
resides there with his entire family.
The year 1891 brought forth such
a wheat crop as has enver been
equalled, and is still known as the
year of the big wheat" Irwin Nc
Kay, a son of Thomas Mckay, has a
sample Of that wheat in his posses
sion.
First Thanksgiving Dinner
The following fall the first Thanks
giving dinner was held at the home
of Thomas Mckay, the Oldest broth
err. There were ten present, of which
three are still living. They are Mrs.
Thomas Mckay and Peter and Neil
Mckay. Turkeys in those days were
easy to raise and the farm had pro-
duced bountifully.
This year As sat down to a goose
dinner and the count of those absent
numbered 43. Thus the family has
grown. Since that first dinner, the
gatherings have been held alternate
ly at the homes of the brothers and
sister. Due to the fact there are so
few of the older McKays left, the
younger generations continue the
custom alternately at the homes OF
nephews and nieces. Each year has
seen additions to the family circle,
until this year the grandchildren
were prominent about the festive
board.
Surprises are always welcome,
even at occasions of this sort. Thus,
the arrival of the brother Archie Nc
Kay, his wife and son Donald of
Flint, Michigan, added much to the
joy and merriment of the day. Archie
had never had occasion to attend any
of the Mckay Thanksgiving day
gatherings, therefore it was "big
day" for Archie as we'll as his broth
ers, Peter, Neil, James and John
and their families.
Sang Scotch Songs
Knowing that the older McKays
must appreciate the old Scotch songs,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Mckay had made
arrangements with Station WNAX
of Yankton, South Dakota, to broad
cast Scotch program dedicated to
the Mckay family. This program
came in just as the family was en-