Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1941-08-14
EMBREE PICNIC A GREAT
SUCCESS---RECORD CROWD


dence. At the early age of IS, he
moved with his parents to the state
of Kansas and from there he went
to Chicago, ILL.,, where he secured a
job grading lumber at $40 pei
month with Rittenhouse and EN-.
bree. During this time he went to
night school, took bookkeeping, re-
ceived we'll earned promotions and
became one if the very successful
business men of Chicago.
During his entire life William
Embree never forgot his early
friends and his early years in
Pennsville Neither did he forget
his early hardships and the things
denied to him and other boys and
girls OF like circumstances. All
boys and girls have dreams and lay
plans as to what they are going to
do when they get to be men and
women. These dreams and plans
are usually based upon the material
things which they most desire and
strike them most forcibly in their
younger days.
Few men and women, however,
have been SO indelibly impressed
with the plans which they formu-
lated in their early life as to follow
through with the promises they had
so faithfully made to themselves.
One of these few men was William
Embree who had promised himself
that, if he, in future years, could do
so, he would see that the kiddies Of
Penn township would be treated to
the things which he wanted and
could not buy.
Mr.. William H. Penrose. life
long resident of Pennsville and
Penn township was schoolmate
and through all the years very
dear friend Of Mr.. Embree. I asked
Bill Penrose to give me any infor-
nation at hand as to why Mr.. EN-
aside these four acres of ground
with these beautiful trees to be
used for picnic grounds together
with an annual treat for the people
of Pennsville and Penn township
Mr.. Penrose said this to me: 4 ask
William Embree why he had given
this beautiful park to the Penn
township people, and he made this
reply to me- When l was a boy,
I did not have money enough to buy
a dish of ice cream or a bag Of pea
nuts and I made a vow at that time
if l was ever financially able I
would see that the kiddies of Penn
township would be treated to the
things which l was denied as boy
because did not have money
enough to buy them.
At this time, it is only fitting and
proper to show how we'll Mr.. En-
bree followed through with his ear
ly boyhood promise to himself for
this picnic and treat was first CIV
en- by Mr.. Embree to the Methodist
Sunday school at Pennsville, Ohio,
in August, 1909, and at that time
of thirty-two years ago, Mr.. Embree
not only saw that the kiddies re-
ceived their treat but the grown
people as we'll. Ever bearing in
mind his early promise to himself,
Mr.. Embree followed through each
succeeding year with his annual
picnic and treat to the people of
Penn township. Thirteen years later,
or in 1922, Mr.. Embree purchased
this beautiful park site where we
are now congregated, endowed and
set it aside without circumference
or reservation to be used as picnic
grounds and outing place not only
for the people of Penn township but
other people as well.
Men and women who have won
fame and fortune have used their
in many different ways to
Some have built tall buildings and
emblazoned their names thereon.
Some have erected tall monuments
with carillons in the tower and
crypts at the base for the lasting
repose of their bodies. Others have
endowed public and private institu-
tions, given freely for the advance
ment of the arts and science, estab-
lished Libraries and in other ways
been the benefactors of mankind.
the woof of the fabric of
the great majority of these gifts
and benefactions we pick up
the thread of self Immortality
Frankly and without ado, we are
proud to say that the people Of
Penn township are the recipients of
a beautiful park site, picnic grounds
and outing place freely given by
man whose only thought was to
make good his early promise to
himself when he was lad at Penns-
Vile, o. That if he was ever finan-
cially able he would see that the
Kluuies or Penn township had their
treat
William Embree was born at
O., November IL, 1860,
and died at his home in Chicago,
March 6, 1888. We regret
that his widow, Mrs. Embree, and
his two sons-J. w. Embree, jr.,
and Henry S. Embree can not be
here today SO that we can personal
ly thank them for these grounds and
the treat fully appreciated by us