Complete Account of the Garrison Reunion

Complete Account of the Garrison Reunion

The Commercial-Mail has previously contained an account of the Garrison reunion but the following contributed article was such an excellent one that it will prove of interest to many readers.

"A large number of relatives and friends gathered at the home of Henry Egolf, three and one-half miles north of Columbia City, on Sept. 7th, 1905, and spent the day in a way that will be long remembered by both old and young, it being Mr. and Mrs. Egolf's golden wedding anniversary. All came with well filled baskets and two long tables were set across the floors of the barn, which had been ar-[sic] for the occasion.

The assembly was called to order by the president and a prayer followed by Rev. L. A. Luckenbill, after which all joined in singing, accompanied on the organ by Mrs. Alice Miller.

An address by Charley Egolf, of Michigan, followed, on the ups and downs of life in the past fifty years. "America" was then sung after which all marched to the tables to the music of the organ.

The tables fairly groaned with good things to satisfy the inner man. After all had eaten their fill, the members of the family and guests repaired to the house, on account of the illness of Mr. Egolf, who was unable to be out of doors.

The first on the after dinner program was a song "Blessed be the Tie that Binds." Rev. Luckenbill then made a lengthy address on pioneer days and the changes made in the last fifty years; how the old settlers had made the howling wilderness to blossom like the rose. At the conclusion of his talk, he presented Mr. and Mrs. Egolf each a pair of gold spectacles, gifts from their brothers and sisters. They were also made the recipients of a number of other valuable presents.

C. Egolf of Michigan then spoke of the touching incidents of over fifty years ago when Mr. and Mrs. Egolf walked hand and hand through the wilderness to the old log school house and enumerated the wonderful changes in the past fifty years. He then presented the happy couple with a fine bible containing the family record, in remembrance of their golden wedding, by his people in Michigan, with the request that when Mr. and Mrs. Egolf died it should be handed down to Isaac if living, then to Lon, then to Marion then to Isaac's oldest child and so on.

Mrs. Egolf was next on the program and related their experiences in the past fifty years. She said they had resided on the same farm in the same house and have some of the same furniture that they had fifty years ago. She told of their happiness at this reunion and admonished them to live a consistent Christian life that all might meet again at the great reunion on the other shore.

Z. Garrison then made a short speech and was followed by R. Garrison who stated that he well remembered meeting Mr. and Mrs. Egolf on their way to be married and that they were driving "little dollie." Congratulations were then offered and all joined in singing "Jesus Savior Pilot Me."

The election of officers followed (and) the old officers were unanimously re-elected.

W. E. Magley, the photographer, was present and took orders for three groups of pictures.

Following is a partial list of those present:

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Egolf, Marion Egolf and wife, N. P. Sliger and wife, W. B McClain, wife and children, Mrs. H. McClain and daughter, John McClain, wife and two children, Jacob Royer and wife, Peter Garrison, wife and son, Marion Tucker, Jesse Oman and wife, (L?) Garrison, wife and children, Isaac Baker, wife and child. Joe Baker, Levy Garrison and wife, Bert Waugh and wife, Mrs. Jane Lore, Isaac Egolf and son, Geo. Egolf, wife and three children, Mrs. Laura Judd and child, Geo. Fisher, wife and seven children, Wm. A. Sumney, wife and five children, Mrs. Katie Gaff, Mrs. Elvira Allen and son of Steuben county, R. Garrison and son of Fort Wayne, C. Egolf of Michigan, Jim Egolf, of Etna Green, J. E. Wilhem, Mrs. Ed. Zellars, Mrs. Al. Gibson and child, Mrs. Isler and two children, Mrs. Elizabeth Humbarger, Mrs. Alice Miller and son, F. Magley, wife and three children, Rev. Luckenbill, wife and son, John McClain, wife , two sons, and W. E. Magley.

WM. A. SUMNEY