---

A reunion of the Ward, Palmer and Robinson families was held June 15, 1887, near the Robinson residence, on what is familiarly called the "Big Hill" in Weller Township.  These three families emigrated from England in 1819, and all settled near the reunion grounds.  Only two, Messrs. Francis and John Ward, are left of those who crossed the broad Atlantic.  But their progeny are numerous and scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in Asia, England, South America and Mexico.  Each one, far and near, received an invitation to this gathering.  The long looked for morning dawned as only a perfect June morning can dawn, and the relatives, who had been arriving for a week previous, with arrivals that morning, to the number of about 150 with neighbors, and friends from a distance, in all 300 or 400 gathered together early in the shady grove.  Ample accommodations were afforded in way of seats, a long stand for the speakers and singers, and a table for holding old relics which the different families had cherished for years.  A cool flowing spring of water provided an abundance of drink.  At 11 o'clock, John Ward, the president of the meeting, called the audience to order.  After a hymn by the choir, a fervent prayer was made by Francis Ward, of Kenton.  A psalm was then read by the Rev. Edward Hagerman, of Polk, after which "A Hundred Years Ago" was sung.  An address of welcome was then made by Francis Palmer of Mansfield, and responded to in a very entertaining manner by Gen. J.S. Robinson, of Kenton.  "A Hundred Years to Come" was next sung, after which all adjourned for dinner.  This hour, to the relatives, was one of the most pleasant of the day as cousins, aunts and uncles who had not met for years mingled together, and there was many a fervent hand clasp which would be long remembered and more than one tear was dropped over some old relic, which gray-haired men and women present had vivid recollections of seeing on mother's or grandmother's tables in their childhood days.  Many of them were over a century old.  Among the many, was a very beautiful pin with topaz center surrounded by pearls and rubies, the property of Mrs. Dapler, of Sandusky, once her grandfather's bridal gift to his bride, over a hundred years ago.  On re-assembling after dinner, the song "Merrily Oh" was sung after which a paper was read by John Ward, which was a history of the families, carried back to Queen Ann's reign.  "The Old House at Home" was next rendered by the choir.  Regrets were then read by Gen. Robinson, from his niece in England;  also by Mrs. Robert Hughes from Charlie Hughes in Mexico and Melvia Hughs in Asia Minor.  Mrs. C.W. Palmer read regrets from Mrs. Annie Curtis, Illinois, Mrs. Mary Hewes, Iowa, Mrs. Fisher, Iowa, and Mr. T.S. Palmer, of California, the latter letter being of interest to his old friends is herewith reproduced:

Los Angeles, Cal., June 6, '87

DEAR FRIENDS:

I received your card of invitation to a reunion of the Ward, Palmer and Robinson descendants, June 15, 1887.  I certainly would be pleased to meet you at that time and place if the state of my health would permit, but the distance is so great, and the journey would be so tiresome that in my present feeble condition I think it imprudent to undertake it.  I have already crossed the continent seven times and the last trip was excessively fatiguing.  Thirty-eight years ago this summer I was crossing the plains.  The journey commenced in April and ended in October.  We were the greater part of that time in an almost unknown region, cut entirely loose from civilization, exposed to all kinds of atmospheric changes, risking all kinds of danger.  Surrounded by wild beasts and wilder Indians, walking by day and standing guard by night, compelled to endure the storms of the plains and the drought of the deserts, plodding along at the rate of a hundred miles a week, day after day the same continuous, monotonous round.  It would seem tiresome indeed, but I was young and healthy and that tells the story.  Quarter of a century afterwards I passed over the same route in five days, in a palace car, on a smooth track, three square meals every day.  What a luxury.  What a grand thing to live in this progressive age.  What a grand country we have and how proud we should be to be called American citizens, and how grateful we should be to the "Boys in Blue" for preserving this government.  My heart goes out to you from this far away and sunny land of fruits and flowers, where mountain, plain and valley meet the rolling, mighty ocean.  From the grandest scenery on the continent I go out in spirit to meet you in this union of families and with you a happy, a glorious and a profitable meeting.  I take it that this reunion is more particularly to commemorate the virtue and perpetuate the memory of the two Dickins sisters, Grandmother Ward and Aunt Jane Robinson.  I have a lively and pleasing recollection of these two grand old women, for they were both elderly at my earliest recollection.  Fully half a century ago, I was in condition to gratefully receive a measure of kindness from my dear old Grandmother Ward.  While a "kid" of ten or twelve years of age, I was so unruly as to merit prolonged scoldings from grandfather, cuffs and kicks from Uncle Charlie, sound thrashings from Uncle John, while this old woman would take me in her arms and quiet my sobbings, pat my red head and roll out great chunks of cake and -----.  Well, can you blame me far away along in after years, under many conditions of a checked life, for allowing myself the great pleasure of appreciating her great kindness and venerating her memory.  As to dear old Aunt Jane Robinson who that ever intimately knew her could help loving her with his whole heart?  I often think of her with feelings of grateful affections.  Many pleasant days and nights have I spent under her hospitable roof, though humble it was one of the places I delighted to go to, for I was always kindly treated and made welcome.  Somewhat peculiar in some things, yet she knew how to get down where a boy lived.  Always had lots of cake and other good things.  What romping times I had with that great big hearted boy, Will and the little saucy Jim.  Yes, those were rollicking times, indeed, in the long, long ago, forty, yes fifty years ago, and what a world of events has transpired since then.  What joys and what sorrows have we all passed through.  It seems t me it has been more of sorrow than joy.  How many of our best and dearest have gone down to the grave in anguish and pain.  How deeply we were crushed;  how dark the future, but we lived on until another blow came, seemingly more than we could bear.  All along through that accursed rebellion a continual round of suspense and agony.  The best blood of America flowed freely, oh, those long dark years.  Not only the dearest friends of our own blood and kindred, but many other dear to us by ties of friendship, and unity of feeling in a common cause, went down one after another in that awful struggle and a wall of sorrow went up all around us.  Yes those were dark days and full of sorrow, but we lived on.  The "Dark Cloud had a Silver Lining".  But sorrow came again and again into our household, other periods of darkness and gloom, and we ask ourselves what is this life for unless it is a preparation for another state of being, of greater importance than this?  It is hardly worth the living unless there is something beyond, but I firmly believe that we shall meet, father and mother, grandmother and Aunt Jane, and all the others that were dear to us on earth, in another, a better a grander state of being.  Dear friends, let us cultivate the feeling of friendship, so as to be prepared for a grand, a glorious reunion in that beautiful land where sorrow and pain are unknown.

H.C. Hedges next delivered a very interesting address, speaking of his earliest recollections of the three families, and other early settlers.  Then came a short talk from Judge Manuel May, who, with his parents, were dear and esteemed friends of the Palmer families.  Francis Ward, of Kenton, made some very interesting remarks about their trip across the ocean, and by wagons from Philadelphia to Mansfield.  H.R. Smith, of Mansfield, next read a paper speaking of his first acquaintance with the families, into one of which he married over thirty years ago.  He narrated some amusing incidents of old time people.  Just before the close of the meeting, Senator Sherman and wife arrived upon the grounds.  The Senator was heartily cheered, and called upon to address the meeting.  He pleasantly complied, and gave a very entertaining little talk to the friends.  The choir then sang "When Shall we Meet Again" and all adjourned, all the relatives being taken possession of by different friends for a more prolonged visit, excepting General and Mrs. J.S. Robinson, of Kenton, and Mr. Parley Robinson, of Columbus, who returned to the city preparatory to taking early trains the next morning.  In addition to the above, relatives present were:  William Robinson, of Kenton;  Francis Ward, Kenton;  Mr. Jacob Newman, Clerk of the Court, LaGrange, Ind. and wife;  Mr. and Mrs. William Stowe, Mrs. Jerome Gleason, Mr. Henry Newman, Bryan, Williams County;  Mrs. Depler, Sandusky;  Mrs. John Palmer and sons, Clinton and Morris, Nevada, Wyandotte County;  Mr. Ralph Palmer and wife, Nevada;  Mrs. Buffington and daughter, Lulu, Corsica;  Mrs. Anna Golladoy, New Lisbon;  Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Fleming and children, Galion;  Mr. William Watson, Indiana;  Mrs. Rose Reichman, Harding County;  Rev. and Mrs. E.T. Hagerman, Polk;  Mr. and Mrs. Golladay and daughter, of Ashland;  Mr. and Mrs. Haverfield, West Salem;  and James and Frank Robinson, Wood County, besides a goodly number from Mansfield and different parts of the county.

---

---

<< Back to Misc. Records Index

<< Back to the Richland Co., Ohio Index