Family Reunion, Jacob and Anna (Gillett) Rees descendants, Sherburne, NY August 1872

 Family Reunion and Picnic

Sherburne News, Sherburne, NY, August 31, 1872

The Second Annual Reunion Picnic of the descendants and kindred of Jacob Reed and Anna Gillett was held on the ground of Otto A. Rees, Esq., the old homestead, on Thursday, August 22, 1872.  The day had been looked forward to with bright anticipations by many, and as we drew near the ground our ears were greeted with familiar yet soul-stirring airs by the martial band, under the leadership of H.G.C. Rees, of Earlville [Madison Co. NY].  Happy, thrice happy, were the meetings and joyous indeed were the greetings of that eventful day.

Besides our own loved Empire State, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts and Virginia were represented. The families of Isaac, Hannah, Mary, John, William and Abraham Rees (brother and sisters of Jacob Rees) were represented by their descendants, among them nine cousins, also Simon, Sarah and Dorcas Gillett (brothers and sisters of Anna Gillett) by their descendants, among them nine cousins, the youngest being 54 years of age;  also the descendant of Nicholas Reed (uncle of Jacob Rees) who changed his own name to Race, claiming that to be the English translation of the German named Rees.  Otto A. Rees was chosen President of the day; Simeon A. Benton, Jr. was Vice President; Willard L. Race, Miles Bresee and J. Nevins Benton, Secretaries, and LaFayette Young, Treasurer.  Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Rees, DeForest Parsons and annie Rees were appointed Committee of Introduction.

The names of all the relatives present were registered by families follows:

Otto A. Reed Leroy holmes Mattie Holmes Clarence Rees Holmes Jacob J. Rees N. Amanda Rees Mary A. Rees Hattie L. Rees Tush W. Carrier Lovisa L. Carrier	Charles L. Carrier A.G. Moses Carrie A. moses Willie J. Oaks Richard L. Buell Mary Ann Buell Flora l. Buell Eda Buell Frank Buell Otto A. Buell
Martha L. Young LaFayette Young Almira Young Almira Young 2d Benajah Wakely Emeline Wakely	William Atkins Lavantia Atkins Albert Atkins Clinton Galpin Amelia Galpin
Anna Bess Miller Warren S. Bush	Anna Bush Jennie Bush
John Kinney	Sarah Kinney
Mary Calkins Lovingstone Calkins Ellen Calkins	Willie Warner Calkins Omar H. Calkins Ann Calkins
Caroline D. Eastman Virgil S. Eastman Julia Eastman	Howard Eastman Addie Eastman Willie Eastman
Rebecca Rees Albert Cole Devillo W. Rees Alfred Parsons Marilla Parsons DeForest Parsons John R. Parsons Dewitt Rees Ellen Rees Clara Rees Chapel Rees Nora Rees Haschal G. Rees	Lovina Rees Anna Rees Frank Rees Jacob G. Rees Orselia Rees Miller Rees Mirtalo J. Rees Nettie Rees Sanford Chapel Helen M. Chapel Mary L. Chapel Walter Chapel Marshall D. Rees
Willard L. Race Matilda Race Fanny Race Lena Race	Charles H. Race Mary Ann Race Walter L. Race
William F. Rees	Francis E. Rees
Joseph Benedict Emily Benedict Mrs. A.L. Woodruff	Addie Woodruff Mrs. T.K. Church Mrs. Geo Westcott
Harvey Mosley Mary M. Mosley Addie M. Mosley Willie O. Mosley Mattie L. Mosley Harvey D. Mosley	Mortimer V. Willson Sarah E. Willson Frank L. Willson Eddie J. Willson Helen S. Willson
Mary Bresee Isaac M. Bresee Esther A. Bresee Emma L. Bresee Hattie M. Bresee Franklin M. Bresee Russell H. Bresee George Jaquins	Martha A. Jaquins Russell Harrington Rachel M. Harrington Darius A. Rees Lineus S. Bresee Waity Bresee Eva Bresee
W. Knapp Rees Fanny Rees	Carrie Rees
Morgan L. Boughton	Elizabeth M. Boughton
Alvin Jones Simeon G. Jones Edward G. Jones Eunice Jones	Martha Ann Bugbee Rufus Bugbee Clara Bugbee
Anna Mead	Edmund Brown
Dwight Curtiss Mary Ann Curtiss Lydia Curtiss Clara Curtiss	H. Braden Paul Adella C. Paul Melvin C. Paul Arthur B. Paul
Elnora Moffatt Simeon A. Benton Marilla Benton Simeon A. Benton, Jr. Sarah Ann Benton Hiram Lincoln Benton Frederick Benton	J. Nevins Benton Christine Benton Charles S. Benton John W. Benton Jason M. Benton Cornelia M. Benton Amelia R. Benton
Betsy Benton Stephen B. Benton Carlos S. Benton	Fanny Benton Russell H. Lee Sophronia Lee

While this was being done, beautiful songs were sung, and amusements of various kinds were introduced.  After this, dinner was announced, and just at that moment the celebrated Photographist, Marquis, of Norwich, came upon the grounds and wished to take the group and tables, of which some very fine pictures were made.

 As we seated ourselves at the table, which almost groaned aloud with their burden of good things, and which, by this time, all seemed well prepared to appreciate and enjoy, our eyes rested upon a large pyramid of flowers presented by Mrs. Jacob J. Rees, and also a beautiful bouquet presented by Dr. and Mrs. Owen of Sherburne, for which a vote of thanks was unanimously offered by the friends.  Grace was said by the Rev. M.V. Willson, pastor of the Baptist church of Pulaski, and one of the descendants of Dorcas Gillett, and the dinner was promptly served.  While partaking of this repast dark and portentous clouds gathered and hung heavily over our heads, loud thunders roared and lightnings flashed.  But these soon wore away and all was bright and beautiful as before.

In looking over the group a few faces were missed, but very many new ones were in their places, but a shade of sadness came over all our hearts when we remembered one Wells Richmond, of Woodstock, who was with us one short year ago, but who has just gone to his eternal rest, to return to us no more forever.  Truly, indeed, we missed him for he was esteemed by all.

Among the relics of ancient days was an old Dutch family bible published in 1758, and now in the possession of Mrs. Mary Bresee, also an old account book more than 100 years old, now owned by Simeon A. Benton, of Earlville, also a Dutch petticoat which had been made and worn 100 years ago, and now the property of Mrs. Anna Mead of Rochester.

In company were found, of Farmers, 30; Teachers, 13; Mechanics, 9; Merchants, 3; Butchers, 2; Ministers, 1; Lawyers, 1; Doctors, 1; Speculators, 1.

A short history of the ancestors of this numerous family was read by Otto A. Rees, as follows:

My parents' names were Jacob Rees and Anna Gillett.  My Grandparents names were John Rees and Mary Spoor.  My grandparents on my father's side were Jacob Spoor and Louisa Hollenbeck.  My great-grandparents names were John Spoor and Mary Singer.  John Spoor was born in Germany or Holland about 200 years ago.  Mary Singer was born in England about the same date.  John Spoor, at the age of manhood, came to America; was a captain in the early French war; Mary Singer came to this country in the time of the French war; she was said to be a lady of great beauty; they were married, and being my father's great-grandparents, consequently my father was 1/8 English to 7/8 German.

My mother was a Yankee girl, her name was Anna Gillett, her father's name was Simeon Gillett, her mother's name was Rebecca Andrews, her grandmother's name I had not yet learned.

My father came on to this spot of ground in an early day; thus, it is rightly named the "old Rees Homestead."  My grandfather owned the right of soil in 1798.  My father came in 1794; chopped off this acre and built a log house where yonder flag staff is erected.  The nearest house east was on the Unadilla River; the nearest on the north at Sangersfield; on the west, on Chenango River, which the Indians called "Beautiful River."  This location is on Handsome Brook, which the Indians called "Toto" and is near the center of the north half of Sherburne.

The first grist mill built in this town and county was on the Handsome Brook 1-1/2 miles north of here; one of the first sawmills on the same brook was about one-half of a mile below.

My father kept one of the first taverns kept in the town of Sherburne. He was the first harness maker in town; owned the first lumber wagon in town, and also the first pleasure sleigh.  He died here on this spot April 8th, 1830, aged 62 years.

My mother is still living in the town of Fabius, Onondaga county, at the advanced age of 99 years, she still retains her mental faculties perfectly; converses freely and intelligently upon all the issues of the day. She was one of the first members of the Baptist Church in this town, and, as was said of her on the picnic grounds one year ago, "was one of the best Christian ladies of her time, and one of the best singers God ever allowed in any choir."  At the conclusion of the above history, speeches were made, toasts were given, songs were sung and music by the band was given, and in just appreciation of the labors of Otto A Rees and son, in so beautifully fitting up the grounds for the occasion a unanimous vote of thanks was tendered them.  L.J. Calkins, LaFayette Young, H.G.C. Rees, Jason Benton, and Jacob J. Rees were chosen a committee for the ensuing year, after which all present who could sing united in one grand chorus in Coronation and the L.M. Doxology, and at 5 o'clock P.M., the company dispersed to meet again at the same place on Thursday, August 21st, 1873, at 10 o'clock A.M.

E.M.C.