Chesterton Tribune - August 27, 1885
AN INTERESTING FAMILY
Re-union of the Barnards.
The Barnard family of Jackson Township, in this county celebrated the
semi-centennial settlement of the old homestead, on last Wednesday, the
19th instant by a grand reunion in a manner that made it a great
success, and an event long to be remembered by every participant in the
joyous occasion, whether a relative or not.
WILLIAM BARNARD, now a resident of Westville, in LaPorte County, made
his location on his lands in the eastern part of Jackson Township, in
this County, on the 19th day of August, 1835, just fifty years ago,
where by great industry and good judgment he created one of the finest
and best farms in Northern Indiana, raising to maturity a family of
seven sons and four daughters, all of whom, except two daughters, now
resident of Kansas, were present at this re-union.
This farm is now owned by Mr. Nelson Barnard, the second son, who
happily conceived and carried out this idea of this most interesting
meeting. Early in the day the members of the family and their relatives
who had gathered from five different States and the District of
Columbia, together with numerous friends, neighbors, and acquaintances,
to the number of near three hundred persons, began to assemble in the
beautiful grove west of the mansion and contiguous to the road that has
long been known as "Quaker Street", where ample accommodations had been
prepared for the throng. A platform had been erected and beautifully
decorated with evergreens, flags, and flowers, seats provided and
everything arranged to make the occasion pleasant and agreeable.
At one o'clock the order was passed for all to assemble at the dinner
tables where a feast was provided, that for abundance and excellence is
rarely equaled. The first table was set apart for the Barnard family,
at the head of which sat the venerable and honored head of this house,
WILLIAM BARNARD, with his wife by his side. The seats were then filled
in order by the oldest child with his family first, and thus following
in their order as to ages. The seats as thus arranged were filled by
Oliver W. Barnard and his family, Nelson and his family, Wiley Maulsby,
who married Polly the eldest daughter, and his wife. Milo and his
family, Rhoda the wife of Amos St. Clair, with their family, Clinton and
family, Uriah W. Job and family, and ending with Milton C., the
youngest child and his family, the whole numbering nearly one hundred
persons. Two other long tables, filled with relatives and friends
helped to discuss the most memorable feat which will long be remembered
as one of the great historical events of the eastern portion of this
country.
At two o'clock the assembly having been seated around the stand, was
called to order and Oliver W. Barnard, of Illinois, was selected as
chairman, and Job Barnard, Esq. Of Washington D. C. as secretary, and
the proceedings opened by a song, entitled "Home Again", by a quartette
accompanied by instrumental music. A paper was then read by Job Barnard
that had been prepared by the father, which owing to his defective
vision, he was unable to read. This paper was replete with
reminiscences and interesting data of the early settlement of the
neighborhood. Job Barnard then read a paper entitled "Nantucket and the
Barnards" giving a history of the family since their settlement on the
island of Nantucket, nearly 200 years ago. Other very interesting
papers were read by Oliver W. and Milo Barnard, which were full of
information and sentiment. Nelson Barnard with a few appropriate
remarks and anecdotes, exhibited many relics that have remained in the
family for many generations, the use of many of them could scarcely be
recognized by the young people of the present day. Speeches appropriate
for the occasion were made by Hon. Chas. W. Cathcart and Shepard
Crumpacker, Esq.
The weather and every surrounding condition were all that could be
desired to make the occasion pleasant to all, and one to be remembered
for years., with regrets that is cannot be annually be repeated.
On Thursday, the 10th, a grand family dinner was given by Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Barnard, at their residence in Westville, at which all the children
except two, were present, together with their families.
As a sequel and winding up of this re-union a grand picnic was given at
Lake Michigan, near this village, on Saturday, the 22nd inst., by the
Barnard and Williams family, they being the representatives of the
paternal and maternal sides of the Barnard family. Probably they has
never gathered at the lakeside, a company who more thoroughly enjoyed
the day and entered more fully into all the pleasures to be extracted
from a holiday, than this one, and whose appetites were more ready to
appreciate and enjoy the bounteous provisions that had been prepared for
the occasion.
But as the declining sun admonished them that the hour of parting had
come many a tear glistened in the eyes of these warm and ardent friends
as the hand-shaking and farewell reminded them that this was the last
meeting and that as they left the shining waters of Lake Michigan, they
would separate, each to go to his own home, scattered over so many
states, there once again to take up the thread of his life-duties, with
nothing left of the grand re-union but its hallowed and holy memories.