The Daily Grist
Ground Out By "Dusty' Miller

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     I SEE by the paper that Nora McLaughlin King's daughter is to teach in the Wilmington school! There's nothing I'd be any surer of than that she's smart. Her mama was. How that girl could diagram sentences! She still talks about it when we see each other, which for many years was not often . . . Reno Hoag, the hoteler of Marietta, sent me five sheets of poetry about ME. Gee! . . . John Thomas, who has reached an age quite in advanced boyhood, mows his own lawn, for two reasons: To make sure he gets a good job of mowing, and to keep his boyish figger, which he's managed to do splendidly for quite some time.

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     OUR FRIEND Herschel Folger, M. G., as usual, is in demand. I know of at least two very flattering calls to service that have come to him quite recently . . . "Do you know who this is?" queried a smiling voice on the telephone in an up-state town. "Talk some more,'' I urged. He did. "Why hello, Bob! Is Ruth with you? I know who it is!" Nothing is more gratifying than recognizing a voice where it doesn't belong. Bob Wright and his beautiful wife, Ruth, came with their children and lived in Wilmington one summer. He's the coach in Mt. Union College, at Alliance, and was here to teach classes in the summer school at the College. "How's Emery?" he asked. I explained that the last I saw of Emery he was disappearing behind a chicken leg at the Collett-McKay picnic, and promised as soon as I got home I'd inquire if he ever got out from behind it!

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     A PROFILE view of Dr. Alexander Purdy revives a memory of his illustrious father, the late Ellison R. Purdy, a Friend with many friends among Friends everywhere. Dr. Purdy spoke several times at the sessions of the Yearly Meeting---a brilliant, handsome, clean-cut gentleman; a scholar, a thinker, an influence in the world . . . Granville Barrere, Hillsboro editor, of high repute as a writer and newspaperman, is outspoken against the liquor traffic. "I am not a teetotaler," he admits, but predicts there will be a radical uprising against the present tendency of over-indulgence in booze . . . Among the 1,001 things I keep assuring myself I am positively going to do without putting off a moment longer is visiting Dr. W. R. Pyle my cheering soul-mate for these many years---with his foot tied to a brick, or vice versa, all these long hot days . . . "Send Billy pictures of bridges,'' the daughter suggests. "He likes bridges."' Which reminds me that the tall-and-handsome Richard Starbuck only a few years ago wanted Santa Claus to bring him a bridge with a river under it!

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Family Picnic

     A family picnic was held Wednesday night for Mr. and Mrs. Joshua C. Nickerson and daughter, Verda, of Clearwater, Kans., who are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Weldon McKay. The Nickersons came for the Collett-McKay picnic Saturday and are making a visit and seeing their numerous friends and relatives in the vicinity. The gathering occurred at the old McKay home in Waynesville where the McKays first settled. At this appropriate meeting place were assembled the Nickersons and Weldon McKays, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Terrell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Smith, Mrs. Loura McKay and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Skimming.

REV., MRS LAFFERTY
               ATTEND REUNION SAT.

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     Rev. and Mrs. Paul Lafferty and their children of Claibourne attended the annual Collett McKay families reunion near Wilmington, Saturday. Mrs. Lafferty remained for a two week's visit with her parents, following which she will Join Rev. Lafferty at Sabina, where the annual convention of the Methodist Protestant Church will be held.

ATTEND REUNION

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     Rev. and Mrs. P. L. Lafferty and children, Vernon, Shirley and Roger, attended the 67th annual reunion of the Collett-McKay family, Saturday near Wilmington. Over 300 registered and enjoyed a spiendid dinner. The reunion is always held the second Saturday in August in the Collett grove. Mrs. Lafferty remained with her parents for a two weeks' visit and will join Rev. Lafferty at Sabina, where the Ohio Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church convenes, August 18 to 22.

Collett, McKay Families Meet For 70th Reunion

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270 Register Saturday At Picnic Grounds Near Gurneyville

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     Once again the present generations of the Collett-McKay families were united Saturday at the picnic grounds designed only for the use of the annual reunions and kept for that purpose by the families.
     Four acres of land lying along the Gurneyville road are owned by the "Collett-McKay Picnic" and are yearly the scene of a colorful gathering of the descendants of two of the oldest pioneer families in this section of the country. Gate posts at the entrance of the grounds bear handsome bronze inscriptions sketching the history of the picnic and families. The site is a beautiful one. A grove of magnificent trees shelters the green, rolling terrain where cars, people, tables and some chairs are all parts of the plenic picture.
     The tables and chairs belong to the "picnic" and a colored man is always there early to tend a fire and make the coffee in two large kettles which are themselves a tradition of the picnic. One colored man, Hiram Poor, came 34 consecutive years in this capacity until his death. Another has been coming for six years. Wherever a member of the family may be in the world he may plan to come to the reunion and to find everything in readiness as it was the last year.
     The grove was formerly a sugar camp and nearly all of the trees are sugar maples. On one of the grandest of them is placed for the reunion a map of the grounds and adjoining lands owned by branches of the families and beneath that a register which before the day is done is inscribed with the names of between 200 to 300 persons from many states.
     The large book used as the register beginning with the year 1885 was filled and consequently closed this year. A new book will be started next year but as this one creates much interest it will be on display. It is kept in a vault between picnics. There was shown Saturday a picture taken in 1885 when the register was begun.
     Joshua Collett Nickerson, of Clearwater, Kans., who has not been present since 1885, was there Saturday. He was registered on the first page of the book in 1885 and signed his name on the last in 1936.
     This year was officially the 70th reunion although one Collett remarked it actually is the 71st since the first gathering was held in 1866 and that year should be counted.
     Each year by noon everyone assembles and the tables are spread. They stretch in a long line and bear a variety and abundance of food that puts to shame any of the old time harvest hand dinners. Eating is important, it is a sort of rite of the day and the Colletts and McKays are proud of their splendid ability to "do justice" to the really resplendent array of dishes. Everyone strolls up and down the line of tables and selects and samples from any tempting platter. Some take the overflowing plates and retire to chairs or sit on the grass and all return again and again to the lure of the bowls and their pungent contents.
     It is not unusual to see a plate heaped with three pieces of different cakes as well as for example, a slice of maple sugar pie, an old McKay recipe the secret of which has been learned by a granddaughter and results in a golden and irresistible masterpiece. One of the family is seated on the ground and carves a watermelon which he dispenses in enormous slices when the cake is finished.
     Preceding the meal Rev. Byron Leaser offered thanks. The afternoon and late into the evening the Colletts and McKays devote to reunion, reminiscence, making the acquaintance of new members of the famillies. The strong sense of pride each person feels in his heritage is remarkable and it is not uncommon to hear voiced by one of the younger generation the hope that the family tradition of strength of character and honesty will not be violated. The reunions are gay but they serve also to bring to mind the responsibility that a background of worth and achievement imposes.
     Mrs. Harley Smith (Sarah McKay), who resides with Professor Smith on land adjoining the picnic grounds, has traced a genealogy. By means of a tremendous amount of research Mrs. Smith has traced many branches of both families to remote European forebears. Her small paper showing the family tree represents an excellent piece of genealogical work worthy of a professional.
     Besides many present from Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Springfield, Sydney and other points nearer there were present: William Collett and daughter, Jean, of Cleveland; Ethel Edwards, Akron; Louise Eycke, Anderson, Ind.; Dr. Elizabeth Collett, Thelma and Jean Don Carles, of Pittsburgh; Allen Terrell, Haverford, Pa.; Mrs. Myra Wood Crawley and daughter, Lois, Troutville, Va.; Dr. K. M. Conklin, Stigler, Okla.; Miss Nelle McKay, Lake Wales, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tibbals, Miami, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Joshua C. Nickerson and daughter, Vera, Clearwater, Kans. In all 270 registered.
     Harry McKay, of Wilmington, is the oldest member at the reunion bearing the name of McKay and has to his credit the record of having missed only two reunions in his lifetime.
     Fortunate are the few friends invited to join the Collett-McKays on their day of reunion.

Social Calendar

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Social Calendar

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Social Calendar

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     The seventieth annual reunion of the Collett-McKay families will be held at the usual place Saturday, it is announced.

Social Calendar

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Collett-McKay Reunion.
     The 70th annual reunion of the Collett and McKay families will be held Saturday at the Collett-McKay picnic grounds. This annual affair is one of the big celebrations of the year since it commemorates the important events in the lives of early pioneers of this region and of one of the oldest families hereabouts.