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Memorabilia from 1937

Posted: Monday, 16 August 1937.
Wilmington News-Journal, Wilmington, Ohio, Page 5.

(Provided courtesy of Mary Lou Inwood.)

Old Records On Display At Collett-McKay Picnic

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Annual Family Reunion Held At Picnic Grounds

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     The 71st annual Collett-McKay picnic was held at the picnic grounds belonging to the families at the customary time, the second Saturday in August. Saturday was an ideal day for the picnic at the grounds where the woods were unusually beautiful and the growth of many young trees into size for shade trees was noted.
     Large posts at the entrance of these grounds bear these inscriptions: "Collett - McKay picnic grounds. These families were united by marriages between 1823 and 1830. The first picnic was held in 1866." "In memory of our immigrant and pioneer ancestors, Stephen Collett from France, Robert and Margaret McKay from Scotland. Daniel and Mary Haines Collett emigrated from Jefferson County, Virginia to Clinton County, Ohio in 1812. Moses and Abigail Shinn McKay from Frederick County, Virginia to Warren County, Ohio in 1818."
     The setting of the picnic grounds dedicated to this annual reunion is suitable in point of beauty and convenience to the purpose for which they are set aside.
     Several family members who have not attended before were present Saturday. These included Mr. and Mrs. Merrell Isley and children, Mary, William and Caroline, who were passing through Wilmington on their return journey to Turkey where they are missionaries, and Mrs. Frances Wells, of Kansas, who was here for the first time in 41 years.
     One innovation was made for the picnic. Souvenirs and keepsakes were brought and placed on a table near the register.
     All the pictures of the picnic taken in past years, the first one in 1885, and clippings and accounts were placed there. For the first 14 picnics no register was kept but since then the records are accurate.
     The Collett family tree containing 600 names, nine generations of 200 years, and the McKay family tree were exhibited. The original marriage certificate of Moses McKay and Abigail Shinn bearing the date, March 5, 1793, was on display.
     Three hogsheads which are used for water have been worn out during the years of the picnics and a new one was in use Saturday.

Posted: Thursday, 12 August 1937.
The Miami Gazette, Waynesville, Ohio, Page 1.


Seventy-first Annual Collett-McKay Reunion

     The 71st annual Collett - McKay family reunion will be held at the usual place on Saturday, August 14th.
     This is one of the oldest family gatherings in this section of the state. The original settlers were among the first of the whites to come into the wilds of a new country, long years ago.
     The following verses, written by one whom we would like to name, but who desires to remain unmentioned, has given us the following, dedicated to this family gathering:----

"Collett and Mc Kay"
You meet again to tell them o'er
     you Colletts and Mc Kays,
The stories of our birth and blood,
     and tales of long past days.
A list of noble forebears stands
     out along the line
From Bonny rugged Scotland and
     France's warmer clime;
For look in English history for An-
     drew Mc Kay,
The general of William of Orange
     on many victorious day.
And the Colletts, brave Hugenots,
     staid English refugees,
Feared not for sake of principle
     to cross the narrow seas.
For, settled once in England, pled-
     ged to the Union Jack,
They fought the papist foeman and
     drove the Frenchmen back.
In many a bloody conflict they
     fought for what was right
And drove from out of Ireland the
     papish Jacobite.
How boldly they fought them in
     water to the loin,
Against their persecutors at the
     battle of the Boyne.
How bravely they fought them his-
     torians proclaim
For with their fiercest enemies
     they gained a dreaded name.
As pioneers came they to Jona-
     than's welcoming shore
To war 'gainst Britain's tyranny
     and tell their story o'er.
And when the war clouds gather-
     ed between the several states
A Colonel McKay was ready our
     history relates.
A near-by shaft bears witness to
     loyalty, courage too:
The shame tells half the story,
     inspiring yet to you.
And yet in poring over the tales
     of Collett and Mc Kay
We find so much that's peaceful,
     all war thoughts pass away;
There are homely, cheerful fire-
     sides where love and peace a-
     bound,
Where welcoming hospitality was
     ever to be found.
No vain or false ambition strain-
     ed them ever into strife
Nor wrecked the silent flowing
     of their peaceful, quiet life.
Their churches were the centers
     of the family life as well,
And many a strange attendant did
     of their piety tell;
And jolly social gatherings, like
     one big family met,
Became at times historic, today
     they are so yet.
With all their pastoral living let
     me pause to state,
They sent one son to honor the
     Supreme court of the State,
And his descendant's name
     appears, with honor to be sure,
As author of "Highroad to Eng-
     lish Literature."
So, worthy this occasion to tell
     them o'er and o'er
The stories of our fathers who
     came from foreign shore,
To reminisce of times long past,
     of hardy pioneer
To trace the good example of
     sages and of seer.

Posted: Friday, 6 August 1937.
Wilmington News-Journal, Wilmington, Ohio, Page 5.

Collett-McKay Picnic

     The annual Collett-McKay ple- nic will be held this year, Satur day August 14, at the picnic grounds. Traditionally the reunion is held at the picnic grounds, near New Burlington, on the Collett land.

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