Collett and McKay families gather for 116th picnic

     Saturday, the Collett and McKay families gathered for the 116th consecutive year -- on the customary second Saturday date at the regular grounds on Gurneyville Road, with 221 present.
     This event is a genuine family affair with all stages of life represented. Paul Beam frankly mentioned his 88 years. Edith Nickerson Stanfield was often called upon to clarify kinships or identify pictures. Family members found consulting Mrs. Stanfield a joy for her memories are sprightly and acute. Matthew Aaron Chapman, born last June 28, was determined to be the youngest picnicker. His parents are Joseph and Juanita Hess Chapman of Heath; his proud great-grandparents are Frank and Elizabeth Haydock Graham who live near Springfield.
     Wilbur McKay requested donations toward expenses of the picnic grounds, four acres owned solely for use of the annual reunion.
     Wallace Collett offered a prayer of thanks before the ample dinner, mentioning the heritage of these two families whose faith and courage can strengthen the members for present-day opportunities.
     From the old custom of boiling tea and coffee over an open fire, in iron kettles holding 20 to 30 gallons, a noticeable change has occurred. Coffee was scarce -- on one long table only one thermos of coffee could be found, while cold tea, fruit drinks and water were most in demand. Desserts held less prominence than salads and relish trays, but the old standby, fried chicken, disappeared rapidly from bountiful supplies.
     The current rising interest in roots was demonstrated by constant attendance around two tables displaying family pictures, a Moses McKay and Abigail Shinn Quaker wedding certificate and many items of similar nature.
     The John and Katherine Becker family of Ava, Mo., has compiled the most complete genealogical records made to date of the families. They welcome additions. Next year they hope to have extra copies in convenient notebook form at the 117th picnic. Katherine Becker is the daughter of Howard and Lucille Hackney of Wilmington. The Becker children relished the chance to be in Clinton County to help grandfather Hackney show sheep and hogs at the county and state fairs.
     On a stroll of the grounds, Edward and Bessie Terrell, both of whom have advanced degrees in botany, commented on the large trees, mostly sugar maple, with a few shagbark hickorys and some ash trees. They approved the custom of leaving the grounds much as they have been, replacing trees, when necessary, with active varieties. Several red oak and sugar maples, planted in 1973 in memory of Lila Inwood Edwards, are thriving. Along the Inwood Road border of the grounds maple saplings are growing well. William S. Doster transplanted these from original Collett land purchased in 1815 and still occupied by descendants.
     Excerpts from a newspaper picnic account of about 1880 seemed equally appropriate for the 116th. "For several years it was said that it always rained on the day of the picnic, but Saturday was the perfection of a day -- the sky daintily blue, as pure and fresh as a mountain breeze, while the chirp of the cricket and whirr of the grasshopper told of the waning summer...Death has taken from both families and there were naturally absent faces, but the names were spoken in subdued tones and their lives are treasured as precious memories." A scrapbook containing this account (undated) belongs to Sarah Haydock Shidaker of Wilmington. It was put together by her great-aunt, Mrs. Azel W. Collett.
     Relatives and friends visited from early noon until almost suppertime. Thirty-eight persons from outside Ohio signed the brand-new register book. They were: Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Terrell and daughter Miss Susanna Matilda of Silver Spring, Md.; Mr. and Mrs. David A. Doster of Southfield, Mich.; Dr. and Mrs. P. Howard Doster and daughter, Miss Susan Doster, all of W. Lafayette, Ind.; and Mrs. Douglas Strecker and daughter Debbie of Spokane, Wash. (Name should read 'D. Howard Doster' not 'P.')
     Also, Mrs. Ralph Ames (Marjorie Stanfield) and daughter, Miss Saundra Ames, of Arcadia, Fla.; the Rev. and Mrs. Byron Leaser and daughter, Ms. Mona Falcon, of Westfield, Ind.; Jonathan Collett of Brooklyn, N.Y. and his children, Miss Sarah T. Collett and Joshua Collett of Syossett, N.Y.
     And, Everett J. Nickerson of Riverside, Calif.; John F. Becker Jr. and Kristen, Kimberly, Kevin, Jennifer and John F. III, all of Ava, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Allen Inwood of Pittsburgh, Pa., Tonya, Brad and Jason; Mr. and Mrs. John Richard Haigh (Virginia Collett, daughter of McKay Collett), of New York City and their special guests his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Haigh of Cheltenham, England and Mr. and Mrs. Dick Baugh and sons, Steve and Jim of Winchester, Ky.
     The families of Everett Baugh of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Dr. Joseph Baugh, late Commander of Martin Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Ga., were missed by those at the picnic. Full military services were held August 16 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., for Dr. Baugh who died August 1 at Fort Benning.

Collett-McKay picnic planned

     The Collett-McKay picnic is planned for noon, Saturday at the picnic grounds owned by the family at the corner of Gurneyville and Inwood Roads.
     This will be the 116th family picnic.