234. From The Museum Genealogy Files; Letter By Rebecca (Little) Hinshaw. Reunions; Moore 1937, Smiley 1937, Hinshaw 1937, McBeth 1934, McGunnigill 1967

RCHS Blog Post Number 234. 

From The Museum Genealogy Files; Letter By Rebecca (Little) Hinshaw. Reunions; Moore 1937, Smiley 1937, Hinshaw 1937, McBeth 1934, McGunnigill 1967

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Letter By Rebecca (Little) Hinshaw

Winchester Journal-Herald, April 2, 1960.

     Family history from an unexpected source- Through the courtesy of Miss May FELLOW of Windfall, Indiana, aunt of Horace LEE of Winchester route 3, the Lees are in possession of a letter dated April 1, 1859, written by Mrs. Rebecca (Little) HINSHAW of the Jericho community, to her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas BALDWIN of Fairmount. Horace's great-grandparents.

     The father of Mrs. Hinshaw lived on the farm now owned by Neil BRUMFIELD, formerly the Clark PEACOCK farm. The letter proved to be of special interest to Mrs. Lee since she found in it, written over a century ago, details concerning the accidental death of her great-uncle, Isaac LAMB, the youngest brother of her grandmother, Rhoda (Lamb) THORNBURG. The excerpt follows, as written:

     "Last seventh day a young man by the name of lamb, who lived at poplar run was at his brothers in this settlement: in the evening they started a hunting they got about a mile from home when they came to a large pond his brother shot a duck then loaded the gun laid it down went around on the other side of the pond to look for the duck and his brother Isaac waded in the pond and got on a log and while he was standing there an other young man came up to where he was standing he told him to reach him the gun he did so taking hold of the muzle and as the breech came down the gun went off the load entering his left brest and killed him instantly."

     Adding to Mrs. Lee's interest is the fact that in 1885, a brother of the above mentioned Mrs. Hinshaw, Isaac Little, sold the farm to Thomas C. Thornburg, father of Mrs. Lee, where she and her sisters, Mrs. Mary KEMP and Mrs. Mae HOUGH, were born and reared. The pond mentioned was on the farm now owned by Dale St. MYERS, and the brother of the victim of the accident was Will Lamb, who lived where Virgil Peacock now lives. The unfortunate young man was only 16 at the time of his death.

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Moore Reunion

July, 1937.

     The Moore reunion, descendants of David Moore, was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William CATEY, near Carlos. Those present were Mrs. Katie HARRIS and son Allison, Mr. and Mrs. Ora HOWELL and sons, Eugene, Bobby and Larry of Losantville, Mr. and Mrs. Silas HUNT of Modoc, Mr. and Mrs. Pat CLINE and daughters of Windsor, Mr. and Mrs. Charles GORDON, Mr. and Mrs. Van Gordon and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. William Gordon and son, Mr. and Mrs. Elvin PEGG and family, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Moore and George ALLEN of Unionport. (Also DISINGER, ROBBINS, Moores)

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Walter B. Smiley Reunion

June, 1967.

     The Walter B. Smiley reunion was held at Goodrich Park June 25. A bountiful dinner was served at the noon hour. Herbert JACKSON gave the grace.

     In the absence of the president, the vice-president, Louie GROW acted as the chairman for the business meeting. The minutes were read and approved. A letter was read from Mr. and Mrs. Don WEIMER of Orlando, Fla.

     Two deaths were reported as follows; Coleen Weimer, Union City and Newton MOYER, Ridgeville.

     Births have been Chad Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith GIRTON; Mandie Lyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael METZ and Michael Byron, great grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Don Weimer.

     David GARRINGER, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Garringer is in the service, located in the Philirrine Islands; Larry ALEXANDER is in the Army; Ronnie Metz is in the Army.

     Marriages reported were Linda WARREN, daughter of Charles Warren, to Kelly BUCKINGHAM; Serena Girton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Girton to Larry Alexander.

     Mary Metz was recognized as the oldest member present and Kyle Jackson was the youngest descendant present.

     Officers were elected as follows; president, Louie Grow; vice-president, J. C. McKAHN; secretary and treasurer, Mamie Jackson; assistant, Grace Girton. (others present; SHIERLING, CORN, PFLASTER, KRUMWIEDE.)

     Mrs. Carl Metz entertained the group by playing a hand organ dated 1887. The rolls were made in 1884 and 1885.

     Mrs. Foster (BRAGG) VEST was an afternoon caller.

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Edmund Hinshaw Reunion

August, 1937.

     The descendants of Edmund Hinshaw, who lived for many years northwest of Winchester, held a reunion at Goodrich Park, Sunday.

     Forty-five were in attendance. Ben Hinshaw of Winchester is the only child living. Mrs. Wilbur GROW of near Stone Station is a granddaughter. Other grandchildren and great grandchildren live in Dayton, Summitville, Pennville, Jay county, Muncie and Randolph county.

     Logan Hinshaw of Summitville was elected president and Mrs. Gerald ESROW of Stone Station was elected secretary and treasurer.

    Distant relatives present were Arthur Hinshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hinshaw and son, Allan of Dunreith, Miss Bernice Hinshaw of Detroit and Mr. and Mrs. S. E. AVEY of near Bryant, Ohio.

     The next meeting will be held at the park in Portland, August 29, 1938. Mrs. Ann Elizabeth STAKEBAKE, a guest of the family was the oldest person present. She is past 89 years of age.

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McBeth Reunion

September, 1934.

     The third annual reunion of the McBeth family, the first ever held in Indiana, took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. HILL of Winchester.

     Election of officers was held and the following persons were selected; Mrs. Hill, president; Mrs. Amanda WRIGHT of Springfield, Ohio, vice-president; Mrs. Mary MATSON of Springfield, secretary; Mrs. Everett JOHNSON of Springfield, treasurer.

     Members of the family attending were; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph BALES and daughter, Martha, of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Charles BAKER, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Wright and three sons, Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, Mrs. Mary Matson, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest BARCKLEY and five children, Mr. and Mrs. Charles LOBAUGH and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Johnson. (Also COLLINS, TUWELL, REBERT, BROWN, BRAGG.)  

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Silas A. McGunnigill Reunion

1967.

     The descendants of Silas A. McGUNNIGILL met Sunday July 9, 1967, at the Parker Lion's Clubhouse at Parker. This was the first reunion in twenty years. A beautiful carry-in dinner was held at noon, with prayer being offered by the only living child of Mr. McGunnigill, Mrs. Carrie AMBURN of Winchester.

     Those in attendance were; Mrs. Amburn; Ted and Ruby SPARKS of Phoenix, Ariz.; Orville and Ruby HOLADAY; Russell and Beulah LAWSON of Gaston; Joe and Jean Holaday and family; Albert and Mabel Holaday and family; Jomes and Ermlee Holaday and family; Robert and Mary JOHNSON and family; Glen and Sylvia Johnson of Selma; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Amburn and grandson Brad LACY of Farmland; Nulan and Ruby Holaday of Losantville; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur SNYDER of Winchester and grandson Greg WIDGER of Elliotsville, N. Y.; Frank and Blanche Holaday of Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Snyder of Lynn, and Mrs. Iretta WALDREN and daughter Clara Jane and Mr. and Mrs. Omer Amburn.

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

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