Deere - 1895 - 1898
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 23 August 1895
Early Thursday morning, August 15, vehicles began wending their way to the beautiful country home of Joel G. Deere. It was the day for the fifth annual reunion, and soon forty six relatives were present to renew family memories and to strengthen family ties. Nine families were present and temporarily united themselves into one family circle to insure the occasion a success and a pleasure. The families were as follows: Besides the four immediate members of the family were J. T. Deere, wife and nine children, W. E. Deer, wife and six children, J. T. Whittington, wife and five children, C. H. Deere, wife and two children, C. A. Canine, wife and child, W. T. Whittington and wife, A. M. Deere, wife and two children, and G. W. Deere, wife and child.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 23 August 1895
Nine Families Represented—Forty-six Persons Present—A Happy Gathering. Early Thursday morning, August 15, vehicles began wending their way to the beautiful country home of Joel G. Deere. It was the day for the fifth annual reunion, and soon forty-six relatives were present to renew family memories and to strengthen family ties. Nine families were present and temporarily united themselves into one family circle to insure the occasion a success and a pleasure. The families were as follows: Besides the four immediate members of the family were J. T. Deere, wife and nine children, W. E. Deere, wife and six children, .J. T. Whittington. wife and five children. C. H. Deere, wife and two children, C. A. Canine, wife and child, W. T. Whittington and wife, A. M. Deere, wife and two children, and G. W. Deere, wife and child. A short, spicy program was participated in by different members of the family as follows: W. T. Whittington made a few well chosen remarks, setting forth the objects and benefits of the meeting, after which he proceeded to call the roll, insisting that all who were absent should respond, but happily no one responded. Recitations were well rendered by Gertrude and Grace Deere and a solo by Claud L. Deere was listened to with pleasure. A paper by J.H. Deere closed the program. He spoke of the beauty and necessity of union in the family, touched upon the moral, intellectual and financial attainments, but especially upon the moral: and closed by making an earnest appeal for professional men and women from the ranks of the family. At the close of the exercises the families immediately retired to the Shades where they enjoyed a sumptuous repast prepared at the hotel by the genial manager, Fred Stebbins. The afternoon was spent in conversation, playing at horseshoe and croquet. Not until the sun was nearing his day's journey did the families go to their homes, each feeling strengthened by the moral, social and literary enjoyments of the day, and that he was bound to the old home by stronger ties of friendship and kindred relations. -- thanks to Kim H
Source: Weekly Argus News, Aug 20., 1898 p 2 c 3
The 8th annual reunion of the Deere family was held Wednesday at the elegant country home of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Deere, near Bluff Mills, and was attended with the former pleasurable success that has marked the previous affairs. The family assembled during the morning, more than 40 strong and at noon repaired to the Shades Hotel where a sumptuous dinner was served. After dinner the company returned home and with music, games, etc spent a delightful afternoon on the lawn. Mr. and Mrs. Deere will celebrate their folden wedding next April and it is a remarkable fact that as yet there has not been a death in the family. At the first reunion 8 years ago there were 37 in the family. Since that time there has been four marriages and 8 births and the total of the family is now 49. On several occasions group pictures have been taken of the family. Wednesday the 7 sons were taken in a group. The different reunions have been in the nature of receptions to brides and on this occasion there was introduced a grand daughter-in-law who has entered the family since the last reuion. Another remarkable fact in connection with the reunions is that until this year there has never been an absentee when the gong sounded for dinner. This year however it was impossible for two or three to be present. The luncheon was served this year as usual on the lawn.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 August 1898
Connected with the reunion of the family of Joel Deere last week are several interesting facts. It was the eighth annual reunion of the family and in all these years there has not been a death. When the reunions began the family had thirty seven members and now there are forty nine. Twice the reunion has been in the nature of reception to brides and once as a reception to a granddaughter-in-law. Until this year not a member of the family had missed the reunion, but this time two or three were unavoidably absent. Mr. Deere’s only sister, Mrs. Mitchell, a lady of eighty years, was present this year as was J. Frank Mock, of Muncie. Mr. Deere has seven sons, all of them Republicans.