HILLIS - reunion - Putnam

‘The Hillis Reunion. The third annual reunion of the Hillis family was held Thursday, Aug. 27, in a beautiful grove immediately west of the residence of George B. Hillis, three miles north of this city.  The date for this reunion had been fixed by a committee, during the latter part of May last.  The arrangements and details were complete and the day could not have been excelled.  The sun rose in a clear sky with a good breeze prevailing during the entire day.  Some 250 people were present, the large portion being of the Hills family.  Quite a number of adopted Hillises were present to enjoy the pleasures of the day.  The first in order was calling the assembly by President JM Hillis and announcing that dinner was ready and for the guests to assemble about the tables that had been arranged in the form of a hollow square.  In a very short time the command was obeyed and after an invocation by Rev. WK Weaver a general attack was made “all along the line.”  Such an array of edibles as was upon the tables has seldom been seen and everything was of the very best and well prepared and bountifully served.  The assault lasted until the hungriest person present was fully satisfied and still there was an abundance left. After dinner the horses that were about the grounds were fed and after a short rest which was enjoyed by all, the people were again called together about the stand that had been erected in a dense shade.  President JM Hillis announced that no set program had been arranged but that some recitations had been prepared for the occasion and called upon those persons to come forward at once and the exercises would begin. The following program was then rendered: By quartette – Merry Men are We, Old Kentucky Home, Three Black Crows; solo by Paul Burlingame – My Gal’s a high bo’n Lady.  Recitations were then given by the following young misses: Jennie, Clara, Balance Hillis and Edna Jones each of which were well received by the audience.  Mr. Abe McCarty of Arkansas a former resident of Putnam County was called upon for remarks and responded with many incidents of early life in Putnam County paying quite a tribute to the older members of the Hillis family and other early settlers of the county.  Mr. McCarty manifested considerable feeling at times.  Mr. George B. Hillis was the next speaker introduced.  His talk was in an easy, conversational manner and had many good points of comparison. Rev. WK Weaver of the Presbyterian Church was the next speaker to respond.  His remarks were timely and to the point. He began his remarks by saying that “during the month of August of each year he was a Hillis.” He paid quite a tribute to the Hillis family and commended the idea of having more family reunions, that the tending of these gatherings was to broaden the minds of those coming in contact with each other and cause them to have a higher appreciation of the several positions they each occupy in the community.  That reunions had a good effect in promotion friendship and good fellowship, thereby raising the standard of citizenship. JF Darnall was called upon for remarks and responded with a tribute to the memory of the pioneers that opened up the forests and made it possible for their d3escendants to own such good farms and to build such elegant homes. This closed the speech making and was followed by the reading of the minutes of the reunion of 1896. But one death has occurred in the family during the past year that of Maggie daughter of Logan Foxworthy.  Nine births have occurred during the year and two (perhaps more) marriages. The meeting then closed with songs by the quartette as follows: Annie Laurie, Slumber Song. The following solos were then rendered: WF Star, Sweet Peac; Jno. P. Hillis, gospel hymn; Paul Burlingame, “Hot time in the old town tonight.” The audience led by the quartette joined in singing the old familiar hymn, “Blest be the tie that binds!”  The following persons composed the quartette: WF Star; AO Fraley; Paul Burlingame and John P. Hillis.  The audience was then dismissed with the benediction by Rev WK Weaver. The audience seemed loth to leave and engaged in pleasant conversation for some time.  Miss Nellie Matson being present, entertained the persons about the stand with two splendid songs of a lively nature. The singing of the quartette and Miss Matson and the recitations and addresses were greatly appreciated as was manifest by the applause that followed each number. The audience then dispersed filled with pleasure, each feeling that it had been a day well spent … a Visitor