400 OF THE CRAFT CLAN GATHER FOR ANNUAL REUNION AT SHADY GROVE PARK; OFFICIALS ELECTED

Submitted byCraig Stevenson

Submitters note:
I found this newspaper article about the Craft reunion that I thought the
Crafts might be interested in.  I do not have a date, but it was before 1917
because my Grandmother Ethelyn Deaves was still single. Looking for estimates
on date.

400 OF THE CRAFT CLAN GATHER FOR ANNUAL REUNION 
AT SHADY GROVE PARK; OFFICIALS ELECTED

With not an accident of any kind to mar the events, the fourth annual reunion
of the Craft Association held at Shady Grove park yesterday was pronounced a
decided success by the 400 gwests present. They began to arrive at the park at
10 o'clock and kept coming until late in the afternoon and the early part of
the evening.  As each person entered the park he enrolled and was given a
badge. The enrollment was in charge of Charles L. Davidson. A special car was
run from Brownsville yesterday morning and this carried part of the people to
the park Others went on the regular cars while a large number made the trip in
automobiles. Those from Washington county came in their cars as did part of
the Greene county delegatian. Upon arriving at the park the ladies prepared an
excellent dinner which was served on the large table ln the park. Immediately
after the dinner a business session was held in which the officers for the
coming year were elected. The officers for the coming year. are: President,
Captain W. S. Craft, of Unioniown; secretary, Mrs. Lottie Craft Miller, of
Uniontown; treasurer, Neri Armetrong, of  Carmichaels. Immediately after his
election President Craft appointed the following to serve on the executive
committee: M. E. Townsend. of Smock; J. G. Hibbs, of  Uniontown; John F.
Baily, of Garmichaels; Lawrence Craft, of Prosperity; M. D. Craft, of
Prosperity; C. L. Davidson, of Uniontown; D. N. Craft, of Uniontown, and
George L. Craft, of Tower Hill.

The following resolution of respect was drawn up and passed by the resolution
committee: "God, since our last meeting, has removed a number by death that
met with us on that, as well as former occasions. The number your committee is
not able to give, this connection being so widely scattered, but we find it
quite a few. While we bow in meek submission 
to his Divine Will, we feel most keenly their loss and extend the relatives
our most heartfelt sympathy We feel this teaches us the lesson, as we find the
command in God's words, of being at all times ready, and also makes us place a
higher estimate on these annual meetings as each year reduces the numbers
especially among the older rank, and may we resolve that, each succeeding year
we call make a special effort to be present and enjoy these occasions.

The speakers for the day were Captain W. S. Craft . Rev. Gray of Prosperity,
and Rev. W. O. David, of Butler. After the talks were made the clan enloyed
the dancing on the pavilion. A large number stayed for the dances held last
evening.

Photograher George A. Croft was present in afternoon and took some pictures of
the clan.

The reunion next year will be held at Carmichaels, Fayette and Greene counties
alternating each year.

Those present were: Newton Newcomer, E. H. Garwood, Mrs. Caroline Craft, Miss
Edna Garwood, Mrs. Lauretta Miller, Mrs. Naomi Weir Mervin, Joseph P. Mervin,.
Mrs. Leora A. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Garwood, Mrs. Alf Ansell, . Miss
Gladys Bute, Harold Hibbs; Miss Harriet A. Bute,Mrs. N. N. Collins, Miss
Madalon Collins, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Hibbs, Walter Hibbs, Mrs. E. H. Townsend
William Townsend, Nathaniel Townsend, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Gray Misses Mae and
Zella Gray, Misses Ruth and Hester Collins, Mrs. A. J. Stentz, Miss Lula B.
McCann, Miss Gertrude Rogers, Miss Thelma McCaun, Miss Belle Rogers, Miss
Sarah Baker, Mrs. D. N. Craft, Mrs. Paul Craft, Miss Martha Jane Craft, Mrs.
O. B. Jeffries, Mrs. J. E. Parkhill,  Miss Drue Cox, Miss Hallie Sembower,
Charles A. McCann, Miss Esther  McNaily, Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Miller, Mrs.
William Brashear Hess, Mrs. F. E. King, Miss Nancy King, Paul R. Craft,
Clemmer Craft, Lawrence Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Johnson, E. H. Townsend,
William L. Newcomer, Karl Albitz, Mr. and Mrs. Chads W. Chalfant, Jefferson H.
Chalfant, James W. Craft, Robert P. Craft, John R. Craft, Mr. and Mrs. S. C
Craft, Charles L. Davidson, George A.  Croft, D. N. Craft, Mrs. Besse Craft
Van Kirk, of Uniontown.

Miss Georgia Lynn, Miss Elizabeth Lynn, Miss Anna Roderick, Miss Edna L.
Moore, Miss Alwilda Lynn, Mrs. Carl Roderick and daughter Rutb, Alfred
Armstrong, J. M. Dearth, Jolin H. Antram, Miss Kathryn 
Echard, of New Salem; Mrs. G. S. Van Kirk, Miss Mabel Davidson, Miss Helen 
Van Kirk, Edgar. Hibbs, Abigal Van Kirk of Merrittstown; Mr. and Mrs. M. E.
Townsend; Miss Aurelia Gibson, Mrs. Alice Townsend, of Flatwoods. 

Miss Margaret Davidson, Mr. and Mrs.Daniel B.  Craft, Miss Lizzie Craft;
Harold Craft, Mrs. James Chalfant; John Davidson; Mr. and Mrs. H R Craft, Miss
Ruth Duff, Cooper Byers, Miss Emma Byers, of Smock Miss Agnes Nicholson, Mrs.
Ira Howard Hess, Ollie G. Hess, Mrs. W. S. Craft, Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, Mrs.
O. L . Weston; Miss Lelia Weston, C. B. Craft, Misses Louise and Eleanor
Craft, Walter Gray, Ira H. Hess, Mrs. Walter S. Hayes, W. S. Craft, Mrs. M. G.
Craft, Mrs. H. S. Wilt, Miss Mary Wilt. G. D. Porter, Miss Ethyl E. Porter,
Mr. and Mrs. S. Todd Craft, Loyde Edmund Craft, Mr. and Mrs. Elija Craft and
daughter Ruth, of Brownsville.

Miss Marie Pogue, Mrs. C. W. Pogue, Mr.  and Mrs. William S. Craft, David P.
Craft., Robert N. Craft, Kenneth Craft, W. W. Cramer, James S. Craft, Miss Mae
M. Craft, Miss Eleanor Craft, Miss Louise Craft, W. H. Herbertson, A. D.
Lockhart, Levi C. Waggoner, of South Brownsville; Mrs. George Gwynn, Sherman
Craft, Frank B. Craft, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Craft, William Armstrong, of
Jefferson.

Dr. and Mrs. H. J. English, Mrs. W. L. Townsend Eugene Townsend, Mr. and Mrs.
William Hugland, J.L. Stewart David Rittenhouse of Grindstone;  Mrs. W. L.
Armstrong, Mrs. John A. Hall, Mrs. Henry Barrinklow, Miss Helen Armstrong,
Miss Helena Hall, of Perryopolis; W. J. Noble, of Braznell; Miss Nellie M.
Hoover, Mrs. Jamea H. Hoover, Miss Cora P. Dearth, of McClellandtown. 

Mrs. Francis Armstrong, P. C. Reeves, Miss Marie Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. C. R.
Reeves, Terence M. Reeves, Lacey P. Reeves, N. Asmstrong, Miss Mary M. Hart,
Nerie G. Hart, J. T. ' Hart, Charles J. Hart, Miss Anna B. Hart, Mr. and Mrs.
George E. Brown, Lawrence H. Brown, Glenn H. Brown, Mra. Joseph B. Reeves,
Miss Letha M.Reeves, W. T. Hart, Arovel C. Reeves, of Carmichaels, Mrs. Walter
L. Dearth, Miss. Virginia Dearth, of Past Millsboro.

G. Emerson Work, Mr. and Mrs. George Work, Miss Florence Fuller, Alva
Silbaugh, of Uppermiddletown; J. W. Craft, of Pekin, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs.
William Livingston, Miss Florence Livingston, Mrs. Jacob Livingston, Mrs Harry
Pirl and daughter, Virginia, Mise Lucy Craft, H. O. Livingston, of Dawson;
Mrs. H. H. Martin, of Franklin; Mrs. Louisa N. Robe, William Robe, Jr, of
Donora.

Miss Margnret D. Elliott, of  Monongahela City; Miss Mayme F. Nutt, Mr. and
Mrs. J. N. Middietown, Miss Ada Nutt, Miss Willmina Middleton, of Fayette
City; Mr. and Mra. George P. Hoover, Roy Bayard Hoover, of Fairbanks, Mr. and
Mra. H. W.Hurst, of Johnstown; Mrs. Louisa B. Lynn, Mrs. Margaret A.. Craft,
of Fair Oaks.

Mrs. O. W. Colley, of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Mary Brashear Deaves, Miss Ethelyn
Deaves, Miss Pearle Deaves, Mr. and Mra. D. V. Hardin, Mr. and Mrs. William
Baily, Mr. G. D. Deaves, of West Brownsville; Mrs. J. E, ' Deaves, Miss Helen
Deaves, of Cleveland, Oh, W. R. Craft, Edgar T. Craft John C Craft, Corwin Van
Kirk, Augusta Smith, of Washington, Pa.;  T. L. Burchinal of Youngwood; Misses
 Ploebe Work and Anna Gilleland, of Laurel Hill.

Miss Mary Cole, of Percy; Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Porter, of McKeesport; Mr, and
Mrs. C. E. Brashear, Everett Cleaver, of Centerville; Mrs. C. H. Horne, Miss
Cora Horne, of Beallsville; Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Craft, Miss Ella Craft, of
Khedive; Mrs. B. L.Porter, Miss Genevieve I. Porter, of Gibsonton; Mr. and
Mrs. C. D. Case, J. O. Miller Case, Miss Lola P. Case, Mrs. Sadie Ackerman,
of, Greensburg; Jules Gordon, of New Orleans, La; Miss Margaret Reed of
California, Pa.

Harry Strickler, Frank Byers, of Vanderbilt; John E. Craft, James R. Miller,
of Rices Landing; Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Craft, Miss Margaret Craft, Clifford
Craft, Mr. and Mrs.. M. D. Craft, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Craft, D. Wayne C. Craft,
Miss Iscie Craft,

Craft Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Craft D. Wayne C. Craft, Miss Iscie Craft,

missing a line here

Craft of Claysville; Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Baldwin, of Prosperity; Mr. and Mrs.
W. H. Baldwin, of Deerlick.

W. R. Kelley, Miss Nellie Kelley,  of Paisley; Mrs. Levi Brown, James L.
Brown, of Adah; Mr. and Mrs. Levi Craft Noble, of Beallsville; Mr. and Mrs.
Charles H. Cox and daughter Esther,  of Masontown; . Mrs: A. J.  George.
Donald George, Mrs. Fannie Stillwagon, Mrs. Andrew Work, of Connellsville; W.
O. David, of Butler; S. W. Means, of Percy; Victor L. Porter of Gibsonton. 

Mrs. Joseph Barclay, Miss Margaret Barclay, Alvin Barclay and J. C. Hart, of
Carmichaels; Mrs. George Barclay and Misses Margaret, Thelma and Norval
Barclay, of Uniontown.

The committees in charge were: Reception - W. L. Armstrong, Perryopolis; John
C. Craft, Washington; Jay Craft, Carmichaels; Mrs. Ewing H. Townsend, Mrs.
Charles L. Davidson, Uniontown, and Mrs. James Craft, Brownsville.

Invitation - Mrs. Lottie Craft MilIer and Charles L. Davidson.

Grounds - D. N. Craft, J. G. Hibbs, Uniontown; Neri Armstrong, Carmichaels.

Transportaion - E. H. Townsend, Uniontown; James Craft, Brownsville; M. E.
Townsend, Flatwoods; Charles Reeves, Carmichaels.

Tables - Mrs. M. E. Townsend, Flatwoods; Mrs. Neri Armstrong, Carmichaels;
Mrs.D. N. Craft, Mrs. J. G. Hibbs, Uniontown; Mrs. W. S. Craft, Merrittstown;
Mrs. S. T. Craft, Tower Hill. 

Music -- Miss Helen Van Kirk, Merrittstown; Mrs. Charles Reeves, Carmichaels;
Mrs. Fred T. Miller, Uniontown.
(end)