A PLEASANT BIRTHDAY AND FAMILY REUNION...Sunday, July 20th will ever
remain an
outstanding date in the memory of the John A. Ford family. It was on
that date that uncle John
and aunt Elosia had all their children and a number of grandchildren,
together with other near
relatives at their home, to celebrate their father's 76th birthday
at the old Ford homestead in
Bates County where their grandfather settled before the Civil war and
which has never been out
of the Ford family. All came by auto, bringing a basket of lunch which
was spread in the dining
room and was served cafeteria style. Words are inadequate to describe
this banquet, some of
which was cooked in Kansas. The main thing was a hugh three tier birthday
cake, which was
made by a special order in a Bakery in Fort Scott, Kansas. The decorations
were done by a
skilled artist in his line.
This was the gift of John's only living sister and her family, Mrs. J.D. Peak of Nevada, Missouri.
Another birthday cake was a large angel food containing the whites of
20 eggs. This was baked
by Mrs. Carlisle Douglass in the cake pan that John's wedding cake
was baked in 48 years ago
when he was united in marriage to Rosa Price. This was lighted with
76 candles which he blew
out at one breath--good luck. After all gathered around the table,
Frank Stephenson offered
thanks to the Giver of all good gifts, after which the onslaught was
made, the dinner lasted
something like 2 hours. While the dinner was greatly enjoyed by everyone
it paled into
insignificance compared with this happy family reunion. Some attended
Sunday School at the
Baptist Church on Round Prairie, near the old home where they went
as children. Some visited
the "old swimmin' hole". Others just visited and talked over old times.
Mrs. Emmet Ford lined up
the crowd and took several snap shot pictures of different groups.
All gathered in the sitting
room with Mrs. Earl Peak at the organ and sang splendid songs. There
were choir members
and a leader of a choir together with a number of good local singers.
You could easily hear
Uncle John's voice but Aunt Elosia wasn't well enough for her voice
to mingle in song.
Their son, Henry, composed a poem entitled "Our Home Coming," which
was read by a
grand-daughter, Miss Oma Mae Ammons, in a well modulated rhetorical
manner.
Another poem by the same author, "Growing Old Together," was read by Mrs. Carlisle Douglas.
As the shadows lengthened we were reminded that it was time to say goodby.
Just before we
left John made a talk, thanking each and every one for the happy day
that they had helped to
make for he and his wife. Expressed the hope that if we never met in
this life again, that we
would all meet in the here after.
Others present who had birthdays this month within 18 days were: Guy
Ford, Frank
Stephenson, Eugene and Lorelle Wilson, all relatives, and J. Chester
Mock, an adjoining
neighbor and close friend of the family.
The children present were: Gilbert Ammons and wife (Bessie Ford), Oma
Mae, Hazel, Glenn,
Ida Fern, Margie and Doris all of Rockville. Albert Ford and sons Vester
and Jesse, Salina
Kansas, Amos Ford wife and son Rolla, Montrose, Mo., Henry Ford and
sons Harry and Alfred,
Parsons, Kan., Emmett Ford wife and son Maurice and daughter Alene,
Columbia, Mo. Guy
Ford wife and son Billy Van, Appleton City, Mrs. Ralph Drake (Bernice
Ford) Virginia Vera Viva.
This family will join the husband and father in Washington D.C. next
month.
Other relatives were: Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Peak, Frank Peak, wife and daughter
Glessie Earl Peak
wife and daughter Vendetta, all of Nevada, Mo.
David Peak and wife of Parsons, Kan., Wm. Holt and son Wilbur wife and
children, Smith Holt
wife and son Kenneth, Sylvester Culver wife and sons Edgar and Elvin,
Frank Stephenson and
sister Miss Ethel, all of Appleton City. James Wix wife and children,
Carlisle Douglas and wife,
Eugene and Lorelle Wilson, Mrs. F.P. Browning.