The week 26 topic for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Family Gathering.
I have written many times about my family celebrating holidays together and celebrating our birthdays with a Sunday party into our late teens. It was always so nice to have everyone together. I’m grateful that my aunts and uncles, whose children already had children of their own, took the time to celebrate our birthdays.
I’m going to turn to my husband’s family tonight. His mother’s Gallaway side gather together every June in Meeker Oklahoma for a celebration. The attendees are all descendants of Seth Gallaway and Mary Elizabeth Flowers.
Seth, born in Texas in 1859 and Mar, born in Illinois in 1867, were married in Texas in 1883 and quickly started their family with their first born in 1884, who sadly died that same year.
Never fear! They went on to have 13 more children with only one not living past infancy. Mark’s grandmother was one of those 13, Vergia Cleo, born in 1909. She was their 11th child.
Vergia married Jack Armstrong and they had five children which included Mark’s mom, Wanda.
As you can imagine, with 13 children there are many descendants! One of the cousins, Carol Watson, who also enjoys family history research, has organized the reunion for many years. Up until recently, she was also the family representative for the cemetery where family members are buried.
Mark, Cody, and I attended the reunion in 2001 where we met so many relatives it was mind boggling! It took a long time for us to get back but Mark and I attended the 2024 reunion and spent quality time with his mom’s siblings, Uncle Charlie, Uncle Johnny, and Aunt Kathryn.
There were approximately 75 people of all ages at the reunion and it was pot luck so we were able to taste delicious baked beans, salads, and brisket!
We had such a good time and I know we will be back.
It's All About Family 