Giles Reunion
75 RELATIVES AND FRIENDS GATHER AT GILES REUNION
Newspaper, August 25, 1925.
FINCH PARK SCENE OF JOYABLE OCCASION.
Approximately seventy-five relatives and members of the Giles family of Collin county gathered at Finch park Sunday at noon where they enjoyed the first reunion the family ever held. Finch park, noted for its inviting atmosphere made an ideal setting for this happy family gathering.
J. B. Giles, for about half a century a resident of Chambersille community, northwest from McKinney, arranged the picnic and reunion at the close of which he expressed himself as being highly elated over its results, adding “I’d enjoy this kind of an affair every day.”
At noon one of the most bounteous feasts ever spread for one to partake of was spread on the tables under the huge shade trees and the approximately three-score present “fell to.” Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, immensely enjoyed the elaborate dinner that consisted, of course, of plates of fried chicken, ham, pies, cakes, and in fact, almost everything that man could wish.
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Those Present.
Among those who were present on this happy occasion was J. B. Giles, of Chambersville, in whose honor the affair was given. His children, all of whom attended with their families, are as follows: Mrs. G. W. Webb, husband and family of the Lowery Crossing community; Mrs. Henry Haynes, husband and family, of Chambersville; Mrs. Clermensy Close of Chambersville; Mrs. Dale Littlejohn, husband and children of the Woodlawn community; W. B. Giles and family of Chambersville; Grady Giles, wife and two little girls of Anna; and B. F. Giles and family of Dallas.
Other relatives who attended this happy reunion were: J. T. Hurst and daughter, Miss Marietta of Brown county, Texas; Charlie Cochran of Nocona; J. M. Bounds and family of the Franklin community; Hoyt Robinson and wife of the Lovejoy community; Mack Morgan and family of the Higgins community; Thos. Ellison and family of Sherman; Charlie Wilson and family of the Kelly schoolhouse community; S. W. McFarland and daughter, Miss Cleo of Dallas; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Webb and family of Dallas; H. C. Lewis, wife and son, Weldon, of Anna and Miss Callie Burch of near Weston; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hurst and family of Celina; W. T. Giles and family of Chambersville. Mrs. Annie Brown of the Franklin community; Miss Tinsy Doyle of McKinney.
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Oldest and Youngest.
The oldest member of the family attending Sunday’s reunion was Mrs. Annie Brown, 85 years old, who makes her home with J. M. Bounds and family of the Franklin community. The youngest one attending the event was Dale Ray Littlejohn, 8-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Littlejohn, of the Woodlawn community.
J. B. Giles, besides his children and grandchildren, had four great-grandchildren present. They were Aline Morgan, Buford Morgan, Weldon Booth Robinson and James Doyle, children of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Webb of the Lowery Crossing community.
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Becomes Reminiscent.
“It was 54 years ago today that I left my home in North Carolina, crossed over into the state of South Carolina, and married the sweetest girl in my state,” Mr. Giles said during the program of the reunion. “I was 19 at the time, while she was 14.” They soon left North Carolina, their home state, for Texas, accompanied by his father, William Giles, and lived for six or seven years in Grayson county. At the end of this period of years they came to Collin, where the family has resided since in the Chambersville community.
Mr. Giles explained why he and his future bride went over into South Carolina to be married. As neither the prospective bride or groom were of age, they crossed the border into South Carolina, which was a free state, then and in which no licenses or divorces were issued. his wife passed away about twenty years ago. This couple were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living. Both his father and his wife are buried in the Chambersville cemetery. His mother passed away before he left North Carolina for Texas.
J. B. Giles was born in Rutherfordton, in northwestern North Carolina, in 1850, the son of William and Clermensy Giles. He was of a family of eight children, five girls and three boys. His only living brother, Tom Giles, resides in the Chambersville community. Two sisters of J. B. Giles are living – Mrs. Martha Pope who lived in California and Mrs. Emily Young of Kansas City.
Mr. Giles served in the Confederate army during the last year of the war, when he was only 15 years old, serving in the army of Young Morgan. He saw service in North Carolina and in Tennessee. It was when Kirk’s army, for the Union, invaded his home state as Sherman had done in Georgia. The militia of the Southland was ordered out, boys of 15, lining up with men o f65. They stopped the invader of their homes.
This resident of the Chambersville community is one of the most honored and highly respected citizens to be found anywhere. He has scores of friends living wherever he has gone. He has lived on the same farm on which he settled when he came to Texas, one mile north of Chambersville, for about half a century.
Newspaper, August 25, 1925.
FINCH PARK SCENE OF JOYABLE OCCASION.
Approximately seventy-five relatives and members of the Giles family of Collin county gathered at Finch park Sunday at noon where they enjoyed the first reunion the family ever held. Finch park, noted for its inviting atmosphere made an ideal setting for this happy family gathering.
J. B. Giles, for about half a century a resident of Chambersille community, northwest from McKinney, arranged the picnic and reunion at the close of which he expressed himself as being highly elated over its results, adding “I’d enjoy this kind of an affair every day.”
At noon one of the most bounteous feasts ever spread for one to partake of was spread on the tables under the huge shade trees and the approximately three-score present “fell to.” Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, immensely enjoyed the elaborate dinner that consisted, of course, of plates of fried chicken, ham, pies, cakes, and in fact, almost everything that man could wish.
***
Those Present.
Among those who were present on this happy occasion was J. B. Giles, of Chambersville, in whose honor the affair was given. His children, all of whom attended with their families, are as follows: Mrs. G. W. Webb, husband and family of the Lowery Crossing community; Mrs. Henry Haynes, husband and family, of Chambersville; Mrs. Clermensy Close of Chambersville; Mrs. Dale Littlejohn, husband and children of the Woodlawn community; W. B. Giles and family of Chambersville; Grady Giles, wife and two little girls of Anna; and B. F. Giles and family of Dallas.
Other relatives who attended this happy reunion were: J. T. Hurst and daughter, Miss Marietta of Brown county, Texas; Charlie Cochran of Nocona; J. M. Bounds and family of the Franklin community; Hoyt Robinson and wife of the Lovejoy community; Mack Morgan and family of the Higgins community; Thos. Ellison and family of Sherman; Charlie Wilson and family of the Kelly schoolhouse community; S. W. McFarland and daughter, Miss Cleo of Dallas; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Webb and family of Dallas; H. C. Lewis, wife and son, Weldon, of Anna and Miss Callie Burch of near Weston; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hurst and family of Celina; W. T. Giles and family of Chambersville. Mrs. Annie Brown of the Franklin community; Miss Tinsy Doyle of McKinney.
***
Oldest and Youngest.
The oldest member of the family attending Sunday’s reunion was Mrs. Annie Brown, 85 years old, who makes her home with J. M. Bounds and family of the Franklin community. The youngest one attending the event was Dale Ray Littlejohn, 8-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Littlejohn, of the Woodlawn community.
J. B. Giles, besides his children and grandchildren, had four great-grandchildren present. They were Aline Morgan, Buford Morgan, Weldon Booth Robinson and James Doyle, children of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Webb of the Lowery Crossing community.
***
Becomes Reminiscent.
“It was 54 years ago today that I left my home in North Carolina, crossed over into the state of South Carolina, and married the sweetest girl in my state,” Mr. Giles said during the program of the reunion. “I was 19 at the time, while she was 14.” They soon left North Carolina, their home state, for Texas, accompanied by his father, William Giles, and lived for six or seven years in Grayson county. At the end of this period of years they came to Collin, where the family has resided since in the Chambersville community.
Mr. Giles explained why he and his future bride went over into South Carolina to be married. As neither the prospective bride or groom were of age, they crossed the border into South Carolina, which was a free state, then and in which no licenses or divorces were issued. his wife passed away about twenty years ago. This couple were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living. Both his father and his wife are buried in the Chambersville cemetery. His mother passed away before he left North Carolina for Texas.
J. B. Giles was born in Rutherfordton, in northwestern North Carolina, in 1850, the son of William and Clermensy Giles. He was of a family of eight children, five girls and three boys. His only living brother, Tom Giles, resides in the Chambersville community. Two sisters of J. B. Giles are living – Mrs. Martha Pope who lived in California and Mrs. Emily Young of Kansas City.
Mr. Giles served in the Confederate army during the last year of the war, when he was only 15 years old, serving in the army of Young Morgan. He saw service in North Carolina and in Tennessee. It was when Kirk’s army, for the Union, invaded his home state as Sherman had done in Georgia. The militia of the Southland was ordered out, boys of 15, lining up with men o f65. They stopped the invader of their homes.
This resident of the Chambersville community is one of the most honored and highly respected citizens to be found anywhere. He has scores of friends living wherever he has gone. He has lived on the same farm on which he settled when he came to Texas, one mile north of Chambersville, for about half a century.
