HEBRON
FAMILY REUNION
August
27, 1895
Source: Reunion,
article
in the Cassopolis Vigilant [Cassopolis, Michigan], October 10, 1895;
transcription by Linda Skaife
Source
location: Cassopolis District Library, Local History Branch,
Cassopolis, Michigan - Thanks to Jon Wepper, who located and sent a copy of the
article.
Thanks
to David Trattles, who posted the initial
transcription and information, there were
some errors, probably due to a poor original copy, an
updated transcription follows
See below for
copy of original photostat of newspaper article.
REUNION
On the
afternoon of the 27th of August 1895 it was the privilege of a small
remnant of
the Hebron family with a few near relatives, friends and neighbors to
meet
at
the residence of a brother in Porter township
to
celebrate the 107th anniversary of their father's birth, which occurred
on the
27th day of October 1788.
After an
hour or two of social converse on various topics of interest, events of
the
past, reminiscence of pioneer life, recollection of transatlantic
scenes and
themes,
in which “wits were sharpened and the sense refined,” the company
gathered upon the lawn and whilst listening to the voices of the
whispering
pines, a few lines of
sacred music were sung, and “The Banks O'Doon”
by the three sisters, led by Mrs. Davidson, now an
octogenarian. Selections of the beautiful services of the Episcopal
church were read, refreshments were served
and the following
historical sketch of the family was read by Mrs. L. E. Kniss:
“We meet
today to commemorate our ancestral relations and to recall the events
of the
past.
On the
15th of January 1798, at the age of 79 years, our great-grandfather,
George
Hebron, passed peacefully from the scenes of this life, predeceased by
his
wife,
Alice Nicholson Hebron, on the 2d day of January, 1766 at the age of 52
years.
To this
amiable personage of keen susceptibilities, fine culture and
sensibilities,
whose life was a continual poem, the Hebrons
probably owe more than to any other
of their ancestral line.
With fine artistic tastes, great strength of character, physical
beauty, and
good scholarship she possessed the added qualities of a devoted wife
and
affectionate mother. Nor was she lacking in the sterner virtues of
courage,
self-reliance and executive ability. There are still in existence in this county specimens
of needlework done by a sister of hers
which challenge the admiration of the connoisseur.
William
Hebron, our great grandfather [sic]* and son of the above named
parents, was
born about 1741. Inheriting the physical beauty, intellectual
endowments,
and
ethical qualities of his parents, availing himself of the scholastic
advantages
and social culture of his times, he stood as a prince among his peers
in all
that pertained to grace,
elegance and erudition. In moral worth and the finer
sensibilities he was not lacking. Attacked by three armed ruffians,
when alone
upon the moors, he vanquished
without help his assailants, and tracked them to
their lair by the blood that trickled from their shoes; and yet, like
the
cinnamon tree shedding its fragrance over those who would
deign to cut it down,
his forbearance and generosity forbade their criminal transportation.
[Note:
*This should be “grandfather,” not great-grandfather.]
It has
been said by those who knew him that he stood 6 feet and 2 inches high,
a full
cloth yard across his shoulders and he could lift a block of stone
weighing
1500 lbs.
Born to wealth and successful in his business transactions, he never
forgot the poor of his parish and among other benefactions he divided
among
them the whole of a well
fattened ox every year, a rare example of those who
can use inherited wealth without yielding to its corrupting influences.
Grandfather
in his advanced years was married to Ann, daughter of Thomas and Mary Dowsan. Five children were born to the union, viz: William, Sarah, Alice, Jane and George,
(of which
father was the oldest,) none of whom now survive.
Father
succeeded to the coat of arms and inherited the beautiful ancestral
home in the
quiet and picturesque valley of the still-flowing Esk.
He was
three times married and the father of 15 children, 6 of whom are now
living and
five only are here to pay tribute to his memory.
Father
inherited in a high degree the physical, mental and moral attributes of
his
father and grandmother and through a long and often sorely tried life,
cherished,
cultivated, practiced and reflected those inherent virtues, leaving
a record for truth, honesty, and honor highly worthy of our emulation.
With an
unquestioning
faith in the inspiration of the Bible he accepted the tenets of
the Episcopal Church and through a long life cherished a love for its
beautiful, solemn and impressive services.
With all
the advantages of society, the privileges of the church, the chances of
preterment, the ties of kindred, and the
endearments of a
long association,
ather was willing to make the sacrifices that removal
involves and determined at last to emigrate
to
America. On the 7th day of September the family,
twelve in number, bade a sad
adieu to all they held dear in the old world; and about three weeks
later
embarked at Liverpool on the good ship Lagoda
for the
distant shores of America. The passage was long and eventful. On the
18th day
of October a terrible storm was encountered in mid ocean.
With the hatchways
closed and consternation among all on board, the storm sighed, moaned
and
howled without intermission for 36 hours;
now shrieking with the fury of a
thousand demons, again singing amid the shrouds in all the varied tones
of an
Aeolian harp and anon in sobbing undertones
the rain poured in unceasing
torrents or drove in wreaths of blinding spray, whilst the lighting's
red glare
lit the passage of the thunderbolt, and the whole
diapason rang with wild
acclaim of heaven's orchestral strains. During the storm the sails
parted from
the masts, the bulwarks were broken away,
the ship lying broadside in the
troughs of the sea. On the morning of the 20th the ocean presented a
scene of
sublimity seldom witnessed.
From the ship's decks to the horizon on all sides
the sea was covered with foam, giving the appearance of an unbroken
field of
new fallen snow.
The
voyage consumed seven weeks but terminated by the ships’ arrival at New
York
about November 1st. From New York the passage was made by boat to
Albany,
thence by canal boat to Buffalo about Nov. 20. Another voyage by boat
to
Detroit in the spring and a long and tedious journey by ox team through
interminable forests,
deep sloughs and over stony ridges, across pole-bridged
creeks and long marshes, the patiently plodding oxen painfully annoyed
by
clouds of flies, wending their toilsome way,
the rocking and rolling of the
heavily moving wagon. The careworn mother watching
over her
weary children. The older sons on foot,
journeying for
weeks in the close and
heated atmosphere of the hot July days, sleeping at
night in or under the canvas covered wagon. Drenched by rains
and
chilled by fogs, gives a picture of our journey from
Detroit to Cass county, which terminated
about the 20th of July, 1832. Our
first home was in a log cabin erected on section 26 in Porter township,
which was the residence of the family for several
years.”
After
the reading the social entertainment was continued until beneath the
gray
drapery of the gathering gloom with tender adieus that were answered by
the sad
hearted pines,
the company separated never probably to meet again on earth.
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