Ogden Family Reunion Otisville, NY July 29, 1882

I found an article in the Middletown Daily Argus reporting on an Ogden family reunion. It gets wonderful; it’s my 2^nd Great Grandmother Harriet (Ogden) Clark’s family. The gathering took place on Saturday, July 29, 1882 in Otisville, Orange County, New York. Otisville is a village located in the town of Mount Hope.

A few facts are off but I’m not complaining. How many people know what their 2^nd Great Grandmother was doing on a summer day 136 years ago.

  

A Family Reunion.

   A reunion of the Ogden family was held at the residence of Wm. Martine, Otisville, last Saturday. The head of the present family was Gilbert Ogden, formerly of Middletown. He died some years ago, leaving fourteen children, ten of whom were present at the reunion. There are twelve of the children still alive, two having died within the past few years. A notable feature of the reunion was the presence of some of the children from the West who had not met with their brothers and sisters for twenty-one years. Constable John S. Ogden, of this village, is one of six boys of the family.

      Middletown Daily Argus, Middletown, New York published August 1, 1882 Issue

The father of the family was Gilbert B. Ogden born July 9, 1795. He married Mary Hazen Jan. 11, 1817 and they raised 15 children (not 14 as reported) in Orange County, New York—10 sons and 5 daughters. They moved to Wantage, New Jersey during the 1840’s. Gilbert died there June 6, 1848.

Fourteen Ogden siblings were living when William Martine hosted the reunion. Contrary to what the Argus printed, only one child, Gilbert Ogden Jr., had passed away and that was in 1871.

The brothers from the West were Graham Ogden and Lewis C. Ogden. Both had left the area years earlier and settled in White Lake, Oakland County, Michigan.

Let’s get back to Saturday, July 29, 1882 and ponder who might have enjoyed the reunion.

The Ogden Siblings:

1)    John S. Ogden, age 64 years, attended the day’s events. His wife Aceneath Greer and children Cornelia and Charles Edward most likely accompanied him. John’s daughter Margaret, husband Angus Terwilliger and their young children might have enjoyed the reunion. The same could be said for son John W., wife Susan Trusdell and kids. Hopefully, Grandson William D. Hetzel didn't miss the fun. No doubt youngest son Sylvanus and young bride Edna A. Anderson were invited.

2)    Lewis C. Ogden, age 62 years, traveled from his home in the West at White Lake, Oakland Co., Michigan. I don’t know whether Uncle Lewis’ adult daughters visited the East but it’s a good bet his wife Phebe Harding was with him since she was born in Sullivan County, New York.

3)    William B. Ogden, age ca 61 years, was a widower by this date. His children Sarah Ann, Orpha M., John, Wickham H. and Emma Jane lived locally. Perhaps they joined the festivities too.

4)    Sarah Elizabeth Ogden, age 59 years, wife of William Martine, served as hostess for the party. I bet her daughters Esther and Hattie helped with the preparations.

5)    Sally Malinda Ogden, age ca 58 years, and 2^nd husband Charles Crawford lived close by in the town of Mount Hope making it likely they too joined the Ogden siblings.

6)    Graham Ogden, age 55 years, traveled from the West to be at the affair with wife Abigail P. Marie. He was also a White Lake, Oakland Co, Michigan resident.

7)    Hannah M. Ogden, age ca 56, widow of Joseph M. Crane, lived with her daughters in Port Jervis, New York after her husband’s death in 1868. I'm hoping she got to reminisce with her brothers and sisters.

8)    Seth T. Ogden, age ca 54, a Mount Hope dweller, would have brought his wife Martha Dunlap and children Emma Ann and Charles Mapes. Seth’s daughter Phebe Augusta and spouse James A. Conklin along with baby and toddler might have made an appearance.

9)    Gilbert B. Ogden, Jr. deceased. As I said earlier Gilbert Jr. died a young man. I don’t know if Widow Antoinette Hait and children Madison, Mary Elizabeth (Ogden) Nelson, Casper C., Ella A., and Henry Harrison were guests at the Martine home.

10)  Joseph S. Ogden, age 49 years, wife Charlotte Anna Satterly, and family Emma Frances, James Alva, Charles B., George W. and Frank Leroy were Orange County residents, so they might have attended the reunion.

11)  Asa J. Ogden, 47 years old, and a twin to Andrew J. Ogden, lived close to the Martine’s and could get to the party easily with wife Charlotte Hallock and five offspring: Alonzo G. and Asa J. by Asa’s 1^st wife; William and Frances by 2^nd wife Charlotte.

12)  Andrew Jackson Ogden, age 47 years, and twin brother to Asa J. Ogden. He lived in Mount Hope for many years, so it would have been an easy carriage ride for him to bring his wife Hester C. Marsh and kids Ira Pierson, Lillian Irene, Alma M. and James Smiley.

13)  Mary Jane Ogden, age 43 years, probably didn’t attend as she was living in Saco, York Co., Maine with 2^nd husband Solomon True Jr.

14)  Charles Henry Ogden, age 42 years, is a definite guest possibility. He, too, lived in the town of Mount Hope with daughter Nancy and wife Mary E. Silvieus.

15)  Harriet Cornelius Ogden, 39 years old, wife of Jeremiah B. Clark from Goshen, Orange Co., New York, hopefully enjoyed the day with her siblings and youngsters Frances, David Pullis, Minnie Isabel, twins Frank Emerson and Amos Ryerson, Lillian Mae and Grace Lee.