I
found an article in the Middletown Daily Argus reporting on an Ogden family
reunion. It gets wonderful; it’s my 2nd 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 2nd
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 2nd 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 1st
wife; William and Frances by 2nd 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 2nd 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.
.jpg "Old School Baptist Church Brookfield aka Slate Hill 1803 – 1839 Log")
