1896 Newspaper Article on Markley Family Reunion, Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana

Contributed by: Dennis L. Anderson, DandPanderson@email.msn.com


From the "London Enterprise,"  London, Ohio, August 7, 1896:
  
(headline)  The Markley Family Have a Delightful Meeting at Bluffton, Ind.
  
The Bluffton (Ind.) News has the following concerning a reunion of the Markley family held at 
Bluffton:
  
   "A large per cent of the Markley families in the county reinforced by relatives from 
abroad, gathered together today in the grove across the road from the Six Mile church and 
held their first annual reunion. The crowd numbered over 200, and while more were expected 
from other localities, few families in the county can make as good a numerical showing.
  
  The Markley family is one of the oldest in the county and among the very first to settle 
Wells County. Gabriel, the founder in America, settled near Baltimore in 1780. Of his seven 
children, Jonathan was the root of the Markley's in the west. He settled in Pennsylvania in 
1803, and later in Madison County, Ohio, in 1812. His three sons, Gabriel, Adam and John, 
came to Wells County in 1837, followed later by Jacob B. and Philip. The large attendance at 
the reunion today shows the growth of the family, and included in its number are some of the 
most prominent citizens of the county. Among the visitors from abroad were P.M. Markley, 
principal of one of the Muncie schools; J.M. Markley and wife, of Redkey; Dr. C.E. Gain and 
wife, of London, Ohio; Alfred Kimball and Miss Hattie Kimball and Charles and Miss Hannah 
Markley, of Clark County, Ohio.
  
  The reunion exercises were of a delightful character. A song by a chorus, and an address of 
welcome by rev. J.H. Hawk composed the program before dinner. The dinner was a bounteous 
spread characteristic of the Markley's. After dinner the remainder of the day was spent in 
the rendition of a program which consisted of music, the president's address by Rev. J.J. 
Markley, the family history by the secretary, Gabriel T. Markley, and addresses by P.M. 
Markley, Jacob B. Markley, and others.
  
  As organization was effected and arrangements made for another reunion the latter part of 
August 1897, to which all relatives and friends of the family are cordially invited to be 
present."