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Alice Sitler Dyck The 14th annual reunion of the Farrar Family was held at the home of Mr. F M Durkee, Nr. Beattie, Kansas, America on August 20th 1903. Seventy-five attended. It was here the idea for the 'News-Letter' was conceived and it has been continued with some interruptions to the present. H H Drake, Minnie A Farrar and Nellie Farrar, three cousins of Horatio Nelson Farrar [Alice's great-grand father] wrote in the first issue: We have been growing to maturity and have become so scattered at various occupations that it is an impossibility for us to see one another often even at reunions. Having in mind the pleasant times we have had together and wishing to strengthen the bond of sympathy already existing among us, we have decided to issue this paper known as 'The Farrar News-Letter.' Georgia Thomas, Granddaughter of Henry Farrar, describes Christmas at her Grandfather's home when she was a child. ... We girls Natalie, Minnie and I were Grandfather's committee on decorations, suggestions, etc. and when we first talked of the tree, we wondered how we could have a tree where there was none to be had. We were used to seeing evergreen or pine trees used for such purposes and could not imagine trimming up a bare, brown boxelder, but we managed to do it in such manner that he young members of the family thought it a wonder, and the older one were too wise to say anything if they did not think it as beautiful as the trees they used to see in Ohio. It took a good many evenings to make the candy bags, string the popcorn and make the popcorn balls. Grandma and I usually made the candy bags, Grandfather watching every stitch and giving advice as to collar and size. His good time came when the bags were ready to fill. He and Grandma would make a trip to Frankfort or Marysville (and once they went as far as Atchison) about two weeks before Christmas and would get a box of raisins and 20 or 30 pounds of candies - with nuts etc. toys for the little tots, books for the next size, and often handkerchiefs or some such useful gifts for the older members of this very large family. At least a week before Christmas the tree was selected by Grandfather - cut and carried to the house by Romeo or Spurgeon and securely placed in position in the cold N.W. parlor, which was only used on such occasions, and then our decorating began. Grandfather would divide the candies, etc. into piles all over the dining table, and Grandma and I would fill the bags, Grandfather remarking very often for me not to eat so much. By the way, he always kept these goodies in the wardrobe in his room, and would tell Grandma to watch me that I did not get at them, and would have been greatly disappointed if I had not found them, but I never disappointed him in that respect. As there were something like forty grandchildren, and their parents, you may imagine how that table groaned. On Christmas morning we were up bright and early 'so as to have an early breakfast, so as to have an early dinner,' and be ready for the first arrivals. Each family came with their gifts for their family and for each other's family, and we three older girls had the extreme pleasure of taking all sorts of mysterious-looking packages and bundles into the parlor, and closing the door on the 'small fry', and would proceed to load the tree, melodian, table and a good part of the floor with presents for one and all, and by the time we were ready to open the folding doors our tree was a goodly sight, it was not always artistically arranged. I used to know the value of some of those trees but cannot recall it now. The question has arisen, where did Grandfather have the first tree? Aunt Belle was figuring it by the length of time they had lived in Kansas, her decision we did not learn. Josie says it was eighteen years ago this Christmas [1885], for the first one was the Christmas before she and Romeo were married. They were married the following day. Uncle Will insists that it was nineteen years ago, because Grandfather gave all the babies rattle-boxes and Mina was about a year old. Writing in 1903, Thomas J Farrar gave a brief summary of his life over the past five decades. Fifty years ago I remember going to school to O P Coldrick, of London, Ohio, and of writing the date 1853. About that time Gertrude Smith broke her arm. I also remember of the `Squire's' children bringing for dinner bread and molasses - the molasses showing on both side of the bread. That was before I was promoted to Peter Petree's school, where I lost a lock of my hair, Ratio [his brother Horatio] will remember the broken window at the Petree school. ... in November I went to Camp Chase Chicago, and spent the remainder of my three years' service in the army. The first day of the year '64 was the coldest day I ever remember. Fourteen men of my company were on guard that night, and I was the only one who escaped without freezing either ears, hands or feet. Two of them were unable to be on duty until the spring. In 1873 Rob was our baby and we were living on the place the other side of Bennetts, near California, Ohio. I was farming and working on the pike between London and Sterling. I do not remember anything of interest that year. In 1883 we were living in our home which was recently destroyed fire, and Annie was our baby. Our family numbered nine at this time. Cousin William Farrar spent the summer with us. In 1893 our oldest, Imongene, died at her home near Centralia, leaving a baby - little Imo - whom we took into our home. Her husband and two children went to live with his parents in Marysville. [All Kansas towns] It was the year that Frank was converted. And now in 1903 we undertake to write the above for the Farrar New-Letter. We are living in our new home, erected since the fire. Our family now numbers six - our four girls being at home. Nellie and Annie are teaching school. Rob and family live in Topeka and Tom and wife in their home west of Frankfort. Jesse Sitler of Axtell Kansas [Alice's grandfather who married Pearl Farrar, a daughter of Horatio N Farrar] wrote in September 1903: ... we have had quite a mixture of physical exercise the past month in getting our 9-room house moved 2 blocks, in having mason and plaster work done and in clearing up and getting move in by September 5. On August 24 and 25 I took the teacher's exam in Marysville. I was in Marysville flood at midnight and better trying to keep a woman from 'going utterly mad' over an inestimable and irreparable loss of an Old Cow ... at this date the cow still lives. Jesse farmed and taught in school. In December his wife Pearl wrote: We are nearly steeled in our new school house now ... Jesse has 66 pupils in his room and school goes nicely ... Sister Ida Sitler stays with us and goes to school ... Donnie [Alice's father] and Florence [still alive and will be 93 in September 1992] put in most of their time lately writing to Santa Claus. Robert, our big fat blue eyed boy drinks seven glasses of milk a day and is usually entertaining us with some new caper. Horatio N Farrar was a farmer in Axtell, Kansas, and wrote in December 1903: ... We inherited a name of which we should be proud. If we go back to our Grandfather, Jonathan Farrar, we have a man of strict integrity, honourable in all his dealings and very jealous of his name. While not as approachable as some men he was a true friend to those who knew him best. Let us try to protect and add to our inheritance and not bring reproach on our good name. Horatio and Martha had eleven children in all. Edwin was a nurseryman in Abilene, Kansas. Minter was a student at Kansas State University. Robert was a superintendent of schools at Downs Kansas, and Neal was a farmer. As he continued his letter, Horatio's gave news about the farm and four children who were still living at home. We are in our usual health. I am personally pretty busy taking care of the stock, especially our flock of nearly one thousand lambs, while Homer, Dale and Georgia are at school and the mistress and Lena take care of the house and do the other odd jobs. Nan Farrar married William Harness and occupied a farm at Beattie, Kansas. She wrote about Christmas 1903, and of earlier memories. As I sit by the warm glow of the base burner, this stormy looking December day carries me back to the first Christmas we spent in Kansas nineteen years ago [1884] spent it here in this house. Grandfather and Grandmother were the host and hostess with a number of their children present. There was homesickness in our hearts for the eastern home [Ohio], but the cordial greeting and pleasant conversation along with Christmas cheer, made us feel at home at once, and from that time on we have been accepted as part of the family. Year after year we have mingled together in our Christmas, Thanksgiving or Reunion gatherings. Nan continues her letter by describing a visit to 'Uncle Don's', who lived in Frankfort, Kansas. As we were ushered into the warm and spacious rooms all aglow with Thanksgiving cheer, we had to pause and look again at the table in its snowy whiteness. In the centre stood a large bowl made of a large yellow pumpkin, cut in fancy shape filled to the top with nuts of all kinds. A spicy odor coming from the kitchen told us of good things that were being prepared for us at the dinner hour. Inez E Farrar, daughter of Milton Farrar, farmer wrote about life on the farm in Frankfort, Kansas. This winter Sabbath day finds us all at home and as well as usual. Papa is husking [corn]. Ava and I are attending school; Ava in our town district and I at Frankfort. Mamma has been sewing and doing everyday housework. I went to Sunday School this morning. I have a class of nineteen boys from five to ten years of age. Alice Sitler Dyck
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