"Garrett Gleanings" -- Farewell Party

Mr. and Mrs. Reggie BUSH were agreeably surprised Wednesday evening, Oct. 8th, when neighbors and friends assembled at their home unexpectedly about 8 o'clock. The family will move to Confluence to make their future home as Mr. Bush works for the B&O and was "bumped" here, and had to "bump" someone in Confluence- as railroad "lingo" goes. A delicious lunch was served after various games were played. Some participants say they han't laughed so much "since the measles". Those present were: Messrs. and Mesdames Humphrey LEHMAN, John WALTERS, Jacob SPAUGY, Ellis LEE, Reggie BUSH and children, John ROMESBERG, Mesdames Virginia LENHART, Lillie ROMESBERG, Fannie DRENNER, Eva SHEELER, Elizabeth SMITH, Elmer HEFFEY, Leona GRANT, Harold BROCHT and baby, and Messer. George WEAVER, H. R. Heffey and Tommy DURST.

While the Indians were still holding forth in the Keystone State and long before the war for independence, one John Miller came from the eastern part of the state and located in the wilderness in the vicinity of what is now known as Salisbury, Somerset County. He cleared some land there and made Elk Lick Township his permanent home. Some of his landmarks may still be found and many of his descendants are still residing in that vicinity.
Jacob Miller, his oldest son, had been born in the east, but he came with his father to Elk Lick, where he remained until he was married. He then located to Ohio, but later returned to Elk Lick, where one of his sons, Benedict Miller, was born in the year 1781. This man, Benedict Miller, was the father of Moses B. Miller, whose descendants gathered for their fourth annual reunion yesterday on the farm of R.M. Luther in Richland Township and within a short distance of the old Moses B. Miller homestead.
Moses B. Miller was born in 1819 in the southern end of Somerset County, where his ancestors had been the pioneer settlers. He grew to manhood and was married there to one Susan Harshberger. After his marriage, Moses B. Miller located in the vicinity of Scalp Level, Cambria County, where he was a prominent farmer until 1861 and where he reared a family of 11 children, all of whom grew to manhood and also reared families. In 1861 Mr. Miller and his family moved to Richland Township, where he died about seven years ago. Mrs. Miller preceded him to the grave by about five years.
Nine Children Living
Of the children of Moses B. Miller, nine are living and all have large families. It was these children and their descendants, numbering four
generations that made merry yesterday within sight of the old homestead. They gathered during the forenoon from various sections of Somerset and Cambria Counties. The meetings between brother and sister, cousins of three generations and friends were most affecting. After an hour or more had been spent in a general greeting between the members of the clan and their friends, attention was turned to the delicacies in the well-filled baskets that had been brought along to make up one of the interesting features of the gathering - a dinner together in the large orchard at the Luther home. Large tables had been erected in the shade of the trees and upon these the eatables (sic:edibles) were spread. It was during the dinner hour that the reminiscences of past days were recalled.
Following the feast the throng scattered throughout the orchard for a time. At 2 o'clock a ball game between teams representing the married and single men was started and the contest furnished considerable amusement. The married men proved the better players and captured the battle after seven innings of play by a score of 7 to 6. Taylor Gore and Bert Smith worked on the points for the Benedicts and Ray Miller and Earl Weaver for the single folks. After the game there were numerous races and other events for the younger folks, all of which proved interesting and entertaining. Of these probably the most fun resulted from a scramble between a dozen or more boys for their shoes and stockings, which had previously been placed in a pile in the orchard. The boy who first succeeded in donning his shoes and stockings was to receive a prize. Ira Hershberger was declared the victor. Stella Custer won a race between the younger girls and William Severn took the same honors from the younger boys. This program concluded, the remainder of the afternoon was spent in visiting and in saying goodbye to each other.
While there are nine children of the late Moses B. Miller living, only four were able to attend yesterday's reunion. They were Mrs. J.B. Lehman of Ebensburg, Mrs. Mary Smith of Walnut Grove, Mrs. D.H. Yoder, near Geistown, and Daniel Miller of Oak Street, this city. The other surviving children are Jacob M. Miller of Walnut Grove, Manassas Miller of Indiana, Samuel Miller of Kansas, Susan Miller Elmhurst of Ohio, and Mrs. Jacob Mishler of Michigan. Isaac and Lena Miller died some years ago. In addition to those referred to above other older people at the reunion were Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Weaver of Kansas, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Yoder of Johnstown, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Weaver, near Geistown, and Dr. and Mrs. Luther of Scalp Level.
Fourth Annual Reunion
Yesterday's reunion was the fourth held by the descendants of Moses B. Miller. The first two years were held at the same place and last year's at the old homestead, now owned by U.G. Custer. Those in attendance at yesterday's gathering were:
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Harshberger and daughter Nellie of Middlebury, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. John Miller of Trail, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Venus Gerber of Sugar Creek, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Weaver of New Cambria, Kan.; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hershberger and Mrs. John Stahl of Davidsville; Mrs. Jonas Harshberger, Mrs. Robert Wissinger, Mrs. William Barnett, Mrs. Daniel Weaver, Mrs. Annie Weaver, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Luther and children, Dorsey, Foster, and Goldie, Dr. and Mrs. Luther and children Zena, Norabelle, Mary Ellen and Jennie Arbutus; Mrs. Ralph Veil and children Lee Mary, Alvin, Charles and Ruth; Mary Estep and P.P. Helsel, all of Scalp Level; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Yoder, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Weaver and children Margaret, Warden, Emma, David and Willard, Mrs. Clarence Miller and children Iva, Walter, Barnett and Helen, Mrs. Jacob Baumgartner and children Civila, Bessie, Mary, Charles, Harry, Verda, Clement and Miller, all of Windber; Mrs. Jacob Miller of Walnut Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Weaver, Mrs. Andy Baumgardner and children, Clara and Elizabeth, Mrs. John Wingard, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Custer, Mrs. James Harshberger and daughter Grace, Mr. and Mrs. William Harshberger and children Ira, Stanford, Erma and Merle Elda, Goldie; Howard and Earl Weaver, Robert Frye, Cora Parker, Florence, Myra, Newton, Oscar and Norman Yoder, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel H. Yoder, Mrs. Albert Hoffman and children Howard, Milton and Blanche; Emma Blough, Nora Weaver, Carrie Baumgardner, Fannie Blough, Ada Horner, Lucy Horner, Edith Horner, Leroy Horner, Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Luther and children Bruce, Newton, Daniel, Algie, Elizabeth, William Calvin, Lydia Belle; and Martin and Howard Lehman, all of the vicinity of Geistown and the old homestead.
Also attending were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith, Harold Beltzner, Emanuel and Norman Custer, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Messenger and children Arthur, Edgar, Sarah Ellen and Roy; Mr. and Mrs. Elias Miller and children James, Grace, Kenneth, Edith and Curtis; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Miller and children Edith, Grace and Kenneth; Dr. and Mrs. J.D. Kelper, all of Dale; Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Gore and son Alfred of Monessen, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Smith and children Harold and Lila, of Braddock; Mrs. David Mishler and children Carl and Trella, Mrs. Henry Mishler and children Kenneth and Martin of Kring's Station; Mrs. Lizzie Kauffman and Mrs. Edward Kauffman and daughter Florence of Davidsville; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Custer and children Howard, Stella and Harry; Christ Miller of Daisytown; Kenneth Gore of Morrellville, Clare Wissinger, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Miller and children Foster, Jay, Dora, Mary, Clifford and Blake of the Seventh Ward, this city; Mr. and Mrs. Chester Trent and children Kenneth and Harold; Mrs. John Helsel and daughter Mabel; Minnie Blake, Algie Baumgardner, near Elton; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Lehman and children Rosie, Mabel, Edger, Edna; Alonzo Miller and Charles, and the Rev. Algie Lehman of Ebensburg; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Yoder of Johnstown, Civilla Hillegas and children Howard, George and Audrey of South Fork.