Farrar News, October 2000
IMPORTANT DATES!! EXCITING TIMES!!
REMEMBER
FARRAR FAMILY CAMPGROUND, WIRTH ARKANSAS
This is for you ... THE GATHERING OF THE CLAN! Our week-long, camp-out
at our own Reunion facilities on Bob Farrar’s 200 wooded, rolling,
rocky acres near Wirth, Arkansas, commencing on Father’s Day each year.
ALL FARRARS’, FARRAR descendants, FAMILIES, and FRIENDS, warmly and
joyously welcomed!
OUR 24th FARRAR REUNION: 17 thru 23 June 2001. Come early ... stay
late. The campground will be open and available to you. Or, come and go
as your time permits. but COME!
FARRAR’S ISLAND RENDEZVOUS II: 22, 23, 24 September, 2001. All the 50
plus individuals who attended Rendezvous I unanimously called out for
another. We all agreed we’d do it again when our Farrar’s Island
Historic Highway Marker was up and in place. THIS IS IT! Another
opportunity to seek your roots. To tread where your forefathers trod.
To help dedicate our Marker. There is an exciting three days programmed.
Our 25th FARRAR REUNION: 16 thru 22 June 2002. This will be a BIG one.
Our President is already coordinating with our exceptional and
available talent for a gala. Our huge, extended FARRAR FAMILY will
converge from all points coast to coast to these rugged hills of
Arkansas. Think about it ... you only have to be here to win the
silver. You depart with memories of gold.
From the Editor:
An old man gave a twig to a child and asked that he break it. This was
easily done. Then a bundle of twigs was handed with the same request.
The bundle was unbreakable.
This bespeaks our Clan, our Family. Closely bound, strong, unbreakable,
exuding confidence, accomplishing much. Willingly sharing your time and
your talent, your magic and your money, your labor and your love. Each
of you wears the laurel leaf of victory. We are winners. Thanks to each
and every one of you for your every effort.
Recap
Reunion 2000, though lightly attended (40), was a full-fledged, howling
success with much accomplished. Pre-Reunion: Kurt Stanford, Cedar Hill,
MO, came down five consecutive weekends to get our campground
shipshape; raking and burning deep piles of leaves, mowing, trimming,
other jobs. Bob Farrar, Mammoth Spring, AR, with help from Kurt,
rewired our pavilion and strung new lights (eight 4’, two tubed
florescents donated by Bill Schwend, St. Louis, MO); installed a new
propane cookstove; installed a new sink with cabinetry (both donated by
Bob Farrar). The Lehnholf family, New Cambria, MO, arrived Wednesday.
Nancee immediately turned-to cleaning the pavilion, galley, showers,
and restrooms. Gary and Gary, Jr. felled two large, dead trees, sawed,
split, hauled, and stacked for firewood; then other tasks. Bill and
Betty Farrar, Keytesville, MO, arrived early too. There were many odds
and ends left for them to do.
Father’s Day: Betty’s new, handcrafted “Farrar Flag”, with our Coat of
Arms, name, and motto, proudly flew for the first time. The skit, “That
Tattered Old Flag”, arranged and choreographed by Jean (Farrar) Hite,
Dripping Springs, TX, was presented with much applause. A re-run during
our 25th is planned. Our annual Business Meeting was highly profitable.
In the evening, after she sliced and served her Father’s Day cake (she
has baked and presented a Father’s Day cake to our every Reunion held
in Arkansas, (21), Charlotte and Carl Dienst, Williford, AR, were
called front and center for a Recognition Ceremony. Our President,
Barbara (Farrar) Williams, Springfield, IL, officiated. Jill (Farrar)
Vogel, Belleville, IL, read a little speech. Amongst hugs and kisses a
lovely remembrance and “Thank You” gift was presented. The gift donated
by Carol (Farrar) Rogers, Bloomington, IL.
Monday: This was Work Day. All hands eagerly completed every job, task,
and project on the agenda.
Tuesday: Canoe rides on the Spring River (mostly by the young).
Rest of the week: With people coming and going, it was mingling,
talking, touring, shopping in Old Hardytown, swimming, card and board
games, and a huge bonfire every night. A great time was had by all!
HAPPENINGS ALONG THE ROAD by: Joe Farrar
A highly interesting and rewarding visit with Claude Farrar, Cameron,
OK, the Patriarch of his Clan. Claude is an exciting, inspiring
individual; sharp as a whip, full of knowledge, proud of his namesake
and his community where he has spent his entire life. Here he presented
me with his latest book, A History of Central Point, Cedar Hill and
Liberty Hill Communities in Leflore County, OK. A valuable and valued
written and pictorial document. He then took me on a personal, guided
tour pointing out many of the facts and points of interest in his book.
A warm and friendly visit with our nearer cousin, Geneva (Creek)
Farrar, Cave Springs, AR, also the Matriarch of her tribe. Together a
visit to the Old Farrar Cemetery; now, again overgrown in brambles.
There are other Farrars’ in the area but, obviously, unconcerned.
Geneva, as I, is beyond this sweat-labor. Also, with everyone working
who wants to work, she has been unable to find a caretaker. This is a
problem that must be resolved.
Schwend/Dennler Reunion, Highland, IL. Held annually the 3rd Sunday of
July. This reunion is on an explosive growth cycle. 72 joyous,
intermingling kin participated this year. That compares to around 35
the last few years. All this due to the dedicated efforts of William H.
Schwend (Bill) and Ercell Papproth (Babe), O’Fallon, IL. Laurels to you
both.
FARRAR REUNION, Flat Creek, TN. On the 4th of July, Ike and Mary filled
their spacious grounds of the Old Homeplace with kin and cousins from
miles around. With a gigantic canopy spread over their lush green,
treelined, side lawn; rows of tables with seating beneath, each
tableclothed with a floral centerpiece; temperature warm, fluffy
cumulus scattered in the cerulean vault, a slight breeze wafting, they
were ready and the Clan poured in ... over 100 and counting. The
morning filled with meeting, greeting, reacquainting. Noonish, from a
huge board sagging with the weight, all sumptuously were fed. After,
Ike called a family member to the mike for a story, a tale, a
remembrance, an anecdote to continue the Family lore. A true
extravaganza!
Late News: In late July, Mary suffered a stroke. She is home now
undergoing therapy. A thoughtful card would be nice: 170 Ike Farrar Rd,
Shelbyville, TN 37160-5956.
Rendezvous II. All went exceedingly well in the Richmond area
coordinating and finalizing plans. See insert.
AN ENIGMA
We have a mystery on our hands. Your roving reporter arriving in
Virginia in late July made a bee-line to view our Marker. There is was
... Just as the Shockley pictures showed ... standing straight and tall
near the intersection of Highways 1/301 and Osborn Road, Chester,
designating a bit of this Old Domimion’s nearby geography and
proclaiming to all the world some of our Farrar heritage. But wait! It
was standing in the midst of a flowerbed. A flower bed!!? Yes! A newly
made, three foot square, neatly wood-framed, well mulched flowerbed
with low growing plantings radiating every hue of color bright. I was
astounded; intrigued. Who? What kind, concerned, considerate soul
stepped forward to beautify and enhance our Marker Project? Gil and
Louise Shockley, Richmond, said not them, Pauline Mitchell, Secretary,
Henricus Historic Foundation, had no clue. The State didn’t do it.
Walter K. Heyer, Henricus Historic Park Director, was mystified. Later,
a few query letters failed further. The mystery deepens. Just know one
and all: Today we have the only Historic Highway Marker, in all of
Virginia, with a flowerbed at its base. Amazing!
FARRAR ISLAND BOOKS
Since inception, Sept 98, when our Reunion was awarded the exclusive
rights to publish and distribute Miss Holmes’ two books; Vol I, The
Farrar’s Island Family, and Vol II, Some Farrar’s Island Descendants,
sales have been exceptional; mostly off the internet. So successful, in
fact, our Reunion has recovered all its outlay. This phenomenal success
has been acquired by the dedicated efforts of Randall Farrar, San
Diego. First of all, he constructed our Reunion Homepage; maintains it
and keeps it current and up-dated regularly. He received all purchase
requests, handles all in and out email; packages each sale; makes many
trips to the Post Office for mailing. He handles all this with a highly
efficient, business-like manner. He is fully and completely doing his
part for our Reunion to keep its contractual agreement with the
copyright owner, Jim Farrior, to keep these books readily available to
the public. He earns and deserves our every accolade.
The numbers look like this: Sales: Vol I = 98; Vol II = 50. Income
(less S&H): $5,623.20; plus $1,150 donations to purchase the
existing inventory of books from Mr. Farrior: $6,773.20. Costs:
original inventory of books: $1,963.75; plus $4,724.50 for reprinting
of Vol II (110 books): $6,688.25. Looks good. However, at this time Vol
I inventory is down to 10 copies. Currently a contract for printing is
being negotiated. This cost should be somewhere between $3,000 and
$4,000.
More good news. The Henricus Historic Park now has copies of our books
for sale in their Visitor Center.
Prices: Vol I: $35.00 + $4.50 S&H.
(Higher after next printing)
Vol II: $55.00 + $5.50 S&H
Set: $85.00 + $6.50 S&H
If you haven’t experienced it you can never envision how excited some
become when they discover these books. Our Reunion should be mighty
proud of the success of this project and elated you are doing your part
helping all your near and distant cousins find their lineage and their
heritage.
MISSING
Our Farrar News is missing something .. YOU! This N/L is for you and
about you. Come on. Give me some in-put. First of all, to maintain our
Family records, files, and to keep our Family Tree up-dated, we need
your current information: birth, death, marriage, divorce. Also,
current address and numbers: residence, mail, phone, email. In your
busy life, please, take a moment.
Beyond that, this call for help goes deeper still. It encompasses the
realm of human interest. Our Clan, our readership, is eager to learn
more, and to know more about, other Family members. Share with us a
happening, an event, good or bad, happy or sad, historic or folkloric.
Enhance our N/L. To you I plead. Help make it an interesting read.
(Editor).
* Insert for Oct
2000 Newsletter: