83rd Ingalls Family Reunion meeting minutes
The 83rd Ingalls Reunion was held on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the United Methodist Church of Greenville and Norton Hill. Fifty-two people attended. It was a bright, sunny day, with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s.
The Turner Fawkes and Jack Ver Planck Families hosted. The tables were beautifully decorated, and there was a small favor of daffodil bulbs at every seat, courtesy of Ramona Ellis Fawkes.
The Historian, Krista Ingalls Haushalter, brought the autograph quilt she is making for the family in order to get more signatures. She had the children who attended make handprints on squares for the quilt and decorate them, which they enjoyed. As in years past, she displayed the family photograph albums and framed copies of family deeds. Copies of the 2003 Genealogy and History of the Jacob Ingalls Family were available for twelve dollars each.
At 12:00 noon, President Curtis Ellis rang the cowbell from the Jacob Ingalls’ homestead to gather everyone for the group photograph. Because it was such a nice day, the photograph was taken outdoors. Kay Ingalls Sutton, the reunion photographer, also videotaped the family for a submission to ABC television’s “Good Morning America” “Your 3 Words” segment. Shirley Spad held up the first sign that said, “Celebrating,” Marjorie Dedie held up the second sign that read, “83rd,” and Walter Ingalls held up the third sign that stated “Reunion.” The family’s three words were “Celebrating 83rdReunion.”
When the group returned inside the hall, Walt said grace, and everyone enjoyed the pot luck.
After the bountiful meal, Curt rang the cowbell again to call the meeting to order. He thanked Reverend Carney for the use of the church hall, Janet Lockwood for helping out in the kitchen for her thirty-third year, and the host families.
Those who traveled the farthest to attend the Reunion were Ronald and Jerrene (Jeri) Carford and family, from Apollo Beach, Florida. Kevin and Debbie (McAneny) Reeth came from Reno, Nevada, and Ramona and Turner Fawkes traveled from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The family again welcomed Harold Rolls, Eve Elliott’s father, who is a Buddhist monk. He attended his first Reunion back in 2009, coming from Kathmandu, Nepal. The youngest person present at today’s Reunion was Christina Carford, born in 2004. Honorable mention went to Walter Sutton, born in 2002, and Saylor Lewtschenko, born in 2001. The oldest members present were Shirley Spad, 88, and Marjorie Dedie, 87. Carl Haushalter, Krista’s husband, attended the Reunion for his first time.
The Secretary, Paige Ingalls, read the minutes from last year’s Reunion, which were approved as written. She sent around the book for everyone to sign and a folder with “Ingallsiana,” which included an article from The Messenger, the Spring 2011 membership newsletter of the Greene County Historical Society, Inc. The newsletter contained an article about Walter Ingalls donating an “Old Dutch Chair” that survived the burning of Kingston [New York] in 1777. The chair was originally bequeathed to the Society’s collection by Isaac Tripp of Durham, but it ended up with the descendants of Alfred T. Burnett, whose daughter was Walt’s first wife, Shirley. Shirley’s cousin, Harriett Abrams Rasmussen, and Walt delivered the chair to the Historical Society in November 2009. The Society was very pleased to receive it for their collection, since it is one of only a handful of objects that pre-date 1750.
Paige then shared correspondence received during the past year. John Reiley wrote to inform the family of his beloved wife Susan’s passing.
The Treasurer, Kevin Ingalls, gave his report:
There was $1,586.99 in the savings account prior to the Reunion.
Today’s Collection totaled $304.
Dispersals totaling $492.73 were made for--
Printing of the invitations ($77.33)
Postage for the invitations ($69.60)
Janet Lockwood’s services ($75.00)
Rental of the church hall ($75.00)
Host families’ expenses (food and supplies) ($195.80)
Unfortunately, more money was disbursed than was taken in, leaving a deficit for the day of $188.73.
That left a grand total of $1398.26 in the savings account.
It was moved and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report.
Kevin also recommended the family obtain tax exemption status. However, this would cost money. He asked that someone consider giving a donation for this, but no one took him up on his suggestion!
Curt inquired if there was any “old business” to be addressed, and there was none.
Curt then asked if there was any “new business?”
The Ruth and T. Merritt Elliott Family graciously volunteered to host next year’s Reunion, to be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
The Officers elected for next year were:
President-- Jack Ver Planck
Vice President-- Deborah Mc Aneny Reeth
Secretary-- Paige Ingalls
Treasurer-- Kevin Ingalls
Historian-- Krista Ingalls Haushalter
Paige noted that the 2012 Greenville Local History Group wall calendar would be for sale around town in the near future. There is a lot of Ingalls related material in the calendar: Walt Ingalls is honored for his service to the community; the cover art work was done by Claribel Ingalls Gardiner; there is a photograph of the Scott M. and Elgirtha (Ingalls) Ellis house on South Street; and October’s photograph is from the 1956 Cousins Picnic of the Ransom Benjamin Ingalls branch, featuring some of those at today’s reunion in their younger years. Stephanie Ingalls offered to take orders from those from out of town who wanted to purchase a calendar ($10.00 for the calendar and postage).
Paige told the group that all were invited after the meeting to join Gary Elliott and family on a hike to “The Falls.” These are 25 feet high and located on the former Ransom Benjamin Ingalls homestead. Ten people enjoyed the walk through the woods to view them: Walt and Donna Ingalls; Gary and Eve Elliott; Harold Rolls; Ted Elliott; Sommer Ingalls and Jacob Parker; Alliene Applebee; and Paige.
Krista led the Roll Call of Families, followed by the report of births, deaths, and marriages. The following numbers indicate how many people from each branch were present at the Reunion:
Enoch Ingalls Branch 0
Henry Ingalls Branch 0
John Ingalls Branch 10
Lucinda Ingalls Hunt Branch 2
Eleanor Ingalls Winegard Branch 4
Diantha Ingalls Smith Branch 4
Joseph Truman Ingalls Branch 16
Ransom Benjamin Ingalls Branch 28
William Henry Harrison Ingalls Branch 2
Thaddeus Warsaw Ingalls Branch 0
Cyrus Ingalls (Westerlo) Branch 0
This year's “entertainment” was a presentation by Maureen and Jack Ver Planck entitled "John I’s General Store." Many of the people at the Reunion remembered John I and his store, and everyone enjoyed hearing about the store’s history. Maureen and Jack also brought along photographs. A copy of the presentation appears in the book that contains the Ingalls Reunion meeting minutes.
Curt thanked the Ver Plancks for their presentation and closed the meeting. All present were encouraged to return again next year, for the 84th Ingalls Reunion.