OUTMAN FAMILY REUNION           Marseilles, Ill. 9/1/1912

It seems not inappropriate in the opening of this volume to address a few words of introduction that the readers of the future, may know something of the circumstances and peculiar experiences that have led up to this reuniting of the Outman families after a separation of so many years that the existence of the several branches of the family had become a mere dream to the oldest of those now living.

The part borne by the writer in this has sprung from an earnest desire cherished since childhood to know more of his father's people. Born in Pennsylvania in 1853 and removing to Illinois with his parents in the Spring of 1860, where for 3 years he mingled with them. His father enlisted in the Civil War in June 1862 and fell at the battle of Stone River, Dec. 31st of the same year. In March 1863 the widowed mother with her 3 children came to the Northern part of the state that she might be near some of her own people. Here the writer grew from boyhood to manhood, married and held down by the task of caring for a large family, never again had the privilege of meeting any of his father's people but once in a period of 44 years. But as noted above, the desire to meet them and know more of them had always been cherished, growing and strengthening with his years until today it has reached its full fruition.

You will not wonder, therefore, that when one Dr. Godfrey came to Marseilles in June, 1910, and told him that he knew two families of Outmans in the state of Michigan that an intense interest was awakened, and within 24 hours a letter was on its way to a Mr. Outman, first name unknown, as direct by the above named Doctor. It hit the mark and a reply was immediately forthcoming from Melvin Outman of Leonidas in the Wolverine State.

This correspondence enlarged, and in a short time we were satisfied at both ends of the line that we were of one blood. This also gave the writer some clews that have finally led to the locations of practically all the descendants of 4 branches of the Outman family.

The family history as developed through this extended but very interesting correspondence is here briefly given in the hope that it will be interesting to someone in the years to come and may make it easier for some one in the future to trace out the family record.

We have been unable so far to get further back than to one Jeremiah Outman and Anna Pool who lived, probably in Orange County, N,Y., were married and were blessed with a family of 4 sons and 2 daughters, and probably in the following order, although it is not positively known to the writer just where the daughters do come in: Jonah, Stephen, Rachael, Abigail, John and Jacob. These children were born to them during a period reaching from 1796 to 1808. At some time in their career Jeremiah Outman and his family removed from Orange County, N.Y. to Cayuga County in the vicinity of Auburn. There the children grew to manhood and womanhood, married and began to scatter to different parts of the country.

It seems probable from the few facts found by the writer in his investigation that Jonah was the first to leave his native state and seek his fortune in the West. We have been unable to find out in what year this occurred, but it is known that he settled in Ohio and remained there for some years, then removing to Michigan in 1800. At Athens, Michigan he died 3 years later, in 1803. His descendants are well scattered over the Southern part of the state. Probably John was the next to leave home. He started out a single man, found his way to St. Francis Co., Missouri, where he settled down. In what year he came to Missouri we have been unable to learn, but here he met Miss Mary Chapman, wooed and won her and on April 22 they were united in marriage in the home where his wife had been born and where later all of their 7 sons and 5 daughters were born, of these 2 sons and 2 daughters were at the first Reunion at Marseilles, Ill. in 1911. Three sons and the 2 remaining daughters still live in that portion of Missouri where their father settled as a pioneer. One son lives in Kansas City, Kan. and has a large family in that vicinity.

Stephen, the second son of Jeremiah Outman remained in the New York and Pennsylvania area, never so far as we have been able to learn, having sought his fortune in the West. He left a numerous family, most of whom still reside either in New York or Pennsylvania, most of them in the latter state.

Jacob, the youngest, married in New York, taking as his life partner Miss Hepsibeth Hotchkiss in 1818. With their family of 6 or 7 young children they too started toward the Setting Sun. They came by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, then by Illinois & Michigan Canal to LaSalle, Ill. From there they took a boat passage down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, going to the home of his brother, John, in Missouri for a time, but shortly after, settled in Jackson County, Illinois. There he cleared a small farm, his boys and girls grew up and were married and today there are a large number of his descendants in that part of the state, also some out on the Pacific Coast.

The writer has been unable so far to get any trace of the descendants of the 2 daughters, Rachael and Abigail, but is still living in the hope of doing so, and if his work should be cut short, by reason of death, we trust someone else will continue the search until crowned with success.

(Signed) WM. H. Outman, Marseilles, Ill.

The first Outman Reunion was held at the home of W. H. Outman, Marseilles, Ill., Oct. 6-9, 1911. At that meeting there were 29 representatives of the family, 4 of these were from the Michigan branch, 10 from Missouri and 15 were of the Illinois family.

The company assembled in the evening of Oct. 6 and on Fri. Oct. 7, at the close of dinner, eaten in a large tent, was a feast of good things in the form of letters read from 20 absent relatives, full of good wishes for the assembly and regret at not being able to attend.

One letter especially created considerable excitement and comment. Nothing had been heard from Uncle Stephen Outman since 1857, but an earnest effort to learn something of him had been rewarded on the opening day of the meeting in the form of a letter from Mrs. Letitia Flewellyn of Harrison Valley, PA., who is the granddaughter of Stephen Outman. This letter opened up an extensive correspondence with the Eastern cousins, and as a result we have them as well tabulated in our records as any other branch of the family, and as proof that they have been equally interested in these meetings is the presence of one of them at this one today.

After reading of the letters each one present responded to roll call in a little speech appropriate to the occasion. The following poem was recited by Virgil F. Outman, of Marseilles, Ill., in response to his name:

At the close of the social session followed a short business session, at which time officers were elected and all present joined the "Outman Reunion Association."

After the business session a group picture was taken by a neighboring photographer, and needless to say, everybody bought one as a souvenir of this pleasant meeting.

Saturday was spent in visiting, by the elder members, while some of the younger ones who were not to be kept in by inclement weather spent much time walking about and visiting places of interest.

Sunday morning the family attended church in a body, and at the close of the sermon, the pastor, Wm. Reace, directed a few well chosen words to the Reunion party.

At lunch time Sunday evening a large cake bearing the inscription "Outman Reunion, 1911" was sent in by a neighbor, Mrs. Manning. A vote of thanks was taken and reported to the secretary.

Monday morning at the depot the big gathering broke up--someone started to sing the chorus "We'll never say 'Goodby in Heaven"' and the children gave the Outman "yell", the train stopped and started again and the big meeting was over in reality, yet will always live in the memory of each one present.

Many interesting stories have been told in the letters and many equally interesting facts have been given in the Family Record. Only one of these I will repeat: Chas. T. Outman of Harrison Valley wrote us a letter late in the year 1911 in which he said he can remember that his father, Stephen Outman, telling that he started Westward, one time with one of his brothers. When they came to a certain fork in the road, each took a different route and never heard from each other again. Which one of the brothers it was, he could not remember. So far as records go, we find the number of families in each branch as follows:

List of attendees at the first Outman Reunion, Marseilles, Ill: