Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — Some Twenty-Four Years Ago. [ARTICLE]

Some T wenty- Four Years Ago.

The appended article was published in The Republican almost twenty-foamy ears ago, and at the request of some ot the relatives is again printed. “Life deeendants of Henry and Elizabeth Sayler had a family reunion at the residence of Michael Sayler, three miles west of Rensselaer, Ind. on Monday, October 23, 1882. Brothers and sisters-met for 3he first time in thirty years; cousins met who had never met before. Shaking hands and talking of bygone days was the order o' tbe day. Greetings were scarcely over when the friends were invited) to- gather around the table on the lawn. Wnen all were arranged at) the table prayer was offered by the Rev. J. J. Claypool and all joined in singing the Doxology. After all had pat taken of the good things spread before them, the artist,. Mr. Joseph Sharp, took a picture o£ the table and the happy ones around it. This over the brothers and sisters formed a circle and Mary (Sayler) Monnett passed around and named the missing links. All present wishing to have \ a memento of tbe reunion, they arranged themselves in front of the house and had a family picture taken.- Barhart Sayler read a history of tbe Sayler family. They can trace their ancestry back to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. Jacob Sayler, lather of Henry Sayler, was a gunsmith and made guns and swords for the army of the revolution. He was a General in the war and member of the first Continental Congress that met in Philadelphia. The chair in which he sat was at the Centennial Expo sition. He was a General in the war of 1812 and an old chum of Andrew Jackson.

A large Bible which belongs to Henry Sayler, sr., and was published in 1609 was shown, it sank with the ship that brought it over and was picked up the next morning. Henry Sayler came to Ohio from Pennsylvania on horse beck in 1793 when but 17 years old to look at the country and moved from Bedford Co. Pa., and settled in Salt Creek, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. He married Elizabeth Kepner Dec. 25, 1805, in Pickaway Co. He died Jan. 8, 1854, aged 71 years and was buried in Marion Co., Ohio. His wife died May 22, 1869, aged 78 years and was l-uried at the same place. They were the parents of 13 children, nine of whom are still living, viz., Jacob, aged 76; Isaac, 73; Michael 70; Henry, 68; Samuel, 66; Mary E. Monnett, 61; Sarah A. Harrington, 58; Barhart, 53; Lewis, 52; Benjamin died in 1825 aged 27; Caroline (Sayler) Kinear died in 1841 aged 22 years, John died 1878 aged 67 years and Simo n died in infancy.

Living decendants of Henry and Elizabeth number 249 divided as follows, 9 children, 123 grandchildren, 113 great grand-children and 4 great great grand children. The reunion was attended by 154 persons. It closed with prayer by Barhart Sayler, the singing of “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” by all present and benediction by Isaac Sayler. In the evening the young folks had a lively time at John T. Bayler’s.” Ol the nine brothers and sisters alive at the time of the reunion all have since passed away but one, Lewis V. Sayler, of near Kniman, this county, and now in his 74th year. Of the second generation all bat three of the fifty-one attending the reunion are still living.