Bio: Barrett Family (Reunion - 1977)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Barrett, Green, Fullington, Berg, Johnson, Tande, Owen, Schaffran, Gohde, Gaetcke, Shaw, Schmidt, Stevens, Larson, Eggen, Heuer, Penney, Sangwin, Meyers, Huffman, Neff

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/14/1977

Barrett Family (Reunion - 3 July 1977)

The descendants of Solomon J. and Myrtle (Green) Barrett held a family reunion at the KOA Campground pavilion near Alma Center, on Sunday, July 3. The Barrett-Green families were pioneer loggers and farmers in Jackson and Clark Counties in the early 1860’s.

Hostesses for the event were Mrs. Aaron (Lorraine Fullington) Berg, Merrillan; Mrs. James (Shirley Fullington) Johnson, and Mrs. Fay (Evelyn Barrett) Tande, both of Alma Center.

There were 79 persons in attendance and as this was a “spur of the moment gathering,” the hostesses were pleased with the large turnout.

Mrs. Randy (Ruth Owen) Schaffran of Minneapolis, a niece of Solomon Barrett, was honored as being the oldest guest present. Jennifer Gohde, Alma Center, a great-great-granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, was the youngest guest attending.

Those signing the guest register included Mrs. Peal Gaetcke, Mr./Mrs. Michael Barrett of St. Petersburg, Fl.; Mrs. Robert Barrett of Isanti, Mn.; Mr./Mrs. Dave Barrett, Merrillan; Mr./Mrs. Leonard Barrett and family, Bloomington, Mn.; Mr./Mrs. Vance Shaw, their two grandchildren, Robin and Rodney Schmidt and Mrs. Shaw’s mother, Mrs. Florence Stevens of Onalaska and La Crosse; Mr./Mrs. Randy Schaffran, Minneapolis; Mr./Mrs. Fred Larson and son, Bradley; Mr./Mrs. Fay Tande and family, Mr./Mrs. Jim Johnson and daughters, Mr./Mrs. Russell Gohde and family, all of Alma Center; Mr./Mrs. Bernard Eggen, Jill and Joyce Heuer, West Salem; Mr./Mrs. Clifford Fullington and sons, Burlington, and Mrs. Fullington’s nephew, Robert Penney of Eau Claire; Mr./Mrs. George Sangwin, Ill.; Lorraine Berg and family and grandson, Joshua of Merrillan and Black River Falls; Mr./Mrs. Jim Fullington and children, Mr./Mrs. Eddy Meyers and daughter, Cindy, all of Milwaukee; Mrs. June Barrett, Colfax; Mr./Mrs. David Barrett and sons of Cambridge, Mn.; Mr./Mrs. Gary Barrett and son Phillip of San Antonio, Tx.; Mr./Mrs. Clarence Huffman, Beloit; Mr/Mrs. Art Berg and sons, Black River Falls; and Mitchell Neff, Whitehall.

Vance Shaw brought a large box of old family pictures which were enjoyed by all. Many of the pictures were unidentified and the attendees resolved to immediately put names and dates on their pictures at home and continue the practice each time a picture is taken.

Lucille Eggen entertained the guests with several electric organ arrangements.