Who would have known that with the first family picnic in 1909, the Levi and Sarah Williams family would be celebrating a 100-year family reunion?

For entertainment, the children often performed in talent shows

“I remember singing “My Bucket has a Hole in It,” funny, my sisters don’t remember that,” said historian and acting secretary and treasurer, Diane Van Blaricum.

“The adults played horseshoes, and of course bingo. I also believe there was a euchre card game always taking place.  I can’t imagine a Williams get together without a deck of cards,” she added.

History records kept by the family, record the date and location of the annual reunion, the attendance, deaths, births, marriages and divorces. Also recorded were the oldest male and female in attendance.

Going through the history records there are some things that have not been recorded, but the stories remain alive. As any family, you have reports of good times, sad times, and bad times (and things you don’t talk about times).

Levi and Sarah would be proud of their family, who have kept that family picnic going for such a long time.

Celebrating the 100 years, the family president Sandy Whitmyer, has put together the family tree dating back to the 1700s, and a memory book of all of Levi and Sarah’s children and their children and their children and even more children. There are a lot of children.

Cousins are coming to the reunion from California, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and the list goes on. Whitmyer has put a lot of time and energy into this celebration and it is definitely going to be one to remember.

This year’s celebration will be held on July 26, at the Niles Township Community Park in Niles.

The family committee consists of: president: Sandy Whitmyer, vice-president: Jeanne Iliff; Historian and acting Sec/Treas: Diane Van Blaricum; committee members include: Ellie Lawrence, Mark Stoops, Marion Iliff,  JoAnn Pollitt, Florence Gombosi, Fern Williams and Lee and Mary Williams.