This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Basim, Leighty, Harvey, Spicer, Noe, Burns, Richardson, Mayfield, Stauffer, Kelly, Funk, Sykes, Robertson, Cutter, Drummond, Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kg.2ADI/1676 Message Board Post: Barry Adage, Barry, Pike Co. IL, Thursday, November 5, 1891: "The seventy-ninth birthday of Christopher Basim was celebrated on Oct. 22, 1891, in a manner long to be remembered by the seventy persons who sat down to a splendid dinner prepared by his six daughters, namely: Mrs. Nancy Leighty, of Bushnell, Ill.; Mrs. Mary Harvey, of Junction City, Kan.; Mrs. Ida Spicer, Mrs. Lizzie Noe, Mrs. Jane Burns and Mrs. George Basim, of Beverly; Mrs. Lena Noe being the only one absent (holding down a claim in Oklahoma), their husbands being all present except Dr. George Harvey. There were also twenty-three grand and one great grandchild, twenty-six other relatives and fourteen old settlers, who were in the township before 1838, and over sixty years of age, namely: Jas. Richardson, Sr. age 88, came in May, 1835 from New York. Isariah Mayfield, Sr. aged 86; came in March, 1834, from North Carolina. Christopher Basim, aged 78; came in fall of 1837, from Ohio. Jacob Stauffer, aged 77; came in spring of 1837, from Ohio. Frazy Kelly, aged 74; came in fall of 1835, from New Jersey. Jacob S. Funk, aged 74; came in 1836, from Ohio. James Sykes, aged 72; came in November, 1834, from New York. A.C. Robertson, aged 72; came in April, 1835, from New York. Christopher Stauffer, aged 71; came in spring of 1837, from Ohio. W.W. Robertson, aged 69; came in April, 1835, from New York. John Sykes, aged 68; came in November, 1834, from New York. Andrew J. Cutter, aged 68; came in November, 1835, from New Jersey. J.J. Drummond, aged 66; unknown. Geo. Stauffer, aged 62; came in spring of 1837, from Ohio. The two first named were the only once married and heads of families, the rest being boys when they came. The average age of the fourteen was 73 1/2 years, counting the fraction of years. There was eight wives whose average age was 64 years. The day was very fine and general sociability prevailed, and a happier lot of people seldom meet. As might be expected, reminiscences of olden times was the main conversation and many tales of early days were told. One must suffice: Mr. Basim was married to Miss Fanny Stauffer in June, 1838, by Jas. Sykes, Sr., Esq. - he having just been elected one of the first justices of the township - and their's being the second wedding in the township. They were married in the forenoon at the bride's father's, she in a neat linsey woolsey dress, he in a bran(sp) new suit of home-made jeans. Immediately after dinner they started on their wedding tour, and arm in arm they walked five miles to view their future home, where he had commenced erecting a log cabin on the farm where four of their nine children were born, and where they resided about eleven years, when they sold to Mr. Hastings, and bought the farm he now occupies, and where the last five children were born - two sons having died in the meantime - and where his six daughters were married, who together with the only living son (George) have become ornaments in the community in which they live, of whom Mr. Basim is justly proud. Mr. Basim has been a widow! er two and one-half years, the Spicer family keeping house for him. A friend to everyone and everybody's friend, may he live to enjoy many happy birthdays is the wish of all. Just before dinner, while each had on his best smiles, in anticipation of the good things being prepared for them, the photograph man placed the ladies in suitable position, and by an immense effort kept them still six seconds, which sufficed to place their likeness on the plate. The men and boys were then taken in the same manner, a very good picture of the whole seventy being the result, which will no doubt adorn the parlors of his descendents for generations, which together with this brief history will tell them of the many changes that a half century will bring forth."