The following was published in The Bellbrook Moon on 14 Sep 1898 REUNION Of the Swigart, Campbell, Tobias and all the families connected thereto, was held in Solomon Swigarts grove near his residence 3 miles north of this place last Thursday, Sept., 8, 1898. The forenoon was spent in social conversation. The long table was well supplied with everything good to eat that heart could wish for and was partaken of by about 100 persons. It was unanimously decided that the Moon man and his friend Simon Sparks, of Dayton ate more chicken than any other two at the table, which fact the attention of those at the table were duly called to. A nice stage was erected and patriotically decorated and an organ placed thereon. The first thing after dinner was the election of officers, the result of which ia as follows: Stephen Campbell, president; Martin L. Tobias, vice president; Joseph Swigert, secretary; Mrs. William Strain, corresponding secretary; John Huston, treasurer. Committee to prepare program for next year; Misses Beryl Huston, Clara Tobias, and Mary Campbell. 1st, The program opened with a song from the audience. 2nd A prayer from Rev. Trout. 3rd Song by audience. 4th Speech by Solomon Swigert, short sketch of the Swigert family which was as follows: Michael Swigert my father was born December 3rd, 1785 in Hagerstown, Maryland. He had for brothers and one sister, Peter, Jacob, John, Henry, and Susanna. Peter and Jacob moved to Indiana, bought farms, lived and died there. John died near Zimmerman, O. Henry died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Susanna Engle, known as the Isaac Engle farm in Beavercreek township. Michael Swigert moved to O., in the year 1806, bought the farm now known as the Michael Swigert farm, and the house that now stands on the farm was built in the year 1828, at that day, 70 years ago, it was considered a very fine house. He married Miss Sarah Nave, sister to John Nave. She was born December 20 1795, and to them were born 8 children, four sons and four daughters, namely : Joel, Michael, David, Solomon, Barbara Huston, Elizabeth Huston, Salome Ewry, and Sarah Tobias, Michael Swigert and wife now have 45 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren making in all 140 offsprings. When Michael Swigert moved to Ohio, where the court-house now stands in Dayton was a thicket of hazel brush. He done all his business trading at that day in Cincinnati which required one week to make the round trip, About the year 1840 he married the widow Tobias, the mother of William, Daniel, Samuel Tobias, Polly Ewry and Catherine Haines. Michael Swigert died in February 1869 in his 84th year. 5th, Song by the Misses Beryl and Cena Huston, Eva Tobias, Myrtle Shepherd, Stella Perdum, Mable Whitacre and Nora Huston. 6th Speech by Rev. Trout which was quite appropriate and very interesting. 7th Solo by Miss Mable Whitacre. 8th Recitation by Miss Bertha Perdum. 9th Remarks by Samuel Tobias who spoke of the satisfaction it was to him to meet some of his relatives whom he had not seen for 19 years and many friends he had not met for 8 and 10 years. 10th Rec. by Miss Stella James. 11th Speech by Simon Sparks of Dayton, who said he was born near Spratt's corner, and said that he felt at home among the people of that community. 12th Rec. by Miss Belle Huston. The vocal music was furnished by an octet of ladies and was well rendered. That bright, beautiful and pleasant September day will long be remembered by those who attended the first family reunion of these pioneer families, where friendship, sociability and fellowship reigned supreme, and may the annual reunion be held every year in perpetuation of these honored families. The next reunion will be held at the old Solomon Shank farm in the woods near the Brown school house 31/2 miles northwest of Bellbrook. Published September 14, 1898 BELLBROOK MOON Transcribed from Volume 2 page 22 of the Bellbrook Moon Scrapbook at the Bellbrook Library, Bellbrook, Ohio Steve Malachinski