A Prominent Family

The Trumbo family has a record in this country.

Its reunion held at Dayton.

Descended from an early settler in America, the family now extends all over the United States - The association here in the flourishing condition.

The 8th annual reunion of the Trumbo family association was held at Elias Trumbo's grove, near Dayton, on Thursday. About 175 of the family, their relatives and friends, assembled to spend a day renewing the old ties and possibly making new ones. The place was an ideal one, on the east bluff of the Fox, overlooking the rapids between the dam and the Dayton bridge. Tables have been erected by Mr. Trumbo and another a genuine picnic dinner was enjoyed by all present.

After dinner the members were called to order by President Elias Trumbo, who, in a few well-chosen words, welcoming those before him to the eighth reunion of the Trumbo's. The Secretary W. E. W. MacKinlay of Ottawa then made a brief report in which he said:

"There are, according to secretary's records about 2500 of the Trumbo race in the United States, descended from the four brothers, Andrew, George, Jacob and John, who lived in Virginia prior to 1750. The earliest document known is a deed now in possession of 0. W. Trumbo, of Dayton, dated June 23, 1752, from Cornelius Murley and his wife to Jacob Trumbo, at Brock's Gap, Virginia. There are present, descendants of the last three brothers. For the first time since our organization we have with us a descendant of John Trumbo, of Pennsylvania; Authur C. Trumbo, of Chicago; who will now address us. "

Mr. Trumbo then delivered an address full of thought, which showed a wide acquaintance with the Trumbos is in a thorough grasp of the subject. He said in part:

"Fellow Trumbo's, this is a gathering of the Trumbos and here we are, in the beautiful state of Illinois, on a Trumbo farm, celebrating in the capacity of the family reunion. It is not who are grandfathers are, but farther back, that causes us to study and inquire who they were. We are all aware of our eccentricities, and believing the scientific laws of heredity, we wonder if the old stock were likened to us, or we likened to them. It is only by careful and detailed work in genealogy that we shall ever know definitely who are ancestors were. Research is the only key to the problem, and we're glad to know that our secretary has added so much to our store of knowledge in unfolding these perplexing problems. In this reunion work, long since begun, we are in line with the spirit of the ago by enterprising efforts, and will be able to lay such a foundation for future generations can refer to us and be able to keep clear records of the Trumbo family in America. In the great Newberry library in Chicago there are probably not more than a score of family histories. The only reference made to our name is in a citation to a county atlas of Sangamon County, this state, and to the fact that a Trumbo history is being prepared by Secretary MacKinlay. There are many Trumbos in Sangamon County, near Springfield; they came from Kentucky, and belong to the race of Andrew. Many of the Ohio Trumbos, of which your humble speaker is one, belong to the race of John. In Ohio they are to be found in Seneca County, in Marion County, at Hanging Rock and   southern Ohio, who are of the line of George, and at Springfield, in Clark County, in Putnam and Allan counties and in Franklin County. These latter are of the race of Jacob. In La Salle County here we find the descendants of Jacob and George. We hear of them in Virginia in various parts of the state. In Utah, in Salt Lake City, where they are prominent in business, social and political circles. Also northern and southern California, in the Dakotas in Indiana and Missouri and in some of the southern states. In a few years they will be in every state in the union. They are progressive people and constantly on the lookout for the best opportunities in life. We number more than 2500 and this country, but it seems that the only association formed have been in this County and Clark County, Ohio. The Lasalle County Trumbos will have the honor of being the original organizers, and upon the efforts of this nucleus formed here will depend, to the great extent, the success or failure of the organization. It is difficult to form and hard to preserve a successful family organization, for the reason that much of the family are strange to each other, have different tastes and ideas and have been thrown among different surroundings, following various lines of business and are so scattered that, being a busy people, it is seldom we can all come together. To preserve such a union necessarily many must live near each other and be intimately aquatinted and so closely associated with several hundred can assemble on short notice. Such meetings, however, cultivate our better natures and extend our friendships, which are as essential to successful lives as the sunshine is to the flowers.

"This is been my first experience in celebrating at a Trumbo reunion, but I hope it will not be my last. Let us all remember this reunion as one of the glad moments in our lives. May we ever appreciate the high honor of having affiliated with those who bear the 'Trumbo' name and in whose veins flows the Trumbo blood on this happy June Day in 1897 in Lasalle County, Illinois. Let us bear in mind that we are today fashion in a golden chain of friendship, which, strengthened by the silver record of memory, will stretch promotion to ocean, from time to eternity. "

Thomas E. MacKinlay, of Hot Springs, South Dakota, whom was first Secretary of the society, then made a few remarks. He said: "No meetings or reunions that I have attended since my coming to this neighborhood 30 years ago have afforded me more pleasure than the Trumbo reunions. They are among the most pleasant memories of my life here and he hearing while Chicago on business that the reunion was today. I came down too again be with you all. "He alluded to the importance of thorough research and geological work and the necessity of having absolute proof of whatever was put forth as history, and touchingly alluded to those of the old race who had gone before. Mr. MacKinlay closed with the characteristic remark that to Trumbo nines would not play a ball game, and that he had promised to home umpire, and the meeting adjourned at 1898.

The old officers and committees were reelected, with Elias Trumbo as president.

Two ball games were played, the first resulting 16 to 6 in favor of Harry Robinson's nine. The second game was interrupted by William Wilson, of Ottawa, who was pitching, being overcome by the heat. He was, however so far recovered by evening as to be able to walk around.

After launch the relatives and friends departed, after pleasant and profitable day, and the eighth Trumbo annual had passed into a memory.

(From The Daily Republican-Times June 15,1894)