NEIDHARDT FAMILY IN POEM
From unknown Williams county newspaper
Read by Anna NEIDHARDT at the Neidhardt reunion.
This is the day we all hold dear,
A happy spot in all the year,
When we can drive our cares away,
For this is our reunion day,
When we can meet with those loved best,
From north or south or east or west.
'Tis not with those of wealth or fame,
But those who bore the NEIDHARDT name,
We meet today with one accord,
Out hearts with one desire are stirred,
To grasp the hand of those most near,
And welcome friends who meet us here.
A year has passed since last we met,
Its memory lingers with us yet,
The friends we yearly love to see,
Are the members of our family.
Aunt Laney here we'd surely miss,
If we should meet on a day like this,
Her face we always love to see,
For she is one of the family tree.
But Grandma NEIDHARDT here we meet,
Her family she loves to greet,
Her form is weak, her footstep slow,
But she loves to meet us here we know.
Of children living she has eight,
Her son, Carl, passed away,
Before he reached his manhood days,
With us he could not stay.
Aunt Caroline HEISLER, quiet and still,
Along in company with uncle Bill,
Of children they have raised but five,
And up to date are all alive.
They are all married, from home are gone,
Are living now in homes of their own,
While five grandchildren often come,
To visit them in their home.
Dan NEIDHARDT next with Lizzie, his wife,
Have partners been a good share of their life,
Their living children number eleven,
While two have passed away to heaven.
Three are married and gone away-
Eva and Lula and Nellie A.
They have eight living yet at home,
And three grandchildren often come.
There's Aunt Art MILLER and husband Fred,
For many years they have been wed,
Three children came to bless their home,
And four grandchildren, too, have come.
Aunt Sophia HEISLER and Uncle Fred,
Have three children living and three dead,
But of grandchildren they have three,
To clamber up on grandpa's knee.
A pair of twins come next to view,
They are Aunt Maggie and Aunt Lou,
And the love that is above all other,
Is the love of one twin for the other.
Aunt Maggie's name is FISHER now,
While Mrs. WILLARD is Aunt Lou.
Aunt Maggie had of children three,
That used to prattle 'round her knee,
Maud and Florence with her stay,
But little Mona passed away,
Her husband, George, is with her yet-
We mention him "e're we forget."
Wm. WILLARD and Aunt Lou,
Many a summer have passed through,
They had three children, fair of face,
Frank and Owen and daughter Grace,
But like the flowers on a summers day,
They faded, sickened and passed away.
And now since all of them are gone,
They are living all alone.
Uncle Martin and Lizzie, his wife,
Are walking together the highway of life,
Olen, Margueret and Earl have they,
None of their children have passed away.
Our Aunt Cora and Uncle Art,
On the journey of life did start,
Gladys, Mabel and Arthur stay,
To cheer their parents on the way.
There are many other friends we meet,
Besides our relatives we greet,
We love to have them with us here,
"Tis pleasant to (see) them once a year,
We love to grasp them by the hand,
We know someday we'll understand,
As we pass on to other scenes,
Just what the word "reunion" means.
Many now in reunion here,
May pass away by another year,
May meet with friends on another shore,
That passed away long years before.
Sickness and sorrow too may come,
And visit some of us in our home,
While some the joys of life may share,
And have fruits of peace both rich and rare.
We know that in some future day,
When from this life we've passed away,
A grand reunion there will be,
With friends we often wish to see,
Fathers and mothers and children dear,
Who have not met for many a year,
In grand reunion there will meet,
And enjoy the pleasures of friendship sweet.
The time is surely drawing near,
When we must part with those most dear,
And seek the quiet of our home,
Where strife and discord ne'er shall come,
Although there is no cause of fear,
But what we'll meet another year,
We can not tell what time will bring,
As it passes on fleeting wing,
Then let us live, so at the last,
There will be no tears or regrets for the past,
No pangs of sorrow, no heartaches or tears,
But a starry crown for the future years,
Then, when our weary life is past,
Like a flower we droop and die,
May our future ever prove to be,
A reunion, bye and bye.