Editor's Note: There were two printings of the proceedings of the 1899 and 1902 reunions. We do not know who printed the first issue; although it could have been done by Chas. Davis, of High Point NC,. It was printed sometime after the second reunion. The second printing was done by Old Time Publications, of Spokane WA, date unknown. The second printing contained an index and a page reference of every name in the booklet. We found, however, that there were many printing errors in the second printing, starting with a "Y" in our name on the title (the first printing did not contain the "y"). We have used the first printing as our source for transcribing the text. We previously made these proceedings available in another computer format, where we scanned the second version of the proceedings. That version of the proceedings was made available on a CD at the 300 year reunion celebration. We believe that the text shown below is easier to read. Signed, Ron Haworth, November 2000
Note--As provided by motion passed at the First National Reunion of the Haworth Association of America, The Executive Committee called the Second Reunion to be held in Kansas City, Missouri, August 26th, 27th and 28th, 1902. The sessions were held in the Friends' Church, 416 West Fifteenth street, beginning on the evening of the 26th, and closed at noon on the 28th. The Meeting was a very enthusiastic one, with representatives from six states, namely: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma Territory, with reports from North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.
A large number of important matters were discussed, and some were acted upon, most notably, perhaps, the adoption of a Constitution and order to publish the Proceedings. The Family Genealogical Tree, as reported, has been greatly extended since the Plainfield Meeting, but it was thought best not to publish it until more nearly complete.
The meeting was opened by reading a part of the 25th Psalm and prayer by President, W. P. Haworth. Mrs. Martha A. Cross, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, was chosen Secretary for the evening. A song, "Happy Greetings," was sung by the Haworth chorus. Prof. Erasmus Haworth, of Lawrence, Kansas, was called to the chair, while the Rev. W. P. Haworth, President of the Association and Pastor of the Friends' Church in Kansas City, delivered an address of welcome, as follows:
As a resident of this city and Pastor of the congregation in whose place of worship this, our Second National Reunion, is to be held, I extend to you all a most hearty welcome.
It is a custom of long standing, and a beautiful and most appropriate one, that on occasions like this when a common interest, of any sort, has called any considerable number of people to leave their homes and familiar surroundings and congregate together where surroundings and faces are unfamiliar to discuss and consider those interests that some one should designated to utter some words of welcome to those thus assembled.
While this should be considered as appropriate and fitting when men gather to discuss financial political or religious interest it seems to me it is peculiarly so when men on one blood and family congregate to consider interest alike sacred to all.
This duty may perhaps become formal, and at times performed in a perfunctory way; but I wish to assure you that on this occasion the speaker feels very contrary wise and should be most delighted to take you individually by the hand and looking straight into your face say welcome thrice, welcome to our fair city and to the Second National Reunion of the Haworth Family of America.
It is peculiarly fitting that this Meeting should be held in Missouri, the center of the great Middle West where so many of our family are now making their homes. It is particularly interesting to remember that while at one time Missouri was a slave state and that she in common with all other states and territories of our great Union is now delivered from the debasing and accursed traffic of human slavery, that we who are gathered here represent a family who were untiring in their efforts, with perhaps the rarest exception to rid our fair land of this dark stain.
We welcome you then to the great state of Missouri which stands second to but few if any of that great states of our Union in her natural resources.
We welcome you to our fair city or cities at the mouth of the Kaw, the metropolis of the South West, not improperly called the Twin Cities, and may their union be like the hand that should ever bind us together as a family and remind us of the lives of David and Jonathan the twin sons of Richard of old.
We want you to inspect and imitate all that is good and commendable in our city. May much of her prosperity, vigor and push be ours to enjoy as a family. Our fathers did their work nobly in their day and generation in clearing the forests opening up the virgin soil making the forest and prairie alike to blossom as the rose and blazing the way for many of the great commonwealths of our great nation, we are now privileged to enter into the fruits of their labors.
Will we do our work as well as they did theirs? That we may is one of the purposes of this Meeting. The human mind in some respects resembles a bow which if constantly retained at a high tension in any one direction looses much of its elasticity and power of action. In the next few days of this Meeting we ask you to forget the complex duties of the office, shop, counting house or farm and spend these few days in living over again the happy scenes of your childhood.
May these few days not only be spent in happy reminiscence but in wise legislation and planning for the future so that children yet unborn may be the wiser, happier and better by reason of these Meetings. Again I bid you welcome.
The address of welcome was replied to by a number of State Presidents, first by Prof. Erasmus Haworth, President of the Kansas Association, who spoke as follows:
Dear Friends and Relatives:
This in an auspicious occasion, one for which all of us, I trust, are thankful, and one to which many of us have looked forward with great pleasure in anticipation. I am glad our family has finally begun to study itself objectively. Two centuries we have been an integral part of the greatest of all nations on which God's sunshine has ever shone. Whether we have done our part or not, whether we have lived up to the fullest measure of responsibility and achievements, is not nearly so important a question as what influence we will have in the future. We have formed an organization as long and broad as America; for in all parts of our great domain members of our family may be found. This organization, as I understand it, has for its object anything and everything that works for good.
First, and very naturally, we are asking the question: Who are we? Three years ago that was the main question before our meeting. Who are we? Where did we come from? What are the relations between us, was the one question uppermost at the meeting. Very naturally it is a question that will occupy a great deal of the time of this our second Triennial Reunion. I trust and hope it will be continued to be asked until we have determined the relation of different members of the Haworth family, and until we put in the form of a permanent record, this early history, this genealogy, not only of our family in America, but of the same family in England. This will require a great deal of preparation, of toil, and skill, and erudition, and a little money, and much charity; for mistakes will be made by all of us. But I hope we may keep on working at it until the task is finally accomplished.
Next of importance, as it appeals to me individually, is the question of our future. Our next past is gone and cannot be recalled. For my part I am not ashamed, of it. I am proud of the distinction of being a member of a family that has always been in the very front ranks, who has always been willing to go out into the unknown wilderness to the West and conquer it and make it inhabitable for the great American people. This apparently has been one of the prominent characteristics of our forefathers. It took nerve and courage to cross the mountains into Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio in the days when we first came over. It took muscle and energy, and determination to live and conquer in the vast stretch of wilderness tracing from the Gulf to the Great Lakes, swarming with myriad’s of hostile Indians. But Americans then did that, and our forefathers did their full share, and I am proud to say it, to their everlasting credit. They helped to make the nation, they conquered their enemy, they helped produce the great civilization in the Mississippi Valley, they planted the school-house and the church, and did their share towards building the cities and the great civilization of this vast country.
I say I am proud to be able to trace my lineage back to that pioneer founder of the Haworth family in America. But along with this comes a great concern for the future. If our forefathers did their duty under the circumstances under which they lived, the question presented to my mind is: Will we do our duty for the present and the future? Our surroundings are different from theirs in some respects, and consequently our responsibilities are different and correspondingly larger. America the next hundred years will not be the America of the past, but a new America. We no longer have to fight the red-man in order to live in peace and safety in our homes. We no longer have to clear the forest in order to draw subsistence from the soil. We no longer have to establish schools and churches in order to care for the intellectual and moral welfare of our people. These are all done. The pioneer work is over. But we have, it seems to me, if possible, a much greater task, a much greater responsibility. We have to maintain and occupy those school-houses and churches. We have to look after and build up intellectual and moral sentiments in our families and in our communities. The struggle is as fierce as in the past, but has assumed different forms on account of the changing conditions of a great and prosperous county. America is now a world power and we are an integral part, an important part, of America. Will we live up to our opportunities and our responsibilities? Will we utilize our opportunities and continually hold ourselves ready and competent to grapple with the great problems that confront us as nobly as did our forefathers the problems which confronted them? This is a great question which presents itself to my mind and the one upon which I most devoutly hope and trust our triennial gatherings may give us light, encouragement, and stimulation.
But here we are tonight, only a handful of the myriad’s in America. Let us give each other the glad welcome and the hearty handshake and do what we can the few days we will be together to plant well fertile seed which may spring up and develop the rich harvest of good results.
By Prof. Erasmus Haworth
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This was followed with a response by Charles F. Haworth, President of the Illinois Association, who in a few well chosen words, extended greetings from Illinois State Association and an assurance of a live, active interest in the Association and the work it is doing.
After a song by the chorus, "Don't Forget the old Folks," Miss Cora Haworth, of Kansas City, Missouri, responded for the Missouri State Association, expressing her appreciation at being privileged to attend one of the National Meetings of the family and learn more of the history and lives of its noble men and women. She expressed her interest in meeting so many cousins and relatives of whom she had had no former knowledge and predicted for all a most happy and successful meeting.
By request of the President, the congregation arose and sang "America." Miss Maud Haworth, of Kansas City, then gave a recitation, a comic incident in courtship; an encore brought a second recitation equally amusing. This was followed with a response by Judge John H. Henderson, of Indianola, Iowa, President of the Iowa Association, at the close of which he said: "We need have no fears of the loyalty of the Association which meets in a Friends' Church, decorated with the American flag, and sings America."
The President, W. P. Haworth, then gave a brief outline of the work that was to be done at this Meeting, with a hearty invitation for everyone to feel at perfect liberty to bring up new matter, and matter not in the prepared program, on any and all proper occasions.
It was moved, seconded and carried that a committee be appointed to bring forward names for new officers of the Association. The following were nominated by the audience: Judge J. H. Henderson, Indianola, Iowa; Miss Cora Haworth, Kansas City, Missouri; Charles F. Haworth, Danville, Illinois. The session then closed by singing "When We Meet Our Cherished Loved Ones."
The Meeting was opened by singing, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder? Prayer was offered by Calvin Haworth, Indianola, Iowa.
The minutes of the first session were read and adopted. The committee appointed at the last session to make nominations for officers reported as follows: Rev. W. P. Haworth, of Kansas City, Missouri, President; Mrs. Martha A. Cross, Iowa Falls, IA, Secretary.
Vice Presidents:
For Kansas, Prof. Erasmus Haworth, Lawrence
For Missouri, miss Cora Haworth, Kansas City
For Iowa, Judge J. H. Henderson, Indianola
For Illinois, Chas. F. Haworth, Danville
For Indiana, John D. Haworth, West Newton
For Ohio, Hattie E. Haworth Hadley, Wilmington
For Tennessee, Mahlon Haworth, Maryville
For North Carolina, T.B.F. Haworth, High Point
For Oregon, Justin L. Haworth, Spring Brook
By motion, President W. P. Haworth and Calvin Haworth were appointed a Committee on Program. It was moved, seconded and carried that the President nominate a committee to report names for committees on Finance, Resolutions and Permanent Organization which was done as follows:
FINANCE:--William Haworth, Griswold, Iowa; Mrs. Julia Haworth Thompson, Fairbury, Nebraska; Isaac B. Haworth, Mirable, Mo.
RESOLUTIONS:--John D. Haworth, West Newton, Indiana; David Haworth, Liberty, Indiana; Mrs Maggie L. Clark, Parvin, Oklahoma.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION:--Judge J. H. Henderson, Indianola, Iowa; Calvin Haworth, Indianola, Iowa; Mahlon Haworth, Haworth, Kansas.
The minutes of the first, or Plainfield, Indiana National meeting were ready-by the Secretary. It was noted that only ten now present attended the Plainfield meeting.
Letters were read from Elwood Haworth, of Galena, Kansas, David Hindle, of Edwards, Ill., Richard Howarth, Edwards, Ill. Letters from George Haworth, the emigrant, to his mother in England, written in 1699 and 1701, were also read. They follow in the order named:
In sketching some reminiscences of the Haworth family, I shall confine myself to the line of my father's family. My father's name was Richard, and his father's name was George, who was born in Frederick county, Virginia, where he was married to Susanna Dillon and where one or two of his oldest children were born. Later he moved to North Carolina, became acquainted with Daniel Boone and with his brother James, accompanied Boone on his second trip into Kentucky. He returned to North Carolina, from which place he later moved to Green county, Tennessee, where my father, Richard, was born. From here he moved to Clinton county, Ohio, in 1803, taking my father with him, who was then ten years old, having been born in 1793. He had ten children, eight sons and two daughters, all of whom except two emigrated westward from Ohio, settling in eastern Illinois, or western Indiana.
The first I ever knew of grandfather George Haworth was about 1830, when I was four years old. We heard some noise, and looking out saw a man driving a yoke of oxen hitched to a sled, and an old man sitting on the sled who I learned was grandfather Haworth. My father was sick at the time. After awhile I heard something going on in the room. I looked in and saw grandfather bowed at the bed father was lying on, and praying for him. It made a deep impression on my mind that has never been erased.
The next memory I have of him is at the home his sons fixed for him on Uncle Dillon Haworth's place. Two log cabins were built near each other. He had a large armed chair he always sat in. He took much delight in seeing and conversing with his grandchildren. He died near his 86th year, retaining his mental faculties well until near the last. After his death, step grandmother, (for she was his second wife) lived in the same cabin house with her daughter, Rebecca Van Horn, and her niece, Anna Buckner, until she was past ninety years old, became like a child, appeared to know nothing more than a six months child, and passed away without any apparent sickness.
My father, Richard Haworth, emigrated from Ohio in 1820 and settled in what afterwards was Vermillion county, Indiana. This was before the state line was located between Indiana and Illinois in that county. He supposed the Wabash River should be the line there, as it was farther south, and settled in what he thought to be Illinois. Later, when the line was run, it passed through his farm, leaving his house about one third of the farm in Indiana side. His cousin, Jonathan Haworth moved from Ohio with him, and later his father George Haworth, my grandfather and his two youngest sons, Samuel and Dillon, and another son, John, moved out from Ohio also. Still later, three more brothers of my father came out from Ohio, William, James and George settled in Illinois.
James laid out the town of Danville, and George the town of Georgetown.
My father's oldest brother, Mahlon remained in Ohio. One of his sons, George D. Haworth became a prominent citizen of Clinton county, was often elected to a country office, but is perhaps best known as the father of James M. Haworth, who later gained such distinction as Agent, Superintendent and Inspector in the Indian service of our government.
My father also had two sisters, Mary and Sarah. Mary married Daniel Bailey, of Clinton county, Ohio, and raised a family and finally died there. Sarah married Thomas Reese, and later moved to Vermilion county, Illinois.
My father was a very staunch Friend. A man of more than ordinary strength of mind, a good advisor in things both religious and secular. He was often called upon to settle differences between men in church and state, frequently serving as juror in the Courts of the county. Once when on duty as a juror there was a case to be tried for murder, and he made application to the Judge to be released from serving on the case. The Judge asked him if the evidence in the case showed conclusively the person was guilty would he say "No" to screen his conscience? He said his verdict would have to be in accordance with the testimony. "Then," said the Judge, "you are a good juror, I cannot release you".
It was about 1842 when people of western Illinois began emigrating to Iowa. Father's brother John was the first of the Haworths to go. He settled in Keokuk county, and lived there until his death. Samuel and Dillon moved in 1846, and settled in Warren county. William and several of his married children moved about 1850, and settled in Cass county. George and James both died in Vermilion county, Illinois.
Grandfather Haworth had eight sons and two daughters. Their descendants have spread far and wide; some in Kansas and Missouri, some in Washington, Oregon and California.
In conclusion I will say there are few families of people in the circle of my acquaintance that have taken more interest in governmental affairs, literary, scientific, and mechanical improvements than they have, or from a religious point of view have more ministers of the Gospel, and missionaries engaged in home and foreign missions. May this state of things remain in their descendants from sin, and folly, and the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.
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President W. P. Haworth, having learned of certain parties living at Edwards, Illinois, who spelled their name Howarth, wrote them a letter of inquiry to ascertain whether or not they were originally of our family. To this inquiry Richard Howarth and David Hindle each replied, as follows:
Edwards, Peoria Co., Ill., Aug, 14, 1902
Rev. W. P. Haworth, Kansas City, Mo.
Dear Sir:--Yours of llth to hand. In reply: I was born in Lancashire, near a place called Bacup. My father and mother were also of that place. There are a great many Haworths and Howarths at that place. I am under the impression that Haworth and Howarth are one and the same name. My father spelled his name Howarth. After coming to this country I reversed the "a". I have met very few since I have been in this country of our name. I met a Mr. Lawrence A. Howarth of Tecumseh, Neb. He was also from Bacup, Lancashire. I have not met Prof. J. E. Howarth of Chicago.
I know but little of the genealogy or history of our family.
I met your cousin, check row manufacturer, of Decatur. He was at my house. I worked the first Haworth check rower in Peoria county. From what information he got from me about the working of the check rower he made me a present of it. I would be glad to be at your meeting. At the same date of your meeting, the Howarths and Hindles families, which I might say is one family, have a meeting of 60th year of their arrival in Peoria county, Illinois.
Yours most respectfully,
RICHARD HOWARTH
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Edwards, Ill., Aug 19, 1902
Mr. Wm. P. Haworth, Kansas City, MO
Dear Sir:--Pardon this liberty which I take in addressing you, but will give you one reason for doing so. Richard Howarth, my uncle handed me your letter written on the llth. He has, I believe, written you concerning your inquiries, also told you that we expected to hold a Jubilee on the 28th. By the way, my mother is the only living member of his father's family. Her name in Susannah Hindle, (widow). My object in writing now is this. Some members of my father's family expect to write up a family history, so far as they know, to be given to our meeting on the 28th. It will be taken from data gathered for several years principally from conversations or writings of the older families. Of course such information is only of very little use in tracing up family history, but it may lead to a better understanding of the subject. After reading your letter, it struck me that you might have a report of your former meeting or something printed or written, that might conveniently send me to be used at our gathering, bearing on the family history. I, like yourself, believe the families can be traced back to the same source. I never knew until since the receipt of your letter by Uncle R. that the family name has been changed, although mother always speaks the name as "Haworth" (she never writes). If you can send us anything bearing on the subject of family history it will be greatly appreciated and we will return the favor by sending a report of our meeting, if you so desire. Hoping I am not encroaching too much on your time, I am
Yours respectfully,
DAVID HINDLE
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During the three year interval between, the Plainfield meeting and the Kansas City meeting, Miss Emma Newlin of Plainfield, Indiana, came into possession of copies of two letters, written by George the Emigrant to his mother in England, one bearing date 28th of 8th month, 1699, and one 13th of 5th month, 1701. These seem to be the first letters he wrote home after land in America. They are exceedingly interesting in many ways and particularly so to the family at this time. It will be noted that the paper written by Caleb Haworth, of England, read at the Plainfield meeting by Richard M. Haworth of Liberty, Indiana to a considerable extent draws information from these two letters of George the Emigrant.
They were published in Potter's American Monthly, Volume IV, page 169, 1875, with the explanatory note as given.
(Letters from a early settler in Pennsylvania. The following letters written shortly after the settlement of Pennsylvania by the followers of William Penn give a vivid picture of the hardships to which the adventurers were subjected in crossing the Atlantic.)
Philadelphia, 26, of 8 Mo., 1699
To my Dear Mother, Brother and Sisters,--
After my dear love to you all with my dear love to all my friends and neighbors, hoping that you are all in good health as I am at present, blessed be the Lord for the same; though I have been very weakly at sea in the latter end of our journey, but it pleased the Lord that I got on shore at a place 100 Leagues short of Philadelphia, where I was informed that my Sister dwelt there at a place called "Hurbells," and so in much weakness I got to the place and quickly found her, and staid there one week and then set sail in a sloop for Philadelphia, for which I paid 5s. My Sister was in good health and she hath four children, two boys and two girls, and her Husband being well also, and is in good health. He is a hatter to his trade. We were about 14 weeks at sea. After we left Liverpool a long and tedious journey we had, for we being thronged in the ship I believe hurt many, for we had many distempers amongst us as Fevers, Flux and Jaundice and many died at sea about 56 and at shore there died about 20. Henry Mitchell died at sea about midway, his son John is dead also, and one Ellis Schofield and Robert Brewer are dead and he hath left his goods to be returned to his kinsfolks at Liverpool.
My Brother-in-law is dead and the child died also about three days before my sister. She was indifferently well most of the way, but about 100 Leagues of sight of land she bore a child and it died and then she died and left her household goods to my Sister and one-half of the clothes and the other half she left to me. Thomas Musgrave is dead also at sea, and Henry Mitchell's wife died at shore. As for my Sister here, she doth somewhat inclined to come to meeting; but she liveth so far remote from any meeting that she seldom goeth, but as for her husband he doth not incline to go to Friends Meetings. If my Brother, or any of my neighbors do incline to come into this country, let them be careful that they do not come too many in the ship as we did, for being thronged and the smell of many, then many fainted away and died.
We wanted water and beer to drink, for having salt beef we were much athirst and could not get enough to drink, for the Seamen stowed the hold so full of goods that they had not room enough for water and beer, and then wanting such things as might have nourished us, we suffered hard-ships. But if any come let them buy for themselves, over and besides the ship's allowance, spices, brandy and cheese, let the seamen pretend to what they will, or else victuals themselves and bargain for being carried over and goods, and then bring for yourselves but a little beef and some bacon and what flour is very good and cheese and butter and eggs and any other mild sort of food. And as for your goods you bring, let them be bedticks, very good, with all sorts of bedding.
Bring no hats except very good and hardwares; So be careful of being thronged in the ship or a summer's journey, lest you be hurt as we were. We had a very hard passage; we were brought to an allowance of water and beer and then for every 4 we had 2 cases of water and beer and then 2. So no more, but very dear love to my Mother, Brother, and Sisters, with the rest.
GEORGE HAWORTH
12th of the 5th mo. called May, 1701
Dear Mother:--After my dear love to thee and to my Brother and sisters, and to all of my relatives and well wishers, these come to let you know that I am well at present, hoping these few lines may find you all in good health also, I have had my health reasonably ever since I came into the country, but at first being a little weakly I was with James Haworth, and then I hired myself for a year and I had about 10 pounds wages in the year: and since I was free to work by the piece or by the day, 2s, 6d a day, and victuals, and in harvest if we take our work we get 3s, 6d a day. So if any of my relation have a mind to come to this country I think it a very good one, and that they may do well, but be sure to come free. But if you come servants they must be sold for four or five years work hard, so be sure to come free, and bring such things as will suit plantation work as horse chains and plough gears, and all things suitable to work with, as plough irons and things for selling.
Bring store of goods, clothes and good surge and beddings of all kinds with good store of silk to sew withall, and good bed ticking and good light hats and iron pots.
And as for the land, there is both good and bad, both hills and also vales, and the common products of the land are Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Beans, Peas, Buckwheat, Indian Corn, Apples, Cider, Peaches, and Cherries: and cattle and horses, there are plenty and good all over the country as far as I know. There are fishes and fowls in plenty, and this last winter, there was a great snow, and some got store of deer. Eight or Ten in a week's time, and what varmints we have, as Wolves, I have seen some, but they have not hurt me, though I have been near them; There are a few Panthers, and bears, but they hurt nobody as I know of and land is dearer than it was when I just came. There are several sorts of grapes, Stawberries, Mulberries, Whimberries, but they grow upon stalke three or four feet high.
There are many sorts of Wood, as Black, Red, and White Oaks, and many other sorts, as the Chestnut and Walnut. We have Turkey wild in the Woods, Pheasants, Patridges, with many other sorts of birds of divers colors and strange colors and notes; and thus much for the country and its products. This is to let you understand that I went ashore at a place called "Hurbells" and there found my sister. She hath four children, two sons and two daughters. John, James, Mary and Sarah, and there I stayed about a week, and then my Brother came along with me to Philadelphia, and since then, I have not seen them, though they are in good health when I last heard from them, and then came into the country of Bucks, where my cousin James Haworth dwells, and dwelleth near to him, being about 250 miles from my sisters.
James Haworth and his wife are well and hath one daughter. I have sent one letter and something in another. I heard nothing from you, but I desire you in love to hear from you as soon as possibly you can and if any of you come, I desire to you to send me word before hand. Direct your letters for me to be left at Phineas Pembertons, in the county of Bucks and so remain.
Your loving Brother,
GEORGE HAWORTH
(Address:) This is for James Haworth, living at Portionyeate, in the town of Hampton, near Burley in Lancashire. Deliver with care and speed, I pray.
(May was then the 3rd month.)
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Judge J. H. Henderson, then gave a valuable paper. "Advantage of family History."
From the beginning the genealogy of a family or tribe has ever been of interest, and records are everywhere preserved, in greater or less degree, of the succession in families.
In the Book of books we find the genealogy of the Patriarchs fully set forth, and in complete detail, the line of descent of the Messiah is given, fulfilling all prophecy and exemplifying the inspiration of the word.
By accuracy of the lineage as traced in the annals, titles and crowns have been received and retained, estates administered and inheritances established, and the lustre, honor and dignity of great achievements and heroic deeds and names, have been preserved and cherished in long lines of family history, positions and station- given and accorded to the descendants of an honorable and worthy head.
In older nations, with long settled laws, usages and customs innovations are rarely found, the keeping and preservation of family records are necessary from material and tangible reasons. The laws of descents, the devolution of property, titles and interests are vested and secured all from a correct and authenticated genealogical history.
In these older countries it is not so much of sentiment as it is of necessity that one's lineage is so easily and more accurately traced.
We of the new world have not the incentives to keep and trace family history. No long life of historic events, succeeding each other, calls for the record.
Our system of settling estates, the right of alienation, the personal control of property by each individual, does not require more than the family record of two or three generations, and generally there are those living who know of the persons and can by word and speech give the required proof of the family and their rightful inheritors.
The new world was peopled largely by those who were without wealth, station or title, who came to found a new life, a new generation, begin a new genealogy. It was not only the beginning of a new nation, but the beginning of a new family name with no history but that which was yet to be made and thereafter written.
With us to trace one's lineage is more of sentiment than of material benefits though the years have come and gone until new the family record is becoming valuable in material and property interests and as the country grows older the value becomes the more and the necessity more urgent.
It is yet largely of sentiment and it is worthy to foster and increase the power of that sentiment. In the busy days of busy life but three years ago I was appointed a delegate from the Iowa Association to Plainfield, was unable to attend largely because I knew nothing of the family rated but little for its history and could see no practical good resulting from it and for these reasons probably made no effort to arrange business affairs, that I might be present. Indeed I knew my grandfather, but beyond him knew nothing save a tradition or legend that there was at one time a nomad from somewhere in England who landed on these shores and was christened with the title of "George the Emigrant".
The pressure of some of our people, the meeting in our annual gathering, a little more information aroused an interest, while expecting no material benefits, yet experiencing gratification and pleasure of knowing and tracing our common family history and genealogy. Doubtless some of you have experienced similar feelings and results.
What more pleasant, than one to be able to trace his blood to the sober, stoical Puritan, or the peaceful, just and pure minded Quaker, or the high minded and noble spirited Cavalier, and from them the heroic deeds of valor in combating the elements, subduing nature, resisting savages, in securing independence, in opening up homes, building the nation and laying the foundations strong, wide and deep for that government which affords all such complete protection.
We attempt to record that history, and the families are few indeed where there is a succession of generations when in each may be found the strong and public characters which are worthy of special record in the annals of the country and the times.
In statecraft we may mention the Adams, the Salisburys, the Fessendens and possibly a few others. In military achievements you can scarily give the name of a family continuing the one generation beyond.
In the ministry, the arts and sciences, it requires a search of the library to know of a family distinguished for a series of generations.
Due to our institutions and economy, great men's sons do not inherit great men's positions, they can only be had by earning and achieving them by personal labor and ability. The way is open to all, the goal within the reach of him who strives and merits it and thus the great of one generation is succeeded by the children of another family and name, and hence it is not within the claim of any one family of a common ancestor and connected by the ties of the same blood, to herald forth a lineage resplendent with successions of illustrious men in the councils of state, or in the martial field.
While this may be true, the family tree of most of the great families will give forth the fruit of good citizenship, upright characters, and workers skilled and trustworthy in the ordinary walks and callings of life.
Who are the nation builders? Whence comes the power given to and exercised by a great nation? Where is the source from which the drawn the vitalizing force that supports, sustains and maintains that power? The halls of Congress are filled with something more than four hundred chosen and selected men, from all sections of the great commonwealth, many wise, strong and great, yet powerless to do or consummate a single thing within their domain, without the great constituency of over 75,000,000 approving and acting.
Appoint and commission the generals and admirals, men of courage, skill and integrity, and yet who are more powerless than they, were it not for the rank and file following and accomplishing.
The nation builders are the sturdy, honest, industrious man, with the love of home and family deep seated and permanent in his heart. The power of a great nation lies in the character and strength of its citizens and not alone in its chosen leaders, and the source of all its vitalizing force is found in the hearts, strength and will of sober, law abiding, God fearing and worshipping men and women throughout the commonwealth and the history of the families making this people is the history of the government.
Here and there will be found the name of one distinguished as a statesman, warrior, philanthropist or financier, history will be written, monuments and statues erected to his memory. The actual real-doing history will be that of the great number who were so aptly termed by President Lincoln, the plain people.
In the early days, to leave the sea coast, cross the mountains and begin life in the timber in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee and lay the foundations, evinced as much courage and manhood as to lead the battalions at Waterloo or Sadorna. To follow the western sun to the plains of Illinois and Iowa and there build the great commonwealths new so prosperous, required ability and patriotism equal to that of Webster or Clay. To open up Kansas and Nebraska as free states required the courage and fidelity equal to Valley Forge and Yorktown.
We read with pleasure and profit lives of eminent men, why not with even greater pleasure add more profit preserve and read the history of the actual workers and doers. It is more than a sentiment to know ones family history. It is knowledge obtained, useful, incentive to work, instructive to work, aids accomplishment by work.
We are here today the few representatives of a great family, widely scattered and diffused throughout this land, all tracing accurate and well established proofs a continuous unbroken chain to one man--George the Emigrant, over a period of more than two centuries on American soil.
In all the history of all these years I do not know of one great historical character, either as statesman, warrior, Divine or financier, I know of no statute erected to any one of the race, and yet I do know of a history worthy of emulation and of which we may well be proud, a history covering more than 200 years. It tells of the struggles in poverty, the acquisition of a competency and in many instances of large estates. It is largely of pioneer work, the leveling of the forest, the up turning of the sod of the virgin prairies of the West, the building of the new home establishing home rule and civil government, and building and erecting for the future.
My information is not of the entire membership and with no intention to disparage any and no sinister purpose implied from any omission. There are at least three great commonwealths in which The Haworth had an important part in building. Ohio, Illinois and Iowa each have been enriched by the labors, counsel and level headedness of the descendants of the "Emigrant."
Let no one from the pines and sand dunes of North Carolina or the wooded and watered lands of famed Tennessee, or the empire of national wealth and productive fields on whose western border we now meet or of the bounteous land where the first armed conflict and shedding of blood was had in the early struggle for universal freedom and now famed as the Sun Flower state, nor even those from the silvered lands crowned with the mighty peaks of the Rockies or stretching out further west and bathing on the shores of the Pacific, rise up and say too much distinction is here given to those in the three great commonwealths.
To such a one an easy answer is given, they are entitled to the distinction and then you must remember that the speaker himself is of this branch and from one of the states named, and at least claims some license, poetic license if you please, in these statements. But whether they are entitled to anymore distinction than others, they at least serve illustrating the thought and fact I am endeavoring to show, namely, that our people have been and are now important factors in the development of the nation, in its laws, customs and material interest.
We are a family of wage workers and bread winners. Have been taught by precept and example the nobility of labor and of such good citizenship comes, and from such the great states are made.
No trace of disloyalty can be found, no oppressive greed or avarice mars and not scintilla of infidelity has ever permeated the tribe.
Humble and unostentatious, yet with deep and fervent convictions have we lived, content with the labors and a living and with inspiring hope for the future.
With what family can be found more industrious even patient and plodding people, who slowly but surely brought the wilderness from its natural state to the productive farm and the beautiful home, who were more loyal to good government and good morals, more interested in schools and churches, more law abiding and god fearing.
The beginning of Ohio found the Haworth; Indiana felt the impulse of his presence; Illinois began its growth with his advent and Iowa began to bloom and bear fruitage with his coming and wherever he has gone, all that is good an right was founded, supported and maintained by him.
I look with interest at the chart showing the genealogy of the branch of the family to which I belong and with but little less the other branches, and as I read the names I note that there must be strong religious sentiment as so many of the Bible names are given, both men and women, of the large families and am impressed in the belief that in the long list all of us may recall many facts and incidents treasured up in sacred memory.
It is with pleasure that I recall the life of my old Quaker Grandfather, the pioneer settler of the prairies of Iowa, coming before its admission as a state, opening up the farm, building the log cabin in a grove, near to a spring and alongside of the steam, opened his home and invited his neighbors to come on the Holy day and worship the God of his Fathers in simplicity and truth, starting the public school, taking a part in all the civic duties, the first commissioner of the organizing Board of the County and for years serving faithfully and efficiently as a member of the Board of Supervisors, always lending a helping hand in every good work, observing and obeying every law of God and man, save one law of which he never obeyed but constantly violated. Ever swift in the violation of that law regardless of consequence. He hated Slavery. He would not assist the Slave holder. He would not recognize the fugitive slave law, much less be a party to its enforcement. The fleeing slave could stay in the barn, sheltered under his hay and be fed, and with the shades of night guided by the North Star, he would send his wagon and team with a careful driver and taken the negro to the next underground railroad station on the way to Canada and freedom.
His soul was tried and troubled over the appeal to arms, which be could not bear and which he could not fully approve, yet closed his eyes to the woe and atrocities of war and hoped that it was no more than the expiation of the crimes committed on the bondsmen in the centuries of his oppression. During these years of strife he supported the Union aided the wives and children, the widows and orphans of that mighty struggle, believing that when the expiation had been made, the shackles would be struck off, the millions of bondmen given freedom and the curse of slavery be reversed, which he is some measure felt culpable as one of the citizens of this nation. He lived to see his faith in the right consummated, to know and feel that no longer could bondage of any portion of the human family legally exist, and the laws be protested against and would not obey, eliminated from the statute books and his study, steady and uncompromising defiance of the law justified and approved.
This legacy is given me and my children and down the line of succeeding-generations. Is not such a record worthy of pride and emulation as; that of the more heroic from the human view. Without ambition of worldly honor or profit, without desire to appear and be followed as leader in a great cause, he modestly and unostentatiously performed his duty as he saw it, conscientiously until the end and ripe in years, his work well done, with the love, veneration and gratitude of all his family, friends and neighbors passed peacefully to his reward.
This is but a single illustration of the many which you and I and others of our great family might truthfully give, not only those of us not living but in every one of the generations during our long history and may these examples be but precursors of the many yet to follow in the future history of our family.
I can not but feel in the presence of this record that the more fully we know of it the greater incentive will exist to emulate the examples, with us, our children and our children's children.
The part taken in the development of the resources of the nation should be preserved, the faithfulness in all the civic duties be recorded, and labors in aid of mankind and in promoting the moral and intellectual advancement of all the people, be entered in the annals. The propagation of the laws and influence of peace and the spreading of the Gospel to every creature should enrich the pages of history.
The family maintains its early characteristic of the pioneer. As the new territory of Ohio invited the early fathers, the mountains, vales and streams of Kentucky and Tennessee presented attractions not to be resisted, the boundless prairie of Illinois and Iowa captivated and led the pioneer of our family to settle and enjoy the fruits of the wonderful productive soil, so now the newer territories, the richness of the plains and mountains and even to the western coast, becoming rich and more richer, enhanced by the opening commerce with the Orient, are drawing from our number much of the young blood. The sturdy, honest, liberty loving and law abiding man and with them the hopeful, ever helping, virtuous and God loving young woman, there to erect the altar of the home, build the community and state in the typed and with the strength of their fathers and perpetuate the honorable name and fame of the family to which they belong. Already are we scattered from Ocean to Ocean, the Lakes to the Gulf, found in every honorable calling and profession life, meeting with the success only due to the worthy and conscientious. The history of that which has been, which is, and which will be, of our family will be valuable, so widely scattered, most engaged in the common, plan duties of life, and the history will not be written by any one person nor even by a score.
The one important duty of this Association and all of the auxiliary Associations is to write and record that history, not only the names and particular branch of the family tree with dates of marriages, births and deaths, which are all important, but the deeds done and results accomplished. In my country the Haworth settlement has been known for more than a half century and known for what? Successful farmers and tradesmen, honest and upright in all dealings, public spirited an enterprising, every conservative and economical with good school and academy, the meeting house and all members and communicants with the society there established. Ever for law and order and on election days found voting right on the moral side of all questions and ever promoting sobriety and temperance in all things.
The history of my country is not complete without the history of that settlement nor of the state without it and those of the other settlements in our proud state, nor can it be of the nation without the record of all the settlements from the shores of the eastern to that of the Western border of the continent.
In the writing of this history we are commissioned and in the performance of that duty comes the recognition and reward. It is due to us, due to our children and valuable to the state. In its annals will be found encouragement, incentives to maintain family honor and integrity and to renewed zeal and fidelity in the discharge of every duty and trust, private and public.
To the work let us dedicate ourselves and continue the beginning made on a larger and more perfect scale and by action here an elsewhere invite the co-operation of all in this labor and faithfully done, the Haworth family may well claim an exalted place in the families of our beloved country.
Judge J. H. Henderson, Indianola, IA
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John Haworth, then reported the coming of the photographer to take a picture of those present. The meeting adjourned to 2 p.m., in order to have the photograph taken, which was done.
The minutes of morning session were read and adopted.
By motion, Charles F. Haworth was continued as Treasurer of the Association.
Letters were read from the Presidents of Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee State Associations, and also report from Secretary of Indiana State Association, Miss Emma Newlin, Plainfield, Indiana.
The Ohio Association sends greetings to the Triennial Meeting of the Haworth Association of America. We hope for you a very pleasant reunion. On behalf of the Association,
HATTIE E. HAWORTH HADLEY, President
Verbal reports by the several Presidents were made for the state Associations of Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, Adjourned till 8 p.m.
The Association met according to adjournment. The meeting was opened by singing, "Sometime We Will Understand. Prayer was offered by President W. P. Haworth. The Secretary then read the following interesting paper by Mahlon Haworth, President of the Tennessee State Association.
On the program for the Triennial Meeting of the Haworth Association of America, my name appears for a response to the address of welcome. I regret exceeding that I am unable to meet with you on this interesting occasion, being unavoidably detained at home, and will offer instead a paper, giving a brief history of our branch of the family in Tennessee.
My grandfather, Richard, a son of James, the fourth son of George the Emigrant, was born in North Carolina in the year 1745, and removed with his family across the mountains to that section of North Carolina which afterward became the state of Tennessee. This was about the year 1781 or 1782, at a time when there was much hostility between the Indians and the white people on account of the white people taking up the land claimed by the savages.
Grandfather settled on the Holston river and bought and entered a large body of very fertile river bottom land. Two other families came with my grandfather and settled within four miles of each other. My recollection of my father’s statement is that these families were members of the Friends’ Church, and on that account they were all unmolested by the Indians, while others who came to this section afterwards were subjected to torture and massacre. My grandfather married Ann Dillon, and there were born to the union eleven children, names as follows:
Susanna, William, James, Mary, Sarah, John, Charity, Richard, Joel, Jonathan and David. The latter two were twins and David was my father. Mary died without issue, Richard and Jonathan died in Tennessee. Richard left three sons, and they with their mother removed to Indiana. Jonathan left two children who removed with their mother to south Carolina. James, Joel and Charity removed to Indiana with their families. John removed to Ridge Farm, Ill., with his family, Susanna married Joe Wright and removed to Ohio, William and David lived to a ripe old age and died in Tennessee. Most of William’s descendants removed to the west, some to Illinois, and others to Missouri.
My father was born in the year 1789 and married Susanna Lewis Bales and to them were born eight children named as follows:
Pleasant, Richard, Jonathan, Sarah, Ann, David, William. Lewis, Elizabeth and Mahlon; three of whom are living. The others died in Tennessee. Most of their descendants are living on the old homestead.
My father purchased the interest of most of his brothers in the old homestead, also other adjoining lands and owned an estate of twenty-two hundred acres, which he subdivided and deeded to his children. Some of the sixth generation, beginning with my Grandfather are still occupying these lands. I was born in the year 1840 and I am the youngest of my father’s family. I married Sarah E. Lee, of Friendsville, Tennessee, and to us were born eight children, six of whom are not living, named as follows:
Wayne L., located at Knoxville, Tennessee,
William O., located at Wichita, Kansas
Samuel L., located at Central City, Nebraska
Ida (Haworth) Hume, located at Newton, Mississippi
D. Riley, located at Huron, South Dakota
Annie (Haworth) McMurray, located on the Tennessee River, near Chilhowee Mts.
My children all belong to Friends Church.
Not having yet been permitted to give encouragement to the meetings with my presence, I want to encourage the movement all I possibly can with my words. I believe the Haworth family has an interesting history, and whenever such a compilation of facts and figures can be secured to warrant it, I hope to see its genealogy in book form. I want to encourage every member of this interesting family, first to "press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling", and then toward the high and honorable achievements in the affairs of the world.
The Haworths, as a rule, are possessed of strong minds, good reasoning, sound judgment, honest convictions and conscientious scruples. They have the qualities and qualifications of honest and honorable citizenship and the standing of the family as a whole, its past, its present, and the prospects for its future, is not to, be ashamed of. Two of my brothers, Richard and Jonathan, were in the civil War, Jonathan was an officer in the First Tennessee (U.S. Cavalry), commanded by Col. Brownlow, a son of Parson Brownlow.
My oldest brother and myself were exempt from the Confederate Army on account of being members of Friends’ Church.
A part of this brief history is written from memory as told to me by my father man years ago. I suppose the number of my generation will be small at this meeting only three living in Tennessee.
I want to close my paper with best wishes for all.
Signed, Mahlon Haworth
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A poem was read by Mrs. W. P. Haworth, written by Dr. Hannah M. Haworth Walser, San Francisco, Cal.
By Dr. Hannah M. Haworth Walser
Beyond the Rockies and the Sierras bold,
Where the valleys slope to the sea,
Is a sunny clime of fruit and vine,
Where the fig, palm and olive tree
Recall the scenes of history old
And the land of Palestine.
This picturesque land as of spring begun
Is clothed in evergreen hue,
With perfumes rare and lilies fair,
Disclose God's purpose true,
Where the native poppy, with gold of the sun,
Sheds beauty everywhere.
By this beauteous shore, in majestic flow,
Swells Pacific's restless tide,
With its Golden Gate and the ships that wait,
To sail on its deep waters wide;
And we watch the vessels that outward go,
As we ponder "What their fate."
From over the mountain and westland afar,
We come with love greetings today,
To offer our mite, and in tribute unite,
An ancestrial homage we pay,
To the tenets of Worth that time cannot mar,
A name we honor aright.
Across the Atlantic from British ban
Seeking freedom to worship God,
Forsaking all at stern duties call,
He sought the new found sod,
to plant therein high truths to man,
With peace and love to all.
Upon the true heart's altar, lain,
the incense of our love we give,
Immortal sires, beyond our ken-
On treasured page your deeds shall live,
While advocates of truth maintain,
The principles of Penn.
Dear kindred souls, earth's labor done
Life’s golden gate ye bare passed through,
Whom we venerate, may we emulate,
By example and precept true.
Encumbent on us is the work begun
Heirs of a high estate.
Though scattered wide o'er the world's domain,
To various tasks assigned.
From far and near we gather here,
As the kindred chain our hearts doth bind,
In unison sweet-'ere the said refrain,
Calls again the parting tear.
Mariners all-in quest of a shore,
Like ships seeking a foreign land,
We meet with cheer—when skies are fair
To be lost to view ere we reach the strand.
From the land we seek, we shall wander no more,
But anchor in safety there.
Beyond the mountains of toil and strife,
Is a radiant evergreen clime
Whose ocean tides move in God's infinite love-
And the plan of existence divine.
All sails shall be furled in the "waters of life."-
Blest "reunion" above.
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A letter was read from the stenographic report of the Plainfield meeting, read before that meeting by Richard M. Haworth, Liberty, Indiana, (see page 37 this volume).
Following this President W. P. Haworth made some remarks on pronunciation of the name "Haworth," which brought up quite a discussion by the audience. It was shown, as was also done at the Plainfield meeting, that according to the origin of the name and common usage in England the proper pronunciation is to sound the first syllable Haw as in Hawthorne.
The following interesting letters, written by Charles Chawner Haworth and wife, Orpha Ruth Hull Haworth, missionaries to Cuba under the direction of the "American Board of Foreign Missions of the Friends’ Church," were read by Mrs. W. P. Haworth.
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Dear Haworth Cousins, In Reunion Assembled in Kansas City, Mo., U.S.A., Aug, 26 to 28, 1902
From this lovely land we greet you. I lay down the Spanish dictionary with which help I am reading our local newspaper, and take up my pen to address you in a language better understood by us all.
Last evening our mission party, of four, consisting of my wife, babe, our teacher and myself climbed to the top of Hoquin's mountain. It was a three hours journey, so you will know it is quite an eminence, though not nearly so large as many of our American mountains.
From its summit we could see fifteen or twenty miles in every direction to where our vision was limited by rising mountains, and of the thousands of fertile acres within reach of the eye, I suppose not one in one hundred was cultivated.
Eastern Cuba, with its would-be fertile fields, beautiful hills and valleys, and delightful climate is an undeveloped as was the "Wild West" of the United States a few years ago. True, there is quite a large population living here, but they are largely supported by the spontaneous productions of the country, and ten times as many people might be easily sustained.
The possibilities before Cuba are simply immense.
If any of the Haworth family feel cramped in the United States let' them come to Cuba. I believe the opening good for one who has enough money to get here, and then buy a few acres of land.
I went to the Canadian Colony, four miles in the country two weeks ago and saw hundreds of acres of grass almost as high as a horse’s back with no cattle to eat it; and found no land in cultivation until arriving at the colony.
So much for the material condition of the country. The spiritual is the same--one vast undeveloped wilderness. The Catholic Church does little or no teaching, and the people are identified with it only to get the feasts and beautiful ceremonies. Of course, many are devout, but only in their traditions and ceremonies, rather than in true, upright lives.
Last Sunday we opened our first Sunday school and seventeen Cubans were in attendance. This was the result of a single announcement and serves to show what may be done when we shall have learned the language and become able to labor with and speak directly to this people. We are enjoying the country very much and continue in good health. Our babe, whom we have named, Ruth Esther, has continually grown and developed since coming to the island; and although we have plants here that lived from the air along it is apparent that nature is arranging some other method more substantial for her subsistence as she has recently become the proud possessor of two teeth.
While we are engaged in the Lord's work and expect to so continue, yet we would be glad to see some Haworth's among the numerous American colonists coming to this island; and believe in this way that can serve the Lord and get for themselves comfortable homes in this "Pearl of the Antilies."
Truly,
Charles C. and Orpha Haworth
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The Committee on Finance reported that Association badges were prepared which would be sold at ten cents each, and they further recommended that an assessment be made of ten cents each for women, and twenty-five cents each for men.
The Committee on Permanent Organization, through its chairman, Judge John H. Henderson, reported a Constitution and By-Laws, which were read and adopted. (Published at back of this volume.)
Milton Hanson, of Grey, Indiana, was elected Historian.
By motion, Calvin Haworth, of Indianola, Iowa, and John T. Haworth, of Quaker, Indiana, were elected the Association members of the Executive Committee, as per Article VII of the Constitution.
It was moved and seconded that John Haworth, Miss Cora Haworth, and W. P. Haworth act as a Committee on Photographs. Adjourned till Thursday, 9 A.M.
The Association met pursuant to adjournment. The meeting was opened by singing, "Lead Me Saviour." Prayer was offered by different, members, followed by a love feast, in which many bore witness to the love and keeping power of God.
The Minutes of previous sessions were read, corrected and adopted.
Resolved: That we request our President W. P. Haworth, so far as he may be able to visit the state Associations at their annual meetings and to visit the states and territories where none are organized and to perfect an organization auxiliary to this organization, and we recommend that each state and territory provide fox and pay his expenses in such work. We believe that the presentation of the purposes and objects of this Association in this way by him will greatly aid, and each state will be duty repaid for all expenses incurred.
The subject of publications of proceedings of the two National Meetings was called up by the President. After a full discussion it was decided to print in full the proceedings of the two meetings, with all the papers read at each. By motion Rev. W. P. Haworth, of Kansas City, Mo., and Prof. E. Haworth, of Lawrence, Kansas, were appointed a printing committee, and were instructed to distribute the printed reports to the several State Vice Presidents in proportion to the membership in each state.
The Financial Committee reported $13.15 received for badges and assessments.
As there were no funds available for current expenses of the Executive Committee, a free will offering for a contingent fund was made whereby $12.25 was placed in the hands of the Treasurer, for such purposes.
RECEIPTS
Received from Finance Committee $13.15
Received from voluntary contribution 12.25
Total receipts $25.40
DISBURSEMENTS
Amount paid out for janitor work and lights $ 2.50
For stationery, postage, printing and badges 13.75
Total $16.25
Cash on hand to balance 10.15
Total $26.40
CHARLES P. HAWORTH, Treasurer
The Committee on Resolutions then reported the following:
Resolutions of the Haworth Association of America at their Second National Reunion, held at Kansas City, Mo., August 26th to 28th inclusive, 1902.
FIRST:--That we recognize the great value of a Genealogical History of our Family, from the landing of George the Emigrant, in 1699 to the present time, and of the continuance of that record in the future; that the work of compiling this record involves much labor, and can only be accomplished by united efforts.
SECOND:--This work may be aided and accelerated by organization of State Auxiliary Associations, holding annual sessions and we therefore recommend and urge the forming of such Auxiliary Associations and invite them to send reports, historical data and records to each of our National Association sessions.
THIRD:--That we hereby extend our thanks to the Trustees of the Friends' Church, of West Fifteenth street, for the use of their building for our Meetings; that we thank W. P. Haworth, President of the Association, for his earnest efforts which have made our Meetings so successful; and that we furthermore thank the Reception Committee who have entertained and provided us with pleasant homes while in the city.
JOHN D. HAWORTH
DAVID H. HAWORTH
MAGGIE L. CLARK
Committee
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An interesting paper was read by the President, W. P. Haworth, on the "Philosophy of Human Life."
As we grow older, we are more prone to look back into the past. our best days seem to be the days of long ago. Our brightest hours are those which have long since passed away.
The sun rests most pleasantly on the vanished youthful time. A charm gilds the beginning of life's journey, which we fail to discover at any succeeding age. In our freedom we gird ourselves and walk whither so ever we will. To the young the glory is all before. To the aged the brightness frequently seems to rest upon the past. Coming down from youth's mountain top, what a glow does the young man or maiden behold on the glittering plains of manhood and womanhood which stretch out before them.
Descending into the valley of old age the bowed and tottering pilgrim often looks wistfully and longingly back to the innocent and happy days of his childhood. To his mind the former days were better than these.
Most of the old poets have written and sung of a golden age. But it was away in the distant past. They have pictured it in the world's beginning, in the days when the human race was in its youth. And so every nation has had its fancied golden age. Poets have sung of its glories. Dreamers have dreamed of its charms. A time of peace, and love, and joy, when the earth yielded all manner of fruits and flowers and all nations lived together in harmony and peace.
And the Bible too tells of a golden age in the far distant past. The Earth stood forth fair and glorious to the eye of its great creator.
Man lived in a sinless and sorrow less world; basking in the unclouded sunshine of his Heavenly Father's love; amid the hallowed bowers of an Eden on which no blight or curse had yet fallen.
No storm had yet swept over the landscape, no shadow, no fear nor foreboding of coming evil had yet entered the heart of man.
As our thoughts go back to that blessed time we can scarcely refrain from asking bitterly. "What is the cause that the former days were better than these!"
But in the text the wise man cautions us that we do not inquire wisely concerning this. The flower is beautiful when it opens out its glories, rivaling Solomon, in the early spring time when the tree is clothed in its rich mantle of pure white blossoms.
The day is beautiful when the morning sun floods all nature, and earth and air ifs filled with song. The year is beautiful when the gloom and desolation of winter have been exchanged for the new life and new joys of spring. Life is beautiful in its early dawn, when all is innocence and happiness and joy. And how ready we are as we survey these pictures of a golden age and compare them with what comes afterward, to ask mournfully, "What is the cause that the former days were better than these". But is it so? The tree is beautiful, it is true, when it is covered with blossoms; but is it not a richer, though different kind of beauty, when in autumn it is loaded with delicious fruit. The morning is beautiful when the rising sun, bathes stream, and flood, hill and dale with his radiant beams,; but is it not another and a higher kind of beauty when at the close of day, the sun is slowly sinking in the west, like a king dying on a couch of gold, and the fading hues of even light upon the whole heavens with a glory that seems to have come down, from the New Jerusalem. The field is beautiful when the fresh green blades appear like a new creation, life out of death; but it is another and higher order of beauty when, instead of the fresh young blades you have the rich, golden harvest. The spring is beautiful with all its stores of bloom and fragrance and song.
But is it not a higher beauty, a more advanced perfection when the bloom of spring has given place to the golden sheaves and plentiful stores of autumn? Life's opening years may be beautiful, but its close may be glorious. You may have seen the raw recruit, fresh from his country home, setting out to join the war in a distant land. His laurels are yet unsullied. The keen edge of his sword has never yet been blunted. He has never yet turned coward on the field of battle.
He goes forth to meet the enemy with unfaltering stem and fearless heart.
See him years afterward when he comes home, after a long service in some foreign land. His cloths are tattered and torn; his colors are in rags; his steps are feeble and tottering; his brow is seamed and scared; his sword is broken. He seems but the wreck, the mere shadow of himself.
But in much that is true and noble and unselfish he is a braver and better man. His courage has been tried. He comes back wearing the laurels of victory, laurels plucked from many a hard fought field. The tinsel has been lost, but the fine gold remains.
And so it is with the youthful Christian in the first days of his profession, when he has given his heart to Jesus for the first time all his graces seem so fresh and lovely. All his being is filled with joy unspeakable. Christ is so very precious to his soul. He thinks he will never again offend, his blessed Redeemer or grieve the Holy Spirit.
For a time he seems to read the summits of the delectable Mountains, with his eye steadily fixed on the land which is very far off. Years pass on the young professor grows into the aged Christian. His graces may not now seem so fresh and beautiful as they did forty, or fifty years ago. His feelings do not carry him on with the burst and ecstasy by which they were first characterized, nor do the tears flow so freely now as they did long ago when his soul is ravished with the goodness of God.
One might say that in his case the former days were better than these. But you do not judge wisely concerning this matter.
His last days are his best days. The blossoms may have faded but you have in their stead the mellow lucious fruit. The bloom and freshness of those days have gone, but rich clusters of ripened grapes are hanging from every bough. He may bear the marks of many a sharp conflict with the great enemy, but he stands on the brink of the grace with all his graces fully matured ready to enter into the joys of his Lord.
The old home had a charm which no other place on earth will know.
The names of father and mother, surrounding the young life like some heavenly influence and were sacred as the name of God.
The old man looks back over the long waste of years to those scenes around which his hearts deepest affections and holiest associations cling most fondly, and sadly asks what is the cause?
But it is delusion, they were not really better. If he has lived to some purpose in the word; if he has lived to God and not to self; if he has lived to do good to his fellow men; if he had made God's glory the great end of his life, these latter days are better than the former; as the fruitage is better than the blossom; and the golden harvest better than the first springing of the tender shoot. You would not bring back your childhood again even if you could.
The real and true man looks trustfully forward to the morrow that will give him more than he has lost with the passing away of is youth.
All that is truly good you cannot lose. It abides with you.
All you have done, all you are now doing for God will abide with you forever.
"When thou wast young thou girdest thyself." Here is a picture easily translated and significant of much.
The act of girding implies preparation for action, and may be widened out to express that most blessed prerogative of youth, the cherishing of bright imaginations of its future activity and course.
The dreams of youth are often laughed at, but if a young man or woman be faithful to them, they are the prophecies of the future, and are given in order that at the opening of the flower, nature may put forth her power and so we be able to realize much of our fondest dreams. Only be sure that you do not waste that Divine faculty, the freshness of which is granted to you as a morning gift, the dew of your youth. Be that you do not waste it in anticipations which cling like mist to the low levels of life, but that you lift it higher and embrace worthy objects.
It is good that you should anticipate, that you should live by hope. It is good that you should be drawn onwards by bright visions, whether they be ever fulfilled or no.
But there are dangers in the exercise, and dreaming with some takes the place of realizing their dreams, and they build for themselves fair fabrics in imagination which they never taken one step to accomplish and make real.
Be not the slaves and fools of your imaginations, but cultivate the faculty of hoping largely; for the possibilities of human life are elastic; and no man or woman in their most sanguine, early anticipation, if only these be directed to the one real good, has ever exhausted or attained to the possibilities opened to every soul.
Again girding one's self implies independent self-reliance and that is a gift and stewardship given to the young. We all fancy in our early days that we are going to build towers that will reach to heaven.
The past generations have failed but ours is full of brighter promise.
We would not carry one shadow from the darkened experience of middle life into the roseate tints of the morning. "The vision splendid will fade away into the light of common day," soon enough.
But for the present this self-reliant confidence is one of the blessings of your earlier days. Only remember it is dangerous too.
It may become want of reverence or presumption and rashness which is ruinous. Remember what a cynical head of a college said "None of us is infallible, not even the youngest."
Blend modesty with confidence and yet be bouyant and strong, and then your self-confidence will not be rashness.
"Thou wentest whither thou wouldst.11 That is another characteristic of youth after it has got beyond the school-boy stage. Your own will tends to become your guide.
At your time of life most other inward quides are weak.
You have but limited experience.
Most young persons, have not cultivated largely the habit of patient reflection, and thinking twice before acting once.
It is quite proper that in your earlier days you should live largely by impulse. If only there be a conscience at work as well as a will, which will do instead of the bitter experience which comes to guide those of more mature years.
Again yours is the age when passion is strong. I speak now especially to young men.
Restraints are removed from many of you. Circumstances have thrown a great many young men away from home. Separated from the purifying influences of sisters and of family life, living in solitary lodgings at liberty to spend their evening where they choose, and no one be any the wiser. Ah! many a young man has gone wheresoever he would and he willed to go where he should not.
There is nothing more dangerous than forming the habit of saying, "I do as I like," however, you cover it over.
Take this for a fixed principle, that whoever puts the reins into the charge of his own will wholly when he is young, has put the reins and the whip into the hands which will drive over the precipice.
My young friend "I will" is no word for you. There is a far more divine and better word "I ought." Have you learned that? Do you yield to that sovereign imperative, and say "I must because I ought and, therefore, I will.
Bow passsion to reason, reason to conscience, conscience to God-and then be as strong in the will and stiff in the neck as ever you choose; but only then.
Many of the bright visions that dance before the youthful minds must fade away. We begin, thinking that we are going to build temples or towers that shall reach to heaven; but ere long hopes diminish, dreams vanish, limited realities take their place, and we are willing that some one else take the responsibilities that we were so eager to assume ourselves at first.
Strength will fade away. "Even the youth shall faint and grow weary, and the young men shall utterly fall."
Physical weakness and weariness, the longing for rest, the consciousness of ever narrowed and narrowing powers, will come to you, and if you live to be old, you will have to sit and a watch the tide of your life ebb, ebb, ebbing away moment by moment.
Self will be wonderfully broken, for there are far stronger forces that determine man's life than his own wishes or will. We are like swimmers in the surf of the Indian Ocean, powerless against the, battering of the wave which pitches us, for all our science, and for all our muscles wheree'r it will. Call it environment, call it fate, call it Providence, call it God. There is something outside of us stronger than we are. And the man who begins life, thinking. Thus I will, thus I command, let my determinations stand instead of all other reason, has to say at last, "I could not do what I wanted. I bad to be content to do what I could."
Fancy two portraits, one of a little chubby boy in child's dress, with a round face and clustering curls, and smooth cheeks and red lips, and another of an old man, with dimmed eyes, and thin locks and a bowed frame.
The difference between the two is but the symbol of the profounder difference that separates the two selves which yet are the one self. The impetuous self-reliant, self-willed, hopeful, buoyant youth, and the weary feeble, broken old man. And yet through all these stages there runs a true philosophy of life, and that is found in obeying the great command "follow me."
What do we mean by following Christ?
More and other to you than example, or commander, or companion. What authority has Jesus Christ to demand that a man should follow him to the death? Only this that He has gone to the death for the man.
You must follow Christ first, my friend, by coming to Him as a sinful creature, and finding your whole salvation and ail your hope in humble reliance on the merit of His death. Then you may follow Him in obedience, and imitation and glad communion.
That being understood I would press upon you this thought, that such a following of Jesus Christ will preserve for you all that is blessed in the characteristic of your youth, and will prevent them from becoming evil.
He will give you a basis for your hopes and fulfill to your most sanguine dreams. as Isaiah prophesies "the mirage shall become a pool." That which otherwise would prove an illusion, dancing ahead and deceiving the thirsty traveler into the belief that sand is water, shall become to you really "pools of water" from which you may slake an insatiable thirst of human life and live forever.
If you follow Him your strength will not ebb away with shrunken sinews and enfeebled muscles.
Your self-will will be elevated by holy submission, and become strong to control your rebellious nature, because it is humble to submit to His supreme command.
Your hope will be bouyant, and bright, and blessed and prolong its buoyancy, and brightness and blessedness into old age when others fade and their hope fails them. If you will follow Christ your old age will, if you come to it be saved from the bitterest pangs that afflict the aged, and will be brightened by future possibilities.
There will be no need for lingering regrets over blessings fade in the past, no need for shrinking reluctance to take the inevitable step. An old age of peaceful serene brightness caught from the nearer gleam of the approaching heaven, and quiet as the evenings in the late autumn not without a touch of frost, perhaps, but kindly, and fruitful may be ours.
We shall put our hands quietly and trustfully into His, as a little child does into its mother's soft warm palm, and shall not ask wither He leads assured that since it is he who leads we shall be lead aright.
It is said of Diogenes that he closed his own school that be might listen to the words of the great teacher Socrates.
In the four gospels, He speaks who overshadows the kingly instructions of the past.
He is the divine tutor in whom Paul declared that the treasures of wisdom and knowledge lay hid.
Pray to Him that divine honor that He merits. Have His image stamped on each and all of your endowments.
Let your thoughts and affections turn toward Him, as the sunflower turns sunward throughout the day, to drink in its light, warmth, and life giving power.
Say with Judson, "I do not desire to be like Peter or Paul, but only like Christ." So interlace Christ's example and precept with your own experience and profession, that you may say with the majestic champion of Christianity, "for me to live in Christ." May your future continuously echo the celestial acclaim "Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive poor and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing. Signed, Rev. W. P. Haworth
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The above paper was followed by a paper by Prof. Erasmus Haworth on the "Future of the Haworth Family in America."
He who enters in the field of prophecy without divine inspiration is liable to become a false prophet. It was with much reluctance that I obtained my own consent to write a paper on the subject assigned me. This was not because it was a new subject to me, for I confess that hardly a day has passed in the last 25 years without-its having been in my mind. In fact, I can scarcely remember when I was not asking myself this very question. Two days age I had the pleasure of saying to this convention that I was proud to be able to trace my lineage through an unbroken line to the original founder of our family in America. When I uttered those words I wondered why I should say them, and that wondering has not yet left me. Do I mean by this that I am not sure I am pleased with my ancestry? Do I mean by this that I am not sure I am please with my ancestry? Or do I possibly mean that I have been contrasting, as bets I could, the prospects for the future of our Family with those of other families in America. Most assuredly it is the latter.
I have been asking my self the question: Does the future have in store for our Family opportunities for work and results along lines of usefulness, and will we respond and grasp such opportunities and build ourselves up onto the full measure of manhood and womanhood that the centuries before as will witness of other great families? Do we as a Family have the potency necessary to enable us to keep abreast the front ranks of progress as other families will do? Some such thought as these are the ones that have become a part of my everyday, life, and which makes me continually wonder what the future will bring forth.
Our history in America does not shine with many brilliant examples of great warriors, or statesmen, or scholars, or poets, or artists, but we have had some of all of these. We are not descendants of royalty, or even nobles, or knights, or esquires to any considerable extent. But we have a lineage passing through many generations often strong of mind and muscle of great ambition to do today what was before them and particularly remarkable, if I read history aright, for a great abundance of that do-or-die determination which must characterize any family destined to accomplish great deeds, or any race destined to conquer the world. If I read history aright the predominant characteristics of the English people for sturdiness, for determination, for boldness, for courage, is a prominent characteristic of our family. I say this, in all humility, but I believe I would misquote history should I say it otherwise.
In all the fireside stories of my childhood and legendary tales of latter years I have never heard of a man or boy bearing our name who was a coward, or who was lacking in genuine courage. In pioneer life we were always to the front in contests of physical strength and endurance, as with the ax in the forest, the sickle and cradle in the harvest filed. Legendary tales always put one of my relatives as the conqueror in such contests. On the chase of wild animals with the old flintlock, or with the horse and hound in the dense forests of the Appalachians, Ohio, or Indiana, where danger from animal and human foe was imminent, there one of my ancestors apparently was able to go a little farther than his neighbor and to bring back greater trophies in the form of game or pelts than any one else. Many a night have I sat round the open fire listening to stories told by parents and grandparents, by uncles, by aunts, of the perilous undertakings, of the great difficulties and dangers met bravely and courageously by one and another, the sequel always showing that so far as the undertakings were meritorious the results were satisfactory. I have heard of the lone man in the wilderness fighting against bests and Indians, clearing the forests, building a home, working from daylight to dark day after day and week after week in order that he might return across the mountains to bring family, his loved ones, with him to the new home in the wilderness.
I have heard of the boy, almost as in a fairy story stepping out from his associates when a call was made for some great undertaking where risk of life or limb was imminent. I have always noticed that the story was completed only when the little hero, regardless of danger and future results, with his determination centered upon the accomplishment of the task before him, dashing into the swollen stream, springing across the shaky log, meeting the wild animal as if to certain death, quickly stealing his way through the dense forest to rescue a neighbor in a lonely hut, or what ever the task be, returned, the task accomplished, or died in the undertaking. Many and many a time have I almost shuddered in childish fear lest the one who bad already become the hero in my heart should fall or fail. But I do not recall an instance in which the individual hero of the story disappointed me.
These remarks may seem a little vain-glorying, or a little out of place, or of such a nature that they bad better be made by others. Yet, after all, it seems to me that one cannot make predictions for the future of any value without basing them upon family characteristics as manifested in the past. Therefore, I repeat that for genuine courage, for utter disregard of danger to self when a difficult or dangerous task was to be accomplished I doubt if any family in America has, as a family, such courageous characteristics more prominently developed than ours.
And now, what of the future? These sturdy qualities so prominent in our ancestors must of necessity to transmitted to posterity--I have no fear on that subject. The great and important question is regarding their guidance, their direction. Will we inherit or acquire that versatility of character necessary to adopt ourselves to the every changing conditions of environment surrounding us? Without versatility firmness becomes stubbornness; stubbornness leads to indolence and decay. Stubbornness is firmness without judgment. Strength of character without the capacity of change as environments change is impossible; for it develops into a sort of muleishness or stubbornness which had made the mule the brunt of jokes. The turtle can set its jaws on the fishing-book and show firmness and courage enough to make it hold on even after its head is cut off. But what is gained by it? Will power, firmness, decision of character, and all other desirable mental traits must be governed by sound judgment and adaptability to circumstances, lest they become a weakness rather than a strength.
Great men, great families, and great nations are those who have firmness, but not stubbornness, who are wide awake, alert, abreast of the times, every changing front with changes of conditions, but who at all times and under all circumstances have steadiness of purpose and resolute determination to foster at all times and in every possible way their material moral, intellectual and spiritual development. The greatness; the increase in population is not greatness, but it is an essential condition of national greatness; the increase and dissemination of knowledge is not greatness; but it is the stronger of all factors in all greatness; the possession of good intentions and desires is not greatness; but it is the only foundation upon which true greatness ever can be built.
In the family characteristics of the Haworths I see an abundance of will power, of determination, of intensity of purpose to make them great as a family. With me the great question is regarding their versatility, their power to adapt themselves to changes from the long cabin and the deer trail of a hundred years ago to the modern up-to-date residence and modern business and social methods? Can we carry with us into the twentieth century the firmness and courage and energy of our forefathers and modify their applications to the new conditions every arising? I believe we can and will. I believe that now, today, we are doing it, have been doing it, and will continue doing it so long as the Haworth name is found on the roster of American citizenship.
We now occupy positions of honor and trust in almost all departments of federal, state, and municipal governments. we have penetrated the colleges and great universities of the land as students and teachers and are occupying thousands of places in the lesser institutions of learning. The various per cents illiteracy recorded every decade by the government census does not belong to us. We are important factors in all church and benevolent work in every state where our name can be found, and while not Rothchildes, or Vanderbilts or Rockefellers, yet the accumulated wealth of our family in America is no mean proportion to our nation's prosperity.
I believe our future is bright. I have faith that we will continue to grow, and prosper, and develop along all sides of modern civilization. Let us take a family pride in this matter and help one another. I believe in standing by each other for our mutual god. It is not necessary that one should be weak and another strong in order to do good. If we are all strong we can help each other to become stronger, while if we are weak there is all the more to be gained by assistance. I wish something could be done here at this meeting to start a helping hand in some definite direction, something to hold out encouragement and help to our young people particularly. For every generation ought to be better and stronger than the one preceding it.
Here's to the future of the Haworth Family in America. May they gain and prosper and grow in power and influence for all that is good and noble and elevating and that works for the betterment of mankind.
Signed, Prof. Erasmus Haworth
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The last session of the Meeting then closed by all joining hands and singing, "God Be With You Till We meet Again."
Under a sense of the Divine keeping power of God over His children, the Meeting adjourned to meet in three years at the call of the Executive Committee.
REV. W. P. HAWORTH, President
MARTHA A. CROSS, Secretary
Note:--The following brief sketch of the history and genealogy of a branch of the Haworth family recently written by Edward Arthur Haworth, of Afton, Tennessee, is of special interest just now in that it deals mostly with the descendants of Absalom, the second son of the Emigrant, of whose family but little had been known by the members of the Association prior to receiving this letter.
The Printing Committee is glad to give it a place in this little volume, hoping it may lead to the locating of a number of long lost cousins.
The letter was written to Mahlon Haworth, of Maryville, Tennessee, President of the Tennessee Association, and by him
sent to the Printing Committee. W. P. H.--------------
Afton, Tenn., Nov. llth 1902
Mr. Mahlon Haworth, Maryville, Tenn.
Dear Sir:--I will now try as near as I can to give the history of the Haworths in upper East Tennessee.
The first part of the history was obtained from High Point, North Carolina. The balance was written by my father, Howard K. Haworth, who died in 1892.
George Haworth came from England to America in 1699. He had six children, viz: Stephanus, Absalom, John, James, George and Mary.
Stephanus, Absalom and James moved to Virginia and settled on the Opeckan River.
Absalom, son of George, the Emigrant, had four children, viz: Nathaniel, Mary, Absalom and Hannah. He died in Virginia. Nathaniel married Hannah Barrett and died in Virginia, leaving some children.
Mary, Hannah and Absalom moved to Tennessee and died there.
Mary married William White and lived in Hawkins county where they raised a large family.
Hannah, married Ben Moorland and also raised a large family in Hawkins county.
Absalom lived in Green county and married Mary West to which union a family of twelve children were born, viz: Absalom R., Elizabeth, Mary, Nathaniel, Sarah, Hannah, Ann, West, Edward, Silas, Howard K. and Rachel.
Absalom married Lydia Ripley, Elizabeth married James Harrison Davis, Mary married Thomas Doan. Nathaniel married Ann Olophant, Sarah married John Byler, Hannah married Richard White, Ann never married. West married Rebecca White, Edward never married, Silas moved to Illinois and married Mary Eubank, Howard K. married Cammeline Ripley and Rachel married George Haworth, her second cousin.
Howard K. Haworth was born in 1812 and died in 1892. Cammeline Ripley, his wife, was born in 1827 and died in 1898. They were married in 1842. The following is the record of their children: Mary Ann, born in 1843, first married Christian Bowers, and later Stephen B. Spencer, present post office address, Cherrelyn, Colorado.
Samuel Smith, born in 1846, married Ann E. Broyles in 1868, present post office address, Botsford, Oklahoma.
Silas Theadore born in 1847, died in 1864. Olinahus Tyndal, born in 1850, married Arta M. Willet in 1883, present post office address, Kings Mill, Virginia
Sarah Charlotte, born in 1854, married Wm. R. Lee in 1894, present post office address, Masheim, Tennessee.
Edward Arthur, born in 1857, married Jennie F. Williamson in 1900, present post office address, Afton, Tennessee.
William Austin born in 1859, died in 1868. Marcus Leroy, born in 18?1, married, Elizabeth N. Rader in 1891, present post office address Whitesburg, Tennessee. Florence Cammeline, born in 1867, married Robert Wells to 1890, present post office address Jacksonville, Alabama, Lillian Hannah, born in 1870, married William E. Earnest in 1892, present post office address, Afton, Tennessee.
Your Correspondent, Edward Arthur Haworth, lives on the farm that his father, Howard K. was born, raised and died on, and the farm has been in the family name more than one hundred years.
I have often heard of the Haworths of Jefferson county, but never have met any of them and have wondered what relation we were. I would be pleased if you could give me some information on the subject; also, if you would keep me informed of the time and place for holding the Haworth Associations.
Respectfully, Hoping to hear from you soon again, I am
E. A. HAWORTH
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By Edwin P. Haworth
Among the pleasures around the house
The best one, I declare,
Is just to sit and rock or doze
In father's great armchair.
To come from playing hard all day
And be all tired out,
It makes one feel real Pert and gay
And helps to make one stout,
To spend an hour, ere he go
To be alone, up stair,
Sitting and rocking, to and fro,
In father's great armchair.
My Sister May and I, when we
Were tired of the fun,
Used often try our best, and see
Which one could fastest run.
And, though I was the younger and
Could never run so fast
As she, I got the upper hand
And justs the thing I asked.
For, if I failed, then I would bite
And scratch and pull May's hair
Till mother ended up the fight
By giving me-- the chair.
Last spring May took down very ill
And had to lie in bed,
And wanted us to all keep still,--
And sometimes cool her head,--
Till finally my mother bore
Her over, with a prayer,
Where she might sit and smile, once more
In father's great armchair.
And now if May would come and live
With us, no pains I'd spare
To make her happy--and I'd give
Her father's great armchair.
---------------
Your committee would respectfully submit the following Constitution and By Laws as the basis organization for our National Association.
The lineal descendants of George Haworth "The Emigrant" in Convention assembled at Kansas City, Mo., believing that in organization with defined rules, and objects more can be accomplished, and accurate records preserved, adopt and declare the following Constitution:
Article I. This Association shall be known and styled – The Haworth Association of America.
ARTICLE II. The organization effected at Plainfield, Indiana, in 1899--the bicentennial of the landing on the shores of America of George "the Emigrant" is approved, and the records thereof and actions had are hereby incorporated in and made a part of the history and records of this Association.
ARTICLE III. The purposes and objects of this Association are: To collect and preserve in authentic form a complete genealogical record of all the descendants of George Haworth "the Emigrant;" to prepare the history of the Family, the public services rendered; and the manner, habits, beliefs and home life of all its members; to renewing of acquaintance, forming closer ties, and friendships, encouraging correspondence, more frequent intercourse, and more closely uniting the members of the great Haworth Family.
To meet in regular and stated convocations, prepare papers, gather statistics, memorials, and relics, aid and encourage auxiliary associations to promote loyalty and Christianity, and generally, that which shall tend to the benefit not only of the family; but of all persons with whom we come in contact as well.
ARTICLE IV. All persons who are lineal descendants of George the Emigrant are entitled to full membership in this Association, and all the benefits thereof. All who are members of the Haworth Family; but who are not lineal descendants from George the Emigrant, are entitled to honorary membership in this Association closely uniting the members of the great Haworth Family.
ARTICLE V. State Auxiliary Associations may send accredited representatives to the regular meetings of this Association and who shall as such be recognized and enrolled.
ARTICLE VI. There shall be no fee charged for membership, but all are expected as conditions to continuance of such membership to contribute for the expenses and needs of this Association such sums may be required and in amount as each may be able to pay.
ARTICLE VII. The officers of this Association shall consists of a President, a Vice President, chosen from each state where sufficient number of the Family reside to maintain a State Association, a Secretary, a Treasurer, National Historian, and an executive Committee, consisting of the President, secretary, Treasurer and two others elected by the Association; and such other officers and committees as may hereafter be ordered, the officers so chosen to remain in office until their successors are duly elected.
ARTICLE VIII. The officers shall be elected on the second day of each regular session of this Association by ballot, unless a different manner be determined by the Association, and officers so elected shall assume their duties and be properly installed the last item of business and at the close of the regular session of this Association.
ARTICLE IX. The duties of the several officers shall be those usually required and performed by such officers in like organizations. In the absence of the President at any session of this Association the Vice President of the state in which the meetings are being held shall preside, or in his absence such one of the Vice Presidents as may be chosen by the Association.
ARTICLE X. The Executive Committee shall be the governing body during the time between sessions of this Association, and shall be charged with the duty of determining the time and place of holding the regular sessions of this Association and to make all arrangements therefore.
ARTICLE XI. This Association shall hold regular triennial sessions; and by vote at any regular session may meet again in regular session not oftener than once in anyone year; or the Executive Committee may, if in their judgment occasion shall require or warrant, call the Association in regular session.
ARTICLE XII. The Secretaries of each State and Auxiliary Association are made Corresponding Secretaries and who shall prior to any regular session of this Association submit in writing a report to the Secretary of this Association giving a report of each Auxiliary Association historical facts and data; and the obituary record of its members since the last report made to this Association.
ARTICLE XIII. The officers and all standing committees shall present a written report at the opening meeting of each regular session; and may submit supplementary reports during the session as occasion may require.
ARTICLE XIV. The proceedings of the regular sessions of this Association shall be printed and a copy sent in each member and also to the State and Auxiliary Associations.
ARTICLE XV. This Constitution may be amended at any regular session by a majority vote of the members present and voting thereon.
FIRST. Sessions shall begin at 9 o'clock A. M. of each day and continue during the day as may be determined.
SECOND. All sessions shall begin with appropriate devotional exercise.
THIRD. There shall be appointed the following standing committees, consisting of three persons unless otherwise ordered, viz: Committee on Finance, Biography and Resolutions. The President shall appoint such committees thirty days before any regular session of this Association.
FOURTH. The Program Committee shall consist of the President of the Association, one member of the Association residing at the place where the session is held, and one other person chosen by the President. The committee shall arrange the program for each session, in which shall be at least three papers to be read before the Association and as complete biographical and obituary records as may be obtained.
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My mother allus kissd away
My troubles an' my pain.
No matter how bad hurt I wus
Ur distressed wus my brain,
She'd take me in her lap an' then
She'd ask me, "What is this
That ails my boy?" an' make me well
By givin' me a kiss.
one time I had my finer mashed
Until the nail comed off;
Another time I sprained my wrist
By fallin' from the loft;
An' lots uv times my heart was broke
Beyond all hope uv bliss;--
Buy mother allus made me well
By givin' me a kiss.
But now they isn't any cure.
For mother's gone away,
An' won't come back no more, because
She's gone to Heaven, they say--
I feel a lump rise in my throat
That hurts me an' I miss
Her,--still she don't come back
To cure me with a kiss.
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Note.—Members of the Family residing in different states have requested the Executive Committee to arrange for our next national Reunion in St. Louis in 1904, during the Exposition.
The committee is entertaining the proposition favorably and will probably so arrange.
In the meantime, we would be glad to hear from all our State Associations on the subject, and if the proposition meets their approval, a meeting will be arranged and advertised in due time.
W. P. Haworth
President of the Association