HMC Family Reunion August 3, 2025
Welcome and President Address
- Land Acknowledgement-
As descendants of Oregon Trail families, we recognize that the land our ancestors settled lies within the homelands of the Yamel (Yamhill) Band of Kalapuya. For countless generations before the arrival of settlers—including our family—these homelands were cared for and lived with by the Kalapuya people, whose deep knowledge, culture, and connection to this place remain strong.
Additionally, we recognize the lasting impacts of genocide, forced removal, and assimilation. As guests on this land, and as descendants of settlers who did not fully understand their impact, we honor the knowledge, traditions, and resilience of Indigenous communities—and commit to ongoing respect and learning.
Today, we also pause to acknowledge that legacy. We honor the Kalapuya people—past and present—whose enduring relationship with this land predates our own by thousands of years. May we carry a spirit of humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are part of a much older story, and that our presence here comes with the responsibility to respect the original stewards of these homelands.
This acknowledgement was never intended to offend, rather to acknowledge objective truths and show respect to the indigenous communities that were here before us. Some comments were made regarding the statement. This is not the first time a land acknowledgement was done, however, no official land acknowledgement has been adopted by the family organization.
Moment of silence-
- Henry Hewitt’s wife Sharon- January 2025 Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Jasper L. Hewitt>Henry Hewitt>Henry Hewitt II>Henry Hewitt III
- Dennis Hewitt- November 2024 Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Isaiah Hewitt>Cyrus Hewitt>Myron Hewitt>Dennis Hewitt
- Dennis Hewitt’s wife Karen- March 2025
- Sam Loftus- 2022? Mary Cooper Matheny>Daniel B. Matheny>May Groat>Lulu Baker> Lucy Loftus> Sam Loftus
- Dan Krohn- 2020 John M. Cooper>Robert A. “Eck” Cooper>Minnie Warfield>Cecil Warfield>William Warfield>Dan Krohn
- Darlene Ott Buys- September 2024 Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Ann Eliza Thornton>Mary Ott>Irving Ott>Darlene Buys
- Janice Kershow- July 2025 Ann Eliza Thornton>Jim Bishop>Janice Kershow
Others?
- Sandy Shelburne July 2025 wife of David Shelburne a James Andrew Hewitt descendant
Reading of minutes- Melissa read the 2024 business meeting notes.
Treasurer Report- Al Errnest not attending, Merrilee Johnson read the report shown below:
Starting balance $6235.61
Expenditures 3/4/25YamhillCountyHeritage Center(donation) -$100.00
6/20/25 Lindsey Fery Registrar (postcards) -$269.67
7/28/25 Merrilee Johnson (book printing) – $796.43
Total -$1161.10
Deposits 8/5/24 Reunion (general store, donations) +$228.00
7/27/25 Book sale +$30.00
Total +$258.00
Ending balance +$5099.51
Census: Hewitts, Matheny, Cooper
Census
| HMC | Total Hewitt’s (in-person & virtual) | Total Matheny’s (in-person & virtual) | Total Cooper’s (in-person & virtual) | Attendee Totals |
| In-person | 37 | 5 | 7 | 49 |
| Virtual | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 40 | 5 | 7 | 52 |
Births-
- Evelyn Grace Hewitt, born Sept 12, 2024, daughter of Joshua Hewitt, granddaughter of Brian Hewitt.
- Baker Matheny Ross Hewitt, born August 16, 2024
- Theodore Emmet Lundgren, born January 1, 2024, son of Bonnie Hope Shipman and Andrew Peter Lundgren, grandson of Roger Shipman.
Other family news:
- Hannah Shipman, graduated with MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from University of Washington this year.
- Christa Shipman received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Oregon State University.
Attendees Info
| Attendees | In- Person | Virtual |
| Lives Closest | Scott & Lindsay Fery, Hopewell, OR | David Ott, Portland, OR |
| Lives Furthest | Melissa Gomez, La Paz, BCS, Mexico | Richard & Melissa Demaray, Portola Valley, CA |
| Youngest in Attendance | Josie Craig, 4 | David Ott, 78 |
| Oldest in Attendance | Henry Hewitt, 84 | Richard Demaray 79 |
Introduction of Executive Council
- President Merrilee Johnson, McMinnville OR Hewitt (present)
- Secretary Melissa Gomez, La Paz, BCS, Mexico Hewitt (present)
- Treasurer Al Ernest Blowing Rock, North Carolina Matheny (absent)
- Member Coral Nolan Pennsylvania Matheny (absent)
- Member George Bailey St. Regis, Montana Matheny (absent)
- Member Stephanie Craig Dayton, Oregon Cooper (present)
People We Can’t Do Without- (all present)
- Registrar Lindsey Fery Dayton Oregon
- Reunion coordinators Scott and Lindsey Fery Dayton Oregon
- Historian Brian Hewitt Independence Oregon
- Newsletter and web page Barbara Kerr Portland Oregon
Officer and Council Member Elections
This year is the election of Hewitt Representatives Currently Melissa Gomez and Merrilee Johnson, Brian Hewitt made a motion for both to be re-elected. Lindsey seconded it, and vote was unanimous for re-election.
Registrar Lindsey Fery- agreed to continue to be registrar and everyone supported her retaining the position.
New Business:
- Much of our family history is graciously held at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center, we encourage everyone to visit. Each year we have given a $100 donation to store our family history. It’s been numerous years and HMC would like to entertain a motion to increase donation to $150. Elaine Wagner motioned for it to be $200, Jessica Johnson seconded it, and the vote was unanimous to donate $200 yearly.
- Reminder for everyone to add their email to the sign-in. Next year we will send both the physical postcard and an email announcement. *Next year’s new business should include a move to use only email starting in 2027.
Into the Eye of the Setting Sun
- Books for sale for $25 at reunion, or $30 mailed. Additionally, Meg Kenworthy, a descendant of Daniel Boone Matheny, is an attorney who has worked with publishing. She is researching print on demand options.
- Lorna Grauer new information on Gay family that is only found in Charlotte Kirkwood’s book:
- There have been folks who have questioned the validity of a young girl’s experience and later memory in the writing of Charlotte’s book. We have found yet one more example of Into the Eye of the Setting Sun to be an accurate portrayal of early Oregon history, even though it is through a child’s perspective.
- Lorna Grauer was here earlier but had to leave. She is researching the history of the early Gay family in Oregon. Charlotte states “George Gay went to the Hudson’s Bay Post and married La Louise, the daughter of Dr. McLaughlin’s Kanaka cook and an Indian woman.” *pg 72 newest version Lorna could not find any other records to validate this, however many descendents including herself have DNA results that indicate both Hawaiian and Native American ancestry.
- Into the Eye of the Setting Sun is considered the most historically accurate rendition of the story of the “Great Migration”. It is a collection of short stories, which make it easy to read to children, or pick up when you have time if reading yourself.
Cleanup of grave markers in Hopewell Cemetery:
- Henry Hewitt spoke of visiting the cemetery and seeing Jasper Hewitt’s grave marker was sinking, and many in need of restoration. In addition to Jasper’s grave, also Daniel and Mary Matheny, Henry and Elizabeth Hewitt, and repair the fence around the Matheny graves.
The cemetery caretaker provided a business recommendation. Stephanie mentioned both grants to fund restoration and restoration teaching opportunities through the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OCHC/Pages/index.aspx She agreed to contact them and see if a grant proposal and approval could be accomplished within 6 months. Discussion of paying for with HMC available monies was also mentioned.
An agreement was discussed to move forward with grant exploration and if the grant could not be obtained within six months, that the family would spend up to $1000 for the restoration. Also various family members expressed an interest in receiving the training. All agreed it was important that it be a recognized restoration business, not simply cleaning and causing further damage.
Hannah Shipman motioned for this to be adopted, Adam Hewitt seconded the motion and it received a unanimous vote to proceed. Since the reunion, Stephanie Craig has resigned from the council and will not be participating in HMC family work. More info pending on direction with this news.
OPRD plans for an interpretive kiosk have been shelved now due to lack of federal funding. Our archivist Stephanie is working to collect what they had, so we could help future efforts. Please note that we have now lost our archivist so this also may be impacted.
We ended the meeting and began the piñata. Young and old alike had a very fun time. After the piñata, Brad Kerr encouraged all ages to try the 2 Skips and a Jump, and many did. These activities and the new kids table were all very well received.