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2014 Annual Meeting Minutes

Saturday, August 1st, 2015

Minutes of the 2014 reunion of the Hewitt-Matheny-Cooper Families

 

The meeting was called to order by president Barbara Kerr.  She introduced the board members:

 

Merrilee Johnson, co-president with Barbara Kerr

Barbara Kerr is serving as secretary until position is filled

Louis Rodge is treasurer

William McKinney (Isaiah Cooper, Jr) from Seattle

Coral Hewitt Nolan (Jasper Hewitt) not able to come from Pennsylvania

Shilah Bauer not able to attend due to having a National Guard drill

Elma Hewitt, President Emeritus

Don Rivara, Historian emeritus not able to come from California

 

Barbara thanked everyone that helped set up, especially Mike Layman, our park coordinator who reserves the park and pays the fee.  Mike also sets up the tables and brings all the sports equipment and kid games.  He has a broken ankle this year so we need even more help in cleaning up and packing equipment into his trailer.

 

A thank you to the Arne Young family for bringing a pinata for the 6th year!

 

A special thank you was given to Elma Hewitt who has done so many tasks including the photo display, the family book sales and picking up the albums every year.  She has retired from her role and traded in her many hats for more time golfing.

 

Melissa Jones Clark Gomez is now in charge of the family albums, picking them up and returning them to the Yamhill County Museum in Lafayette and entering the new information you provide on the Family Group forms as well as any that Don Rivara or the Yamhill County Museum collects.

 

A thank you to Mark Fery who is not only the photographer but also the new Webmaster for the HMCFamily.org website.

 

A thank you to Brad Kerr for running the Daniel Matheny Hewitt Two Hops and a Jump Challenge.  There are age categories:  Under 5, 5-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 50+

 

A thank you to Brent Kerr for being the auctioneer.  Brent is working on improving our auction process this year and asks that when you win a bid, you stand up and say your name and family branch.  Louis, our treasurer, will then be better able to keep track of who won what.

 

A census was taken by family branch, Hannah Shipman helped take the count:

 

Hewitts:  Ann Eliza, Daniel, Adam, James Andrew, Isaiah, Mathew, Jasper, Lorin.  Henry had

descendants past his one grandchild.  Horry had no children.  27 attending.

Mathenys:  Daniel Boone, Adam, Isaiah, Mary, Jasper, Charlotte.  Elizabeth married Henry Hewitt so all of the Hewitt members are her descendants.  9 attending

 

Coopers:  Mary, Rachel, Enoch, William S., Isaiah Jr., John  7 attending

 

The people lost this year were Bonny Bauer Payne, in November.  She was the oldest of Sylva Hewitt and Henry Kerr’s 23 grandchildren.

Olive Merry Johnson (James Andrew Hewitt)

Winnie Davies, wife of Walt Davies (James Andrew Hewitt). She was born in a log cabin in Arkansas.

Obituaries should be sent to newsletter@hmcfamily.org

 

Attending for the first time are Jenny Shipman and Bentley Brazil, 9 months old (Isaiah Hewitt).  Also attending for the first time are Gary and Donna Halvorson, son in law of Walt Davies and John Miller, friend of Walt Davies.  The oldest descendant at the reunion was Kay Kerr at the age of 89 (2-2-1925).  Also acknowledged was the 100th birthday of Jack Green in Austin, Texas in June.  A card was sent around to sign to send to him.  To our knowledge, he is the first in the family, other than spouses, to live to be 100.  The farthest traveled were the Halvorsons from Rapid City, South Dakota and Kerwin and Linda Kerr from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

 

Roger Shipman asked that a new category be added;  the number of generations removed from the original family.  His grandson, Thomas Snyder is a member of the 7th generation.

 

The treasurer’s report, given by Louis Rodge, shows that there is a balance of $6,288.31.

It was moved by Hannah Shipman and seconded by Joanne Shipley to approve the minutes of the 2013 reunion be accepted.  Passed by majority.

 

FAMILY COMMUNICATION

 

Newsletter Don Rivara has discontinued his email family history newsletter.  We hope that is temporary and that he will bring it back as a complement to the website. Please be sure to write your email address on the list at the registration table if you did not receive his email newsletter. The more email addresses we have the more chance he will start it up again.   Mark will be putting all of Don’s emailed stories that do not include personal information about living persons on the website. We are hoping that Don will still be adding new ones. There are some hard copies of Don’s newsletters on the Books table.

We are still looking for digital copies of the first two.  Did anyone save them electronically?

Don estimated that the number of emails we have is 25% of what we have on the postal mail list.  If you did not receive a newsletter via email, be sure to put your email address on the list at the registration table even if you think we already have it.  We may have an address that is out of date for you.  Include email addresses for any of your family members who would like to receive the newsletter. If we have enough email addresses we may be able to save enough money to send out a smaller, less frequent newsletter for those who do not have computers or family with computers.

Hannah Shipman volunteered to be the children’s page editor.

POSTAL ADDRESSES  Also, check the list of postal addresses that the post office said were unforwardable to see if there is someone on it that you may know.

Mark Fery is the webmaster for the hmcfamily.org website. Bryan Kerr has been helping him.  When he gets it all figured out he will be looking for volunteers to help with the postings. Send your notices, articles, family information and pictures, etc. to newsletter@hmcfamily.org or Don at donrivara@att.net.

FACEBOOK [Melissa will give report] John Carlisle created and is hosting our family Facebook page.  It is at HMC Family. There are several with similar names.  Look for the one that includes John.  It is a closed group so you have to be accepted as a member to participate.  Make your request with your family connection and John will get back to you with the permission quickly. Then you can start communicating with family members. 38 names so far.  John was not able to come today, but reported via Facebook:   Anyone can add information if I authorize them. Anyone that is currently on list can be authorized to add new group members.  Any group member can post information i.e., stories, family announcements, etc. But I do need more people that are willing to allow others. I am trying to work out a cloud access where we can maintain a living family tree so to speak and could use some input from others on this also. Thanks, John

ANCESTRY.COM Reminder that Don has put much of the our genealogy inc. pictures on Ancestry.com.

ELECTIONS

It is the Cooper’s turn for elections this year.  Both Louis and Bill have said they would like to be

reelected.   We do still need Mathenys.  The other four of us on the board are Hewitts.  As you remember, we filled vacant spots with Hewitts because no Mathenys were coming forward and we all are descendants of Coopers and Mathenys. Merrilee and I were sharing one spot (one vote).  So if there is anyone who is a Matheny but not a Hewitt who would like to be on the board, you can be elected this year and Merrilee and I could go back to sharing one vote.

Roger Shipman(Matheny descendant) volunteered for the board and was elected by majority vote.

 

Election Year Hewitt Matheny Cooper
2010  Hewitt year Barbara/Merrilee, Bonny Joanne Shipley, Dan Matheny Louis, Christine Cranmore
2011  Cooper year Barbara/Merrilee, Bonny Louis
2012  Matheny year Merrilee/Barbara, Bonny, Coral, Shilah
2013  Hewitt year Merrilee/Barbara, Bonny, Coral, Shilah Louis, William
2014  Cooper year Merrilee/Barbara, Coral, Shilah Louis, William
Results of the Two Hops and a Jump contest

0-5

  

No entries
6-10 Carson and Hallie Kerr    both jumped 12 feet

Sean Young and Emma Walls jumped 11 feet
11-15 Hannah Shipman      15-½ feet

Luke VonHeeder        16 feet
15-20 Scott Davidson      20 feet

Kent                       15 feet

Bella                      11 feet

Luke Shipman       28-½ feet
21-30 Mark Fery                16 feet
31-40 Scott Fery                  11 feet
40+ Brad Kerr, Roger Shipman   17 feet

OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE We are looking for someone to manage the book sales. It involves taking requests for sales via snail or email and mailing them out, delivering them to Champoeg or any other organization that requests large orders, and having them copied at a copy store as necessary, and manning the book sales table (or finding someone who can) at the Reunion. We have set up an email address for orders familybooks@hmcfamily.org.

There was a re-enactment by some volunteers from Champoeg of a few stories from the book “In the Eye of the Setting Sun”. They were entertaining and interesting.

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MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING – August 4, 2013

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

HEWITT, MATHENY, COOPER FAMILY ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING

August 4, 2013

ACTIVITIES

Family members began arriving around nine o’clock. Activities enjoyed included the family genealogy albums; historic photos display; copying photos; the Daniel Matheny Hewitt Challenge; the Country Store; and the children’s pinata.

MINUTES

The Reunion was held at the shelter, under the trees at Maud Williamson State Park with approximately 80 in attendance. Fifty-five family members signed the registration book as Hewitts; four as Mathenys; six as both Hewitts and Mathenys; eleven as Coopers; and two did not specify. Henry Hewitt announced that all of the six great-grandchildren of Jasper Hewitt were in attendance for the first time in thirty years.

The meeting was called to order by co-president, Merrilee Johnson. Co-president, Barbara Kerr, was also serving as secretary.

Council members present were: co-presidents, Merrilee Johnson and Barbara Kerr [both James Andrew Hewitt descendants]; treasurer, Louis Rodge [Isaiah Cooper, Jr.]; Coral Hewitt Nolan [Jasper Hewitt]; and president emeritus, Elma Hewitt [James Andrew Hewitt].

Council members unable to attend were: Bonny Payne [James Andrew Hewitt], who was still ill with her chemo therapy and Shilah Bauer [James Andrew Hewitt], who was at National Guard training.

Historian Emeritus, Don Rivara, was not able to drive up from California due to health reasons. He has taken on the newsletter by email. A reminder was given to write email addresses on the list at the registration table if not receiving the newsletter.

Thank you’s were extended to all who helped set up, especially Mike Layman our park coordinator, who reserves the park, pays the fee, sets up the tables, and brings all the sports equipment and kid games. Also appreciated were the Young family for the annual piñata; Dennis Matheny for setting up a table for folks to share photos by copying; Mark Fery for being the photographer; Brent Kerr for being the auctioneer; and Brad Kerr for running the Daniel Matheny Hewitt Two-Hops-and-a-Jump Challenge.

Thanks were expressed to Elma Hewitt for the photo display, the family book sales, and picking up the albums every year. Elma handing over the gauntlet so she can do some serious golfing. Shilah Bauer will be her book sales intern, having the copying done and filling orders from Champoeg and others. Because she usually has National Guard drill on Reunion weekend, volunteers were requested to bring the books to the Reunion and do the sales.

No one volunteered to take over picking up and returning the albums to the Yamhill County Museum in Lafayette, so Merrilee said she would make sure it was done.

Deceased since last Reunion include: George Warmington right after the Reunion last year [James Andrew Hewitt]; Yvonne Heinrichs in February [James Andrew Hewitt]; Alan William Gilchrist, Frances Carver Gilchrist’s husband, on March 10, 2013. (It was noted that Frances lost both her sister and her husband in 38 days.); Then Frances Carver Gilchrist, herself, died at 85 years old on July 12, 2013 in Salem. [Yvonne and Frances were Isaiah Hewitt granddaughters.]; Roy Hewitt’s grandson, Roger [son of Ronald Hewitt, James Andrew Hewitt] (It was noted that Roger’s two daughters are the last of their line); Brad Malone, husband of Elizabeth Malone [James Andrew Hewitt] of a heart attack. Walt Davies reported that John Davies [Mathew Cresswell Hewitt died in June at age 76.

Family that we lost prior to this year but were not acknowledged at last year’s Reunion include:

Gerald Glen Matheny, who went by Jerry, died January 22, 2011 [Dan Matheny’s uncle];

Debra Ann Rushton Sherwood-Stich [daughter of Mildred Kirkwood, Rachel Cooper Matheny] in February 2012 of pancreatic cancer at 54 years old. (In her letter to the newsletter, Mildred noted that it is good to share information regarding genetic conditions or those that may involve a genetic predisposition.); Marjorie Matthews Steinborn [a Thomas Kirkwood granddaughter] at 89 in Prescott, AZ, June 2012; Wally Hickerson [Thomas Kirkwood grandson] (age and place of death unknown).

Merrilee reminded family members to send obituaries to the newsletter at donrivara@att.net .

Attending for the first time were: Gabriel Gomez, who was recently married to Melissa Jones Clark [James Andrew Hewitt]; Stephanie Hewitt (wife of Matt Hewitt), Doug Hewitt, and Loren Hewitt [all Jasper Hewitt].

Oldest descendants attending were: Olive Merry Johnson and Jean Kerr [both James Andrew Hewitt]. Both are 89 years old. They were born four days apart. They shared their long-standing joke that Olive’s grayer hair is what Jean’s is going to look like in four days.

It was announced that Jack Green in Austin Texas, will be 100 years old in June 2014. To Don Rivara’s knowledge, he will be the first in the family, other than spouses, to live to be a centenarian. He most likely will not be able to attend the Reunion next year so Don Rivara will be posting a notice in the email newsletter so we can all email him our Happy 100th Birthday wishes.

Youngest descendant attending: ??

Farthest traveled: was Coral Hewitt Nolan [Jasper Hewitt] from Pennsylvania near Allentown

There were no active military service members attending.

A reading was done by Marcia Durbin [James Andrew Hewitt] from The Schools of Old Yamhill. Marcia read the entry about the Hewitt/Unionvale School and Elma Hewitt [James Andrew Hewitt] shared memories of going there in the 1st through 3rd grades. The Launer’s [Adam Hewitt] also attended the Hewitt School and Jean Kerr was there in 1st grade. Elma told how there were a couple of swings and a teeter-totter, and that they used wax paper from their sandwiches to make the slide faster. The Hewitt family donated part of their donation land claim for the school.

The minutes of the 2012 Annual Meeting were corrected to reflect that Julie Jones was born in 1927, not 1928 as was recorded. They were approved as corrected.

Treasurer, Louis Rodge, reported a balance of $5868.69 after paying $352.40 for the postcard mailing.

Email Newsletter. A reminder was made to send notices, articles, family information and pictures, etc. to Don at donrivara@att.net, who compiles them into an email to everyone for which we have an email address. The email newsletter goes out whenever he has enough articles. There have been three editions. Copies are available at the Reunion, but we need digital copies of the first two. If anyone saved them electronically, please let Don know. Those who have family who don’t have computers could print out the newsletters for them.

Don estimates we have about 140 email addresses on the list, about 25% of what is on the postal mail list. A reminder was given to write updated email addresses on the list at the registration table or send them to donrivara@att.net for anyone who has not but would like to receive the newsletter via email.

Print newsletter: We will attempt to send one more print newsletter to encourage everyone to send in their email addresses for the email newsletter. Print newsletters are far more expensive and far less complete than electronic newsletters. With enough email addresses, a smaller, less frequent newsletter for those who do not have computers or family with computers, may be an option.

Postal Addresses: A reminder to check the list of unforwardable postal addresses to see if there is someone on it that you may know.

Website: Mark Fery [James Andrew Hewitt] volunteered to be the webmaster for HMCFamily.org!

Facebook: John Carlisle has set up and is hosting a family Facebook page at HMC Family. There are several with similar names. Look for the one that includes John. It is a closed group so you have to be accepted as a member to participate. Requests to join need to include your family connection. After John responds with permission, you can start communicating with family members.

Ancestry.com Don Rivara has put much of the family genealogy including pictures on Ancestry.com.

Don reported via email how second cousins who live fifty miles apart but had never met, found each other via the newsletter.

Elections were due for Hewitt positions. Since Hewitts were already filling Cooper and Matheny positions, nominations were requested for Coopers and Mathenys. William McKinney [Isaiah Cooper] from the Seattle area was elected to represent the Coopers.

Family Albums: Melissa Jones-Clark Gomez volunteered to enter into the albums family information, which is collected at the museum, at the Reunion, and by Don Rivara.

Daniel Matheny Hewitt Two-Hops-and-a-Jump Challenge winners were:

0 – 5 years old: Karson Kerr 6 feet

6 – 10 years old: Halle Kerr 12 feet; Emma Wall 7 feet 6 inches; Shawn Young 6.5 feet

11 – 15 years old: Luke Von Heeder 18 feet; David Malone 16 feet; Aiden Weaver 15 feet

31 – 40 years old: Adam Hewitt 16 feet

51 – 60 years old: Brad Kerr 17 feet

61 – 75 years old: Doug Hewitt 14 feet

76 – 90 years old: Doris Shelburne White 3 feet. Brad Kerr proclaimed Doris the “Hewitt Hero”.

After adjournment, Elma Hewitt, Kay Kerr, and Olive Merry Johnson sang with a music video of Johnnie Ray singing The Little White Cloud That Cried. On the second round, the group was asked to sing along. Kay had made copies of the lyrics to hand out. Johnnie Ray was a Hit Parade singer in the 1940’s and 50’s, who grew up in Hopewell. Elma’s mother was his mother’s teacher. He went to the same high school in Portland as Kay –she didn’t know him personally because he was a couple years behind her. He is buried in Hopewell Cemetery. Don Rivara will have a story on Johnny Ray in the next newsletter.

We are hoping more of our older generation will share their youth with us so we can capture everyone’s history, not just the pioneers.

The oral auction was conducted by Brent Kerr [James Andrew Hewitt]. Items included: hand-quilted table runner and pot holders by Nancy Matheny; a doll with a handmade dress by Frances Gilchrist; a never-been-published manuscript of stories written by Roy Hewitt about his days as an attorney, donated by his great-niece, Olive Johnson [James Andrew Hewitt].

Reunion proceeds were reported by Louis, our treasurer, to be $419.00, which includes:

$108.00 from the Oral Auction;

$60.50 from the Country Store;

$45.50 in Donations;

$205.00 (gross) in book sales.

In closing, everyone was encouraged to visit family sites such as the Matheny Ferry; Hopewell Cemetery; Unionvale and the school.

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2010 Reunion Minutes

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

Hewitt, Matheny, Cooper Family Reunion

Aug. 1, 2010

The Reunion took place at the shelter in the middle of Maude Williamson State Park.  Sixty-five or more adults were present.

Louis Rodge (William S. Cooper) gave a blessing before lunch.

After lunch, the meeting was called to order.  Most Council members were present, except for Bonny Payne, who was recovering from illness, and Dan Matheny.

A count of family descendents present showed

Hewitt’s: 55

Matheny’s: 12

Cooper’s: 8

The minutes of the last Reunion were summarized and approved.

Treasury:  Louis reported a total of $5,112.08.

Oral/video history: Mike Layman announced that Steve Davies was present to conduct oral interviews in the process of developing a DVD of oral history of early families in Oregon. Steve explained his project to the gathering and invited anyone present to come over to be interviewed and videotaped.

Service persons present are Trey and Shilah Bauer Starelli, serving in the National Guard.

Arnie and Sue Young (Charlotte Cooper) brought a piñata for the younger children, and they all had a good time trying to hit it blindfolded while the adults were in the business meeting.

Two Hewitt positions are open on the Council.  Bonny Payne will serve again, and Merrilee Johnson (James Andrew Hewitt) will join the Council to serve as co-President with Barbara.

Stories: Joanne made an appeal for current stories, but at this writing, none have been received.

Readings:

Dorothy Coombs (Jasper Matheny) read a portion from the book “Oregon’s Great Natural Disasters” about the flood of December, 1861, which was 11 miles wide in some parts of the Willamette Valley, and almost destroyed the “city of Wheatland”, except for the buildings on the highest ground.

Henry Hewitt (Jasper Hewitt) read a section from the Jasper Matheny book, from a letter written by Libby, Jasper’s second wife, about their trip to Mexico to start a coffee plantation.

First time family members present were JaNiece Warren (Isaiah Hewitt) from West Valley City, Utah, and Dawn Matheny Acey (Daniel Matheny) and Kirk Acey from LaPine, OR.

Deceased is cousin Loren Kerr (James Andrew Hewitt), who passed away last Friday in Kentucky.

Oldest present was Lesta Kneebone (Jasper Matheny), 91 years old.  Eight other people present were over 75 years of age.

We estimated 12 children present under the age of 21.  Youngest child was Vittore Starelli, almost seven months old, son of Shilah and Trey Starelli.  Son, Santana, was also with them at the Reunion.

Persons who travelled furthest were Karen Weaver and her son, Frank Weaver, with Frank’s sons,  Aidan and Ashton, (James Andrew Hewitt) from Ennis, Texas.

Results from the Daniel Matheny Hewitt Challenge (two hops and a jump) were read.  Gary Clifford (Barbara Kerr’s husband) jumped longest at 16.4 feet.

David D. Shelburne (James Andrew Hewitt) played his guitar and sang a lovely rendition of “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane.”

Oral Auction: The approximately 10 items [including three knit children’s sweaters (two made and donated by Kathy Dentel McLaughlin (James Andrew Hewitt) and one by Elma Hewitt); Elma’s crocheted dish cloths; a travel mug, spa basket, and candle set donated by Arnie and Sue Young; and a summer outfit donated by Lesta Kneebone] in the oral auction raised a total of $101.

The Country Store raised a total of $90.00.

Sales of books raised $133.

Donations totaled $73.

Requests for next years’ auction and store, were “PEACHES”, ”GRAVENSTEIN APPLES”, “QUILTS”, “MARIONBERRIES”, and “FREEZER JAMS!”

The meeting was adjourned with thanks to all present, and a request to help Mike Layman and his family pack up all the gear that he brought (yet again) in his trailer to help make the Reunion go well.  Every year, Mike arrives very early, sets up tables, hangs signs, lays out tablecloths, puts up awnings, sets up a sound system, and countless other tasks, and we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Next Reunion date is:
Sunday, August 7, 2011.

Respectfully submitted,,
Joanne Shipley, Secretary

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