HerbEly

Grim Family Reunion in 1897

This picture was taken at the reunion reported in Allentown Daily Call. The photo is not captioned. Clearly Peter and Elizabeth Grim are at the center. Please leave comments if you can identify others in the photo. Peter and Elizabeth were my great, great grandparents.

"Allentown Chronicle and News, Friday, September 10, 1897

THE GRIM FAMILY REUNION.
        ------
A Large Gathering of This Representative Family at Hancock Station Yesterday -- Officers Elected

    The first reunion of the Grim family, held yesterday at Hancock, was a big success. The weather was perfect and over 600 persons were present and fraternized in the most joyous manner, and many a one succeeded in tracing up a relative or renewing old-time friendships.
    The forenoon was most happily spent and when the noon hour arrived huge baskets were unpacked and soon every table in the park was laden with choice delicacies and everybody’s hunger was appeased.
    The afternoon teams brought large additions to the crowd already there and many others who were not in the “freundschaft” also made it a point to be there and participate in the enjoyment of the occasion, and when the hour for departure was at hand everybody declared that it had been good to be there, and that they would be present at the next reunion.
    The reception committee consisted of Dr. E. M. Herbst, W.T. Breinig and Jacob P. Grim. The collection committee was composed of Katie S. Grim and Stanley Grim. The refreshment stand was in charge of R.A. Fenstermacher, of Topton and Ben. Christman, of Macungie.
    Dr. E.M. Herbst was charman of the afternnon meeting. Rev. Edgar Grim Miller delivered an address in English and the Rev. A.J. Herman in German.
    The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, William Grim, of Boyertown; Vice President, Geroge Grim, of Reading; Secretary, Emma Grim, of Kutztown; Treasurer, William Breinig, of Breinigsville. Rev. Edgar G. Miller, of Easton, was elected historian.
    Music was furnished by the Alburtis Band. Persons were present from this city, Reading, New York, Pihiladelphia, Huston, Texas: Easton, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Kutztown and neighboring towns. W.K. Grim and wife, of Boyertown, were the oldest couple on the grounds, both being 72 years old. Peter K. Grim, together with four generations of his descendents, were also present. Among those present from this city were:
    Peter K. Grim, W.J. Frederick and family, John S. Hartzell and family, Jaob W. Grim and daugther Annie, Albert Grim and wife, Charles Apple and wife, Miss Kate S. Grim, J. Peter Grim and wife, Walter Grim and wife, Chief Charles D. Grim, Harry Hunsicker and wife, A. D. Dresher, wife and daughter, Fred Kuhl, Mrs. Henrietta Parton, A. S. Grim and wife, Henry J. Grim, Miss Lizzie Grim, Dr. C.J. Otto,wife and daughter, Bessie, Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Shankweiler and children, Claude and Edwin, and Geroge Daeufer,of this city; David Grim and family, Oliver Otto and wife, Daniel Otto and wife, Harry E. Grim, wife and daughter, Jerry Focht and wife, of Cetronia.
    The ancestors of the present Grim family were among the earliest settlers in Eastern Pensylvania. The first came over about 1730. His name was Egidius Grim, and he landed with other German immigrants in Philadelphia and was followed by others. Egidius or Gideon settled near the old historic Ziegel Church, where he acquired over 750 acres of land, and where a village bears his name. He came from Wurtemberg. His house, strongly built, was a rallying point for his neighbors whenever the Indians became troublesome."

The Night and I

My mother, Marie Schmitt Ely wrote this poem in December 1938, six months after she was married and had moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over the past few years, I’ve wondered about this - it did not sound like a poem written by a young bride.

The Night and I

In a scrawny, muddy Spanish town,
My soul and I have settled down;
I promised you I’d let you know
An incredible number of ages ago.

I’ve lost my lovely shining dreams,
My adopted kinship with moonbeams;
The stars are cold and distant now;
If we should meet, they’d only bow.

They used to stop and talk with me,
And one or two, occasionally,
Has brushed my soul with swift, sure light
In its flaming journey through the night.

The moon used to pause and call to me
Across the shining desert sea,
But now it hardly ever stops
As it rises over the mountain tops.

I know I seem to have settled down
In this scrawny, muddy Spanish town,
But my soul knows well the shining way
To the glory of night and the beauty of day.

My Grandfather Was a Member of the Knights Templar

Yesterday Beliefnet published a a commentary debunking the film National Treasure . The column reminded me that I wanted to investigate the Knights Templar because Herbert Seneca Ely (6/19/1880 – 3/19/1923) was a member. The plot line of the movie says that the Freemasons – descendents of the Templars brought spiritual artifacts, including genealogies of David and Jesus to a secret location. These documents influenced the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. The genealogies purportedly demonstrated that Templar families were descendents of Jesus Christ. While far from convinced, my interest was aroused. Here is what I found:
Here is a portrait of Herbert, Florence Grim, Hannah and Albert Ely (my father).