This is an article about
an early Pioneer family of Crittenden County, the Travis family. The
information shared at their 1897 reunion, and then later in James
Harvey Travis's obituary, provide us with a lot of family history and
memories that otherwise would not be known.
Crittenden Press,
September 30, 1897
One of the oldest, most
highly respected and largest families in Crittenden County, is the
Travis family. Some weeks ago the idea of a reunion of this family
was conceived by one of its younger members and the suggestion was
adopted. Friday Sept. 24th was the time selected, and Copperas
Spring, six miles east of Marion, was the place selected.
A program was arranged
and an invitation was extended to a number of the family to spend the
day with them. Accordingly last Friday more than four hundred people
gathered at the famous old spring, and rarely has a more enjoyable
day been spent in this county.
About three hundred of
those present were members of the Travis family, and the hearty
handshakes, the sparkling eyes, here and there among the older ones
bedimmed with tears, was an inspiration to guests and hosts alike.
Under the shades of
giant oak, which had perhaps sprung from an acorn since the Travis's
settled there, the people gathered.
First came a song, than
a prayer, and then Rev. James F. Price in a feeling and appropriate
address stated the object of the meeting. Then there were more
songs.
At noon a bountiful
dinner was spread, and never was Kentucky hospitality more completely
shown, and never did Kentucky's larder more richly endow a table.
After two hours of eating and greeting, hours that will long brighten
the memory of all present, the gathering was called to order.
After a song, Uncle
Harvey Travis, the patriarch of the present generation, briefly
stated the genealogy of the family. He said: My grandfather, Daniel
Travis, came from Ireland to America in 1795. He was a weaver by
trade, and while he followed his calling, my father was a farmer and
managed the farm.
They settled at Copperas
Spring in 1805, where we, their descendants, now greet each other at
this reunion. They attended church at Dickey Spring, and some are
buried in the old cemetery there.
My grandmother's maiden
name was Sallie Jarrold. Daniel and Sallie raised eleven children;
John T., who went to Illinois; Francis, who moved to Missouri;
William, who went to Illinois; Thomas T., who went to Louisiana;
Daniel, who went to Missouri; and James, who remained here, and who
was my father. The girls were Polly, who married William Young;
Sallie, who married William Dulany, Rachel who married a Mr. Hunter
and went to Indiana; Betsey, who married John Alexander and moved to
Tennessee, and Sibbie, who married Samuel Foster.
James Travis, my father
married Rachael Blakely. Their children were John, Daniel, Theressa,
Francis, Lindsay, Susan and myself. John, Daniel and Frank are dead.
Theressa married David Crider, and after his death she married John
Price, father of Bro. Jimmie Price, who is with us today. Susan
married William Jordan Brantley, who is one of us today.
My mother, Rachael, was
the daughter of John Blakely, who was brought from Ireland as a babe.
My great grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. My
grandfather Blakely was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Uncle Harvey Travis is
now 81 years old, and was feeling somewhat feeble today. He was
married twice, his first wife being Mary Brantley, they had nine
children. His second wife was a widow, Mary Ford Crowell, together
they had nine children. Of these eighteen children, fourteen are
living and are with us today.
Miss Mina Wheeler read a
paper on the characteristics of Grandma Travis, familiarly known as
"Aunt" Rachael. Such a strong pen likeness was the paper
of the sainted old woman, that those who knew her in her life time
could see her in the touching simple words of the writer.
There were appropriate
recitations and songs by the little children Silvia Alvatine and
Vernie Travis, and Ina and Sylvan Price.
****
Uncle James Harvey
Travis lived several more years and attended several more Travis
family reunions. He died at his home, six miles east of Marion, on
Feb. 25, 1908, in his ninety-second year.
He was the oldest Mason
in Kentucky, having joined the lodge at Princeton in 1839. At the
time of his death he was a member of Zion Hill Lodge at Weston. His
burial was held under the auspices of that lodge at the Crowell
graveyard.
He was born near
Copperas Springs schoolhouse, Dec. 5th, 1816, twenty six years before
Marion was laid out and never lived further than ten miles from where
he was born.
James Harvey Travis was
held in high esteem by all who knew him. Many of his descendants are
still living today. (He was my Great Great Grandfather.)
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