CUMMINGS-GASTON-TOWNSEND REUNION
August 1, 1927
The annual reunion of the Townsend-Cummings-Gaston families was held in the park at Tabor on Thursday of last week with picnic dinner at noon. About sixty were present.
The date of this family gathering was especially planned to celebrate the eighteenth wedding anniversary of Rev. and Mrs. Elmert Galt, returned missionaries from China.
During the afternoon, both Mr. and Mrs. Galt gave interesting talks of their experiences in the Orient and displayed various Chinese costumes and pieces of hand work. Among those present
at the reunion were: Rev. and Mrs. Galt and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Phelps and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Warren of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Gaston of Shenandoah,
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Gaston of Madred, Ia.; Mrs. Ray Hurlbutt and two sons of Bellevue, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gilbert and family of Malvern, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Jones and Myron, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jones,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hulbutt and Lillian, Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Hurlbutt and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. V.A. Matthews and family, Mrs. E.H. Matthews and Maurice, Mr. and Mrs. George Gaston and Ralph, Mrs. Julia Gaston,
Thelma and Roberta; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Cumings and family, Mrs. Lucy Harrison and the Misses Agnes and Mabel Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman, Mrs. Riley Reeves and Grace, Mrs. Fannie Gilbert and Alice.
CUMINGS-GASTON-TOWNSEND REUNION HELD
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
August 19, 1937
The 23rd annual reunion of the Gaston, Cumings, Townsend families were held in the Congregational church parlors in Tabor Thursday noon. The officers re-elected are president, Arthur Cumings; vice president, V.A. Matthews;
recording secretary, Mrs. Ellen G. Hurbutt; corresponding secretary, Mrs. W.E. Gaston of Shenandoah.
The following program was given; piano solo, Grace Heeves of Percival; reading, Theoda Phelps of Glenwood; art exhibit and talk, Carl Phelps of Glenwood; group of poems read by Miss Catharine Cumings; written
by Miss Edith Galt was recitation, Mary Frances Weatherhead; reading, W.E. Gaston.
Many letters of greetings were read from absent relatives by Mrs. W.E. Gaston. Out of town relatives present included Mr. and Mrs. George Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Phelps and Theoda, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Warren
of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Gaston of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. G.I. McDonald, of Essex; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Robbins of Hastings; Mrs. Edith Lyman, Mrs. Riley Reeves, Grace and Robert of Percival.
CUMMINGS FAMILY REUNION HELD IN ONAWA SUNDAY
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
August 8, 1940
The annual Cumming's reunion was held Aug. 4 at Blue Lake Lodge, Lewis and Clark park near Onawa, Iowa. There were seventy present, including some visitors. After dinner a business meeting was held.
Officers elected were president, A.B. Hubbell, Bartlett; vice president, R.E. Mathews, Whiting; sec-treas., Otis M. Dean, Whiting.
Curtis Cummings of Des Moines came the greatest distance. The oldest person present was Robert Cummings of Whiting, who was 83 years old on August 2. The youngest was Nancy Ann Abbott who was 2 years
old on August 3. The couple married the longest were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cummings who celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on March 13. The afternoon was spent with music and visiting.
About 4 o'clock ice cream and cake were served, which closed the tenth annual reunion.
Those attending from Mills County were Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Hubbell, Glenwood, Mrs. Francis Abbott and Nancy Ann, Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Hubbell of Bartlett.
CUMMINGS-GASTON-TOWNSEND REUNION HELD HERE THURSDAY
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
August 12, 1940
The Gaston-Cummings-Townsend reunion was held in the Congregational church parlors Thursday, August 8, instead of the Glenwood Lake Park, as had been planned, because of the heavy rain that day.
A large number were unable to come because of the rain; but twenty-five members of these old families met for dinner and program.
Those from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Georgensen and son, Vincennes, Indiana, Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Gaston, Madrid, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. George Long of Lincoln, Nebr.
President George R. Gaston presided. The minutes of last year's meeting were read by Mrs. R.W. Hurlbutt. Letters were read from absent members.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, George Phelps; vice president, Myron Phelps; corresponding secretary, Mrs. W.E. Gaston; recording secretary, and treasurer, Mrs. R.W. Hurlbutt.
The treasurer's report showed a surplus in the treasury. It was decided to hold next year's reunion the first Thursday of August at Tabor.
GASTON AND CUMMING REUNION IN TABOR SUNDAY
August 19, 1943
The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Gaston, Cummings and Townshend families was held in the parlors of the Tabor Congregational Church Thursday, August 12.
Representatives were present from Page, Mills, and Fremont Counties, and from Omaha. Letters were read from members residing in Washington, D.C., Washington State, Oregon, California, Ohio and Kentucky.
Rumors regarding underground communications between old ante-Bellum, Tabor residences were completely exploded by letters from descendents of these old families.
The splendid spirit of the pioneer ancestors who came to south-western Iowa before there were wagon roads, to establish a Christian College and to help in destroying slavery, seemingly almost impossible,
and which sent their young men to fight with John Brown in Kansas, was shown to be still the possession of these children's as they heard the appeal of one of their number for a war-less world in the realization
of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth.
They realize that the abolition of slavery eighty years ago seemed as far away. God moves in mysterious ways; and His Kingdom may be nearer than we think.
About fifty gathered for the cafeteria dinner. The business session was called to order by President Myron C. Jones and the minutes read by the Secretary Mrs. E.H. Matthews. Letters gathered
by the corresponding secretary Mrs. W.E. Gaston were read.
Officers for the new year were elected as follows:
President, Myron C. Jones, Glenwood; Vice President Ed Gilbert, Tabor; Secretary, Mrs. E.H. Matthews, Tabor; Corresponding Secretary for the (thirtieth year), Mrs. W.E. Gaston, Shenandoah;
Chairman of dinner committee, 1944, Miss Agnes Harrison, Tabor. Place of meeting 1944, Tabor, on the second Thursday of August.
Attending from Glenwood were Mr. and Mrs. Myron C. Jones and two children, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Phelps and Gracie and Dr. and Mrs. Fred W. Long.
GASTON-CUMINGS, TOWNSEND REUNION
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 5, 1946
The annual reunion of the Gaston, Cumings and Townsend all related pioneer families was held in the Glenwood Congregational Parlors Thursday, August 29.
Forty-two were present from Page, Pottawattamie, Fremont and Mills Counties, including members of the families of George Phelps, Carl Phelps, Myron Jones, Ed Gilbert, Nora Matthews, Vern Matthews,
George Gaston, Mrs. W.E. Gaston, Sheldon Hurlbutt, Ralph and Joe H. Robbins, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hurlbutt, Dr. and Mrs. Fred W. Long, Mrs. Frances Rice, and others.
The oldest person present was Luella Jones, 87.
The oldest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hurlbutt, 84.
Joe H. Robbins of Los Angeles came the greatest distance.
After a bountiful dinner, a piano duet by the Misses Grace and Reba Phelps opened a brief program. Carl Phelps gave an interesting cartoon-chalk-talk.
Some old songs were sung with Mrs. Lillian Hurlbutt McDonald as accompanist, concluding with "Home on the Range."
Mrs. Mary King Gaston, the corresponding secretary, read letters from Arthur Cumings, L.O. Gaston, Alta C. Galt, Clark Cumings, Alonzo Gaston, Ethel H. Zimmer, Agnes Harrison, Irene Cumings, Gladys Cutter,
and gave reports from many others.
The following were elected officers for the coming year; President, George Phelps; Vice-president, Dale Matthews; Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. Nora Matthews; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. W.E. Gaston
