THE UTTERBACK FAMILY ENJOYED REUNION SATURDAY
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 8, 1927
Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Utterback, Well Known Former Mills County People Honor Guests at Reunion Held in Bluffs Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Utterback, of Henningford, Nebraska, have been visiting relatives and old time friends the past week in the vicinity of Tabor and Glenwood, Iowa, and on Sunday, September 4th, a reunion was held at the home of his sister, Mrs. Emma Kesterson, of 25th street and Avenue F, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Relatives to the number of thirty were present the day was perfect and the time passed all too quickly, but all who were there, enjoyed themselves, to the utmost. Dinner was served, cafeteria style with all the good things imaginable. The afternoon was spent visiting and with all kinds of music, old time songs, and taking groups of pictures, it soon came time to say good-bye.
It had been five years since this group of people last met, so every minute was enjoyed.
Those present were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Utterback and Aubrey Garrett, of Henningford, Nebraska; Guy Utterbacks and wife and son, Richard, and daughter, Mildred, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Garrett, of Thurman, Iowa; Mrs. Goldia Thomas, son, Guy, and daughter Mae, of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Townsend and children, Alvin, Mae Elmer, and William; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kesterson and children; Eddyth Donlan, Robert, and Emil Joy; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kesterson and daughters, Ruth and Dixie, all of Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Sawyer and son, Randall, and Mr. and Mrs. A.S. Sawyers, of Glenwood, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Utterback, the honor guest of the day, remained Sunday night in the Kesterson home and departed for their home at Henningford, Nebraska, Monday, where they have lived the past five years prior to that time they were residents of Rawles Township. They motored through and stood the trip fine.
UTTERBACK FAMILY REUNION SUNDAY AT MRS. SAWYERS HOME
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 6, 1934
Some 50 Relatives Attended Second Annual Reunion of Prominent Pioneer Family, Meet Next Year in Council Bluffs.
Some 50 persons attended the second annual Utterback family reunion which was held Sunday, Sept. 2 in the home of Mrs. Estella Utterback Sawyers southeast of Glenwood.
A bountiful pot luck dinner was enjoyed at noon, after which President Guy Utterback presided over a short business session, at which time the following officers for the coming year were elected: President, Guy Utterback, Thurman; secretary and treasurer, Mable Seeger, Council Bluffs; historian, Mrs. Estella Sawyers, Glenwood.
It was decided to hold next year's reunion in the home of Mrs. Emma Kesterson in Council Bluffs.
Following this business session a music program was enjoyed consisting of several instrumental selections, revealing the fact that this is really a musically talented family. The feature of the afternoon's program was the rendition of an old song, "Twilight is Stealing," by the three Utterback sisters, Mrs. Estella Sawyers, Mrs. Mattie Garrett, and Mrs. Emma Kesterson. These ladies all daughters of the late Addison Utterback, a prominent pioneer farmer and one-time county treasurer of Mills county, sang this song together as girls, and their rendition of it Sunday carried many of the older persons present back in memory to years agone.
The following brief but interesting historical sketch of the family was read by Mrs. Estella Sawyers:
Friday, Aug. 11, 1933, marked the date of the first reunion of the descendants of Fielden and Sarah Terhune Utterback. There is a history of his family, in existence, stating that the first trace known of them was in the early part of 1600, where we find them near the river Maas in Holland. The Dutch name of Utherbah, which was translated in English to Utterback on arrival in America.
Fielden Utterback's parents emigrated to America in an early day, settling in Kentucky, later moving to Indiana where he was married to Sarah Terhune, whose ancestors were also from Holland, she being a near relative of Albert Payson Terhune, the author.
To the union of Fielden and Sarah Terhune Utterback was born 8 children, one of whom was Addison Utterback. He was born in Whitestown, Boone county, Ind., in 1843. In 1856 the family moved to Story county, Iowa. Later that same year they came to Mills county, where they remained, the children growing to manhood and womanhood, marrying, and rearing their families.
The first reunion was held with Martha Garrett, third child of Addison and Ann Utterback. It was decided to meet each year in commemoration of these splendid people.
In the past year, one birth, Martha Belle Maxwell; two marriages, Clifford Wolfe to Margaret Bell, and Marie Seeger to Everett Knop; and one death occurred, Kenneth Ray Kesterson.
Those who were present on this happy occasion were Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Booker, daughter Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Hedgecock, daughter Margie Lou and son George, and Mrs. Mattie Garrett, all of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Gus Seeger, daughter Betty and son Bill.
UTTERBACK FAMILY HOLDS 28TH REUNION AT PACIFIC JUNCTION
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 29, 1955
Thirty-one members of the Utterback family met Sunday, September 18, at the Pacific Junction Park. This was the 28th reunion.
The family traces back to Herman Utterback of the Bavarian Province, Germany, who came to America in 1620. There are 14 generations registered to date.
Guy Utterback of Bartlett is president and Mrs. Dan Ragland of Pacific Junction, is secretary for the coming year.
The oldest member to attend this year was Mrs. Estella Sawyers, 81 years, and the youngest was Timmy Garrett, seven months old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Garrett.
Those attending the picnic were: Mrs. Ruth Garrett, Mrs. Hugh Edwards and family, Bob Garrett and family, Aleen Davis and family, Bob Garrett and family, Aleen Davis and family, Dick Utterback and family, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Utterback, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sawyers, Mrs. Estella Sawyers, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Sawyers, Paul Utterback and family, Mrs. Donald Utterback and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Randall, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Ragland and family, Mrs. Lena Garrett, Charlie Williams, and Darrell Wolfe and family.
The 1956 reunion will be held at the Pacific Junction Park on the third Sunday in September.
