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All relatives were expected to attend the party. The group was usually large.
Later, in late July or early August, the annual Gugle family reunion was held on the north side of Hogback Lake, southeast of LeRoy. There was no facilities there, in fact nothing but beautiful pine trees and the lake. The "dressing rooms" for changing into bathing suits were the thick bushes away from the group.
The affair usually started out with much enthusiasm and excitement. The younger ones went swimming, after hounding their parents that the necessary hour to wait after eating was long over even though a few minutes had passed since they had gulped down their last mouthful of food. Food and homemde ice cream were always in good supply.
Not too long after everyone arrived, it was not uncommon to see a couple or three of the oldest members seclude themselves from the rest of the group and begin whispering to each other possibly about what another member was supposed to have said, did, or did not do. While the younger generations were finding their fun doing various pleasurable activities, a bit of excitement was being generated by word of mouth by these few and the gossip soon spread to the other older ones. However, most everyone left the reunion with a feeling of gladnes but the "feuding" sometimes went on for days afterward when the perpetrator who had cause the excitement, had taken the train to return home.
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It was doubtful that Grandpa had any formal education. But he survived quite well graduated from the "school fo hard knocks." There were rumblings that he was lazy and shiftless and that Grandma carried the load. Neighbors once told that on a cold rainy morning, she was seen herding the cattle in the pasture while he was still "in the sac."
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Grandpa's admiration for Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany was strong because he said, "The Kaiser is a good man. He goes to church with the Bible under his arm."
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As a rule the Gugle family, "Harmonized" very well. I know of no permanent grudges that were held for any duration because those desiring to spoke their minds. Tragedies, weddings, births and accomplishments of any family member were treated with the same feel of sympathy and joy.
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It ia evident that Grandpa's goal was to instill certain values of character in his offspring: honesty, love of God, and loyality. Anyone serious of such aims surely could not have been without ambition all the time. Also, anyone compelled to battle his way to live almost 99 years, raising a large family through difficult times had to have some get-up-and-go.
I am sure I speak for many of us who knew him that he was a "grand old man" who we are glad to have had the opportunity to know.
- Bernice Leemgraven Bovenif
Many of his characteristics come to mind as I reminisce about Grandpa. For one, he liked to tease and would sneak up behind you, tug on your hair, then laugh at your startled reaction. He was of short stature, had a beard and seems to shuffle somewhat when he walked, probably because of what age and a hard life had done to him. Even then, he seemed old to me and he was.
If I remember correctly, his eyes were light brown in color and not "yellow" as stated in the army's Description Book when he joined. According to their records he was five and a half feet tall, complexion fair.
I recall his admiration for Kaiser Wilhelm and his knowledge of the laws of Germany. When one of his grandsons was about to leave for Germany during World War I he told him, "When you see Kaiser Wilhelm, please wish him well for me." His grandson's reply was, "If I ever get close to that kaiser, I hope to get him between the eyes."
Grandpa was a religious man. He accurately quoted scriptures from the Bible to support his convictions. One of the strongest seemed to be his favoring of capitol punishment, referring to the Old Testament's "eye for an eye." When he first moved to the area, he attended the German Evangelical Church of LeRoy where the Nazarene Church is now located. He also attended the German Evangelical Church in Hersey. I recall Reverend Voelker as one of best friends who call on him often. They communicated in German.
In later years he attended the LeRoy Methodist Episcopal Church, walking two miles each way. As I recall, he usually sat in the second row from the front. He said his hearing was failing him and wasn't as good as it was years ago. It's doubtful that he heard any of the sermon anyway because he slept through most of the service. But he was there physically and to him that is what counted.
Grandpa's day started with the down-on-your-knees prayer in the living room following the scripture readings directly after breakfast each day. Quite often the prayers were said in German and they were lengthy. On Good Friday he arose before sunrise but did not eat until after the sun went down at night. I once asked my grandmother, "Why does he do so long without food?" She explained that it was a German custom of self-sacrifice and grew out of his praying to be returned to his family while being held prisoner in the War Between the States.
He seemed to adhere somewhat to the laws of Germany as they were when he left there. I remember one time when he noticed two tains following each other rather closely> He glanced at the clock and said, " Not so in Germany. They must be a half hour apart."
Grandpa Gugle passed away March 16, 1937. He was 98 years, 10 months, and 18 days of age. He lived a long and not one of us could say the entire time was easy, although he seemed to take one day at a time. He left several children, grand children, great-grandchildren, and even great-great grand children, five generation in all.
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Grateful acknowledgement, appreciation, and many thanks to Nancy Belville for typing the many pages, Ruth Gugle Jacobs for her help in assembling the pictures, and to all the rest of you for your generous help and suppestions, donations or photos and information for compiling the history of our family.
Bernice Leemgraven Boven, great granddaughter