The 71st annual Collett-McKay picnic was held at the picnic grounds belonging to the families at the customary time, the second Saturday in August. Saturday was an ideal day for the picnic at the grounds where the woods were unusually beautiful and the growth of many young trees into size for shade trees was noted.

Large posts at the entrance of these grounds bear these inscriptions: "Collett - McKay picnic grounds. These families were united by marriages between 1823 and 1830. The first picnic was held in 1866." "In memory of our immigrant and pioneer ancestors, Stephen Collett from France, Robert and Margaret McKay from Scotland. Daniel and Mary Haines Collett emigrated from Jefferson County, Virginia to Clinton County, Ohio in 1812. Moses and Abigail Shinn McKay from Frederick County, Virginia to Warren County, Ohio in 1818."

The setting of the picnic grounds dedicated to this annual reunion is suitable in point of beauty and convenience to the purpose for which they are set aside.

Several family members who have not attended before were present Saturday. These included Mr. and Mrs. Merrell Isley and children, Mary, William and Caroline, who were passing through Wilmington on their return journey to Turkey where they are missionaries, and Mrs. Frances Wells, of Kansas, who was here for the first time in 41 years.

One innovation was made for the picnic. Souvenirs and keepsakes were brought and placed on a table near the register.

All the pictures of the picnic taken in past years, the first one in 1885, and clippings and accounts were placed there. For the first 14 picnics no register was kept but since then the records are accurate.

The Collett family tree containing 600 names, nine generations of 200 years, and the McKay family tree were exhibited. The original marriage certificate of Moses McKay and Abigail Shinn bearing the date, March 5, 1793, was on display.

Three hogsheads which are used for water have been worn out during the years of the picnics and a new one was in use Saturday.

The 71st annual Collett - McKay family reunion will be held at the usual place on Saturday, August 14th.

This is one of the oldest family gatherings in this section of the state. The original settlers were among the first of the whites to come into the wilds of a new country, long years ago.

The following verses, written by one whom we would like to name, but who desires to remain unmentioned, has given us the following, dedicated to this family gathering:

"Collett and Mc Kay"
You meet again to tell them o'er
  you Colletts and Mc Kays,
The stories of our birth and blood,
  and tales of long past days.
A list of noble forebears stands
  out along the line
From Bonny rugged Scotland and
  France's warmer clime;
For look in English history for An-
  drew Mc Kay,
The general of William of Orange
  on many victorious day.
And the Colletts, brave Hugenots,
  staid English refugees,
Feared not for sake of principle
  to cross the narrow seas.
For, settled once in England, pled-
  ged to the Union Jack,
They fought the papist foeman and
  drove the Frenchmen back.
In many a bloody conflict they
  fought for what was right
And drove from out of Ireland the
  papish Jacobite.
How boldly they fought them in
  water to the loin,
Against their persecutors at the
  battle of the Boyne.
How bravely they fought them his-
  torians proclaim
For with their fiercest enemies
  they gained a dreaded name.
As pioneers came they to Jona-
  than's welcoming shore
To war 'gainst Britain's tyranny
  and tell their story o'er.
And when the war clouds gather-
  ed between the several states
A Colonel McKay was ready our
  history relates.
A near-by shaft bears witness to
  loyalty, courage too:
The shame tells half the story,
  inspiring yet to you.
And yet in poring over the tales
  of Collett and Mc Kay
We find so much that's peaceful,
  all war thoughts pass away;
There are homely, cheerful fire-
  sides where love and peace a-
  bound,
Where welcoming hospitality was
  ever to be found.
No vain or false ambition strain-
  ed them ever into strife
Nor wrecked the silent flowing
  of their peaceful, quiet life.
Their churches were the centers
  of the family life as well,
And many a strange attendant did
  of their piety tell;
And jolly social gatherings, like
  one big family met,
Became at times historic, today
  they are so yet.
With all their pastoral living let
  me pause to state,
They sent one son to honor the
  Supreme court of the State,
And his descendant's name
  appears, with honor to be sure,
As author of "Highroad to Eng-
  lish Literature."
So, worthy this occasion to tell
  them o'er and o'er
The stories of our fathers who
  came from foreign shore,
To reminisce of times long past,
  of hardy pioneer
To trace the good example of
  sages and of seer.

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