The 96th Collett-McKay picnic was held last Saturday on the four acre tract, on the Gurneyville Rd., owned by the picnic association. This land is a part of the Military Survey No. 2280 which was bought by the pioneer Moses McKay Oct. 16, 1810.

Mr. B. M. McKay of New Burlington, has the original land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The memorial posts at the gateway are marked by bronze tablets giving a brief history of the two families.

The immigrant ancestors were Stephen Collett from France, and Robert and Margaret McKay from Scotland. The pioneer ancestors, Daniel and Mary Haines Collett from Jefferson Co., Va., (now W. Va.) came to Clinton County in 1812, and Moses and Abigail Shinn McKay came from Frederick Co., Va., to Warren County in 1818.

The first picnic was held in 1866 and each succeeding year the relatives and friends have met and enjoyed the family relationship together.

One hundred and 97 signed the register this year. The relatives who came from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Everett J. Nickerson of Arlington, Calif.; Jennie Graham from Colton, Calif.; Margaret Carr from Elizabeth, N. J.; and Mrs. Ellen Little Probert, Mr. John B. C. Probert, Mr. Richard H. Probert III and Mr. James B. Probert from Grosse Pointe, Mich.

As usual Clinton, Greene and Warren Counties were well represented and relatives came from Norwalk, Columbus, Washington C. H., Bloomingburg, Mt. Sterling, Springfield, Dayton, Kettering, West Carrollton, Oxford, Glendale, Milford and Cincinnati.

The Rev. C. A. Arthur of Leesburg, a former pastor of the New Burlington Methodist Circuit, and his wife were present, and the Rev. Arthur said grace before the meal was enjoyed.

The day was beautiful and friends and relatives enjoyed the usual afternoon of visiting.

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