The descendants of Michael O'Brien and Nellie (McDermott) O'Brien have been holding family reunions since the 1950s. The last time an "official" count of the descendants, in about 1991, indicated there were over 400 living descendants.
Family Reunions were held every year, in the earlier years rotating from the family homes of O'Brien "children." As the family grew beyond the capacity to hold the reunions at someone's home or farm the reunions changed location to a park. As a child I traveled with my family to reunions in Darlington, Stevens Point, Union Grove and Manitowoc.
As the "children" of Michael and Nellie became too old to make the exhausting journeys to a family reunion the "grandchildren" decided to hold the reunions every other year. That decision occurred in the 1990s. The reunions are now held the 3rd Sunday in June in odd numbered years at the Old Settlers Park in Union Grove. |
