KEY CITY OF THE MOUNTAINS
YT it
VOLUME XLII
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY AUGUST 4, 1927
NUMBER THIRTY-ONE
1
mm & fill
7M REUNION OF
SILER FAMILY
Noted Family Meets Today
at Camp Nikwasi Many
Expected to Attend From
All Parts of United States.
Descendants of Weimar Silef will
'gather here today for their ' annual
xecunion. It will be the seventy-sixth
consecutive reunion, or ramily Meet
ing." as the Sihjrs call it. '
The meetings were begun back in
1853, when the four sons of Weimar
siler and their- 'families gathered
around the" festive board on New
Year s, and decided to make the re
union an annual affair. They and
their descendants have met each year
since, at the home of some member
of the family living here in Macon
county.
The family is widely scattered now,
and Silers from many states are ex
ected today. It is not unusual, in
act, for cousins frdm the , Pacific
coast to journey to Macon county
primarily to attend the Family Meet
ing, always held the first Thursday
in August.
Strangely enough, . there probably
-will be less than a dozen adult males
bearing the surname of Siler. Aside
from the . fact that the Silers are
scattered all' over the United States,
they, as a member of the family put
it, are "the galinest set of folks any
body ever heard of," arid this of
course makes for obliteration of the
family name. As a matter of fact, a
creditable proportion of the population
of Macon county is descended of
Weimar Siler, but the name Siler is
extremely rare here. . ,
The Siler family reunion, it is
said, is perhaps one of the oldest, if
not the oldest, in the South, and it
has an interesting history. - '
Weimar Siler's parents came from
Cermany. To, quote a letter written
by a lineal descendant of the first
emigrant, penned after a careful in
vestigation: "In the year 1741 a boat left its
moorings high up in Germany in the
classic banks of the Rhine, laden with
emigrants bound for America. At
Rotterdam they took a sea-going ves
sel and were landed on American
shores. One of the party of emi
grants was a small, dark-skinned
youth of 22 years, bearing the name
, of Plikard Dedefic Siler, born . in
Germany May 29, 1719. . Another was
a sprightly, blue-eyed girl of 14 sum
mers, whose name was Elizabeth
Hartsoe, born in Germany September
29, 1727. These two became attached
to each other during the long voyage.
A few years after, young Siler, under
a law of the times, paid in leaf to
bacco for the privilege of marrying
Elizabeth, and they settled down as
man and wife in Pennsylvania."
I The name "Siler" "originally signi
fied a rope-maker, or perhaps a deal
er in or worker with ropes," the same
... .
letter relates.
Drawn bv the fact that they had
heard that "sweet potatoes could be
grown in North Carolina," Plikard
Siler and his wife migrated to this
state, settling near, what is now Siler
City, where they are buried.
His son, Weimar Siler, ancester of
the Silers who gather annually for
their "Family Meetings" first located
in South Carolina, later removing to
Buncombe.
It was from that' county that his
four sons. William. Jesse Richardson,
Jacob, and John migrated to Macon
county, being among the county's first
settlers. Atter becoming comtortaDiy
situated here, they returned to, Bun
combe for their aged parents.
It Was the families of these four
brothers who first began to gatehr
annually for a reunion, but the fami
lies and . descendants of their three
sisters later were included, thus bring
ing to the Family Meetings the Low-
rys. the Weavers, and the hashes
Todav s meeting will be held at a
somewhat unusual place, tamp Nik
wasi, near Franklin, property of Miss
Laura M. Jones, great-granddaughter
of William Siler. But except for the
unusualness of the meeting place, the
day probably will go as most of them
dothe program varies little.
The big picnic dinner will be spread
on out-of-door tables under the shade
of trees. The tables , will be loaded
with good things to eat prepared
with the utmost care by Siler house
wivo. A hush will fall over the as
semblage, while a minister Says grace,
an itm that is never omitted. There
will be baskets of food left over, and
this will be put away to be carried
to members of the family who are ill
and unable to attend, or to others
who are ill. , ,
The meeting will be opened unless
an' almost invariable rule is broken
with the singing of "Blest Be The Tie,
BOY SCOUTS IN
.NOVEL SHOW
The Macon County Court
House Will be Scene of a
Novel Entertainment Sat
urday Night.
"The Puppet Show" is to be staged
at the courthouse Saturday evening at
8:30, sponsored by the boy scouts.
something new. novel, entertaining,
entirely different from anything that's
ever been given here.
It is not a circus. But Sis Goose,
Brer Rabbit, Fox, Tiger, Lion, Dog
and Mr. blephant will all be there
dressed in their very best. In the
first act the small puppets will come
out and perform the miniature stage
Have you ever seen a rabbit laugh, or
a fox snore, or a dog cry?. Be sure
to come out Saturday ' night and see
all this.
Aunt Appcline, the old black mam
my has charge of these cunning crea
tures and they dance, they . sing, in
fact they do most everything.' "
Then the bov scouts will put on
the second act ' ' They are puppets
too, life sized ones. They are those
same animals on a larger scale and
playing a different role. Besides the
acting they ' have a. vnarleston and
Clog contest alt but Mr. Elephant
As a grand finale, however Mr. Ele
phant comes.- out and dances with
so much grace and skill her carries off
all the honors. .
"The Puppet Show" has its head
quarters in Thomaston,, Ga. They
played ni Atlanta, July 14.
Mrs. G. A. Alexander, formerly in
charge of English and public speak
ing in the State 'University, after see
ing this performance said, 1 he fup-
pet show, given by Misses Dallas
and Holman is unique and entertain
ing." It fills the hearts of children
with- purest glee, and makes older
people young again. .The costuming
and setting are most artistic, and the
story material excellent. The only re
gret one can possibly have concerning
this show is that it ends."
This company comes to us from
North Georgia, where they gave a
series of programs. In. Athens they
played at the University of Georgia
Summer school, tan-haven Hospital
and Georgian Hotel. One of the most
enthusiastic audiences was Thursday
evening. July 28 at Camp. Dixie.
They come highly recommended
the only company of this kind in the
entire South so don t miss this nove
entertainment. It is to be at the
courthouse at 8:30. The children, as
well as the grown ups, will enjoy it
Everybody come. You all saw "Rose
Time a fair sample ot productions
sponsored by the boy scouts. Well
this is even better, and something
entirely different. It is to be at
the courthouse, Saturday, August 6,
at 8:30 o'clock. " .
NATIONAL DAIRY
EXPOSITION
To Be Held at Memphis
Oct. . 15-22 First Time
This Show Has Been Held
in South.
ITHilS OF NEWS
ANNUAL BANQUET
FROM HIGHLANDS CAMP TAUKEETAH
Cannery Building Completed
Mr. Zcb Conley, in charge of the
construction of the new cannery build
ing, reports that the structure is com
pleted and Is now ready for the in
stallation of the machinery. Those in
charge of the cannery state -that the
machinery will be put in place this
week and that the cannery should be
ready for operation by the middle of
next week. The Press was unable to
tarn just what farm produce it is
planned to can first. Probably an
announcement concerning this matter
will appear in next week s Press.
That Binds," " and T. J. Johnston,
chairman, will call the meeting to
order with a gavel cut from the his
toric tree under which Siler and
William Britton held a pow-wow with
the Cherokee Indian chieftain, San
teetlah, in 1818
There will be the, minutes of the
last meeting, the usual good-natured
jibes at the spinsters and bachelors,
the - demands for speeches - from the
newly weds, -and the reports of com
mittees, including that which reports
deaths of Silers during the year past.
Today s meeting, despite the jests
and surface good cheer, will be over
cast with madness, for all know that
the ogituary committee must report
the passing, just a fortnight ago, of
the. venerable "Cousin Tom" Gray, be
loved and respected kinsman and citi
zen, who for more than half a cen
tury served as secretary ,of the Siler
Family Meeting, thus realizing one of
the fondest ambitions of his life. A
silver loving cup was presented hni
by the family in 1922. at the con
clusion of his service of 50 years.
He had been ,. an invalid for two
years, and had urged the election 6f
a successor, but the family declined !
to consider the suggestion, and his
son, J. M. Gray, of Raleigh, has
served as acting secretary. ; i
That the farmers of Macon county
may realize the importance of at
tending the National Dairy Exposition
to be held at Memphis , on Oteober
15-22 the Press is publishing below
the program and other infromation
concerning this show. The county
agent is anxious to have a large dele
gation from Macon county attend.
The trip will be made by auto, the
nights being spent in camp along the
route:
The National Dairy exposition . is
"the picture-story of a great industry."
It is the annual round-up of national
dairy interests, bringing together pro
gressive dairymen from all sections
of the country and picturing every
branch of dairying from the cow on
the farm through to the producer.
. - Dairymen who want to improve
their herds and increase their profits
will find the exposition of great value
Farmers whq desire to diversify their
activities can secure valuable first
hand knowledge about the dairy busi
ness. Manufacturers and handlers of
dairy products will find much that
will help in their business.
Here are some of the important
things for you to see and do.
Sn the WorfdY Best Dairy Cattle
One thousand head of purebred
dairy cattle from the leading herds of
the country .will compete for prizes
in the show ring.
An exhibit of good grade cows with
production records the kind that far
mers can profitably keep; .
One hundred calves owned by 4-H
club boys and girls from many states,
illustrating the development of dairy
ing and the improvement of cattle re
sulting from club work.
Other cattle exhibits, showing how
to improve quality and increase prof
it through breeding up dairy herds.
Daily dcmonsrations and lectures on
cattle selection, feeding and herd
management, giving easy-to-learn les
sons in profitable dairy husbandry.
The dairy industry, which is the
leading branch of American agricul
ture, maintains its own National Dairy
exposition, the largest of the kind in
the world. The objects of, the expo
sition are the improvement and de
velopment of dairying in all of its
branches. '
Exhibit of Everything for Dairying
Interesting Locals and Oth
er News From Macon
County's Popular Moun
tain City.
We have been having clear, delight
ful weather recently in Highlands,
and a touch of the city in having
a big and successful land auction sale.
Yes, the barbecue was just right and
the band fine.
The tri-weekly dances, given at the
Highlands Health center by Miss
Margaret Harry for benefit of the
local Red Cross are 'not only largely
attended, but a source of much en
joyment to residents and visitors as
well.
An interesting business transaction
was the purchase of the handsome
Whittle home by W. W. Sullivan.
of Anderson, S. G, the , deal being
consummated by Pierson and Staub.
. .We are glad to report work has al
ready begun on our. big golf course.
The lake basin is being cleared and
rubbish burned as the first progressive
step in this work.
Interest in the progress of . this
course is further stimulated by the
presence in Highlands recently of
Messrs. Scott Hudson and Donald
Ross, golf course architect, Hal Hentz,
the architect commissioned to design
the club house, and Colonel Henry
Robertson, attorney, all of whom were
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Nes
bitt Evins. - i
A bazaar was held at Highlands Inn,
for the benefit of a proposed Com
munity Club house. Refreshments
were served and numerous beautiful
and useful articles were on sale.
Among our well-known summer visi
tors are former Governor Hugh Dor-
sey and family of Atlanta, who are
spending a few weeks at the summer
place of Mr. C. A. Sisson, of Atlanta.
First Tern! Closed With De
lightful Entertammerifc-2
Town ' Guests Present
Honors Awarded.
DEATH CALLS
MRS. JUD WEST
Exhibits of equipment and supplies
for the dairy farm separators, milk
ers, stanchions, light plants, feed
grinders, farm machinery, ect. every
thing needed in out-fitting the modern
dairy
Competitive exhibits of dairy prod
ucts from the leading dairy states,
showing samples of the best butter,
cheese and other dairy products.
A wonderful display by the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, showing
results of research work for herd im
provement, profitable milk production
and marketing of dairy products.
"Dairying in Dixieland, a new and
unusual exhibit by agricultural colleges
of ten states, visualizing the rapidly
growing dairy industry of the South
and helping to promote turther
growth.
The National Dairy Councils attrac
tive display, showing the need of milk
and its products in the diet for the
maintenance of health and strength. '
Educational Work i A Feature
Contests, demonstrations and edu
cational features by and for club stu
dents, 4-H club members, high school
students and farmers.
Motion picture program daily, giv
ing interesting and useful information
for dairymen.
Meetings and conferences daily, at- j
tended by leadingdairymen and-agri-cultural
leaders from every state.
Trips and Excursion
Memphis is easily reached by good
roads from practically all of the
Southern Mississippi Valley. Hotel
accomodations arc ample and in the
latter part of October the weather
Mrs. Jud West, 35, died at her
home in Franklin July 26. The de
ceased was the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. S. W. Womack and was marrie
in 1910. For years she was a faith
ful and energetic member of th
Franklin Baptist church and had
large circle of relatives and friend
who were grieved to learn of her
death. The remains were interred at
the new cemetery, her pastor, Rev
George Steed, preaching the funera
oration.
The deceased is survived by her
husband and two boys, Daniel and
J. L. West.
W. O. W. Rally
Woodmen of the World and their
friends wil gather at the . courthouse
here Saturday night at 8 o'clock for
a rally, at which speakers of the
order will explain in detail feature
of the organization, and its benefits.
The speakers will include W. n
Grogan, Jr., of Brevard, and Grant
Matthews, the orders national Iec
turer.
In addition to the addreses, there
will be plenty of music. Vocal sclec
tions will be rendered by the Dalton
quartet, "Whistling Rufus, Sam Cun
ningham, and Hal Zachary will fur
nish instrumental musical numbers ;
and from Dillard, Ga., will come the
toiiowing musicians: m nopper, run
Lamb, G. C. Howard, A. L. Howard,
and Earnest Henson.
Officials of the order's local camp
expect the rally to be largely attend
ed..'.
Apartment House
Mr. Georece Wurst is making prog
ress on his new apartment house
next to the home of Dr. and Mrs.
Frank Smith on Harrison Avenue.
should be fine for a trip. County t Including the basement this house will
agents, agricultural college people and : be four stories in height. At first
vyitscuiauvta aic vi '"""S i MT. i WUrSt lniCnOCO 10 OU1KI : Only
tours and excursions trom manyse
tions. Get in touch with them or see
your creamery-man or milk dealer to
learn about plants from your neigh
borhood. -
This is a lifetime opportunity. The
exposition has never before, been held
in the South. Come for ",a week or-,
two stories over the basement. Later
hef! decided to make - a roof . garden
as an extra story. Now he is coni
sidcring the advisability of turning
the roof garden into an apartment.
Mr. Wurst states that he has appli
cations for alt the apartments in the
building. One man ' also wishes to
come for a day but be Sure tO Come, rent th atwenlMt whirh is ntirtv
There will be something entertaining, above ground, as dwelling place. Mr.
ami usciui ior you to see anu ao i Wurst has d"Hcd to name, his new
every minute of your stay. ! apartment building The Orlando.
The annual banquet was held at
Camp Ttaukeetah Saturday evening,
July 30, in celebration of the closing
of the first term of camp. It was
a joyous group of campers, all in
their whitest of camp clothes, who
assembled at the mess hall. But was
it the same mess hall ? That, too,
was in its banquet dress. The color
scheme of green, brown, and white,
was carried out by dainty little place
cards bearing the camp monogram
and a wee green candle at the side.
burning brightly. There were taj!
burning candles down the centers of
the green and white tables : and the
basket of summer flowers swinging
from the ceiling made complete the
festive scene.
Miss Maude Merrimon acted as
toast mistress, and under her charm
ing lead clever songs were sung to
the town gueses and others. The
toasts were . cunning, serious, and
otherwise, offered amid enthiusiasm
and cheering. They were: Welcome
Alice Carmichael; To our Guests
Louise Harrison; Response Mr.
George Patton ; To Miss Patton .
Frances Harrison; Response Miss
Patton; To the Councillors Niu
Hoffman j Response Elizabeth Pay
lor ; To Friends Mary Rucker; Tft
Lessons Margaret Weil; To Ten
nisEllen Douglas Bush ; To Horse
back Riding Douglas Long; To Hik
ing Catherine Hardeman; To Swim
mingRosalie Harrison; To Horse
shoesMargaret Franks; To Dancing
Kitty Pierce ; To The Taukeetah
Tattler Loretta Sparrow.
The climaxe of the program, how
ever, was the awardipg of the honor
emblems the camp , monogram and
letter, and the swimming ribbons won
in the meet. It, was with the great
est thought that all campers had
voted upon that girl to whom the
honorary title of "Camp Spirit" was
to be given. It must be bestowed
upon her who gave to each sport
and activity of every kind her best;
who had been not necessarily the
one who excelled, but the one who
responded with a willing and never- '
grumbling attitude. There was no
doubt of the concensus of camp opin
ion, when the heartiest of cheers and
clapping greeted the announcement
that "Camp Spirit" was to be Nina
Hoffman. Miss Hoffman is from
Mount Airy, N. C, and has meant
much to camp life.
The swimming ribbons were award
ed as follows: Diving first place,
Douglas Long; second place, Kitty
Pearce; third place Mary Jane Foote.
In the Senior swimming meet: First
place, Trudie Carver; second place,
Mary Long Benbow; third place, Kit
ty Pearce. In the Junior swimming:
First place, Ada Trotter; second
place, Rosalie Harrison; third place,
Agnes Leake.
Other honors bestowed were: The
camp monogram, to Nina Hoffman,
Catherine Franks. Mary Long Ben-
bow, Billie Burke, and Rosalie Harri
son. The camo letter, to Margaret
White. Marian Weil, Margaret Weil,
Fern Harllee, Louise Stone, Frances
Tones. Carolvn Welch. Kitty Pearce,
Mary Rucker. Agnes Leake, and Mar
garet Franks. These honors were
awarded according to the point sy- - -tern,
bv which each camp activity out
side the regular program participated
in, counts so many points.
After the banquet, a program of
entertainment was presented in the
odee. Stunts were given under the
direction of Miss ; -Loretta Sparrow.
A dance concert vs given by the
camp' orchestra, u- 'er the direction
of Miss Elizabeth C-Msey.-Miss Cau- -ey
has done much :ood work in or
ganizing her orchestra and arranging
the vaudeville acts that always cn-
iven its programs.
CORRECTION
Through a typographical error in
the list of the county's teachers,
published in last week's Issue of the
ress," the school ct Clark s Chapd
was not listed, and the names of
the , two teachers at Patton's were
ommitted, making it appear that Mis
ses May Carpenter and Ruth Higdon
were the teachers at Patton's.
Misses Carpenter and Higdon, as a
matter of fact, are teaching at Clarke's
Chapel, and the list as it came from
the county superintendent's office
shows that the . teachers at Patton's.
arc Missos Marv Louise .Porter an J
annic May Recce.