reunion 2011

1955 – 2011
With the passing of Elva Jarvis on April 30, 2011, the Jarvis family dynasty of rural Collison, Illinois, came to an end exactly 112 years after Charles Avery Jarvis took Ethel May Byerly as his bride on April 30, 1899. Throughout the early years, in the twentieth century, they raised nine children to adulthood and looked on as grandchildren and great-grandchildren added to the numbers of Jarvis relatives. As the years moved forward, Elva, being the youngest and an organizer, was chosen to rally the family to return to the old homestead for a family reunion in 1955. and return we did. The first Annual Jarvis Reunion led to following years at the family farm and as the family grew, it expanded to Kickapoo State Park and eventually to our final meeting place of Kennekuk County Park in Danville. A copy of Elva's 1958 Reunion (4th Annual) notice is shown below. It was sent to Nina Taylor and family. It looks as if Elva wanted Nina to write more often.

AND NOW WE PREPARE TO MEET AGAIN

Snail Mail was sent to all the Jarvis Cousins in
June. If you didn't receive an announcement by mail, this tells it all. See ya there, cuz. Remember to bring something for the auction.

The day has been reserved for the 56^thannual Jarvis Cousins Reunion to be held at Kennekuk Park in Danville on July 10, 2011.

The first annual Jarvis Reunion was held at the old homestead farm outside Danville in 1955. Nine brothers and sisters, along with seven spouses gathered with their children to honor the heritage that Charles and Ethel Jarvis had established in 1900.

Jarvis Cousins in1955
Back row-Ann Tutwiler (holding Davie Castello), Patti Devine (holding ?), Kay Tutwiler (holding Diana Taylor),
Donna Hickman (holding?), Dick Hickman, Ronnie Turner.
Middle row-J. C. Jarvis, Jackie Devine (holding Rickie Taylor), Sharon Jarvis (holding Debbie Turner).
Front row- Joe Jarvis, Mike Jarvis, Janice Jarvis, Charlie Jarvis, and Terri Jarvis
Missing from photo-Marilyn Jarvis, Dave Jarvis, Mike Tutwiler.

New cousins in 1955 with parents

Looks like Grandma thought we should have a reunion in 1935

The first eight of the 21 Jarvis Cousins. Keith and Jack were the babies in 1935.
Dean Taylor, Edna Taylor, Bill Turner, Jack Taylor ( on Grandpa's lap), Merle Turner, Keith Turner (on Grandma's lap), Bob Taylor, and May Tutwiler in front.