To the children and grandchildren of my 2X
great-grandfather James Franklin Jollett, the Jollett Reunion was the most
important event of the year. Not even the announcement that the war was over
could divert attention away from preparations for the family gathering. The ever-anticipated
annual event was held at the home of James Franklin and his second wife Eliza Jane near Harriston in Augusta
County, Virginia, just outside the town limits.
Photos from the reunions suggest there were several
traditions: a photo of James Franklin with his eight adult children, one with
him and his children along with their spouses, a 4-generation photo, and
finally a photo of everyone who attended that day.
Tradition 1 - James Franklin and Children
 |
| Believed to be the first Reunion 1916 Standing: Burton Lewis, Victoria Breeden, Sally Clift, Mary Frances Davis, Leanna Knight, Laura Sullivan, Emma Coleman Seated: Eliza Jane, James Franklin, Ulysses |
 |
| 1921 or 1923 Reunion Standing: Ulysses Jollett, Laura Sullivan, Leanna Knight, Mary Frances Davis, Sally Clift, Vic Breeden Seated: Emma Coleman, James Franklin Jollett and wife Eliza Jane |
 |
| Probably 1929 - James Franklin's last reunion Seated: James Franklin and Eliza Jane Standing: Emma, Laura, Mary Frances, Sally, Vic, Ulysses |
Tradition 2 - James Franklin, Children, and Spouses
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| Reunion 1919 Standing: Decatur and Vic Breeden, Jack and Emma Coleman, Sally Clift, Laura Sullivan, James Franklin Jollett, Mary Frances Davis, Eliza Jane Jollett, Walter Davis Seated: Will Sullivan, Ulysses and Sadie Jollett |
 |
| Reunion 1921 or 1923
Standing: Laura Sullivan, Sadie and Ulysses Jollett, Leanna Knight,
Mary Frances and Walter Davis, Sally Clift, Vic and Decatur
Breeden, James Ira Sullivan (adopted)
Seated: Will Sullivan, Jack and Emma Coleman, James Franklin
and Eliza Jane Jollett
|
Tradition 3 - Four Generations
 |
| Reunion 1921 or 1923 Standing: Minnie Coleman Maiden Seated: Emma Coleman, James Franklin Jollett, Virginia Maiden |
 |
| Reunion 1925 Standing: My grandfather Orvin Davis Seated: Mary Frances Davis holding Orvin Jr, James Franklin Jollett |
Tradition 4 - The Whole Fam Damily
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| 1921 or 1923 Reunion - this is the photo in the blog header |
This is the Family Portrait that hangs in my “gene cave,”
the photo that inspired my mother to start her search for the Jollett family,
which in turn inspired me to take up the cause as well.
 |
| The Jolletts Standing: Mary Frances Davis, Sally Clift, Vic Breeden, Leanna Knight Seated: Emma Coleman, Ulysses Jollett, Laura Sullivan |
Amy Johnson Crow continues to challenge genealogy
bloggers and non-bloggers alike to think about our ancestors and share a story
or photo about them. The challenge is “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.”
Wendy
© 2019, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
Wow, you are SO lucky to have so many family portraits! I might have to borrow your technique of using a table to list identifications by number. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I have an idea for you for a change since I get so many from you.
DeleteGood for them to have the foresight to realize how important family pictures are!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I wonder who had a camera.
DeleteThis is so neat and what is really great about it is that you know a lot of the people's names on that big picture. That is pretty impressive!
ReplyDeletebetty
I surprised myself at how many I knew. I got a little help from a distant cousin who knew some of HIS side of the family on the back row.
DeleteI had to look up Harriston in Augusta County as I had not heard of it. It isn't far from where my cousin lives now.
ReplyDeleteIf he/she lives in Grottoes, your cousin might know of the Jollett Springs trailer park. The roads in the park are called Jollett North and South. That's the property that used to belong to James Franklin Jollett way back when.
DeleteIt seems I say this often to you about your collection of family photos, "How fortunate you are to have them." And as Carol said, kudos to your picture taking ancestors. Thank you for the idea to frame the inspiration picture..I don't have a 'gene cave', but I do have the original photos of my great grandmother that turned me on to Genealogy and my Family Research.
ReplyDeleteWell keep saying it to remind me to be grateful. Whenever I see people with cool stuff like letters and diaries and lots of formal portraits, I whine that I don't have any of that. Then I remind myself that I do have lots of pictures that others don't.
DeleteI'd love to know who took that Whole Fam Damily photo - did they think ahead to hire a photographer? Not like today where someone can just whip out their phone. I'd love to know how you did that with the numbers on it.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder the same thing - who was behind the camera??
DeleteThe picture thing is easy if you have Photoshop but I bet other photo editors will do the same thing. Just chose Enhance and then Adjust Lighting / Brightness and Contrast. I just lightened to the point that you can still see the picture. Then the numbers are just Text on top.
Ditto all of the above!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos! what an amazing collection, I envy you!
ReplyDeleteMan, don't we all wish our families had been as smart as yours to take those types of group photos. Way to go James Franklin Jollett!
ReplyDelete