What are some of your family traditions?
by Jim Stamp on February 28, 2022.A family tradition that continues, at least for my generation, is our attendance at familyreunions. When I was a child, we attended the Andre-Miller Reunion (Grandpa Andre’sfamily), the Buck-Yates Reunion (Great Grandma Stamp was a Buck), the HumphreyReunion (Grandma Andre was a Humphrey, the Hawkins Reunion (Great-Great GrandmaStamp was a Hawkins) and the Stamp Reunion (we are Stamps).
The Andre-Miller Reunion kind of fell by the wayside when my Grandpa’s generation diedoff. There is still a remnant of the Buck Reunion. In the 1940s – 50s the Humphrey Reunion
was held at our farm and the attendance was huge. Today, my brothers and our first cousinsfrom Leetonia attend, my Mother’s only living first cousin attends, and if we are lucky weeven get a few Humphrey’s to attend. Last year, 2021, we had a pre-reunion get togetherat the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton which was popular and we will plan again for2022. Twenty-eight cousins attended that dinner and everyone enjoyed it immensely.
We (my brothers and I, several first cousins, our Uncle and some of his first cousins) attendthe annual Hawkins reunion at Firestone Park in Columbiana.
August 27, 1931
The annual Stamp Reunion is primarily the descendants of Levi Marshall Stamp and RuthHawkins Stamp. From time to time, descendants of Levi’s brother John will join us. Thisreunion is held at Sevakeen Lake Country Club pavilion. Last year (2021) there were 72″cousins” in attendance at the Stamp Reunion.
Levi and Ruth Stamp and family
August 7, 2021 – Stamp Reunion, Sevakeen Lake
Stamp-Andre celebrating October birthdays – 1955
Father-Son Banquets:
February 24, 2016
February 27, 2018
February 22. 2022
At the home of Bob and Linda Sebo –
FAIRS! Below is a fair poster from September 1900 when our Great-Great Grandfather,Joshua W Hoopes was Fairboard President.
Fairs were where farmers took their livestock for competition and judging. They took grain,corn and pumpkins. Granges were formally known as the Patrons of Husbandry, an organization
created to assist farmers with the various problems that they faced. Most rural communitiesacross the United States had a Grange. In Ohio there were 900 chapters. The Grange Hallsprovided a place for farmers to meet and conduct social activities. They had dances, quiltingbees, youth activities and they set up booths at the fair to display pies, vegetables, quilts, andother craft items. In some cases, Grange members pooled their resources to purchase machinerythat might be too expensive for individuals. Within a few miles of our farm there was ButlerGrange, Guilford Grange, Willow Grove Grange, Salem Grange, etc.
Print illustrating a granger’s procession and mass meeting, in
“History of the Grange Movement” (National Publishing Co., 1874).
The Grange, also known as the Patrons of Husbandry, was organized
in 1867 to assist farmers with purchasing machinery, building grain
elevators, lobbying for government regulation of railroad shipping
fees and providing a support network for farm families. By the early
1870s there were more than one million members
Many people from the Winona area belonged to at least one of the Grange Halls. Grandpa andGrandma Andre belonged to the Guilford Grange. Grandpa and Grandma Stamp belonged tothe Butler Grange.
Grandpa Stamp (Richard) was Treasurer of the Columbiana County Fair for several decades so
we always attended the fair. When I was 15 – 16 I was on the Junior Fair Board. We sponsoredsquare dances at Grange Halls for fund raisers, we provided “security” for the animal barns, andwe planned the 4-H Day parades in front of the Grandstand.
We still attend the Columbiana County Fair in Lisbon, Ohio and for many years Lee, Jay, andI attend the Canfield Fair.
In addition to the Granges, there were many 4-H Clubs. Grandma Stamp was a very active 4-H
advisor and her club won many awards. Aunt Jane was 4-H queen in 1945. She was winner of
County and State Achievement Awards and competed at the National 4-H Club Congress in
Chicago, 11-23-1946
My Dad, Elmer Stamp, was a member of 4-H for ten years participating in flower gardening,
wood working, rope work, dairy, pigs and electrical engineering. At the Ohio Club Congress
he demonstrated electrical switches and their uses. He was also advisor for 5 years to theWinona Boosters Boys. At the Ohio 4-H Club Congress he was selected to represent Ohioat the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, 11-28-1940.
Uncle Willard was a member of the Just-Rite 4-H Club, the club that I and my brothers belongedto when we were of age. In September 1950 Willard attended the Ohio 4-H Club Congress inColumbus, Ohio. He was a delegate again in September 1953.
In 1936, Virgil Stamp was President of the 4-H club that was advised/led by his brother, Elmer.