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Reunions

Kleinik
The 86th Kleinik family reunion was held Aug. 31 at Greenville Patriots’ Park main pavilion, with a potluck at noon. Twenty-seven were present. Evelyn Hecht was the eldest present, at age 84; and Corey Elam was the youngest present. Kent Elam traveled the farthest from Portland, Ind.
The 2015 officers are Brent Elam, president; Dean Kleinik, vice president; and Carol Herrin, secretary/treasurer.
Those attending were: Carolyn and Dean Kleinik of Toledo, Ill.; Betty and Jody Clinton of Odin; Anna Taylor, Marilyn Torbeck, and Ronnie and Millie Elam of Vandalia; Kenneth Hecht, Evelyn Hecht, and David and Janet Bargman of Chester; Mervin and Ilene Kleinik, Brent Elam, and Junior and Meva Elam of Mulberry Grove; Sharon and Corey Elam, and Carol and Evelyn Herrin of Greenville; Kent Elam from Portland, Ind.; Curt and Janet Nelson of Washington, Ill.; Cletos Nelson of Hillsboro; and Joyce and Dean Kleinik of Fillmore.
The 2015 reunion will be held at noon on Aug. 30 at noon Greenville Patriots’ Park main pavilion.

Buzzard
Descendants of Daniel and Mary Frazier Buzzard held a reunion on Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Greenland Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
The tables were decorated with lime green tablecloths and centerpieces of flowers from family gardens. At the door, everyone was greeted and asked to sign in by Shirley Gregg Hall, great-granddaughter of John Smith Buzzard.
Jim Buzzard, great-grandson of Silas Buzzard, welcomed everyone. He introduced Dallas Buzzard, great-grandson of Silas Buzzard, who served as master of ceremonies and offered the blessing for the potluck dinner and oversaw an orderly lineup for the food.
Sam Buzzard, grandson of Harmon Buzzard, read the Daniel and Mary Frazier Buzzard legacy.
The legacy pointed out how it had influenced all present at the reunion and also the families that settled in the region, none leaving a more prominent influence than their forefather, Daniel Buzzard. Their legacy includes a large family, Buzzard School and Greenland Baptist Church.
The family came from Holmes and Knox Counties in Ohio in covered wagons and had many hardships that all frontier families experienced. Many of Daniel and Mary’s neighbors traveled with them from Ohio.
Daniel’s covered wagon was pulled by horses, while others had oxen. He also brought factory-made furniture. After settling, they later became owners of more than a section of land where many of their descendants still reside.
The Buzzard School started in the late 1800s on ground donated by Daniel Buzzard. Many descendants attended grades 1-8 in the school.
The last teacher at the school was Gail Buzzard Long, granddaughter of Daniel Buzzard. Other teachers were Carolyn Buzzard Randall and Lucy Drees Buzzard. The last students to attend Buzzard School were Mary Jo, Dallas and Ronnie Buzzard, Carl, Lola and Lela Thomas, Janetta Little and Jerry and Robert Frailey.
It later consolidated with schools in Beecher City.
Dale Buzzard, grandson of Daniel Buzzard, was selected as representative of Buzzard School on the Beecher City School Board, and he served on the board for several years.
Daniel and Mary Buzzard donated the 1 acre of land as the site for Greenland Baptist Church, and Daniel was one of the first deacons.
The church was organized August 6, 1859, with nine charter members. The deed specified there would never be a cemetery with the church. Most families in the area used Bob Doane Cemetery (Greenland Cemetery).
After all these years, there are still many of their descendants worshiping in this church.
Cheryl  Miller Reed, great-granddaughter of John Smith Buzzard, and Kathy Fern Buzzard, great-granddaughter of Silas Buzzard, entertained with a song.
Don Hildebrand, great-grandson of William Buzzard, read the William Buzzard family history. He also had several pictures on display and had copies of the history to share.
The Lyle, Denise, Bailey, Amy and Ada Prosser family performed songs. They are great-great-grandchildren of Julian Buzzard.
Rita McClanahan Prosser, great-granddaughter of Julian Buzzard, gave a reading. Revis Shelton, great-great-grandson of Ayers Buzzard (Daniel’s brother), presented the Ayers Buzzard family history. He also had pictures and the history on display.
Awards were given to Don Hildebrand at 87 years for being the oldest descendant present. He and his wife, Elsie, drove from New Braunfels, Texas.
The youngest descendant present was 5-week-old little Justin Lee Koberlein. He is the son of Larry and Mary Frailey Koberlein and grandson of Jerry and Alice Frailey.
The descendant traveling the farthest was Billie Jo Stockum, granddaughter of Joe and Lillian Buzzard Wills. She is from Lawrenceburg, Ind.
There were tables of displays from Buzzard School, including the dictionary used at the school. Also displayed were pictures and information on Greenland Baptist Church.
The grease bucket from Daniel Buzzard’s covered wagon was on display, as were many family pictures. Shirley Gregg Hall, great-granddaughter of John Smith Buzzard had photos of cemetery stones for many in the family on display.
Those attending the reunion were:  Don and Elsie Hildebrand, New Braunfels, Texas; Billie Jo Stockum of Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Marcielle Buzzard of Shelbyville, Mo.; Dwayne, Audrey, Emily Elizabeth and Gentry Lawrence Buzzard of Shelbina, Mo.; Rick and Rita Prosser, Lyle, Denise, Bailey, Amy and Ada Prosser, Sheila Moore, Kara and Eddie Clearwater, Shirley and David Hall, and Jim, Crystal and J.D. Ping, all of Cowden; Phil and Pam Hall of Flora; Bob and Shirley Sloan, and Rhonda and Vernon Clark all of Edinburg; Mike, Jenny, Justin, Mikayla Bell and Tony Eckert, all of Palmer; Bob and Carol Buzzard Bell of Taylorville; William Workman of Decatur; Melanie and Jeremy Laue, and Caitlyn Sparling, all of Neoga; Sam and Sue Buzzard of Stewardson; Bruce and Mary Jo Kessler of Altamont; Debbie Rath of Springfield; Revis Shelton, Tom and Joan Buzzard, and Rusty, Angie, Serena and Max Buzzard, all of Effingham; Larry, Mary and Justin Lee Koberlein of St. Elmo; Terry and Judy Buzzard of Mt. Auburn; Penny Osborn, and Bob and Janetta Calvert, all of Pana; Kathy Fern Buzzard, Jim and Lynette Anderson, Todd Anderson, Autumn Riley, Josie Wallace, Justin Quant, Jim and Cheryl Reed, Jim and Kathy Buzzard, Dion, Ben and Silas Buzzard, Earl Frailey, David Buzzard, Violet Adams, Rosella Durbin, Steve and Janey Summers, Robert and Audrey Miller, Ronnie and Sherry Buzzard, Jack and Shelley Bowlin and Josie Wallace, Brooke, Quaid, Birgen, Clive and Kace Schlanser, Virgil and Vicky Buzzard, Dallas and Sherry Buzzard, Jerry, Alice, Letha Frailey, David Randall, Sarah Randall and Jean Ann McKautz, all of Beecher City.
Hellos were sent by Diane Surant of Napa, Calif., great-granddaughter of George Miller Buzzard; Charry Washburn Fines of Morrisonville, great-granddaughter of Julian Buzzard; and Dick Miller, Pat Miller and Sue Miller Webber, of Alton, Warren Buzzard of Shelbyville, Mo., Marcia Cronin Gelhausen of Fairview Heights and Danny Cronin of St. Libory, all great-grandchildren of John Smith Buzzard.
Chris Buzzard, a Buzzard family researcher, of Joplin, Mo., sent his regrets at not being able to attend.

Willis
The descendents of William “Bill” and Ina (Elmore) Willis met for the annual Willis reunion at Rogier Park in Vandalia for a noon meal and fellowship on Sunday Aug. 31.
Those attending were: Mark, Angie, Derek Ambuehl, Brayder Junior, Kayla Ambuehl and Ethan, Leland Arroyo, Patrick Ambuehl, Shianne Ambuehl and friend Isac Gann, Kay Ambuehl, Hayden Smith, George and Shirley Little, Jessica Little and friend Luke Reavis, Jerry Willis, Bella McCormick, Dana Tedrick, Ember and Ryne Lipsey, Janet Bell, Mary Ann, Jada, Lydi Smith, and John and Lu Willis, all of Vandalia; Fred and Mary Ann Willis, Albert Willis, Chad Brooke, Colton, Callye, Cameron Earnest, Judy and Tom Steiner, Jana and Terry “Hook” Oldham Dan and Cheryl Willis, Darin and Beth Willis, and Larry Wehrle, all of Mulberry Grove; Shanay Stevison and Kayden Ambuehl of Breese; Harry and Lorette Willis of East Peoria; Bob and Mary Ann Willis of Taylorville; Mike and Vivian Willis from Central City, Pa.; Darrell and Annebell Stewart of Smithboro; Bill Willis, Jim, JoAnna, Destin, MaKayli, Hannah, Autumn Willis of Novinger, Mo.
All children were present except a daughter, Donna Blankenship of Vandalia, and a son, Maurice Willis of Corona, Calif.
 

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