Duggins Reunions

Have you ever stumbled across a newspaper article about a family reunion? While today’s newspapers may not carry this type of article, I am always thankful when I find one. I recently found not only one but two articles about Duggins family reunions in Preble county, Ohio.

Duggins family members reunite

The annual Duggins family reunion was held Sunday, Aug. 16, at the Camden Community Park in Camden, with 40 present.

The festivities began with a carry-in dinner with lots of good food. The rest of the day was spent visiting with relatives, going through the picture albums, bringing the ancestral records up to date, and playing games. The children enjoyed the swings, slides, tadpoles, and other finds along the creek.

Eva Doty of Lakeland, Fla. was the oldest, and Stephie Overholts was the youngest.

Traveling the longest distance were Eva (Duggins) Doty and Alma (Duggins) Doty of Avon Park, Fla.

Attending were: Harold and Janice (Duggins) Worley; Earl and Connie Moore; Joni, Amanda, Maurice, and Doris Duggins; Tim and Becky Duggins; Holly, Julie, Angela, and Howard Overholts; Don and Sheila Overholts; Stephie; Avis Miley; and Luther and Loree Williams all of the Eaton area; David and Barb Ferriell, Teresa of New Paris; and Bill and Carol Murphy of Eldorado.

Out of town guests were: Fred and Betty Doty and Ed, of Cambridge City, Ind.; Tom and Sandy Doty of Lincoln, Ill.; Bussy and Pat (Duggins) Favorite, Atlanta, Ga.; and Dale and Brenda Overholts, Dale II, Greg, Janelle and Mandy of Hampshire, Ill.

Fort St. Clair site of Duggins reunion

Fort St. Clair Park in Eaton was the setting for the annual Duggins reunion Sunday, Aug. 16. The Duggins family gathering has been held since 1939; however, reunions took place before records were kept. Many memories, fun, food, and fellowship were enjoyed by all.

Eva N. (Duggins) Doty of Lakeland, Fla., and her late sister, Alma (Duggins) Doty are and were the main family members who have kept the Duggins reunion going for so many years. Eva lived in the Eaton area many years and has many local and surrounding area friends and relatives whom she visits on her annual trip to Ohio during the late summer season.

Prior to the dinner, Harold Worley gave the invocation.

Attending from out of town were: Eva N. (Duggins) Doty of Lakeland, Fla.; Pat and Bussy Favorite of Waleska, Ga.; Dale and Brenda (Crank) Overholts and children, Gregory, Janelle, and Mandy of Erie, Pa.; Ann, Katie, and Maggie Matlock of Helena, Ala.

Also, Joe and Nova Doty of Cambridge City, Ind.; Fred Doty and friend Kay of Cambridge City, Ind.; Doug, Marianne, and Rebecca Faith of Clio, Mich.; Mary E. Baker of Lewisburg.

Family members from the Eaton area were: Bob, Jackie (Worley), Aaron, Andy, and Jonathan Marker; Avis Miley; Butch and Linda Fultz; Chris Duggins; Tina (Duggins) Nolan and friend, David Marker; Harold and Janice (Duggins) Worley, Donald, Shiela, Stephanie, Cody, Tammy Overholts and guest, Shelley Claywell; Randy and Becky (Duggins) Wysong and Jeremy, Cory, and Lana; Howard Jr. Overholtz; Jean (Duggins) Overholts and friend, Mary Hill; Maurice and Doris (Williams) Duggins.

The day ended with homemade ice cream and many photos of the gathering with camera and camcorder.

Alma Duggins Doty and her sister, Eva Duggins Doty are my dad’s half fourth cousins. Our common ancestor is Sally Smith who married Alexander Duggins prior to her marriage to James Crawford.