Felty Family reunion 2017 held

George William Felty and Iva May Groves were married on July 18, 1901. In honor and remembrance of them, their descendants held their annual reunion on July 22, 2017, in the Dederick Christian Church with 40 in attendance. The first reunion was held in 1963 with six of their seven children in attendance. (A daughter, Melba, passed away in 1948). Annual reunions weren’t resumed until 1986. George passed away in May, 1938; Iva in November, 1963. Their children were: Letha Margaret Tudor (Jesse), Ruth Ellen Jones (Jesse), Melba Doris Musick (Lewis), Dow Estell Felty (Vera Farnham), Virginia Roberta “Bertie” Teague (Eldon), Nina Maud Bascom (Donald) and Zelma Irene Edgerton (Ernest). The reunion theme this year was “Feltys in Virginia.” The time together started with the Pledge of Allegiance. After prayer by Steve Bryant, we enjoyed a bountiful carry-in meal. There was good visiting, picture taking and reminiscing about times past. Of interest at our reunion this year was information about George Felty’s ancestors and where they lived before migrating to Cedar County. This information was compiled by Gayle Teague after researching records and with information provided by Janet Jones and others. The information was presented by time-line in chart form. George Felty’s great-great-grandfather, Nicholas Felty, was born “before 1765”. Location of his birth is unknown, however records indicate his first child was born in Pennsylvania. From there he went to Wythe County, in southwestern Virginia. It was here where George’s great-grandfather, William, Sr.; grandfather, John, Jr.; and father, Rufus, were born. John Jr. and Rufus were Confederates and fought in the Civil War. John, Jr. was killed near the town of Saltville, VA. Rufus was a prisoner-of-war for awhile, but survived. In 1866, Rufus married Margaret Umbarger in Wythe County, VA. Shortly thereafter, they left VA and moved to Iowa. Sometime between 1867-1870 they left Iowa and settled near the community of Omer in Cedar County where George was born. He was the fourth of seven children born to Rufus and Margaret. Numerous Felty and Umbarger ancestors are buried in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery on the outskirts of Wythville, VA. Neale and Gayle Teague, along with their son, Craig, and family, had the opportunity to briefly visit this cemetery in March, 2017. Those attending this year’s reunion representing Ruth Felty Jones were: from Nixa – David and Sherry Jones; from Nevada – Sarah McCoy and children, Bryan and Kyle; from Milo – Steve and Lisa Bryant; from Stockton – T. E. Bryant and Nancy Adams; from El Dorado Springs – Carl and Tammy Reeves and son, Daniel; Marc and Michelle Morin and children Ali and Aidan Reeves; and Jerald and Janet Jones. Representing Bertie Felty Teague’s family: from Mt. Vernon, IA – Craig Teague and daughter, Megan; from Garnett, KS – Nelda Potter; Jenna Wight and sons, Virgil, Bryar and Gabriel; from Nevada – Karen Barger; Helen Corley; from El Dorado Springs – Chris and Julie Corbin and children, Josiah, Emma, Lily and Rilie; Kim Nimmo; Crystal Bushnell and son, Timmy; and Neale and Gayle Teague. Representing Nina Felty Bascom’s family: from Belton – Carla Bascom; from Gilman City – Iva Ratliff. The next Felty Family Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, July 21, 2018.