The Doylestown Democrat.
Thursday 10th September 1908

The Flacks in Annual Reunion
Family Association Formed & Officers Elected.
James Flack reads Family History

The Ancestor Was a prosperous Farmer -
A Descendant fought in the Revolution -
Two Others Prominent in Business Life of Old Doylestown.

The Flack family, one of the oldest in central Bucks County, held its first annual reunion on Saturday afternoon at the home of the late John Flack, in Doylestown township, near Furlong.

The day was ideal for such an occasion, During the morning the members assembled, and by the time the long table, covered with snowy white linen, was spread under the lawn shade and loaded with a sumptious dinner, 85 guests had arrived.

The Flacks certainly established a reputation as good diners and the family apparently is not troubled with the fashionable American complaint commonly known as dyspepsia.

FAMILY ASSOCIATION FORMED

After keen appetites has been satisfied at two tables, at which the Rev. J.B Krewson, of Forestgrove, asked a blessing, and a couple of hours had been spent in renewing family acquaintanceships, the people assembled were called to order by Mrs Kate Flack Rice of Collingwood, NJ; Mrs Cora Flack Stover was chosen temporary secretary.

The first question to receive consideration was wether an organization should be formed. A general informal discussion showed that everyody wanted a permanent organisation and on motion it was unanimously decided to form the Flack Family Association.

The following officers were elected and committees appointed:
President, Roland Flack of Grenoble, present member of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg from Bucks;
Secretary, Mrs Cora Flack Stover of Doylestown;
Treasurer & Historian, James Flack of Doylestown;
Executive Committee, Mrs Kate Flack Rice of Collingwood NJ; Mrs Howard Carver of Mechanicsville, and Mrs Howard B Flack of Carversville;
Literary Committee, Miss Gertrude Haldeman of Danboro; Russell Flack of Lumberville, and Miss Leah Slotter of Mechanicsville;
Music Committee, Mrs C.C.Haldeman of Danboro; Mrs Harry McClain of Frenchtown, NJ and Miss Leah Slotter of Mechanicsville.
It was decided to hold the next meeting the first Saturday in September 1909 at the same place.

LITERARY FEATURE

Following the business meeting a short literary and musical program was given as follows:
Singing and devotions;
"History of the Flack Family" by James Flack of Doylestown;
Recitations by Goldie Flack of Lumberville, and Myrtle Stover of Doylestown;
Reading by Gertrude Haldeman of Danboro;
Recitation "Asleep at the Switch" by Mrs McClain of Frenchtown, NJ;
singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again".

FLACK FAMILY HISTORY

James Flack, retired contractor, of Doylestown, who read the family history, has been engaged for several years in collecting the material and in this he was aided by William Wertz Flack of Davenport, Iowa.

The ancestor of Flacks in this country was James Flack, of Irish extraction and a member of the Presbyterian Church, who, probably driven out of Ireland by religious persecution, came to America in 1725 or 1728 and settled about 2 miles southeast of Doylestown, in Warwick, now Doylestown township. After he came here he married Ann Baxter.

The emigrant must have been possesed of large measure of thise excellent qualities which made the Scots-Irish pre-eminent in the development and progress of the new country, for he became an extensive landowner and died with a large competence for that day.

He owned 325 acres in Doylestown Township, bounded on the northwest by the road from The Oaks to Darrahs Corner, on the northeast by a road leading to Bushignton road, on the southest by a line below the road leading from Bushington to Bennets corner and on the southwest by the Pebble Hill road. The Tract now includes the farms of Harry R Beans, Rush K Hellyer, Hugh Carell and the Burrough's farm.

From the lawn of John Flack's premises, located just across the northwest line, the Flacks in reunion on Saturday could see almost the entire patrimony of their ancester and it presented a most beautiful view, decked in its luxuriant early autumnal colors.

JAMES FLACK'S CHILDREN

James Flack, the ancestor, lived to the great age of 94 years and died September 2, 1802, his wife Ann having died over a year before, March 23, 1801 age 87 years. They had ten children, but two, John and William, died in infancy and their names were given to two other children. The children were:
James, born January 28, 1786.
Joseph, born March 20 1738; married Euphemia Stevens, July 5 1780; died March 19 1825. All the members of the family who attended the reunion on Saturday were descendants of Joseph with one exception.
Sarah, born Aug 1827 1741 married a McMullen and moved to Northumberland County, PA; died November 1, 1813.
Robert, born Decemeber 27, 1743; married Margaret Wilson, Oct 4 1776 and resided at Abington; died December 4, 1815. There was one of roberts descendants at the reunion.
William, born August 6, 1748; married Susanna Callison, March 21, 1797 in Kentucky to which State he migrated; died 1823.
Samuel, born September 26, 1750; died May 13, 1810.
John, born October 11, 1752; married Ann Wilson September 1, 1778; died March 1, 1802.
Benjamin, born September 6, 1754; died March 1, 1786.

The original farm was deeded by the other heirs to Joseph in 1804 for £3616.
James the Immigrant left a will dated 1793 by which he bequathed to his wife £25 per year and the residue of his estate in equal shares to his eight children, except to Joseph, who settled the estate and was to have 2 shares.
The shares amounted to £516, 12 shillings, 8 pence and 1 farthing each, after a special bequest of 10 pounds to Edith, a daughter of Benjamin, had been taken out.

A REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT

Benjamin served in the Revolutionary army in 1776 and 1777. He was killed by the Indians at the mouth of Salt River, a tributary of the Ohio River, in Balliet County, Kentucky, about twenty miles south of Louisville, on March 1, 1786.

Joseph and Samuel owned 49 acres in what is now the First ward of Doylestown, and James Flack, the historian of the family. now owns a part of this tract.
Joseph kept a store.
Samuel kept the old Ship Tavern on the old site of Lenape Hall, during the Revolution. While landlord of this hotel Samuel had a child to die and had great difficulty in finding anyonw to go with him o the Neshaminy burying grounds to enter its remains in the family burial plot, the neighborhood being very much agitated at the time on account of washington's army lying within site of the cemetery, and the British being this side of Philidelphia, the people were expecting trouble at any time from the two armies coming together, and besides bands of outlaws were roaming through the country.
Three or four persons were finally found who were willing to make the trip. The entire journey was made on horseback.

The Flack family has a very interesting history, as yet incomplete, but the historian hopes to have more data by the next reunion metting time.

THE GUESTS (Re-arranged in location order by Website Author)

CARVERSVILLE (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs James Hagen
Mr & Mrs Howard Flack
Mr & Mrs John Flack
Miss Maude Flack
Miss Lucille Walton

CHICAGO - ILLINOIS
Mrs Warren Flack
Robert Flack

COLLINGWOOD - NEW JERSEY
Mrs Katherine Rice

DOYLESTOWN (Bucks County)
Oliver Flack
Miss Mary E Flack
J Mathias Flack
Miss Emma Flack
Mrs Cora Flack Stover and son Frank
Miss Rachel K Flack
Mr & Mrs James Flack
Mrs Phebe A Geil
Mr & Mrs Harry R Beans
Mary Jane Flack
Myrtle Stover
Augustina Flack
Ludwig Flack
W Fretz Slotter
Mrs Zeno Stover

DANBORO (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs C C Haldeman
Miss Gertrude Haldeman
Elbert Haldeman

FORESTGROVE (Bucks County)
Rev.Krewson

FORT WASHINGTON (Montgomery County)
Mrs Howard Flack
John Flack

FRENCHTOWN - NEW JERSEY
Mrs Harry McClain
Meta Georgia McClain

FURLONG (Bucks County)
Mrs Benjamin Rogers

GERMANTOWN (Philadelphia)
Mrs Anna Moser

GLENSIDE (Montgomery County)
Mr & Mrs John Flack

GRENOBLE (Bucks County)
Hon. & Mrs Roland Flack

HOLLAND (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs Howard B Austin
Edna May Austin
George E Austin

JAMISON (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs Fred Schaunce

LUMBERVILLE (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs George W Flack
Russell Flack
Miss Goldie Flack
Mrs Lydia Burger
Miss Fannie Burger

MECHANICSVILLE (Bucks County)
Mrs William Flack
Mrs Robert Flack
Watson Flack
Mr & Mrs Howard Carver
Mr & Mrs Irving Mills
Harry Mills
Miss Sarah J Mills
Mrs Lincoln Slotter
Miss Leah Slotter
Miss Elizabeth Slotter

MICHENER (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs J Alban Flack

NARBETH (Montgomery County)
Wilson M Alcott (Watson M Alcott?)

PHILADELPHIA
Mr & Mrs Samuel Alcott
Miss Dorothy V Kister
Mr & Mrs J Gillingham Flack
Stanley Flack
James Haldeman

SILES (Bucks County)
Mr & Mrs George V Eastburn

WILLOW GROVE (Montgomery County)
Mr & Mrs Walter Flack
Miss Bessie Flack
Miss Emma Flack

WRIGHTSTOWN (Bucks County)
Miss Twining