FAMILY I.

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ELLEN VIETS, born at Syracuse, N. Y., presumably about 1840, family unknown; died at Warren, Penn., in 1866. She married in 1861 Junius Randolph Clark.

The item is from the Phelps Genealogy, from which family Mr. Clark was descended.

There are a number of families of the name Viets in the country who came recently from Germany, or whose parents or grandparents came from the Fatherland, and are not descended from the Viets family of Connecticut.

John Viets, who gave the name to Vietsburgh, Neosho county, Kan., and is clerk of Crawford county, residing at Girard, Kan., came from Hanover, Germany, when a lad, with his father, who was born in Hanover. His grandfather also was born and lived in Hanover. Samuel Viets of this family resides in Kansas.

A family of the name now living in Cleveland, O., is of recent German origin; among them occur the names John, William, Anna M.

One of the name, Henry Viets, appeared as a wandering miner in Utah about 1890. A letter sent from Colorado to his address was forwarded to several post-offices, and, failing to reach him, was returned.

H. A. Viets, treasurer of a business in Milwaukee, has not been traced.

REUNIONS.

A general reunion of the Viets family had not been seriously thought of until the summer of 1899, when a notice signed by Levi C. Viets, Whitney D. Viets, Hiram C. Viets, and Anson E. Viets was sent out inviting the descendants of Dr. John Viets to attend the first reunion at old Newgate Thursday, Sept. 14th. A good number responded. On the open plat just south of the ruins a tent and tables, pleasingly decorated, had been erected by the labor of those who sent out the invitations, and an enjoyable day was experienced. A notice of the event appeared in the Hartford Courant, in part as follows:

An event of note was the first reunion of the Viets family, descendants of Dr. John Viets, held yesterday on the historic grounds near old Newgate, in East Granby. Near by was the old-time mansion of Captain John Viets, a prosperous farmer, merchant, and man of affairs of his day, who lived through the colonial period and died in the time of the Revolution, having reared a family of ten children, and leaving a large estate. One mile to the north was the home of his brother, Henry Viets. From these two brothers all those present were descended.

Two hundred and fifty bearing the name Viets, or able to trace their lineage to Viets ancestry, sat down at the well-loaded tables and enjoyed the festivities.

The crumbling walls of Newgate, said to be the only true ruin in America, stand on the western slope of the Greenstone mountain, and look out upon a mountain-girt valley, forming one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes in New England.

After dinner, Levi Clinton Viets presided as toastmaster, and several gentlemen were called upon for short speeches. Among the speakers were three clergymen, all descendants of Captain Abner Viets. Edward M. Viets of Yarmouth told how his forefather settled in Nova Scotia, and spoke of the good name and fortunes of his branch of the family. W. B. Whitney of Westfield replied in an amusing vein.

A general desire was expressed to have the reunion held every year, and an association for the purpose was completed by the election of officers as follows: President, Virgil E. Viets; Corresponding Secretary, Anson E. Viets of Berlin, Conn.; Treasurer, Hiram C. Viets of Granby; Executive Committee, Whitney D. Viets, Willard W. Viets, and Mrs. Warren Parker.

The following year, 1900, those chosen for the purpose ably performed their duty in making preparation for the second reunion. The day appointed was Aug. 15th, which proving to be stormy in the afternoon, a portion of the guests came on the following day, and were disappointed in not meeting friends who had braved the weather of the day before. But interest had evidently increased since the previous year, and the occasion was much enjoyed. An account occupying nearly five columns was published in the Berlin News.

Wednesday, Aug. 21st, was chosen as the day of meeting in 1901. The day was a beautiful one after the rain, with mild sky and soft air. The committee had made ample preparation for a good attendance, and were not disappointed. Fully three hundred were present. The following account is from the Windsor Locks Journal:

On the lawn at the southeast of the old prison wall a large tent had been erected in which dinner was served. It was decorated with flags, evergreen, and flowers, and on a large banner at the top was inscribed "The Viets Family Reunion." The long tables were leaded with good things to eat, and, although the tables were three times filled before all were served, the last were as abundantly provided for as the first. It was in every way a profitable gathering, the pleasure at being together again showing plainly in the faces of all those present. There were many hearty hand-clasps, a recalling of old times and favorite anecdotes, and a relating of the happenings since the gathering of a year ago, between those who, while bearing the same family name, are too widely separated to see each other with any frequency.

There are few families that can boast of so unique a place in which to gather from year to year. The old prison is a never-failing source of interest, with its crumbling walls and buildings and the caverns underneath. It unites historical interest with natural beauty, the view to the south being one of the finest in Connecticut.

At about four o'clock the assembly gathered by the roadside, under the shade of several large maples, for the exercises of the afternoon, and to listen to the after-dinner speeches. Prayer was offered

by the Rev. James Lytle of the Congregational Church of East Granby. The speakers were introduced in a very happy manner with anecdotes and humorous allusions to the family relationships by the president of the association, Rev. Francis H. Viets.

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The first address was by Rev. Apollos Phelps Viets of Waterbury, a veteran preacher eighty-two years of age. He tottered forward leaning heavily on two canes, but showing in his face and speech that he was still vigorous. Rev. Gervase Viets of Redding followed, who, in forcible and well-chosen words, paid a tribute to the virtues of the Viets family, and urged those present to continue and strive to increase their personal interest in each other. Professor Martin Griffin of Copper Hill, who until recently taught in Portland, followed, beginning his remarks by saying that he was not of the house of Aaron, but rather of the house of Moses, as he was a wielder of the rod." The next address was by Rev. George L. Coburn, pastor of the M. E. Church of Copper Hill, who was present as a guest. He had learned for the first time that day that he was a Viets and also a Griffin, as he had been called by both names during the day. The closing speech was by Rev. Duane N. Griffin of New Haven, whose remarks were very entertaining. He said the three cardinal virtues of the Viets family were honesty, modesty, and oddity, and proved his three points with humorous illustrations and anecdotes. All of the speakers were vigorously applauded. The audience joined with the orchestra in the rendering of America," and then a dozen or more letters from those unable to be present were read by the president and acting secretary.

OFFICERS ELECTED.

The following officers of the Viets Association were elected for the ensuing year: President, Rev. Duane Griffin of New Haven; Vice-Presidents, A. A. Viets (Bloomfield), Levi C. Viets (Granby), Jason R. Viets (East Granby), Henry S. Viets (Boston, Mass.), Virgil E. Viets (Copper Hill), Carl J. Viets (New London); Secretary, Henry G. Viets, Granby; Treasurer, Hiram C. Viets, Granby. Committees Transportation, Hiram W. Viets (Copper Hill), J. Edward Viets (East Granby); Music, Lewis C. Spring (Granby), Clara B. Viets (Copper Hill); Supplies, Willard W. Viets (East Granby), Whitney D. Viets (East Granby); Decorations, Mrs. J. Edward Viets (East Granby); Newspaper Reports, Mrs. Hiram W. Viets, Copper Hill; Tables, Mrs. Hiram W. Viets, Copper Hill.

A vote of thanks was given to the members of the family in East Granby and vicinity for what they had done in making arrangements for the gathering and furnishing supplies, and also to the orchestra for the music.

QUOTATIONS

FROM THE

LIFE OF BISHOP GRISWOLD AND EARLY RECORDS.

The able and interesting biographer of Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold on page 21 of his work refers to Dr. Viets and his son John as follows:

Alexander Viets, an eminent and wealthy Dutch physician of New York, who had come over from Europe, having learned of the existence of copper mines in Simsbury, disposed of his property in New York and purchased the territory on which those mines lay. His speculation resulted in the loss of all his property. He resumed the practice of medicine in Simsbury, though with nothing of his former pecuniary success. So poor did he become that when his son John asked the daughter of a respectable neighbor in marriage he was opposed by her parents on the ground of his being utterly unportioned. The marriage, nevertheless, took place, and John Viets, with more talent for business than his father, became the restorer of the fallen fortunes of the family. He recovered the territory about the mines, and, at his death, left to each of his sons a valuable farm. These mines lie on the western declivity of the Talcott mountain, two or three miles north of the Griswold estate, and command noble views over the Farmington Valley and the hills which rise beyond it in the west. John Viets originally lived on the northwest descent from the mines to the valley, where the old cellar of his house is still visible. Subsequently, however, he removed and built the house which is still standing near the mouth of the mines, and which is now (1846) occupied by the aged widow of his son Luke Viets. This house, perched on a high and sightly step of the mountain, was the birthplace of the bishop's mother, and of his uncle Roger Viets. Several of the surrounding farms are still in possession of the family and constitute a neighborhood of Vietses.

Although the facts above given are in the main true, the statement that Dr. Viets speculated in mining property in Simsbury is probably an error, as is also the idea that his name was Alexander. Possibly his full name may have been