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1081h Cloos - Close Reunion (2008) - Minutes
August
24, 2008, Sunday
Cownesque Lake Park
Tioga County, PA
Attendees (--48 members)
Sheila Rae Miller (Knoxville, PA) Don and Elaine Snow (Newark, NY)
Elizabeth Close -Chloe, Sabrina, Crissy (Delmont, PA) Charles Henry
Lingle (Knoxville, PA)
Reese Smits (Friend of Charles Lingle) Thlema Close (Stanley, NY)
Mike and Tammy Close - Madison, Logan (Binghamton, NY) Elberta Close
Brandes (Wvsox, PA)
Parke and Lorna Close - Ashley, Erica, Amber (T-bury, NY) Richard Close
Sr. (Towanda, PA)
Dave Gleason (Churchville, NY) Steve and Kelly Close (Conesus, NY)
Deward and Louella Gleason Hext ( Lawrenceville, PA) Florence Piklinski-Michael
(Monroe, NY)
John and Tammy Aragona - Josh, Jenna Deborah Whitney Moore (Osceola, PA)
Laurie Cleveland - Will, Katie, Sarah, Maggie (Hopewell, NJ) Scott Close
(Horseheads, NY)
Stanley and Marilyn Wodarski (Tioga, PA) Carol Close
Cheryl Lingle Quisenberry-Rebecca, Laura (Westfield, NY) Trevor Close
Catherine Mae Lingle -
Jonathan, Christopher Chris Close
Business Meeting Minutes
Descendants of Newbury Cloos came together to celebrate the 108th Cloos-Close
Reunion on August 24,
2008, at Cownesque Lake Park, Tioga, PA. Under blue skies, temperatures
and light breeze, descendants
from across the country started arriving around 10:00am. They were
welcome to a hearty greeting of a
Western Cowboy theme, complete with hats and bandanas for all who were
game. The pavilion and
gathering location were temporary transposed into the 'C-C Ranch "
complete with 'Wanted' posters of
several 'C-C Gang' members. To make this hearty howdy vvas secretary,
Cheryl Quisenberry, and her
immediate family posted at the registration table. Similar to the past
several years, the registration table
is where family members could sign the old registry book and obtain a
stick-pin location tag, to stick in
the United States map, showing from which they traveled. Also at the
table were
$1 raffles and door
prizes to participate in. There was a 50/50 'Money Bag Draw' raffle and
raffle drawings for two door
prizes. Door prizes consisted
0.[ a huge glass jar and a crystal Christmas serving platter. Upon
arriving
each little 'C-C bandit' received a goody bag o/western shaped candy,
badge, bubble gum coins, pencils
and erasers.
Some 'C-C ranchers' enjoyed juice, coffee and breakfast pas ties, as
they arrived on the scene. By around
noon, approximately
48 C-C in-law's and out-laws were assembled, mixing' and mingling',
making new
alibis. Around
1:00pm, 'Chow' Time' started with Dick Close giving grace. With everyone
bringing a dish
to
pass, there were a variety of wonderful! salads, vegetables and meats,
not to mention the desserts!!
drilling of the hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken were the 'C-C ring
leaders', Scott Close, Pres. and
Richard 'Dick' Close Vice Pres., along with several other gangsters.
They cooked plenty for everyone.
There were games for the children and those young at heart to join in
on. Games included a duck pond
(pick a duck to win a prize), 'Chicken Egg Toss', three-legged race,
'Western Feed Sack' race, tug-of war,
the favorite for the kids ..... the MESSY ..Making an lce Cream Treat
and the breaking
of the Piñata.
There was also, guess the 'Lost Marbles' in the jar.
The C-C Ranch Meeting' was called to order by gang leader and president
Scott Close around 2:30pm,
with the reading of the minutes by Cheryl Quisenberry, and approved. A
portion
of the minutes from the
1906 - 10th reunion were read, as well.
A moment of silence for members who had passed since the last reunion.
The
following new business was discussed. A motion was made to hold next
years meeting at same place,
Sheila Miller seconded, all approved. Meeting date will the .first
Sunday after the third Thursday in
August, being August
23, 2009. Betty Close will conduct the children games. Invitation of a
theme for
next year gathering, motion made of Mardi Gras, all approved.
Awards
were then given away for various types. Youngest-Jacob?
(2 years), the eldest female-Wilma
Harrison
(83)correction –Thelma Close (85), the eldest male-Sid? (88),
furthest traveled-Cleveland family
(Laurie, Will, Katie, Sarah
and
Maggie) from Hopewell, NJ, shortest traveled-Debbie Whitney Moore
Osceola,
PA. Raffles were awarded as follows 50/50- Tina Turtara, Glass Jar-Dick
Close, Platter-Cleveland family and '
Guess the Marbles' game - Jacob and Trevor. The business meeting portion
was closed, with the 'White Elephant'
following.
Financials
Amount otExpenses: Pavilion Rental $
75.00
Reminder Postage
$ 43.28
Decorations
$ 135.95
Gffi Cards
(5) $ 125.00 (Oldest, Closest, Furthest,
Youngest)
Children Games
$ 0.00 (Donated by Cheryl Quisenberry)
Door
Prizes $ 20.00 (Glass Jar and Serving Tray)
Drinks $ 0.00 (Donated by Cheryl
Quisenberry)
Hamburger/Hot Dogs
$ 0.00 (Donated by
Total $429.23
Amount of Collections: Door Prize - Serving Tray $ 7.00
Door Prize - Glass
Jar $ 36.00
50/50
Raffle $ 19.00
Donations
$ 10.00
White Elephant
Sale $173.00
Total $245.00
Balance: Start $1,052.27
Collection $
245.00
Expense -$ 429.23
Final $ 868.04
| |
News Letter
August 23 2009
as reproduced by Don Snow Aug 2009
| Family Matters |
Volume, No. 1 |
August 2009 |
|
Mission: To make a big family spread across the country, feel a little smaller and closer together and to learn more about your family heritage. |
| |
Capturing the 108th
Cloos-Close Renion Activities |
|
Descendants of Newbury Cloos came
together to celebrate the 108th Cloos-Close Reunion on
August 24,2008, at Cownesque Lake Park, Tioga, PA. Under blue
skies, temperatures and light
breeze, descendants from across the country started arriving
around 10:00am. They were welcome
to a hearty greeting of a Western Cowboy theme, complete with
hats and bandanas for all who
were game. The pavilion and gathering location were temporary
transposed into the 'C-C Ranch',
complete with 'Wanted' posters of several 'C-C Gang' members. To
make this hearty howdy was
secretary, Cheryl Quisenberry, and her immediate family posted
at the registration table. Similar to
the past several years, the registration table is where family
members could sign the old registry
book and obtain a stick-pin location tag, to stick in the United
States map, showing from which they
traveled. Also at the table were $1 raffles and door prizes to
participate in. There was a 50/50
'Money Bag Draw' raffle and raffle drawings for two door prizes.
Door prizes consisted of a huge
glass jar and a crystal Christmas serving platter. Upon arriving
each little 'C-C bandit' received a
goody bag of western shaped candy, badge, bubble gum coins,
pencils and erasers.
Page 1
Some 'C-C ranchers' enjoyed juice, coffee and
breakfast pasties, as they arrived on the scene.
By 8:round noon. approximately 48 C-C in-laws and out-laws were
assembled, mixing' and mingling',
making new alibis. around 1:00pm, 'Chow Time' started with Dick
Close giving grace. With
everyone bringing a dish to pass, there were a variety of
wonderful salads, vegetables and meats
not to mention the desserts!! Grilling of the hamburgers,
hotdogs and chicken were the 'C-C ring
leaders, Scott Close, Pres. and Richard Dick Close Vice Pres.,
along with several other
gangsters. They cooked plenty for everyone. There were games for
the children and those young at
heart to Join In on. Games Included a duck, pond (pick a duck to
win a prize), 'Chicken Egg Toss',
three-legged race, Western Feed Sack race, tug-o-war, the
favorite for the kids ..... the
MESSY ...Making an Ice Cream Treat and the breaking of the
Piñata. There was also guess the
'Lost Marbles' in the jar.
|
Young
'Bandits' seen plotting their
next hold up and escape!
|
'In-laws' and 'Out-laws'! Cloos-Close 'Outlaws' |
Some of the youngest
Cloos-Close Outlaws |
The C-C
Ranch Meeting' was called to order by gang leader and president
Scott Close around
2:30pm, with the reading of the minutes by Cheryl Quisenberry,
and approved. A portion of the
minutes from the 1906 - 10th
reunion were read, as well. A moment of silence for members who
had
passed
since the last reunion. The following new business was
discussed. A motion was made to
old next years meeting at same place, Sheila Miller seconded,
all approved. Meeting date will the
first Sunday after the third Thursday in August, being August
23, 2009. Betty Close will conduct the
children games. Invitation of a theme for next year gathering,
motion made of Mardi Gras, all
approved. Awards were then even away for various types.
Youngest-Jacob? (2 years), the eldest
female-Wilma Harrison (83), the eldest male-Sid? (88), furthest
traveled-Cleveland family (Laurie,
Will, Katie, Sarah and Maggie) from Hopewell, NJ, shortest
traveled-Debbie Whitney Moore
Osceola, PA. Raffles were awarded as follows 50/50-TinaTurtara,
Glass Jar-Dick Close, Platter
Cleveland family and 'Guess the Marbles' game - Jacob and
Trevor. The business meeting portion
was closed, with the 'White Elephant' following.
By 5:00pm C-C Ranchers had saddled up their horses and boarded
various stagecoaches
(automobiles) to depart towards the sunset and back to their
homes and ranches across the
country.
What a
GORGEOUS day it turned out to be for a family Roundup! Thanks
for y'all of those
others, which helped on the reunion's planning and activities.
And finally to y'all that attended,
traveling sometimes from great distances, thanks for making it a
rowdy roundup, wonderful and
memorial 108th Cloos-Close Reunion. Thank y'all for attending
the C-C Ranch!
Cheryl Quissenberry - Sec/Tres
See everyone for the 110th Reunion!! Theme to be determined
at business meeting.
Visit the Croos-CloseWeb Site at
http://www.cloos-close.com/
Page 2
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| Old News
| As reported in the
Star-Gazette Elmira / Corning January 8th 2007
LIFE IN THE TWIN TIERS
BTGarth
Wade
January 8, 2007
Still hitting the high notes
Man, 83, has been entertaining
others with music for about 70 years.
Eighty-three-year-old Bob Cloos still
hears the music he helped make 70 years ago among the
hills of northern Pennsylvania.
Music that helped ease the pain of hard farm work during
the depression of the '30s.
Bob was 9 years old when he called squares at Saturday
night dances in somebody's farmhouse, circa 1932. Hiram
Cloos, his great-grandfather, played the fiddle.
"He was the first one I saw lay down in bed and die,"
said Bob. "I remember kissing his bald head.
"I loved that old man."
Coral, Bob's dad, taught him how to call square dances.
Bob found his singing voice as a toddler and later
soloed in church where his mother, Nina, sang in the
choir.
His voice is still welcome where people his age get
emotional when he sings ancient country classics like,
"When Your Hair Turns to Silver."
He'll sing for you, too. Just show up among the
breakfast eaters at Gerould's Pharmacy in Horseheads, on
your birthday morning.
Life was tough when Bob was a kid, but it built the grit
he needed to survive a depression and help win a war.
His dad earned $50 a month taking care of the road
between state Route 49 and Middlebury Center in
Pennsylvania's Tioga County. Coral supplied the truck --
a 1930 Model A with its rumble seat replaced by a wooden
box.
Bob's grandfather took care of Glen Road out of Shortsville.
Home was one of several tenant houses without power and
plumbing. The toilet was a wooden shed built over a hole
in the ground, full of flies in summer and frost in
winter.
The only heat in upstairs bedrooms came from the chimney
that passed through from the first-floor woodstove.
"The thunder mug (chamber pot) would freeze up
upstairs," Bob said.
Wood also heated the one-room schoolhouses he attended.
They were tuned to the times -- long summer vacations
for farm work and a couple of days off in the fall so
the kids could pick Potter County potatoes for 25 cents
a bushel.
Bob spent his summers earning his keep and $15 a month
on somebody else's farm.
There were few perks. Bob wanted a $15 bicycle Ben
Owlett offered in his Keeneyville general store but Bob
had had only $7.50 left over after he bought shoes and
clothes for school. Ben wanted Bob to have the bike, so
he took Bob's note for $7.50. It was paid off at the end
of the next summer's labor.
Two wheels turned to four when 15-year-old Bob drove his
dad's Model A to Elmira for guitar lessons. He learned
fast.
"Got me a band right away," Bob said.
His cousin, John Cloos, played the accordion, Hyla Baker
plucked a banjo, Skunk Fuller hammered the spoons and
Van Emmons, the piano.
Bob called the squares and sang the round dances.
They played dates in places like Little Marsh, Potter
Brook and Westfield throughout their high school days.
Bob traded his 1942 Westfield High School diploma for a
hitch in the Army Air Corps where he continued his
musical career. He also had trouble. Like the time he
refused to entertain at the officers club.
The lieutenant sent the MPs to fetch him. Bob
entertained the officers; then ran off with the
lieutenant's date.
Bob spent the last 18 months of the war on Tinian from
which B-29 bombers devastated Japan, leading to its
surrender.
Bob had already surrendered during training near
Fairmont, Nebraska. He fell in love with Virginia Zoucha.
She was a daughter of a Polish immigrant who started in
a sod shanty and built a farm of 700 acres with time
left over to father 13 kids.
Virginia moved to Elmira to live with Bob's parents and
work at American LaFrance until he came marching home.
Virginia and Bob were married in 1946. It took him a
while to find a job he stuck to. He drove a truck and a
taxi, fired on the Pennsylvania Railroad and worked at
Remington Rand while raising beef on an Alpine farm.
Inside work was killing him, so he took a $20 pay cut to
drive a lime spreader for GLF -- later Agway -- in
Horseheads.
Smart move.
Bob worked almost 40 years for GLF-Agway, the last dozen
or so as a field representative, visiting farmers in
five Twin Tiers counties in his Jeep Cherokee. Farmers
called him the "Cherokee Kid."
His job: Show farmers how to increase milk output
through better diets for their herds.
The music never stopped. Bob and band entertained in
places like Elmira's Newtown Inn, 11th Ward Hotel and
the Old Pioneer. "Boy, how the college girls flooded in
there," he said.
Bob sang for The Elmirans and called squares at the
Buckingham Palace in Cortland.
Today, he calls bingo at Appleridge in Bethany Village
in Horseheads, and has delivered Meals on Wheels for 18
years.
Bob and Virginia raised a son and two daughters, Bernard
Joe of Big Flats, Nina Gardner of North Carolina and
Bobbi Ann Howard of Corning. Now there are seven grands
and three greats.
Virginia died of cancer in 1990, two years after Bob
retired.
Bob and Florence Patelunas found each other three years
ago. Her husband, Raymond, died in 1993. "She looks
after me, and I look after her," Bob said.
Like many folks of his era, Bob loves to garden, taught
by an expert -- his mother.
He had eight acres in Horseheads, good ground that
produced enough veggies to sell and give away.
A nasty accident in 1995 ended the gardening. Bob's left
leg was hurt so bad, he can't follow the tiller or work
the tractor pedals.
Florence and Bob swap tales over coffee most mornings
with friends at Gerould's in Horseheads. He also leads
the birthday singing and the carols for the annual
Christmas party.
He loves to take people on rides to his old Pennsylvania
stomping grounds. Places like Little Marsh, Nauvoo or
Bungy.
They listen to him and he listens to the music he helped
make 70 years ago.
Garth Wade is a freelance writer and former
Star-Gazette staff writer and columnist. The
Star-Gazette is happy to forward comments to him. Send
them in care of the Star-Gazette at P.O. Box 285,
Elmira, NY 14902, or fax to 607/733-4408.
|
|
|
New Info Jul 2006
Newbury Close, 3rd's
gravestone
Hi - Here is a photo of
Newbury Close, 3rd's gravestone in the Veteran's area of Oak Hill Cemetery
out in Red Bluff, CA. I made contact with some folks that went to the
cemetery and took some pictures and looked up some Census info as well.
They talked to the
people at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Red Bluff said Lodema Cynthia Gibson
Payne Close is buried there but that it would almost impossible to locate
Lodema C. Close's grave because there isn't any headstone. More coming
in next email. Sally Meabon
The youngest daughter
of Newbury's, by Lucy Caroline Lockwood is Cora May Close, she married a
Sardis D. WIlcox. She was Grandpa Burton’s sister, half sister to Archie
Close. She is also buried out there as is her husband and other family
members. They did say that in the Wilcox plot there are areas large enough
for graves and no markers, so it is possible Lodema Cynthia is buried in
this plot. In the 1910 Census for Red Bluff, Lodema (as a widow) age 71, is
found living with Sardis (he was a widower) age 59, he was head of the
household and a niece, Emma (?writing not clear) Gunderman age 19, was also
living there. Cora Close & Sardis Wilcox had at least 1 daughter, Emogene.
There is just a flat stone with Emogene on it in the Oak Hill Cemetery in
Red Bluff. The plot has Emogene, Cora ???? Sardis ???? . 2 graves with
no markers, but also a large monument. with Cora May & Sardis D. Wilcox on
one side.
The Turners from
Corning, CA, that have done all this for me, say north of Red Bluff there is
a Wilcox Road as well as a Wilcox Golf Course & one of the Census record
indicate that Sardis Wilcox raises sheep. They also wrote that Sardis
Wilcox lived on a street that has restored Victorian Homes today.
Since they have the address they will check the next time they are down to
see if the house is still there and take a picture. The Turners have been
wonderful help.
Wellsboro Agitator, Tioga, PA-Wednesday, January 5, 1910
Little Marsh, Jan. 3---The following account of the death of Newberry Close
appeared in the Evening Sentinel, Red Bluff, Tahama County, California:
Beneath the white mantle of purity which overspread the earth Monday,
Comrade Newberry Close was laid to rest. The services were held in the
afternoon...and many old friends and comrades paid their last tribute of
love and respect to the memory of an honored and upright citizen. Deceased
was a member of Co. 1, 45th PA Vol. Infantry. He was born in PA on July 14,
1830, and came to Red Bluff with his family many years ago. He was stricken
with paralysis in August and suffered another stroke early last week, and
the end came at one pm on Saturday, Dec 4. His wife and 5 sons survive
him-Archie Close, who is well-known in Red Bluff, resides at Alturas;
Wallace Close, Syracuse, NY; Charles Close, Rochester, NY; George Close,
Dundee, NY and Burton Close, Watkins, NY. Newberry Close will be well
remembered by his many friends in Tioga County, and especially in Chatham,
his native town, where resides the only surviving member of his father's
family, Mr. Reuben Close.
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|
Home
News Letter September 2003 August 2004
as reproduced by Don Aug 2006
| Family Matters |
Volume, III No. 1 |
September 2003 August 2004 |
| Mission: To make a big family spread across the country, feel a little smaller and closer together and to learn more about your family heritage. |
| |
Capturing the 103rd
Cloos-Close Renion Activities |
 |
Descendants of Newbury Cloos came together to celebrate the 103rd Cloos-Close reunion on August 17, 2003, at Cownesque Lake Park Tioga, Pa. Under blue skies and mild temperatures descendants from across the country started arriving around 10:00am. Some members enjoyed some juice coffee and doughnuts, as they arrived early. The secretary Cheryl Quisenberry and helper Sheila Miller greeted family members at the sign in table. They handed out name tags, had members sign the old family reunion
register book and passed out raffle tickets for prizes. Raffle drawing prizes were two chances for a fall door decoration of a scarecrow woman and/or man dolls. Also passed out were stick pin location tags to stick in a United States map showing from where family members had traveled. By around noon, approximately 65 members family members had arrived, rekindling or making new friendships. After Dick Close said grace, dinner began around 1:00 pm. With everyone bringing a dish to pass, There was a variety of wonderful salads,
vegetables and meats not to mention deserts!! Hamburg's, hotdogs and chicken grilled by some family chefs. Patrick Qusinberry, Mike Pikulinski, Dick Close and John Aragona. They cooked plenty for everyone. There were games for the children and young at heart to join in on. The annual meeting started around 3:00pm with the reading of the minutes. A reading of members that had passed away since the last reunion, this was followed by a moment of silence. Awards were then given away for various types. Youngest, Rebecca Qusinberry (7
months), the eldest female, Wilma Harrison, the oldest male, Ivan Gleason, furthest traveled Eva and Milt Hoffman, shortest traveled Jon & Helen Gleason (just down the road) Minutes were read by Cheryl and new business discussed. Topics of discussion were, when and where the 104th reunion will be held, it was voted to have it at the same location. Then the white elephant followed the meeting held by Florence Pikulinski. By 5:00pm many family members had departed back to their homes across the country.
What a GORGEOUS day it turned out to be! Thanks for all those others, which helped on the reunion's planning and activities. I do apologize if I missed anyone. And finally to all those that attended traveling from great distances, thanks for making this a joyful and wonderful 103rd Cloos-Close Reunion. We thank you for attending!
AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE BACK FOR THIS YEARS REUNION!!!
See everyone for the 105th Reunion!! Cheryl Quisenberry- Sec/Tres.
1 |
| Furthest
Eve & Milt Hoffman |
Nearest
Jon & Helen Gleason |
Eldest Male
Ivan Gleason |
 |
|
 |
| Eldest Female
Wilma Harrison |
|
Youngest
Rebecca Quisenberry |
| Eleanor Jean Vosburg
Born December 9, 1935 in Elmira Chemung Co. NY. and died January 26, 2004 in Robert Packer Hospital. She married (1) Edward George Close May 18, 1957, son of Karl Close and Beatrice Anderson. He was born July 7, 1932 in Elmira Chemung Co., NY. and died August 31, 1995 in Allegany Co. NY She married (2) Larry Curran July 14, 2000
Ivan Spencer Gleason
Age 84, of North Volusia Avenue, Orange City. passed away on February 2, 2004. He was born in Nelson, PA on April 29, 1919. He moved from Lawrenceville, PA to the Orange City area in 1989. He was formerly a foreman, compressor manufacturing and a member of the Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Elkland Moose In Elkland, Pa and enjoyed wood working. He is survived by sons David Gleason, Churchville, NY. Theodore Gleason, Moscow, ID Scott Gleason, Tioga, PA. Terry Gleason, Wilton Fl and Sidney Conaway Fullerton CA.
daughter, Louella Hext Lawrenceville, PA, niece Barbara Choinare, Deland FL. who provided for his care, several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He has been the eldest member of the family that attended the reunion, has been ehe eldest attendee from 2000 to 2003.
|
Jonathan W. Gleason, Sr.,
Age 55, of RD, Lawrenceville, passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, He was born June 17, 1948. He has held the Vice President position for the Cloos/Close reunion for the pass three years. |
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| Myrtie "Tootie" Cummings Close passed away December 7, 2003. She was the widow of Julion Raymond Close. Descendants of George.....Newbury lll & Caroline Lockwood |
2 |
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