Well, thanks to everyone who contributed to and attended the Smelser-Smeltzer-Schmelzer Family Reunion held June 12-14, 2008 at the Truman Best Western in Independence, Missouri. My "batteries" are recharging and its time to get a summary out to all.

I do think that I can safely say that this was the FIRST family reunion in which multiple family lines of the Smelser-Smeltzer clan attended .... at least with this many distinct family lines. Here were the family lines represented at the gathering.

Paulser Smelser b. abt 1720-1730 - aka Johannes Balthasar Schmelzer
Johan Adam Schmelzer - b. abt 1755 - aka Adam 1755
Johannes Jacob Schmelzer - b. abt 1760 (Brenda's "Old Jacob") :-)
John Schmelzer (Smelser) - b. abt 1780 - aka John Smelser 1780
David Schmelzer - b. 1776 - aka David Smelser 1776.

I believe we had in-total 25 family members from these lines in attendance. Unfortunately health issues, gas prices and the terrible flooding in the Midwest U.S. kept many others from attending. We extend our prayers to those with illness in the family who could not attend and to those impacted by the flooding. I'm not sure we can do much about the gas prices!

Our plans on Thursday June 12th were to participate in a day of research activities on-site at the brand new Mid-Continent Research center just a few miles from the motel. Unfortunately construction delays caused in no small part by extreme weather kept the facility from being open while we were there. We had scheduled the event at least 45 days beyond the originally scheduled opening in anticipation such delays but missed by about one week. Several of us did drive by the facility and must say that it will be a great venue to visit. They have included family rooms in which groups can gather to do just exactly what we had contemplated.

So, in lieu of the research day we did spend a very productive day just getting to know each other and discussing our Smelser - Smeltzer family connections, sharing stories and exchanging materials. I think many of us finally left the room provided us by the Best Western at about midnight. A long and wonderful day.

Day two found us trekking to historic Fort Osage on the Missouri river. Fort Osage was established in 1808 and operated as part of the "Factory" system created by the U.S. Government to compete in trading with the Native Americans along the frontier. The future site of Fort Osage was first recorded on the journey of Lewis and Clark and recorded as a "good place for a fort" in their journals. Later, Clark returns to help locate the spot, design the fort and oversee its construction. Fort Osage operated as a working post until the early 1820's when it was abandoned with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail and the trading that it afforded. Mike, the local historical interpreter did a great job of explaining the history and operation of the fort in character as both the story manager and later on in the visit as a blacksmith. He even created a small, hand-made screwdriver and gave it to "Tex" - aka Brenda (Smelser) Hay. He said something about her having a screw loose! We can neither confirm nor deny that allegation!

In the P.M. the group broke into two groups with one touring the Harry Truman Library and some of the associated attractions in Independence and the other visiting the historic Jackson County Jail (temporary home of Frank James) and partaking of a very nice little German restruant across from the jail and then going to the Pioneer Trails Museum where Cathie Wilson ran into a Gregg family member who was serving as a volunteer at the museum.

And, after an evening meal we all gathered back at the Motel to continue our discussions and fellowship once again late into the evening. We did note that the Paulser Smelser descendants were "early to bed early to rise" types. We wonder if that is a family tradition of long standing or something more recently invented by Lawrence Smelser, our senior Paulser family member in attendance! I think there is a research question in there somewhere!!

Day three found Cathie and I up early and quickly gathering all of the necessary items to hold a family picnic. Charcoal, hamburger, brauts, hotdogs, buns, ketsup, mustard .... plates, knives, forks, napkins ....... oops ........ forgot the matches! Well, one out of 43 isn't bad. But, the fire finally got started.

We held our picnic gathering at the Fleming Park which is part of the Jackson County, Missouri Park system. We had reserved Jacomo 14 as our private picnic area and were not disappointed. The weather was absolutely PERFECT. No wind, crystal clear skies, low humidity and virtually NO BUGS. We all commented that the "Schmelzer" clan in the great beyond were all pulling their weight making the day just about perfect for everyone in attendance at this first ever reunion..and for that (and many other things) we thank them. Oh, and one little thing to report on myself .... well I think it was a little thing at least .... I careful drew up maps for everyone to help them get to the picnic venue. Ooops.....I guess that "right turn" should have been a "left turn". Thats why I never went into engineering or cartography! The good news is that everyone found the spot BEFORE all of the food was consumed.

After the picnic many of the group said their goodbyes and thank yous and took their leave. However, a handful of intrepid and spirited attendees continued on to the recreated 1855 Missouri town housed within Fleming Park and had a great time experiencing the feeling of a hot summer day in 1855 Missouri. A time and a feeling experienced by many of our ancestors.

So, that's a summary of the event. We will be finalizing the collection of photos taken at the event soon and will come up with a way to let you all see them.

On behalf of "All Things Schmelzer" ......... thanks to all of you for helping make this a successful event.

With great respect to all Schmelzer's both present and past,

John F. Smeltzer
Fort Collins, Colorado