Lichliters Convene for Family Reunion

Thirty-nine descendants of Levi and Sarah Lichliter and the great-granddaughter of Henry Harrison Lichliter, Levi’s brother, gathered for a weekend of festivities August 22-24, 2003 in the Somerset area. Friday featured an informal evening party at the Ramada Inn, Somerset. Saturday, family members spent the day at Camp Soles taking pictures, trading family anecdotes, eating and riding around the camp on a farm wagon. Several family members shared breakfast Sunday morning before departing to many areas of the country.

Emily Jane (Lichliter) Hickson, Confluence, PA, won a prize for being the oldest female in attendance. At eighty, she is the youngest surviving member of her immediate family. Her sister Winifred (Lichliter) Newman, 92, is also a resident of Confluence, PA, and brother, G. Rees Lichliter, 97, is a resident of Meyersdale (PA) Manor. Mrs. Hickson was accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Ron Spencer, and granddaughter Blaine, Spencer, WVA.

John V. Blocher, Gahanna, OH, seventy-eight and husband of Mary Elizabeth (Lichliter) Blocher, won the prize for being the oldest male in attendance. He was accompanied by his wife, daughter, Bev Ricks, Silver Lake, OH, and granddaughter, Cara Gadel, Silver Spring, MD. Also attending were Mr. Blocher’s daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Jerry Nowicki, Scottsdale, AZ.

Timothy and Kevin Ketcham, sons of Allison (Miller) Ketcham, at five and four, were the youngest, in attendance. The Ketchams were accompanied by grandparents, Bob and Angela Miller, Stephens City, VA, and great-grandparents, Chuck and Dot Miller, Moneta, VA, and great aunt, Terry Miller, Sterling Heights, VA.

Edith and Floyd Clark, Murphysboro, IL, won the prize for the most children--eight, most grandchildren--eight, and the most great-grandchildren--three, and three on the way, including a set of twins. Edith is the great-granddaughter of Henry Harrison Lichliter, Levi Lichliter’s brother, who left Somerset County, in the years before the Civil War and settled on a plot of land that became the family farm where Edith and her husband still live.

Reunion chairman, John “Dutch” Lichliter and his wife, Lois, shared the honors of having traveled the farthest for the reunion with Peggy and Jerry Nowicki, since they all reside in Scottsdale, AZ.

Saturday’s highlights included receiving the family directory that included a short biography of each family member, complied by Sandy (Lichliter) Jones, who attended with her husband Jim, New Cumberland, PA, and sister and brother-in-law, Effie Lou and Don Phelps, Northfield, OH. Many family members lined up to have their handwriting analyzed by Helena Keller, attending with husband Ron Keller, Harrisburg, PA. Connie and Ronnie Riley, Charleston, WVA, provided prizes.

Berlin, PA resident, Kay Ann (Lichvar) Cober, accompanied by husband, Bill, led family members in recounting anecdotes and remembered her mother, Lucille (Lowry) Lichvar, who, during reunions past, gave walking tours of Salisbury, PA, while recounting family history. Lucille died in February 2003.

Joining in the story telling was Bob Lichliter, who was accompanied by wife, Marlene, Camp Hill, PA. One of those anecdotes included a memory by “Suzie” Elizabeth Lichliter recounting a time when her father, John C. Lichliter II, was Burgess of Salisbury and some of the cousins were brought before him on charges of Halloween pranks. Suzie was accompanied by Louise Bunner and Betty Casey, Chadds Ford, PA, both friends from her 41 year teaching career.

Also attending was Joyce Lichliter, wife of G. Rees, who is still a resident of Salisbury, where the Lichliter family operated, first, a feed and grain store and then a grocery store for nearly 90 years. Also active in local politics, church and community life, the family produced many educators, one of whom is Dave Lichliter, who attended with wife, Patricia, Stoystown, PA.

During a brief business meeting the family elected Kay Ann Cober as chairperson of the 2005 reunion. Her co-chair will be Bev Ricks.