1999 Lichliter Family Reunion in
Salisbury
Descendants of Levi and Sarah A. Lichliter gathered
the weekend of Aug. 13, 14, and 15th in Salisbury, Pa for
their last reunion of the century. Family members from as
far away as Arizona and Nevada gathered Friday night for
informal hellos and cocktails at the Holiday Inn,
Grantsville, Maryland. Many family members also
breakfasted together Saturday morning at the Salisbury
Family Restaurant.
After breakfast, Lucille Lichvar gave a town tour,
the highlights of which were the former residences of
Sarah and Levi, their son Christian and his family,
daughter Emily (Farner) and her family, and the old
Salisbury school building. Many attendees who remembered
the tour of two years ago were able to see the changes
the 1998 tornado made in the town. Among the many
buildings destroyed by the tornado were the former
residence of John C. Lichliter and both old Lichliter
store buildings. Damaged, but since repaired, were the
residence of Wilbur and Nellie Lichliter, and the steeple
of the Reformed Church , where many of the Lichliters
were members.
Dutch Lichliter presented a genealogy chart of the
Lichliter Family. The family tree now has 311 descendents
of Levi and Sarah. The chart also showed Levi's
ancestors, the oldest being Hans Valentine Nickola,
Levi's great-great-great- grandfather, who was born in
1711. The chart included 13 generations and spanned 288
years.
During dinner, which was served in the VFW Hall by
their Ladies Auxiliary, Bev Ricks and Kay Cober asked for
submissions of stories or anecdotes about family members
in order to begin compiling a family history. These
remembrances are so meaningful to future generations and
will be lost forever if they are not recorded.
The day was capped off by a hayride around Piney
Run and the Greenville Road. Gerry and Larry Ringler
graciously supplied the hay, wagon, and tractor and the
rain held off, so everyone could enjoy the lovely
Somerset County evening.
Early Sunday morning, in an eerie, wet fog, a small
band of hearty family members tromped through old
cemeteries in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp., where numerous of
our ancestors are buried. They visited the graves of Rev.
John Campbell Leichliter (Levi's father), Jemima
(Campbell) Leichliter (his grandmother) Jacob Leichliter
(his grandfather), and Rev. Levi Leichliter (his namesake
uncle). It was fascinating to connect with these blood
relatives of so long ago.
Family members in attendance at the 1999 Reunion
included:
From Salisbury, PA: Nellie Lichliter; Reese and
Joyce Lichliter; Riley and Helen Lichliter; Tom, Donna,
Brian and Melody Lichliter. From Berlin PA: Bill Lowry;
Lucille and John Lichvar; Kay Ann and Christa Cober and
Christine Gillette. From Akron OH: Beverly and Barry
Ricks; Cara Gadel. From Columbus OH: Mary and John
Blocher; Jim and Jay Blocher. From Charleston WV: Ron and
Connie Riley. From New Cumberland PA: Louise Lichliter;
Sandra and Jim Jones; From Northfield OH: Effie Lou and
Don Phelps. From Scottsdale AZ: Peggy, Jerry, Nick and
Eric Nowicki. From Flagstaff AZ: Mike Blocher. From
Moneta VA: Charles and Dorothy Miller, Steven Miller, Bob
and Angela Miller. From Smithburg WV: Debra and Jennie
Spencer. From Incline Village NV: Lois and Dutch
Lichliter.
