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The 2001 Carskadon Family Reunion was held from July 27-31, 2001 in Adams County, Ohio. In attendance were 19 family members and 3 guests, including Beverly Ball & Gene Arthur of Ohio, David Carskadon, Peggy Bagala, Dena Bagala Hebert, Bobbie Sue LeBlanc Dantin and Lucia Valentina Ellender all of Lousiana, Susan Carskadon of Colorado, Robert Scott Carskadon & Jessica Lightsey of Texas, John & Kathy Daugherty and Kathleen Phillips of Ohio, John & Mary Carskadon of Oregon, G. Brent Bishop of Ohio, Fred of Mexico, Polly & Chester Green, Donald & Roberta Rogers and Robert Rogers all of Ohio. 
The first members began to arrive on Friday afternoon, with the majority arriving on Saturday. Beverly Ball, this years reunion coordinator, officially started the reunion on Saturday morning with the introduction of family and friends at the Rodeway Inn conference room. We spent many hours discussing the family history as we each understood it, examining old photos and researching and analyzing written histories brought by the various attendees, all in an attempt to formulate a coherent ancestral chart. For this event the research focused on the ancestry of Robert Buck Carskadon and his descendants.
Saturday evening brought a large family gathering for dinner at The Murphin Ridge Inn (where many of our group stayed.) This picturesque inn is located on property purchased in 1826 by John Carskadon, Sr. and his son, John Jr. for $700. Together, John Sr. and John Jr. built the two-story brick house now used as The Murphin Ridge Inn restaurant. The dinner was a rousing success, with good food and good companionship the rule of the evening. It was topped off by a birthday celebration for Lucia Ellender. We all hope she enjoyed her birthday and wish her many more to come.
Sunday morning started with a large breakfast, again at the Inn, followed by some of our group attending church services at a local Amish church while the remainder of our group retired to the Inn's guesthouse lounge for more family pictures and stories. Sunday afternoon brought a buffet lunch at Murphin Ridge, followed by more pictures as well as hiking and swimming. Sunday evening saw a delightful campfire, with the highlight being the roast corn on the cob. Unfortunately, Sunday also saw the departure of some members of our group.
After breakfast on Monday our group met at the Adams County Genealogical Society, in West Union, Ohio, for an afternoon of research. Our thanks to Society president Beverly McKenzie for volunteering her time to allow us access to the Societies records and files. Many new and fascinating facts were uncovered in the books and papers of the library, including census records tracing Robert Buck Carskadon from the 1880's (when the family left for Missouri) all the way back to his grandfather (John Carskadon, Sr.) in the 1820's. We were also able to identify all of Robert Buck's siblings by name, information here-to-fore unknown. In addition, much information was uncovered on Della Bayless (married to Thomas William Carskadon, Robert Buck's grandson) and James Carskadon (Robert Buck's brother.) Monday brought the departure of several of our number, with the remainder joining for dinner one final time at Murphin Ridge Inn.
Tuesday morning brought a leasurely breakfast, followed by a casual stroll around the gardens and trails of The Murphin Ridge Inn for the final time. By noon the last members had departed, bringing the 2001 Carskadon Family Reunion to a conclusion. In closing I would like to say that Kathy and I had a most delightful time. We had the opportunity to meet many new and wonderful people, we were able to add much information to our family history, and the food and accomodations at The Murphin Ridge Inn were first class. For us, this weekend was a most enjoyable event and we look forward to next year.
- your webmaster,
John Daugherty
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