MOUNT GILEAD — The Morrow County Genealogical Society (MCGS) celebrated its 34th year of First Families of Morrow County, Saturday, May 21. To obtain membership in First Families of Morrow County, an applicant must prove a direct descendent resided in Morrow County as of 1850.

“In the past 34 years, our lineage members have proven 721 ancestors. This year we have 17 new lineage members who have proven 36 new ancestors,” First Families Chair Donna Ufferman said in introductory remarks.

The afternoon lunch and induction began with opening remarks from MCGS President Ann Artrip, followed by a candle lighting ceremony to symbolize the past, a bright light to honor the brave people who endured to form the county; the present, to honor the inductees for their pride in their ancestory; and for the future, for descendants who will gain pride through the research the inductees conducted.

The 2022 First Families inductees are Devera Dawn Ritz, Mary Kay Disterdick, Vincent Jay Brown, Shirley M. Meckley, Linda Jeanne Shields, Martha Lynn Vaughn Mooney, John Howard Weaver, Howard L. Black, Susan Marie Hoffman Matthews, John A. Keller, James Maurice Patterson, J. Michael Patterson, James Samuel Patterson, Brian Charles Patterson, Lewis Pierce Kinney, Ronda Stall, and Barbara “Joan” Rathburn Jagger.

Some inductees proved their First Family through single ancestors, other had as many as 10 Morrow County ancestors. Inductees are as varied as their ancestors, and they applied from distances as far as Texas.

The proven first family ancestors create a vignette of early Morrow County settlers.

For example, Vincent Jay Brown’s ancestors included Randolphs, Butters and Chilcote surnames. His Butters ancestor was Rev. Alford Butters who came to Morrow County at the close of…