From a September 1919 Baylis Guide Article

McCLEERY FAMILY REUNION.

A Family Reunion was held in Grammer Hall Saturday

On Saturday, September 6, 1919, the McCleery family held a reunion in the Grammer Hall in Baylis, Ill.
The children of Thomas and Martha McCleery, deceased, consisted of twelve members, all of whom have passed to the great beyond excepting four, namely: Mrs. Mary Pine, of Trumbull, Neb., Mrs Martha Tournear, Mrs Sarah Funk and James McCleery of Baylis, Ill. All these living children were present at the reunion Saturday.
The children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and families came with baskets containing everything good to eat, fried chicken and angel food cake particularly being largely in evidence; together with many other good things to eat too numerous to mention- suffice to say, the long table was filled until it almost bent beneath its load - hot coffee and iced tea was served and ice cream for dessert.
Ninety descendants of the family were present; those who came from a distance were: Mrs Mary Pine and daughter, Renn of Turnbull; Neb,
Mrs Mary E Dudgeon and daughter, Orphia, of Hastings Neb., Mr and Mrs. Ben Kimbly and daughter, Zada Raye, husband and two children of Novelty, Mo.
The day was spent in a very pleasant and social manner, interspersed with selections on the piano by Mrs George Hill during the afternoon.
The family history was read by Miss Rena Pine. As near as could be ascertained there are about 235 living descendants, many living in distant states who, we regret, could not be present.
Before parting for their respective homes and bidding "Goodbye", the hymns "Blest be the Tie that Binds" and "God be with you 'Till We Meet Again" were sung with Mrs. George Stauffer at the Piano.
The occasion was very much enjoyed by all - and was a day long to be remembered by everyone present.
Genealogy of the McCleery Family Read at the Reunion.
The McCleery's were originally from Scotland, migrating to Ireland. They were of the Presbyterian faith.
Our great-grandfather, John McCleery, was married to Miss Jane Brooks in County Down, Ireland, in the year 1788. One year later they set sail from Londonderry for America, landing at Newcastle, Del., Feb 13, 1790, after a long and perilous voyage of eight weeks and four days during which time they encountered a severe storm which threatened their destruction. They brought with them their eldest son, James, then an infant; the other five children, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane, Thomas and John were born in America.
They lived in Virginia for nine years and then removed to Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1799. Our Great Grandfather John McCleery died Aug. 26, 1810.
James and Thomas were the only members of the family who ever married. We are the descendants of Thomas McCleery, and it is in this branch that we are particularly interested today.
Thomas McCleery was born June 7, 1800; he was married to Martha Lawson in Washington County, Penn., she being four years and ten days younger than he. Twelve children were born to this union, namely: William, Jennie, Nancy, Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Mary were born in this county. They lived near Griggsville for awhile, later settling on the old home place on the County Line, known as the James McCleery farm. Here the mother died on January 24, 1870 and the father died August 5, 1879.
William McCleery was born Oct. 17, 1823; he was married to Elizabeth Hartman; they had one son, Thomas McCleery. In a short time Elizabeth died and later he married Louisa Powell; two children were born to the union, John and Elizabeth; John, died Oct 15, 1893.
Jennie McCleery was born July 7, 1825; she married Samuel Potter; nine children were born to them. The family lived on a farm near Liberty, where the husband died; later she removed to Knox county, Missouri, to be with her children, where she did at a ripe old age. There are fifty-seven living descendants of this family.
Nancy McCleery was born June 22, 1827; she was married to William Hartman; four children were the result of this union, namely: Thomas, Mary, Martha and Tabitha.
Elizabeth McCleery was born June 11, 1829; she was married to Jacob Powell and nine children were born to them. They always lived in Pike county, Illinois, and Aunt Betsy, as she was familiarly called, passed away at her home in Baylis on July 5, 1905.
John McCleery was born May 8, 1831; he was married October 21, 1852 to Hannah Eleanor Farmer and always resided in Hadley township, Illinois; eight children were born to this union, namely: John, who died July 22 1890; Eleanor, his wife died May 11, 1910. There are now five grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, making 52 in all of this family.
Thomas McCleery was born July 26, 1833; he married Marguerite Pine. He only lived a few months and after his death a son, Thomas McCleery, was born the result of the union.
Mary McCleery was born Sept 27, 1835; she was married to Wilson Pine Feb 8, 1856; nine children were born to them. They lived on the farm now owned by George Stauffer, Jr for 27 years and then moved to Nebraska where the husband and father died Dec 1, 1917. There are 54 living descendants of this branch of the family.
Martha McCleery was born Oct 20 1837; she was married to John Tournear and became the mover of six children. They removed to Missouri where the husband died after which the family returned to Illinois, finally settling on the farm near Baylis where she still resides.
Sarah McCleery was born Jan 29, 1840; she was married to David Funk and ten children came to bless the home. They have always lived in Hadley township where the husband died several years ago.
Lucy McCleery was born Feb 11, 1842; died Jan 30, 1863.
Rachel McCleery was born March 23, 1844; she was married to John Pine and they had three children. They have always resided in this Community where Rachel died April 30, 1900.
James McCleery was born Jan 3, 1851; he was married to Sarah Randle and four children and three grandchildren were the result of this union. They lived on the old home place, later removing to a nearby farm, coming to Baylis a few years ago, where they still reside.
The McCleery family is one of the oldest of the county, having lived here almost 84 years.
The surviving members of the Thomas McCleery family are Mary, Martha, Sarah and James and all were present at the reunion.
There are 235 living descendants of the family and it behooves us that we shall live in such a way that the name may be honored in the future, as it has in the past.