60th Hineman Reunion is close!

Hi family and friends,

July 28, 2012 is the 60th Anniversary of the Hineman Reunion for those related to William J and Mary Jane Winkle Hineman. The family picnic will be at 12 Noon in the Hopewell Community Park, on Laird Drive, in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Letters were mailed in May with more details and if you are reading this, related to this branch of the Hineman's and did not get a notice, PLEASE contact me!!

Our family tree is ever changing and growing in new directions all over the world! I must share a wonderful story that is unfolding as I write. We have an 2012 Olympian in our family!! Christa Harmotto,  was chosen for the the USA Olympic Volleyball Team and will be competing in London, beginning on July 28th. You can follow Christa, #13, and the team at http://www.usavolleyball.org . Yes, did you notice that date is the same  day the family is gathering in Pennsylvania? In support of Christa and her efforts, everyone attending the reunion has been asked to wear the USA colors: Red, White and Blue!! In addition to that, at the 60th Anniversary Reunion, there will be a photographer taking a group picture. I can only hope one (or several) of our technically smart teenagers will make a video and post it here and/or on YouTube!! Can you hear that challenge??  The following photo was taken in 1971, in the old picnic hollow on the farm!  Cousin Bob Hineman, Paul's son, called me the day after I first posted this a few weeks ago (it was a practice post to see how to do it!!). We tried to identify everyone and had so much fun, trying!!!!

And other wonderful branches are budding on that family tree: I just heard from Deanna, daughter of Selma Adele, one of the four daughters of John Oliver and Stella Belle Calhoon Hineman. Deanna and her husband, Steven, live near London, England. They are thrilled to hear that extended family will be in their area for the Olympics and now we have another cheering section! Thanks to her for filling me in on their family information. 

Here's more! Lynn Hineman Rumbaugh called me last week to say that she and a few of her nieces are going to Aliquippa for the Reunion this year. Lynn is the daughter of Raymond, only son of James Stewart and Eva Claire Maratta. Lynn and I had the best telephone conversation, followed by an e-mail filled with names, dates and places!!! Oh, be still my genealogical heart!!!

Much to my dismay, I find that my father and I are not able to attend this year's reunion. Dad's advancing age, he is now 88, prevents him from wanting to travel to far from home. We will be there in spirit and look forward to the stories and photographs!!

Update on Hineman family history

I have started this post several times in the past few weeks; only to be distracted by life! I am sure you can relate! First, I must tell you of the death of my Aunt June on June 13, 2012(Olive June Hineman Hall Yeager Dunlap, b 23 June 1920- d 13 June 2012). She had been ill for several years, and though she will be very missed, we know she moves to a better place. That leaves only my father, Bill, as the last living of the 12 children of David M and Alice M Hall Hineman. I learn many things in the ageing process as I care for my dad; mostly I see the reaction to the death of those close to and around him. Acceptance of the inevitable comes with reflection, which leads to stories of the past and sweet memories.  My unsolicited advice to my friends and relatives is simple: stop whatever you are doing and listen when your elderly family members begin to reminisce. It is good for you and even better for them!


I left off my previous post with the news that our family history has changed! Oh yes, that does happen! When one finds out something of this magnitude, there are only 2 things one can do: Look at it as a disaster (glass half empty) or as an opportunity to discover new information (glass half full). Well, my friends and family, you all know my approach is the latter!
Here's what's happened: Ever since I started working seriously on the Hineman Family History research and gathering of data in 2001, the assumption was that our Hineman branch of the family tree came from John Hineman (b 1802- d 1876) and his wife, Mary M McConnell (b 1804- d 1880).  Now that the wonders of DNA testing has come to the genealogy world, I find that assumption to be incorrect. The McConnell family has a DNA project already established on FTDNA (Family Tree DNA) and I submitted my father's test results to them [twice!!], only to find there was NO MATCH! As soon as I saw this result, I immediately knew where the break in the line (or branch, if you will!!) would be. That is with David Hineman (b 1822- d 1883) and his wife, Letilda "Lettie" Harper (b 1824- d 1892). As a practicing Professional Genealogist, I have firm documentation on original documents from myself back to David and Lettie. That's where I knew the paper trail stopped and the family history became 'fuzzy.'  You see, David was born in 1822, but John and Mary married in 1824, which is a red flag. However, these things can be explained away with the times in which that all happened. In the early 1800's there were very few established communities on the frontier of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Traveling clergy were not always there to formalize marriages or record births and deaths at the time of the event. So, having a lapse such as this in the birth and marriage dates, would not be unusual, therefore accepted by previous researchers as fact. Along comes a new genealogy tool, DNA testing!! This tool is not a definitive document, but a way to know if you are on the right track. Now you know why, 'we are not who we thought we were!' AND why I am bugging my male Hineman cousins to help me further document our family history by doing the DNA tests and create a new 'Hineman/Hindman' project. Onward we go into the past...contact me with your thoughts!!

Well, hello again...and finally!!! I was just looking at this blog history and I post once a year, whether I need to or not!!! I am sticking my neck out and saying to you all: I am going to post once a week, whether I need to or not!! I am counting on you all to spread the word and let's post family information, news, photos, birthday greetings and I will share what family history I dig up! If anyone else is working on locating our ancestors please let me know...I can use all the help I can get!!
The photo above is William Hineman, my Dad, aka "Uncle Bill" or "Papa" to a lot of you in the Hineman clan. (It was taken in April 2012, just prior to his 88th birthday). He is waiting for his coffee at his favorite breakfast cafe. Papa loves his Aussie hat, sent to him by his grandson, Jason, for Christmas last year. Jason lives and works in Sydney, Australia. 
We (Dad and I) are looking forward to being at the 60th Anniversary of the Hineman Reunion on July 28, 2012. Family letters with the information went out earlier this week. If you did not get one...I don't have your mailing address!! Contact me and give me an update!! This year is a milestone year and we are having a group photograph taken...don't you want to be there?? 
Oh, I have big news on our Family Tree...we had to cut off a branch that was 'grafted' in error many years ago!! More details next week...it involves old notions, new DNA and 'we are not who we thought we were!' 

Hineman Family Reunion, July 30, 2011

Come on to our 59th Annual Hineman Family Reunion, in Aliquippa, Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania!! July 30, 1PM Sharp and stay as long as you can!! Bring a cover dish, family photos to share and especially stories!! It's all about family for this one special day. E-mail me if you have any questions!!

2010 Annual Hineman Family Reunion!

The Annual Hineman Family Reunion will be held in Aliquippa, PA at the Hopewell Township Park on July 24, 2010. Please pass the word to all of your family members and come on down for some wonderful homemade food...games...family history...family news...renewal of family ties...and FUN!!! Just bring a dish to share and a family story!

This invitation is being extended to all members of the David M. and Alice (Hall) Hineman; John and Stella Belle (Calhoon) Hineman: Charles Hineman: and James and Eva Claire (Maratta) Hineman (the four sons of William J. and Mary Jane (Winkle) Hineman of Independence and Hopewell Townships.)
We would also love to share our day with the descendants of "Grammy's" Hall family, as well. [Ebeneezer and Elizabeth (Powell) Hall]. Some of us can remember the days when "Aunt Myrt," "Aunt Tine," "Aunt Becky" and many of Grammy's other siblings and their kids (our cousins, too!!) would be at our picnics.  Can there ever be too many kids, no matter what age, at a picnic???

Spread the word and be there!!!!

Contact Cindy Hineman Davis (daughter of William C Hineman, son of David M) with any questions on the Reunion or updates on family information. cindyd0321@gmail.com (subject: Hineman-Hall Family)

2009 Hineman Family Reunion a success!

78 Family members and guests had a great time on Saturday July 25th 2009 at Hopewell Park in Aliquippa PA. Some old reunion family meeting minutes were shared, from 1952 through 1962; many of us found ourselves named as winners of races or games or one of the oldest or youngest attending.
The day was a bit rainy at times, but the picnic carried on! Even Bocci was played in the rain and no-one complained!! Uncle Bill, {William Hineman}, the youngest of David and Alice Hall Hineman's 12 children attended and said, "It was great seeing everyone who came out. I like the reunion because it encourages good and constant relations in the family. I hope they [reunions]never end!" Now that is a challenge to all of us!
The family who were present at the reunion, voted to extend an invitation to all descendants of William J and Mary Jane Winkle Hineman to join us in the coming years on the last Saturday of July, in Hopewell Township, for our Hineman Family Reunion. {The 4 brothers included Charles, David M, John and James!} In 1952 that was the intention of the children of William and Mary Jane. So, as in all things, we have come full circle. Consider this post the first notice of invitation...with many more to come as we find our cousins!!
Did you attend on July 25th? What are your thoughts? Questions?

Hineman Family Reunion July 25th, 2009

Looks like the Hineman's of Western Pa and beyond will gather for the official 57th time on July 25, 2009 in Hopewell Park, Hopewell Twp, Beaver, Pa at 1:00 PM until dark! Bill, the youngest of the 12 children of David and Alice will be attending, and as we hope, will June, the last living sister of the 12. I hope to spread the word about this blog and look for more postings as time goes on.
I extend an invitation to all Hineman's descending from William J. and Mary Jane [Winkle] Hineman to join us from this time forward. How about even going a far back as David and Matilda [aka, Letilda, Lettie]?? Let's bring it all together!!