Biles Reunions
WORKING DRAFT
Last Change: 2 July 2022
To view photos of specific Biles
reunions, click on links to years,
below. To view attendance records for Biles reunions, click here. To view available newspaper accounts of Biles reunions, click here.
In 1900 John Addison Biles,
amateur historian and genealogist, organized the first
Biles family reunion at his home on Lime Hill in
Wyalusing Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Until 2008 (with one exception - 1943, during
World War II), members of
his family met each year to renew acquaintances and continue what
became an August tradition.
The following account of the reunion’s origin was written
by John Addison Biles’ on page 4 of Volume I of the
reunion record: (some punctuation, etc. added for clarity)
“Origin of the Biles Reunion
Prior to the
100th birthday of our grandfather, Alexander Patterson Biles, who was born the [blank] day of October 1783, your
Secretary had proposed meeting on the centennial of his birth, but when the
time arrived said Secretary was attending school at Factoryville, Lacka-Co., Pa, his mother was afflicted with a stroke of
paralysis, and his brother, Martin, [was] in failing health, so the matter was
passed over with no gathering.
When the Golden
Wedding [Anniversary] of Uncle Lewis (Duke) was announced, said Secretary at
once decided to renew the effort for a gathering or reunion, hence the letter,
you find mentioned on the opposite page [news paper clipping entitled ‘Golden
Wedding’]. After the dinner was over at
the Golden Wedding on January 29th 1900, Dr. Benjamin J. Strunk
called the party to order and stated the object, and a motion followed that we
organize a Biles Reunion and elect officers to take charge
of its affairs. The motion carried. The following officers were elected: for
President Uncle Lewis Biles was chosen. Vice Presidents: Peter A. Biles,
James M. Biles, Frank Hillis,
William S. Biles, and Lewis D. Biles. Secretary, John A. Biles. Treasurer, Emma V. Biles. Adjourned to meet again Feb
16, 1900 for further arrangements.”
|
Biles Reunion Secretaries |
Tenure |
|
1900 - 1924 |
|
|
Bessie
Heath (Para. 4.C.10.a.) |
1925 - 1928 |
|
Anna
Biles
(Para. 4.C.3.g) |
1929 - 1934 |
|
Bessie
Heath (Para. 4.C.10.a.) |
1935 - 1936 |
|
1937 |
|
|
Elizabeth Lloyd (Para 4.C.13.c.(1.) |
1938 - 1940 |
|
1941 - 2006 |
|
|
2007 - 2011 |
|
|
Cindy Lee (Neiley)
Cole (Para. 4.C.2.a.(2.(e.(2)) |
2011 - 2013 |
|
2013 - Now |
|
Year |
Biles Reunion Location & Date Held |
|
John Addison Biles home; Friday, 24 Aug 1900 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1901 |
|
|
1902 |
John A. Biles home; Thursday, 21 Aug 1902; no photo taken |
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 20 Aug 1903 |
|
|
1904 |
John A. Biles home; Thursday, 18 Aug 1904; no photo taken |
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 17 Aug 1905 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 16 Aug 1906 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1907 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 20 Aug 1908 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 19 Aug 1909 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 18 Aug 1910 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 17 Aug 1911 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1912 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 14 Aug 1913 |
|
|
John Milton
Irvine home; Thursday, 20 Aug 1914 |
|
|
John Milton
Irvine home; Thursday, 19 Aug 1915 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 17 Aug 1916 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 16 Aug 1917 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1918 |
|
|
Raymond Irvine
home; Thursday, 21 Aug 1919 |
|
|
Raymond Irvine
home; Thursday, 19 Aug 1920 |
|
|
John Addison Biles home; Thursday, 18 Aug 1921 |
|
|
Raymond Irvine
home; Thursday, 17 Aug 1922 |
|
|
Raymond Irvine
home; Thursday, 16 Aug 1923 |
|
|
Leslie E. Barnes
home (Camptown); Thursday, 21 Aug 1924 |
|
|
D.A. Hillis home (Wyalusing); Thursday, 20 Aug 1925 |
|
|
D.A. Hillis home; Thursday, 19 Aug 1926 |
|
|
1927 |
D.A. Hillis home; Thursday, 18 Aug 1927 |
|
D.A. Hillis home; Thursday, 16 Aug 1928 |
|
|
Frances Biles Hillis home; Thursday, 15
Aug 1929 |
|
|
1930 |
Frances Biles Hillis home; Thursday, 21
Aug 1930 |
|
1931 |
Sarah Biles home; Thursday, 20 Aug 1931 |
|
1932 |
Ossie Biles Lloyd home
(Mercur, PA); Thursday, 18 Aug 1932 |
|
1933 |
Ossie Biles Lloyd home
(Mercur, PA); Thursday, 17 Aug 1933 |
|
1934 |
Ossie Biles Lloyd home
(Mercur, PA); Thursday, 16 Aug 1934 |
|
1935 |
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1935 |
|
1936 |
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 20 Aug 1936 |
|
1937 |
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 19 Aug 1937 |
|
1938 |
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 18 Aug 1938 |
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Thursday, 17 Aug 1939 |
|
|
1940 |
Ossie Biles Lloyd home
(Mercur, PA); Thursday, 15 Aug 1940 |
|
Clarence Biles home (Greene, NY); Sunday, 24 Aug 1941 |
|
|
John Rubert home (Towanda, PA); Saturday, 15 Aug 1942 |
|
|
1943 |
Not held; War restrictions on pleasure driving |
|
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Saturday, 19 Aug 1944 |
|
|
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 16 Aug 1945 |
|
|
Mary Ann Strunk Vargeson home; Thursday, 15 Aug 1946 |
|
|
1947 |
Wysox, PA Grange Hall; Thursday, 21 Aug 1947 |
|
Wysox, PA Grange Hall; Thursday, 19 Aug 1948 |
|
|
Wysox, PA Grange Hall; Thursday, 18 Aug 1949 |
|
|
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 19 Aug 1950 |
|
|
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 18 Aug 1951 |
|
|
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 23 Aug 1952 |
|
|
Fire Hall, Herrickville, PA; Saturday, 15 Aug 1953 |
|
|
Fire Hall, Herrickville, PA; Saturday, 21 Aug 1954 |
|
|
1955 |
Fire Hall, Herrickville, PA; Saturday, 20 Aug 1955 |
|
1956 |
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 18 Aug 1956 |
|
1957 |
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 17 Aug 1957 |
|
1958 |
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 16 Aug 1958 |
|
1959 |
Waverly Glen Park,
Waverly, NY; Saturday, 15 Aug 1959 |
|
1960 |
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 20 Aug 1960 |
|
1961 |
Probably Waverly
Glen Park; Saturday, 19 Aug 1961 |
|
Waverly Glen Park,
Waverly, NY; Saturday, 18 Aug 1962 |
|
|
Waverly Glen
Park, Waverly, NY; Saturday, 24 Aug 1963 |
|
|
1964 |
Raymond Rubert home (Towanda, PA); Saturday, 22 Aug 1964 |
|
1965 |
Albert Robare home (Monroeton, PA);
Saturday, 28 Aug 1965 |
|
1966 |
Albert Robare home (Monroeton, PA);
Saturday, 27 Aug 1966 |
|
1967 |
Albert Robare home (Monroeton, PA);
Saturday, 26 Aug 1967 |
|
Lime Hill, PA Community
Center; Saturday, 24 Aug 1968 |
|
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 23 Aug 1969 |
|
|
Lime Hill, PA Community
Center; Saturday, 22 Aug 1970 |
|
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 21 Aug 1971 |
|
|
1972 |
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 26 Aug 1972 |
|
1973 |
Lime Hill, PA Community
Center; Saturday, 25 Aug 1973 |
|
1974 |
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 24 Aug 1974 |
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 23 Aug 1975 |
|
|
Lincoln Bryant
home (Greene, NY); Saturday, 28 Aug 1976 |
|
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 27 Aug 1977 |
|
|
Lime Hill, PA
Community Center; Saturday, 26 Aug 1978 |
|
|
1979 |
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 25 Aug 1979 |
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 23 Aug 1980 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 22 Aug 1981 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 28 Aug 1982 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 27 Aug 1983 |
|
|
1984 |
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 25 Aug 1984 |
|
1985 |
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 24 Aug 1985 |
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 23 Aug 1986 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 22 Aug 1987 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 27 Aug 1988 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 26 Aug 1989 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 25 Aug 1990 |
|
|
Iona Grange Hall
(Franklindale, PA); Saturday, 24 Aug 1991 |
|
|
Keystone Manor Apts (Sayre, PA); Saturday, 22 Aug 1992 |
|
|
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 28 Aug 1993 |
|
|
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 27 Aug 1994 |
|
|
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 26 Aug 1995 |
|
|
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 24 Aug 1996 |
|
|
1997 |
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 23 Aug 1997 |
|
Same as 1992
(Betty Foley’s home); Saturday, 22 Aug 1998 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 28 Aug 1999 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 26 Aug 2000 |
|
|
2001 |
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 25 Aug 2001 |
|
2002 |
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 24 Aug 2002 |
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 23 Aug 2003 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 28 Aug 2004 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 27 Aug 2005 |
|
|
2006 |
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 26 Aug 2006 |
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 25 Aug 2007 |
|
|
Not held; church closed for repairs |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 22 Aug 2009 |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 28 Aug 2010 |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 27 Aug 2011 |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 25 Aug 2012 |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 25 May 2013 |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Sunday, 11 May 2014 |
|
|
Not held due to conflicting schedules. |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 14 May 2016 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 13 May 2017 |
|
|
Christ Episcopal
Church, Towanda, PA; Saturday, 12 May 2018 |
|
|
Not held due to conflicting schedules. |
|
|
Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
|
Gary Neiley residence, Homets Ferry,
PA; Saturday, 4 Sep 2021 |
|
|
Biles Cemetery, Wyalusing Township,PA; Saturday,
28 May 2022 |
WARNING: This page is a working draft of the results of
ongoing research; all information on or linked to this page is subject to
change. Do not assume the
information displayed here is accurate.
No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for its use or
interpretation. Please help us identify
inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate information and malfunctioning links
by clicking here or e-mailing us
at efamilyhistory1@gmail.com.