Countryman Homecoming Report
June 24, 2001
The first Highland County Homecoming for the Countryman family descended from
Henry and Barbara Countryman was held June 24, 2001 at Paint Creek Lake. Eighty-four
persons attended. Henry and Barbara settled in Brushcreek Township, Highland County,
in the winter of 1801-02.
The program began with worship led by Rev. Patricia Friel of the United Methodist
Church. Jean Wallis of Hillsboro, a descendant of Christina Countryman (daughter of
Henry) and Elias Williams, and former assistant director of Highland House, presented an
overview of the history of the family and chaired the genealogical roundtable that
followed. Mrs. Wallis also hosted 17 members of the family during tours of Highland
House on Saturday, June 23.
Jack Countryman of Greensburg, Indiana, a descendant of George Countryman (son of
Henry), reported on the status of reprinting the Countryman Genealogy, with or without
updated information. Although the films for the pages of the 1925 version of the book
could be accessed, the cost of reprinting would work out to roughly $65 per copy. To
print a book only for the descendants of Henry with updated information would require
an initial outlay of about $7,000. Several members expressed interest in the latter project,
but funding is not available for it at this time. Jack and Dorothy Jo Countryman will
continue to work on assembling the database of Henry’s descendants and will contact
other family members as additional information is needed.
Nancy Cluff Siders of Roswell, New Mexico, a descendant of Magdalena Elizabeth
Countryman (daughter of Henry) and James Washburn, reported on the Countryman Listserve and web pages. Nancy is the administrator of the List-serve and invited all
members of the family with Internet access and e-mail to contact her to join the group.
She noted that she is now posting pictures of Countryman ancestors with the reunion
notices. She requested those wishing to send photos of the Homecoming to be included in
the web pages do so in jpg format.
Rev. Marland Penwell of South Salem, Ohio, a descendant of Martin Countryman (son of
Henry), said grace before the potluck meal.
Military veterans attending were presented pins of red, white and blue ribbon. Special
recognition was given to the four World War II veterans attending: George Washington
Countryman, Greenfield, Ohio; Gene Hatfield, Washington CH, Ohio; Samuel W. “Bill”
Shoemaker, Ashville, Ohio, and Lester Wallis, Hillsboro, Ohio. Ten other veterans also
attended.
A corsage was presented to Rosa Countryman Browning, 90, of Chillicothe, Ohio, the
eldest woman attending. The eldest man attending was Samuel W. “Bill” Shoemaker, 85,
of Ashville, Ohio, who received a boutonniere. The floral centerpiece was awarded to the
couple married longest: Fay and Geneva Countryman Washburn of Washington, CH,
Ohio, who have been married 56 years. Other gifts were given to Cathy Lutes Gowdy of
Novato, California, who traveled farthest to attend; Paulette and Marland Penwell, South
Salem, Ohio, who had the most grandchildren attending (five); and Amber Boggs,
Hillsboro, most recently married. An album quilt depicting scenes relating to the early
history of the family was presented to Noah Boggs, Hillsboro, the youngest member of
the family attending. He was born Nov. 29, 2000. Bob Countryman conducted the sack
race with the prize going to Ashley Cowgill.
Treasurer Judy Williamson reported expenditures of $351.30. These included some
expenses that will be necessary to cover for the next reunion also: shelter house rental
was $55; postage for newsletters to family members without e-mail totaled $121.04;
travel expense for the photographer, $20; flowers, $40 (includes the centerpiece which
became the gift for the longest married couple, one boutonniere and one corsage). The
door prize basket items totaled $30. We spent $10 for McDonald’s gift certificates for the
sack race winner; and bought two phone cards at $10 each, one for the person coming
farthest to attend and one for the grandparents with the most grand- and greatgrandchildren attending. The gift certificate for the newlyweds was donated and the quilt
was also donated. Other miscellaneous expenses included ribbon for the military
veterans’ pins; name tags; poster board for the signs and start-up money for the tee shirts.
We collected $161.00 and sold 7 tee-shirts at $20 each for a total of $140. This leaves us
with a deficit of $50.30. As a result, we will probably need to cut some of our expenses
and/or set a fixed rate for adults attending the next gathering.
The group voted to meet again in four years, June 26, 2005 at Paint Creek Lake. Officers
for the family will remain the same. Dorothy Jo Countryman, Hillsboro, Ohio, serves as
coordinator; Judy McBee Williamson, Bainbridge, Ohio is treasurer; Melissa Jane
“Missy” Countryman, Chillicothe, Ohio is secretary and registrar.
Committee members for the gathering included: Dorothy Jo Countryman, Coordinator;
Judy McBee Williamson, treasurer; Melissa Jane “Missy” Countryman, secretaryregistrar, Tecumseh! reservations; Terri Countryman Sublett, posters and tee shirts; Sue
Countryman Edwards, flowers; N. Jane Tripp Countryman, message center, quilt designs
and sewing manager; Karen Countryman Bennington and Betty Countryman Bishop,
address updates; Nancy Cluff Siders and Jack Countryman, electronic communications;
Bob Countryman, games; Jean Wallis, genealogical roundtable and Highland House;
Rev. Patricia Friel, morning worship.
Those attending were
1. John Lindburgh Setty, Jr., 2344 Ned Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45439
Phone: 937-293-6380
e-mail: pambones@aol.com
2., 3., Curtis and Ila Chastain, 2051 Willow Avenue, Merced, CA 95340
Phone:
e-mail: ilajeans@aol.com
4. Cathy Lutes Gowdy, 124 Bishop Court, Novato, CA 94945
Phone:
e-mail: cylgowdy@aol.com
5., 6. Betty and Lee Bishop, 7627 Pea Ridge, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone: 937-393-1626
e-mail: blb1@bright.net
7., 8. Shaundra Countryman and McKayla Beavers (her daughter), 49 Page Road,
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone:
e-mail: m18997@bright.net
9. Rosemary “Rosie” Countryman, 207 E. Main Street, Bainbridge, OH 45612
10., 11., 12. Tammy Countryman Wagoner and her children, Ethan and Dakota, 207 E.
Main Street, Bainbridge, OH 45612
Phone:
e-mail:
13. F. Netalie Countryman, 156 E. North Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone:
e-mail:
14. Heather Countryman, 1519 Roxbury Drive, Xenia, OH 45385
Phone:
e-mail:
15. Paul Countryman, 920 Duncannon Drive, Pickering, Ontario LIX2M4
Phone:
e-mail:
16. Gary Lee Countryman, 1317 Arbor Circle, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone:
e-mail: cntry1144@yahoo.com
17., 18. N. Jane and Melissa Jane Countryman, 339 Goodale Road, Chillicothe, OH
45601
Phone: 740-775-6179
e-mail:
19., 20. Mark and Janet Penwell, 5884 Alouette Court, Galloway, OH 43119
Phone:
e-mail:
21., 22. George Washington and Louise Countryman, 2625 Greenfield-Sabina Road,
Greenfield, OH 45123
Phone:
e-mail:
23., 24. Fay and Geneva Washburn, 1033 Washington Avenue, Washington CH, OH
43160
Phone:
e-mail:
25., 26. Gene and Bettie Hatfield, 207 Buckeye Road, Washington CH, OH 43160
Phone:
e-mail:
27. Beverly Rowe, 10514 SR 72, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone:
e-mail:
28. Butch Peters, 459 S. Mulberry Street, Wilmington, OH
(with Beverly)
29., 30. Shirley and Bob Brewer
Phone:
e-mail:
31., 32. David E. Ludwick and Dorothy Jo Countryman, 10047 E. Deadfall Road,
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone: 937-764-0234
e-mail:djredpen@dragonbbs.com
33., 34., 35., 36., 37. Paul and Patti Penwell, Bethany, Robin, & Caitlin, 1281 Beath
Lane, South Salem, OH 45681
Phone:
e-mail:
38., 39 Robert (Bob) and Diane Countryman 7216 Hill Road, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone:
e-mail:
40., 41., 42., 43., Tim and Angie Penwell, TG & Bryce, 931 Beath Lane, South Salem,
OH 45681
Phone:
e-mail: penwell4@bright.net
44. Samuel W. (Bill) Shoemaker, 4849 Campbell Road, Ashville, OH 43103
Phone:
e-mail:
45. Ron Countryman, 2826 SR 753, Washington, CH, OH 43160
Phone:
e-mail:
46. Kenneth Garman, 1019 Edwin Shoemaker Road, Peebles, OH 45660
Phone: 937-588-5024
e-mail:
47. Helen Faulconer Roe, 12509 Dunn Road, Leesburg, OH
Phone:
e-mail: db4837@dragonbbs.com
48. Mildred Jenkins Hudson, 11565 Buttermilk Road, Greenfield, OH 45123
Phone:
e-mail:
49., 50. Sue and Richard Edwards, 4945 Upper Twin Road, Lyndon, OH 45681
Phone:
e-mail:
51. Jack Countryman, P.O. Box 171, Greensburg, IN
Phone:
e-mail:jcountry@seidata.com
52., 53. Ernie and JoAnne Siders, 385 N. Third St., Williamsburg, OH 45176
Phone:
e-mail: edsiders@gateway.net
54. Martha J. Carter, 205 S. Quarry Street, Bainbridge, OH 45612
phone:
e-mail:
55. Alfred (Jim) Shoemaker, 104 Webster Street, Bainbridge, OH 45612
phone:
e-mail:
56., 57. Bob and Joyce Patton, 11006 S.R. 124 Hillsboro, OH 45133
phone:
e-mail:
58., 59. Jean and Lester Wallis, 317 Muntz Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133
phone:
e-mail:
60., 61. Bill and Harriett Garringer, 4134 Hollis Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33953
(winter); 10186 Thomas Road, Leesburg, OH 45135 (summer)
Phone:
e-mail: n8sbt@yahoo.com
62. Carole L. Lambert, 2476 California Hollow, Bainbridge, OH 45612
phone:
e-mail: wcmt@bright.net
63. Louise Countryman Borden, 107 Sherwood Drive, Hillsboro, OH 45133
phone:
e-mail:
64. Rosa Countryman Browning, 62 Emerald Lane, Chillicothe, OH 45601
phone:
e-mail:
65. Bonnie Countryman Johnson, 7794 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612
phone:
e-mail:
66., 67. Nancy Cluff and Bill Siders, 704 Sunrise Road, Roswell, NM 88201
phone:
e-mail:
68., 69., 70., Karen Countryman Bennington, Brad and Clay, 7730 Pence Road,
Hillsboro, OH 45133
phone:
e-mail:
71. Terri Countryman Sublett, 974 Beatty Road, Waverly, OH 45690
phone:
e-mail: mosby91@hotmail.com
72., 73. Marland and Paulette Penwell, 1199 Beath Lane, South Salem, OH 45681
phone:
e-mail:
74., 75. Earl and Jo Ann Binegar, 1153 Gregg Street, Washington CH, OH 43160
phone:
e-mail:
76., 77., 78., 79., 80., Joe and Cheryl Cowgill, Brittany, Brandon, Ashley, 8605 SR 753,
Greenfield, OH 45123
phone:
e-mail:
81., 82., 83., 84., Amber Rowe Boggs, Josiah and Noah, 10514 SR 72, Hillsboro, OH
45133 and Michael Hurt