REUNION: Raikes 65th Annual Family Reunion

Descendants of James Monroe Raikes and Phoebe Louise (Bailey) Raikes celebrated their 65th annual family reunion Sept. 8 at Starved Rock State Park in Utica. Fifty-nine members honored the family tradition stretching back to 1954.

Koby Clark gave the invocation and blessing followed by a potluck picnic dinner, which was served along with a family fish fry provided by Junior Mitchell. Special T-shirts were printed to highlight the occasion, featuring a group photo of the family.

Children's game winners included Ryan and Lyndsey Wright (three-legged race); Koby Clark (boys' potato sack race); Avrie Raikes (girls' potato sack race); Landon Raikes and Koby Clark (boys' balloon toss); Krissee Clark and Avrie Raikes (girls' balloon toss); Lilly Wise, Kainen Farmer, Ryan and Lyndsey Wright (egg toss). All the children were awarded prizes and treats. Woodworker Harold Raikes passed out handmade wooden cars, trucks and trains to the children.

Bingo winners were Sherry Neimann, Della Wawerski, Leta Nelson, Annie Wright, Tammy Meder and Jane Costin. The winner of the candy count jar was Jane Costin.

Announcements of marriages, births, anniversaries, deaths and notable family history events were recorded. The family's first recorded reunion was in 1954 at Starved Rock, planned and organized by the late Charles Herbert Raikes, of Petersburg, the son of Thomas Jackson Raikes (former sheriff of Menard County); and his late cousin Hobart C. Paul, of Marseilles, the son of Amanda Jane (Raikes) Paul. Recorded also were notable ancestors James Monroe Raikes, a blacksmith who, early in his career in Merrimac, Ken., once shoed horses for notorious outlaw Jesse James; and Robert Raikes, who is historically recognized as the founder of organized Sunday School in 1780.

Travelling the furthest were Ron and Deb Halsrud, from Florida. The youngest in attendance was Chandra Lagat at six months old. Jim and Della Wawerski and Charles Raikes were recognized for having attended the first reunion in 1954. In attendance were family members from Seneca, Marseilles, Ottawa, Petersburg, Athens, Bloomington and Troy Grove as well as Braidwood, Ind., New Palestine, Ind., Levergne, Ten., Murfreesboro, Ten., and Nalcrest, Fla.

Next year's reunion will be on the first Sunday after Labor Day, Sept. 12.