HMC Family Association

HMC Family Reunion  August 3, 2025

Welcome and President Address

• Land Acknowledgement-

As descendants of Oregon Trail families, we recognize that the land our ancestors settled lies within the homelands of the Yamel (Yamhill) Band of Kalapuya. For countless generations before the arrival of settlers—including our family—these homelands were cared for and lived with by the Kalapuya people, whose deep knowledge, culture, and connection to this place remain strong.

Additionally, we recognize the lasting impacts of genocide, forced removal, and assimilation. As guests on this land, and as descendants of settlers who did not fully understand their impact, we honor the knowledge, traditions, and resilience of Indigenous communities—and commit to ongoing respect and learning.

Today, we also pause to acknowledge that legacy. We honor the Kalapuya people—past and present—whose enduring relationship with this land predates our own by thousands of years. May we carry a spirit of humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are part of a much older story, and that our presence here comes with the responsibility to respect the original stewards of these homelands.

This acknowledgement was never intended to offend, rather to acknowledge objective truths and show respect to the indigenous communities that were here before us. Some comments were made regarding the statement. This is not the first time a land acknowledgement was done, however, no official land acknowledgement has been adopted by the family organization.

Moment of silence-

• Henry Hewitt’s wife Sharon- January 2025   Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Jasper L. Hewitt>Henry Hewitt>Henry Hewitt II>Henry Hewitt III
• Dennis Hewitt- November 2024    Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Isaiah Hewitt>Cyrus Hewitt>Myron Hewitt>Dennis Hewitt
• Dennis Hewitt’s wife Karen- March 2025
• Sam Loftus- 2022?  Mary Cooper Matheny>Daniel B. Matheny>May Groat>Lulu Baker> Lucy Loftus> Sam Loftus
• Dan Krohn- 2020     John M. Cooper>Robert A. “Eck” Cooper>Minnie Warfield>Cecil Warfield>William Warfield>Dan Krohn
• Darlene Ott Buys- September 2024   Mary Cooper Matheny>Elizabeth Hewitt>Ann Eliza Thornton>Mary Ott>Irving Ott>Darlene Buys
• Janice Kershow- July 2025   Ann Eliza Thornton>Jim Bishop>Janice Kershow

Others?

• Sandy Shelburne July 2025  wife of David Shelburne a James Andrew Hewitt descendant

Reading of minutes- Melissa read the 2024 business meeting notes.

Treasurer Report- Al Errnest not attending, Merrilee Johnson read the report shown below:

Starting balance $6235.61

Expenditures 3/4/25YamhillCountyHeritage Center(donation) -$100.00

6/20/25 Lindsey Fery Registrar (postcards) -$269.67

7/28/25 Merrilee Johnson (book printing) – $796.43

Total -$1161.10

Deposits 8/5/24 Reunion (general store, donations) +$228.00

7/27/25 Book sale +$30.00

Total +$258.00

Ending balance +$5099.51

Census:  Hewitts, Matheny, Cooper

Census

Births-

•  Evelyn Grace Hewitt, born Sept 12, 2024, daughter of Joshua Hewitt, granddaughter of Brian Hewitt.
• Baker Matheny Ross Hewitt, born August 16, 2024
• Theodore Emmet Lundgren, born January 1,  2024, son of Bonnie Hope Shipman and Andrew Peter Lundgren, grandson of Roger Shipman.

Other family news:

• Hannah Shipman, graduated with MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from University of Washington this year.
• Christa Shipman received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Oregon State University.

Attendees Info

Introduction of Executive Council

• President Merrilee Johnson, McMinnville OR             Hewitt (present)
• Secretary Melissa Gomez,  La Paz, BCS, Mexico     Hewitt (present)
• Treasurer Al Ernest Blowing Rock, North Carolina    Matheny (absent)
• Member Coral Nolan Pennsylvania                           Matheny (absent)
• Member George Bailey  St. Regis, Montana             Matheny (absent)
• Member Stephanie Craig  Dayton, Oregon               Cooper (present)

People We Can’t Do Without- (all present)

• Registrar Lindsey Fery Dayton Oregon
• Reunion coordinators  Scott and Lindsey Fery Dayton Oregon
• Historian Brian Hewitt Independence Oregon
• Newsletter and web page Barbara Kerr Portland Oregon

Officer and Council Member Elections

     This year is the election of Hewitt Representatives   Currently Melissa Gomez and Merrilee Johnson, Brian Hewitt made a motion for both to be re-elected. Lindsey seconded it, and vote was unanimous for re-election.

Registrar Lindsey Fery- agreed to continue to be registrar and everyone supported her retaining the position.

New Business:

• Much of our family history is graciously held at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center, we encourage everyone to visit. Each year we have given a $100 donation to store our family history. It’s been numerous years and HMC would like to entertain a motion to increase donation to $150. Elaine Wagner motioned for it to be $200, Jessica Johnson seconded it, and the vote was unanimous to donate $200 yearly.
• Reminder for everyone to add their email to the sign-in. Next year we will send both the physical postcard and an email announcement. *Next year’s new business should include a move to use only email starting in 2027.

Into the Eye of the Setting Sun

• Books for sale for $25 at reunion, or $30 mailed. Additionally, Meg Kenworthy, a descendant of Daniel Boone Matheny, is an attorney who has worked with publishing. She is researching print on demand options.

•  Lorna Grauer new information on Gay family that is only found in Charlotte Kirkwood’s book:

• There have been folks who have questioned the validity of a young girl’s experience and later memory in the writing of Charlotte’s book. We have found yet one more example of Into the Eye of the Setting Sun to be an accurate portrayal of early Oregon history, even though it is through a child’s perspective.
• Lorna Grauer was here earlier but had to leave. She is researching the history of the early Gay family in Oregon. Charlotte states “George Gay went to the Hudson’s Bay Post and married La Louise, the daughter of Dr. McLaughlin’s Kanaka cook and an Indian woman.” *pg 72 newest version Lorna could not find any other records to validate this, however many descendents including herself  have DNA results that indicate both Hawaiian and Native American ancestry.

• Into the Eye of the Setting Sun is considered the most historically accurate rendition of the story of the “Great Migration”. It is a collection of short stories, which make it easy to read to children, or pick up when you have time if reading yourself.

Cleanup of grave markers in Hopewell Cemetery:

•  Henry Hewitt spoke of visiting the cemetery and seeing Jasper Hewitt’s grave marker was sinking, and many in need of restoration. In addition to Jasper’s grave, also Daniel and Mary Matheny, Henry and Elizabeth Hewitt, and repair the fence around the Matheny graves.

The cemetery caretaker provided a business recommendation. Stephanie mentioned both grants to fund restoration and restoration teaching opportunities through the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OCHC/Pages/index.aspx She agreed to contact them and see if a grant proposal and approval could be accomplished within 6 months. Discussion of paying for with HMC available monies was also mentioned.

An agreement was discussed to move forward with grant exploration and if the grant could not be obtained within six months, that the family would spend up to $1000 for the restoration. Also various family members expressed an interest in receiving the training. All agreed it was important that it be a recognized restoration business, not simply cleaning and causing further damage.

Hannah Shipman motioned for this to be adopted, Adam Hewitt seconded the motion and it received a unanimous vote to proceed.  Since the reunion, Stephanie Craig has resigned from the council and will not be participating in HMC family work. More info pending on direction with this news.

OPRD plans for an interpretive kiosk have been shelved now due to lack of federal funding. Our archivist Stephanie is working to collect what they had, so we could help future efforts. Please note that we have now lost our archivist so this also may be impacted.

We ended the meeting and began the piñata. Young and old alike had a very fun time. After the piñata, Brad Kerr encouraged all ages to try the 2 Skips and a Jump, and many did. These activities and the new kids table were all very well received.

2024 Theme- We all belong- sharing our family tree, roots in Oregon,
historical and current connections.

HMC Family Association Annual Business Meeting & Presentations:
Welcome-
Presentations- This year things were moved around, trying out a new
format for presentations and the business meeting.

● Commemorating our roots, names living on- Elaine Wagner, Jasper
Jennings (Elaine’s grandson). Jasper Jennings read a short essay
about their oil painting by Sarah-Ann Goller. It features Jasper
Matheny at about 14 years old running the Wheatland Ferry. Jasper
Jennings was named after both Jasper Hewitt and Jasper Matheny.
His mom Bobbie Lynn Jennings and grandmother Elaine Wagner feel
strongly about maintaining our roots and names are an important
aspect.

● Honoring all the research and publications- Merrilee HMC president is sharing
deep appreciation to Gary Burlingame, Julie Jones and Don Rivara
for their genealogy and history work. We also deeply appreciate Olive
Johnson for her history work and more importantly, the reunion
pictures. Through her pictures, we have memories of each yearly
reunion for over 50 years. Those albums have been a highlight of the
reunions, many of us have fond memories of going through the photo
albums every year. These albums, the family books and all the history
of the family reside in the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center (YVHC),
where anyone can visit. The photo albums have been in too bad a
shape to bring to reunions the last few years. Later in August there
are plans to move the photos into new albums with the intention of
bringing all the photos back to the reunion in 2025.

● Sarah-Ann Goller-paintings and stories from her letters. Many of her
paintings were brought to the park by Merrilee Johnson. These
paintings had been auctioned, one a year for many years in the late
1990’s. The collection includes those previously in possession by
Mike Layman, Julie Jones and Merrilee Johnson.

● Donation land claim map- Melissa Gomez shared the large donation
land claim map. This map, a large family tree chart we plan to bring in
2025 along with many other things, is part of a collection that Julie
Jones (Warmington) cultivated over many years.

We took the time to solemnly acknowledge those that were here before us. This was the
land of the Tualatin, Yamhill, Luckiamute, Ahantchuyuk and Santiam
Bands of the Kalapuya Tribe. Oregon’s and the US history is not
always perfect, and we can acknowledge colonization is a real thing,
and also celebrate our roots. All play a role in understanding how we
belong to this big wonderful family.

● Following the Oregon Trail- George Bailey spoke of the journey that
he, his wife Anita, cousin Susan and husband Steve Johnson and
Susan’s brother Richard and his wife, took this summer. They drove
from Chimney Rock,Nebraska and followed the Oregon Trail where
our family walked it in 1843. George talked about many sights,
including where in the sandstone they could still see the wheel ruts of
thousands of wagon trains. They also saw many crosses along the
trail marking where people had perished. By grace, none of our HMC
family died on the 1843 trip. On a lighter note, they spoke of Charlotte
Cooper Matheny’s book Into the Eye of the Setting Sun. They took
the book with them and would read the passages that pertained to
where they were on their journey.

The meeting paused for the potluck lunch and visiting.

Business meeting:
Introduction of the Executive Council- In attendance this year were
Merrilee Johnson- president, Melissa Gomez-secretary, Al Ernest-treasurer
(virtually attending much of the meeting).
Treasurer’s report- Al Ernest and Merrilee Johnson During the meeting a
summary of the report provided, noting spent approximately $500 this year,
over $6000 still in the bank account. During the discussion of all that the
YVHC does to maintain HMC history, the yearly vote passed to give a $100
donation to YVHC. Post meeting details include: Spent-$400 for postcards
and virtual connectivity.
—– The reunion country store and donations totalled $228.

Registrar updates- Melissa Gomez Sylvia has resigned as registrar.
Thank you Sylvia for your years as registrar and for sharing the mailing
lists. Melissa took over this task for 2024 with assistance from Merrilee.
Initially we discussed merging the roles of secretary and registrar, but
Lindsey Fery stepped forward, and was unanimously voted in as the new
registrar.
Officer elections-Matheny year for two members, the current Matheny
officers are Al Ernest and Roger Shipman. As we have not heard from
Roger in the last few years, George Bailey volunteered as the request was
made and was unanimously voted in. Al Earnest was also unanimously
re-elected.

New business Merrilee is still getting many requests for the book Into the Eye of the
Setting Sun, and costs have increased. Asked if people are willing to pay
$30 if they want to buy the book? Everyone in attendance agreed it was
worth it.

Change eating time to brunch, like at 10 or 10:30 am to avoid the heat? It
was discussed the original reasons for later included farming that very few
family members now do, and church. With global warming and hotter
summers, those in attendance agreed an earlier meal time would work for
them. The idea is forming to consider instead of simply a potluck that the
park host’s Scott and Lindsey Fery, along with available council members
and volunteers can cook a hotcake, sausage, bacon, eggs and hashbrowns
meal, and charge a nominal price per person, or ask for donations. Folks
could still bring an item to share, we love all those yummy desserts and
fruit from this year.

● Picture identification–who is this man? A few members think it is
Matthew Hewitt, but we will continue to research this.

Census HMC Attendees
Total Hewitt’s 61 (57 in-person, 4 virtual)

Total Matheny’s (those who are not Hewitt’s) 51 (48 in-person, 3 virtual)

Total Cooper’s (those who are not Matheny’s) 10 (9 in-person, 1 virtual)

Births- Magnolia Leann Malcom Layman, born 12/8/2023.

Mother is Flora Jean Malcom Layman, a James Andrew Hewitt
descendant. Father is Elliott Aaron Ugalde 1/13/2002

Attendees *separate categories for in-person and virtual attendees
○ Lives closest: In-person, Scott and Lindsey Fery; Virtual, Henry Hewitt
○ Lives furthest: In-person, George and Anita Bailey; Virtual, Al Ernest
○ Youngest: In-person, Magnolia Leann Malcom Layman;
Virtual, probably Melissa or Ernest Demaray
○ Oldest: In-person, Linda Johnson; Virtual, Henry Hewitt

Our family arriving and settling in Oregon– Brian Hewitt
Brian Hewitt, as the historian of the group, discussed the travels along the
trail and the reasons for settling in the Willamette Valley, which included
family members who had been to the area and the desirability of the land
for growing crops. Daniel Matheny had operated ferries in the midwest and
it seemed natural to purchase the Wheatland Ferry and turn it into the first
ferry in the area with the ability to carry a team of horses or oxen and a
wagon across the river.
Our ancestors were descended from the Huguenots, who were persecuted
in Europe. Theyemigrated to the Pennsylvania Colony because William
Penn, who established the colony, allowed all peoples and they lived in
peace. They would have come west for the prospect of free land, but that
probably wasn’t the only or even the main reason. They were most likely
men who had wanderlust; they were enticed by the adventure of it all.
Contrary to the image people often have based on what occurred with
settlers of subsequent years, there was no free land when our ancestors
came to Oregon in 1843. In fact, they had no legal claim to land until the
1850 Homestead Act. It was not uncommon for settlers to just
declare ownership based on their word and descriptions of geographic
features, e.g., “from the riverbank to the top of the rise”, or “as far as I can
see from this point.” Unfortunately, that meant that they were claiming land
that had already been home to the Native tribes.
When our family came here, they were not bothered by Indians. On the
Trail, when they circled the wagons at night, it was to corral the livestock,
not for protection. Brian’s grandfather, Derrell Hewitt, impressed on him that
our family would not have been here except for the help of Sticcus, a
member of the Cayuse tribe. Sticcus and his fellow hunters were returning
from the Dakota land (which included what is now North and South Dakota
and Montana) with their ponies loaded with buffalo meat and hides. Marcus
Whitman, who was returning to his mission in what is now eastern
Washington, asked Sticcus to guide the 1843 wagon train to Oregon.
Speaking no English, Sticcus ensured our family’s
safe passage. For more of the details shared during the presentation, read
the complete article on www.HMCfamily.org
Most of our family were adamant abolitionists, opposed to all forms of
slavery. This was often attributed to the French Huguenots heritage,
understanding persecution may have given the family more understanding
of those not the same as us. Brian states, today we are often polarized
racially, socio-economically, and politically. It is healthy to dialogue,
disagree, and argue, understanding different viewpoints. It is good to
appreciate where we come from, and remember who
we are. We can learn from our ancestors and follow their model that we all
belong.

Ask for stories from attendees (pouty lip trait). A reference was made in a
letter from Sarah Ann Goller to the pouty lip trait that seems common in the
family. Several members smiled and nodded and commented on family
members they are aware of that have this trait.

Closing– The program and meeting was adjourned early since it was a very hot day.