Members of the late Rev. Jacob D. and Leah L. Books family of Cleona, met Sunday in their first family Camp near Freeport Mills. A covered dish meal was served by the ladies of the clan for dinner, and in the evening, cakes, ice cream and coffee were served. In the afternoon there was a game of baseball and games for the younger children.
The main feature of the gathering was the program arranged by the committee composed of Theodore Books, chairman; Kenneth Stopssel, chorister, and Marian Kreider, pianist. M i s s Mrs. Titus Books led the children in singing, and Theodore Books Jr. sang a solo accompanied by Miss Shirley Hostetter ,at the piano. Ethan A. Kreider led in Scripture reading and prayer.
Rev. Titus M. Books'gave the history of the Books family, tracing the family tree to Heinrich Books who in the early 1700's migrated to this country from Europe. He also traced the relation to the Dissinger family, the mother'of the Rev. Jacob D. Books being a Dissinger. He also stated that the late Rev. Moses Dissinger, the Billy Sunday of his day, was an uncle of Jacob D. Books.
Greetings from members of the family who could not be present were read. These included Mr. and Mrs. Ira B. Basehore, Honolulu, Hawaii; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Turner, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Buckwalter, Wellman, Iowa.
The event was highlighted by a telephone call from Rev. Benjamin M. Books of Salem, Oregon, pastor of the Labish Brethren In Christ-Church. He spoke to each of his seven brothers and sisters and pronounced a blessing on the event.
The Rev. and Mrs. Jacob D. Books were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are living: Mrs. Minnie M. Light, Theron M. Books, Mrs. Anna Shepler, Rev. Benjamin M. Books, Jacob M. Books, Elmer M. Books, Rev. Titus Books and Esther Kreider.
People were present from Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Mt. Joy and Maytown. The oldest person present was a cousin, Mrs. Katie Hitz, of Palmyra. There were 86 in attendance. On the committee on arrangements were Curtis Books, Mrs. Orpha Templin, Miss Ruth Kreider, Mrs. Leah Smith and Miss Faithe M. Light. Officers elected were, Rev. Titus Books, president; Faithe Light, secretary; and Theodore Books, treasurer.
Lebanon Daily News 9/26/1956