DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE HANSLER

[Welland Tribune, 19 September 1905]

To the Number of 200 Meet in Joyful Reunion in Pelham, at the Old Hansler Homestead.

Our childhood home, our happy home
We never shall forget
The peaceful hours we then enjoyed
E’re time or vain regret
Had stole the flush from off our cheek
An dimmed our cheerful eye,
Or cast a shadow o’er the years
That passed so quickly by.

Would George Hansler have been proud of disappointed with the group of his descendants gathered in reunion at his old home on Tuesday, Sept., 11^th could he have been present to witness the happy throng? The question is intense in its absurdity. He would most assuredly would have been highly satisfied with the showing made, because those present represented the thriftiest, most highly respected and one of the largest families in this country, also because peace and harmony reign supreme over the entire family.

Although the day previous was a most disagreeably rainy one, and the early morning hours of the same day threatened storm, relatives from both far and near began pouring into the old home in the early morning and the procession was a steady one until the middle of the afternoon. One would imagine it the migration of a small town to some other most prosperous and happy land, so dense was the march, and so mirthful the participants therein.

Relatives, who had been absent for years, and who probably will be again for years to come, met in the loving handshake which only the dearest and nearest of kin can give, and a feeling of happy contentment soon spread. The old were once more young, and the young were younger still. While the older friends indulged in quiet conversation, of the happy times in bygone days, the youth and maidens exchanged the lively chitchat of the present age, and the children “played upon the green”.

As the morning faded to the afternoon and as the merrymakers began to feel the results of their pleasures-the inner man beginning to grumble-baskets, aye, dozens of baskets, began to appear on the scene, and such baskets, too, m-m-m! The tables were spread on the broad and well-shaded lawn in front of the house, and fairly mourned under their bounteous and seasonable load of the most wholesome fruits, vegetables and other toothsome delicacies, in which the much favored land of Pelham and surrounding district richly abounds. The floral decorations were most profuse and well-selected, and tinted richly the long lines of tables. They were the gift of Mr. B.E. Secord of the township, and included fine clusters of hydrangeas, asters, dahlia, and in fact as fine a collection of the later flower family as could be wished for or found. The present was most highly appreciated by the many present.

After all had done full justice to the many good things offered, (the tables being set the second time) and the usual toasts, jokes and funny savings were concluded, a group photograph was taken by Photographer Chas. Willson of Welland, and many will be the orders for the finished product of that day’s “snapshot”.

The Hanslers are among the oldest settlers in Pelham, and although few in the beginning, have, from generation to generation, been so blessed as to, at the present day extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Mexico to Alaska, as it were; in fact they now represent one of the largest families of today in the new world.

George Hansler, U.E. Loyalist, was born on the ocean in 1756, while his parents were en route from Germany to America. He lived a number of years in New Jersey, and later, with many another true-hearted Britisher, left the U.S. and came to Canada before the war at the beginning of the eighteenth century broke out; he settled in the then unbroken front of the country, the homestead title dated 1786 to George Hansler, which has since for four generations been the home of an Andrew Hansler-the name of the present owner. The guardian of the Hansler home has always been a advocate of temperate habits. None,-no not one-ever used spirituous liquors or tobaccos in any shape or form and were clean-mouthed in the extreme. The homestead has never been under mortgage, has always been improved with advancing years, and today stands out one of the most modern and up-to-date homes in Pelham township. The Hanlsers are proud of their name and proud of their race. By their steady and untiring perseverance, they have attained prosperity, by their honesty and upright characters, they have innumerable friends and by their worthy Christian lives have but the grandest hopes of the future. What more can man want? What more can man acquire?

Among those of the elder generations present-Esther Hansler, widow of the late Andrew Hansler who passed from this earth about two years ago; D.J. Hansler, brother of Andrew Hansler, now deceased; Andrew Hansler, Isiah Hansler, Mrs. Stirtzinger and Mrs. Alcock, brothers and sisters, children of late Andrew Hansler; while the number of younger generations was so numerous as to make it impossible to repeat the list.

The gathering dispersed in the evening well pleased with the day’s events, and wishing for the “Hanslers” still greater growth and prosperity. May they hold many more such unions.

Among some of those from a distance were-Miss Ruby House, New York City; Dr. W. Thompson, Cleveland, O.; Miss C. Thompson, Buffalo; V.H. and Mrs. Robinson Niagara Falls; W.T. and Mrs. House, Bridgeburg; Mr. and Mrs. J. Merritt, Fulton; Clark Saure, Jordan; Nelson Moore, St. Catharines; Henry Wills, Winger; Andrew Bradt and family, Grimsby; Mrs. Laws and family, St. Catharines; Mrs. Sherk, Ridgeway; and many others of which room will not permit mention.

The saddle-bags of the late pioneer George Hansler, which are much coveted keepsakes in possession of the present Andrew Hansler, were on exhibition during the day, and are in a state of good preservation, as are also his diaries kept therein. The books were many written in the 17^th century with the old goosequll.

The old German bible brought from Germany by the parents of the late George Hansler, is also still in the hands of the family and is highly prized.

The thanks of the entire gathering are due Andrew Hansler and family for their trouble in preparing the house and grounds for the event erecting the tables and many other thoughtful acts during the day.