FOREWORD

The following article, which appeared in the Shelby Cleveland Star on November 6, 1929 is a report of the first reunion. of. the Borders Family and should be of interest to all members of their family :

BORDERS CLAN HOLDS RE-UNION

Descendants of Major Hugh Borders, Relatives and Friends Gathered on Saturday, through the initiative of Mr. William Borders, of Blacksburg,S.C.,the only surviving child, and of Dr. H. R. Black, Spartanburg S.C., a grandson of the late Major Hugh Borders, a reunion of the family, their relatives and friends, was held on Saturday, November 2, 1929 at the old Borders homestead on Buffalo Creek in No. 4 township, near the Graham Bridge on road between Patterson Springs and Grover, later known as the Wesson Place. In view of the short notice given and the inopportune time for business men to leave home and places of business, the crowd was large for a first reunion of the descendants of this family.

Mr. William Borders presided over the meeting while Dr. H. R. Black, a distinguished surgeon, was master of ceremonies. In addition to these two, short addresses, suitable to the occasion, were delivered by Messrs. Grady Gaston, Harley Gaston, Hugh Wray, and J. H. Quinn, three grandsons and grandson-in-law. With the assistance of numerous members of the clan, notably Mrs. J. H. Austell, of Greenville, S.C., Dr. Black read a brief history of the family which he had prepared. It was very instructive and evoked a unanimous demand for a more elaborate and comprehensive family history by time of the annual reunion in 1930. The demand for annual reunions in the future was voiced by every person present. Preparatory for the next reunion the following committees were appointed:

To collect and compile data for a family tree or history: Hugh Wray, chairman, Harley Gaston, Van Wyck Black, Mrs. Edna Austell, Miss Rosa Black, and J. H. Quinn.

To name time and place: Dr. Hugh R. Black, Mrs. F. R. Morgan, and J. H. Austell.

On reception arid arrangement: Mrs. J. H. Quinn, chairman, Mrs. L. A. Blanton, Mrs. Hattie Harrill, Mrs. C. H. Robbins, and Mr. O. F. Austell.

At the close of the program, a most sumptuous and bountiful picnic dinner was served on the grounds, and the proverbial "twelve baskets full" were taken up after all were served.

Many descendants from distant points in the two Carolinas were present. It was a rare opportunity for meeting relatives and friends whom we had not seen for many years, or perhaps never met before. All descendants were proud to claim such a noble sire. They gave to the state as a heritage five sons and five daughters.

Major Hugh Borders, the head of this branch of the Borders family was one of the county's most prominent, most influential, and most successful citizens of his day. In the person of his devoted and faithful wife, he had a helpmate in all that the term inplies. They gave to the state as a heritage five sons and five daughters, who, in turn, were among the most prominent citizens of the states in which they cast their respective lots. They were as follows: John Borders, Mike Borders,

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