Parker C. Hirons (1824-1905)
Reunited
“Long Separation Is EndedRecently there met at a family reunion at the home of P.C. Hirons, six miles northeast of Muncie, two brothers and a sister who had met but seldom before in fifty years. They were Mr. Hirons [Parker C. Hirons], his brother William J. Hirons, of Early, Ia., and sister, Mrs. John Satterfield [Sarah Mariah Satterfield née Hirons], who resides near her brother, northeast of Muncie. Fifty years ago the family lived in West Virginia. William J. Hirons went west and settled in Iowa. Not until eighteen years ago did Parker C. Hirons go west to see his brother, the latter never returning east until this fall. That one meeting was all the brothers had in fifty years, and the sister had never seen William J. Hirons after he left home, until he came to Indiana. Now they have resolved to hold a reunion every year, either in Iowa or Indiana. The Hirons family is one of the best known in Delaware county.” Muncie, Indiana. The Muncie Star Press. August 1905.
Muncie Star Press, August 1905
I’ve cherished this newspaper clipping from The Muncie Star Press, dated August 1905, for many years. It not only provides corroborating and complementary genealogical information to support my research but also offers rich context for the Hirons family story. Beyond its historical value, it holds immense sentimental significance as it features the only known photograph of my 3rd great-grandfather, Parker C. Hirons (1824–1905). In the image, Parker is seated on the right, alongside his youngest brother, William Jefferson Hirons (1833–1910), and their youngest sister, Sarah Mariah Hirons Satterfield (1838–1915). These three were the last surviving Hirons siblings out of eight, the children of Thomas Hirons (1795–1838) and Nancy Ann Shaw (1800–1854) of Washington County, Pennsylvania.
The image, though grainy and worn with time, captures a deeply poignant moment in my family history. A brief article tells the story of three Hirons siblings reunited in Delaware County, Indiana, at Parker's home. After fifty years of separation and only rare meetings, they came together for what would be their final reunion in August 1905. This gathering was more than just a family visit—it embodied the enduring bonds of the Hirons family, transcending time and distance. They made a heartfelt promise to reunite every year from then on—a hope that, sadly, would never come to pass. Just three months later, in November 1905, Parker passed away at the age of 81.
Each time I revisit this clipping, I'm reminded of the legacy of my Hirons ancestors and the enduring strength of family bonds. This fragile piece of history serves as a direct link to the past, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who came before me, and underscoring the value of preserving these stories for generations to come. Parker, both a carpenter and a farmer, embodied resilience and hard work. His face, though the most difficult to discern in the blurred ink of the old newspaper, is the one I’ve most longed to see clearly.
Facebook Post Muncie 2023
I never imagined—never even considered—that an actual photograph of the image from the 1905 newspaper article could exist. That all changed on November 13, 2023, when I received a Facebook message from my 4th cousin and former high school classmate, Leigh Ann Thornburg-Grider. (Parker C. Hirons, the subject of the photo, is also her 3rd great-grandfather; we didn’t discover our shared heritage until adulthood.)
When her message appeared on my FB wall, accompanied by the photo, I was stunned. This was no grainy newspaper reproduction—it was the real thing! For the first time, and with remarkable clarity, I could see the face of my 3rd great-grandfather, P.C. Hirons, in this heirloom photo. What an incredible gift Leigh Ann shared with me, and even more meaningful was her faith in entrusting it to me.
The photograph has now been passed to me for preservation and safekeeping, and I am profoundly grateful and honored to reunite it with other Hirons family heirlooms.
Seated William J. Hirons (left) and Parker C. Hirons (right),
Standing Sarah Mariah Hirons Satterfield
Parker C. Hirons
(1824-1905)
The Star Press
Thu, Nov 02, 1905 ·Page 2
Correction to obituary: Parker C. Hirons was born in East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, PA, not in [West] Virginia.
I am a 6th-generation Hirons descendant living in Delaware County, Indiana.
