Alva Review-Courier -

The families of Charlie and Mattie Harper Leslie met at Carmen Park for an annual reunion on Sunday, April 9.

Charlie and his father staked a claim on Sept. 16, 1893, in Alfalfa County. The Leslies' five sons (Morris, Wallace, Melvin, Merle and Earl [Pete]) all remained in Woods and Alfalfa counties to raise their families. Two of the three girls (Florence and Hazel) also remained close to home. Only Pearl found her love, Lee Adams, in Harper County where they raised their children.

The first Leslie-Harper reunion was held at Alva's Hatfield Park on June 7, 1936. A collection was taken in the...