2022 Jackson Brigade Reunion
Last update August 21, 2022 — Dan Hyde
Our 2022 Reunion is over! The team, led by Bonnie Melton, did a superb job!. The Reunion was in the Forsyth area of Taney County, Missouri about 15 miles east of Branson, Missouri. It was held Thursday August 4, Friday August 5, and Saturday August 6, 2022.
To attend the reunion you need to fill out a Registration Form Jackson Brigade Reunion 2022 and send in a check by June 25, 2022. An online copy of the form that you can print is found at Registration Form Jackson Brigade Reunion 2022
Tentative Schedule (Subject to Change!)
Thursday August 4, 2022
10:00 am to Noon: We will meet at the Taney Center at Kissee Mills Junction (20130 US-160, Forsyth, MO) for Registration. Sign in and pick up your family’s packet.
We have the Taney Center for all three days (August 4, 5, and 6, 2022) so bring family photographs, family history materials, artifacts, and posters to share. This is a great time to set up your family materials to display. Also, it’s a great time to chat and renew old friendships and make new ones.
Also, bring objects for a Silent Auction to help defray the cost of the reunion.
The Taney County Historical Society (Official name is White River Valley Historical Society) in Forsyth (about four miles away) will be open for anyone who would like to learn more about the area after you register. The Historical Society is on main street behind the courthouse. You can see how the town of Forsyth and the surrounding area developed. http://wrvhs.org/locations/wrvhs/ Originally Forsyth was on the banks of the White River. In 1950, the entire town had to be moved to the bluffs overlooking the river. Bull Shoals Lake, a result of the new Bull Shoals Dam, flooded the area. The lake is now known as Lake Taneycomo (for Taney Co., MO. Local humor.).
Noon: At the Taney Center, we will have an official “Welcome” then break for lunch of sandwiches, chips, desserts, and drinks. Cost is donations only. We might do some singing.
One suggestion is that you take a tour through and around Branson past the College of the Ozarks and over Table Rock Dam.
Another suggestion is visit the historic Lone Star Church, 12900 US-160, Forsyth, that was built in 1901 and still holding services. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lone-Star-Church/117387931646416
4 pm: Trip on the showboat Branson Belle that includes a two-hour cruise across the waters of Table Rock Lake, a nice dinner, and a variety theatre show. Cost for adults and children 12 years or older is $59.11 each (Group discounted price and includes all taxes and fees.). Children 4 to 11 years old is $35.47 each. Under 4 years free. For details of the cruise, meal, and show, see https://www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson.aspx The showboat people stress that we should get to the dock at least 45 minutes before the 4 pm departure to give us time to pickup tickets and wait in line.
The Branson Belle cruise with meal and show is a bit pricey but notice that we will not have a banquet dinner that typically cost $25 to $30 per person. The nice meal on the Branson Belle counts as our banquet. Also, the Reunion Team has worked hard to minimize the cost of the other meals–no cost for Friday’s BBQ, only a donation for Thursday’s lunch, and $10 per person for Saturday’s Lunch.
Friday August 5, 2022
Breakfast on your own.
10 am: We will meet at the Taney Center for a presentation by Leslie Wyman, the Managing Director of the Historical Society. She will speak on the History of Taney County, MO.
If Leslie has time she will have a demonstration on how to dowse for lost graves.
Noon: We will break for lunch on our own. There are several eating places in Forsyth or you could go to Branson for lunch.
2 pm: We will meet back at the Taney Center at 2:00 pm and proceed to the Coble Cemetery in Cedarcreek where Charles Persinger and Elizabeth “Kate” (Jackson) Persinger and several of their children and grandchildren are buried. The hamlet of Cedarcreek is where ancestors Charles Lewis Persinger and his wife Elizabeth Catherine “Kate” Jackson (daughter of Andrew Jackson and Mary Deem. Andrew was a son of Col. Edward Jackson) built the old homestead in 1892. We will pass by the road to the old homestead place on our way to the cemetery.
Saturday August 6, 2022
Breakfast on your own.
10 am: We will meet at the Taney Center for our Jackson Brigade Business meeting and Memorial service.
Noon: We will stay at the Taney Center for lunch. Country Mart out of Forsyth is catering our meal. We will have baked ham, fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad, dessert and drinks. The cost is $10.00 per person. Following lunch we will have the silent auction.
After the Silent Auction, we plan to have a speaker.
The rest of the afternoon and evening, you are free to explore Branson and the area on your own.
Sunday August 7, 2022
No formal Reunion activities on Sunday. You are free to explore Branson and the area on your own.
If you wish to attend a church service, several churches are near the Taney Center.
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Lodging
Even though Forsyth is the county seat of Taney County, it’s a small town of about 2300 people with very little in the way of lodging.
However, there are a mind-boggling number of motels in and around Branson. The locals in the know say the most reasonable ones are motels along I 65 near Branson such as Motel 6 Branson MO, 1023 West Main Street, Branson, MO 65616 or the Best Western Plus Landing View Inn & Suites, 403 West Main Street, Branson, MO 65616-2768. [Be warned that motel chains such as Motel 6 and Best Western have several motels in the Branson area. Make sure to chose the right one!] These motels are close to the bridges across Lake Taneycomo (Looks like a river on a map!) and to State Highway 76 to Forsyth. Be aware of this long skinny lake when planning your travels! There are few bridges across it!
Note there is a 11.6% tax on motels in the area.
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Air Plane Flights and Car Rentals
– Nearest Airport – Branson Airport is approximately 15 miles. Serviced by Frontier Airlines. Airport has three car rental agencies: Enterprise, National, and Alamo. https://flybranson.com/
– Branson/Springfield Regional Airport in Springfield, MO is approximately 40 miles or 45 minutes away. Larger airport serviced by American, Delta, United, and Allegiant. Airport has eight car rental agencies. http://www.sgf-branson-airport.com/
Things to do and see in the Area
Branson has a very large assortment of family friendly entertainment. For example, it has 18 theaters, many with live shows. It has at least seven museums, several theme parks, several water parks, nine golf courses, many parks with trails, etc.
For more information, visit the following websites:
Explore Branson – https://www.explorebranson.com/
Everything that’s happening in Branson – https://www.branson.com/
Tripadvisor’s Things to do in Branson – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g44160-Activities-Branson_Missouri.html
Most popular shows in Branson in 2021, they will be different in 2022 – https://www.bransontourismcenter.com/shows/most_popular
Other links to attractions to follow ……
A recommended museum is the Ralph Foster Museum – Ozarks History and More, Adults $8, Seniors $6; High School students and under free. https://www.rfostermuseum.com/
College of the Ozarks. This is a private college but with a very different philosophy on education. The students don’t pay tuition but work at several industries on campus. They work in kitchens baking, work in gardens growing food, operate a farm, or make stained glass pieces and candles. It is known as “Hard Work U!” http://www.cofo.edu/