Susan Washington Sipos of Cassadaga was the recent guest speaker at the Chautauqua County Genealogical Group at its meeting in the Fredonia Barker Library.

Sipos spoke of her research and the history of the Washington family of Dunkirk. Her great-grandparents are the late John Thomas and Elizabeth Ward Washington from England. They were the parents of 13 children, 12 of whom emigrated to the United States around the turn of the 1900s. One child died in England. The rest of the family came to the U.S. by boat through Ellis Island in a span of 10 years. The family settled in the Brigham Road area, and eventually built homes on West Sixth Street in Dunkirk. Families were raised, and employment included working for Brooks Locomotive Works to masonry to gardening. The Washington family has grown in the last 100 years, and each year, a family reunion is held in the summer. This year marks the 99th reunion. The Washing-ton name, said Sipos, is slowly diminishing in the area as there are marriages to other names, and settling in other areas of the country. Using her many notebooks of research, and family photographs, Sipos gave an excellent presentation on the history of the Washington family.

Ruth Davis Nichols is the president of the group and welcomed all to the gathering. She held a “go-around” where all introduced themselves. Gail Pugh Dash, whose mother is also a Washington, serves as the vice president. Walt Sedlmayer is the secretary and Debbie Kotar is the treasurer. Wayne Leamer of Busti is the newsletter editor, and said he is working on a newsletter far in advance of the current one.

The genealogical society maintains a research room in the Barker Library and is open during library hours. The genealogical group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Barker Library. A summer picnic is being planned in August at the Ottoway Park in Westfield. For more information on the group, write to P.O. Box 404, Fredonia, N.Y. 14063. New members are always welcome.