Mart's relatives gather in Atchison ,i ;.-§••*•.

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By Phyllis Bomberger -5 i *•••
StaffziMter
Amelia Earhart's relatives are t~£*
meeting at Atchison Motor Inn, 401
S. 10th St., for a family reunion and
to attend the 100th birthday celebra-
tion of their famous relative.
; Paul Tonsing, Fort Worth, and
Ralph Martin, Brenham, Texas, were
in charge of making arrangements
for the reunion.
"We are both third or fourth cous-
ins of Amelia Earhart through our
great-grandfather, former Kansas
Governor, John A. Martin," Martin
said. "He arrived in Atchison in 1857
just three years after the town was
founded."
Martin owned the Squatter Sov-
ereign, an Atchison newspaper and
changed the paper's name to
Freedom's Champion to reflect its
conversion to a Free-State paper.
Later on in the paper's history the
name was changed to the Champion.
He was elected to the state Senate
in 1859. In 1884, Martin beat incum-
bent George Glick, also from Atchi-
son, for the job of governor of Kan-
sas, he was re-elected for another
two-year term in 1886.
Ralph Martin remembers meet-
ing Earhart in 1935 when she at-
tended the Kansas Newspaper Phyllis Bomberger/Globe
Editor's Convention. Members of Amelia Earhart's family are gathering this weekend at Atchison
"She came to the Amelia Earhart Motor Inn for a family reunion. About 50 family members are planning to visit and
Birthplace and I was there and real attend a luncheon at noon today in the conference room of the motel. They are
impressed to meet her," Martin said. also taking in as many of the events of the celebration as possible over the
"She had made all those records and weekend.
she was a woman."
Tonsing said that he had never
met Earhart. North Terrace. Tonsing left his birth- Tonsing and Martin say that they They plan to gather in the conference
Both Ralph Martin and Tonsing place when he was about 19 years are related to Earhart through their room at Atchison Motor Inn for a
were born in Atchison and lived on old and Ralph Martin left in 1966. relationship with Gebhard and Maria red luncheon today at noon.
"Grace" Harres. Earhart's grandpar- Bob Tonsing, 95, brother of Paul
ents and their great-grandfather.
Horoscopes Family members plan to spent
Tonsing, is the oldest family mem-
ber attending. There are four genera-
z. their tirr in the conference
Sunday, July 27, 1997 portune. Too much pondering could room at the motel and attending all tions Of the family attending.
give others the chance to beat you to it. the celebrations planned for this
Be amenable to making adjust- AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You "We don't have to re-invent th
weekend. A catered luncheon is
ments to fulfill your ambitions in the might not be personally lucky today, -wheel this weekendV^Maransaiid.
planned for noon today.
year ahead. More changes than usual but if you associate with someone who
About 40 to 50 family members "There areenough activities planned
are probable, and if you flow with ome of his or her fortunate vibes
are scheduled to attend the reunion. to keep us entertained."'
events, you" 11 benefit from their mo- could rub off on you.
mentum. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Com-