The 115th Annual Picnic -- July 20, 2025

THE ORIGINAL PICNIC

The original Rundell-Biddick Picnic is thought by many to have occured in 1909 near Livingston, Wisconsin, but this is a false belief. The first picnic, according to family legend, took place on a Sunday afternoon before 1840, on a beach near Padstow, Cornwall, England. Those who attended this first chance meeting were members of James and Betsy Rundell's and Matthew and Mary Biddick's families.

Those who were in attendance from the Rundell side were: James Rundell, Sr.; Betsy Rundell, Sr.;Eliza Rundell (later Mrs. Stephen Carhart); John Rundell; James Rundell, Jr.; William Rundell; Betsy Rundell, Jr. (later Mrs. George Paul); Catherine Rundell (later Mrs. Peter Biddick); Hercules Paynter Rundell; Samual Rundell; Thomas Rundell; Sarah Rundell; Richard Rundell; Ann Rundell (later Mrs. Richard Biddick);Mary Jane Rundell (later Mrs. James Nichols); and Johnson Paynter Rundell.

Those who were in attendance from the Biddick side were: Matthew Biddick,, Sr.; Mary Biddick, Sr.; Matthew Biddick, Jr.; Mary Biddick, Jr. (later Mrs. John Williams); Peter Biddick; George Biddick; Richard Biddick; Kezia Biddick (later Mrs. Samual Rundell); Hannah Biddick (later Mrs. Richard Rundell); John Biddick; and Elizabeth Biddick.

From this chance meeting there evenually blossomed four marriages. Two of these marriages occured in St. Issey, Cornwall, England. These were Samuel Rundell and Kezia Biddick on 31 March, 1848 and Richard Biddick and Ann Rundell on 5 April, 1850. Between the years of 1842 and 1853 these two families migrated to Grant County, Wisconsin. (John Rundell and John Biddick stayed in Cornwall; James Rundell, Sr.. James Rundell, Jr., and Sarah Rundell, died in Cornwall.) After their arrival in this country there were two more marriages which resulted for these inter- familial ties. These were Richard Rundell and Hannah Biddick on 23 May, 1851 and Peter Biddick and Catherine Rundell on 2 March, 1857.

From these four marriages there resulted thirty nine double first cousins, and all of these were born and lived within a few miles of each other. Hence the reason for such a high concentration of Rundells and Biddicks in the Platteville, Wisconsin area.

Wisconsin:

The Rundell Biddick family picnic is held annually in Southwest Wisconsin, usually in the village park in Livingston, Wisconsin. The picnic date is usually on the third Sunday in July. The actual date is decided upon at the meeting of the previous picnic so the date is known a year in advance.

South Dakota:

The Rundell picnic is held in odd numbered years, usually on the Saturday before Fathers Day in June. It is held at the United Methodist Church fellowship hall in Hurley, South Dakota.

Centennial Picnic 2008

The 2008 Rundell Biddick Centennial Picnic in Livingston, Wisconsin was a banner event. The picnic was attended by over 210 family members from 15 different states. The list of states includes:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The number of people attending equaled or exceeded the number of attendees at the very first Rundell Biddick picnic in 1909.

The first indication of a large attendance for the picnic was the number of people that showed up for the Saturday morning breakfast. We had told the restaurant staff that they could probably expect about 12 people, including local family members. to show up for breakfast.

When I walked into the restraurant I found it full of people chatting with one another at a high volume. I first though that we were going to be competing with another large group that was there for breakfast. I soon found out that, with the exception of a handful of people, they were all family members from across the country. Instead of the 12 people we anticipated, between 40 and 50 people were there for breakfast. The restaurant staff was in a panic and was calling in extra help. We were over-whelmed but delighted. With all of the visiting relatives and the over-taxed restaurant staff, the breakfast took more time than we expected.

The tour of family homes and farms therefore got off to a later start and was much larger than we were prepared for. There were at least 9 vehicles and the tour lasted over three hours. Try to envision keeping nine cars together through traffic (what little we have in Grant County) without losing anyone. The tour was one of the highlights of the weekend events.

The Rock Church service was another highlight. The small limestone church was packed and many people were forced to stand. Family members experienced a moving ceremony led by family pastor and also included a welcome from our Rundell Biddick Association President, music on a pump organ, family musicians and singers as well as family history stories. All this in a historic atmosphere that was probably experienced by our ancestor in years past.

The picnic ended the weekend events. It was attended by at least 210 people (an unofficial count) providing everyone an opportunity to visit and get acquainted. It was a great potluck dinner, as it always is, and even with over 200 people enjoying the meal we still had plenty of food with some left over, as it always has been.

The weather was warm and sunny. Relatives had a chance to meet one another for the first time in many cases and make connections that hopefully will grow beyond that weekend. The weekend was a wonderful experience that we hope many more relatives will be able to enjoy in the future.

The BUNDELL

The 115th Annual Picnic -- July 20, 2025