Maxwell Memories in Minnesota: Past and Present
Long Lake, Hennepin County, Minnesota
July 31-August 2, 2026
The descendants of John McDowell Maxwell and Henry Stubbs will be gathering for a joint reunion and their connection.
In April of 1855, John McDowell Maxwell, his wife Rachel Mahala Slane Maxwell, sons Robert and family, George with wife, Delilah Slane, James, Frank, John, Jr. and daughter Emily with husband Edwin Turnham, boarded the steamboat Galena in Illinois and traveled to Minnesota and then on to Lake Minnetonka where they settled on Maxwell Bay. 151 years later, the John Maxwell clan will return to Lake Minnetonka for a joint reunion with another area pioneer family, descendants of Henry Stubbs. Many Stubbs descendants also share Maxwell ancestry. John McDowell Maxwell homesteaded land between Stubbs Bay and Maxwell Bay on the northern end of Lake Minnetonka. He was 67 years old and his wife Rachel was 59. Rachel passed away the next year, and John died in 4 years later in 1859. John’s homestead was purchased by Joel Stubbs, a son of Henry Stubbs and the northern bay was named Stubbs Bay while the southern bay was named Maxwell Bay.
❗Tip: Blue underlined words are links. Click the link to learn more!
5:00 pm Evening meet and greet at a local restaurant
9:30 am Meet & Greet at Calvin Presbyterian Church
10:15 Welcome
10:45 Maxwell Pioneer Migration - presentation (Zoom possibility)
11:30 Game & Family Songs
12:00 – 1:45 Potluck Lunch and visiting at the church and group photos: sign up here to bring a dish
2:00 – 4:00 Museum tour with historical storyteller Bob Gasch
4:15 – 6:00 Boat tour of Maxwell Bay
or lakeside time at Long Lake (tables, restrooms, playground available)
or visit Noerenberg Gardens (no food, pets)
6:00 – 7:00 Dinner back at the church (Pizza and salad)
Before 10:00 Self guided tour around Maxwell Bay with map
or enjoy downtime
10:00 – 11:30 Union Cemetery Tour
11:30 – 1:30 Meet at Baker Park on Lake Independence. Lunch tbd
This is a link to purchase a reunion t-shirt: Link Coming Soon
Each person will purchase their shirt individually from Custom Ink if they would like a shirt.
Early Maxwell homesteads as located by Maxwell descendant R. Avery Stubbs:
Locations: Saturday, August 1st meeting at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 117 Glendale Drive Long Lake, MN 55356
Calvin Presbyterian Church
West Hennepin Historical Center
1953 West Wayzata Blvd
Long Lake, MN 55356
Boat cruise: Tour the area of Maxwell Bay which is the area that John McDowell Maxwell and family settled in 1855. Perhaps we can get a private cruise along with a history lesson for our reunion if enough folk are interested.
(Not included in the donation price.)
Baker Park on Lake Independence.
Union Cemetery: There will be a guided tour on Sunday morning at 10:00 to find Maxwells and related relatives.