Kay, Thanks so much for your input. I also noticed that there were SHERRICK families in the Fayette Co., PA area. This pension file of Michael's had over 100 pages of documents and lots of new information and I feel a bit inundated in trying to sort it all out. In addition to the Sherrick family, I also have recently been exchanging information with a RIST family member. Jacob and Nancy Culler's son Martin, married Elisabeth RIST. The Rist family was also found in Fayette Co., PA. Each new bit of information leads closer to a possible link with John Culler, or some other member of that family, but no proof yet. I have been going through the information which you sent me a couple of years ago as with new information it seems to shed a different light on everything. I do plan to post my findings on this list so that we can all put our heads together to see what can be gleaned from it. We all have bits and pieces and if we can gather it all in one place perhaps we can get back another generation. I would love to see the pension files of Jacob and Nancy's other sons, but can't afford to get all of them. I requested Michael's as his parents were the filers for the pension and it did pay off. I have transcribed some of the letters which Michael wrote to his parents and will try to post them tonight. The parents had to provide proof that Michael provided for their support and they had sent the letters to Wash. D.C. as the proof. I will start going through the file piece by piece and extract the information relating to additional families and post as I go along so that we can all add our interpretation of what it means. Have you seen the book, "Along the banks of Jacobs Creek"? The description is below. Since none of the Culler family in this time period in Fayette Co., seem to be listed in the Lutheran or Reformed churches, I wonder if they may have been Brethren. I notice that some of your family names are mentioned, though no CULLER. Title Along the banks of Jacobs Creek : a genealogy of the Mennonite families who settled in southern Westmoreland County and northern Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1790-1810 Stmnt.Resp. compiled by Winifred Paul Authors Paul, Winifred (Main Author) Notes Genealogies of the families of Detweiler; Eshelman; Fox; Freed; Fretz/Fretts; Funk; Loucks; Mumma/Mumaw; Newcomer A; Newcomer B; Overholt, Martin; Overholt, Henry; Ruth; Shellenberger/Shallenberger; Sherrick; Stauffer; Stoner; Tinstman/Tintsman; Yothers. Sally

Sally: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I have somehow lost the email you sent asking questions. My computer has been having problems. I will try to respond by memory. John B. Shirkey was the son of James and Sarah Haley Shirkey. James and Sarah were married in Meigs county Ohio I think about 1828. They had the following children listed in the 1850 Clark County, Missouri census. John, James, David, Mary, Nancy, Darius, A Jackson and Hiram. All claim to be born in Ohio. John B. must have told his children that he was born in Meigs county because on the birth certificates of their children they list that their father was born in Meigs County Ohio and their mother in Pennsyvania. John and 3 brothers enlisted in Iowa at the same time for the civil war. I've heard stories from others in the Shirkey family that David enlisted and fought for the south, not proved that yet. I believe the Hiram you mentioned to be the youngest brother of John. I have more on this but I am behind in my taking care of my papers. The name Ann Hoke came from a woman in Idaho who comes from the George Culler family. She contacted me a year ago and asked some questions and I was not able to help her much. Following is a obit she sent, it may answer your question as to which brother, John or George who died from wounds. Mrs. Jessie Culler Dyer, 217 Cherry St. died in Blessing hospital, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1942 at 5 O'clock. She was in falling health for two years and bedfast for two months, entering the hospital a few weeks ago. Mrs. Dyer was born in Virginia, Ill. July 18, 1878, a daughter of George and Anna Hoke Culler. Her marriage to Daniel Leroy Dyer, took place in 1892, in Knox City, Missouri. Her home had been in Quincy since 1903, and she was a member of the Vermont Street Methodist Church. Mr. Dyer died December 24, 1926. Surviving are three sons, Neal and Everett, of Quincy, and George of Libertyville, Ill. Five grandchildren; two brothers, Charles Culler of Edina, Missouri and Jake of Quincy. Three half-brothers, Ira Boltz of Edina, Ed Boltz of Quincy, and Andrew Phillips of Oakwood, Missouri and three sisters, Mrs. Katherine Stevenson, Mrs. Elizabeth Dyer and Mrs. Martha Edwards all of Knox City, Missouri. Sally, I live very close to Virginia, Illinois, Cass County, and have checked everywhere and can find no record of George ever living in Virginia. I have collected quite a bit of info on Martin Culler because he lived around the Cass County area and is buried there. I have Martins obit and that is how I found out what Nancy Culler's maiden name was. Martin was born in Westmoreland County PA. January 15, 1841. It is a long obit. He claims to be a Presbyterian and did attend the Presbyterian Church when he lived around Virginia. I have quite a bit on his children and collecting more as I dig deeper. Here is another obit I found and just thought of. Jacob Culler, 81 of 401 Elm died in St. Mary hospital Sunday morning at 6:25. He resided in the Quincy area, including various places in Adams County and Missouri, most of his life. Mr. Culler was born in Jackson County, Kansas Jan. 30, 1873, a son of George and Anna Hoke Culler. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Knox City, Missouri. Surviving are a sister Mrs. C. O. Stephenson, and a half sister Mrs. Martha Edwards, both of Knox city, Missouri and two half borthers, Ed Boltz of Edina, Missouri and Ira Boltz of Kirksville, Missouri. Two brothers preceded him in death. Taken from the Quincy Hearld Wig 6-28-1954. What did you say the last name of George's widow was in his pension papers? Looks like George moved around quite a bit. Here is something for your files Virginia Gazette, Virginia, Illinois Nov. 1, 1901 Mrs. Katherine Shirkey left Wednesday to spend the winter with her brother, Smith Culler, and other relatives in Rice County, Kansas. Well, can't remember what else you asked me in your email. I loved the Michael Culler letters. Did you happen to notice that he refers to Catherine and Smith and George by their first names and referred to John as John Culler. I thought that was quite odd. Debbie