To David M. Waid dmwaid@provide.net and other WAID researchers in Crawford County. Here is the information I found on Pember Waid in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." "Our subject often meditates with sincere gratitude on the blessings imparted to him in his childhood by the example and teachings of his Christian, God-fearing parents. To them he feels indebted for the maxims inculcated on him that in after life led him to seize the precious moment when it was so ordained he should, to use his own words, "choose a way of his own." At the age of seventeen, Mr. Waid, ever bearing in mind the injunctions of his parents to love and fear the Lord, came to appreciate that the most important thing in life was not only obedience to his father and mother, but also a recognition of the Scriptural advice as given by St. Mathew: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His right- eousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Mr. Waid sought this at the State Road Church on the evening of the 10th of January, 1851, during a revival meeting conducted by the Rev. S.K. Paden and other ministers. It was a notable time long to be remembered in this community, where many sought the Lord and found peace and pardon; young and old there bowed before the Lord seeking salvation. It was here Pember WAID learned the way of life, and continued therein faithfully serving his Master until He bade him come up higher. This meeting continued several weeks, and some, today, who embrace it then, are teaching the Gospel; and Mr. WAID desires to impress on every one, particularly, the youth of our land, that he finds this same seeking after righteousness helps him wonderfully to solve the problem of life, and he confidently affirms that he owes all his success to a proper regard for the apostle's injunction and his parents' lessons in Obedience, Industry and Economy. "In his seventeenth year, when his twin brother and he chose the good way, their parents presented each of them with a Bible. George N. WAID has Franklin's Bible, and our subject still possesses his own, but has found it necessary, after twenty-two years of wear and tear, to have it rebound, and of all books, he contends that one is still his choice. "The truth set forth there," says he, "is grander than any scene in nature. How I love to contemplate it. I have had the pleasure of looking on the beautiful scenery of the Hudson River, and several times in my life of surveying the grandeur of Niagara Falls with other scenes and wonders in nature, and it was only when I viewed them in the light of inspiration that I received the greatest amount of pleasure. I would 'look through nature up to nature's God.' " "The early days of our subject were spent in assisting his father about the farm, and attending the common schools. (He has two school cards, one given to his twin brother, the other to himself, both bearing this date: "June 18, 1838; Lucinda Gleen, teacher.") From this he went direct to Allegheny College for two terms (the fall of 1851 and the spring of 1852). In that spring Mr. WAID boarded with his uncle, Joseph Finney; "one of the best uncles he ever had." His wife was Mr. WAID'S mother's youngest sister. Mr. Finney was a carpenter and joiner, one of Meadville's most expert workmen. He gave employment to several men, and erected many buildings in his day, both in town and country. In 1845 he built Ira C. WAID'S house, where our subject's son, Guinnip P., now lives. When Francis C. WAID and his twin brother, Franklin P., were boys, Mr. Finney, while he was building the house spoken of, made each of them a hand-sled of common ash flooring, and one of these sleds remained in existence till worn out, not very long ago, by Mr. WAID'S youngest son, Fred F. There were six children in Joseph Finney's family, only one of whom is now living - Joseph R., a dentist in Pittsburgh, Penn. The eldest son, David Finney, who learned his father's trade, built, in 1861, the house Francis C. WAID now lives in; also, at a later date, George N. WAID'S house. "At that time (the fall of 1851 and spring of 1852) there was no academy at Meadville nor Saegertown, but being acquainted with S.S. Sears, who graduated in 1852 from Allegheny College, Mr. WAID was induced by him to accompany him to Waterford, Erie County, where he (Mr. Sears) had received an appointment as teacher; and so our subject became one of his pupils during the fall term of 1852, in company with C.R. Slocum and E.T. Wheeler, boarding with Matthew Smith, a farmer. In the fall of 1853 Mr. WAID attended, one term, the academy at Meadville, taught by Samuel P. Bates and Thomas Thickstun, C.R. Slocum and he boarding, during that term, with Mr. Henderson. These four terms comprised his entire education outside of what he obtained in the common schools. Our subject relates with characteristic pride, how that the first dollar he ever earned was got by picking strawberries along with his twin brother and selling them at five cents per quart, with the proceeds of which they had the privilege of buying their own clothes, and still they had some "spending money." At the age of fifteen he made his first trip from home, assisting Charles Hodge and Bowers in driving cattle from this county to Heard's Corners, four miles from Goshen, Orange Co., NY, and on his return he had his first ride on a railway train, from Albany to Schenectady (sixteen miles). Mr. WAID has, since then, ridden many thousands of miles but no journey has ever given him so much pleasure as that short trip on the cars. He also sailed on the lake steamer "Bunker Hill," from Buffalo to Erie, (the lake was rough but he did not get seasick, thought glad when they came into port), footing it thence home, thinking, as he plodded on his way, he had seen part of the world in earnest." More to follow! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net