Hi Listers/Rooters and Cousins; I have been on vacation for a week and now I am back. I have missed my fellow listers and gen. research very much and hope I have not missed very much in my absence! About 3 wks. ago I posted a query regarding my G. Aunt Martha (Mattie) Waldo Chapman and her husband Wm. Chapman's involvment with the circus with her being the Fat Lady and he the Legal Adjuster. There were several requests that I post updates as I discovered them so here goes: When I arrived home the other day I found a letter from The Circus Museum of Baraboo, WI in response to my query to them. They were unable to locate Uncle Wm. Chapman's employmnet with Ringling Bros. but did find that he was mentioned in various BILLBOARD classified ads (Entertainment Industry Publication) connecting him to the Sig. Sautelle Circus, John Robinson Circus, Cole Bros. Circus, Mills Bros. Circus, Gollmar Circus, and Walter L. Main Circus circa late 1800's to 1930's. They were unable to locate anything on Aunt Martha as the Fat Lady but said that she probably performed under a stage name so I may need that in order to locate her. My family thinks she may have been know as the Mighty Martha (that sounds more like she was strong instead of obese, but who know?).I am in the process of sending some money to cover some copying services there at the Museum so will be in touch when I receive this info! While the Museum searched for my Aunt and Uncle they found there was several WALDO's that have been involved in various circuses over the past 100+ yrs. including the following: 1) the Great Waldo -swallowed large objects with the ability to regurgitate them without harm to the object...one of these wher a white rat! 2) Captain James Waldo - bareback riding seal act (a biggie with Barum and Bailey and several others) 3) Pat Waldo- clown with King Bros. Circus 4) D.P. Waldo - Circus Band and clown 5) Waldo's - comedy acrobats and aerialist family group 6) Jacob Waldo - mystery man and several other Waldo's who worked as supt. of lights, punch man, baggage, and contractors In light of the above, I am wondering if this obvious WALDO family involvement is how Aunt Martha got interested? I have surfed the Net agressively but have been unable to locate much on these circuses other than they were all fairly substantial in size and that most of them were bought out by Ringling and Barnum & Bailey over the 1930's - 1950's. I have not been able to locate info concerning the W. PA /E. OH circus community that my elderly 2nd cousin spoke of but am still hoping to find out of that as well. If there is still interest I'll pass anything new along as I discover it. happy trails; Patti Waldo Swaim

Hi All! I grew up in the beautiful town of Mercer and was excited to find out in later years that I had some connections at a much earlier time to the area. Maybe ya'll can help me find more about them now that I am gone. Here is what I know. Francis Hamilton born in Ireland in 1766 first came to Mercer, Mercer County PA somewhere between 1800 and 1820. In Mercer he went "security" for another man and lost all he had. From there he moved on to Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio. He married Ruth Williams of Scotch descent in 1806. He was crippled in the War of 1812. I have one source that says he owned the land that Mercer was on sometime after that war. His children that were born in PA were John James born 1808 died 1875 in Ill. David born 1810 died 1872 moved on to Marrietta Ohio Jane born 1813 Francis B. born 1815 in Mercer County wife Matilda moved on to Ohio. William born 1818 Mercer County Let me know if any of this connects! Thanks! Becky Masters Gool

Dear rooters, This is a repeat post. Anything on this family. William Lief McCUTCHEON b Mercer County 26 March 1892 son of William (Samuel ?) McCUTCHEON and Emma EVANS KERR. Married Mildred THAYER 25 Dec 1913. First of 4 sons, James Lafayette McCUTCHEON b 1915 in Darlington, Beaver County. Fred C McCutcheon, 219 Blossom Lane, Sewickley, PA., 15143

Hi Fellow Listers; My great aunt Martha Waldo Chapman and her husband William Chapman of Erie worked for a circus in the late 1800's early 1900's. Family always said it was Barnum & Bailey or Ringling Bro's, but I haven't the slightest idea how to verify this. One elderly aunt says that there were a lot of circus people who wintered there in W. PA and E. OH. Apparently there was a whole circus community in the area. Does anyone know what circus this would be? Aunt Martha was a Fat Hoochie Goochie Girl and her husband was what the family calls the Legal Fixer-Upper man as if anything went wrong we stayed behind in that town and resolved the issue. Was this maybe like a legal advisor/manager? Once my aunt and uncle retired to Erie they opened a small zoo complete with cotton candy with some unusual animals eg: bear, raccon, minature pony, etc. I guess it was like a petting zoo. One other to note about this is that my gg grandfather Marcus C. (Mark) of Erie Co was a horse Doctor (what the family calls him) and when any of of the horses that pulled the Circus Wagons got injured they always sent them back to him to nurse back to health. My very elderly great aunt (now lives in Erie) remembers one particular big white horse (with a braided mane) that he cared for circa 1915-1920 was so rare and beautiful that he slept in the barn with it until it recovered! I want to so very much know more about these colorful ancestors that worked for the circus back during an era before TV, movies, etc. when the circus/fairs was a major event and great family entertainment! Does anyone know of them or where I may obtain this info? Happy trails on the hunt; Patti Waldo Swaim

I am seeking information on my 3 g grandmother, Margaret ORR. She was born 23 May 1853 in Pennsylvania, died 16 Apr 1945 in Youngstown, Mahoning Co., OH and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Sharon. She married Josiah W. LUCE (1848-1915). The family resided in the Fisher Hill area of Sharon. Children: i. Maude LUCE (1871-1957); married James LANGLEY of Youngstown, Mahoning Co., OH/Sharon, PA ii. Vera LUCE (1878-1911); married Evan A. JONES of Sharpsville, Mercer Co., PA iii. Grace LUCE (1882-1966); married Edward J. LEWIS, Sr. of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH The death notice of Margaret Orr Luce in the Sharon Herald of April 17, 1945 states: "Mrs. Margaret Luce, 93, formerly of Fisher Hill, died yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Lewis, Youngstown. She is the widow of Josiah Luce who preceded her in death 29 years ago. In addition she is survived by another daughter, Mrs. Maude Langley of Youngstown." If anyone has info on Margaret ORR's parents and/or siblings, please let me know. Her death certificate is not on file with vital stats. Thanks, Cassie Langley Brown Port Orford, OR http://members.aol.com/cherub214/index.html clnholly@aol.com

> Would like to find someone researching the Crawford and Hunter > families in Delaware Township in 1850. > > Thanks. > -- > Barbara Farthing Bonham > Cherry Stone Creek http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9515 > My ancestry: > http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/MsBonham/BARBARA/index.htmHi Barbara, I have Hunter's from Delaware Twp. Elizabeth Jane b. 1833 d/o Ephriam Hunter b. 1812 I can send you what I have on them. Just E-mail at emamcd@erols.com

Can you tell me if I am unscribed again? Harry

In a message dated 6/16/98 2:50:07 AM, PAMERCER-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: Would like to find someone researching the Crawford and Hunter families in Delaware Township in 1850. Thanks. -- Barbara Farthing Bonham Cherry Stone Creek http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9515 My ancestry: http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/MsBonham/BARBARA/index.htm>> I am looking for a CRAWFORD family as well--not sure they are in Mercer Co. but descendants are. I have an Elizabeth CRAWFORD who married Robert BOAL--both born PA prob. abt. 1800-1810. Their daughter, Amanda BOAL was born in 1828; she married John LUCE; they lived in Sharon, Mercer Co. and Sharpsville, Mercer Co. There may be connections to Venango Co. as well through the BOAL/BOLE line. This is a brand new surname for me, so sorry about the lack of details. Would appreciate any clues, etc. Thanks! Cassie Langley Brown clnholly@aol.com http://members.aol.com/cherub214/index.html Port Orford, OR

Would like to find someone researching the Crawford and Hunter families in Delaware Township in 1850. Thanks. -- Barbara Farthing Bonham Cherry Stone Creek http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9515 My ancestry: http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/MsBonham/BARBARA/index.htm

Effective immediately my e-mail address is: <nana8@iname.com> Mary Lois Grantham (formerly <nana8@swbell.net>)

My father-in-law was Johnathan Burl Hollibaugh. He was known as Junior. His father was also named Johnathan, we believe he was Senior. He was born in Mercer Co. sometime around 1880-1890. He married a Vianna Holland. Any information would be of help.

> No David I think we are very lucky to beable to have access to such a large > data base. Before the computer it was the people who lived in large cities > that had access to the data that is on the computer. But now every one has a > chance to research his tree. > Thank You Wayne L McKean, Seattle, WA > I agree with Wayne. I feel anyone that cares enough to look into their family history cares enough to make sure it is valid. For some family info there is only the family bible or the memory of the older generations. This info is usually stated as such. Kristy Cooper: searching for Keenan, Dodd, Warrick,Pa. and WVa.

I have my ancestorial information from an Alex McCracken beginning in 1816 in Mercer County, Slippery Rock. Would someone like this information (verified from census records) ? Also I am looking for his birth records in 1816 and his son in 1848 Mercer, and probate records in 1930 ? Any information would be appreciated.

Searching for ancestry on Isaiah (sometimes listed as Isaac) LYTLE (sometimes LITTLE), b 2/22/1846 PA, d 5/11/1898 Mahaska Co IA, m Adaline HALL; listed on 1870 Mercer Co PA census in city of Sharon. Steve Dalton daltons@midwest.net

With deepest sympathy. Peggy

I came across this message today and thought some of you might be interested. As you may know, Val Adkins passed away recently. She operated the Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society web site and was very widely known in the genealogy communtity. She will certainly be missed. Mike > -----Original Message----- > From: Cyndi Howells [SMTP:cyndihow@oz.net] > Sent: Friday, June 05, 1998 11:48 PM > Subject: Memorial web page for Val Adkins > > Can you share this with your mailing list please? > Thanks so much, > Cyndi > > > Hello everyone - > > A little over a week ago, the genealogical community lost a > wonderful, generous friend to cancer. Val Adkins was a dedicated > genealogist who made many terrific contributions to our hobby > online, as well as offline. Val was the webmaster for the Grannies > World site and the Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society web > site, which included many transcriptions done by Val herself. She > also ran several mailing lists including one for Crawford County, > Pennsylania and one for New York City. We will all miss Val, her > love of genealogy and her cherished friendship. > > Friends and family of Val Adkins invite you to visit a memorial web > page for Val, read about her life and share some fond memories: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~memorial/vadkins/vadkins.htm > > On behalf of Val, her family and friends, I'd like to thank you for > paying your respects. > > Sincerely, > > Cyndi Howells > Someone who benefited often from Val's wit and wisdom

I am searching for anyone who might have information on locating marriage information from the year 1851. Samuel CAUFIELD and Susan PETERS were said to be married in Sharon, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1851. I am searching for any leads. Help! Debbie

I am looking for information on the following family. They probably arrived in Mercer Co., PA in the 1830s from eastern PA. I particularly would like to know if the son Thomas is the same as the Thomas WISE, b. abt 1824, who later lived in Turnersville, Crawford Co., PA, married Prudence M. first, married Sarah L. second and d. 28 Jun 1884. John WISE, Sr. b. abt 1786 in PA and Eva KESTER had these children: Daniel WISE - b. abt 1816, 1st wife unknown - 2nd wife - Sarah Elizabeth - b. abt 1818 married Solomon HOLLER John J. WISE - b. abt 1820, married Catherine b. abt 1820 Thomas WISE Jacob WISE Sarah WISE-FRY b 12 Oct 1827 - Union Twp, Luzerne County, PA m- Stephen FRY (abt 1850) b. abt 1818 d- 12 Apr 1919 - Warren, Trumbull Co, Ohio Any information on this family would be greatly appreciated. Jim Wise mailto:jwise@wvadventures.net Armstrong Co., Pennsylvania: BOWSER LYNCH BEYER WILES STOOPS HAMILTON HEPLER BARNHART CAMPBELL EDWARDS GIBSON ANDERS KING REGIS Mercer Co., Pennsylvania: GREGGS WIGTON CAMPBELL CHISHOLM CULBERTSON MCCORMACK CORNELIUS CURRY COVERT WISE MILLER MOON

Hello, Looking for information on the GEORGE family of Mercer Co. This is as far back as I've been able to go: MARTIN L. GEORGE b: 15 June 1812 d: 30 June 1854 m: ANNA DAVIS b: 25 December 25 1810. Both Martin and Anna are buried in a small cemetery called the Walley cemetery in Perry Twp. The children of Martin and Anna are: Josiah E, Louisa, Reuben (married Mary Jane Miller), Victor, Christian, Martin W, Mary, and Susan. I do know that Reuben and Victor later moved to West Monterey and East Brady in Clarion Co. I found Martin and Anna on the Mercer Co. 1850 census on microfilm at the LDS library in Salt Lake, but couldn't read what Twp or area of Mercer they were living in at the time. Any help would certainly be appreciated! Thanks. Teri Phoenix, AZ

I found the index to divorce procedings in the Prothonatary's office at the County Court House in Mercer. The actual records are stored elsewhere, and it may take a day or two after you request them for them to be delivered to the court house. They make interesting reading! Good luck. I hope you find the one you are looking for! Betty Crouser Stumpf ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com