I am writing to inquire if anyone has knowledge of a James Hill. He was a carpenter, born in Pennsylvania. He moved to Tyler County, (West) Virginia between 1830 and 1840. We are looking for his parents. Some documents suggest that his father was William Hill and that his mother's first name began with an "S." His family sailed to the United States from Ireland. It has been said that when his parents were sailing from Ireland, that the grandfather died and was buried at sea. Thank You, Suzanne Hill

Hi All... There has been some recent talk around the valley of a new county that would follow the general boundaries of the area encompassed by our mailing list and Web site. This is not a new idea. I've posted an article from Earle Forrest's History of Washington County (1926) that deals with 8 attempts of the same thing, dating back to the late 1700's. On one occasion, the formation of "Monongahela County" was defeated by the state legislature by just one vote. The URL for the story: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval/counties/rivercounty.html -- Thanks Mike Donaldson, Bentleyville, PA (mdonald4@bentcom.net) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Valley History and Genealogy Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval/ Mon Valley: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: http://www.geocities.com/mdonald318/ My family gedcom: http://www.my-ged.com/donldson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Listowner of: Monongahela River Valley of Penna Rootsweb mailing list: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com - Mail mode PAMONVAL-D@rootsweb.com - Digest mode Bieneman / Bienemann Rootsweb Mailing list Bienemann-L@rootsweb.com - Mail Mode Bienemann-D@rootsweb.com - Digest mode

Hello ALL, Would anybody know about the History of the village of Gastonville located near Finleyville, Washington Co? I have a Charity CHEESEMAN who married a John Gaston in 1760 in Monmouth Co New Jersey and came to Washington county. She was the sister of my 6th great grandmother Lydia Cheeseman. Lydia Cheeseman married Charles McClain. they were the parents of ABIJAH MCLAIN who was CO-founder of the town of Rice's Landing. Thanks! MArk

Bill and everyone else, I "think" I have some pictures of the school. My sons went to kindergarden there, and I know I have pictures of them at school--first day and all that. I'm not sure how much of the school is in the picture. I'll look this week-end and post another message. By the way, it was Ninth St. School--the bottom entrance was on McKean and the top on Fallowfield. I guess you know, they tore it down and built a senior citizen apartment building there. Eva in Tallahassee --- "William A. Dukstein" <greenvale@erols.com> wrote: > Does anyone know of any existing photographs of the > old 8th Street > elementary school in Charleroi? It resembled a > castle with a moat around > it. So far I've been unable to locate any photos. > Any help would be > greatly appreciated. > > Bill Dukstein > > > > ==== PAMONVAL Mailing List ==== > Remember!! The "reply to" button will send only to > the author of a message. > If your reply "might" be of interest to the list, be > sure to enter > PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com in the cc box on your mail > program. > ===== Eva Dayle Zippay Tallahassee, Florida evadayle@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

unsubscribe

Hi, Bill, > I show references to Thomas Carson and Henry S. Chalfand on an 1882 map of > Allen Township. It also shows the property lines for the Henry Speers > tracks of land. Would this help? That "Henry S. Chalfand" should read "Henry S. ChalfanT" instead. He's my great-grandfather, a doctor who practiced in Allen Township and all around the area from the 1850s until just prior to his death in the mid-1890s. That particular area has changed names about four times, I think. Just to let you know. :-) Sincerely, Cindy Lucinda Cunningham Durbin <http://www.paperdolls.org>

I forwarded this message in hopes someone can help this person. Thanks! ----- Original Message ----- From: <JOcon97480@aol.com> To: <STEELE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 6:38 AM Subject: [STEELE-L] (no subject) > > I am looking for information about a William G Steele, Philadelphia, PA who > either lived or worked at South West Corner of 6th and Market circa 1875. > > Pls respond to jocon97480@aol.com. > > Thanks in advance... > > > ==== STEELE Mailing List ==== > GenConnect ~ Wills, have one? Post it at ~ > http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/s/t/STEELE/wills > List Manager's address STEELE-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > The easiest way to stay in touch with your family and friends! > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST1 >

Hi List, As there has been some conversation recently about the old Speers Cemetery I thought I would jump in with a little information. There was an article in one of the old Keyholes about the cemetery. It was written by Bertha Liviskie, who was a member of the SW Pa. Gen. Society, and also the wife of the constable of Speers, and the mother of one of my school-days friends. If memory serves me correctly the information Tom cited was in that article; although I believe the article was a bit more detailed. If there is interest in this I can hunt up that article this week-end and post more information to the list. And, on a personal note--my family moved to Speers Hill not long after that cemetery was destroyed and houses were built on the site. I remember, around Halloween, that it was a "rite of passage" to walk around the apartment building on Phillips St. at night. It was very dark behind that building and at that time there were a few tombstones leaning against the back of the apartment house. Hey, it sounds really dumb and tame now, but then, that was exciting! (Too bad the young kids today don't still find that kind of thing exciting, eh?) I wonder if part of the cemetery wasn't taken when they built the access ramp from rt 88 to I-70E? It used to be hillside from 88 to the top of Speers Hill in that area--the road to the top of the hill used to go from the crossroads in lower Speers up and winding slightly to the south. I think there was a church that sat to the left of that road (as you look up the hill) about half-way up. I remember a large (to a child) white clapboard building. It wasn't the old schoolhouse, which I understand is still there. Eva in Tallahassee ===== Eva Dayle Zippay Tallahassee, Florida evadayle@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Would appreciate any information. Could you put it on the web or make a copy and send it to me. Email me your address for expense. Dave Copenhaver 203 Donora Road Monongahela PA 15063 ----- Original Message ----- From: "William A. Dukstein" <greenvale@erols.com> To: "DLC" <dlcope@sgi.net>; <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 7:12 PM Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Dave > > I show references to Thomas Carson and Henry S. Chalfand on an 1882 map of > Allen Township. It also shows the property lines for the Henry Speers > tracks of land. Would this help? > > Bill > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: DLC <dlcope@sgi.net> > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:56 PM > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > > > Good afternoon Tom... > > > > I am researching several surnames (CHALFANT, COPENHAVER, CARSON) and a > > reference came up referring to the Speers Plan. Do you know where the > > boundaries of the Speers Plan would be c.1895? Also any information or > maps > > of Duvlevy before 1913. > > > > I also attended the last California Area Historical Society meeting > > concerning the "Old California Cemetery" restoration program. It is being > > very well planned and organized. > > > > Will scan the last CAHS newsletter and forward. > > > > Better yet I'll post on the internet with a private URL. > > > > Donations can be sent to: > > > > California Area Historical Society > > P.O. Box 624 > > California PA 15419-0624 > > > > Make checks payable to: "The California Area Historical Society" > > Memo: to Sponsorship of Old California Cemetery Preservation Project. > > > > Dave Copenhaver > > Monongahela PA > > dlcope@sgi.net > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Tom Speers" <speers@cetlink.net> > > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:03 AM > > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > > > > > > Marilyn, > > > I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There > is > > > a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that > > some > > > of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would > like > > > to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be > > > more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if > > > donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. > > Does > > > any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating > > to > > > its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some > > > article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? > The > > > California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and > may > > > be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may > > > have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of > time. > > I > > > now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much > help. > > > > > > I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. > > > Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the > > > property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers > was > > > particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. > I > > > was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers > > > cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes > > > down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of > > > these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list > > of > > > names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of > > my > > > Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a > > > few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced > them. > > > Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon > > > Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about > > > below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my > Solomon > > > Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is > now > > > gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation > that > > > later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was > preacher > > > in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were > relocated > > > to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry > > > > help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off > > from > > > the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a > > > Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. > > > > > > There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple > > > Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's > > ridge > > > according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where > that > > > is or if there are any tombstones there. > > > > > > There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been > > > abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle > > > Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van > > > Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They > were > > > the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle > > Vernon, > > > the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. > > > William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery > at > > > about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill > > and > > > Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. > > > There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will > Baptist > > > Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I > > > believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. > > > > > > Tom Speers > > > Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear > > > Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. > > > descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and > > > his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears > > > > > > ---------- > > > > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > > > > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > > > > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > > > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > > > > > > > Mike, > > > > > > > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who > > > were > > > > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x > > > g,grandparents > > > > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents > > > James > > > > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born > in > > > the > > > > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > > > > > > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > > > > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there > > > appears > > > > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have > not > > > > been able to find the cemetery. > > > > > > > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that > > > cemetery > > > > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena > > > married > > > > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > > > > > > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > > > > **************************8 > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > > > > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > > > > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what > I > > > > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > > > > : Mike > > > > : > > > > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > > > > : > > > > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > > > > : > > > > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > > > > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > > > > : > > > > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > > > > : chipped > > > > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > > > > : > > > > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > > > > : officials > > > > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > > > > : unknown. > > > > : > > > > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., > > describing > > > > : her > > > > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last > > year > > > > : while > > > > : researching her roots. > > > > : > > > > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > > > > : unearthed > > > > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn > about > > > > : plans > > > > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > > > > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone > > of > > > > : the > > > > : school founder. > > > > : > > > > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and > they > > > > : want to > > > > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > > > > : > > > > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do > > > something > > > > : with > > > > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > > > > : > > > > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris > > > said. > > > > : > > > > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary > Beth > > > > : Graf, > > > > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > > > > : > > > > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the > cemetery > > > > : at the > > > > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > > > > : Johnson, > > > > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and > use > > > > : the > > > > : stone for a small park on campus. > > > > : > > > > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with > > > 196 > > > > : > > > > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to > take > > > > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > > > > : residents, > > > > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about > > > the > > > > : > > > > : university's project, Graf said. > > > > : > > > > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, > > > and > > > > : the > > > > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > > > > : > > > > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with > the > > > > : stones > > > > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > > > > : > > > > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old > cemeteries. > > > > : The > > > > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > > > > : removal or > > > > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic > burial > > > > : place. > > > > : > > > > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back > in > > > > : their > > > > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > > > > : buried, > > > > : Graf said. > > > > : > > > > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No > one > > > > : knows > > > > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > > > > : > > > > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns > > > the > > > > : > > > > : land," she said. > > > > : > > > > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do > something > > > > : with > > > > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have > raised > > > > : about > > > > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > > > > : grant. > > > > : > > > > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > > > > : Civil > > > > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > > > > : site, > > > > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > > > > : > > > > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the > > least > > > > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by > two > > > > : long > > > > : walls veneered with the original stones. > > > > : > > > > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. > > > > > > > > > ==== PAMONVAL Mailing List ==== > > Come visit the NEW <a > href=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval>Mid Mon Valley > History and Genealogy Pages</a> > > > > > >

Dave I show references to Thomas Carson and Henry S. Chalfand on an 1882 map of Allen Township. It also shows the property lines for the Henry Speers tracks of land. Would this help? Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: DLC <dlcope@sgi.net> To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:56 PM Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Good afternoon Tom... > > I am researching several surnames (CHALFANT, COPENHAVER, CARSON) and a > reference came up referring to the Speers Plan. Do you know where the > boundaries of the Speers Plan would be c.1895? Also any information or maps > of Duvlevy before 1913. > > I also attended the last California Area Historical Society meeting > concerning the "Old California Cemetery" restoration program. It is being > very well planned and organized. > > Will scan the last CAHS newsletter and forward. > > Better yet I'll post on the internet with a private URL. > > Donations can be sent to: > > California Area Historical Society > P.O. Box 624 > California PA 15419-0624 > > Make checks payable to: "The California Area Historical Society" > Memo: to Sponsorship of Old California Cemetery Preservation Project. > > Dave Copenhaver > Monongahela PA > dlcope@sgi.net > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom Speers" <speers@cetlink.net> > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:03 AM > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > > > Marilyn, > > I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There is > > a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that > some > > of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would like > > to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be > > more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if > > donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. > Does > > any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating > to > > its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some > > article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? The > > California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and may > > be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may > > have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of time. > I > > now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much help. > > > > I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. > > Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the > > property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers was > > particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. I > > was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers > > cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes > > down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of > > these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list > of > > names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of > my > > Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a > > few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced them. > > Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon > > Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about > > below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my Solomon > > Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is now > > gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation that > > later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was preacher > > in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were relocated > > to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry > > help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off > from > > the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a > > Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. > > > > There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple > > Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's > ridge > > according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where that > > is or if there are any tombstones there. > > > > There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been > > abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle > > Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van > > Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They were > > the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle > Vernon, > > the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. > > William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery at > > about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill > and > > Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. > > There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will Baptist > > Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I > > believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. > > > > Tom Speers > > Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear > > Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. > > descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and > > his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears > > > > ---------- > > > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > > > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > > > > > Mike, > > > > > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who > > were > > > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x > > g,grandparents > > > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents > > James > > > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in > > the > > > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > > > > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > > > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there > > appears > > > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not > > > been able to find the cemetery. > > > > > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that > > cemetery > > > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena > > married > > > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > > > > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > > > **************************8 > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > > > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I > > > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > > > : Mike > > > : > > > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > > > : > > > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > > > : > > > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > > > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > > > : > > > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > > > : chipped > > > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > > > : > > > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > > > : officials > > > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > > > : unknown. > > > : > > > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., > describing > > > : her > > > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last > year > > > : while > > > : researching her roots. > > > : > > > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > > > : unearthed > > > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about > > > : plans > > > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > > > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone > of > > > : the > > > : school founder. > > > : > > > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they > > > : want to > > > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > > > : > > > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do > > something > > > : with > > > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > > > : > > > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris > > said. > > > : > > > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth > > > : Graf, > > > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > > > : > > > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery > > > : at the > > > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > > > : Johnson, > > > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use > > > : the > > > : stone for a small park on campus. > > > : > > > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with > > 196 > > > : > > > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take > > > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > > > : residents, > > > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about > > the > > > : > > > : university's project, Graf said. > > > : > > > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, > > and > > > : the > > > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > > > : > > > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the > > > : stones > > > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > > > : > > > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. > > > : The > > > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > > > : removal or > > > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial > > > : place. > > > : > > > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in > > > : their > > > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > > > : buried, > > > : Graf said. > > > : > > > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one > > > : knows > > > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > > > : > > > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns > > the > > > : > > > : land," she said. > > > : > > > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something > > > : with > > > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised > > > : about > > > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > > > : grant. > > > : > > > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > > > : Civil > > > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > > > : site, > > > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > > > : > > > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the > least > > > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two > > > : long > > > : walls veneered with the original stones. > > > : > > > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. > > > > > ==== PAMONVAL Mailing List ==== > Come visit the NEW <a href=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval>Mid Mon Valley History and Genealogy Pages</a> >

In a message dated 3/19/01 9:58:37 PM, mdonald4@bentcom.net writes: >Kind of makes we think about what I >(We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? Mike, I belong to the Assoc. for Gravestone Studies and this neglect is happening all over the country. One of the things that the AGS tries to do is to make people aware of this and get them involved in restoring and keeping up old cemeteries. Each year at their annual conference they select a local Cemetery that needs help and attendees are invited to spend the day learning techniques of restoration, etc. while doing the actual work on the local site. Of course, not an awfully lot gets done in one day, but the attendees learn what to do back home in their own places and the locals near the cemetery often get inspired to continue the good work that was begun. On their web page they also have articles that give some instruction on repair and restoration. See: http://www.gravestonestudies.org/ for further info. Cora

Does anyone know of any existing photographs of the old 8th Street elementary school in Charleroi? It resembled a castle with a moat around it. So far I've been unable to locate any photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Bill Dukstein

Mary, My Great-Grandfather also died in 1918 from the flu epidemic. He was 30 and lived in the German enclave of Spring Hill in Pittsburgh. He had a young wife and three young children who were spared. I'd like to know anything that you find out about the epidemic on a more local level. Best of luck to you locating your ancestor's grave. Dana Biel Shepherd Shepflock4@aol.com

Good afternoon Tom... I am researching several surnames (CHALFANT, COPENHAVER, CARSON) and a reference came up referring to the Speers Plan. Do you know where the boundaries of the Speers Plan would be c.1895? Also any information or maps of Duvlevy before 1913. I also attended the last California Area Historical Society meeting concerning the "Old California Cemetery" restoration program. It is being very well planned and organized. Will scan the last CAHS newsletter and forward. Better yet I'll post on the internet with a private URL. Donations can be sent to: California Area Historical Society P.O. Box 624 California PA 15419-0624 Make checks payable to: "The California Area Historical Society" Memo: to Sponsorship of Old California Cemetery Preservation Project. Dave Copenhaver Monongahela PA dlcope@sgi.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Speers" <speers@cetlink.net> To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:03 AM Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Marilyn, > I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There is > a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that some > of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would like > to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be > more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if > donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. Does > any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating to > its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some > article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? The > California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and may > be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may > have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of time. I > now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much help. > > I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. > Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the > property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers was > particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. I > was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers > cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes > down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of > these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list of > names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of my > Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a > few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced them. > Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon > Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about > below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my Solomon > Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is now > gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation that > later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was preacher > in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were relocated > to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry > help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off from > the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a > Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. > > There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple > Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's ridge > according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where that > is or if there are any tombstones there. > > There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been > abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle > Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van > Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They were > the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle Vernon, > the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. > William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery at > about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill and > Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. > There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will Baptist > Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I > believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. > > Tom Speers > Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear > Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. > descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and > his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears > > ---------- > > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > > > Mike, > > > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who > were > > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x > g,grandparents > > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents > James > > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in > the > > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there > appears > > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not > > been able to find the cemetery. > > > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that > cemetery > > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena > married > > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > > **************************8 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I > > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > > : Mike > > : > > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > > : > > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > > : > > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > > : > > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > > : chipped > > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > > : > > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > > : officials > > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > > : unknown. > > : > > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing > > : her > > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year > > : while > > : researching her roots. > > : > > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > > : unearthed > > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about > > : plans > > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of > > : the > > : school founder. > > : > > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they > > : want to > > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > > : > > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do > something > > : with > > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > > : > > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris > said. > > : > > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth > > : Graf, > > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > > : > > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery > > : at the > > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > > : Johnson, > > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use > > : the > > : stone for a small park on campus. > > : > > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with > 196 > > : > > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take > > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > > : residents, > > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about > the > > : > > : university's project, Graf said. > > : > > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, > and > > : the > > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > > : > > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the > > : stones > > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > > : > > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. > > : The > > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > > : removal or > > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial > > : place. > > : > > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in > > : their > > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > > : buried, > > : Graf said. > > : > > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one > > : knows > > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > > : > > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns > the > > : > > : land," she said. > > : > > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something > > : with > > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised > > : about > > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > > : grant. > > : > > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > > : Civil > > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > > : site, > > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > > : > > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least > > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two > > : long > > : walls veneered with the original stones. > > : > > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. >

My Davis family pretty much stayed in Monongahela River area, moving back & forth between Washington County and Fayette Co along the river. Many of their descendants are still living there. They were laborers in different capacities and married into the Bumgarner, Horner?, Core, Dales, Fonner, Harden, Sibert lines from what I now know. I believe the line comes down from John Davis in Redstone & Luzerne Twp. area in the late 1790s. His son, George (not proven) was in E. Beth. Twp., Wash. Co.,Pa. by 1804 tax list. His wife was Mary. George died abt. 1852 in E. Pike Twp., Mary aft.1880 in W.Beth.Twp. They had children: John, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, Joseph, Sarah Rebecca, and Samuel Elliott Finley Davis. Joseph was my gggdfather, b. 1810 E. Beth. Twp. near Millsboro & Fredericktown area. He was a cooper/joiner. His first wife was Elizabeth Edith Bumgarner b.abt.1814, d/o Joseph Joel Bumgarner & Lydia Sprindler. They were married in Jan. 1829 by John Bowers, Esq. They had children: Joel B.b. 1830, said to have married Sarah Horner and in 1870 census was in Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland Co. George W. was born 1832; married Cyrene Dales in 1850s, had 2 sons James & Charles Van; he died before 1870 and Cyrene remarried to Samuel Montgomery of Greene Co., Pa. David D. (or R.)b.1834, md. Mariah McClelland d/o Charles, E. Beth. Twp. in 1860; they lived in Jefferson Twp., Fayette Co.and had several children. Greenberry b. 1836 md. Ellen Malon. He moved to near Allenport with his family and died before 1900. Andrew Jackson b. 1838 married Mary Ellen Sowers of Greene Co., sister of one of his friends in Ringgold Cavalry during the Civil War. They lived in Allenport, and California areas with their family. Samuel Elliot Finley b. 1840 md Rebecca ?; they lived in E. Beth Twp., and Bridgeport/Brownsville area in Fayette Co. John Zachariah T. b. 1846, in Ringgold Cav., did not marry and died young in Coal Center, buried Howe Cem., and their only daughter, Mary b. 1848 md. Edward F. Fonner and lived in Amwell Twp., Wash. Co. after her marriage. In 1880 she is alone with one son, Ira, age 1. Edith Bumgarner Davis died in the mid 1850's and is buried in the cemetery at Millsboro. Joseph remarried to Matilda F. Harden of Luzerne Twp.,Fayette Co.,Pa. They moved to the W. Beth, Wash. Co. area by 1880 and lived beside the Davis Covered Bridge near Zollarsville on the Ten Mile Creek that joined Wash. with Greene Co. Their only child to live through adulthood was my great- grandfather, Joseph Allen Davis, Jr. b. 1857 in E. Beth. Twp. He married Sarah Ida Sibert of Greene Co. and they had children: William Henry, Cora Belle, and Robert Earl Davis. Sarah died in 1896 of TB and is buried on the Wise Farm in W. Beth. Twp. near Zollarsville. Joseph then put the children in Wash. Co. Children's Home and moved to Ten Mile, Amwell Twp., Pa. where he had a gas well. His mother eventually moved to his home and she d. 1920 and Joseph in 1940. Both are buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Ten Mile. If anyone is familiar with this family, please let me hear from you. I have more information to share...even on family that is still living in these areas. Best Regards, Rebecca Davis Pauley (Becky) Washington, Pa.

Marilyn, I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There is a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that some of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would like to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. Does any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating to its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? The California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and may be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of time. I now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much help. I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers was particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. I was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list of names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of my Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced them. Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my Solomon Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is now gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation that later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was preacher in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were relocated to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off from the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's ridge according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where that is or if there are any tombstones there. There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They were the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle Vernon, the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery at about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill and Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will Baptist Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. Tom Speers Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears ---------- > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > Mike, > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who were > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x g,grandparents > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents James > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in the > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there appears > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not > been able to find the cemetery. > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that cemetery > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena married > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > **************************8 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > : Mike > : > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > : > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > : > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > : > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > : chipped > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > : > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > : officials > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > : unknown. > : > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing > : her > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year > : while > : researching her roots. > : > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > : unearthed > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about > : plans > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of > : the > : school founder. > : > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they > : want to > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > : > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do something > : with > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > : > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris said. > : > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth > : Graf, > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > : > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery > : at the > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > : Johnson, > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use > : the > : stone for a small park on campus. > : > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with 196 > : > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > : residents, > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about the > : > : university's project, Graf said. > : > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, and > : the > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > : > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the > : stones > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > : > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. > : The > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > : removal or > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial > : place. > : > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in > : their > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > : buried, > : Graf said. > : > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one > : knows > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > : > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns the > : > : land," she said. > : > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something > : with > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised > : about > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > : grant. > : > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > : Civil > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > : site, > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > : > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two > : long > : walls veneered with the original stones. > : > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said.

I have been researching a Aunt that died at 7 years of age in the 1918 influenza epidemic.Her name was MARY TIMKO. She died October 23, 1918 and was buried on October 24, 1918. She was from Dearth, PA. The funeral director was JOSEPH HAKY from Uniontown. She is buried in St. Mary's cemetery in Uniontown. I do have a death certificate from Vital Records. I checked the papers and cannot locate an obit. I visited Haky Funeral Home and they tried to be very helpful and checked their records.But they found that their records are missing from February 1918 to 1921. They thought that so many children died during the flu epidemic that they were buried in 2 rows at St. Mary's in an area marked "baby land" in unmarked graves. I really would like to locate her gravesite. Any ideas? Any thoughts about the flu epidemic in our area? I know that there has been a great deal of national research but has any been done locally? It had to be devistating on families because so many children died.

Mike, Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who were in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x g,grandparents John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents James Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in the 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there appears to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not been able to find the cemetery. Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that cemetery especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena married a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. Marilyn, Lake Co., IL **************************8 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? : Mike : : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] : : Historians trying to right an old wrong : : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER : : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay : chipped : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. : : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough : officials : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons : unknown. : : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing : her : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year : while : researching her roots. : : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were : unearthed : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about : plans : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of : the : school founder. : : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they : want to : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. : : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do something : with : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. : : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris said. : : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth : Graf, : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. : : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery : at the : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job : Johnson, : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use : the : stone for a small park on campus. : : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with 196 : : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as : residents, : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about the : : university's project, Graf said. : : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, and : the : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. : : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the : stones : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. : : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. : The : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the : removal or : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial : place. : : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in : their : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are : buried, : Graf said. : : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one : knows : who owns the cemetery either, she said. : : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns the : : land," she said. : : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something : with : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised : about : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state : grant. : : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 : Civil : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the : site, : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. : : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two : long : walls veneered with the original stones. : : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. : : -- : Thanks : Mike Donaldson, Bentleyville, PA (mdonald4@bentcom.net)

This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? Mike 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] Historians trying to right an old wrong BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE THE OBSERVER-REPORTER CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay chipped and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough officials who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons unknown. "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing her reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year while researching her roots. She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were unearthed in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about plans to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of the school founder. Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they want to build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do something with them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris said. "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth Graf, spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery at the north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job Johnson, who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use the stone for a small park on campus. A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with 196 others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as residents, expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about the university's project, Graf said. So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, and the fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the stones since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. The Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the removal or destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial place. However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in their original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are buried, Graf said. "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one knows who owns the cemetery either, she said. "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns the land," she said. Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something with the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised about $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state grant. Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 Civil War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the site, Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two long walls veneered with the original stones. "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. -- Thanks Mike Donaldson, Bentleyville, PA (mdonald4@bentcom.net) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Valley History and Genealogy Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval/ Mon Valley: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: http://www.geocities.com/mdonald318/ My family gedcom: http://www.my-ged.com/donldson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Listowner of: Monongahela River Valley of Penna Rootsweb mailing list: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com - Mail mode PAMONVAL-D@rootsweb.com - Digest mode Bieneman / Bienemann Rootsweb Mailing list Bienemann-L@rootsweb.com - Mail Mode Bienemann-D@rootsweb.com - Digest mode

Hello All, I found this in a book titled "David Thomas and his Descendants" by Roland Shields Thomas 1977. I am descended from the Van Meters but I haven't done much research on them. I have heard conflicting stories about a Henry Van Meter and Jacob Van Meter being related but in anyway since there are so many Van Meter descendants in the area I thought I would send this to the list for anyone that may have some interest. I'm not sure if the our area Van Meters are from this family or not. Hope this helps somebody! Mark Van Meter Line: ZachraihVan Meter was the son of Isaac Van Meter, b. 1775, d. March 27, 1841, m. Dec29, 1791 in Wheeling West Virginia to Rachel MORGAN. Isaac is buried inGreenhill Cemetery, Johnstown, Ohio. He moved to Belmont Ohio about 1811 fromBrooke County, WV. Isaac VanMeter was the son of John Van Meter, b. 1752, d. 1806. Will (undated) “WestVirginia Estate Settlements” by Johnston, Brooke County WV. Married 1stRebecca _______ (perhaps Hendricks) who was murdered by Indians together withtheir daughter Hannah and two small sons in 1783. Isaac and his two survivingbrothers were captured. Isaac and Abraham escaped, John did not, and spent therest of his life with the Indians; Married 2nd Jemima (Dunn) Bukeyin 1784. John was a Major in the Militia during the Revolution. John VanMeter was the son of Abraham, born 1721, died 1783. Will presented at BerkleyCounty, VA court November 18, 1783. HE was born in Somerset County, New Jersey.Married 1st Ruth Hedges, married 2nd Mrs. Martha (Roberts)Wheeler. John was probably the son of the second marriage. Abraham lived mostof his life on Opequon Creek, Berkley County, but carried on extensive tradewith the new settlements on the Ohio River above Wheeling. Several of hischildren settled there on Short Creek near Fort Van Meter and West Liberty. Abraham VanMeter was the son of John Van Meter. He was born in 1683 and died 1745 inBerkley Co., VA. He married 1st Sarah Bodine in 1705. She was born1687, died 1709; married 2nd Margaret Miller (Mollrnauer). JohnLived on the Raritan River, Somerset Co., New Jersey. In 1725 he received a 200acre grant from Lord Baltimore on the Monocacy River. On June 17, 1730 John andhis brother Isaac received a 40,000 acre grant in the Shenandoah and PotomacRiver Valleys from Governor Gooch ofCA. John Settled on the Opequon Creek near Shepherdstown, WV. He was known as“First of Berkeley” to distinguish him from other Johns in later generations.Many of his descendants still live in the area. John VanMeter was the son of Joost Jansen Van Meteren, born 1656 in Gelderland,Holland, died about 1732. He married Sarah Bubois in New Paltz, New York onDecember 12, 1682. She was born 1644 and died after 1715. Joost was captured by Indians in 1663. His threemonths with them effected his whole life. He spent many weeks with varioustribes and explored extensively in the wilderness areas of Virginia and WestVirginia. He may very well have been the first white man to see some of thiscountry. He urged his sons to acquire the rich lands in the Potomac andShenandoah Valleys, which they did. Joost Jansen Van Meteren was the son of JanJoosten Van Meteren, he was born about 1620 and died 1706 in Middlesex County,New Jersey. Inventory filed in Burlington, New Jersey June 13, 1706. marriedMacyken Hendricksen, born about 1625, died after 1706 in New York. Both wereborn in Holland. Jan JoostVan Meteren’s father is unknown but his grandfather could very possibly beEmanuel Van Meteren, born 1535 Antwerp, died 1612 in London. Noted DutchHistorian, friend of Henry Hudson. Emanuels father was JACOB VAN METEREN whoemployed Miles Coverdale to prepare the first English translation of the Bible(The Coverdale Bible)in 1535. Jacobs father was Cornelius Van Meteren of Bretch(near Breda), Bavaria. Also see Smyth’sbook “DUKE SHEPHERD VAN METEREN FAMILIES” for further details on these early generations.