The "furniture and hardware" and "undertaking" went hand-in-hand. Making a coffin is easier than making fancy curves for tops of bed-posts. A coffin only required gluing of long pieces for the bottom, and adding the 4 sides. Upholstering the inside with material if desired was no different than upholstery of chairs. The "hardware" such as handles differed little from "pulls" used on dresser drawers. Same principles, same type of work. To me, it's kind of ingenious. But it's common sense, as are other businesses: apple orchards + make and sell apple cider; grape orchard + make and sell wine; tannery + create products from skins (ex. pouches to carry items on horses; reins for horses; etc.); merchants selling clothing material often also took in washing (because they knew fabrics); etc. Our ancestors were logical planners and it makes an interesting study for us today to realize how different businesses were so joined together in the past. The split between "furniture and hardware" likely evolved as death became more a scene to be witnessed behind closed doors. Alive customers didn't want to think of death and dying when going to buy a new bed. The "eww" factor and movement toward "others know better that I know" put people in hospitals to die behind closed curtains surrounding the bed, and moved the deceased to "funeral homes" where death would not be associated with furniture stores. These changes made people more fearful of the dying process and, while maybe adding some more "reverence" for the dead, likely increased the spooky beliefs some people hold about the dead. Big difference from dying at home, lovingly washing and re-dressing your own loved one, bringing into the home what the deceased needed (coffin), viewing the body at home at the person's "last residence", and skipping the middle-men by transporting the body to the grave dug by relatives. Because these tasks were more hands on, illness, disease, and death were all less mysterious than it is all made today. Judy On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 1:06 PM, Lona Boudreaux <[email protected]>wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > Judy, enjoyed reading your post on Mortuary in the 1900's. > > My maternal grandma, Suphronia Dee CHANEY HAMILTON, told stories about > helping to prepare the body of a deceased family member laid out a room in > the house. She never went into detail just washing and dressing. If the > lady didn't have a nice dress, grandma said they would take a piece of good > cloth and fashion a scarf around the persons neck and down the front of the > dress. Maybe tuck it under the arms in some way. This was all done in > Armstrong Co., Pa. probably in the early 1900's. > > George McClelland CHANEY, my great grand uncle, left Armstrong Co. Pa. abt > 1881 and in 1889 opened a trading post in Krebs, Oklahoma (known as Indian > Territory at that time). There he and his partner sold furniture and > hardware. By 1909 he had bought out his partner, moved to McAlester and > opened the trading post with a new name. It became Chaney Furniture and > Hardware and Undertaking. It was sometime after 1936, when Uncle George > died, that his son turned the store into just a funeral home. The family > sold the funeral home in 1978. It has changed hands a couple of times > since > then and today is know as the Chaney-Hawkins funeral home. > > Lona Laughlin Boudreaux > Monroe, La. > > > **** > Please visit http://www.chartiers.com/pages-new/pawashin.html for list > information, particularly the bottom of the page. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- -- WASHINGTON COUNTY PA WEBSITES::: http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~florian/ Coordinator of the Washington County PAGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: photo66666 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3902.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am always looking at old families of the Greater Pittsburgh Area with families in Jefferson, Berkeley and Loudoun Counties which was all in Virginia at one time. Are you sure he is not part of the Hanna's Town PA family? Was this farm near Middleburg VA? Would he know Lt Col Leven Powell, the founder of Middleburg and the second largest landowner in Kentucky? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hi Everyone, Judy, enjoyed reading your post on Mortuary in the 1900's. My maternal grandma, Suphronia Dee CHANEY HAMILTON, told stories about helping to prepare the body of a deceased family member laid out a room in the house. She never went into detail just washing and dressing. If the lady didn't have a nice dress, grandma said they would take a piece of good cloth and fashion a scarf around the persons neck and down the front of the dress. Maybe tuck it under the arms in some way. This was all done in Armstrong Co., Pa. probably in the early 1900's. George McClelland CHANEY, my great grand uncle, left Armstrong Co. Pa. abt 1881 and in 1889 opened a trading post in Krebs, Oklahoma (known as Indian Territory at that time). There he and his partner sold furniture and hardware. By 1909 he had bought out his partner, moved to McAlester and opened the trading post with a new name. It became Chaney Furniture and Hardware and Undertaking. It was sometime after 1936, when Uncle George died, that his son turned the store into just a funeral home. The family sold the funeral home in 1978. It has changed hands a couple of times since then and today is know as the Chaney-Hawkins funeral home. Lona Laughlin Boudreaux Monroe, La.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PegSpeed Surnames: Hanna, Hannah, Davis, Evans Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3902/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Looking for relatives of John Hanna(h). He was probably born in Pennsylvania during the early 1740's. He resided in Loudoun County, Virginia., roughly 1764 through 1781. He is the presumed brother-in-law of Mary Davis Hanna of Loudoun and rented farmland from William Evans, who became her second husband. John witnessed William Evan's will of 1775. In 1803 John resided in Blount Co., Tennessee when he was deposed by the court regarding William Evans' will. After that I have no further record of him. Please contact me if you have any leads. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: scmfstewart Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3901.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: THANK YOU! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kdm56 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3901.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Contact Us | About Us | Home Delivery | Search Archive | Newsletter | RSS |Classifieds Buy Ads Find Jobs Find Homes Find Cars Find a Date NewsWashington Greene Business State US World Police Beat Source DocumentsSportsColumns Blogs Sports Calendar Submit Sports Event ObituariesToday Previous OpinionEditorials Letters Submit a Letter Blogs Poll Results Columns Forum PhotosPhoto store This week's photos Slideshows O-R Flix Videos Gallery Archives BlogsThe Grumpy Old Editor NFL From the Sidelines The Varsity Letters View on the News Behind the Desk Jacqueline's Journey Travel with a Beveridge Wild About Things Jonesin' for Speed Behind the Lens Mat Matters FeaturesSpecial Sections Rate Card Business Directory About Us Contact Us LifestylesWeddings Engagements Anniversaries Births Religion Food Birthdays College news School news Honor rolls Senior centers Military news Entertainment Announcement Forms ShoppingBuy an ad Find a Job Find a Home Find a Car Auto Directory Find a Date Search Classifieds Rate Card NiEFlipside Hot Apple PIE Search Observer-Reporter Search Archive 3/11/2009 Email this article . Print this article Eric B. Allen Former ironworker served in U.S. Navy Eric B. Allen, 44, of Finleyville, died unexpectedly Sunday, March 8, 2009. He was born June 23, 1964, in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of Burritt Allen of Seattle, Wash., and Anita Younkman of Canonsburg. Mr. Allen was employed as an ironworker with Local 3 in Pittsburgh and served in the U.S. Navy. He was Catholic. Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his loving wife, Stephanie Jancuski Allen; a son, whom he adored, Zachary Allen, at home; a brother, Gregory Allen and wife Jennifer of Seattle; two sisters, Laura Entner and husband Jeff of Vineyard Haven, Mass., and Beth Allen of New Eagle; his stepfather, William Ryan; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m., the time of service, Thursday, March 12, in Kegel Funeral Home Inc., Tim P. Kegel, supervisor, Finleyville. Private interment will be in Mingo Cemetery, Finleyville. Memorial contributions may be made to assist the family c/o Kegel Funeral Home Inc., 3560 Washington Ave., Finleyville, PA 15332. Home . 0 comments All comments will be reviewed by administrators and posted to their respective articles within 24 hours. Comments deemed inappropriate will not be posted. Subject: Body: Poster: Enter text seen above: The Almanac Southpointe Today Search Display Ads Circulation About Us Contact Us Terms of Service Local Businesses Home This page is best viewed using Firefox. ? 2009 Observer Publishing Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kdm56 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3901.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Date: March 11, 2009 Publication: Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA) Page: B4 Eric B. Allen Former ironworker served in U.S. Navy Eric B. Allen, 44, of Finleyville, died unexpectedly Sunday, March 8, 2009. He was born June 23, 1964, in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of Burritt Allen of Seattle, Wash., and Anita Younkman of Canonsburg. Mr. Allen was employed as an ironworker with Local 3 in Pittsburgh and served in the U.S. Navy. He was Catholic. Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his loving wife, Stephanie Jancuski Allen; a... Click here for complete article ($2.95) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: scmfstewart Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3901/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Was hoping someone could help be get an obit for Eric B Allen dob 23 Jun 1964 dod 08 Mar 2009 of Finleyville,PA Wife Stephanie (Jancuski)Allen Father Burritt Allen Mother Anita Younkman I don't have acess to Ancestry.com and there is a obit in the Observer-Reporter 3-11-09 Any help would be thankful, I tried to find RAOGK Volunteer but no one looks like they do obit searches. Please let me know. Thanks, Scott Eugene,OR Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Thanks to all who responded to my question about when this will be released. Jean Strain Arnold

My Thanks to all of you who replyed to my request. Armstrong Co. is a lead to work on. -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam. SPAMfighter has removed 2195 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len The Professional version does not have this message

April 02 2012. The official census date release is always April 01, of the original census date. However, this year April 01 falls on a Sunday so the feds apparently have a choice. On 11/15/2010 9:09 AM, Jean Arnold wrote: > When does the 1940 census become public? > > Jean > **** > Please visit http://www.chartiers.com/pages-new/pawashin.html for list information, particularly the bottom of the page. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1153 / Virus Database: 424/3258 - Release Date: 11/15/10 > >

> When does the 1940 census become public? online search at google states release will be April 2012

When does the 1940 census become public? Jean

Embalming started with President Lincoln, when his body was shipped by train all over the country for people to see.....then everyone wanted that! On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 3:00 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > > If you are having problems reading the digests please UNSUBSCRIBE then > SUBSCRIBE again so you will receive digests in plain text format. > > Additional list information is on > http://www.chartiers.com/pages-new/pawashin.html > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Claysville Funeral Director ([email protected]) > 2. Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? (DARWIN LOLA WEBER) > 3. Re: Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? (J.A. Florian) > 4. Re: Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? (J.A. Florian) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 07:08:25 -0500 (EST) > From: [email protected] > Subject: [PAWASHIN] Claysville Funeral Director > To: [email protected], [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > Lists, > > I am transcribing a Certificate of Death for 1990 in Claysville, PA . The > signature of the licensee (for Ferrell Funeral Home) (or person acting as > such) is a Michael A. B (something illegible). Does anyone know who this > may be? > > Thanks, > > Lou > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 09:52:23 -0800 > From: "DARWIN LOLA WEBER" <[email protected]> > Subject: [PAWASHIN] Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Cooke's Burial Ground, South Strabane Twp, Washington County, PA > This is a very small & old burial ground and I'm wondering how it would be > determined "where" to bury the person in the 1900's?? > > Who might have been the mortuary to handle the last burials in Cooke's > Burial Ground: > > 1930 - Samuel Mull > 1939 - Sarah J White > > Appreciate any help. > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:17:58 -0500 > From: "J.A. Florian" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PAWASHIN] Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? > To: DARWIN LOLA WEBER <[email protected]> > Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Burials kind of follow this unwritten, unofficial "process": > > 1. Families first made "burial grounds" on their own properties. Maybe a > corner of unused land... maybe a quiet or beautiful spot on the acreage.... > maybe the "favorite place" of the (first) deceased....or maybe the "first" > to die picked out the exact spot before death, stating "Well, Mary, that's > where we'll be laid to rest together" as husband and wife looked over the > spot. > 2. Family members want to stay with "family". The "first" to die likely > told other close family of the wish that other close family would be buried > "with" them (with the first to die). So the first to die were maybe > grandparents or parents. The second to die were parents or children (eg. > grandchildren of the "first" died). > 3. Babies who died before or at birth with a mother during or near labor > were often buried "together" in one coffin or side by side, in the "family > plot". The family plot continues to grow/enlarge. > 4. Stillborns, babies who died shortly after death, and the very young > begin > to be added. > 5. While the "family burial ground" usually continued as "somehow related", > sometimes someone "close to" the family died but that person had no family. > Maybe the "friend" rented land (so no permanent burial space). Maybe the > friend was a boarder/laborer who worked on the "family's" farm but had no > where to "go". The "family" decided to bury this friend/worker in the > "family burial ground". That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this > scenerio, as a boarder working the "family's" land. > 6. As long as history goes back, there was always transient people. They > "came from" here, moved to there and there and there, and were at whatever > place when they died. At the same time, human emotions have hardly > changed > throughout history. So whether from pity, compassion, Christian "duty", or > to look good to the neighbors/community, a family may have been asked or > outright gave permission to allow a non-family burial in the family burial > ground. That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this scenerio. > 7. The original land owner may have started the "family burial ground." > Let's call that family SMITH and married-ins of GEORGE, McMICHAELS, THOMAS, > and McMURRY. But eventually the Smith's homestead with "burying ground" > is > sold to a non-relative, the TICKLE family. The "burying ground" is already > started from the SMITH's and all their burials. So when the TICKLE family > starts to die, they decide the original burying ground will expand. > 8. At different years in mostly the late 1700s-early 1800s, churches were > built. They were often built near the burying ground of the original land > owner. So "The Jesus Methodist Church" simply applied its name to "The > Chestnut Burying Ground".... and church members started to be added to that > cemetery. The "Non-Profit statue did not begin until the early 1900s so > churches were "organized" at one date but were not legally "chartered" > until the early 1900s. As a layman, the cemetery always belonged to X > church... but were only legally associated in the early 1900s---- unless an > earlier deed specifically stated the "burying ground" as part of the sale. > NOTE: Not all burying grounds were taken over by churches; Some lands > were > privately bought so the cemetery may or may not have been mentioned in the > private deed. Church plots were sold "by subscription" to church members > ONLY, usually a lower price than at city cemeteries. Exceptions were made > though by church vote to accept a burial under certain circumstances. > 9. Communities began "official" cemeteries in the mid to late 1800s. There > may OR may not have been any first burial before a City bought land and > declared it to be a cemetery. Many did include a "first burial" of the > original landowner. These cemeteries were for: > a) people whose churches had no cemetery; (b) people who did not care about > being buried in a ceme connected to their church of worship; (c) people who > weren't church members (d) poor or indigent (e) unidentified dead (f) mass > casualty (ex. miners). City cemeteries were easier to get to than rural > cemeteries; they were within the city limits; the roads were better; > equipment was kept on site; the dead could be stored in a mausoleum if the > ground was too frozen to dig the grave; etc. City cemeteries often charged > higher rates for plots though than "church affiliated" ones. Families > often > needed to pick out plots at younger ages; plots were sold "first come first > served". > 10. Anyone can request a burial, even NOW, in any cemetery that still has > an > overseer or board. You ask, pay the plot fee, and "own" a piece of land > (or > the location retains "ownership" but agree you'll be buried there for the > price you paid as a contract rather than a "deed". > > So in terms of choices, these factors also played a role, especially > before: > 1. Distance - When rural farms were the norm, burial was from the house to > the field. As cities grew, city cemeteries were more convenient. Church > affiliated cemes versus City Cemes is personal choice if the person is/was > affiliated with a certain church. When trains came, people could transport > the dead from another city or state to go "back home" if it was a (a) > personal wish (b) plot was already bought (c) or, family wishes. NOW, > planes transport bodied. Ex. A relative of mine was born in PA where she > "owns" a plot next to her parents' graves in PA; She wishes to be buried > with them; she moved to Florida; when she dies, family will tell the > mortuary to arrange transport by plane to PA and arrange a mortician to > pick > up the body at the airport; services can be anywhere... burial will be with > her parents. > 2. Available transportation - includes road conditions, weather, which > season, money, (wagon to now cars), etc. > 3. Available money for burial -- Burial is the least planned for, least > saved for, expected expenditure in life. More people need to save for > their > own burials, but few do. > 4. Family interest or involvement - No family, the person is buried > locally, often in the cheapest way. If family and money, options are > endless. > > > I'm sure other people can think of more factors. These are ones I can > think > of now. > > Judy > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:46:43 -0500 > From: "J.A. Florian" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PAWASHIN] Washington County - Mortuary in the 1900's? > To: DARWIN LOLA WEBER <[email protected]> > Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[email protected]<DRO%[email protected]> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 12:52 PM, DARWIN LOLA WEBER <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > Who might have been the mortuary to handle the last burials in Cooke's > > Burial Ground: > > > > > I forgot to answer this part. > > The original "coffin makers" were stores that sold furniture. Some places > made and sold. A casket was literally a "pine box". As such, it was often > the furniture maker closest to the family's house. > > The original way to handle a death was... The deceased died at home, was > washed and re-dressed by family, and "laid out" in the front parlor with > the > casket brought to the home by the furniture maker or picked up by wagon by > the family. Flower bouquets were to cover any odors. There was little > embalming used, if any, in the earliest days. > > Also, remember Washington had a Crematorium, the first. So many people did > choose that route after a few days to a week of "viewing" in the person's > former residence. > > I don't know the exact date that embalming started. But originally there > were no State laws to embalm. > > Over time, rooms in the furniture store were used as a "funeral parlor". > The furniture maker either became a mortician or was associated with a > physician or other person who acted as mortician. > > Eventually, furniture sales separated from coffin makers/sales. Morticians > also began to assume the sole duties within the community (but the > mortician > also had a second occupation). > > Then, "funeral homes" arose, just like it became more common for people to > die in hospitals vs at home. States also had enacted embalming laws, so a > one-stop-service was more logical. The mortician/funeral home became one > entity, even if there was more than 1 embalmer on staff. > > Health-wise, the 1980s marked the re-beginning of "dying at home". > Hospices > began. But there was no change in the "funeral home" aspect. > > As far as funeral homes, the norm originally was up to a 4 to 7 day viewing > to allow out-of-town people time to arrive for the funeral. Slowly, that > was reduced. For a while, a 4-day viewing became the norm. Then, some > families wanted a 2-day, or even a 1-day, with service. NOW, funeral home > directors have told me that pretty much anything can be accommodated. If a > family wants to play Jazz music...country music...no music.... No > viewing...up to however many days... No service or memorial... to funeral > home service with transport to a church for a "funeral". No flowers.... > tons of flowers... or just money donations. No "objects"... to teddy bears > that are later donated to a church. Caskets can be pine box... to lavish > with satin pillow and coverlet. Some funeral homes now cater to the > "green" > generation with no plastics, all organic flowers etc. It is now basically > a personalized "send off". All you need is to ask. > > >From wagons to wagon hearse (doubled as early ambulance), to car-hearse > like > we know today... or glass hearse... or now a glass hearse that can be towed > by motocycles... it's yours for the asking, if you have money to pay for > the > special affair. > > Not sure I covered every aspect here.... > > Judy > > > ------------------------------ > > To contact the PAWASHIN list administrator, send an email to > [email protected] > > To post a message to the PAWASHIN mailing list, send an email to > [email protected] > > __________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] > with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body > of the > email with no additional text. > > > End of PAWASHIN Digest, Vol 5, Issue 260 > **************************************** > -- Don Woodburn P *Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. *

On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 12:52 PM, DARWIN LOLA WEBER <[email protected]>wrote: > Who might have been the mortuary to handle the last burials in Cooke's > Burial Ground: > > I forgot to answer this part. The original "coffin makers" were stores that sold furniture. Some places made and sold. A casket was literally a "pine box". As such, it was often the furniture maker closest to the family's house. The original way to handle a death was... The deceased died at home, was washed and re-dressed by family, and "laid out" in the front parlor with the casket brought to the home by the furniture maker or picked up by wagon by the family. Flower bouquets were to cover any odors. There was little embalming used, if any, in the earliest days. Also, remember Washington had a Crematorium, the first. So many people did choose that route after a few days to a week of "viewing" in the person's former residence. I don't know the exact date that embalming started. But originally there were no State laws to embalm. Over time, rooms in the furniture store were used as a "funeral parlor". The furniture maker either became a mortician or was associated with a physician or other person who acted as mortician. Eventually, furniture sales separated from coffin makers/sales. Morticians also began to assume the sole duties within the community (but the mortician also had a second occupation). Then, "funeral homes" arose, just like it became more common for people to die in hospitals vs at home. States also had enacted embalming laws, so a one-stop-service was more logical. The mortician/funeral home became one entity, even if there was more than 1 embalmer on staff. Health-wise, the 1980s marked the re-beginning of "dying at home". Hospices began. But there was no change in the "funeral home" aspect. As far as funeral homes, the norm originally was up to a 4 to 7 day viewing to allow out-of-town people time to arrive for the funeral. Slowly, that was reduced. For a while, a 4-day viewing became the norm. Then, some families wanted a 2-day, or even a 1-day, with service. NOW, funeral home directors have told me that pretty much anything can be accommodated. If a family wants to play Jazz music...country music...no music.... No viewing...up to however many days... No service or memorial... to funeral home service with transport to a church for a "funeral". No flowers.... tons of flowers... or just money donations. No "objects"... to teddy bears that are later donated to a church. Caskets can be pine box... to lavish with satin pillow and coverlet. Some funeral homes now cater to the "green" generation with no plastics, all organic flowers etc. It is now basically a personalized "send off". All you need is to ask. >From wagons to wagon hearse (doubled as early ambulance), to car-hearse like we know today... or glass hearse... or now a glass hearse that can be towed by motocycles... it's yours for the asking, if you have money to pay for the special affair. Not sure I covered every aspect here.... Judy

Burials kind of follow this unwritten, unofficial "process": 1. Families first made "burial grounds" on their own properties. Maybe a corner of unused land... maybe a quiet or beautiful spot on the acreage.... maybe the "favorite place" of the (first) deceased....or maybe the "first" to die picked out the exact spot before death, stating "Well, Mary, that's where we'll be laid to rest together" as husband and wife looked over the spot. 2. Family members want to stay with "family". The "first" to die likely told other close family of the wish that other close family would be buried "with" them (with the first to die). So the first to die were maybe grandparents or parents. The second to die were parents or children (eg. grandchildren of the "first" died). 3. Babies who died before or at birth with a mother during or near labor were often buried "together" in one coffin or side by side, in the "family plot". The family plot continues to grow/enlarge. 4. Stillborns, babies who died shortly after death, and the very young begin to be added. 5. While the "family burial ground" usually continued as "somehow related", sometimes someone "close to" the family died but that person had no family. Maybe the "friend" rented land (so no permanent burial space). Maybe the friend was a boarder/laborer who worked on the "family's" farm but had no where to "go". The "family" decided to bury this friend/worker in the "family burial ground". That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this scenerio, as a boarder working the "family's" land. 6. As long as history goes back, there was always transient people. They "came from" here, moved to there and there and there, and were at whatever place when they died. At the same time, human emotions have hardly changed throughout history. So whether from pity, compassion, Christian "duty", or to look good to the neighbors/community, a family may have been asked or outright gave permission to allow a non-family burial in the family burial ground. That New Orleans fellow in Cooke may fit this scenerio. 7. The original land owner may have started the "family burial ground." Let's call that family SMITH and married-ins of GEORGE, McMICHAELS, THOMAS, and McMURRY. But eventually the Smith's homestead with "burying ground" is sold to a non-relative, the TICKLE family. The "burying ground" is already started from the SMITH's and all their burials. So when the TICKLE family starts to die, they decide the original burying ground will expand. 8. At different years in mostly the late 1700s-early 1800s, churches were built. They were often built near the burying ground of the original land owner. So "The Jesus Methodist Church" simply applied its name to "The Chestnut Burying Ground".... and church members started to be added to that cemetery. The "Non-Profit statue did not begin until the early 1900s so churches were "organized" at one date but were not legally "chartered" until the early 1900s. As a layman, the cemetery always belonged to X church... but were only legally associated in the early 1900s---- unless an earlier deed specifically stated the "burying ground" as part of the sale. NOTE: Not all burying grounds were taken over by churches; Some lands were privately bought so the cemetery may or may not have been mentioned in the private deed. Church plots were sold "by subscription" to church members ONLY, usually a lower price than at city cemeteries. Exceptions were made though by church vote to accept a burial under certain circumstances. 9. Communities began "official" cemeteries in the mid to late 1800s. There may OR may not have been any first burial before a City bought land and declared it to be a cemetery. Many did include a "first burial" of the original landowner. These cemeteries were for: a) people whose churches had no cemetery; (b) people who did not care about being buried in a ceme connected to their church of worship; (c) people who weren't church members (d) poor or indigent (e) unidentified dead (f) mass casualty (ex. miners). City cemeteries were easier to get to than rural cemeteries; they were within the city limits; the roads were better; equipment was kept on site; the dead could be stored in a mausoleum if the ground was too frozen to dig the grave; etc. City cemeteries often charged higher rates for plots though than "church affiliated" ones. Families often needed to pick out plots at younger ages; plots were sold "first come first served". 10. Anyone can request a burial, even NOW, in any cemetery that still has an overseer or board. You ask, pay the plot fee, and "own" a piece of land (or the location retains "ownership" but agree you'll be buried there for the price you paid as a contract rather than a "deed". So in terms of choices, these factors also played a role, especially before: 1. Distance - When rural farms were the norm, burial was from the house to the field. As cities grew, city cemeteries were more convenient. Church affiliated cemes versus City Cemes is personal choice if the person is/was affiliated with a certain church. When trains came, people could transport the dead from another city or state to go "back home" if it was a (a) personal wish (b) plot was already bought (c) or, family wishes. NOW, planes transport bodied. Ex. A relative of mine was born in PA where she "owns" a plot next to her parents' graves in PA; She wishes to be buried with them; she moved to Florida; when she dies, family will tell the mortuary to arrange transport by plane to PA and arrange a mortician to pick up the body at the airport; services can be anywhere... burial will be with her parents. 2. Available transportation - includes road conditions, weather, which season, money, (wagon to now cars), etc. 3. Available money for burial -- Burial is the least planned for, least saved for, expected expenditure in life. More people need to save for their own burials, but few do. 4. Family interest or involvement - No family, the person is buried locally, often in the cheapest way. If family and money, options are endless. I'm sure other people can think of more factors. These are ones I can think of now. Judy

Cooke's Burial Ground, South Strabane Twp, Washington County, PA This is a very small & old burial ground and I'm wondering how it would be determined "where" to bury the person in the 1900's?? Who might have been the mortuary to handle the last burials in Cooke's Burial Ground: 1930 - Samuel Mull 1939 - Sarah J White Appreciate any help.

Lists, I am transcribing a Certificate of Death for 1990 in Claysville, PA . The signature of the licensee (for Ferrell Funeral Home) (or person acting as such) is a Michael A. B (something illegible). Does anyone know who this may be? Thanks, Lou

As I research my Cupps family I have found a few names that seem to connect to them in some way. Maybe someone researching those names can give me some leads or information which might lead to some connection. Burial locations would be interesting. The names are Jacob George and wife Isabella {Berry?] , Jacob Shaffer and wife Elizabeth Cupps, Jacob Remaley and Sarah Cupps. Thanks for any help in the search for my great grandmother, Mary Unknown Cupps. Juanita

Use of the public microfilm machine and the public computers in the courthouse are on a first come, first serve basis. Because of the natural gas drilling going on in Washington County, the courthouse is very busy and the indexes and records are being used quite heavily. Being there is only one public microfilm machine in the entire courthouse, each person must monitor themselves and use it for only a reasonable amount of time. Copies in the Prothonotary's office or Clerk of Courts are $0.25 per page. Microfilm copies from the Law Library are $0.50 per page and copies in the Tax Assessment office and the Recorder of Deeds are $0.50 per page. Cash only. Also, with being prepared, most of the indexes in the courthouse use the Russell index system. You can look up the directions of how to use this system online. To save yourself time, figure the Russell index number for the names of the ancestors you will be searching ahead of time and have that number handy when using the indexes. The employees at the courthouse are very helpful if you can provide them with specific information. If you have the record number information from the indexes, they are more than willing to direct you to where the actual record is located. One other note, many of the record dockets are quite heavy and are located on shelves that require overhead lifting. If you are not able to lift at least 20 lbs. overhead, please take someone with you who can do the reaching and lifting for you. Happy Hunting, Pam Nixon Whispers From The Past Family History Research Service Westland, PA 15378-0008 Genealogy research services provided covering the southwestern Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland.