Hello All, I have added another 20 pages to the book "Pennsylvania Historical Society Memoirs". It is available at http://www.midatlanticarchives.com You can click on the link on the index page to jump to the start of the most recently added section. Alan RESEARCHING: Buckingham, Gilpin, Eastburn, Jeanes, Nowland, Wade, Creswell, Abernathy and related families No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 1/4/2008 12:05 PM

Did this area of Washington and Westmoreland Counties at one time belong to VA? If so, will someone please guide me as to where those VA records may be found and searched online? I have tried google a few times but realize I don't have knowledge sufficient to conduct such queries. TIA Donny J. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: matt4240 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3479/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am looking for the Augusto and Bruna (Gavazzi) Valdiserri. Augusto maybe the older brother of David and Angelo Valdiserri that moved to Van Voorish Pa to stay with there brother after leaving Italy to make residence in the US. I have any info please contact me thanks Matt 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: stevec0305 Surnames: Law Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.washington/3478/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am looking for information about Samuel Law who was born in Washington County, PA in 1812 and lived there until 1835 when he moved to Ohio. In a description of himself he says that he raised sheep in Pennsylvania. The family is Scottish but family lore says that the Law family married into the Pennsylvania Dutch. Any help tracking the Law family in Washington County will be greatly appreciated. Steve Crawford 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.

Robert M. FISHER, for years one of the best known farmers of this section, died Monday morning, August 25, at 10:15 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Willis H. GRAY, near Enlow about eight miles north of here. His death was due to the infirmities incident to his advanced years. Mr. FISHER was born in Beaver County on February 25, 1832. He removed to a farm near McDonald about fifty years ago and had resided on this farm until a few months ago when he removed to the home of his daughter. For the greater part of his life he had been a member of the United Presbyterian Church, having been a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of McDonald for the past twenty-three years. His wife, who was Miss Martha Ann MCKEE, died eight years ago. Three children survive: Mrs. Emma GRAY, with whom he was making his home at the time of his death, Mrs. Martha RANKIN of Buena Vista and John FISHER of near Imperial. Funeral services in charge of the Rev. W. D. IRONS were held at the GRAY home at noon Wednesday. Interment was made in Robinson's Run cemetery.

Following an illness of two months of typhoid fever, Lawrence GILBERT a fire boss at the Carnegie Coal Company mines, died Monday morning, August 25, at 8 o'clock at his home in Primrose. He was 29 years of age. He was a member of the Centre United Presbyterian Church at Midway. His wife and two children survive. Mr. GILBERT also leaves his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene GILBERT, west of McDonald and one sister, Mrs. HANNAN of Primrose. Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon. The services were in charge of the Rev. Mr. GIBSON of Elizabeth, assisted by the Rev. J. C. REANEY of Centre United Presbyterian Church. Interment in Center cemetery at Midway. Following an illness of two months of dropsy Mrs. Elizabeth KINSKY, aged 69 years, died Sunday morning, August 24, at the home of her son, Charles KINSKY, near Hickory. funeral services were held from the home of the son Tuesday morning, conducted by the Rev. Charles STUNKARD of the Hickory U. P. Church. Interment in the Midway cemetery. Mrs. KINSKY was born in Germany and came to this country twenty-five years ago. She had resided with her son and friends at Midway. Two sons, Charles, with whom she lived, and Henry of McKees Rocks, survive and one daughter, Mrs. Albert MYERS of McKees Rocks, survive with one sister, Mrs. Charles STITT of Westland, and one brother, Robert SCHURR of Talmar, Kansas.

Burgettstown Boy Shot By His Chum Hal COX, the 15-year-old son of Frank COX of Burgettstown, is in the Pittsburgh hospital probably fatally wounded as the result of the accidental discharge of a revolver in the hands of his chum, Isaac BLOOM. The ball penetrated the abdomen and when the young man was rushed to the hospital the extent of his injuries could not be told. Young COX is employed as a clerk in the postoffice and Monday afternoon Isaac BLOOM dropped in about 3 o'clock. The boys were joking with each other in the office and COX pulled out a 32-caliber revolver and handed it to BLOOM, remarking that it was not loaded. Young BLOOM pulled the trigger and the bullet went ploughing through the abdomen of COX. Other clerks were at work in the office when the accident occurred.

Carolyn - have been searching for obits for you - have not had any luck. But I did find an article from Oct. 28, 1928 in the Charleroi Mail that mentions Mrs. Russell Parkins and children were visiting with Mrs. Parkins parents , in Detroit Michigan. I will scan and email to you later tonite (have to finish dinner for hubby right now - gosh darn it, these wifely chores sure get in the way). AHHH - AN AFTER THOUGHT: could Mary Agnes/Aggie have married a Mr. Scoball after death of Lorenz????? I found NO articles for SCOBALL in Monessen or Charleroi papers. Ruth

I am looking for information on my great grandparents. I have received the following information of census documents. 1900 Census: Lorenz Kowal was born abt 1864 in Poland/Austria. He immigrated to the US abt 1892. Lorenz was naturalized in 1904 and I have obtained those documents. Date of death is unknown. His spouse was listed as Mary (Agnes?) who was born about 1875 in Poland/Austria. They lived in Pittsburgh City on Farber St in 1900. Children were Joseph (DOB 1897), Julia (13 Dec 1898). 1910 Census: Aggie (Mary?) Kowal was shown as a widow living on Cleveland St in Elco, PA. Children were: Joe, Julia, John (DOB 8 Jun 1900), Charlene (DOB 28 Oct 1905), and Lawrence (DOB 6 Sep 1906). 1920 Census: The last name changed to Scoball. Larance Scoball was born about 1870 in Austria. He immigrated to US about 1899 and naturalized in 1903. Larance was a coal miner. Date of death is unknown. Larance was married to Agnes. The children above (Julia, John, Charlene and Lawrence) were shown as Scoball. The family lived in Elco. 1930 Census: Agnes, John, Charlene and Larence Scoball moved to Detroit by the 1930 census. Julia remained in Elco and was married to Russell Parkins. This is all I have information I have been able to find. The names Lorenz Kowal and Larance Scoball are sound similar - yet Agnes was shown as a widow in 1910. Any information you may have would be appreciated. Carolyn Tomlin

BRANISHI, MUTCALF, PINYASKA, BOOCKS, SPOGITIS, POULAILLON, QUINET, RICHARDS, LEWIS, MEADE James BRANISHI, the infant son of George BRANISHI, aged eight months, died Saturday evening at five o'clock. Interment in Burgettstown cemetery. John, the infant son of James MUTCALF of Raccoon, died Saturday evening at five o'clock. Services were held at Cherry Valley Church. Interment in Cherry Valley cemetery. Frank PINYASKA, aged 40 years, was killed by a dynamite explosion at Hanlin station. Services were held in St. Patrick's Church, Tuesday morning. Interment in Noblestown cemetery. The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Frank BOOCKS of Champion died on Thursday, August 14. Services were held at the home on Saturday, August 16. Interment was made in Robinson's Run cemetery. George SPOGITIS, aged 41 years was killed in Brier Hill mine, August 14, by a fall of slate. He is survived by a wife and five children. Funeral services were held at St. Alphonsus' Church on Saturday morning. Interment at Noblestown cemetery. Mrs. Mary POULAILLON, aged 19 years, wife of Harry J. POULAILLON, died Saturday, August 16, at her home in Steubenville, Ohio. She is survived by her husband and a three-weeks-old baby, also her parents, two brothers and four sisters. The funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 20th. Interment was made in Robinson's Run cemetery. Mrs. Pauline QUINET, age 60 years, died Tuesday afternoon, August 19, at 4:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. G. JAMISON, in Sturgeon. She was born in Belgium, coming to this country twenty years ago. Her husband has been dead several years. Besides the daughter, Mrs. JAMISON, she leaves two sons, Emile and Patrick QUINET of Farrell, Pa., and Mrs. Catherine CASHDOLLAR of Sturgeon. The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, in charge of the Rev. J. B. CAVTT. The interment in the Robinson Run cemetery. After a lingering illness Mrs. Charlotte RICHARDS, aged 70 years, widow of William RICHARDS, member of a well known family of this place, died Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock at the home of her son Benjamin RICHARDS. She had been an invalid for several years. Mrs. RICHARDS was born in Wales and came to this place with her husband 30 years ago. The husband died 14 years ago. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian church. Six sons survive: Benjamin RICHARDS, with whom she made her home and Thomas, John, James, Edward, and Charles RICHARDS, all of McDonald. The funeral services will be held this Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, in charge of the Rev. W. D. IRONS. The interment will be made in the Robinson Run cemetery. Lila LEWIS, aged twelve years, and Beatrice MEADE, aged thirteen years, sustained burns Thursday evening of last week at the Benjamin LEWIS home at McDonald, due to a gas explosion, that resulted in the death of the LEWIS child at 11:30 o'clock the same night, and of the MEADE child at midnight. The one little girl was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Riley LEWIS, and the other a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert MEADE. The families are neighbors and the little girls were playmates. At the time the explosion occurred that wrecked the LEWIS home it was thought the children were at the rear of the premises playing in some sand piled there, and it was not known until too late that they were in the cellar of the home. They were evidently rendered unconscious by the explosion, as they made no outcry. As soon as possible after it was learned the children were in the cellar, their blackened bodies were rescued from the cellar, which was a mass of flames. It was thought the children were playing with matches in the cellar, and flames communicated with a gas leak. The LEWIS home was damaged to the extent of about $1,000. Friday afternoon the remains of the MEADE child were interred in the cemetery at Venice, and the LEWIS child in the Robinson Run cemetery.

Breaks Four Ribs at Ninety-Three David WRIGHT, aged 93 years, the veteran pick handle maker who lives over WOLK's store, received a fracture of four ribs in a fall from a load of timber on the MOORHEAD farm, south of town, last Friday afternoon. He was brought to his home here Saturday and is recovering so rapidly from the effects of his injuries that despite his advanced years, he expects to be busily engaged within a few days turning out pick handles for the miners of this section. Mr. WRIGHT has lived a Primrose and McDonald for many years and during all this time has engaged in the making of handles for picks, axes and implements of the like. He always inspects the timber for the handles before and after it is cut and last Friday he was on a trip of this kind when he was injured. He completes six dozen of handles every day.

All stuffed up? Families face dilemmas when disposing of parents' 'collections' Wednesday, January 02, 2008 By Marylynne Pitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Daniel Marsula/Post-Gazette illustration What do you do when you're stuck with your mom's cherished collection of 150 rooster figurines? Or your parents' more than 850 gumball charms? Or hundreds of your dad's pocketknives? Many Depression-era parents were big collectors, and when they die, they often leave behind wall displays of bottle caps or souvenir plates, albums of baseball cards, shelves full of teddy bears or miniature cars and other knick-knacks that are seemingly useless or even bizarre. Children who clean out the house confront their parents' mementos as well as relics of their own childhoods. Layered on top of this emotional minefield is the daunting question of what to keep, sell, donate to charity or drag to the curb. Before his death in 2005, physicist Simeon Friedberg spent Sunday afternoons visiting flea markets and buying pocketknives for a few dollars. His collection exceeded 2,000 of them. "We used to joke that there were no more pocketknives in Western Pennsylvania because they were all in shoe boxes under my parents' bed," said Susan Friedberg Kalson of Squirrel Hill, who hails from a clan of compulsive collectors. During Sunday dinners at the Friedbergs' home, "He loved to show you the pocketknives he had found at the flea market. He knew the history, knew how they were manufactured and what they were made of," she said. Two years after her father died, she and her two siblings helped their mother clean out the family's Squirrel Hill home. Most of the pocketknives were sold on e-Bay. "I took one. Each of my children chose some. I have a son and two daughters. They all associated the pocketknives with their grandfather. "It was hard going through stuff," Mrs. Kalson recalled. "It brought back a lot of memories." Harry L. Rinker, who has written more than 20 books about antiques and collectibles, knows how hard it is to sort through a lifetime's worth of objects. He was in his early 20s when his mother died and the sole heir to her estate. "Nothing divides a family more than settling an estate," said Mr. Rinker, author of "Sell, Keep, or Toss? How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate and Appraise Personal Property." Mr. Rinker of Vera Cruz, Lehigh County, has collected 50,000 objects during his 66 years. He loves jigsaw puzzles and fraktur, the elaborately decorated birth, marriage and death certificates created by the Pennsylvania Germans. Today's collectors have different tastes. "Too often, people who have grown up with this stuff say, 'How could this have any value?' If it belonged to your parents and they furnished the house in the '50s, '60s or '70s, you probably have some goodies," he said. The key to getting the most money for an object, Mr. Rinker said, is to find the right market, and that takes time. Consulting price guides for collectibles and antiques as well as finding clubs of collectors are helpful. Do not throw anything away until you have looked at it carefully. "I wouldn't throw out a piece of clothing without shaking it out," Mr. Rinker said, adding that he often finds jewelry and cash stashed in old socks in drawers, under drawer liners, in the pockets of old bathrobes and in hollowed-out Bibles. In an ideal world, you have siblings who lend a hand and agree on how to divide furniture and mementos. But if you live out of town, you may hire a professional organizer, an auction house or an eBay broker. Otherwise, years can pass as you slowly clean out a house. That's what happened to Lee Russell after his parents died in Florida. Mr. Russell grew up in New Castle and lives in Fort Lauderdale. But he waited for more than a year before he began selling items in January 2007 because he was close to his parents. "It took me over a year to finally come to terms with actually selling these items off," he said. "I fought for a year with myself. I did not want to do it." He ended up selling his parents' collections of Jim Beam bottles, Depression glass and Beatles buttons on eBay. He also spent two days sorting through 856 gumball charms shaped like license plates from 23 different states. Each charm dated from the 1950s. "I was hoping to get $20 to $50 for the entire set. I got $695," Mr. Russell said, adding that with 25 bidders, "The bidding was insane. Usually, you only get a couple bidders." Amy Sidelinger grew up in Indiana County with two sisters. This trio completed an Olympian trifecta of tasks by cleaning out the homes of three relatives in one year. On Labor Day weekend of 2005, the sisters finished cleaning out their maternal grandmother's home in Marion Center, Indiana County. Two weeks later, their own mother died of a heart attack. A security manager at McGraw-Hill, Mrs. Sidelinger lives in Hightstown, N.J. She, her twin sister, Emily, from Tennessee and their older sister, Pam, from Maryland began cleaning out their mother's four-bedroom Marion Center house shortly afterward. There was so much stuff they had to rent three Dumpsters. "It's the most difficult thing to have ever gone through," Mrs. Sidelinger said. "You stand there and everything means something," Among the items were the 150 roosters in the kitchen. "They were everywhere," Mrs. Sidelinger said, adding that her mother had even taken a chicken coop, varnished it, had shelves made for it and hung it on a kitchen wall to display some of the rooster figurines. "There were roosters that had never been unpacked," she said. "It just became a joke." She kept two roosters for sentimental reasons. Her mothers' friends also took some home. This collection, however, would have been a hit on eBay. "Roosters are in. Cows are out," said Mr. Rinker. "Remember when pigs were in? Hopefully, your parents die with the right animal. If it's the wrong animal, you're up the creek." Many of the items from the mother's house went to Goodwill -- instead of the Dumpster -- but all three sisters had trouble letting go. After the sisters recounted stories about mementos, friends offered a reality check by asking, "So, what are you going to do with it?" Among the items was an entire set of stuffed vegetables made by Del Monte. "We lined them up in a row and took a photo of them. They went to Goodwill. What am I going to do with 10 stuffed vegetables?" Mrs. Sidelinger asked. Her friend Stephanie Schiebel often invoked the 10-second rule. If none of the sisters could think of how to use an item in her home in 10 seconds, it was usually gone. It's not always apparent what's worth selling or what's destined for the trash bin. On a hot day this past summer, the Friedbergs sat at the dining room table, each choosing what they wanted when their mother, Joan Friedberg, emerged from the basement. "She's holding this Mickey Mouse radio from the 1930s that sat in my grandparents' bathroom throughout my entire childhood," said Mrs. Kalson. "I don't think it had all of its workings. She's holding up this thing, and she says, 'No one wants this, right? I can just throw this out?' " The sibling council voted immediately. "The three of us turned," Mrs. Kalson recalled, and said, "No, someone wants that. You can't throw that out." Those collective instincts were correct -- an e-Bay broker sold it for $1,300. Mrs. Kalson was selective in the mementos she chose to keep. Among these were a physics book with a pink cover and a clock that was in her grandparents' home. "It still works. It chimes every 15 minutes. My husband can't stand it," she says. "It sits right on our mantel as if it's always been there. I love that. The people I loved who aren't here anymore are still part of our everyday lives." Marylynne Pitz may be reached at 412-263-1648 or mpitz@post-gazette.com.

Hi Bill! I tried to find your family with my Ancestry subscription..I looked at the census records and she is sometimes called Lizzie,?repeatedly listed?her place of birth as Pennsylvania, and lives in West Finley, Wash. PA. Are you sure about the spelling/name of Wendt? In 1900 she says both parents are from the US - no?state; in 1910 father in born in WV and mom in NY; in 1920 both parents are from PA, in 1930 her father is from Germany and mom from PA and there are notes in the in the Nationality codes- I don't understand - for office use only - #58, #13, # 1 ? I'm going to send you a free invite to my Baldwin tree?so you can look at these records if click on the after you find Elizabeth M 'Lizzie'?Wendt in the index...this is a hard one- she doesn't match up in WV census' that I found...when she is youngest in 1900, she states her birth as Feb. 1864, if someone is looking for a birth/marriage certificate (1884) to help you out. I have no access to obits either. Good Luck! Patty Clark -----Original Message----- From: WBL435@aol.com To: PAWASHIN-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 5:16 pm Subject: [PAWASHIN] Elizabeth Mary Wendt I am trying to learn the name of the mother of Elizabeth Mary Wendt. She was born in 1866 and died in 1940. I think these dates are accurate but am not sure. She was born, I think in Cameron, West Virginia. She died in West Finley, Washington County. She was married to William M. McDonald. I am looking for a copy of her obit which may provide the name of her mother. I live to far away from Little Washington to visit and my age is against me also. I hope someone will look up the Obit for me. I appreciate any help that can be provided to me. Thanks in advance. Bill Leichter **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004) **** 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 PAWASHIN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com

Are there registers ( or abstracts ) of wills in Washington County, after the year 1923 or must they be looked for at the Court House? Thanks, Jean E. PA

MCNARY, VOYE, WEAVER, BELL Following a decline in health for the past several months, David R. MCNARY, aged 82 years, died Monday morning, August 4, at 5 o'clock, at his home in Station street. David R. MCNARY was born March 27, 1831, in Cecil township on his father's farm where East Canonsburg is now located, being the son of Joseph MCNARY and Elizabeth VAN VOLKENBURG MCNARY. He remained on the farm until he was 21 years old. He first attended school at the school house on the MURRAY farm, where Morganza is now located. After leaving the farm he decided to secure a wider education and first attended the school of John CURRY, later of CURRY institute, Pittsburgh. He then took a three year scientific course at Jefferson College. He attended two terms at the Millersville State Normal school, the first in the State, under Prof. WICKERSHAM, who organized the school and who became the first State superintendent appointed by Governor BUCHANAN. Some time later Mr. MCNARY gradated from Iron City College in Pittsburgh, and taught for several years. He was postmaster at Munntown for two years before the Civil war and helped organize the Presbyterian Church of that place. During the Civil war he worked in Pittsburgh at Soho, where he was engaged in the building of the Maneyunk and Umque, government boats, which were sent to New Orleans. Mr. MCNARY located near McDonald soon after the Civil war, living for several years across the border in Allegheny County. Later he became station agent for the Panhandle railroad at Sturgeon, in which capacity he served for eight years. About twenty three years ago he moved to McDonald and had lived here since. He was a religious man and he was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and had taught a class in the Sabbath school for many years. On October 4, 1859, Mr. MCNARY was married to Miss Mary Ann MUNN, a member of the family for whom Munntown was named. She survives. On October 4, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. MCNARY celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their home here. Mr. MCNARY had been identified with the Masonic lodge for over fifty years. He was a member of Chartiers lodge No. 297, F. & A. M. of Canonsburg, and upon his removal to this section transferred his membership to Garfield lodge No. 604, F. & A. M. He was also a member of the Darius Chapter No. 294, Royal Arch Masons, and a charter member of the Lodge No. 119 of the Order of Eastern Stars of McDonald. Besides the wife, three daughters and two sons survive. They are Ida Mary, the wife of Thomas M. GRANT of Sheraden, Elizabeth Ora, the wife of Stewart C. GAILEY of Columbus, Ohio, Miss Clara at home, John and Munn MCNARY of Sheraden. He leaves two sisters, Mrs. Nellie DOUGLAS of Canonsburg, and Mrs. Nancy MCCLOY of Knoxville, Pittsburgh. The funeral services were held Tuesday evening in the First Presbyterian Church, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. J.P. JORDAN, who was assisted by the Rev. W. D. IRONS, D. D. Interment in Robinson's Run cemetery on Wednesday morning. Joseph VOYE, 67 years old, died Sunday morning, August 3, at his home in East Lincoln avenue. He located here eighteen years ago and conducted the East End Hotel for a number of years. Mr. VOYE was born September 14, 1846, in La Grand Combe, France. In 1866 he came to this country, locating in Hays Borough, Allegheny County. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Marie C. REBOULT and soon afterward moved to Carnegie. From Carnegie he came to this place and had since resided here. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph VOYE. The father never came to America, but the mother died at the home of her son here several years ago. The wife survives with the following children: Joseph VOYE, Jr., proprietor of Hotel Voye at Sturgeon; Mrs. August Valentour and Mrs. R. E. THOMAS of McDonald; Louis Voye, proprietor of the McDonald Hotel; Mrs. Thomas REYNOLDS of Crafton, Alphonse and Marcelan W. VOYE of this place and Remmy and Miss Emma, both at home. The funeral services were held Tuesday morning in St. Alphonsus' Church. Interment in the Noblestown cemetery. James WEAVER died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. H. CRAWFORD, near McDonald on Monday morning at 11 o'clock. Mr. WEAVER had been in poor health for some time. Of late he had resided with his daughter. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. R. H. CRAWFORD and another daughter who resides in Pittsburgh. Funeral services were conducted from the CRAWFORD home Wednesday at one o'clock. *Midway column Mr. and Mrs. S. H. BELL attended the funeral of their son's wife, Mrs. Samuel BELL, at East Liverpool, Tuesday. *Midway column

This house is one hundred years old and is the oldest building in McDonald though still in good condition and furnishing a comfortable home to a family of five. It was built originally out of logs but has since been covered with weatherboards. The house was first occupied in the fall of 1812 by Ephraim JOHNSTON, who built it with the assistance of his nephew, Thomas JOHNSTON, and the special help of his neighbors in "log rolling" and "raising the frame." The farm on which the house stood and on which now stands a goodly portion of the town was first owned by Andrew HULL who secured it by letters patent from the Government. HULL sold it to Frederick JOHNSTON who willed it to his brother Ephraim, who in turn willed it to his nephew, Thomas JOHNSTON. Thomas JOHNSTON married Susannah SCOTT, who had come over from Ireland in 1817, and lived near the old village of Eldersville. The couple went to housekeeping in the house about 1832. Of their children only one is living--the oldest--William JOHNSTON of Washington, Pa. Another child was the late Mrs. William B. MOORHEAD, the mother of Mel MOORHEAD and Mrs. William A. LAROSS. One little grandchild first saw the light in this house--Margaret JOHNSTON, daughter of John and Alice CAMPBELL JOHNSTON. She resides now in Burgettstown, the widow of J. Cooke WHITE, who met such a tragic death in the flood of last August while trying to save a favorite horse. The old house has sheltered not a few who have attained prominence in the state. John SCOTT, the younger brother of Mrs. JOHNSTON, spent much of his time with his sister and brother-in-law, helping about the farm, and reading everything he could find. One day Mr. JOHNSTON, returning from the city and finding the lad as usual with a book, said to him in the characteristic vernacular of his Scotch-Irish ancestry, "The next time I go to Pittsburgh you're to go with me, and here's a dollar, see if you can keep it till then to buy that grammar book you've been wantin' and maybe you'll turn out a preacher yet." John SCOTT did keep his dollar and invested it in a grammar and became one of Pittsburgh's earnest Methodist Protestant preachers, numbering among his parishioners and warm friends H. J. HEING, head of the house of this name, whose first association and membership in that church, came about through Mr. SCOTT. During the building of the railroad from Pittsburgh to Steubenville the old house was a busy place, as many of the officials and heads of departments who came to look at the progress of the work found the farm a pleasant diversion and Mr. JOHNSTON always in a hospitable mood. The only town for miles around was Noblestown, and here at the Noblestown hotel the men boarded, workmen and foremen and officials all together, for there was not so much difference then as now between the quality of the laborer and his boss, usually only a matter of longer service. The proprietor of the hotel was James HILES, a son of Mr. JOHNSTON's second wife, who was Mrs. Mary HILES, and it became a custom of HILES to pilot his guests up to his stepfather's farm. Among those who found their way quite often was W. H. BROWN, superintendent of construction of the new road, afterward chief engineer of the Pennsylvania System and the man who built the present Pennsylvania Station at Pittsburgh a close friend and advisor of Andrew CARNEGIE. Mr. BROWN came to Noblestown in 1856, late in that year, and he shortly fell in love with pretty Sallie RIMMEL, a sister of Mrs. HILES of the Noblestown hotel. In the summer of 1858 the decided to get married and BROWN went to his friend JOHNSTON to see if he could help solve the problem of how to transport the bride to Pittsburgh where a minister had been engaged for the ceremony. Mr. JOHNSTON had a very handsom and valuable team of matched dun colored horses with silvery manes and tails. They were named Sam and Tuck. Mr. BROWN was too timid to ask for the matches, but spoke for a horse. Mr. JOHNSTON looked at him for a moment and said, "Mr. BROWN, I think on a mission as important as yours I will lend you my private car, the old phaeton with Sam and Tuck." Mr. JOHNSTON lived to take several rides on trains of the new railroad and to see his wheat fields and meadows give way to the houses and lots which now make up the town of McDonald, but which was at first called Havelock, an name it retained until sometime after the close of the Civil war. The farm extended a little beyond the railroad, and its western boundary was the high road, now Main and North McDonald street. The section where the McDonald Hotel, the SHANE and WOLK stores, CONNER building and the Commercial Hotel stand were especially rich meadows, all of which were then cut by the scythe. At the time of the first sale of the farm from HULL to JOHNSTON a verbal agreement was made between them that HULL and his wife should continue to live in the little cabin they then occupied during their lifetime and that they should be buried in a little fenced enclosure HULL had designated. This contract was kept and as long as any of the JOHNSONS lived on the farm the little fence was kept in repair and the plot untouched by the plow, but it is ... remainder missing.

Since many of us have relatives that went to WV and Ohio, below is a site WV has set up. It has been there for a while and it pays to go back often, as they add things. They have limited births right now, I have found quite a few deaths and the marriages have been increased greatly. Sadly, they have little for our neighbor of Ohio county as of yet. I have found a lot of names of children by using the marriage index. Takes time but the some of the newer ones have the parents names. When you go to the site click the words Archives and History at the top of the page. When the next page loads, just scroll down until you see "Births, deaths and marriages" From there you choose the one you want. The use of the "*" for names can work well or even just a last name with a county. If you find a death certificate, it has information that you may not have and it has filled in some blanks for me. You can save all images by right clicking. The marriages are two pages of certificates. Midge http://www.wvculture.org/index.aspx --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

I forgot to include the link: Appleton's Vols. 1-14 have title: The American annual cyclopaedia and register of important events. page 335 http://books.google.com/books?id=Wo4EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA335&lpg=PA335&dq=%221882+1883%22+depression&source=web&ots=rJ2ctzeSOA&sig=iQwXlCiPv_qTUEBLu7xlsCqi_wE#PPA335,M1 (3 line URL) On 12/31/07, Judy Florian <cageycat@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Nationwide Depressions hit in 1878 and again in 1882-1883. Watered stocks > had been sold to the unsuspecting public, with little chance of getting a > profit. As far away as the Railroad in Tacoma, Washington, the 1883 > Depression hit hard. > > Farmers in "Little Washington," Little Washington, Pa were not > immune. Many families had prosperous years pre-1870 and were eagerly > building better houses and especially barns, adding new machinery, and > acreage. Many, though, bought on credit -- known as "notes." Notes were > used between family members, friends, and of course, the Bank and some > merchants. > > As with any family experiencing financial stress, the quickest way to fast > cash is selling (1) personal possessions and (2) land acreage. While some > families could wait and sell land in smaller pieces, others who were heavily > in debt (from building all those new barns etc) were forced into almost > immediate bankruptcy---and the loss of land and home. > > Miners and farmers were hit hardest, because their "assets" were literally > in the land. If they had not been able to save---or had been too eager or > foolhardy to build and acquire--they felt the Depression the hardest. > > My ancestor, Daniel Lane, built his small log cabin in the early 1830s. > He had willed his land to a son, who sold it to the other son, R.J. He > decided to build a huge and beautiful barn of poplar wood covering, wide > plank threshing floor, huge hay mowls above, and a large feeding and holding > area for cows on the first floor. They had about 107 acres. I don't know > how they fared in the 1878 Depression, but Daniel was still alive then; I > suspect he was frugal, being a German Baptist preacher. But, for R.J. the > 1883 Depression hit hard. They lost the entire farm, house, barn, > out-buildings, livestock, etc. Earlier, the daughter of Daniel and her > hubby & kids were living on a small corner of Daniel's land. When R.J. > lost the farm, it meant his sister and her family also lost their "home." > Mary A. Lane Flowers in 1879 wrote bitterly about this loss in a letter to > her sister-in-law (Anna Dager Lane, wife of Joseph Lane), telling how she > now had to rent in the City of Washington PA. Anna and Mary were both then > widows (Joseph died 1879; Samuel Flowers died --- ??1876??); they were > alone, parents deceased, husbands deceased, children grown, and wondering > how they would be able to support themselves. Mary's grown daughters and > gr-child lived with Mary, so her daughter's income supported Mary, I > believe. > > I hope this gives some insight into that time in Washington Co PA > > Judy > > -- > Washington County PA Websites: > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~florian/ > http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~florian/ > http://freepages.religions.rootsweb.com/~florian/ > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/ > -- Washington County PA Websites: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://freepages.religions.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/

On 12/31/07, J T Walton <jtwalton13@comcast.net> wrote: > > Hi list, > > I'd like to pick your brain for a minute, about life in Washington Co. > 1875-1925. > > Here's what I have found. Our ancestor, Milton Byrd Walton, lived on > the Walton land from birth in 1839 until death in 1924. The original parcel > was warranted at about 300 acres, on the North Tenmile Creek. In searching > court house records, we found 15 sales of acreage on the Grantor > Index. These sales began in 1880 and the last one was 1922. (I have not > totaled the acreage) Some were "By Atty" and one was "By Court O" > > Our Milton died intestate, with his son and daughter being assigned > administrators (I think that's the correct term). My curiosity wants to > know about the life of a farmer in those times. Was farming so bad that he > needed to sell off the land to live? Or why else would he have sold these > parcels? His only son married in 1900 and was living in Homestead, > Allegheny Co. His spinster daughter remained in Beallsville, working as a > seamstress, and later moved in with her married sister. > > Thanks for any insight you might have, or any suggestions as to where > to find some answers. I am in Florida and don't have direct access to Wash > Co. Courthouse, or Citizens Library. > > Best regards and a Happy New Year, > Jeannette > **** Nationwide Depressions hit in 1878 and again in 1882-1883. Watered stocks had been sold to the unsuspecting public, with little chance of getting a profit. As far away as the Railroad in Tacoma, Washington, the 1883 Depression hit hard. Farmers in "Little Washington," Little Washington, Pa were not immune. Many families had prosperous years pre-1870 and were eagerly building better houses and especially barns, adding new machinery, and acreage. Many, though, bought on credit -- known as "notes." Notes were used between family members, friends, and of course, the Bank and some merchants. As with any family experiencing financial stress, the quickest way to fast cash is selling (1) personal possessions and (2) land acreage. While some families could wait and sell land in smaller pieces, others who were heavily in debt (from building all those new barns etc) were forced into almost immediate bankruptcy---and the loss of land and home. Miners and farmers were hit hardest, because their "assets" were literally in the land. If they had not been able to save---or had been too eager or foolhardy to build and acquire--they felt the Depression the hardest. My ancestor, Daniel Lane, built his small log cabin in the early 1830s. He had willed his land to a son, who sold it to the other son, R.J. He decided to build a huge and beautiful barn of poplar wood covering, wide plank threshing floor, huge hay mowls above, and a large feeding and holding area for cows on the first floor. They had about 107 acres. I don't know how they fared in the 1878 Depression, but Daniel was still alive then; I suspect he was frugal, being a German Baptist preacher. But, for R.J. the 1883 Depression hit hard. They lost the entire farm, house, barn, out-buildings, livestock, etc. Earlier, the daughter of Daniel and her hubby & kids were living on a small corner of Daniel's land. When R.J. lost the farm, it meant his sister and her family also lost their "home." Mary A. Lane Flowers in 1879 wrote bitterly about this loss in a letter to her sister-in-law (Anna Dager Lane, wife of Joseph Lane), telling how she now had to rent in the City of Washington PA. Anna and Mary were both then widows (Joseph died 1879; Samuel Flowers died --- ??1876??); they were alone, parents deceased, husbands deceased, children grown, and wondering how they would be able to support themselves. Mary's grown daughters and gr-child lived with Mary, so her daughter's income supported Mary, I believe. I hope this gives some insight into that time in Washington Co PA Judy -- Washington County PA Websites: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://freepages.religions.rootsweb.com/~florian/ http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/

I was asked by a non-Lister to post this. Since some of you might have ancestors who were at Gettysburg so I thought you'd be interested. The contact name is "Tootie Dennis" <tootied@suddenlink.net>, Ira Sharp Dennis. (Although I'm interested don't respond to me; respond to Ira Sharp Dennis instead if you need more information or want to send comments.) The message follows: The site of the Camp Letterman General Hospital in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is under the current threat of being developed. Named after then-Medical Director for the Army of the Potomac, Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Camp Letterman treated thousands of wounded Union and Confederate soldiers, including soldiers from all states, North and South, from mid-July through November, 1863. It was the first General Hospital of its kind. To learn more about the Camp Letterman General Hospital and its historical significance please visit the following National Park Service link: http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/letterman.htm An online petition has been started in an effort to preserve the site of Camp Letterman. If this is a cause you would consider supporting, please click on the petition link below and sign. One person can truly make a difference. http://www.petitiononline.com/camp1863/petition.html With Sincere Thanks, Shannon Leonard Skaluba & Ira Sharp Dennis