Trying to reach descendants of Rulina Steorts (or Storts) 1832-1923 who married John Jacob Bott. They moved from (West) Virginia to Ellensburg, WA in the 1800s. July 18, 2000 Dear Cousin, This is a rather lengthy letter but I hope you will find the enclosed information interesting. If your last name is STEORTS, your grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents or maybe even another generation back, were probably George Washington Steorts and Amanda Jane Cookman. They were born in Jane Lew, Lewis County, (West) Virginia, George in 1834 and Amanda in 1833. They both died in Wallback, Clay County. West Virginia, he in 1914 and Amanda in 1907. I believe that their descendants are the only ones that spell the name STEORTS. Some of our cousins spell the name STEORTZ and one whole branch of the family, those who descend from G. W. Steorts brother Perry Commodore Storts who moved to Missouri in the 1850s, use STORTS. Of course this includes only those who come down through a male line. It is more difficult to identify those with Steorts females in their background. I am a great granddaughter of George and Amanda Cookman Steorts through their son William Washington Steorts. My father was George Ernest Steorts, 1895-1965. Our common heritage is an interesting one. Family tradition says that the immigrant George came from Germany to Philadelphia about 1750 and later fought under George Washington during the Revolutionary War. One of his children and our ancestor, George Steorts 1769-1851, was born near Hagerstown, MD. The family came west across Braddocks old road. Later our George settled in what is now West Virginia and at least one brother moved on westward. We are not sure of the original spelling of the name, only that it was almost certainly not STEORTS. STORTS may be closer. Some day I hope to find out. I am sending this letter for several different reasons: 1. To find as many of our extended family as possible, and to gather and combine the family heritage that our far-flung family branches may have preserved. 2. To see if there is enough interest to hold a family gathering in 2001 or 2002. I live about twenty miles from the site where George Steorts settled by 1817. There are some nice facilities in the area where such a gathering could be held, maybe for two or three days, and I would be willing to organize one if there is enough interest and others would be willing to help. 3. This is not a sales pitch, but this item is passed along for those who may be interested. There is a new Lewis County history book just published that includes about 6000 words of our family history that I submitted. The sixteen pictures include one of George Washington STEORTS and his wife Amanda Jane Cookman and one of his brother Perry Commodore STORTS. If anyone is interested, I will be glad to give you the contact information for the group. The book is about $60 plus shipping. I am willing to share any of my data directly with you. If there are many requests I may need to collect for copying and postage. For those who use e-mail, just send me your on line address. Attached is a limited family tree. Will you please see how you fit in and send me as much information as you are willing to share? Would you be interested in being listed for further sharing of information via e-mail? And would you want to be notified if we try to organize a family reunion during the next two years? If you are not interested in any of this will you please at least pass this along to others in your family who may be interested, or better, send me contact information for them. Sincerely Yours, Linda Steorts Kaufman P. O. Box 380 Bridgeport, WV 26330 Res. 304-842-5747 Ofc. 304-842-2468 (OK to call anytime. If I am out or in a meeting, please leave a message.) e-mail kaufman@WVhomes.com Descendants of George Steorts 1 George Steorts b: Abt. 1740 ... 2 George Steorts b: August 15, 1769 in near Hagerstown, MD. d: February 24, 1851 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV ....... +Eunice Bailey b: September 30, 1790 in Fauquier Co., Va. d: July 07, 1854 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV Father: Minter Bailey, Sr. Mother: Ann Nancy Norris ........ 3 Hepsibah Steorts b: January 06, 1827 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV d: April 10, 1901 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV ............ +Isaac Jackson b: November 05, 1825 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co. WV d: November 02, 1910 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co. WV Father: Stephen Pomoroy Jackson Mother: Hannah Bailey ........ 3 Sarah Steorts b: September 29, 1828 ............ +James McDonald b: Abt. 1827 ....3..Bailey Steorts b: April 20, 1831 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV d: January 15, 1865 in U. S. General Hospital, Annapolis, MD ........ 3 Rulina Steorts b: July 24, 1832 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV d: March 04, 1923 in Ellensburg, WA ............ +John Jackson Bott b: April 10, 1834 in Little Skin Creek, Harrison Co (Lewis Co.), (W)VA d: July 10, 1917 in Ellensburg, Kittitas Co, WA Father: Jacob Bott Mother: Jerushia Rohrbough .............. 4 Newton Maxwell Bott b: June 23, 1858 in Lewis Co. VA. d: December 30, 1920 in Ceres, WA .................. +Nancy Roach b: November 07, 1858 in Lewis Co. VA. d: January 22, 1942 in Chehales, WA ................... 5 Joe Bott ................... 5 John Bott ................... 5 Jessie Bott .............. 4 John F. Bott b: 1864 d: 1889 .............. 4 William H. Bott b: October 27, 1864 d: April 18, 1954 in Ellensburg, Kittitas Co., WA .................. +Elvina Maude Devine McKenzie b: February 07, 1879 d: January 23, 1959 in Ellensburg, Kittitas Co., WA ................... 5 George McKenzie ....................... +Hazel ................... 5 Max McKenzie ....................... +Ruth ................... 5 Elvin McKenzie b: Abt. 1905 ....................... +Anne ................... 5 Don McKenzie b: Abt. 1906 ....................... +Jean ................... 5 Margaret McKenzie ....................... +Ervan Harrel d: Bef. 1989 ................... 5 Eleanor McKenzie ....................... +Jack McGrath ........ 3 George Washington Steorts b: February 24, 1834 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV d: January 29, 1914 in Wallback, Clay Co., WV ............ +Amanda Jane Cookman b: October 05, 1833 in Jane Lew, Lewis Co., WV d: November 19, 1907 in Wallback, Clay Co., WV Father: Jeremiah Cookman Mother: Elizabeth Jane Tracy ......3 Perry Commodore Storts b. 1836 in Jane Lew, WV, died Slator, Missouri