This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cameron Wolf Gossert Walters and many more Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4JXBAIB/1379.1.1 Message Board Post: 6/19/1913 letter from Samuel Riegel Lebanon Co.,PA Mary Williams Cameron died 1911/wife of Henry Nelson Cameron Mrs. Sarah (Cameron) Young Niles,Michigan Lebanon PA June 10 1913 My dear Cousin It was a great pleasure to me several days ago to receive your welcome letter. The letter you refer to that I wrote to your father was not answered. Cousin Olivia kept me well informed at the time and I knew of the great loss you sustained by the death of your mother. And realizing the issues the had to be met during the accident, sickness and death of a beloved parent, and the new cares that had to be met of an aged father. You all had my sincere sympathy on account of my past experience. It was truly gratifying to me to read in your letter of the distribution your father made of his property and of the nice feeling pervading among the children. Since March 11, I have Uncle Joseph McConnell at home. He was twelve weeks in the hospital. His first thought, when leaving the hospital, was to take rooms at the nearest hotel to the Homestead, but on inquiry, I found all the rooms taken and they could only take him as a border. That was not satisfactory. I secured a private boarding place across the street from the “Homestead,” and I suggested starting the fires and making the house comfortable, and to stay with Uncle at night as long as necessary. I have been doing this to the present and uncle is well cared for. He has a slight indisposition for a few days, but is doing nicely at present. His great trouble is weakness. We were fortunate in securing a good boarding place. Uncle enjoys his meals and rests well, sleeps well at night. I am heartily glad you referred to the matter of genealogy to me, because there are not as many who are informed, besides while Uncle Joseph is still living, I can consult with him. I am sorry not to have something real nice for you daughter to help her being eligible to the societies referred to (DAR). Our ancestors were of the peaceful but nevertheless bestcitizens. Uncle Tommy Cameron was an honorably discharged soldier of the Civil War, and on special occasions wore badges and credentials enough for the whole “Friend-Schaft.” I will now answer your Grandmother Cameron’s maiden name. Uncle Joseph Cameron’s wifes maiden name Bories/Burris?. Polly Bories(Burris?). Uncle Tommy Cameron spoke of a brother of your Grandmother, Joseph Bories(Burris?). My Grandmother McConnel’s father’s name was Lewis "Ludwig" Cameron. His wifes’ family name was Wolf. There are immediate relatives living at the Wolf homestead and own the place. I visit there. Grandmother McConnel, Polly May, the eldest, Catherine (Aunty Vogel) were the two daughters of the first marriage. John, the eldest son and Joseph, Your Grandfather were the children of the first marriage. Uncle John Cameron mentioned, may have drifted into the war of the Revolution. It was he of whom I wrote to your father that one day while your grandfather, Joseph Cameron, was out along the Juaniata he was addressed by a voice from the opposite of the river, and looking in the direction of the voice saw a man. Uncle Joseph C! ameron was addressed “Brother Joe, is that you?” Answered “Yes is that you brother John?” Uncle Joseph Cameron hurriedly made his way to his boat, and crossed the river to meet his brother. And in his own language met on one. If the earth had opened and swallowed him, he would not more effectually been out of sight. You of course know when Uncle Joseph Cameron went west as a pioneer in his own equipment, all of the family but your father who had preceded the rest, were overtaken by sickness(Cholera) and had three funerals in five days. Uncle Joe’s wife, daughter Catherine (Mrs. Rush) and her husband. The latter, Cousin Mae Williams Grandparents. While my Grandparents were still living in the country, your Grandmother Cameron with your father, Cousin Henry Nelson Cameron, visited by grandparents at their home. My mother (86 years), your father, and Uncle Tommy Cameron were near the same age. Family name of the second wife Gossert, Aunt! Betsy (who died with us) the eldest Sarah, married to a man named Lon g. Lydia married to Meffert. Third wife Maria Walter. Simon Cameron the eldest of this marriage. Noah, Louisa (married to Foesig), and Tommy Cameron. My birth date was Sept. 4, 1845. May following Great Grandfather Ludwig Cameron visited my Grandparents at Lebanon and I have the honor of being carried out of the house first time bare headed by him. Grandmother McConnel always spoke of your father by using his full name Henry Nelson Cameron. My Grandparents were in touch with Uncle Joseph Cameron (Your Grandfather) and were informed of their preparations to go west and received letters when they were overtaken by sickness and death. Before starting for the west, Great Grandfather Ludwig Cameron with his family and Uncle Joseph Cameron (your grandfather) lived near together, near East Salem. Uncle Noah Cameron was already married. So was Uncle Simon Cameron. Uncle Tommy Cameron was living home most of the time with his parents. Grandfather Ludwig Cameron was a shoemaker by tra! de and a useful man in the Community.He had given much attention to tree culture and raising fruit.Skilled in Grafting. when Uncle Adam McConnel and Uncle Joseph McConnel (brothers) were on a visit at Thompsontown, they were shown by Father Evans a worthy resident of Thompsontown, grafted in Mr. Evans orchard and posts and fencing set by Great Grandfather Ludwig Cameron. Mr. Evans spoke in highest praise of Great Grandfather Cameron as a friend and neighbor and a useful citizen. When Uncle Noah Cameron died, the two uncles (McConnel) were at the funeral. It was said of Uncle Noah Cameron that he was worth more in the community than some others that might be named by the dozen. All of Uncle Noah Cameron’s family are well to do, and are in possession of the homestead. Two of the sons within the last year have gone to Florida and bought land with the purpose of making their home there. One of Uncle Tommy Cameron’s daughters (Mrs. Sarah Walker) lives at Post Fal! ls, Idaho. They have a farm of 160 acres, and have set an orchard of o ver 700 choice fruit trees. I had a letter from Cousin Sarah last fall stating they had 800 choice apples in boxes ready to be shipped. Cousin Emma Poffenbeger, a sister of Mrs. Walker and her husband are looking forward to making a trip to Post Falls,Idaho. And when they accomplish it, expect to stop at Niles, Mich. Great grandfather Cameron was a deeply religious man. The last time he visited Lebanon, when I was an infant, Uncle Joseph McConnel know of this visit, and when he left Lebanon, Uncle Jacob McConnel, Uncle Adam McConnel and Uncle Joe took G. Grandfather Cameron to Highspire with Grandfather McConnel’s horse and carriage to visit Uncle and Aunty Vogel. When Great Grandfather Cameron visited Lebanon last time, Great Grandmother McConnel was still living. She was a very intelligent woman, and at that time considered an educated lady. It is said that she and father Cameron spent much time in social intercourse talking over the future and religious matters,, and their parting was never forgotten. My Grandmother McConnel persuaded her father while on this visit to attend catechetical lecture in our church, conducted by our Pastor, Rev. Henry Wagner, he was deeply impressed and remarked of Pastor Wagner when he came home “Er is ein guten Lehrer” I can not tell you what a comfort it is to me to receive your letter. Trusting it will be of help to you and your daughter, if there is anything I have not mentioned call my attention to it and any information I can give, you shall have cheerfully. My youngest daughter, Rhoda, is very much interested in knowing of the past and means to profit by it, while Uncle Joseph McC! onnel and I are still here to give her information. She is a teacher at Cornwall, and enjoying her vacation and a much needed rest. It would be a great comfort to me to have your daughter write to Rhoda with the hope that they will become correspondents. Please remember us kindly to the relatives at Niles,MI and South Bend,IN. I expect to hear from some of you coming East this summer. Great Grandfather Cameron is buried at East Salem near where they lived before your Grandfather Joseph Cameron went west. His first wife is buried at Kimmerlings Church little more than three miles from Lebanon. Father Cameron’s parents came into the U.S. by way of Canada. In their travels, his mother carried him Indian fashion on her back. Later his father returned to Canada. The mother with her little boy drifted into Lancaster Co. Pa where they lived on a farm with a kind family, when the poor little boy, our Great Grandfather, was forsaken by his mother, who also returned to Canada. The family with whom they were living kept the little boy, and in time he made his way into Lebanon Co. He learned the shoemaker trade at Stumpstown, now Fredericksburg, by Jacob Buchananyer. He prospered at his trade and married into a respected family ! near Kimmerlings Church by the name of Wolf. His first wife died when the children were young, so small that their father lifted them to...(need to find the last page of the story!).I think I corrected all the mistakes... John Walker nicenonya2@yahoo.com