Heirloom dresser returned to original owner's descendants http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06142/692071-51.stm Monday, May 22, 2006 By Bob Batz Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Highberger dresser finally is back with a Highberger. The clunky old Empire dresser was in the Post-Gazette last June, when its Philadelphia-area owners, Suzanne Davis and her son Randal Davis, shared its story. After removing it from the family homestead in Wilkinsburg, Randal Davis had found inside an old note written by a late relative explaining, "This dresser was made of wild cherry wood, which grew on the farm of Daniel Funk in Westmoreland Co." The letter writer explained that when Mr. Funk's daughter, Mary, married one Jacob Highberger, the chest was built to be part of Mary's wedding trousseau. With the note, Mr. Davis found framed tintypes identified as "Jacob H. and his wife." Mrs. Davis, who is related to the Highbergers only by marriage, wasn't fond of the dresser, but rather than get rid of it, she decided to try to return it to the family and so placed an ad in the Post-Gazette: "SEEKING descendants of Jacob Highberger & Mary Funk of Westmoreland County. Married circa early 1800s concerning/to return family heirloom cherrywood dresser. ..." After seeing the story, dozens of readers contacted the newspaper, many of them seeking to claim the dresser and others just hoping to help with clues. The latter will be happy to know that, nearly a year later, the Davises have delivered the dresser to a direct descendant: Paul Highberger, and his wife, Thelma, of Greensburg. Mrs. Davis had (with a local cousin's help) found and had hoped to deliver the dresser to Mr. Highberger's father, but he subsequently died in an accident. She and her son delivered the dresser to the couple on May 14, on the drive here to close on the sale of the Wilkinsburg home. They also gave the couple the note and photos. Mr. Highberger, whose family tree shows that Jacob was the brother of his father's father -- his great-uncle -- says Jacob "does look like my dad." He and his wife are quite tickled to have the dresser, which their family plans to fix up. It has inspired them to try to find the location of the Funk farm and do more research into their roots. Mrs. Davis says she and her son are "ecstatic that the chest got back to direct descendants" and called them "wonderful people." Mrs. Highberger agrees they had a lovely visit and is amazed that the dresser "came home," where it will stay. "It's just a nice good history to have and to keep going."