Since I have now been on this list for a couple of weeks, I figure that I really should introduce myself. I'm sure that a few of you know me. I have been researching the Gorby family for many years, and am working on a book that should go to the publisher in a week or so. I am waiting for someones information to get to me. By the way Kay, Elvin was able to reformat that file, so everything is fine. I have also been researching the Wades, but to a lesser degree, although they do marry into the Gorby's quite a few times. As soon as I have the book off my desk, then I will turn more to the Wades than I have in the past. Happy hunting everyone, Dawn. Researching: Gorby (All), Gorbey (All), Currier (OH/ME/MI), Wade (WV), Gorley (All), Campbell (WV), Perry (OK terr), Weathers (OK terr), Hurd (midwest), Stone (North East), Vedder (NY), Houghton (OH/ME/CT), Willard (North East) and Allman (PA/DE) e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Family web pages at: http://www.parsonstech.com/genealogy/trees/dhurd/perry.htm and http://www.parsonstech.com/genealogy/trees/dhurd/currier.htm

Re: Bowman Ridge Methodist Cemetery Martha, Just so you know, the cemetery list is not complete for Bowman Ridge Methodist, but there is another cemetery kitty-corner to the church and cemetery. I think its the Bowman Ridge Church of Christ. I'm sure the list is on the Marshall Co. web page. Kay [email protected] wrote: > Subject: > > WVMARSHA-D Digest Volume 98 : Issue 83 > > Today's Topics: > #1 cemeteries,bowman ridge area [Martha Johnson <[email protected]] > #2 Error on Burch Cementery [[email protected] (Tammy L Burch)] > #3 Re: Error on Burch Cementery [[email protected]] > #4 Marshall Co Newspapers/obits, 1935 [Jim Wiley <[email protected]>] > #5 Question [[email protected]] > > Administrivia: > To unsubscribe from WVMARSHA-D, send a message to > > [email protected] > > that contains in the body of the message the command > > unsubscribe > > and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software > requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: cemeteries,bowman ridge area > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 10:17:31 -0500 (EST) > From: Martha Johnson <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > I have checked the bowman Ridge Cemetery index for a name, since that > is where my grandfather was born, but the name is not there. Of all the > cemeteries listed, which ones are closest to the Bowman Ridge one that I > could also check. Looking for the names McCorkle , McMillen (McMillan), > and Workman. > > Thanks, > Martha > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Error on Burch Cementery > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 14:35:27 -0500 > From: [email protected] (Tammy L Burch) > To: [email protected] > > Hi Linda > > I made a mistake on the Burch Cementery. I have Hiram listed as the son > of J&SA, the correction is that he is the son of G & A. > > Sorry for the inconvience. > > Tammy > > ___________________________________________________________________ > You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. > Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html > or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: Error on Burch Cementery > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 14:57:04 EST > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > In a message dated 10/27/98 2:47:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] > writes: > > << Hi Linda > > I made a mistake on the Burch Cementery. I have Hiram listed as the son > of J&SA, the correction is that he is the son of G & A McHENRY (added by > Carlisle) > > Sorry for the inconvience. > > Tammy >> > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Marshall Co Newspapers/obits, 1935 > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 08:58:17 -0500 > From: Jim Wiley <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Has anyone access to obits of 1935 for the area? I wanted to > check for the possible existence of one for Edwin F. Wiley, d. 03 > Jun, 1935. > > Jim > > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + > > - James Wiley, AKA [email protected] > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Question > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 21:32:38 EST > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > Hi, Everyone: > > Can anyone tell me the first name of the Colonel Beeler for whom Beeler's > Station is named? > > I am working on the Rev War page... > > Linda Cunningham Fluharty

Hi Mr Borber Your description of a pole needs a comment as it relates to land survey or distance measurement. In 18th and 19th century surveys of land, the surveyors did not have the tapes measures as we have today to measure distance. All they had to measure with was a chain, or rod, or pole. All older land surveys used any one of these devises in a deed to describe the length of a boundary for the property or maybe all three. Survey books list these units as follows: Chain 66 feet Link 0.66 feet Rod 16.5 feet Pole 16.5 feet Surveyors still call a 100 foot tape a chain, and crew members are often referred to as chainmen. Until relatively recently, The U.S. Bureau of Land Management "recorded and measured its distances in 66-foot chains, 80 chains to the mile and ten square chains being an acre". Frank Burton, Professional Engineer, and Land Surveyor Retired

Hi Linda I made a mistake on the Burch Cementery. I have Hiram listed as the son of J&SA, the correction is that he is the son of G & A. Sorry for the inconvience. Tammy ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

I have checked the bowman Ridge Cemetery index for a name, since that is where my grandfather was born, but the name is not there. Of all the cemeteries listed, which ones are closest to the Bowman Ridge one that I could also check. Looking for the names McCorkle , McMillen (McMillan), and Workman. Thanks, Martha

In a message dated 10/27/98 2:47:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << Hi Linda I made a mistake on the Burch Cementery. I have Hiram listed as the son of J&SA, the correction is that he is the son of G & A McHENRY (added by Carlisle) Sorry for the inconvience. Tammy >>

Has anyone access to obits of 1935 for the area? I wanted to check for the possible existence of one for Edwin F. Wiley, d. 03 Jun, 1935. Jim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - James Wiley, AKA [email protected]

Dear Vern, I vote that anyone who names a child James or John should be shot!!--ESPECIALLY in successive generations and brothers and sisters naming first cousins James and John etc. I think that was about all they knew how to spell. You are correct and Jim Wiley is correct--the James McHENRY buried in the BURCH CEMETERY on Burch Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia--is indeed, the James McHENRY that is the son of James McHENRY and Rebecca WHITE McHENRY.--Indeed--this particular James McHENRY did have TWO WIVES--the first one being Anna BERKLEY and then the second wife was Mary Jane MOORE. I do not believe that Anna BERKLEY was S(arah)? ANNA BERKLEY McHENRY, and I will tell you why!!! On this most recent and thorough reading of the BURCH CEMETERY (Remember that there are two Burch Cemeteries--BURCH CEMETERY and BURCH RIDGE CEMETERY) where Tammy Burch and her husband cleaned up the cemetery and "read" it,--there are buried two children for James and Anna (BERKLEY) McHENRY, those being "Franklin McHENRY, son of J. and A. Mar. 25, 1857; and Margaret J. McHENRY, daughter of J. & A. December 14, 1856." Then there is one child for James and Mary Jane (MOORE) McHENRY--that being "Benjamine McHENRY, son of J. & M. J., died Dec. 11, 1860--8yrs 4m 14days which would make him born on July 27, 1852 which would be fine because James and Mary Jane were married in 1850 in Wetzel County.) Then there are the other three children in this McHENRY area of the Cemetery-- 1. "Amstard McHENRY, son of J. and S. A. died Mar. 2, 1859--8yrs" 2. "Anaslow McHENRY, son of J. and S. A. died Dec. 19, 1856--6yrs" 3. "Hiram McHENRY, son of J. and S. A. died April 7, 1855--11yrs 6m 12days" (This means that Hiram McHENRY was born on September 26, 1843.) I do not wish to conterdict my esteemed fellow researcher--Jim Wiley--who said--"I've made some leaps of logic from those early tombstone listings, while dodging poison ivy and snakes (definitely NOT MY FAVORITE PLACE TO WANT TO BE), plus some other date, and have some time ago included as siblings of children of James McHenry and Sarah(?) Anne McHenry - Amstard, Ansalow, and (Benjamin?) Franklin McHenry. Seems James had a historical bent, naming his sons Benjamin Franklin, Francis Marion, and John Westley (?) McHenry. So, it comes as little surprise that George McHenry was George Washington McHenry, I'd bet." Now my Comments-- These three children can not be the children of James McHENRY and his first wife Anna BERKLEY McHENRY because: 1: "Amstard McHENRY" was 8 years old when he died in 1859 which means that he had to be born about 1851. James McHENRY was already married to Mary Jane MOORE (married 1850 in Wetzel County). 2. "Anaslow McHENRY" was 6 years old when he died in 1856 which means that he had to be born about 1850. James McHENRY married Mary Jane MOORE in 1850 in Wetzel County. 3. These two children, it is my conclusion, belong to another McHENRY that we do not know about at this time. Neither of these two children are listed with ANY McHENRY family in the 1850 Marshall County Census record and it is probable that "Anaslow" would have been listed as a child of someone. 4. "Hiram McHENRY, the third child listed above, seems to be a different question. it is my definite opinion that this child is a son of George W. and Anne (McHENRY) McHENRY, because he is definitely listed as one of their children in the 1850 Marshall County Census Record. The original reading of this Cemetery by Mrs. BRIGGS showed that Hiram was a son of C & A McHENRY and I feel this is probably closer to correct and the "C" really was a worn "G" and that would make sense. I stand corrected on the death date of Isabellah McHENRY BURCH with May 6, 1874 as the correct date. This family is so confusing, that maybe with all of us working together we can figure out who belongs to whom. Sure would LOVE to give my James N. McHENRY a real daddy. I am inclined at this point in time to believe that Vern, you have the right answer--he really is the son of Robert McHENRY and Eliza (BURCH) McHENRY. Sure wish I could prove that. I am sour that I am WRONG--he is NOT the son of John and Mary (DYE) McHENRY, as the 1860 Marshall County Census record bears that fact out that their James is single and still with his mother in 1860 and my James N. got married in the spring of 1856 (a fact that I did not know until about 6 months ago.) So would someone please probe that my JAMES N. McHENRY who married Martha Ann WILLIAMS does have a momma and a daddy!!!! Thanks! You folks are the greatest. Carlisle Bowling e-mail [email protected]

I've noticed numerous references to Cameron Cemetery. Any suggestions on access to those records? I am within three hours travel, if that is the only way. Peg [email protected]

As someone who had taught Real Estate courses for over 26 years, I thought it was very interesting to see the description of the granting of the land for the cemetery as someone giving 80 POLES. First time I had seen that in a long time. For those who do not know what Poles are in Land Description, it is Fence Poles. Now how about that?

Hello Howard, It surely seems that this is indeed the very same land your ancestor donated for a cemetery all those years ago. If we only had a time machine to go back and talk to those old folks. The more I read others' research here, the more amazed I am of the familial and neighborly relationships there. What a shame that we don't have ALL the gravestones we need to tie loose ends together, or records to firm up our strong hunches. I do hope, however, that some more astute researchers than I am have some of those notes on those early Burches, Lowery/Lowereys, and McHenrys that will help complete the pictures there. My dad told me of the old schoolhouse which stood near the crossroads, but I have not found it on old atlases yet. Another cousin wrote that my g-grandmother, Rebecca Warren Wiley, who moved there from Ohio in 1860, was one of the first school teachers there. Also, I recall Dad telling me, even showing me, where the old store/post office stood, near the cross roads, Ed Yoho's store, where my grandad worked when he was too old to farm any more. I mention all this with the hope that it might encourage some others with memories and family stories of the area to share them, and maybe we can patch this puzzle together again. jim

-- [ From: Sandra Lewis * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] -- Looking for info on Sophronia Samantha "Fronie" SIVERT., b. in WVA (Ohio or Marshall Co.) d. Feb., 1945 in Moundsville. Married bef. 1884 to John Westley CHAMBERS 1856-1922. She lived & raised a family of (11) children in Cameron, WVA. She is buried in Cameron Cemetery. Her parents were Jacob & Mary CHAMBERS. There are two photos that say: 1. Fronie & brother Alex. 2. Fronie & sister Nan. (These may be her in-laws). Except for her death certificate & the 1900 census, I cannot find her. Names of her children: Joseph, Jennie (m. Wright), Slater, Samuel (m. Goldie ??), Anna May (m. Tagg), Mary, Montie, Harry, Carl (m. DuBois), Myrtle Iona (m. Phillips), Rose. John Westley CHAMBERS 1856-1922, son of Samuel CHAMBERS, Jr. 1838-?? & Lucinda ??. He had (2) known siblings: Joseph & Theodore. Possibly the above mentioned Alex & Nan were CHAMBERS, not SIVERT. Samuel CHAMBERS, Jr. was the son of Samuel CHAMBERS, Sr.1794-bef. 1850 and Lydia BELL ca. 1802-??. Samuel CHAMBERS, Sr. was the son of Edward CHAMBERS, 1746- to abt. 1824 & Mary FISH, b. abt. 1749. SIVERT is really my brick wall. Any help appreciated. Sandra Lewis ([email protected])

Carlisle, I, too, am delighted with Linda and Tammy and the Marshall Co. pages and particularly the Burch Ridge Cemetery. I have emailed Jim Wiley with responses regarding the territory. Now to Burch Ridge: in 1993 my sister fought her way through the brambles looking for the stones of our ggrandparents. That lineage is known to us as LOWRY but we have WV records suggesting the name was LOWREY, which shows on the Marshall Co. Webpages, despite the fact that the Burch Ridge Cemetery stone whose picture my sister took is LOWRY for certain. John Lowry Jr. married Rebecca McHenry (daughter of James and Rebecca White McHenry) on 3 Jul 1851. They had five children James D. (on the Burch Ridge stone) m. Anna Bel Baker, Elvilda died at 3 years, Ruth Burn m. Peter Meeker, Helen M. m. Samuel Willison, and Bell Marga m. Charles Koch. Rebecca Lowry died between 1860-1866 it appears. John Lowry Jr. then m. Elizabeth Biddle, daughter of William and Mary Hendrickson Biddle 26 Aug 1866. Their children were Mary Belle died as a baby, Robert Lee died as a child, Ida m. a Mr. Mason, Rosalie m. Charles Carroll, Doliver who may be the same as James D. above by first marriage, and Clarissa (Sallie) m my grandfather Robert Edward Bell Jr. Elizabeth died 24 Sep 1888 which does not show on the webpage for the cemetery. So the LOWRYS/LOWREYS on the cemetery listing are husband, wife one, wife two, and son of first marriage. As I shared with Jim Wiley, I have a copy of a deed from John and Elizabeth Lowry dated 23 Jun 1888 "for a free neighborhood burying ground" in Franklin District of 80 poles more or less to the following trustees: Jasper Burch, Jesse Burch, Freeman Coulter, Talbott Burch, and John McHenry. Note that Elizabeth Lowry died three months later and was buried there. How, however, do many earlier burials also appear? On 1 Nov 1867, John and Elizabeth deeded land for a school on the Ridge Road leading to Fairview in Franklin Twp. My sister was told there was a school across the road from the Burch Ridge Cemetery along with a church and possibly the Grace Chapel Cemetery which appears on Mrs. Briggs original inventory and where the name of Thomas McHenry appears, even though my sister took a picture of his stone in Burch Ridge Cemetery. Very confusing for me My major hunt is for John Lowry Sr. and his wife Ruth White Lowry, both born in PA per censuses but who died in Marshall Co. 18 Feb 1861 and 2 Jul 1876 respectively. I can't locate their burial places. I am relatively certain that the Ruth White who married John Lowry Sr. was a sister of the Rebecca White who married James McHenry. So those hills were filled with courtship among neighbors I guess. Can you or anyone confirm or clarify any of this? Howard Bell

I woulk like to know if anyone has information on theses names. Thank you Tammy Burch ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Hi all, I just wanted to compliment Jim on the lovely post he sent about navigating the back roads of West Virginia! In many ways, those who live out those back roads, out the ridges or along the "crick bottoms" are residents of a compeletely foreign place, often wary of outsiders, but if you're "kin," you are always welcome, no matter what. That story made me think of some "characters" I've known, great-uncles I've had, and stories my own dad has told since I was a little girl. Thanks, Jim! Lori Cunningham Whitwam == Retrieve A Golden Of Minnesota http://www.ragom.org Ripley's Retrieve-It-Or-Not http://www.geocities.com/~goldendog ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~ "Every moment is Golden for those who have one!" ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~ _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

Just lovely. Wonderful writing. Thank you for bringing West Virginia's back roads into my living room. Julie Matthews Burnette -----Original Message----- From: J. Wiley <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Friday, October 23, 1998 11:05 PM Subject: Driving those back roads >After a trip east and south (into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, >Maryland, Virginia, and back through West By God) I got home to a >couple hundred e-mails, including one from a lister her about >searching for a cemetery in the back roads of the Mountain State. >I know she meant no slur (I really mean that) but I have to add a >note about my own experiences on those back roads. > >Thirty-some years ago, I took my new wife and baby son "back down >home" to West Virginia, to show her where my daddy was from, to >give her some idea of what she'd married into, though it was too >late to back out, what with the little one in her lap and all. I >had vague recollections of where my dad had taken me on a few >trips before he'd died, and how to get there. But we made it, >back to where he was born, where his father and mother and baby >sister were buried on a hilltop where two dirt roads converged. >There, too, was the home of my third grade teacher, and a few >cousins. Why is it, you get to such a place, and though you were >born and raised some hours and miles away, it "feels" like home? >Could it be the people, the generations of experience mingled >with the dust and mud and trees and fields? > >I showed my wife, "There's the house where my dad and I stayed >the night when we visited, a cousin of some sort. Really nice >folks! That was the 'switchboard room' there at the corner of the >house, when they brought telephones into the area." Those cousins >directed us to other friends and cousins, folks who were first >cousins of my dad, and who would remember all the old folks and >all the old stories. Uncle Arch lived just a few miles off, not >more than fifteen minutes away, they said, and told us how to get >there. Well, in the hills, if you don't know the area, no way >it's fifteen minutes away, not the way I drive those mountain >roads. > >We stopped at a gas station/grocery store on a mountain top, >where the screen door slammed and kept the flies outside, where >two good ol' boys were drinking long-necked Stroh's out front. >"Arch Wiley? Hell, yes we know him! He was the mailman for thirty >years! Not more than fifteen minutes down this here road. You >take this here road about a mile (it was always "about a mile") >and take the first right, and…) We kept doing that, taking the >first right, and asking folks where Arch Wiley's house was. After >an hour, we stopped at a house "up on stilts" in a creek valley >and asked again for Arch Wiley's house. The folks (the whole >family) who came out on the porch said it was just down the road. >The "big white house just down the road." > >Right. We'd been doing that for an hour. But, sure enough, about >a mile farther on, there was a modest, two-story white frame >house, with morning glories and honeysuckle climbing up the porch >bannisters, and the sweetest lady in the world who greeted us. We >had found my dad's cousins. They told us it was a wonder that the >folks down the road had told us the truth. Just the week before >the sheriff had stopped by their house in pursuit of someone, >that the folks in the house on stilts had told them that the >folks the sheriff was after had just gone down the road, raising >dust and going like a bat outta hell. Hadn't been anyone down >that road all week except us. > >We had the most pleasant visit with my dad's cousins, so long and >enjoyable that we forgot the time. They gave us supper and milk >for our baby's bottle, and just before dark we had to leave, to >find our way back to Wheeling and then back home. But we left >with memories and names and locations of other cousins, and my >wife's most striking memory of the trip was how wonderful the >people - everyone - were to us. > >Thirty years, and many more trips later, and our memories and >experiences remain much the same, only better. The landscape is >one God took His good time making, and the people much the same. >That's the only place on the earth I can imagine where we'd stand >on a hill at sunset, and as we watched the colors changes from >green to blazing oranges and reds, hear a lone bagpiper on a hill >a mile off playing, for no one but himself and God, and the >sounds of "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland the Brave" would float >over on the breezes to us. > >Anyplace you want to get to in West Virginia will take some time, >but if you take the time, it's worth it. And if you pull over and >park your car and talk to the folks, you'll meet kinfolk, or >people who know your kin, and you'll be better for it. At least, >that's been my experience. > >Jim Wiley > > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > >James Wiley, AKA: [email protected] > >______________________________

Thank you Mr. Wiley! A response to that particular email was in order and there could not have been a better response than yours. Alice Mason

Hi Carlisle, I've made some leaps of logic from those early tombstone listings, while dodging poison ivy and snakes, plus some other data, and have some time ago included as siblings of children of James McHenry and Sarah(?) Anne McHenry - Amstard, Ansalow, and (Benjamin?)Franklin McHenry. Seems James had a historical bent, naming his sons Benjamin Franklin, Francis Marion, and John Westley (?) McHenry. So, it comes as little surprise that George McHenry was George Washington McHenry, I'd bet. One Gravestone in the Burch Cemetery reads: "Amstard son of J. & S. A. McHenry Died Mar. 2, 1859 Aged 8 Yr." Another headstone in Burch Cemetery reads: Ansalow - Son of J. & S. A. McHenry Died Dec 9, 1855 - Aged 10 Yrs." (?) (last line indistinct) (I have come across the given name Ansalow before, in Belmont County, Ohio, as well, among the Moores, Mary Jane Moore's family, possibly.) Another read: Benjamin - son of J & M. J. McHenry - died Dec 11, 1862 (or 1860?) Aged 8 yrs. 4 Mos. 11 Da. > Also significant is the finding of the graves of "Margaret J., daughter of J. > & A. McHENRY, December 14, 1856" and her brother "Franklin, son of J. & A. The above is new to me, though. > And now one of the MOST INTERESTING items of all, is the posting of the grave > of "Benjamine, son of J & M. J. McHENRY died December 11, 1860--8 years 4 > months 14 days." > Why is this so important---because Mrs. Briggs had read this stone as > "Benjamin son of J. D. McHENRY 11 Dec. 1860 - 8/11/11. > 1. This is obviously the son of James McHENRY and his SECOND WIFE Mary Jane > (MOORE) McHENRY. (We have him listed in the records as Benjamin F. McHENRY > born August 1, 1854 and died December 11, 1862, the dates of which are > obviously incorrect. He is listed in the 1860 Marshall County Census Record > with James and Mary J. and shown as age 7--so the 1860 death date is most > probably correct.) Not necessarily incorrect, until proven one way or the other? It wouldn't be the first time a subsequent son (or daughter) was named the same as a sibling who had died some years previously. I have Benjamin F. McHenry as son of James and Mary Jane (Moore) McHenry. > 2. This James McHENRY is carried throughout the genealogy records of most of > the family researchers as James (D.?) {evidentally based on Mrs. Brigg's > cemetery reading} McHENRY, and we now clearly see that is not correct, and he > has to go bact to just being another in the LONG STRING of "James McHENRY" > people we have to deal with. I have to go with James D. McHenry, for now. It looked that way to me, too and if nothing else, it sure helps discriminate from among many other James McHenrys. (I have at least one more James of the same generation as my g-grandfather, James, who was in the Civil War from that area who I am unable to place with any certainty. > Still very puzzleing to me are the three brothers "Amstard, Hiram, and Anaslow > McHENRY", who all appear to be sons of J. and S. A. McHENRY. Very interesting > is the fact that Hiram is listed in the research records as a son of George > and Anne McHENRY, discussed above. (Mrs. Briggs has Hiram's stone reading "son > of C. & A. McHenry, Aug 7, 1865--11 years old."). There are no listings in > the 1860 Census for any of these boys. I have Hiram as son of George & Anne McHenry. The "C" in Mrs. Briggs' notes must be a "G"? > I have NO "J. McHENRY" who is married to anyone with the initials of "S. A.". > So I have no idea Amstard, Hiram, or Ansalow belong to. Does anyone else > have an idea? See Above. "J" is my g-grandfather, James, and S. A. is "Sarah Anne," his first wife, I have surmised. Records of those days are hard to come by, though. But - I am always open to other interpretations and better tombstone-reading eyes than mine! -- Jim = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = James Wiley, AKA: [email protected]

After a trip east and south (into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and back through West By God) I got home to a couple hundred e-mails, including one from a lister her about searching for a cemetery in the back roads of the Mountain State. I know she meant no slur (I really mean that) but I have to add a note about my own experiences on those back roads. Thirty-some years ago, I took my new wife and baby son "back down home" to West Virginia, to show her where my daddy was from, to give her some idea of what she'd married into, though it was too late to back out, what with the little one in her lap and all. I had vague recollections of where my dad had taken me on a few trips before he'd died, and how to get there. But we made it, back to where he was born, where his father and mother and baby sister were buried on a hilltop where two dirt roads converged. There, too, was the home of my third grade teacher, and a few cousins. Why is it, you get to such a place, and though you were born and raised some hours and miles away, it "feels" like home? Could it be the people, the generations of experience mingled with the dust and mud and trees and fields? I showed my wife, "There's the house where my dad and I stayed the night when we visited, a cousin of some sort. Really nice folks! That was the 'switchboard room' there at the corner of the house, when they brought telephones into the area." Those cousins directed us to other friends and cousins, folks who were first cousins of my dad, and who would remember all the old folks and all the old stories. Uncle Arch lived just a few miles off, not more than fifteen minutes away, they said, and told us how to get there. Well, in the hills, if you don't know the area, no way it's fifteen minutes away, not the way I drive those mountain roads. We stopped at a gas station/grocery store on a mountain top, where the screen door slammed and kept the flies outside, where two good ol' boys were drinking long-necked Stroh's out front. "Arch Wiley? Hell, yes we know him! He was the mailman for thirty years! Not more than fifteen minutes down this here road. You take this here road about a mile (it was always "about a mile") and take the first right, and…) We kept doing that, taking the first right, and asking folks where Arch Wiley's house was. After an hour, we stopped at a house "up on stilts" in a creek valley and asked again for Arch Wiley's house. The folks (the whole family) who came out on the porch said it was just down the road. The "big white house just down the road." Right. We'd been doing that for an hour. But, sure enough, about a mile farther on, there was a modest, two-story white frame house, with morning glories and honeysuckle climbing up the porch bannisters, and the sweetest lady in the world who greeted us. We had found my dad's cousins. They told us it was a wonder that the folks down the road had told us the truth. Just the week before the sheriff had stopped by their house in pursuit of someone, that the folks in the house on stilts had told them that the folks the sheriff was after had just gone down the road, raising dust and going like a bat outta hell. Hadn't been anyone down that road all week except us. We had the most pleasant visit with my dad's cousins, so long and enjoyable that we forgot the time. They gave us supper and milk for our baby's bottle, and just before dark we had to leave, to find our way back to Wheeling and then back home. But we left with memories and names and locations of other cousins, and my wife's most striking memory of the trip was how wonderful the people - everyone - were to us. Thirty years, and many more trips later, and our memories and experiences remain much the same, only better. The landscape is one God took His good time making, and the people much the same. That's the only place on the earth I can imagine where we'd stand on a hill at sunset, and as we watched the colors changes from green to blazing oranges and reds, hear a lone bagpiper on a hill a mile off playing, for no one but himself and God, and the sounds of "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland the Brave" would float over on the breezes to us. Anyplace you want to get to in West Virginia will take some time, but if you take the time, it's worth it. And if you pull over and park your car and talk to the folks, you'll meet kinfolk, or people who know your kin, and you'll be better for it. At least, that's been my experience. Jim Wiley = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = James Wiley, AKA: [email protected]

Great Writin Cuz'n Jim, Wishin I was thar right now to see them purty leaves on those beautiful mountain tops. You done made me homesick!! Cuz'n Carlisle