Roots Trek

Thursday, June 16, 2016

George Reininger and Mary Hine Reininger

According to the book, Biographical review, volume 32, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Bedford and Sommerset Counties, Pennsylvania which highlights one of George's grandsons, George Reininger was born in Germany and came to America when he was a young man. The first record I found of him was from another book, A history of the Goshenhoppen Reformed charge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1727 - 1819), when he was confirmed in the New Goshenhoppen Church on 9 April 1787. He was 16 years old. The book contains baptisms as well, and finding no baptism record for George, it could make sense that he was born and raised in Germany before immigrating to the US (even though some of the family trees on ancestry.com indicate his birthplace was Upper Hanover, Montgomery County, PA).

George's marriage to Mary Hine is also found in the Goshenhoppen Church book. They were married in May of 1797.

I'm not exactly sure when the family came to Bedford County, but online sources indicate that their 3rd child was born in Montgomery County in 1802 and their 4th was born in Bedford County in 1805. Mary gave birth to 11 children over the course of 25 years. Whether or not she gave birth to other children who died in infancy is something we'll probably never know. She was 46 when her last son was born. Two of their daughters, Margaret and Mary, preceded both George and Mary in death.

Historical church records indicate that George was a trustee for the Old Mock Church, a congregation established by the German Baptist Brethren (aka "Dunkers") and later referred to as the Church of the Brethren. The Mock Church (named for Christian & Mary Mock who donated the land), which is a couple of miles outside Pleasantville, was built in the early 1840s and is still standing. It was restored in 1983. My visit to the church (which I'll write about in an upcoming post) was one of the highlights of our trip.

There's not a lot of online information concerning the Reiningers. The 1861 map shows their homestead adjacent to Thomas Callihan's property on what is now Oldham Road.

We think we found the approximate location of their farm. It was quite a bit more sloped than the Callihan's land, but they still had the benefit of the creek running through their property.

At or near the George Reininger homestead

One of George and Mary's sons, William, purchased land at the base of the Allegheny mountains not too far from where he grew up. It was confectionately, er, I mean, affectionately known as the "Sugar Camp". In a short personal history, my great-grandfather, Horace Ickes, wrote:

"We used to go to our Great Uncle William Reininger's, at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains in the Spring of the year and help make Maple Sugar. We went on sleds to drive through the woods to gather the sap. During this time they always had a yoke of young cattle to break to drive and what fun that was. We would yoke them together, tie their tails together, hitch them to the sled and get in and turn them loose. I shall never forget.

“They had a big log house, but only one room on the main floor, and the other, what was called the loft where everyone slept, was one large room, beds everywhere. There was no stairway but a ladder at the end of the room downstairs, and we would climb the ladder, pinching each other on the way up. When we would awaken in the morning just as likely as not our beds would be covered with snow that had sifted in through the cracks, but that only induced you to hurry and get your clothes on and down to the fireplace, which was roaring with logs burning."

William Reininger's homestead on what is now Calvary Hollow Road.

At or near the William Reininger "Sugar Camp"

I don't know why we didn't make it to their grave sites. The Reininger Cemetery is located near the top of the steep hill behind William's homestead. The directions had been posted by Andii1814 on findagrave.com and I completely overlooked it prior to our trip. She even uses the pond (in the photo above) as a reference point to find the Reininger Cemetery. You can see her directions here. There are 28 Reininger family members buried there including George and Mary. According to findagrave.com, George and Mary's graves are located above Williams and are marked with field stones.

Photo courtesy of Andii1814 on findagrave.com. More photos can be seen here.

As a side note, Andii1814 also mentions George having served in the Revolutionary War. I checked out her references and the proximity to Montgomery County checks out, but I found an associated date of 1777. Since he wasn't born until 1771, this is more than likely his father, Hans George Reininger, who was the Revolutionary War patriot.

Here is his will:

"In the name of God, amen: I George Rininger of St. Clair Township in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, being advanced in age, but of sound and disposing mine, memory and understanding, and calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty to the time thereof to the end that I may be the better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please my maker to call me home, do therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament, viz: Principally and first of all I commend my immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body to the earth at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of in the following manner, to wit:

I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Mary as much of my stock of horses, cows, sheep and hogs as she may choose to keep and also as much of the farming utensils and house-hold and kitchen furniture as she may think necessary to carry on the farm for her and in her name and for her benefit and advantage during her life (or widowhood) and the remainder of my property, if there be any that she doth not wish to keep as aforesaid, I will that it be sold at public sale by my Executors and all the price and proceed thereof equally divided amongst my six children, namely: George, Elizabeth (the wife of John Nunemaker), Frederick, John, Henry and Marie (the wife of Simon Hendrickson) share and share alike.

"And at my wife’s decease or marriage it is my will that the balance and remainder of all my personal property shall be sold at public sale, and out of the money arising from the same, I will and bequeath to the lawful heirs of my daughter Margaret Callihan deceased the sum of five dollars to be divided equally amongst them share and share alike.

"And to my grandson James Smith I will and bequeath out of the same the sum one hundred dollars to be paid to him when he arrives at the age of twenty one years and in case he shall decease before he arrives at the above mentioned age, then the said hundred dollars together with all the balance of the money arising from the said sale shall go to and be equally divided amongst my aforesaid six children share and share alike as aforesaid.

"I also will and bequeath unto my son Peter that part of my large tract of land on which he at present resides.

"And I further will and bequeath unto my two sons William & Joseph the remainder of the said large tract of land to be divided between them equally quantity and quality considered.

I also will and bequeath to my son William the tract of land whereon I now live, but, this said mansion tract shall not become due nor be enjoyed by him in any respect until after my wife’s decease or marriage.

"And further, it is my will that my son Joseph shall have the Northends of said large tract of land adjoining lands of Jacob Bizel.

"And lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons John and William Rieninger to be my Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all the wills, legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament.

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of April in the year of my Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six.

"Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as witness.

Amos Penrose Isaac Beisel"

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All original content, images, commentary, etc. copyright © by Joy Denison 2015-2016. All rights reserved. All writings, poems, speeches, essays, images, scans, likenesses, etc. by Adam Ickes (b 1845) as well as personal histories, images, and all other content by all persons referenced and discussed within the pages and posts in this blog may not be copied, shared, or reproduced in any way without expressed permission by the owner unless included here from other referenced sources or are historical records already considered to be in the public domain.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Thomas Callihan and Mary Proctor

I'm not going to go into too much detail about Thomas and Mary as there is a fascinating, well-researched website dedicated to Thomas and Mary Callihan and their descendants at callihanfamilyresearch.org. To access the wealth of information they have there you need to create a user name and password to log in, but it is completely free. And completely worth it.

Suffice it to say that Thomas Callihan was an Irish Quaker immigrant from Ireland who, as far as we know, came to the US in the 1770s. According to the hand-carved inscription on his headstone he would have been born in 1757. Mary Proctor, probably born about 1754, was also a Quaker, though probably from England. More than likely, they met through their mutual affiliation with the Quakers. They were affiliated with the Menallen Meeting prior to Bedford County having their own congregation.

Thomas first shows up in the Bedford County tax rolls in 1785. His first Bedford County residence was near the Quaker community of Fishertown, He later sold that tract of land and purchased land near Pleasantville. (Farmers and land owners would often buy and sell adjoining tracts of land for whatever reasons they had at the time, so the acreage at both locations would vary depending on his most recent land transaction.)

Whether or not Thomas served in the Revolutionary War and for how long is a little complicated. Maybe he did (or maybe someone else did with the same name), and maybe he actually deserted. We know that the Quakers were completely against taking up arms, so the conflict of interest between loyalty to God and obligations to country would certainly create a lot of cognitive dissonance. We do believe he signed the required "Oath of Allegiance" and we know he paid "supply tax" which helped to fund the war. According to the DAR, a law was passed 13 June 1777 which required all men over the age of 18 to sign an Oath of Allegiance, rejecting allegiance to King George. All signers and those citizens who paid the 'Supply Tax,' which was levied to fund the war effort are credited with Patriotic Service. So, as far as I'm concerned, Thomas Callihan was a patriot indeed.

Thomas and Mary had at least 8 children. One of their children, a son, died in childhood and another son died at age 24. The rest lived into their 70s and 80s.

The Callihan plantation was located on what is now Oldham Road, northwest of Pleasantville. Their log home was described as having an exterior staircase which led to the second floor and a seperate outside bake house. A huge walnut tree stood next to the home which subsequently died. It was owned and occupied by members of the Callihan family for 75 years.

1861 map showing the location of the Callihan homestead

According to subsequent owners of the property, the rock foundation for the
original Callihan log home was located where the red barn now stands.

Thomas and Mary are buried on the highest point of their land behind Robby Ickes' house, almost a half a mile from their log home . I wrote about Robby taking us up to the grave site here.

The burial location is at the top of this hill.

The fence was erected probably during the mid 1900s, more than 100 years after their deaths.

Thomas Callihan's handcarved headstone. Deciphering it can be a little tricky, but keeping
in mind the backwards "4", he died 3 April 1841 at the age of 84 years and 3 days.

Mary died two years before Thomas on 30 January 1839 at the age of 85.

Here is his will:

This is from the County records. (His original handwritten
will can be seen at callihanfamilyresearch.org,)

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Callahan of St. Clair township in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania being advanced in age and knowing the uncertainty of time here, but of sound mind memory and understanding thinks best to make and publish that my last will and testament in manner and form following; viz Principally and first of all I commend my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to Earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named; and as to such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of in the following manner to wit, I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary one horse creture at her choice and two cows at her choice and five sheep and two hogs out of my stock; and two beds and bedding thereunto belonging and one beaureau and as much of my kitchen furniture as she may think necessary; and it is my will that my plantation whereon I now live shall be rented to the highest bidder at public venue during my wife’s natural life or widow hood and the renter shall furnish my widow with hay and grain as much shall be necessary for the support of her and her stock out of rent and the grains to be delivered in the bushel and the hay in the barn and it is my will that my widow shall have the house wherein I now live during her natural life or widowhood and it is my will that the remainder of the rent shall be equally divided among my four children namely John, Thomas, Robert and Jacob and further it is my will that at the expiration of nine months after my widows decease that my Executors advertise and sell at public venue and convey all my right title claim and demand of the tract of land wherein I now live and likewise my small tract adjoining the before mentioned Plantation or tract of land and when the price thereof shall be collected it is my will that it shall be equally divided amongst my four children namely John, Thomas, Robert and Jacob and it is my will that my Executors pay to my Daughter Elizabeth Oldham and my sons William Callahan the sums of two dollars each they bring provided heretofore. I do further request my Executors at a suitable time after my decease to advertise and sell all my personal property not herein before bequeathed or otherwise disposed of and after the money shall be collected and all debts & incidental expenses paid that they then pay what shall be remaining to my four children namely John, Thomas, Robert, and Jacob each to have an equal share, and lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my friends Anthony Blackburn and James More to be my Executors of my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills legacies and bequests heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testater as his last will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and at his request, have subscribed as witnesses Amos Penrose Samuel Penrose

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Harry Conrad Wilt, part 2

Here are a few more newspaper articles I found. This first one - Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA (about 30 miles from Latrobe), 3 Nov 1933 - has more info and was front page news. (See transcript below.)

Indiana Evening Gazette, front page

"LATROBE, Nov. 3. Harry Wilt, 53-year-old Spanish-American War veteran and father of seven children, died today in Latrobe Hospital without revealing the motive that caused him to fatally shoot Mrs. Catherine Graff, 38, twice widowed mother of two children, before committing suicide.

"State police expressed the belief that despondency over the prospect of leaving the woman he loved might have prompted Wilt's act and investigation was being conducted from this starting point.

"Wilt, father of seven children, it was learned, had been keeping company with the widow for some time. His pension recently was cut from $60 to $15 monthly and he intended to go to Sewickley next week to live with a daughter. Wilt was estranged from his own wife.

"The shooting occurred in the dining room of Mrs. Graff's home, 8 First avenue. Wilt roomed only about a block away. According to reports he left his family, which maintains a residence on Depot street, more than two years ago.

"There were no witnesses to the tragedy, consequently the events which led up to the shooting are unknown. Mr. and Mrs. Luther Smith and Earl and William Roof, neighbors, attracted by the two shots entered the home within five minutes. They found Mrs. Graff sitting in a rocking chair, her head resting against the back. Nearby on the floor lay Wilt, a 38-calibre revolver at his side. An ambulance was called and the unconscious man rushed to the hospital. Mrs. Graff's body was undisturbed in the chair to await the arrival of the coroner, Dr. H. A. McMurray who came to Latrobe accompanied by his deputy, Jacob Sell.

"Dr. McMurray and Dr. G. F. Nealon of Latrobe, conducted a postmortem on Mrs. Graff's body before it was removed to the Stader undertaking parlors. Dr. McMurray said the bullet had entered the back of the woman's head near the top and took a course downward toward the mouth. The bullet was recovered. The self-inflicted bullet entered the right side of Wilt's head above the ear and came out on top.

"There was no indication that a quarrel had preceded the shooting, but declared evidence indicated that Wilt had been drinking.

"According to the story told to Dr. McMurray, Wilt had been keeping company with Mrs. Graff. Her son, Francis Siegfried, aged 17, reported that his mother had received two anonymous letters warning her to stay away from Wilt. The surviving daughter is Mary Graff, aged 12. The children were at school when the shooting took place.

"Privates Fontaine and McKee of Troop A, State Police, were on the job early and took photographs of the scene. When Wilt was taken to the hospital, it was believed that he might have a chance to recover. Now that he is dead, however, the case is closed, so far as the state police are concerned."

Hanover Evening Sun

Monessen Daily Independent, front page

New Castle News

Altoona Mirror

Bradford Era, front page

Somerset Daily Herald, front page

Titusville Herald

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Harry Conrad Wilt: A Sad and Tragic Story

Conrad Ickes' daughter, Eliza Virginia, married George A. Wilt in January of 1875. He was about 21 years old and she was 17. Their son, Harry Conrad Wilt (partly named after grandfather Ickes) was born 3 years later. I would speculate that Eliza had at least one miscarriage, probably more, during that time. Only 3 months after Harry's birth, Eliza died. She was buried in the Pleasantville Cemetery near where her father, step mother, and uncle would later be buried.

Eliza Virginia Ickes Wilt
buried in Pleasantville Cemetery

Within two years of Eliza's death (probably sooner than later), George remarried a widow, Marietta Stufft Gordon, who had a daughter from her previous marriage 4 years older than Harry. When Harry was 2 yrs. old (1880), he was living with his father George, step mother Marietta, and step sister Clara Gordon in Bedford County. It appears, though, (from Conrad's will) that sometime before Harry turned 7 he left his father's home and began living with grandfather Conrad and step grandmother Mary (Eliza's mother had died in 1868 when Eliza was just 10 years old). Conrad's will states, "[My son,] Richard is to pay my grandson Harry C. Wilt one thousand dollars when he becomes twenty one years of age. . . .And further I desire my son Richard W to take charge of my grandson Harry Wilt and care for him after my decease until he becomes sixteen years or old enough to go to a trade, also give him a free school education." In 1887, when Harry was 9 years old, Conrad died.

I think it's important to note and consider that Harry probably never had a blood-related mother figure in his life. I say "probably" because we don't know anything about George's parents, and because we don't, and because they're not easy to find in historical records, it's likely they weren't alive or at least not involved in George's life past his childhood. I shudder to think that Harry could have openly been accused of the cause of his mother's death, but, having known of other very good families who have assigned blame to a newborn infant in the same way and openly verbalized it for years after the fact, I would certainly not discount the idea. When you really consider the implications of all this your sympathies can't help but be turned to young Harry.

According to Conrad's will, Uncle Richard was only obligated to care for Harry until he turned 16. We really don't know what life was like for Harry or exactly how long he lived with Uncle Richard, but I think it's safe to assume a loving, nuclear family was not Harry's experience during his most impressionable years.

Fast forward 10 years to 1897. Harry is age 19. He is living in Westmoreland County, PA in the mining town of Luxor and working as a "Charger". Westmoreland County is in western Pennsylvania where coal mining abounds. The Luxor mining complex was a town created by Robert S. Jamison, owner and developer of the Jamison Coal and Coke Company, to provide housing and basic services for his employees. By 1897 the Luxor Mine (Jamison No. 1 Mine) employed 179 miners, many of whom lived in the company-built houses in the coal patch town of Luxor, which contained the company-built houses, a [ridiculously overpriced] company store, the Jamison Supply company, and the slope-entry mine and coke works. In the year 1897 the Luxor Mine produced over 83,000 tons of coal and its coke works, containing 120 bee-hive coke ovens, produced 35,000 tone of coke.

Remains of the Luxor Mine Coke Works ca. 1993

(photo by Ken Rose, ca. 1993, courtesy of HABS/HAER & National Archives,

Photo Division, Washington D C)

Luxor Mine Tipple (left), coal washing plant (right) ca. 1993

(photo by Ken Rose, ca. 1993, courtesy of HABS/HAER & National Archives,

Photo Division, Washington D C)

Wooden Coal Buggys, Luxor Mine

(photo by Ken Rose, ca. 1993, courtesy of HABS/HAER & National Archives,

Photo Division, Washington D C)

The remains of the coal washing plant, Luxor Mine ca. 2003

(photo by Chris DelaMea, coalcampusa.com)

Company-built homes in Luxor which are still inhabited ca. 2003

(photo by Chris DelaMea, coalcampusa.com)

The portal to the Luxor Mine ca. 2003

(photo by Sam Baker, coalcampususa.com)

Coal mining at Lexor ended in 1972 ca. 2003

(photo by Chris DelaMea, coalcampusa.com)

Also living in Luxor and working at the Jamison No. 1 Mine in 1897 was Harry's father, George. Exactly when Harry left Uncle Richard in Bedford County and reunited with his father in Westmoreland County is a mystery I'll probably never solve. Various family trees on ancestry.com indicate that George's 2nd wife, Marietta, had died in 1893. She probably did, but I don't have any documentation to prove it.

1897 was an important year for Harry as that was the year he married Catherine "Katie" Fallen (or Fallon). Her parents were Irish immigrants who came to America in 1865. Katie's mother, Annie, a widow, had been raising Katie and her younger brother, Thomas, on her own. (More than likely Katie's father was also a miner and was killed in a mining accident.) Harry and Katie were married on 15 December 1897. He was 19 and she was barely 17 years old.

Their first child, Richard Theodore, was born 5 January, 1898, less than a month after Harry and Katie were married. 5 1/2 months later, on 18 June 1898 in Pittsburgh, Harry enlisted in the US Military. By the end of July, 1898 he found himself in Puerto Rico deeply entrenched in the Spanish-American War. An armistice was declared on the 12th of August and Harry was honorably discharged on 27 November 1898 in Pittsburgh.

In January of 1899 Harry turned 21. If you remember, He was left $1000 on his 21st birthday as stipulated in Conrad's will. But it's actually a little more complicated than that. Apparently Conrad had loaned George and Eliza, Harry's parents (Eliza being Conrad's daughter), some money. Eliza died and George must have moved away before Conrad was paid back. So Conrad had added an addendum to his will which stated, "P.S. June 27, 1885. Now I sold Richard W. Ickes my son a note against Geo. A. Wilt and Liza V. Wilt given June 27^th 1877 and Richard gave me one hundred dollars for it Feb. 21^st 1885. Now if Geo. A. Wilt don’t pay this note before Harry C. Wilt becomes 21 years of age Harry C. Wilt must pay Richard W. Ickes or his heirs one hundred dollars with interest from Feb. 21, 1885 for this note. signed Conrad Ickes" Even though this was money loaned to George and Eliza before Harry was even born, Harry was being held liable to pay it back. Un-be-lievable.

On his 21st birthday, 26 January 1899, Harry was in Pleasantville, Bedford County, PA to collect his inheritance. Did he get the $1000 promised him from Uncle Richard? Well, sort of. Richard gave him $816.41 in cash. The loan which was made to his parents, and which accrued 5% interest from the time Uncle Richard took it over, was turned over to Harry and was worth the remaining $182.59. If Harry ever wanted to see that money he would have to try to collect it from his dad himself.

Harry and Katie had wasted no time expanding their family as their second child, Blanche Ethel, was born 18 September 1899, 9 1/2 months after his return from war . Two years and one month following Blanche's birth came Harry Kermit, born on 21 October 1901. 10 months later, on 1 September 1902, Blanche Ethel died just shy of her 2nd birthday. Two and a half months after Blanche's death, on 18 November 1902, son Mignon F. was born. He also died in infancy.

Baby #5, Eugene Quentin, was born 11 November 1904; #6, Evelyn Eleanor, born 13 June 1907; #7, Thomas Stayman, 31 December 1909; #8, Florence Catherine, 16 April 1913; #9, Alma Pearl, 26 January 1915; and finally, #10, Robert Raymond was born 30 November 1918. During their first 21 years of marriage, while Katie gave birth to ten babies, eight of whom were living, Harry continued to work in the mining business, moving his family around Westmoreland County to accommodate better work and better pay.

Not only was 1918 the year their last child was born, it was also the year Harry was required to register for the WWI draft. Harry was not called up. However, their oldest son, Richard, enlisted in the Marines on 7 July 1918. From what I can tell he never left stateside and was honorably released on 11 February 1919.

The 1920 census shows the Wilt family living in Latrobe, Westmoreland, PA with all 8 children still at home. Harry had worked his way up to Mine Foreman. Oldest son, Richard, was the only other wage earner in the household. It appears that Harry's hard work had paid off as he was no longer a renter and was probably looking forward to the economic boom of the 1920s.

And then it happened. 29 October 1929. The crash heard 'round the world. Pennsylvania's mining industry was one of the hardest hit. The 1930 census, which was enumerated in April, shows half of the Wilt children having left home. Harry still declared himself to be a Mine Foreman and son, Thomas, age 20, was working as a Caseman in the coal industry. It appears that, at least for the time being, they had dodged the bullet of complete economic ruin. But that was to be short lived. Whatever was to come, life for Harry, Katie, and their children was about to take a drastic turn.

Fast forward again a few years. An article printed in the DuBois Morning Courier (DuBois, Clearfield County, PA) on Saturday, November 4, 1933 reporting on an incident which had happened in Latrobe refers to Harry C. Wilt, 55, as a "one-time mine foreman". Although we don't know when his unemployed status began, clearly by 1933 Harry was out of work and his economic status had taken a significant downturn. But there was a lot more to it than that. The article further states that Harry had abandoned his wife and children in 1930 and had gone to "room" at the home of 37 year old Catherine Graff. Catherine had two children living with her from a previous marriage. According to Catherine's children, Harry had lived with them up until 6 months previous when he "disappeared and was not seen again until a few days ago." Despondent because he was unable to find work, it was believed that he had planned to go to Sewickley [PA] (about 60 miles away) to live with a married daughter. (That would be daughter Evelyn who had married Edgar Muir. Edgar was a policeman in Sewickley. They had a 5 year old son named Thomas.) Harry had returned to Catherine Graff's home to convince her to go with him.

Did Harry live his entire life in a constant state of depression and despondency, having been led to believe that he had killed his mother and was not a welcome, wanted addition to any family? And when he finally "had it all" - the wife, the children, the economic stability - and began to see it crumble before his eyes, did he abandon everything good in his life so that the life he "deserved", as an unwanted, unloved menace and problem, would finally be fulfilled? Or, simply, did Harry's relative affluence and accomplishments create such pride in himself that his roving eye toward a younger woman would wreak havoc in his family and break up his marriage of nearly 33 years? In the midst of the Great Depression, did "home wrecker" Catherine find herself destitute of help to support herself and her children as she set her sights on Mine Foreman Harry 3 years previous? Or was Harry a lousy or alcoholic/abusive husband and, upon losing his job, was thrown out by Katie, knowing her life would vastly improve with him gone as her grown sons would not let their mother and younger siblings starve to death? Perhaps Harry and Catherine truly were in love. But when Harry left his wife and children and gave up everything he held dear to be with her, did Catherine ultimately turn on him, leaving Harry feeling completely alone and abandoned once again? Unfortunately, we will never know. And, no matter how hard we try to figure it all out, I don't think anyone could have predicted the uncontrollable level of turmoil, hopelessness, and rage growing inside of Harry.

On Thursday, November 2, 1933 Harry Conrad Wilt entered the home of Catherine Graff, as was reported, to convince her to move with him to Sewickley PA, the home of his married daughter. Upon Catherine's final refusal to comply with his request, Harry fired one bullet in the back of her head, killing her instantly. He then turned the gun on himself firing a bullet into his own head. Harry died at Latrobe Hospital a few hours later.

From the DuBois Morning Courier, 4 November 1933:

Harry was buried in an unmarked grave in the St. James Lutheran Cemetery, Youngstown, PA.

The consequences of his actions that day, no doubt, forever changed the lives of his wife and children and well as the children of Catherine Graff.

In February of 1934, 3 months after Harry's death, Katie applied for Veteran's Compensation. She was to receive $10 a month for 5 months. Later, on 17 March 1941, Katie applied for a veteran's grave marker. An upright marble headstone provided by the US government was placed to mark Harry's grave.

And what happened to Harry and Katie's children?

1. Richard Theodore served in WWI (as previously discussed). He married Margaret S. Tarr. They had at least 3 children, Richard, David, and Barbara. He stayed close to home and died somewhere near Latrobe PA on 23 September 1991.

2. Blanche Ethel died in infancy.

3. Harry Kermit enlisted in the Army during WWII and served from 6 February 1941 to 14 September 1945.

He married Blanche E. Haman and had at least one child, Mary Ann. Harry also stayed close to home and died in Somerset, PA 15 Oct 1969.

4. Mignon F. died in infancy.

5. Eugene Quentin died in Suffolk County, New York October 1977.

6. Evelyn Eleanor married Edgar Muir in 1926. They lived in Swickley, Allegheny County, PA and then in Midland, Beaver County PA. Edgar died in 1974 in Mentor on the Lake, Ohio. Evelyn lived to be 85 years old and died in Sun City Center, Florida on 3 Dec 1999.

7. Thomas Stayman remained in Latrobe. His wife's name was Marian. Thomas died 22 Oct 1992 at the age of 83.

8. Florence Catherine married George William Kirk in 1934. She died 26 May 1997 in Beaver, PA.

9. Alma Pearl died 27 August 1972 in Westmoreland County, PA at the age of 57. There is no record available showing that she ever married.

10. Robert Raymond was a Sergeant in the US Army during WWII. He was with the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division and was killed in action against enemy forces on 10 Jan 1943 in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. He had not married.

And Katie? Let's review. She married at 17. Gave birth 10 times in 21 years. Lost 2 infant children. Her husband left her after 33 years of marriage. 3 years later he shot a woman (probably his lover) in cold blood and committed suicide. 10 years after that her youngest son, the one who was with her during some of the hardest days of her life, was killed in action in Guadalcanal. I don't have exact information about when and where she died, although someone with the last name of Blackburn put on familysearch.org that she died in Connecticut in 1962. If that's correct, she probably had a child living there and spent the remainder of her days spoiling her grandchildren. And if that's true, there's no greater joy to be found. For now, I'll go with that.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Nathan Hammond and Rachel Blackburn Hammond

If you look closely at the pedigree chart above you'll see that we're now following Elizabeth Ellen Harbaugh's ancestral lines.

I don't have any information about Peter Harbaugh and his wife Sophia so I'll have to skip them. Next in line would be Nathan Hammond and Rachel Blackburn.

Rachel is the sister of Thomas Blackburn, one of Adam's ancestors, so all the family information I posted about Thomas also applies to Rachel. That actually makes things just a little bit weird. Adam Ickes is the descendant of Thomas Blackburn. Adam's wife, Elizabeth Ellen Harbaugh, is the descendant of Thomas' sister, Rachel Blackburn. Both Thomas and Rachel are the children of John Blackburn, so if you follow both Adam's and Ellen's lines back to the Blackburn family they converge with John Blackburn and from there back have exactly the same ancestors. John Blackburn is Adam's 3rd great-grandfather and Ellen's 2nd great-grandfather. That makes Adam and Ellen not only husband and wife, but also 3rd cousins once removed. If I continue to follow both lines down to me, that makes me my own 7th cousin once removed.

Here's what it looks like:

I guess that would also make my siblings my 7th cousins once removed, my children would be my 8th cousins, and my grandchildren are my 8th cousins once removed. OK, I gotta move on to something else. This is giving me a headache.

Rachel Blackburn married Nathan McGrew in 1767. Here's the references to the marriage as recorded in the minutes of the Quaker monthly meeting:

10 Oct 1767 "Nathan McGrew & Rachel Blackburn appeared at this meeting & signified their Intentions of marriage with each other, John Wright & Benjamin Loan are appointed to make the necessary enquirey into his conversation & from all others on that account & report to next meeting."

11 Nov 1767 "Nathan McGrew & Rachel Blackburn appeared at this meeting & signified that they continued their Intentions of marriage with each other & nothing appearing to obstruct they are left to their liberty to accomplish the same according to the good order used amongst friends, & John Wright, & Benjamin Loan are appointed to be it so accomplished & report to next meeting, & produce the marriage certificate to be recorded."

12 Dec 1767 "The friends appointed to attend the marriages of Nathan McGrew & Rachel Blackburn, & Moses Blackburn & Mary McGrew reports they were orderly accomplished & they produced the marriage certificates to this meeting."

Rachel and Nathan McGrew had one daughter named Rebecca who was born in 1768. It's likely Rebecca never knew her father as it is presumed he died in 1768.

Rachel married Nathan Hammond in 1771. The Hammonds were also active, devout Quakers as Nathan's father, John, was often assigned the task of seeking out and reporting on church members whose conduct had been put in question. According to the Quaker records, Rachel's marriage to Nathan Hammond wasn't nearly as joyous and celebrated as was her first marriage.

13 April 1771 "Manallen meeting informs this that Nathan Hammond & Rachel McGrew had accomplished their marriage by the assistance of a Priest (they being precautioned) this meeting appoints Samuel Wright & Benjamin Wright to prepare a testimony against them & produce it to next meeting."

1 May 1771 "One of the friends appointed to prepare a testimony against Nathan Hammond & his wife produced one which is as follows Viz Whereas Nathan Hammond & Rachel his wife having had their Education amongst us the People called Quakers, but for want of faithfully adhearing to the directions & guidance of the Spirit of Grace in their own hearts, gave way so far to a libertine spirit as to be guilty of dancing, & likewise went & was joined in marriage by the assistance of a Priest (or some such way) for which Evil conduct we deny them the said Nathan Hammond & Rachel Hammond to be any longer members of our Religious Society until their future conduct recommend them worthy, which that it may is our desire; which was approved of & signed on behalf of this meeting by the clerk & John Wright & George Wilson are appointed to shew it to them give them a copy if desired with notice of the Priviledge of an appeal which if they decline then to be it read in a Publick meeting at Manallen & return it to next meeting."

It wouldn't be until November of 1778, 7 1/2 years and 4 children later, that Nathan and Rachel would request re-admittance to the church.

7 Nov 1778 "Manallen Meeting Informs this that Nathan Hammond and his wife appear to be defirous to be reconciled with Friends, and he appeared at this meeting and offered a paper of acknowledgment which is left under consideration till next meeting."

12 Dec 1778 "The case of Nathan Hammond and his wife being considered in this Meeting, it appears to be most safe to appoint some Friends to have an opportunity with them and report their sense to next Meeting, Therefore William Underwood, William Garretson, Benjamin Underwood, Harman Updegraff, and Peter Cleaver are appointed to that service."

9 Jan 1779 "Three of the Friends appointed in the case of Nathan Hammon and his wife reports that they (with some women Friends) had a prity seasonable opportunity with them and that they did not find anything in their minds to discourage them from attending this meeting and they appeared and offered the following acknowledgment /viz/ (attachment unavailable) which was read and accepted."

13 Mar 1779 "Manallen Meeting informs this that Nathan Hammond requests that his four children (to wit) Deborah, Sarah, John and Mary may be received under Friends care, which is granted."

The history books indicate the Hammond family from which Nathan descends immigrated to America from Sussex County England in 1702. Centuries prior to that they hailed from a Viking Chieftan who raided England's Norfolk and Suffolk Counties in the 9th Century. This was especially interesting to me since a completely different family line of mine came from Norfolk and Suffolk Counties and immigrated to Utah in the 1880s. (But let's all hope and pray I don't turn up any more inbreeding.)

Nathan & Rachel moved from Adams County to Bedford County sometime before 1790 and by 1794 Nathan owned 400 acres of land in Bedford County. His will indicates that his son, Samuel, had taken over the farm, but it was collectively inherited by all of Nathan's children until Samuel paid his siblings a predetermined amount of money as their fair share of the inheritance.

The 1861 map shows a location of the farm owned by the "Hammond Heirs" in Bedford Township, northwest of the Borough of Bedford.

The area of Nathan's farmland today was relatively flat and wide open. If I didn't know better I almost would have thought I was back home in Texas.

Nathan and Rachel had at least 7 children. There could have been more who didn't live into adulthood.

Here is Nathan's will:

In the name of God Amen, I Nathan Hammond of the Township and County of Bedford in the State of Pennsylvania, being somewhat weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament as follows, I commend my soul to God that gave it and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. And as to my worldly estate both real and personal I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit I direct: that all my just Debts and funeral expenses be paid by my executors, out of my personal estate as soon as convenient after my decease, I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Hammond two horses, of his own choice with hears for the same, my wagon, one plough, and one good bed and bedding, which is to be his full of his share of personal estate, I direct all the residue of personal estate to be sold by my executors, and the proceeds thereof I bequeath and devise as follows, to my son Nathan the sum of sixteen dollars, to my daughter Rachel Harbaugh the sum of forty Dollars and the remainder after paying my Debts funeral expenses and the legacies to Nathan and Rachel as aforesaid, to be equally divided among all my children (except my son Samuel). I give devise and bequeth unto my son Samuel Hammond this plantation and tract of land whereon I now live, with the appurtenances in the township of Bedford aforesaid adjoining land of Henry Kuntz, and others, and out of which my said son Samuel is to pay the following legacies, to wit, to my son Nathan Hammond the sum of five hundred dollars, three hundred dollars to be paid two years after my decease, one hundred dollars three years after my decease and one hundred dollars ten years after my decease – to my son John Hammond three hundred dollars four years after my decease – to my daughter Rachel Harbaugh two hundred dollars six years after my decease. To my daughter Deborah Camron two hundred dollars eight years after my decease to my daughter Sarah Wolf two hundred dollars nine years after my decease all the legacies aforesaid to be a lien upon the tract of land aforesaid until they are paid. And lastly I appoint my son in law John Wolf and my son Samuel Hammond Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty fifth day of October A.D. 1816.

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