Roots Trek

Monday, September 12, 2016

Jonah Harbaugh and Elizabeth Callihan Harbaugh

Jonah and Elizabeth are two of my ancestors who leave me with many more questions than answers. I do know that death and heartache were profound elements of Elizabeth's life.

Jonah had a twin brother named after their father, John. His mother, Rachel, was a Quaker. I don't know exactly how involved Jonah was with the local Quaker congregation, but his body was buried in the Quaker cemetery near Fishertown in Bedford County.

Elizabeth was the 4th oldest of 14 children. She was an active member of the Dunkard church. In her later years she enjoyed bringing her grandchildren to church with her.

Jonah and Elizabeth were married sometime before 1840. Their son, George, was born probably around 1841 or 1842. On 4 July 1843, Jonah died, making Elizabeth a very young widow and single mother. The first of many tragedies in her life.

To complicate things even more, their daughter (my 2nd great-grandmother), Elizabeth Ellen, was born exactly 2 months following Jonah's death. A little less than 2 years later, Elizabeth's mother died. Think about that - as a very young widow raising 2 small children on her own, Elizabeth lost her mother.

As I try to put myself within the culture of the day, I would think that extended family was just kind of a given and was, I guess, completely ubiquitous. Almost everyone, it seems, was within spitting distance of extended family members of some type or another. That's not to say that those closest to you are somehow diminished or less important by any means, but at least there was always some type of back-up plan should ultimate tragedy occur. This had to provide some kind of comfort and support. At least, I would like to think so.

If you remember from previous posts, Elizabeth's mother was a Reininger and had married a Callihan. The Callihan and Reininger farms were adjacent to each other.

As the families grew and the farms expanded, additional homes and dwellings would be built within close proximity to each other. US census records can help tell the story and put some of the pieces together. The 1840 census shows Jonah Harbaugh and his wife living among the Callihans and the Reiningers.

It was during the 1840s when Elizabeth lost her husband. By 1850 she and her children were living apart. Elizabeth was living with her Uncle George Reininger and Aunt Susan in a house on the Reininger farm. Aunt Susan was a Harbaugh, though I don't know if or how she was related to Elizabeth's deceased husband, Jonah. Also living in the house was Elizabeth's younger sister, Sarah, who was only 2 yrs. old when their mother died, as well as a young farm hand.

Elizabeth's 2 children, George and Ellen, were living with Jonah's parents, John and Rachel Harbaugh. I don't know why Elizabeth didn't have her children living with her, I don't know how far away her parents were (though it wouldn't have been more than a few miles), and I don't know how often she saw them. I just hope this was an arrangement that was, for whatever reason, good for everyone.

By 1860 Elizabeth was living next to her brother George and his family. Her daughter Ellen is living with her. (The census taker didn't get their last names quite right, but no doubt this is Elizabeth and her daughter.)

By 1860 son George would be in his very early 20s. There's a George W. Harbaugh listed in an 1860 census in Frederick, MD with some other Harbaughs from Pennsylvania. He's working as a farmer. I'm not convinced at all that this is Elizabeth's son, so I'm not exactly sure where he was in 1860.

I do know the 1860s were a very eventful and tumultuous time. The 12th of April 1861 brought the beginning of Civil War. We don't know the exact date, but at some point in the early 1860s Elizabeth's son, George, enlisted in the Union Army. In December of 1863, her daughter Ellen married Adam Ickes. She was probably already pregnant on her wedding day.

On the 11th of July 1864 Elizabeth's son George died from wounds he had received in battle at Petersburg, VA on 16th of June. He was buried at Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, VA.

Just 7 days following her son's death (but probably prior to her being notified that her son had died), her first grandchild was born. John Elmer Ickes, son of Ellen and Adam, arrived in the world on 18 July 1864.

But as the war between the states continued it further affected the family. In October of 1864 son-in-law Adam enlists as a substitute in the Union Army. Thankfully, on 6 July 1865 Adam is honorably discharged from service and returns home sometime afterward.

At some point during the 1860s Elizabeth marries a man with the last name of Smith. The marriage is somewhat short-lived as either Mr. Smith dies (which is most likely) or something else happens to dissolve the marriage. We believe this to be the case because by 1870, as shown in the census, Elizabeth is living with her daughter Ellen and family in Pleasantville.

Elizabeth was living with Ellen's family when Ellen gave birth to a son, Sheldon Ross, in Jan of 1871, who died less than 3 months later. She was also there when Ellen gave birth to a son, Henry Beecher, in March of 1872, who died when he was just 2 days old.

The 1880 census shows Elizabeth still living with daughter Ellen and family in Pleasantville.

That's the last known record of Elizabeth Callihan Harbaugh Smith. There is simply no record of her to be found after 1880.

In 1884 Adam moved his family to Nebraska. I know from what Adam's daughter Allegra (Aunt Alle) recorded as well as documented evidence from Nebraska State census records that Elizabeth did not go to Nebraska with them.

Elizabeth and Ellen didn't have a mother-daughter relationship in which the daughter cut the apron strings and pursued a life of her own away from everything parental. These women's lives were closely intertwined through birth and death and war and uncertainty and heartache and loss. I can't imagine, after all that Ellen and Elizabeth had been through together, that Ellen would ever consider moving a lifetime away and not taking her mother with her if she were still alive. Elizabeth must have died after 1880 and prior to 1884. I just can't believe anything else. But I really wish I knew for sure.

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.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Dunnings Creek Church of the Brethren

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian tradition with German origin. It has also been known as the German Baptist Brethren and the "Dunkards" because of their belief in baptism by immersion.

The Dunnings Creek congregation began meeting around 1841 and a log meetinghouse was begun in the fall of 1843 and completed in 1844. It was built on land sold to the church by Christian Mock for $5 and was located a short distance southwest of Pleasantville.

Although the adjacent cemetery was often visited and cared for, after many decades of use the meetinghouse eventually fell into disrepair.

Fast forward to the late 20th century when Clair Mock, great-great-grandson of Christian Mock, a long-time member, deacon, and volunteer of the Mock Dunkard Church, convinced a group of friends to help him restore the old church. It has since been used for Christmas services and other special events.

After taking several outside shots I placed my camera lens up against the window glass hoping to get some type of clear image inside. Imagine my surprise when the image came into focus and I spotted Brent within the shot. The church door was unlocked and visitors were welcome inside.

This was the church where the Callihans and the Reiningers were members. This was the church adjacent to the cemetery in which Robert Callihan and Margaret Reininger Callihan, among other members of their family, were buried. It was a multi-generational church attended by many past generations of my family. Remembering fondly the days of his youth, my great-grandfather, Horace Ickes, wrote, "I would walk 2 1/2 miles with my grandmother to her church, set way back in the woods. The old Dunkard church." This was where they worshiped God, studied scripture, and prayed. They prayed for each other. They prayed for their crops and for their animals. They prayed for beneficial weather and much needed rain. They prayed for their families and their children: the born, the unborn, and the dead.

Since 1844 at least 5 generations of my direct-line ancestors made cherished memories in this little log church set deep in the woods.

And 2015 brought at least one more.

Friday, September 9, 2016

Robert Callihan and Margaret Reininger Callihan

What can I say about Robert and Margaret? Well, they grew up on neighboring farms. Robert was about 6 years older than Margaret. When he was 23 and she was 17 they got married. She was a June bride. Less than ten months later their first child, Thomas, was born.

No doubt their entire adult lives revolved around their family, their faith, and their farm. Robert not only worked on his father's farm, he inherited it and worked the same farm land his entire life. Concerning their home, Horace Ickes, my great-grandfather, who was born in 1868 wrote, "The home of my boyhood was many years behind the times and slow in trying new methods and appliances. I remember very well when my great-grandfather, Robert Callihan on my mother's side, got his first cook stove and kerosene lamp, up to that time he cooked over the fire and used tallow candles for light."

A history of the local congregation of The Church of the Brethren, also known as the Mock Church (as the land on which it was built was owned by a member of the Mock family), indicates that Robert was appointed a deacon. Robert and Margaret are both buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Margaret spent her entire adult life birthing and caring for children. Her first child was born when she was 18 yrs. old. She gave birth to 14 living children over the span of 29 years. All 14 of those children lived into adulthood. Going by the birth dates of her surviving children, she could have given birth to other children who died in infancy or were stillborn, though we have no evidence or proof of any others. Of course, I believe that all women need and deserve some time to themselves to pursue their own interests. A career for a mid-19th century farmer's wife, I'm sure, was unthinkable. But maybe Margaret would have liked to have had a flower garden. Maybe she wanted to try her hand at painting. I don't even know if she was literate. I don't really know what kind of resources were available to her to pursue some kind of self-interest when raising children was no longer her primary concern. Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to find out. Margaret died at the age of 47 giving birth to her 14th child. Robert never remarried, even though he out-lived Margaret by about 31 years.

Mock Dunkard Church and Cemetery

Their 14 children provided them with a huge posterity. Descendants of Robert and Margaret were photographed sometime around the 1900-1910 timeframe at the Holsinger Church. My direct ancestors left the area in 1884 and are not represented.

Photo courtesy of callihanfamilyresearch.org and Donald M. Callihan

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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

The Abolitionists

I actually don't have any ancestors in my direct line who are listed in the history books among the Bedford County abolitionists, but my ancestors were immediate family members and associates of those who aided the underground railroad. I can't help but highlight the efforts of the Bedford County residents in this noble and selfless cause.

The Underground Railroad was a clandestine network of routes and safe houses ferrying escaped slaves from the South to Canada. It began operating in Bedford County in 1835. Bedford County was directly north of the Mason-Dixon line, so escaped slaves who would take the route through Bedford County would find themselves in free territory as soon as they crossed the border into Pennsylvania. Once fugatives left the vicinity of the borough of Bedford the most popular route to follow took them through the Quaker community of Fishertown.

According to the history books, among the Fishertown residents providing assistance to runaway slaves was Nathan Hammond, more than likely the son or grandson on my 5th great-grandfather Nathan Hammond. His son, Nathan, died in 1860 and was probably too old to be involved with the abolitionists. He had more than one grandson named Nathan, so without a ton of research I don't know for sure which Nathan it would be. According to the 1861 map, a N. Hammond estate was located atop a large hill accessed by what is now called Hammond Hill Road leading northeast from Fishertown.

When we visited there the expansive views were spectacular.

A plaque at the Quaker Burial Ground near Fishertown pays tribute to those who assisted the effort to help escaped slaves secure their freedom.

From Fishertown, runaways were often directed to Pleasantville (Alum Bank), assisted sometimes by George Harbaugh, brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, Jonah Harbaugh, to the home of Benjamin Walker where they would receive aid to travel further north.

Many others residents and land owners assisted and played vital roles in assisting the Underground Railroad in Bedford County, and several stories were preserved and retold. Not everyone, though, shared in the great cause. A story is told of two men, each from prominent families - the Mocks and the Crissmans - who sought only for their own personal gain:

"It was a short time prior to the Civil War when two slaves found their way into the so-called Quaker settlement, with the evident hope of procuring assistance in their journey northward. Somewhere in the vicinity named they met two men by name of Mock and Crissman, who, it seems, knew of a reward being offered for the capture of a certain two slaves, and who, under the pretense of being friendly to their interests, induced the negroes to be locked-up in an old school-house nearby, while arrangements would be made for their conveyance to some northward station. The captors at once went to Bedford and got into communication with their master, who promptly came on, identified his property, paid the prize money and returned home with his possession of human souls.

"This was one of the few instances, if not the only one, of like character which occurred in the neighborhood of the underground railway people of this section.

"To the sore disappointment of the poor slaves, we can well imagine, there would be added the oppression and vengeance of a tyrannical master when back on the old plantation. On the other hand, to the treachery and deception of the captors there was added the contempt and reproach of every good citizen in which they lived. Neither of them prospered after this event. Mr. Mock soon afterward came to an untimely death by being shot at Alum Bank while attempting to escape from the custody of a squad of soldiers who had been detailed to preserve order at an election at St. Clair township, and who had him under arrest for disturbing the peace. Numerous afflictions and misfortunes followed Mr. Crissman during the several years which he lived afterward, and whilst he, no doubt, regretted his conduct and would have undone the deed if such were possible, he never regained the confidence or respect of the people." (History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, pgs. 381-382)

The account also indicates that the school-house in which the escaped slaves were imprisoned was located on the road leading from Osterburg about one-half mile from Alum Bank on the Rinninger farm. That would be the exact location of the farm which was then occupied by the son of my 5th great-grandfather, George Reininger. There is no indication whatsoever that any member of the Reininger family benefited or assisted in any way in the imprisonment of the two runaway slaves.

Old Schoolhouse near Alum Bank, Where Two Runaway Slaves Were
Penned Up and Held for Ransom

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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

John Harbaugh and Rachel Hammond Harbaugh

There's a story posted on ancestry.com concerning John Harbaugh. It originated with a Cyrus Harbaugh who recorded it in 1930. It goes something like this:

Somewhere between the years 1780-1785*, a family of Harbaughs, traveling west through Bedford County by wagon, stopped at Thomas Griffith for a rest probably on account of sickness. They left two of their children (John and Sophie) there, saying they would come back after them. They never returned. It is speculated that they were killed by Indians or met death in some other way. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith raised these children at his home near Fishertown. Sophie married Amos Penrose. John was a miller by trade lived at the Blackburn Mill. He married Rachel Hammond.

It was determined that the father of the family passing through Bedford County was Peter Harbach of Berks County, PA. In 1946 this information was passed on to Cyrus who indicated that he was related to that Harbach family and, as a young man, would travel to Berks County to visit his cousins.

*John was born in 1781 and his sister, Sophia, was born in 1782, so if this story is true it would have had to have happened after 1782.

This could or could not be true as there are several ways to look at it. The Griffiths were active members of the Quaker community in Bedford County. If two very young children were left in the Griffith family's care and were ultimately abandoned by their parents, the Griffiths family couldn't very well leave them home unattended while they went off to their monthly church meeting. The Harbaugh children could very well have been raised Quaker and had become fully converted to the Quaker faith. They were certainly immersed in the culture. Afterall, the Blackburn family, one of whom owned the mill where John was employed and lived, were long-time Quakers. The Hammonds, the family from which John would find his future wife, were prominent members of the Quaker community as well. The problem comes, though, when we learn that John was not a member of the Society of Friends at the time of his marriage. We know this from the minutes of the Quaker records indicating that Rachel Hammond had married outside the faith.

Dunning's Creek Monthly Meeting 16 July 1806

"Complaint being brought from the women's Meeting against Rachel Harbaugh, late Hammond, for

accomplishing Marriage with a Man not a member of out Society before a Person holding the

Commission of a Justice, and they requesting the Company of some Men[allen] Friends in a Visit

to her: John Thomas and Jonathan Bowen are appointed to that Service and to report to next Meeting."

"At Dunning's Creek Monthly Meeting held the 13th of the 8th Month 1806
the Representatives being present.

"The Friends appointed to unite with Men[allen] Friends in a Visit to Rachel Harbaugh report
they had a opportunity with her and she appeared very desirous to condemn her misconduct
and retain her right among Friends, for which purpose she produced a Paper of Acknowledgment
to this Meeting condemning her outgoing which was read and accepted."

"To Dunning's Creek Monthly Meeting to be held the 13th day of the 8th Month 1806.

"I the Subscriber having had my Birthright amongst the People called Quakers,
but for want of a strict adherence to the Dictates of Truth have given was to a
libertine Spirit so far as to be joined in Marriage with a Man not a Member of our
Society, - for which I am sorry and wish Friends to continue my under their Care
hoping in future to live a more circumspect Life.

"Rachel Harbaugh"

Of course, it's even more complicated than that. We also know from Quaker church records that his sister, Sophia, married Amos Penrose within the Society of Friends. She was a member of the church in good standing and Amos was very prominently mentioned in the church records multiple times.There's no indexed church record showing John's disfellowshipment. He may or may not have been a member in good standing previous to his marriage. We just don't know for sure.

The most credible resource to verify the validity of this story was to figure out the relationship between Cyrus and John. Among John and Rachel's 9 children was a set of twins, John and Jonah, born in 1817. Jonah was my 3rd great-grandfather. Cyrus (actually named John Cyrus) was the 2nd youngest son of John Jr., which would make John Sr. his grandfather. Cyrus was born in 1860 and John Sr. didn't die until 1870, so Cyrus very well could have heard the story first-hand from his grandfather himself.

The history books indicate that the Blackburn grist mill (where John was employed) was a log building with a frame addition added in 1839. It was located in Springhope, a small borough near the southern edge of East St. Clair Township. It was erected by Joseph Blackburn and subsequently operated by Thomas W. Blackburn and George W. Blackburn. Contrary to the history books, an obituary for Anna Border Cuppett published in the Bedford Gazette on 15 March 1901 states that it was her great-grandfather, Thomas Blackburn (my 6th great-grandfather), who erected the grist mill in Springhope in 1770.

We didn't make it down to Springhope, nor is there any record indicating the burial places of John and Rachel. Apparently he didn't even leave a will, making John and Rachel's story quite incomplete.

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Monday, July 4, 2016

My Revolutionary War Patriots

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

-Katherine Lee Bates

On this day, July 4th, 2016, 240 years from the day the colonists declared their independence from Great Britain, I honor my seven ancestral Revolutionary War Patriots:

1 - 6th great-grandfather George Wisegarver, Private, Bedford County Militia. Buried on the Wisegarver Farm, moved to St. John Church, Cessna, Bedford County PA.

2 - 6th great-grandfather Johannes Frederick Reighard. Listed in Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol. 3. Buried in Mattas Farm Cemetery (now Hilltop Cemetery), Bedford County, PA.

Photo courtesy of findagrave.com, added by K. Love.

3 - 6th great-grandfather George Reininger, 2nd Class, 4th Battalion, City of Philadelphia Militia. Burial location unknown.

4 - 6th great-grandfather Thomas Blackburn, despite strict Quaker principles against bearing arms, acknowledged in a Quaker meeting on 4 Apr 1778 as having served in the Revolutionary War, probably under compulsory means as ordered through the Military Service Act of 17 March 1777. Buried in an unmarked grave in the Friends Cemetery north of Fishertown in Bedford County, PA.

5 - 5th great-grandfather Thomas Callihan, Private, 2nd New Jersey Regiment. Buried with his wife in a private burial ground located at the highest point of his former estate near Pleasantville, PA.

6 - 5th great-grandfather Conrad Haverstock, Lieutenant, York County Militia. Buried in Mount Eaton Lutheran Cemetery, Mount Eaton, Wayne County, OH.

Photo courtesy of findagrave.com, added by Don Haverstock

7 - 5th great-grandfather John Ickes, Lieutanant, York County Militia. Buried in Old Union Cemetery, Osterburg, Bedford County, PA

Honorable Mention:

8 - 6th and 7th great-grandfather John Blackburn, Jr. joined York County military forces against Indian uprisings prior to the Revolution despite strict Quaker principles against bearing arms. Presumed buried at the Quaker Burying Grounds at the Warrington Meeting House in Menallen Township, York (now Adams) County, PA.