Josiah VanKirk Thompson
Josiah VanKirk Thompson
Uniontown
Family Record Book
Vol 5PRIVATE
[There seems to be a page before page one which has a descendant
chart on it. the only part that copied on page 1 reads as
follows:]
B. July 6, 1819, Jany 1, 1896 by He married whose maiden before
him. No issue
Nancy Tappan B. June 29, 1850 ) my informant
V5 Page 1
xe "54 Page 1"Oak Hill July 25th, 1921 9 PM
Reading on Page 88 Book 1 about mother's statement about John
& James Niccollsxe "Niccolls" both marrying her cousins
Steelexe "Steele"s & then living at first in West Newton, I
asked cousin Kate if she knew of them & she said William
Niccollsxe "Niccolls", an unmarried one, she thought a brother, had
a store in West Newton & used to go a great deal to see her
Aunt Katy. She said her father bought the lot where he later built
their old home from a Niccolls. She thought John Niccolls, either
the brother, or I suggested the possibility of it being the father.
He bought this before he was married & the first year after he
was married, he lived in a house where the U.P. church now is &
then built the brick house & moved in. She dont know what year
he came to this country, but he brought a lot of clocks with him
for sale & later had several boxes of clocks shipped to him
from Europe. From Phila he went to the western shore "wherever that
was" & lived there a year & sold clocks. Boarded or lived
with a planter who was often away & when he was he engaged her
father to look after the men & keep them at work. He then went
to Mt Pleasant Pa where he had a room & sold clocks & from
there moved to the old gate
V5 Page 2
xe "V5 Page 2"house on the Pike, where the school house now is
where the road turns down to Will L. Schollxe "Scholl"'s. When
here, he got acquainted with her mother Kate says. She says the
wife of one of the Niccolls, she thought it was John, died across
from them in the house then on the present Maggie L. Markle xe
"Markle"lot where the Niccolls then lived. She said one of the
Niccolls married a sister of Micajah P. Smithxe "Smith" & she
died leaving a son Eben, who was taken by her mother old Mrs Smith,
who raised him & who said she cried when she had to give him
up. There had been a Moorexe "Moore", Kate said from across the
River who married a Steelexe "Steele" & after two children were
born, Steele died, but his wife had a third child not long after
his death & Kate said Niccolls, she thought John, came in from
the west & married her & it couldn't have been long after
as she had to carry the baby in her arms when she was married to
Niccolls. She went west & had a child to Niccolls & then
she died. Niccolls kept his own child, but sent the other tree back
& they were taken by someone over the river. Kate said Amanda
Smith, who one of the Niccolls used to court asked if they couldn't
give her brother "Mark" Smith a position
V5 Page 3
xe "V5 Page 3"out there & through Sam Drumxe "Drum" out
there it was arranged. He, however, got to drinking & his feet
were frozen & he was badly disabled & Harmer D., his
brother went & bro't them in & either he or H. H. Marklexe
"Markle" & wife took him & his wife with four children went
home to her father John Swemxe "Swem"'s. After this, "Mark" did
something bad by which he had to run off from home. It is now 10:20
PM & Cousin Kate is retiring.
Oak Hill July 27, 1921 12 o'clock noon
Cousin Elizabeth M. Fullerxe "Fuller" has just gone in town
after a couple of hours visit with us. Pallini brought C.C. Koughxe
"Kough" out at 9:30 AM & he took four pictures of Cousin Kate
Smith aged 89 yrs 6 mos & 24 days today & one of Cousin
Elizabeth M. Fuller aged 80 yrs 3 Mo & days today & one of
the tree of us standing. Speaking of George Plumer Smith, Kate says
he has been dead some years & that he left much of his fortune
to charity, but gave Mrs Stevensonxe "Stevenson" $5000 & Mrs
Hornishxe "Hornish" $10,000. Kate said his mother was a Plumerxe
"Plumer", a sister of Uncle John C. Plumer & of Alex &
William & that her mother s'd his father was not related to
Micajah P. Smithxe "Smith". She married a Finleyxe "Finley" over by
Rehoboth after Smith died. Kate says old Mrs Smith, mother of
Micajah P. was a Housemanxe "Houseman". Lizzie said then that that
was where the relationship to the
V5 Page 4
xe "V5 Page 4"Housemans came in. Lizzie spoke of having spent a
month or two on a ranch out in the Colorado mountains near Seguache
(pronounced Sewatch). She said her father owned & used to live
on Main St in Uniontown where the present office of the Morning
Herald & Blackstone building are located. That a Jim Hedgesxe
"Hedges", a carpenter or something, built a two & a half story
house there & couldn't finish it & her father bought it
from him & completed it & added a two room one story
building for his offices. In this house, she & all the rest of
her father's children were born. Her stepmother wanted to get out
on the farm with her boys about the close of the war & her
father thought he could leg John work into his practice. He had a
farm out the Pgh Road which he sold & bought the farm in South
Union Tp & moved out. They only remained one year. He bought
the Gen'l Joshua B. Howellxe "Howell" house on Fayette St &
moved in it just after the war & always afterwards, lived there
& there he died as did his son John M. & there Alvira,
John's daughter & her husband E. Gadd Sniderxe "Snider" now
live & Lizzie's home is on the brick house built on the
lot.
Lizzie told again about the tip given her about the incoming
administration intending to let a lot of clerks go because congress
did not appropriate any money to pay them, so she went to see
Postmaster Gen Walter Q. Greshamxe "Gresham" who had only come in
office
V5 Page 5
xe "V5 Page 5"a few days before & he was out & in
conference his ass't Walkerxe "Walker" told her with the Postmaster
of Balto & she told Walker who said he understood she had a
father who was able to keep her to which she replied: "I have a
step mother & that is the reason I am here". Walker told
Gresham & he said because of the appropriations failure, they
wd have to let them go & she said she lost all control of
herself & burst out crying whereupon Gresham patted her on the
shoulder & said "Dry your tears, we will take care of you". She
explained that he had had a stepmother & had been driven from
home at a very early age to make his own living. Jas as she was in
later years. She said she was the only one that went out from home
& made her own living & incidentally explained the start of
her coolness with Amanda Smith, first cousin to both her father
& herself. She was walking on the streets of Wash D.C. with Mrs
Swearingenxe "Swearingen" & met Amanda Smith, who was very cool
& pretended not to know her, charging her as Lizzie said of
disgracing the family by going out to work & earn her own
living. Later, at Cuba with her cousin Alfred M. Fullerxe "Fuller",
she was in the receiving line that recd Mrs Gresham & other
notables. Alf M. had married Minnie Jonesxe "Jones", whose mother
was a sister of Mrs Gresham.
Lizzie, sitting on the terrace this morning said: "This is the
old Dawson xe " Dawson"home.
V5 Page 6
xe "V5 Page 6"The first wedding I ever attended was here.
Richard Dawson, a younger brother of John N was a friend of mine
& he had them invite me, although I was very young to the
wedding of his sister Louis to Berry & Cousin Jim Fuller
(father's cousin) brought Harriett & me & I had a grand
time. I was younger than the others & everybody made a fuss
about me". She said Maria Dawson was a large handsome girl &
she married Baldwinxe "Baldwin" & the youngest, Ruth Elizabeth
married Johnstonxe "Johnston".
Page 98 Book 1 Lines 28 to 34. Kate does not think this
statement correct.
Page 102. Kate says her mother had often spoken of Dr Abraham
Markle Kate did not know of their family.
Page 112 lines 10 & 11, asking Kate if she knew of Henry
Fultonxe "Fulton"'s [sic] she said "yes he had four wives. Aunt
Katy was invited there once shortly after they moved here &
went with the Marklexe "Markle" girls & their mother Betsy who
was a sister of Mrs Fulton". Asking her if she knew their daughter
Eleanor, she said: "Oh yes, Nellie. She married Dr Isettxe "Isett"
& lived in the old house on the present Maggie L. Markle lot,
just across the street from us. She didn't like to work & once
her sister (or half sister) Jane, called in to have her go with her
& she put on a white dress that had been starched, but not
ironed & Jane said she was ashamed to go with
V5 Page 7
xe "V5 Page 7"her, but went. They moved to Iowa & once after
that, I saw a woman in deep mourning & a long black veil go in
Drumxe "Drum"'s across the street (they were her cousins you know)
& I told mother & she said that is Nellie Isett xe
"Isett"& got ready & went over, but by the time she got
there, she was gone. She had a brother John, who went to California
& probably died there, as his wife died there. He had married
in West Newton, Eliza Jane Linnxe "Linn" a daughter of William Linn
a blacksmith who had been in the War of !812 & drew a pension
& had a daughter Alice born to them in West Newton. He went to
Calif without them & was a tanner there & sent for his wife
to come on & she went with Alice. She had a son born to her
there & perhaps more & died & he married again. When
Leah Robbxe "Robb"s [sic] was rtg home with her husband, she wanted
to go see them, but Robb objected, but Leah persisted & meeting
a boy said: "Can you tell me where John Fulton's tannery is?" The
boy sd: "I can tell you where his factory is. I am going there,
follow me", which they did & had a long talk with them. Mrs
Fulton wrote a long letter for Leah to give to her father & by
the time she got home, he had died. She says Abram Fulton married
Rachel Newlonxe "Newlon", sister of Elijah who married Mary,
daughter of Jacob Markle & who was a daughter of William Newlon
who lived at the Willowxe "Willow" Treexe "Tree" farmxe "farm" when
his daughter Hannah married Kate's Uncle Dan Rotharmel
xe "Rotharmel" V5 Page 8
xe "V5 Page 8"William Newlon owned the Willow Tree farm then,
tore the old house down & built the present one, but Painterxe
"Painter" built the present barn. Abram Fulton went to Washington
Pa & kept the hotel & boarded students & then moved
west somewhere, was very poor & wrote home for help, but
Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel & Hannah Newlon Rotharmel who was
then the wife of old "Mike" Haymakerxe "Haymaker" who lived out by
Newlonsburg & was very rich with plenty of money at interest,
wouldn't give him a cent. Kate said Elizabeth should have given
them money for what they did for her, as she says they kept her for
years at the hotel, both boarding & clothing her. She married
Haymaker when she was 28 yrs old & had five children to him. He
was much older than her, rich & stingy. He had wanted to marry
her mother, Hannah, & she wouldn't have him. He came once to
the Willow Tree to see Hannah & she saw him coming & ran up
through the fields to Rotharmels & after awhile, they saw
Haymaker & the Newlon boys coming up through the fields &
Hannah took out across a field to Wagnerxe "Wagner"'s where she
stayed all night. The next morning, Mrs Newlon told Haymaker he
need not come back any more as Hannah wouldn't have him. He waited
& Kate says was s'd to be 60 when he married Elizabeth. He died
up abt
V5 Page 9
xe "V5 Page 9"Newlonsburg which is near Murraysville & she
supposes is buried there.
"Frank" Rotharmelxe "Rotharmel" (son of Uncle Ben) when at Gbg
once on the jury met a son of Elizabeth who was also on the jury
(they had never met before & didn't know each other until
meeting face to face when their names were called) & he told
Frank his mother had died of a broken heart, but didn't say for
why. Someone since told Kate that a son & daughter had gone to
California, both married & two daughters unmarried were still
living. Once her Uncle Dan was at Haymakers & was sick &
they sent him to her Aunt Katy's (Geo Brushxe "Brush"'s) near
Irwin. Brush was very mad & came to see Kate's father who told
Brush to just keep him there & he wd help pay his exps. He
lived just 3 weeks & Kate says her father & Uncle Ben
buried him. He was buried on the farm & removed to Markle's.
Hannah died when her second child, Keziah was born & Mrs Newlon
took Elizabeth & Keziah & cared for them until Dan got
married the second time when he took them.
Kate does not know of Abram Fulton's children. It is now 3:30 PM
& must go in town.
July 27th, 1921 8 PM
I went in at 3:30 PM & got this afternoon 30 cks from
Frustee D.M. Hertzogxe "Hertzog" & his clerk J.B. McPhersonxe
"McPherson" which I laid away in my drawer there. Lenora came in
& got
V5 Page 10
xe "V5 Page 10"her ck, the larger one & I stopped at 7 PM to
7:30 & gave her the smaller ck, & asked her about Jno A's
Uncles John & James Niccollsxe "Niccolls" & got statement
made to me by mother Oct 3, 1897 & as recollected by Cousin
Kate. Lenora says John A's Uncle John first married a Smithxe
"Smith", sister as Kate says of Micajah P. Smith & had two
sons, John & Eben. John went to California & married a very
nice woman & lived at Los Angeles. They had a daughter, May.
After his first wife's death, he married Maria Steelexe "Steele"
& had a lot of children, Lenora recalls Violet, Harriet, Alvin,
Elliott & Cassius. She says Maria visited mother at Springdale
with the two girls Violet & Harriet who were very quiet &
practically talkless. Violet did not marry well & dying left a
daughter which Harriet adopted. Harriet married a Reevesxe "Reeves"
& is still living she says in Bloomington. Alvin went to Kansas
& John A. went there with him after five yrs service in Dry
good store of Wm Ricexe "Rice". His Uncle John got him the position
telling him to pay the boy a salary & he would make it up to
him. After one week, he told the Uncle he would not be called on to
make anything up as the boy was earning the salary & more. He
remained in the store until Rice died & the store was sold out.
Cassius now lives in Calif & wrote Lenora a few
V5 Page 11
xe "V5 Page 11"moths ago wanting to know about the Niccolls
History. I should get his address from her. She did not say what
became of Eben & Elliott.
James Niccolls first married Elizabeth Steele & it was he
& not John, that married the widow Steele (widow of his first
wife's brother who Kate says was a Moorexe "Moore", after his first
wife died.) It was she who had the three children who Lenora says
Elijah & Ruth Craftxe "Craft" took & raised & she says
Mrs Millerxe "Miller", mother of Fannie S. Miller & Sara C.
Gorleyxe "Gorley", with whom she now lives was one of them. Lenora
thought she divorced Jim, but I think Kate's statement that she
died is correct. Jim then married Melinda Hibbs xe "Hibbs"as stated
by mother, so Lenora says Robert Niccolls who died in Calif a few
years ago was another brother of John, James & Thos H.
Niccolls. Lenora says he married "Frank" Moore & had two
children that did & he left his money to about 30 nephews &
nieces. I think she said he died at San Diego Calif. She said Lida,
her daughter got $2540 from his estate. Kate now says that Eben
Niccolls married Melinda Clemensxe "Clemens", whose father taught
school in & around West Newton. Said abt 5 yrs ago "Mark" Smith
told her he had had a letter from him & he was then past 80
& his
V5 Page 12
xe "V5 Page 12"wife was dead. He was living somewhere in the
west. Kate says Robert Niccolls who married Frank Moore went to
school in West Newton. She says Jim Niccolls was a great tall man
& that he used to go to see Amanda Smith. She says his second
wife, the widow Steele died when her first baby to him was
born.
Page 125 Book 1 Line 15. Kate & I conclude that this is the
Gideon Markle xe "Markle"she told me about & who she thought
was a brother of great grandfather, whereas he is a brother's son.
It was Gideon who was a counterfeiter & got in the toils [best
guess] of the law.
Page 125 Line 16. We feel satisfied that this Catharina's
husband, John Rothermelxe "Rothermel" Junior is a son of John
Rothermel & a brother of great grandmother Mary Rothermel
Markle. Investigate when at Washington Davies Co, Ind.
It is now 10 PM & Cousin Kate has gone asleep in her chair
& I have rung for Mrs Pallini to come & assist her to bed.
I go to Morgantown WVA at 10:24 AM tomorrow & will probably not
get back until 7 PM Friday evening JVT
Oak Hill July 29, 1921 7:30 PM
I got back from Morgantown on the 5:30 PM B&O, had dinner at
the "Holler" with Minnie & Sarah 6 to 7 & came out
home.
V5 Page 13
xe "V5 Page 13"Pages 127 & 128 Book 1 Will of Peter
Rothermel. This is a son of Peter who was a brother of Paul &
of John my ggfather & of Christian, Kate's ggfather. See
Anjouxe "Anjou"'s History Pages 39 to 42. Kate says her grandmother
said there were so many Peters & that her Uncle Ben, when
attending the meeting about the fortune said they called his father
"Long Peter" because he was so tall. Kate says her grandfather "was
very tall over six feet & very slender." Page 128 & 129
Book 1. Will of Magdalena Rotharmel Line 7 Page 129 Kate says her
mother always said Catharine was married to Henry Heppnerxe
"Heppner" & knot Keppnerxe "Keppner" & I may have read the
record wrong. Kate further says her mother said Maria was married
to Fegelyxe "Fegely", but she now supposes that Hegelyxe "Hegely"
is right. Her mother only knew of one son, Kate says Margaret only
had one child by her second husband Longxe "Long" & his name
was Jacob, also "lying Jacob" she says. Conrad Stengerxe "Stenger"
who was married to Magdalena was a brother of Kate's grandmother,
Peter's wife. She says this Magdalena was living the time her
grandmother's hair turned white for Martin the next morning when he
came in went after her mother & his own mother. Kate says this
record is no doubt right & that her great grandmother was
Magdalena Bauerxe "Bauer" instead of Sibilla as she had previously
stated. Kate says
V5 Page 14
xe "V5 Page 14"she died at Grosscupxe "Grosscup"'s ‑ her
daughter's.
Page 140 Book 1 Will of Jacob Rothermelxe "Rothermel". This is
great grandmother Mary Marklexe "Markle"'s brother see G. Anjouxe
"Anjou"'s Hist Pages 51 & 52. Cousin Kate says he had a brother
Daniel how had a son died in Pgh & who had an odd name by which
great grandmother knew it was her brother Daniel's son as the name
was that of one of his Uncle's on his mother's side, not on his
father's side. I notice that Benj. Parksxe "Parks" was one of the
witnesses to Jacob Rothermel's will. The person named by John H.
Rhoadsxe "Rhoads" bro line 35 Page 134 Book 1 as marrying Maria
Daughter of Peter Merckelxe "Merckel".
Following will of Jacob Rothermel on Pages 140 & 142 is will
of Abraham Rotharmel & it is evident from his will proven in
1777 & his children being named by Jacob as grandchildren, that
his widow Barbara was Jacob's first wife & Magdalena (Pricexe
"Price" as Anjou says) was his second wife, but nothing yet to tell
which of the wives was mother to his nine children or how they are
divided between them or who this Abraham was. He might have been an
older brother of Jacob & one of the ten children of John
Rotharmel of whom ggmother always mentioned as in her family. I am
strongly inclined to this belief. Kate inclines to this belief also
& says there were Mrs Baughmanxe "Baughman" & Mrs Hayesxe
"Hayes" who were sisters of
V5 Page 15
xe "V5 Page 15"ggmother as she got from her mother, who when she
wd be at ggmother's the year Sallie was down in Ky with
grandmother, used to sleep with ggmother.
Page 134 Lines 3 to 5. I had thought this Gideon Markle was the
one imprisoned for counterfeiting. Kate says he died in prison. I
can see how that news might have been circulated & then
accomplices might have helped him to escape & he gone off to
Sunbury where he might have been killed later.
Kate says that two of her mother's Uncles Stengerxe "Stenger"s,
living in Franklin Co Pa, I think about London, married Markle
widows, that one of them married Mrs Shearerxe "Shearer", a widow,
who was a Markle before she married Shearer & she didn't know
whether the other married the widow of a Markle man, or whether she
was born Markle, married & became a widow as did Mrs Shearer.
There was however, a Daniel Markle who lived in Franklin Co. He was
son of George Markle Page 162 & I think his two sisters, Ann
Elizabeth & Rebecca, both married Shearers.
Page 130, Book 1 Will of Leonard Rotharmel. This is a son of
Lawrence the Elder of the immigrant brothers see Anjouxe "Anjou"
Hist Pages 19 to 21.
Page 131 Book 1 Will of Peter Rothermel. This is son of Peter
whose father Peter was one of the immigrant brothers, see Anjou
Hist Pages 43 & 44.
V5 Page 16
xe "V5 Page 16"Page 131 Book 1 Will of John Rotharmel. This is a
son of Peter who was a son of Paul, one of the emigrant brothers,
see Anjou Hist Pages 25 to 28.
Cousin Kate went to bed at 10:15 & it is now 11 Pm & I
will continue on reading my records made at Reading in 1898.
Page 148 Book 1 Will of Jacob Merkelxe "Merkel".
This is the son of Casper & brother of Benjamin see Page 144
Book 1.
Page 151 Book 1 Lines 33 to 35. It seems evident to me that the
Casper Merkle named here (being of Richmond Tp & a Millerxe
"Miller") is the son of George Merckelxe "Merckel" named in his
will Page 162 Book 1 where he got this same land as will probably
be found on verification & is also the same named at head of
family chart on Page 144.
Page 160. This George Merkel is the son of Benjamin &
grandson of Casper, see Page 144 & Mrs Spangxe "Spang"'s
statement Page 145.
It is now 1 Am 30th & I will write up my expenses for
yesterday & today & go to bed.
Oak Hill July 30th, 1921 10 AM
It was 2 Am when I got to bed last night & I got up at 5:33
AM & read over the 20 odd pages of genealogical tables from
Page 154 to 181 both inclusive in Book 1 & then read Cousin
Kate the statement of Wm M. Kaufmanxe "Kaufman" Page 165 lines 18
& 19 & she says the Paul Rothermelxe "Rothermel" there
mentioned was son of her Uncle Paul's son Paul & that
V5 Page 17
xe "V5 Page 17"she had figured from what her grandmother told
her that he had died in 1892. She only missed it 2 yrs. See Anjouxe
"Anjou"'s Hist Page35, which corroborates W.M. K's statement as the
Paul above mentioned at lines 18 & 19 was born June 27, 1804
& died Nov 28, 1894. It was his father, Kate said who visited
them along with Corley? Baughmanxe "Baughman" while her grandfather
was living. He was not so old as her grandfather (was 19 yrs
younger) out at the time of the visit he had grown up children.
Kate dont know how many children he had, but said it was in sugar
making time when he visited them. Kate says his mother, the wife of
"Uncle Paul" the immigrant was an invalid & was in bed for
years.
Page 264 Book 1 reading to Kate about the old mill &
"Mussillie" Creek, Kate says her Uncle Sam Rothermelxe "Rothermel"
was down there two years in succession on a visit & was at the
old mill & met there two men one named Fisherxe "Fisher" &
the other named Yagerxe "Yager" or Jagerxe " Jager" on his second
trip. They had both been to Europe with Forneyxe "Forney" who had
been sent to get the fortune. Fisher going for his health &
Jager on business & Fisher pointing to the water in Moselem
Creek said to Uncle Sam: "as sure as that water runs the fortune is
there". Same was not feeling well when in Berks Co & returned
home & died at the Rothermel homestead 5 or 6 weeks later of
typhus fever aged 37 & while
V5 Page 18
xe "V5 Page 18"his mother was still living. He was unmarried
Kate says.
Page 277 Book 1 lines 32 to 35 reading to Cousin Kate about H.
Messchertxe "Messchert", the millionaire hermit at Douglasville Pa
abt whom Mr Rhoadsxe "Rhoads" & Gen Gregg xe "Gregg"spoke, I
told Cousin Kate that his grandmother was a Stoeverxe "Stoever"
& she said Uncle Joe Markle called them Staversxe "Stavers"
& told his mother of the relationship which was as follows viz
that the Elder Philip Rohland'sxe "Rohland's" mother xe " "was xe "
"a first xe " "cousin xe " "of his ie of Joseph Marklexe "Markle",
she having been a Stoever (daughter evidently of Catharine Merckel
& Gen John Casper Stoever. This Elder Philip used to butcher
for Kate's mother & he told her that "his mother was a first
cousin of Gen'l Joseph Markle & that makes me a second cousin
of Cyrus, but he wouldn't look at me, but I don't care." Kate says
he lived to be very old & is buried over in the West Newton
Cem. Kate says she remembers him well & says "he had a whole
string of children, but I guess I can name them".
Kate says Tom Rohland was jealous of his wife, but had no right
to be for "she was a good woman & all right".
I got out tonight at 7:30 & it is now 10 PM & the time
has been spent in getting the record of the Rohlands, Stover
descendants appearing on the two pages following 19 & 21. I
will let Kate go to bed & go at some other work.
V5 Page 19
xe "V5 Page 19"[Descendant Chart]
Philip Rohlandxe "Rohland" of West Newton whose mother was a
daughter of Rev John Casper Stoeverxe "Stoever" & his wife
Catharine Merckelxe "Merckel". Kate dont know who his wife was.
Says they came at an early day to West Newton Pa from Lebanon Pa
& she thinks only their two youngest children were born in West
Newton. Kate thinks it is 80 yrs since they came to West Newton. He
was in carpentry trade. Continued on next page.
[Their Children]
1. George, a carpenter lived in West Newton & married a
Davisxe "Davis" of the family that had the insanity in it. Had lots
of children & they were as bad as they could be. He was killed
in West Newton by the cars running over him.
1. Evaline m. Amos Zimmermanxe "Zimmerman". He was fr abt Gbg, a
painter, lived at Wilkinsburg. Died 1916 & buried West Newton
Cem alongside of daughter. Widow lives with her sons at
Wilkinsburgh Pa. Had gone west before his death, but by reason of
poor health all came back to Wilkinsburgh. All four of the boys are
married.
Sadie } Both died Mamie?} young.
Laemke, called for Lutheran minister.
John Merts
Dick Graham
Amos Jr
2. Thomas, should be here. See above. I got him put as brother
of George & he was a son of George. Thomas Rohland also a
carpenter m. Jane Beymerxe "Beymer". He lived in a little house in
West Newton & got Jealous of his wife & Kate says met her
& her daughter on the street just below [one or maybe two
unreadable words] & he shot her with a revolver & she fell
& died in a minute & he ran & they think crawled under
his house where others were afraid to follow. After abt 3 days, he
went to Funkxe "Funk"'s in the country almost starved & they
shut him up & sent for the officers. He was taken to Gbg &
escaped the gallows by reason of the Davis insanity, but was sent
to Penitentiary & had completed abt 16 yrs of good behaviour
[sic] & was abt to get out when he died. His sons buried him in
the West Newton Cem. She was buried there too, but in her father's
lot. He is a son of George, not his brother.
Mamie, m. Millerxe "Miller", a Jew.
Margaret, m. Cyrus P. Marklexe "Markle" of C.C. She was with her
mother when she was shot.
Mary A., died
Son
Daughter
George, m. a girl whose father is a foreigner, live lower end of
town. Had ice cream saloon etc. Thomas, m. a Marklexe "Markle" in
Rostraver, Niece of S.P. Markle, laborer. 3. Amanda, got enceinte
to Geo Hahnxe "Hahn". Her father George got Rev Laemkexe "Laemke"
& his daughter & made Hahn marry her, but he never lived
with her. When the child, a boy was born, they carried it up past
Kate's on the hill to Hahn mother. He was called Geo Hahn &
died when abt 13. Amanda went off somewhere & married someone
else.
4. "Bunch" m. Adamsxe "Adams". He left there with a boy &
girl & she went to Pgh & married someone there by whom she
had a daughter.
5. Harry Edmunds, worked in Downs foundry & then moved off
somewhere. He is the husband of the daughter Carrie whose name
should have been entered before that of Harry Edmunds who is her
husband. Have children. Think they moved to Pgh.
6. Belle, Lived across the river below the bridge with a man
named Neibart xe "Neibart"not married & one morning many yrs
ago, both were found dead in the house, mystery of it never solved.
No issue. She was not sound mentally.
7. "Liffs", a girl went away somewhere & married, but dont
know where.
8. James, a bad boy, would steal etc. married some girl &
moved away. He died, leaving his widow with one child, a
daughter.
9. Catharine, got married & kept her mother who while of the
Davis strain was herself all ok mentally. After her mother died,
Catharine left West Newton & Kate thinks she is living but dont
know where Said she did not have any children.
V4 Page 20
xe "V4 Page 20"[Descendant Chart Continued]
Philip Rohlandxe "Rohland" Senior, ctd from Page 19. Kate says
he & his wife are both buried in West Newton Cem & she
thinks there are markers to their graves.
[children continued]
2. Caroline Rohland, Had an illegitimate child by someone before
her marriage which took her name. She married Mark Brundridgexe
"Brundridge" of a family abt town. He ran off & left her. She
died years ago & is buried in West Newton Cem.
Edward Rohland, natural son, married & moved to Irwin Pa.
Dont know abt his family.
Mark Brundrige, killed by cars after his mother's death.
Unmarried.
3. David, went away. Dont know what became of him.
5. Philip, a carpenter & kept a livery stable. m. Susanna
Weimerxe "Weimer", Dau of David Weimer. Both dead long ago &
buried West N Cem. Thinks we have markers. He used to help Kate's
mother butcher also.
Elizabeth, m. John Andyxe "Andy", an engineer on B&O until
discharged for drinking now works at Radiator plant. Both are
living.
May Andy, m. Charles Roussxe "Rouss", a Jew storekeeper of W.N.
Both living.
John Rouss
Philip R. Rouss
Charles Rouss Jr.
Two of these boys were over to France in the Worldxe "World" War
xe "War"One of them going on the steamer that took President
Wilsonxe "Wilson" over.
4. John, had white swelling & they finally had to take one
leg off & he died soon after. Unmarried & buried in West N
Cem.
6. Sarah, m. Kylexe "Kyle" a Civil Warxe "Civil War" soldier.
She died & he married again. He is now dead both buried in West
N Cem No issue.
7. Albert, m. Britte Marklexe "Markle", Dau of Gasper the
butcher. "She wasn't all together right before & that put her
clear crazy." He had been off duty & went back to work on the
B&O & was killed the next day.
A Dau, died young
Emmett, Killed on RR aged abt 21. See Page 28 Book 1.
Albert Collins Rohland, See Page 28 Book 1 He is now a lawyer in
Pgh.
8. Eliza Rohland, She married a man named Rowexe "Rowe" &
they went to NY to live. He died there & she came back to her
brother Philip who was tollkeeper on the old bridge & later
worked for him in his ice cream parlors. When her brother Albert
was killed, she took the son, Albert to raise until her
sister‑in‑law, George's wife made a fuss that she was not teaching
him to pray & took him away & his Uncle Philip then had
Anna Belle natural daughter of his wife Susanna who had married a
Collinsxe "Collins" take him & she raised him. She is buried
West N. Cem.
Anna Rowe, m. Fosterxe "Foster" of NY whose business was taking
down mills. She got sick & came home to West Newton & died
at her mother's without issue & is buried at West Newton Pa
Cem.
V5 Page 21
xe "V5 Page 21"Oak Hill July 31, 1921 12:25 PM
Reading this morning to Cousin Kate before going to church, from
Page 217 Book 1, Will of Martin Rothermelxe "Rothermel", elder
brother of her grandfather, she said when I read of the bequest to
Elizabeth wife of his son Jacob Decd: "they had six daughters &
the youngest one, Hetty was older than my grandmother". Reading
further about bequest to his daughter Maria, wife of John Boyerxe
"Boyer", she thought all of his children had died before he did,
but concluded that was a mistake as to Maria, but added: "She was
the oldest of the children & Aunt Kate always said she was
older than grandfather". Kate says that when her grandfather lived
in Berks Co Pa he lived on one side of the creek & his brother
just across the creek on the other side. When her grandfather &
grandmother went back from Franklin Co Pa to Berks Co on a visit,
while her grandfather was at his brother Martin's, her grandmother
went to see Martin's daughter Maria who lived near & at the
time had two grown daughters. Mr Boyer was butchering & came in
to ask one of them to come & help him & his wife Maria,
answered him very gruffly & roughly, after the rough manner of
her mother, who had been a Lazierxe "Lazier" before marriage &
didn't go to help him. Maria asked her Aunt who had gotten up to
leave: "Aint you going to stay for supper?" & her Aunt said: "I
haven't
V5 Page 22
xe "V5 Page 22"been asked." & went on her way. The mother,
Hannah, when the will was read after dinner got up & left the
house & never came back, because of the provision in the will
that the property after her death was to go to the grandchildren ‑
although they were her own children's issue as Kate says shes was
Martin's first & only wife, but she wanted it absolutely
presumably to give to some of her own people the Laziers.
Page 222, Kate says the daughter of one of Mrs Neymanxe
"Neyman"'s daughters who after her first husband died became the
second wife of William Plummer xe "Plummer"aforementioned in these
records must have been the daughter of either Annie, Sarah, Mary or
Betsy. I probably got information when at Butler Pa Jany 31, 1920
to determine who this was when I come to it.
Page 223. Kate says Abraham Neyman used to go to see her mother
as her mother has often told her. His twin brother Solomon as one
of his tricks would impersonate Abraham & go to see her &
she could not tell them apart, so Christian Schollxe "Scholl" told
me. Kate spoke today of her grandmother being ten yrs younger than
her husband Peter Rothermelxe "Rothermel". Said her grandfather who
was a bellsmith had four men employed when living in Berks Co (this
recital grew out of my asking her to whom he sold his farm in Berks
Co when he went to Franklin Co & she said that she didn't think
he had a farm but followed his trade) & also an apprentice boy,
son of a near neighbor
V5 Page 23
xe "V5 Page 23"a good boy, & also Jacob Longxe "Long"
("lying Jacob'). Son of Peter's sister. Peter was away on business
& on his way back home, he stopped at his brother Martin's,
where he was told by Martin that Long had invited all the men to a
singing school or some gathering that night & was going to lie
in wait for them & kill them. Peter went home & had supper
with them all & after Jacob Long who was living with them had
gone, he told the Virginian's & the boy that he wd go with them
to the singing. The boy sd "what's the old fellow going for?"
Martin & his men were lying in wait inside the fence &
before they came to that point, he told the Virginians & boy to
wait there & he went forward. The boy, not knowing said; "What
trick is he up to now?" Peter went forward & behind a tree on
the other side of the road, he found Long in his hiding with a
knotted club of a peculiar tree of that region which he, Peter had
cut intending to make a cane of & which Long had taken from the
house. Peter said "Give me that cane, what are you doing here? Now
you go home" & he did. The others went on the the meeting &
it being unusual for them to be there in attendance &
especially Peter, they were all warmly greeted. The next morning
Peter who was making much money in pursuing his trade left again on
business & in going to their work Long beat the boy
unmercifully, so that he died in two or three months
notwithstanding the best of care that Martin & Peter could give
him. The
V5 Page 24
xe "V5 Page 24"morning it occurred Martin came over &
ordered Long to leave & he refused to go saying he had no place
to go but Martin told the hired girl to throw his belongings out
the window & they paid him off & made him go. They were
fearful he wd return & do some damage, but some weeks or months
later, they heard from the Marklexe "Markle"s that he was out in
Westnd Co. Here he married a girl who had a home & he moved in.
Kate thought her name Summa xe "Summa"or Zumboxe "Zumbo" & had
raft of children. He undertook to beat up one of the Virginians, at
same tome he beat the boy (which wd be between 1786 & 1793)
& they all four where he learned his trade, but they were all
too scared to come. About three days after Peter arrived at his new
home in Westnd in 1813, he started out on horseback to buy some
cattle. He had been told that Long had said he wd kill him the
first time he ever saw him. Riding out the road, Peter found him
sitting on an inside corner of a worm fence & rode up &
said: "Good morning Jacob" although he hadn't seen him for 25 yrs,
Jacob hardly answered being plainly evident he didn't know him.
just then another man came along & Peter asked him where
Fultonxe "Fulton"'s lived & the said take that road just there.
After he had gone Long said to the man "who was that". The man said
who did Mr Markle marry: "Long replied "Rothermel". Well, said the
man that is
V5 Page 25
xe "V5 Page 25"who it is & he bought the Finleyxe "Finley"
farm". Long then said: "My God, that is Peter Rotharmelxe
"Rotharmel" & I said if I ever saw him again I would kill him
twice". This scared the man so that as soon as he could elude Long
he went to Fultonxe "Fulton"'s & the men being gone with Peter,
he told Mrs Fulton & she was greatly alarmed. When the men came
back, Mrs Fulton told them & Peter told them to sit down &
he told them about him winding up by saying I am not afraid of
him". The next morning Uncle Ben & Wagner, going to help drive
the cattle met the men Peter, Mr Fulton & his son on the road
& Long was sitting at the same place & as Peter passed, he
said: "Jacob, do you stay here all the time?" A few days after that
he came to Rotharmel's & they had him eat with them etc. Mrs
Rotharmel had told them all to shake hands with him so he couldn't
say they hadn't treated him right, but when Kate's mother came to
shake hands with, he waived [sic] her off saying: "I have plenty
like you at home." meaning children. After Kate's mother was
married, & while they were building the brick house which was
their home ever after Long came to Mrs Smith & said he would
send his daughter "Bets" in to work for them & if anything
happens to her will hold you responsible. Mrs Smith told him she
wouldn't take her, but he sent her. Alex Plumerxe "Plumer" who
lived near insisted on Mrs Smith sending her away & she s'd "I
can't, she won't go". Then
V5 Page 26
xe "V5 Page 26"Alex's wife Eliza came over & told Mrs Smith
that she was raising the window & letting men in at nights to
stay with her. One morning, when Mrs Smith was sick, Mr Smith &
Pinkertonxe "Pinkerton", who was working for him about the building
found Steve Grosxe "Gros"? with her & locked them both up in
the room & were getting breakfast themselves when Mrs Plumer
came over. When they let them out, "Bets" & "Steve" just
hurrahed & laughed about it. She then would delay doing the
washing & other work & Aunt Kate came in & made her go.
She afterwards married some man named Glassburnxe "Glassburn".
Page 258 Book 1 Reading to Kate about Uncle George Marklexe
"Markle" & my visit at Darr town, O Aug 27, 1898, Kate says he
visited Westnd Co shortly after her grandparents moved there &
stayed with them more than he did at Markle's. This visit might
have been after his father's death in 1819. He had known Peter
Rothermel, although older than him in Berks Co Pa before they, the
Markles moved to Westnd & had gone to school together &
Kate says her grandfather knew George's sisters, the Markle girls,
down there & "liked them". When George came back to Westnd Co
again, Kate says she was 4 yrs old (it was the fall of 1836) &
he stayed at grandmother's the first night he got there. He was a
very old man then & asked Aunt Polly to marry him, but she said
she would not leave her mother.
Page 259 Book 1 Reading to Cousin
V5 Page 27
xe "V5 Page 27"the statement to me on Aug 27, 1898 at Darrtown O
by David Markle saying his grandfather, George Markle "was a great
man to fish & hunt". Kate says her mother told of hearing him
tell when at their house that one morning a woman rode by early on
a horse & they remarked among themselves where she was going so
early on a Sunday morning as it was just after they had finished
breakfast. One of the family recalled that she had a sick sister
who she was probably going to see before going to church. In a very
few minutes after she had passed, the horse came tearing back with
the saddle turned under it. He, George Markle, got his gun &
started out the road soon coming on to where the woman was lying
along the road with her heart nearby on one side & her liver
& lungs also nearby & her whole side torn out. Looking up
in the tree, he spied the old fellow about making ready for another
spring when he pulled up his gun & fired, hitting him in the
head. He gave a terrific howl, which was answered by his mate in
the forest & came tumbling down dead. Asking Kate what it was,
she said it was a big lion.
She said she now recalled that her mother had said the place
where her father went in 1806 to visit Uncle John Rotharmel was on
the Wabash River.
V5 Page 28
xe "V5 Page 28"In reading over the will of John Colglazerxe
"Colglazer" of Westnd Co Pa found by Warren T. Marklexe "Markle"
among his papers, I think that was the name of Uncle George
Markle's first wife. His second wife, Barbara was evidently from
Westnd Co Pa no doubt also as they told us in Darrtown that his
twin sons, John L & Joseph B, born June 15, 1802 were old
enough to run about when he moved to Darrtown, O.
Cousin Chas Edward Carothersxe "Carothers" called this afternoon
at 4:50 & was here until 5:15 PM. He said he had been at Valley
xe " "Forge yesterday at 11 AM or the day before to see U.S.
Senator Philander C. Knoxxe "Knox" & in talking about Fayette
Co matters, he told "Ed" that the Gov. criminal suit against me had
been "wiped off the slate". (noble prossed no doubt he means) by
Atty Gen'l Daughertyxe "Daugherty" & U.S. Dist Atty Walter
Lyonxe "Lyon". Ed spoke of Judge Orrxe "Orr" being a good friend of
mine & Senator Knox said he had had him appointed when he was
Atty Gen'l. It is now 10 PM & Mrs Pallini has just assisted
cousin Kate to bed, & I will go at further reading of my record
book 1 from Aug 30, 1898 on.
Ed said he got off the PRR train at Paoh, Pa & Senator Knox
sent his Auto to meet him there & took him to his home at
Valley Forge which is 8 miles distance. Said Knox's farm comprised
300 A (possibly it was 165 A) with fine big trees & Knox (who
took credit he said for having my
V5 Page 29
xe "V5 Page 29"case noble prossed) said it was the biggest
liability he had as he had 65 men employed on it, mainly
Italians.
Oak Hill Aug 1, 1921 7:44 AM
Went to bed last night at midnight & got up at 5:45 AM.
Page 298 Book 1. Find from Christian Schollxe "Scholl"'s talk
with me at the Holler on Sept 1, 1898, that Uncle George Markle's
first wife as above indicated was a Colglazer & his second wife
was Barbara Deerexe "Deere" of Allegheny Co Pa. However, the
statement of his mother on Page 299 that he was older than her
mother is not correct. He was 8 yrs younger.
Speaking to Kate this morning about the woman being killed, I
said I didn't know lions would climb trees & she says that is
what her mother said & that George told it at their house &
that the lion was out on a limb & he quickly shot right up
above him & the lion cried & fell & they cry was
answered by another in the woods. He did not go at once to the lion
when it fell, fearing it was not dead. A party of them then went on
the hunt of the other lion, but did not find it. Her mother told
her that ggmother Markle at their house told of George Markle, her
step son being the best rider in the whole neighborhood & if
invited to a wedding, he wd go horseback & if not invited he
would go anyway & was up to all kinds of mischief, would tear
down
V5 Page 30
xe "V5 Page 30"bake ovens, trim the horse's tails etc & the
next day, a party would ride to meet the bridegroom coming back
& would race & the winner to get the bottle of wine &
George always won so ggmother Marklexe "Markle" told them.
Page 301 Book 1 Reading to Cousin Kate of C. Scholl having
letter from his niece Lenora Martinxe "Martin" of Indiana, Kate
says she died not long back & that her sister Susan Rothermelxe
"Rothermel" widow of Peter Absalom Rothermel, called "Ab" (not
Albert as named in 1897 on Page 25 Book 1) Still lives at Christy
Park with her unmarried son, Ben, who is a painter & who Kate
says "used to drink like fury". Sallie Brownxe "Brown" can give
their address.
Page 301 & 302. Kate say the right name of the Niccollsxe
"Niccolls" that married Paul xe "Paul"(she dont know his first
name) was Rebecca. Said Paul was no good & spent her money.
They had several children. She went back & returned to West
Newton as a widow & was very poor & went back west again.
Her sister, Jane Niccolls married a Dawsonxe "Dawson", dont know
his first name & went west. She had some money, but Dawson
spent it or "got away" with it. Says when Rebecca was back, she had
a son with her, William Paul, she thought, who when there went to a
select school that her sister Hannah attended. Said the girls,
Rebecca & Jane didn't take good care of their mother & that
one of the Niccolls boys went up & scolded
V5 Page 31
xe "V5 Page 31"them for not giving her proper attention. Kate
repeats about buying the lot where they built their old home from
Sheriff John Niccolls, who owned the Baughmanxe "Baughman" farm
extending above Maggie L. Markle home & down Mains St toward
the River taking in the old Baughman but not crossing Main St. Kate
says they used to keep a hotel & Rebecca was pretty free with
the guests & wanted to marry a Dr Pattersonxe "Patterson" who
lived at the Hotel & he wouldn't have her & she instructed
the girls to not give him at table the things he liked. She agrees
with C. Scholl that old Mrs Niccolls was a "great old price" &
said that Rebecca was like her a "regular deal" (devil). Kate never
heard of her marrying Uncle John Robertsonxe "Robertson" &
thinks that is a mistake, but Mr Scholl being 18 yrs older than
she, I think wd know & is correct. Kate however says that her
mother said "he got his match" in the Ohio wife he married. She
says Sheriff Niccolls laid his two or three meadows out in lots
& used to live in the old house on the Maggie L Markle lot
& must have been there when her father first moved there as his
cow which he kept in the meadow below used to jump in his lot. He
died sometime before his wife did, but Kate dont know where they
are buried, probably at Sewickly or Dicks as it was before their
West Newton Cem was organized. She don't know the Christian or
maiden name of Old Mrs Niccolls.
V5 Page 32
xe "V5 Page 32"Page 304 Book 1. Asking Kate about the Brownxe
"Brown"'s at Fayette City, Andrew's mother, she said old Robert
Brown of West Newton, who married Barbara Longaneckerxe
"Longanecker", sister of her Uncle Ben's wife was, she thought some
relation as he had, she thought, brothers who lived across the
river.
Page 307 Book 1. As fixing the time when her grandparents came
to Westnd & the variance of a year in C. Scholl's statement,
Kate says her Uncle Sam was 18 months old when they came. He,
Scholl, is all wrong in the order of ages of the children as given
on lines 23 & 24 & "Mollie"? is identical with Polly, being
a repetition.
Pages 307 & 308. Speaking of her Uncle Ben & John N.
Robbxe "Robb"'s Jumping superiority, Kate said her grandfather put
up in his yard, some kind of a jump arrangement that all the
planters down in Virginia, where he learned the bellsmith trade had
for their children & which her grandmother said would keep the
children at home at innocent sport rather than going from home
& engaging in something questionable. She said her mother &
Maria Markle always won at this & could even "out jump the
boys" where there would be a gathering of young people almost every
Saturday afternoon.
Page 312. Kate didn't know the name of John C. Plumerxe
"Plumer"'s first wife, but said she was a sister to a Mrs Fultonxe
"Fulton" out in the country & they used to visit each other.
Kate says Mrs Stevensonxe "Stevenson" came to her
V5 Page 33
xe "V5 Page 33"half sister Martha's wedding to John P. Hornishxe
"Hornish" from somewhere in the state called Birmingham (Huntingdon
Co no doubt) took sick & died. Kate says that a year ago,
Martha P. Hornish was living at Keokuk, Iowa & was six months
older than she is.
Page 333 lines 17 to 21. Kate says her mother told her that Ruth
Plumer (later Andrewsxe "Andrews") was 2 or 3 yrs younger than she,
Kate, was.
Page 335. Kate says this Mrs Smithxe "Smith", sister of John C.
Plumer, who became Uncle Michael Finleyxe "Finley"'s second wife,
was the mother of George Plumer Smith of Phila, Pa, who I find from
my own records died in 1897. His father was of a different family
& not related she thinks to Micajah P. Smith. Kate says there
were three Plumer sisters married Smiths. Kate said her mother said
"Finley was smart. He put the farm in his son's name & took a
smaller house & not living long thereafter, didn't leave much
for his widow to live on". It is 1:30 PM & I must quit & go
in town.
Aug 1, 1921 7:07 PM
Page 341 Book 1 Lines 20‑21 Kate says: "yes, Rev Mungo Dickxe
"Dick" drank like a fish & would go in the pulpit drunk".
Page 347 Book 1 Lines 13 to 21. Kate had spoken of this Fultonxe
" Fulton" marrying a sister of John C. Plumerxe "Plumer"'s first
wife. Just as Cousin Ruth E.P. Andrews related & Kate says too
that they went west & that they had a daughter Nancy (Cousin
Ruth named only Mary) who had gone to Wash‑
V5 Page 34
xe "V5 Page 34"inton Pa to school along with a niece of Dr
Hassonxe "Hasson"'s who was being educated by the doctor. After
finishing school, Nancy taught about West Newton & going west
with the family, died shortly after. Kate says Maggie L. Markle
taught school two years out in the Fulton neighborhood & a
brother of Nancy, a relative of the Plumers went to school to her.
Roxy got married & Maggie had to give up teaching & go
home. Asking Kate where Maggie was educated, she s'd she went one
term or one yr to Washington Pa & her mother wanted her nearer
home, so she finished her education at Mt Pleasant Pa.
It is not 9:40 PM & I have come to Aug 9, 1901 at Emily
Eliza Smith's about which Cousin Kate is not versed & she has
gone to bed & I will read up tonight & in the early
morning. JVT
Oak Hill Aug 2, 1921 9 AM
Page 390 Book 1 top, David Waltzxe "Waltz" was wrong about
Shearerxe "Shearer" marrying a sister of Gen'l Joseph Marklexe
"Markle". He married a daughter of George Merckelxe "Merckel" &
a first cousin of Gen'l Joseph Markle.
Kate confirms what Waltz says about employing Tom Keenanxe
"Keenan" & said the belligerent David Rothermelxe "Rothermel"
who shook his fist at them was of ggmother Markle's family,
probably son of a brother of hers. Speaking of the fortune, Kate
said that
V5 Page 35
xe "V5 Page 35"before they employed Forreyxe "Forrey" (some
years she thinks) the Rothermels in Berks Co Pa employed a lawyer
in Phila Pa, a fine trusty man to go abroad for the Rothermel
fortune. Said he came to Berks Co & was there six weeks among
the relatives gathering information & may have gotten the copy
of the will. He was in delicate health & died two weeks after
his return to Phila. Kate says she never heard what became of the
papers he got. She said she thought of his name the other day, but
don't recall it this morning.
Page 391. Speaking of Waltz going to Pgh with 27 horse team,
Kate said they got up a 30 horse team at Bells Mills in the
Harrison & Markle Campaign of 1844 & her grandmother
furnished one of the horses & when they got to Pgh, they put up
at Philip Winebiddlexe "Winebiddle"'s who lived in an old log house
on his big farm at East Liberty. He said years before this, when
her grandfather was living in Westnd Co, Winebiddle had killed a
nigger in one of the coal banks opened on his farm & he left
home & stayed in hiding by reason thereof for some years
thereafter. Winebiddle was a drinking man & would get very
drunk. His father owned a large part of what is now old Pgh, the
business part of the city, at an early day & he had educated
Philip who could speak German fluently for a lawyer but he wouldn't
practice. When he was away from Pgh he stayed much at Peter
Rothermel's & once riding with Martin, when he was out on his
visit to his brother Peter's to Mt Pleasant Pa. Philip
V5 Page 36
xe "V5 Page 36"told Martinxe "Martin" about killing the nigger
& both Martin & Peter told Philip to go back home that they
wouldn't do anything with him, but he wouldn't go. Upon their going
shortly thereafter, he told them to bring him some money & to
bring his wife back with him. They saw her as they went in &
she said she hadn't the money, but to call the next day on their
way back & she would try to have it. The next day, she had the
money & they s'd she must go to but she said she had three sick
children & couldn't leave them. They however, told her she must
go with them & she did & the night after she got out to
Peter's home, her brother, a Negleyxe "Negley" of Pgh rode up at 2
Am & said she must go back, that one of the children which had
been left with his & her mother would be dead before they could
get back, but her husband wouldn't let her go. A year or more
thereafter, the money all being used, she appeared at Pgh with a
baby in her arms & asked for more money of her brother who
refused her saying: "I have money of your husband's, but it is in
the bank in my name & you can't get it". She then could not
send her husband money, so he came back to Pgh & going to his
lawyer, the lawyer on payt of $5 arranged a settlement of all
charges against him. He was in a store in Pgh one day & picked
up a newspaper & reading from it dropped it crying out: "My
God, that is the best friend I ever had & he is dead".
V5 Page 37
xe "V5 Page 37"It was the paper announcing the death of Peter
Rotharmel. a Presbyterian preacher was in the store & he had
prayer in the store. Philip wanted a mourning scarf for his hat
& they wouldn't sell him one saying it was no relative of his
& seeing he was very drunk. He went to another store, however
& put it on his hat & when he went home, his mother‑in‑law,
Mrs Negley was there & remarked at the mourning & her
daughter, Mrs Winebiddle s'd "I suppose his favorite horse or dog
has died" but Mrs Negley picking up the paper & reading of
Peter Rothermel's death, her daughter said: "oh, he was the best
friend we ever had". Their daughter was marrying some River Captain
& when the ceremony was in progress, he came into the room
screaming: "I object, I object", but his son Lafayette took him by
the arm & said to the preacher to proceed & pay no
attention to him. Lafayette was a very fine man. Not long after the
marriage, the steamboat was blown up & the captain was killed.
His widow couldn't go home, so she went to her sister's & there
a son was born to her. Her mother had a farm of her own & she
put this daughter & her baby & a son William on it. Philip
asked his wife to put the farm in his name & she refused. He
persisted saying: "Now Betsy, you make it over to me & our
children can live on it". On this promise, she died & the next
hour, he put his son & daughter off. William went crazy by
V5 Page 38
xe "V5 Page 38"reason thereof & was sent to Dixmont, but
after some years got out & was partially sane. Kate says they
wanted to put a road through Philip's farm, but he fought it, but
they put it through & assessed him for its cost which was paid
after his death & the farm then laid out in lots. He died, Kate
says, a short time before her mother's death as she read the notice
of his death to her mother. He was up in the eighties. His widow
survived him & they wanted her to go in a new house that had
been built, but she preferred the old log one. About the time when
Kate was first hurt abt 12 yrs ago, they noticed the death of
someone which released a life estate in some property to William
Winebiddlexe "Winebiddle" then past 80 yrs old to the property.
Page 392, Book 1. Reading to Kate of Susan Waltzxe "Waltz"
marring Wm Suterxe "Suter" from whom Eli C. Suter descends, she
said Eli C. had a son by his first wife & for his second wife
married a Cowanxe "Cowan" whose mother was a daughter of lying
Jacob Longxe "Long" & there was another Cowan girl named Kate,
sister of Mrs Suter who once lived with Kate's grandmother who
didn't like her & wouldn't keep her & she went to live with
John A. Robinsonxe "Robinson" up by Stewartsville Pa. Robinson was
a first cousin of one of the Geo Plumerxe "Plumer"s & his wife
was a Houghxe "Hough". He lived on a farm that belonged to his
brother & his mother lived in a little house in the yard.
V5 Page 39
xe "V5 Page 39"Kate Cowan's presence in the family soon
estranged Robinson from his wife & one day at table, he helped
Kate, but didn't help his wife at which she remarked & he
pitched [sic] up the butcher knife as if to make at her. Shortly
thereafter, he sold all the oats, hay, & grain off the farm
& he & Kate disappeared & went west. His wife went home
to her parents with a young son which soon died & two young
daughters. The daughters were later taken by the grandmother
Robinson living in the yard to raise, their mother having died
& their grandfather Hough having married for his second wife a
Bennettxe "Bennett", a fine woman but she was only stepmother to
the girl's mother. John A. Robinson & Kate coming back from the
west a few years later with a young daughter were both killed by a
train a little below Pgh but the little girl standing alongside of
them was not harmed. She was big enough to tell who they were &
where they were going & his brother being notified came &
took the remains to Long Run near Stewartsville for burial. John A.
had put some lots in Kate's name in the west, which went to the
little girl who was taken by her Uncle Eli C. Suter who was
appointed her guardian & raised her & she grew up a petted,
spoiled, haughty girl. At a party given by all the Robt Taylorxe
"Taylor" connections once, a Miss Irwinxe "Irwin", their niece who
was leaving before the party broke up which brought all the company
to the door to bid her goodbye & after she had gone this
V5 Page 40xe "V5 Page 40" & V5 Page 41xe "V5 Page 41"
[missing]
V5 Page 42xe "V5 Page 42" & V5 Page 43
xe "V5 Page 43"[Descendant Chart]
Conrad Stengerxe "Stenger", son of Capt Conrad Stenger. He was
older than Mrs Rothermel, his boys Ben & Conrad being born
before she was married. Capt Stenger who bought ggfather Casper
Marklexe "Markle"'s farm is buried there in Berks Co. This Conrad
Stenger married 1st in Berks Co Magdalena Rotharmelxe "Rotharmel",
sister of Peter & daughter of Christian & moved to Franklin
where for a time his family & Peter Rotharmel's all lived
together. He married 2nd in Franklin Co Pa Christina Shearerxe
"Shearer" widow of Peter Shearer & daughter of xe
"Stenger:Conrad (descendants)Rotharmel;Magdalena
(descendants)Stenger;Magdalena (Rotharmel)Stenger;Christina
(Merkel) (Shearer)Shearer;Christina
(Merkel)Shearer;PeterMerkel;ChristinaDescendant
Charts;Stenger;ConradDescendant Charts;Rotharmel;Magdalena"George
Merkel of Christian. He prospered became rich bought a farm near
London & was buried in a graveyard on the farm. All the
children were by the first wife. See book 1 P. 126 & 139.
[Children of Conrad & Magdalena]
Conrad Stenger, m. Eisamanxe "Eisaman", sister of Mrs Jacob
Stoughxe "Stough" near West Newton & of the Gbg family of same
name. His father gave him a farm & at death $7000, but he was a
drunken worthless fellow. Lived near London. Went to California
& died there leaving a family which was reported to be poor by
a grandson of Louis Stenger viz. Samuel Stenger.
Benjamin Stenger was good for nothing. A bad one, Kate says, was
unmarried. He sent a young girl, Hannah Stenger to Kate's
grandmother who was a daughter of Adam Stenger who was a first
Cousin of Conrad above & Mrs R & this girl Ben's 2d cousin
had a girl baby which was his & was born 6 mos before Kate.
Sister Hannah, Ben died abt this time & a letter came fr her
home telling her to come back & she did, but was bad & had
several children but was not married.
John Stenger, married a bound girl that Mrs Shearerxe "Shearer",
his stepmother brought when she married his father. He died young
before he had time to spend his money.
A daughter, raised by her Uncle Peter Stenger who was her
guardian.
Hannah Stenger, m. Joseph Herschexe "Hersche" moved to State of
California. Does not know about the family was reported to be poor
by Louis Stenger's grandson. See BK 17. P 580 Kate is wrong as
Hannah mar Danl Shearer
xe "Shearer"Peter Stenger Born same year Kate's Uncle Peter was
viz: 1793. He was educated ( the other boys wouldn't go off to
school). Kept his father's books attended to the business & was
a Squire. M. Christina Shearer, Dau of his stepmother by her first
husband. She died in summer of 1875, just after death of Kate's
mother. He lived "long after" & was up in the nineties when he
died. Buried she thinks at London. "He was well off".
Hannah Mary, Living in 1924 at Marion Pa only survivor m. John
Diehl xe "Diehl"Wm S. Stenger, Secy of Com of Pa. Buried at
Chambersburg Pa, Falling Sp. P.97. Was locked up for shaking hands
with a Rebel Prisoner (an old school chum who waved to him) at
Chambersburg during Civil Warxe "Civil War". Kate's Aunt Kate recd
it in a newspaper Born 1840. Died 1918 see Book 3 Page 336.
George Stenger, m. Lottie Hassler
xe "Hassler"A daughter, Matilda m. Jacob Hassler a minister near
Fort London Pa where he died.
A daughter, Harriet, m. Hoke
xe "Hoke" H.M. Hoke, 219 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill,
Mass.
A daughter, Martha, m. John Horner
xe "Horner"Catherine Stenger, or possibly Anna Catherine for her
grandmother Stenger. m. Daniel Shearer, son of her stepmother. Kate
says when she was a little girl, they stayed over night at Uncle Wm
Millerxe "Miller"'s who kept a hotel, when on their way to the
west. She s'd a boy, a son, was driving & a married dau with
two children were on the wagon with her mother & the men were
on horseback & they all were a hard looking set. Says later
they were reported as being in Calif & very poor. Her name was
Mary [the dau w/two children] & she, & not Hannah Mar
Joseph Harsheyxe "Harshey" See Bk 17, P 380.
Samuel Stenger. "He was a good man". Father gave him a farm near
London which he held on to. He married his full cousin Elizabeth
Smithxe "Smith", dau of Magdalena & George Smith. She died was
a good woman & then he died, leaving two sons who ran through
with the farm & it was all gone when Sam Stenger, a cattle
drover, a grandson of Louis was at Kate's home. There may have been
other children.
A son
A son
Another son, Kate says her mother had heard there was another
son, but didn't know his name or anything about him. It was William
Bk 17 p 580 see Bk 20 P 92.
Twins, Their mother the 1st wife died at their birth, See Book
17 P 580.
See Book 17 P 580‑581
shows that it was not Peter, but his father Conrad Stenger who
married Christina Shearer. She says Frederick Shearer hauled one of
the wagons for her grandfather when he moved in Apr 1813 having a
six horse team & that her grandfather went over with him then,
Apr 1813 when He, Frederick Shearer, bought the farm in Fayette Co
Pa to which he moved shortly thereafter.
Page 402. Kate says Betsy Shearerxe "Shearer" daughter of
Frederick Shearer never married & that her grandfather wanted
Peter to marry her. Kate says a year before her Aunt Polly died, a
Mrs Flemingxe "Fleming" came in & told her that Betsy Shearer
had died of a cancer & had not received proper attention in her
last illness which fact grieved Polly greatly. Kate says the name
is Hasslerxe "Hassler" not Hosler. It is now 2:55 PM & I will
copy sheet in last page of Book 1 & go to town.
V5 Page 44
xe "V5 Page 44"Oak Hill Aug 2, 1921 7:30 PM
Book 2 Page 3. Aside from Conrad Stengerxe "Stenger", brother of
Mrs Peter Rotharmel xe "Rotharmel"marrying Mrs Shearerxe "Shearer",
Kate says that two Uncles of her mother's ‑ both Stengers, but she
dont know their first names ‑ married Marklexe "Markle" widows. She
said one of them would get very drunk but when I read her Miss M.
Rebecca Chalfantxe "Chalfant"'s statement that her mother's mother
had a stepfather, Kate said yes & his name was Stenger, but it
was not Mrs Shearer's mother that would get drunk, it was the other
one. Both Mrs Shearers were daughters of George Markle Book 1 Page
126 & he died in 1779 & the other widow who would get drunk
was the widow of Peter Book 1 Page 125 who died in 1785 & she
married a Stenger too, a brother of Capt Conrad Stenger, also. This
one had a daughter who at the time of the occurrence cited below
was Mrs Leidyxe "Leidy". The occurrence was when Kate's grandmother
had one of the children born after Kate's mother was born &
Kate thinks it was when her Uncle Jacob was born in 1809 but it may
have been when her Uncle Daniel was born. When the child was born
& she was laid up, both of these former Markle widows who were
then both widows again along with Mrs Leidy, daughter of the
Stenger that married Peter's widow & a married daughter of
Peter's came to the Peter Rotharmel & the Peter
V5 Page 45
xe "V5 Page 45"widow got hold of a bottle of wine & drank it
all & lay on the floor dead drunk & Peter Rotharmel got her
in a spring wagon & hauled her home, whereupon Mrs Leidy said
they had tried to keep her father Stenger from marrying her because
of reports current of her drinking & getting drunk but he
wouldn't & her own & Peter Markle's daughter spoke up &
said my father had the same trouble in continued efforts to keep
her from getting drunk. Kate says they both lived then near her
grandfather's & London & that both Stenger husbands were
then dead. Neither of these Markle widows nor Mrs Shearer who
married Conrad had any children by any of the Stengers & Kate
supposes all are buried near London. Kate says when her mother was
4 yrs old, say in 1808, the year before the above recited
occurrence that Sallie who was next younger than her Aunt Kate
& then 9 yrs old, she was bringing in some apples & her
mother said she could eat one. She said "No, I will not eat one
now, but will take them upstairs & hide them from the young
ones", meaning Ben & Juliana. She came downstairs & dropped
& the doctor happened to be there & said "she will never
get up. She has the worst fever there is ‑ spotted" & she died
three days later aged 9 yrs. Ben got one of the apples she had hid
& ate half of it & gave one to Juliana & she ate it
& both were taken sick & they sent
V5 Page 46
xe "V5 Page 46"for the Doctor & he asked what they had eaten
& they told each had eaten of Sallie's apples & he said
"You have taken the same fever & in the worst way, have eaten
it." & Kate says their lives were despaired of & they were
very low, but finally pulled through. Kate said that Adam Stenger,
father of the girl that Conrad's Ben sent out to Westnd was the son
of one of the Stenger's Uncles that married Markle widows.
Kate says that once her grandfather was away for 5 or 6 months
& while he was gone, Capt Conrad Stenger, his father‑in‑law
died, his daughter Katie was born, this we think was in 1795 &
Capt Stenger's widow came to Franklin Co & stayed three months
with her daughter Mrs Peter Rotharmel.
Page 6 Book 2 Reading to Cousin Kate about Grandmother's death,
she said her grandmother's sister, Magdalena Smithxe "Smith" was
sitting on the porch knitting at Back Creek & the fog came up
of the water & went in her mouth & she never had any health
afterwards & died in two yrs. The doctor said it went in her
windpipe.
Page 26 Book 2. Kate said Nancy Bellxe "Bell" had more children
than Eleanor J. Niccollsxe "Niccolls" gives her via Mrs Milliganxe
"Milligan", Mrs Pollockxe "Pollock", Mrs Houghxe "Hough", & two
sons Todd Bell who went west & another & a daughter
Josephine by Houghxe "Hough" & Kate says that P. Ab Rotharmelxe
"Rotharmel" said she was 55 yrs
V5 Page 47
xe "V5 Page 47"old when Josephine was born. Kate says a week or
two after grandparents moved to Westnd Co Polly Bell rode into
their barn to get out of a pouring rain with a child behind her
& one in front of her & the rain continuing, she stayed all
night. The next morning, Sunday, she wanted to go to see her
father, Squire Andrew Finleyxe "Finley" who was sick. Kate's folks
offered to keep the children & her grandfather took Polly up
& found her father up & out in the yard & it was before
he had his breakfast. It is now 10 PM & I have rung for Mrs
Pallini to assist Cousin Kate to bed. JVT
Oak Hill Aug 5th, 1921 7:30 PM
Cousin Kate now recalls that the Phila lawyer who spent some six
weeks in Berks Co getting information to enable him to go after the
Rothermel & who died shortly after he got back to Phila was
named Newlongburg.
xe "Newlongburg."Page 74 Book 2. Kate & I think the William
Thompsonxe "Thompson" reported at Cadiz O May 26, 1911 as son of a
brother of the Elder Sam'l Thompson there mentioned was the father
of Mrs Lucy Hoodxe "Hood". Kate says Eliza the wife of William
Thompson was James Oliverxe "Oliver"'s daughter (old Jimmy). Kate
says they called him Capt &thinks he was in Civil Warxe "Civil
War" but don't know. Says he was in California, was gone a couple
of years, was a common sized man
V5 Page 48
xe "V5 Page 48"was rather slender. Nobody knew what he did,
would be home & then away & reported that he drank &
played cards & at times was "pretty bad off". He once owned the
house opposite Kate's where Drumxe "Drum"s once lived & he sold
it to Mrs Nehrxe "Nehr" or Nairxe "Nair" & she sold it to Mrs
Hurstxe "Hurst" (a sister of Fr J.T. Sheplerxe "Shepler") & she
sold it to John Millerxe "Miller" & then Mrs Frees xe "Frees
"got xe " "it. xe ". "He xe " "then bought xe " "a house on RR st
& sold it to Nettxe "Nett" or Nethxe "Neth" & RR set it
& two livery stables on fire. As a young man, he studied with
Dr Hassonxe "Hasson" to be a doctor, but never got to practicing.
He owned the farm in Allegheny Co, a fine farm that the County Home
was on before it was moved to Mayville & Kate said it was
reported that he got this farm from his father. He sold it spent
the money & lived high & run through with it as he did
everything else. Jimmy Oliver had given his daughter Eliza
Thompsonxe "Thompson" the brick house in West Newton on same lot
where Lucy Hood's present home is & there, Mrs Thompson lay
sick for some years from disease syphilis, he had given her. She
& he are both buried in West Newton Cem. After her death, her
daughters, Fanny & Lucy got married, but neither of them wd
take him to live with them & he died at Spiegelsxe "Spiegels"
where he boarded. Fannie Oliver unmarried sister of his wife, took
his remains to her house & he was buried there from, she
censuring her nieces for their unfeeling & unchristian attitude
toward their
V5 Page 49
xe "V5 Page 49"father. Kate says he died the next yr after her
mother which wd be 1876. It was two or three yrs before that his
wife died. Lucy Hood told Kate that his father died when he was
little & before he was grown up & that he was the only one
except one sister that died young. He was only married once. Kate
says Baldridgexe "Baldridge" spent all of his mother's money except
the home & she willed it to his daughters. Kate says they say
they were no relation to the Joseph, Alexander, Mary Thompson &
others about which she formerly told me, but from Lucy Hood's
attitude, I am satisfied she knows nothing about it & Kate
concurs with me in that belief. It is 11:22 Pm & Kate will now
go to bed. JVT
[Descendant Chart]
William Thompsonxe "Thompson" married Eliza Oliver xe
"×__:Oliver"[Their Children]
Elizabeth, the oldest died aged abt 5 yrs.
James Brison, died aged abt 3.
Frances, called "Fanny" m. Baldridgexe "Baldridge" who before
his marriage had been in Civil Warxe "Civil War". He died abt 6 yrs
ago & she abt 2 yrs ago. She drew a pension. Lived, died &
buried down near Phila somewhere. He didn't do anything, was well
off & so was his mother who lived with them.
A daughter, married
Catherine, unmarried
Lucy, m. John Hoodxe "Hood" from out toward the Ridge. He was a
painter & drew a big back pension which she put in the house.
He buried in West Newton Cem abt 20 yrs ago "Just after Sadie" He
was in Civil War.
Hazy, m. Rossxe "Ross". a R.E. Agt Live at Mt Wash.
John
A son
Edward, m. Kreppsxe "Krepps" Dau of Geo R Krepps & live in
West Newton. Works at Reduction Works. Owns a house in West Newton
Pa. No issue.
Frank, Unmarried, A dentist in Pgh Pa.
Andrew, called "Capt". Unmarried Did live up the Yough River but
for a yr or two has been home with Lucy.
John, a telegraph operator. Kate thinks lives in Chicago Married
but no children. He the youngest.
V5 Page 50
xe "V5 Page 50"Oak Hill Aug 7, 1921 8:55 Am
This is the 25th anniversary of my dear Mary's last day on earth
alive. She having passed over a few minutes after midnight Aug 8th,
1896.
Page 238 Book 2.
Note Nos 18 & 19 from which I think it reasonable to
conclude that the three minor children under 14 yrs of age at that
time June 9, 1794 over which Samuel Thompsonxe "Thompson" was
appointed guardian were his grandchildren being the children of his
daughter Mary. see his will in Book 4. 12:44 PM
Page 247 Book 2
Will of Uncle John Carothersxe "Carothers". Kate says that his
daughter, Mary, mentioned in 2d clause of his will never married.
Says she was awful good & kind, was a common sized woman, but
her sister Catharine, the wife of Rev J.P. McKeexe "McKee" was a
large woman. Kate says John C. McKee, the son, went to Pgh &
engaged in the flour business with a man named Gardnerxe "Gardner",
which proved disastrous financially. His sister, Belle McKee &
his aunt Mary Carothers went with him. He was engaged to marry
Sallie Marklexe "Markle" daughter of Sheppard B. & had in his
possession a valuable ring of hers which he pawned in Pgh. The
engagement was broken of [sic] for some unknown reason & Sallie
finally succeeded in getting her ring back. They came up from Pgh
to West Newton preparatory to going west.
V5 Page 51
xe "V5 Page 51"Rev J.P. McKee had been living with them in Pgh
& once when they came up on a visit he was not able to go back
with them & he was left at the home of the Hanwayxe "Hanway"'s
who ran the mill in West Newton & there he died. Kate's Uncle
Peter Rothermelxe "Rothermel" sent him honey often the last years
of his life. Kate & her sister, Hannah, went to his funeral at
the house, but not to the grave. She says there were very few in
attendance, only a dozen, including his brother‑in‑law, James P.
& his wife & son John C. Carothers xe "Carothers"(Fannie
& Belle stayed home to have dinner on their return from the
grave) Mrs McKeexe "McKee", the two Richeyxe "Richey"s, she thinks
David & Hunter, James A. Dickxe "Dick", who was one of the pall
bearers, & Kate didn't know who the other three pallbearers
were. They buried him at Sewickly Church & had dinner at James
P. Carothers on their way back. Kate says that Uncle John Carothers
was a very big man, tall, broad shouldered & big & that he
lived with his son, James P. & died there & was buried at
Sewickly. Rev McKee had a small son called Thomas that was also
buried at Sewickly.
Mrs McKee, her children, Belle & John C. & her sister
Mary Carothers went west together & she & her sister died
out there. John C., the son, went into the Presbyterian ministry
& Clarence Weimerxe "Weimer", who heard him preach somewhere
west s'd he never heard a better sermon. Belle married out west
& about two yrs after Kate's
V5 Page 52
xe "V5 Page 52"first fall (she says her first fall was on Aug
14, 1909, twelve yrs ago & her second fall was May 23, 1917.
"one week before Decoration 4 yrs ago, Decoration was on Wednesday
& I fell the Wednesday before".) a young man, Belle's son, who
had completed his course to be a Doctor, had stopped off at Pgh on
his way west, by advice of his mother or home folks & came up
to West Newton to see the old home & went to Adam Darrxe
"Darr"'s (brother of Mary Darr who told Kate) & asked him to
show him which he did as the house was then still standing. It was
up Main St on the right hand side four houses above Kate's old
home. The house has since been torn down & one of the Porexe
"Pore"s from the Country built a new house & lives there now.
He asked Dan to take him out to the Sewickly Cemetery after Church
was over, which he did & on their way back, they stopped at
Belle Marklexe "Markle"'s where was a big crowd & they were
serving ice cream & he went back to partake thereof & was
given a freshly painted chair to sit on much to the damage of his
clothes. Kate says that Belle McKee who was a large big strong
girl, was engaged to marry in West Newton to a Mr McClurkinxe
"McClurkin" who was a brother of the wife of the U.P. Minister
McConnellxe "McConnell", who with his father was living with the
McConnells & who had money in his own right from his mother who
was dead. He was delicate & took sick & Belle
V5 Page 53
xe "V5 Page 53"went to nurse him & being big & strong,
she lifted him in & out of bed at will. Mr McClurkin gave Belle
some money. Mr McConnell died a couple of years later & the
family went back to Pgh. Belle wore mourning for young McClurkin.
Her brother, James W. McKee went west with the rest of the family
& got married out there.
Kate says that Uncle John's son William S. Carothersxe
"Carothers" was a very very big man, fine looking & well
dressed when he called at their house & her father & mother
introduced her & she shook hands with him. She thinks it was
when she was abt 8 or 9. After he had gone, her father remarked
that he was well dressed & looked prosperous, but he had been
told he didn't amount to much, whereupon her mother s'd they helped
him at home & told of loading a sled as full as they could pile
on & took it to him. She said "he lived off somewhere, but it
couldn't have bee far as they were taking these things to him in a
sled". Kate thought his son, James, married some woman from
Washington Co Pa & "lived off somewhere".
Page 249 Book 2. Kate says she was at Jane K. Carothers funeral
& helped to get the dinner. She says Fannie willed the house in
West Newton that she got from her mother to her sister Belle Markle
for life & at her death, it is to go to Belle's children.
Fannie also willed Belle's daughters $500
V5 Page 54
xe "V5 Page 54"a piece. Kate says the Rev Boydxe "Boyd" that
"Fannie" married used to preach at Sewickly Church & was a
widower & had a farm out near where Bryan lived in Nebraska
& that "he was none of the West Newton Boyds". "He didn't do
right either" Kate says. Before he married Fannie, he deeded his
farm to his son & a daughter who had married Rev Byron E.P.
Prughxe "Prugh" had died leaving three children (two daughters
& a son?) & he left or gave each of them $8000 & then
only left Fannie the home as long as she lived in it & paid her
back what money she had advanced him to repair it. Rev Prugh for
his third wife married Mrs Major Mungo Dickxe "Dick" being her
third husband. She was a daughter of old Charles Goehringxe
"Goehring" & married first a Smithxe "Smith", Second Major
Mungo Dick & third Rev Byron E.P. Prugh. Fannie had a stroke in
the cellar & fell there & Kate don't know how she got
upstairs, but she was taken out to Belle's at Millgrove & died
there. She is buried at Markle's Cemetery.
Page 253 Book 2.
See Will of Thomas Dunlap
xe "Dunlap"Page 267 Book 2 Lines 23 & 24 Kate says she had
heard her mother speak of the Criderxe "Crider"s, who she s'd had
visited in Westnd Co.
Pages 270 & 271 Book 2
Wills of two John Elderxe "Elder"s, one of Armstrong Tp Westnd
Co Pa names daughter Isabella
V5 Page 55
Thompsonxe "V5 Page 55Thompson" & appoints wife Mary
Alexander Thompson & son Thomas exrs dated Oct 14, 1800 &
Proven Nov 10, 1800.
The other is named as John Elder Junr of Fannett Tp, Franklin Co
Pa is dated Feby 17, 1795 & is witnessed by David Andersonxe
"Anderson" & John Anderson & Proven Dec 22, 1804.
Page 271 Book 2 No 28 Clement Finleyxe "Finley" will
This is the party who owned the old Rotharmel Farm & which
in this will dated 1775 he willed to his son, John, then under age
& which was bought from his heirs by Peter Rotharmel in 1813.
Kate says that old grandmother Finley "Polly" who was a Stokleyxe
"Stokley" & the widow of Squire Andrew Finley's son John,
always spoke of this man as "Uncle Clemons" (or Clement) which
still further convinces me he was a brother of Squire Andrew Finley
who witnessed the will & the John Finley also a witness was
probably Andrew's son. "Polly" Finley also said as previously
reported that he, Clement, & two of his sisters were buried on
the farm. Aunt Hannah Marklexe "Markle" (grandmother's sister) told
Kate's grandmother & Aunt Polly once when at her grandmother's
that "Clemons" Finley, the "old gentleman", had died very poor,
that they came to their house, the Markles, to get a shirt to put
on him when he died. His wife, Elizabeth, must have been a sister
of Col John Carnahanxe "Carnahan" living on the "Willowxe "Willow"
Tree"xe "Tree\"" farmxe "farm" adjg for in appointing him as one of
his Exrs, he calls him "by brother" & as he, John Carnahan, had
married my Aunt Rebecca Carothersxe "Carothers", who had no sister,
we
V5 Page 56
xe "V5 Page 56"must conclude that Clement Finley married his
sister. Kate said that "Polly" Finley was not treated right by her
son "Mi" (Nehemiah) who was on the farm & that she used often
to come to her mother's & her mother & her brother Sam
would often lead her home. She lived abt three houses up Main St,
above Kate's home on the left hand side in a house which she owned.
Her friends sent her in loaves of bread & pieces of meat &
"McKees were awful good do her". I recall that Kate said that Bell
McKee went to Gbg to keep house for Uncle John Richeyxe "Richey"
when his wife died for awhile.
This is the John Finley who had owned the Rotharmelxe
"Rotharmel" farm before Peter Rotharmel bought it. Asking Kate
about his daughter "Jenny Robertsonxe "Robertson"', she said this
was the one that came to their house once after the family had rtd
from the west & asked for a bucket of cherries & although
the cherries were most gone, they picked her a bucket full )she s'd
she wanted them from her old home) & Mrs Rothermel asked her if
she had lard to bake her pies with. She s'd "No" & that they
were very poor, so Mrs R gave her lard & picked some beans out
of the garden for her, gave her a piece of meat to cook the beans
with & other things. A couple of boys, her sons, came to help
her carry the things home.