Cecil Pearl Murphy

Cecil Pearl Murphy, daughter of Martin William Murphy and Sarah Elizabeth Anderson, was born in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia on May 6, 1898. She was the 9th child of 11—Cora Belle Murphy, Edward Francis Murphy, Charles Homer Murphy, Essa (Essie) Lee Murphy, William (Willie) H. Murphy, Ella Mae Murphy, Arliff Barow Murphy, Tabitha M. Murphy, Cecil Pearl Murphy, Addie Opal Murphy, and Olive Ruby Murphy. She was my husband’s grand aunt. Her brother Charles is his grandfather.

L-R: Olive (Murphy) Frye, Cecil (Murphy) Grimm, Glenn Murphy 

Cecil would never know her sister Tabitha, who passed away the same year Cecil was born. Many years ago, we visited Anderson Bethel Cemetery in Littleton and discovered a metal marker for Tabitha recording her birth in 1896 and death in 1898.

On June 23, 1900, Cecil and her family lived in a rented home in Littleton. Cecil, the baby of the family, was two years old. Her parents had been married for 16 years. Cecil’s father had steady employment as a teamster. Both of her parents, brother Charles, and sister Essie were able to read and write. 

On April 27, 1910, Cecil and her family lived in the Clay District of Wetzel County. Her mother was enumerated as having had 11 children, with only 10 living which would account for Tabitha’s death. No longer the baby in the family, Cecil was now the big sister to sisters Addie (Adda) and Olive. Cecil’s father worked as a general farmer, brothers Edward, Charles, and William were teamsters at the oil field, sister Ella worked as a servant for a private family, and brother Arliff was a farm laborer. Everyone except for Edward, Addie, and Olive were able to read and write.

When Cecil was 17, her 27-year-old sister Essie died of septic endometritis on May 25, 1915 in Warwood, Ohio County, West Virginia. About 1919, Cecil married Essie’s widowed husband, Frank Oscar Grimm (16 years older than Cecil), son of Eldine Oscar Grimm and Sarah Armenia Gossett. Frank and Essie were married from 1907 until her death in 1915. During that time, they had three children—Harry Lee Grimm, Elsie Mae Grimm, and Ruth Louise Grimm. Ruth was not yet three years old when her mother died. At age 22, Cecil, their aunt, was now the step-mother to Frank and Essa’s children. 

On February 2, 1920, Cecil, Frank, Harry, Elsie, and Ruth lived on Hazlett Avenue in the Richland District of Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. Frank was a house carpenter. Cecil was in the early stage of pregnancy with their first child together when the census enumerator visited. On August 15, 1920, she gave birth to a boy they named Lewis Oscar Grimm. Daughter Sarah Armenia Grimm was born on February 15, 1922, son Leroy Frank Grimm on March 20, 1923, and daughter Alice June Grimm on December 9, 1926, all in Wheeling. The year 1927 was a sad one for Cecil though with the death of her mother on April 1 in Littleton, followed by the death of her father from a cerebral hemorrhage on April 6. Both were buried at Anderson Bethel Cemetery in Littleton. Cecil’s stepson, Harry, married Virginia May Phillips in Belmont, Ohio on June 12, 1929 and moved in with his mother-in-law, Wilemma Porter Phillips in Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio. 

On April 7, 1930, Cecil, Frank, and their four children lived in Wheeling. Frank was a carpenter, building houses. According to the Wheeling city directory, they lived at 416 Warwood Avenue. They still lived there in 1932. At some point, Frank and Essa’s daughters, Elsie and Ruth, moved in with Frank’s mother (their grandmother), Sarah Armenia [Gossett] Grimm. Elsie worked as a telephone operator for Hazel-Atlas Glass Company and Ruth as a waiter at Stone & Thomas.

On April 8, 1940, Cecil and her family lived in a rented home in Wheeling. Both Cecil and Frank had and 8th grade education. Frank was still building houses and had started his own business. When Cecil was 49 years old, her brother Arliff died in Wolf Summit, Harrison County, West Virginia on July 11, 1947. Two years later, she lost her husband of 29 years on July 19, 1949. Frank died in Wheeling at the age of 66. Before the end of the year, she would also lose her brother Charles who died in Littleton on November 16, 1949. Frank was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, Arliff at Anderson-Bethel Cemetery in Littleton, and Charles at Thomas Chapel Cemetery in Littleton.

L-R: Sarah Armenia Grimm Griffith; her husband Arthur Clifton Griffith;
Cecil Pearl Murphy Grimm; Lewis Oscar Grimm; Alice June Grimm Carper;
Frank Oscar Grimm (ca. 1946)

Cecil’s brother William died in Littleton on March 28, 1960 when she was 61 years old. William was buried at Anderson Bethel Cemetery in Littleton. Cecil died at Wheeling Hospital at the age of 65 of acute coronary occlusion on September 26, 1963. Her daughter Sarah (Griffith) was the informant on her death certificate. She was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling on September 30. Cecil was a member of Warwood Christian Church. She was survived by her four children, three step-children, four sisters (Cora, Ella, Addie, and Olive), one brother (Edward), 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Stone photo from Find-A-Grave Memorial ID 143800321, added by Michael Grimm.

References

• Arliff Murphy stone, Anderson Bethel Cemetery, Littleton, West Virginia.
• Arliff Murphy, West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973.
• Birth and death indexes, West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.
• Cecil Pearl Grimm Certificate of Death, West Virginia State Department of Health—Division of Vital Statistics.
• Cecil Pearl Grimm obituary, The Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, September 27, 1963.
• Cecil Pearl Grimm, West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973.
• Charles H. Murphy, West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973.
• Essie Murphy and Frank Grimm, Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143800321/cecil-pearl-grimm: accessed 13 November 2021), memorial page for Cecil Pearl Murphy Grimm (6 May 1898–26 Sep 1963), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143800321, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, USA; maintained by Michael Grimm (contributor 47972480).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99890706/frank-oscar-grimm: accessed 13 November 2021), memorial page for Frank Oscar Grimm (10 Feb 1883–19 Jul 1949), Find a Grave Memorial ID 99890706, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, USA; maintained by Michael Grimm (contributor 47972480).
• Harry Lee Grimm and Virginia May Phillips, Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993.
• Mrs. Cora Belle Murphy Moore obituary, The Weirton Daily Times, Weirton, West Virginia, November 30, 1964.
• Personal visit to Thomas Chapel Cemetery, Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia.
• Tabitha M. Murphy marker, Anderson Bethel Cemetery, Littleton, West Virginia.
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
• United States Federal Census, Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio, 1930.
• United States Federal Census, Clay District, Littleton, Wetzel, West Virginia, 1900.
• United States Federal Census, Clay District, Wetzel, West Virginia, 1910.
• United States Federal Census, Franklin, Marshall County, West Virginia, 1900.
• United States Federal Census, Richland, Ohio County, West Virginia, 1920.
• United States Federal Census, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, 1930, 1940.
• Wheeling, West Virginia, City Directory, 1924, 1930, 1932.
• Willie Murphy, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963. 

Mary Ann Athya, long lost first wife of George Durie Athya

Mary Ann Athya, daughter of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born in Bellshill, County Lanarkshire, Scotland about 1896. She had at least 10 siblings—Elizabeth Athya, Isaac Athya, Andrew Athya, James Athya, Jeannie Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, (Mary Ann Athya), John McClelland Athya, Margaret Athya (twin), and Hugh Athya (twin). 

In 1901, the Athya family lived in Bellshill at New Orbiston Rows, apartment housing built in 1892 for the coal miners. According to the Scottish Mining Website, the housing community consisted of “1 three-apartment house, 74 two-apartment houses with rental of £9 19s, one storey [sic], stone built, brick back, erected about 18 years ago – no damp-proof course – walls strapped and lathed – wood floors, ventilated – condition of walls generally good; no overcrowding – apartments large; no garden ground – wash houses – coal cellars; 4 ashpits and 8 privies, between front and rear row; outside sinks for front row – one for every 4 house; surface channels for back row; gravitation water from 4 standpipes; and was scavenged daily – within a special district.” Her father’s occupation was “Cothery Lampman.” Mary was a scholar.

On May 27, 1918, Mary married George Durie Athya (pictured left), son of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie, in an “irregular” marriage by declaration that took place at 50 Wellington Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, County Lanark, Scotland. In an irregular marriage, the couple would make a declaration in front of two witnesses, in this case, George’s sister Elizabeth Durie (Athya) Anderson and her husband Alexander Anderson. Once they provided proof of the marriage to a sheriff or sheriff-substitute, they could obtain a warrant “to have the marriage registered by the local registrar.” According to ScotlandsPeople, “Churches disagreed with these marriages in principle, but accepted them for fear that couples would otherwise ‘live in sin’.” Mary and George’s marriage was registered at Glasgow on May 29, 1918 after obtaining a warrant from a sheriff-substitute. Mary was a 22-year-old spinster; George a 25-year-old bachelor, riveter, and Corporal with the Cameron Highlanders. Mary and George were first cousins—their fathers Isaac and James were brothers. I don’t know, but this may have been a common practice at the time.

On October 30, 1920, George sailed from Bellshill, Glasgow aboard the S.S. Columbia headed for Steubenville, Ohio in the United States of America. He declared his wife Mary, who he left behind in Scotland, as the “nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came.”

S.S. Columbia manifest (click to enlarge)

On June 24, 1924, Mary set sail aboard the S.S. Montlaurier headed for Canada. A passenger declaration form showed that Mary was 28 years old, single, and unaccompanied by a husband. She traveled 3rd class, planning to settle permanently in Canada and look for suitable work as a domestic. She declared her religion as Baptist. Mary paid her own passage at £5, spoke the English language, and had never been to Canada. Mary’s sister Jeannie (Athya) Lay lived in Montreal, which was where Mary was going. She listed her father Isaac Athya of 13 Mauldslie Street in Crossgates, Bellshill, Scotland as the nearest relative in the country from which she came. Mary further declared that she had no mental, tubercular, or physical detects. 

Ten days prior to Mary leaving Scotland, George married Bertha Edna Smith in the Ingram Borough of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 14, 1924. George and Bertha are my husband’s grandparents. 

So, the big question for our family is—what happened to George and Mary’s marriage. Did they divorce? Was the marriage dissolved? We don’t have a clue. When my mother-in-law shared her father’s immigration papers with me years ago, I remember asking her if she knew what happened to Mary. She didn’t. Now thanks to a hint another researcher posted on her ancestry.com tree and who then shared where she got the information when I contacted her, I’ve been able to solve the mystery of the wife George left behind in Scotland. But there are still questions to answer so the search isn’t over. By the way, George and Bertha named their only daughter Mary.

References

• 1891 Scotland census, registration district Bothwell, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• 1901 Scotland census, registration district Bellshill, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• Athya-Smith marriage license no. 20342, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 
• Flag of Scotland, none known, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Scotland.svg.
• George Athya, List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival.
• George Durie Athya/Mary Ann Athya marriage, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 1036, National Records of Scotland.
• John Athya, Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• John McClelland Athya, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• Mary Athya, Declaration of Passenger to Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• New Orbiston Rows, Housing Conditions of Miners, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html.
• Our Records: Irregular Marriage in Scotland, ScotlandsPeople; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-scotland.
• William McClelland Athya, Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. 

John Thompson Smith

Smith-McIlwain headstone, Riverview Cemetery,
Apollo, Pennsylvania

John Thompson Smith, parents unknown, was born in St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio on November 7, 1810. He was my husband’s 2nd great grandfather. Their nearest common relative is John Milton Smith.

Unfortunately, I have no record that tells me about John’s early years but at some point, he left St. Clairsville and moved to Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. About 1840, he married Jane Gordon, daughter of Matthew Gordon and Elizabeth [last name unknown]. I’ve recorded the location of their marriage as St. Clairsville, which is 100 miles from Apollo, but I can’t confirm that they were married there so if you’re researching this couple, you’ll need to find proof. Jane had previously been married to John McIlwain with whom she had four children—Margaret McIlwain, James Xenophon McIlwain, John S. McIlwain, and Eva McIlwain. According to Apollo’s Quasqui Centennial souvenir program published for its 125th anniversary, John McIlwain was one of the early settlers of the town of Warren, which eventually became part of the borough of Apollo. John (McIlwain) was a tavern owner in Apollo. After his death in 1837, Jane married John Thompson Smith. The book History of Apollo, PA. 1816 – 1916: The Year of a Hundred Years written by T. J. Henry (published in 1916 by The News-Record Publishing Company in Apollo) notes on page 23 … “After the death of John McIlwain, John T. Smith married his widow and they kept tavern for many years on the corner of Warren Avenue and First Street.” Henry also makes a reference to John “keeping tavern on the corner of North and Canal Streets” in Apollo but I haven’t figured out if it’s a different or the same tavern he mentioned on page 23 of his book.

John and Jane Smith had six children together—Electra Burnette Smith, Erastus C. Smith, Eunice Alvira Smith, Martha Jane Smith, Minerva Smith, and John Milton Smith. Electra was born in Armstrong County on February 11, 1841; Erastus was born in Allegheny County (possibly Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania on October 11, 1842; Eunice was born in Armstrong County on September 19, 1844; and Martha was born in Apollo on October 3, 1846. As the family grew, John and Jane became active in the Apollo community. Page 25 of Henry’s book notes “The voters were commanded to meet in the house of John Smith and elect a burgess and five councilmen. Robert McKissen and Wm. McCullough were appointed to publish and superintend the election, to be held May 3, 1848. At this election Robert McKissen was elected burgess and Wm. Nichols, Wm. Miller, George C. Bovard, John T. Smith, John Elwood and David Risher, town councilmen.”

From Apollo's anniversary celebration Quasqui Centennial program

Henry’s book also states “For many years the election was regularly held at the home of J. T. Smith and Mrs. Smith always served a turkey dinner to the board.”

John’s youngest daughter Minerva was born in Apollo on May 21, 1849. Just before her first birthday, Minerva contracted cholera and died on May 17, 1850. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

John was one of six men elected to the first board of school directors in 1850. Late that same year, the census enumerator found him and his family still living in Apollo on November 7, 1850. The children ranged in age from nine to four. Two of Jane’s children from her first marriage lived in the home—Margaret McIlwain, age 20, and John McIlwain, age 14. There was also a 26-year-old male with the last name Chambers living in the home. I can’t read the census enumerator’s handwriting to tell what his first name was. John was an innkeeper with real estate valued at $2,000. Jane gave birth to their sixth and last child, John Milton Smith, in Apollo on February 27, 1851.

1850 Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania census for the John T. Smith family

John and his family were apparently members of the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo. The church baptismal record shows that James Xenophon McIlwain was baptized as an adult in April 1858, Electra Smith was baptized as an adult and Eunice, Martha, and John were baptized there as children on October 11, 1858.

First Presbyterian Church of Apollo baptism record listing
Eunice, Martha, and John Milton Smith

First Presbyterian Church in Apollo

On July 5, 1860, John and his family were still living in Apollo, running the inn. Both John and Jane were enumerated as an innkeeper. There had been no change to the value of their real estate, still recorded as $2,000. John had a personal estate valued at $500. Electra and Erastus were both enumerated as “labourer,” so perhaps they were both working at the inn as well, although Erastus was still attending school. The other three children were attending school.

1860 Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania census for the John T. Smith family

John was a postmaster for Apollo at one point, running the post office from his tavern. When Apollo celebrated its Quasqui Centennial from June 29 to July 4, 1941, John was included on page 24 of the souvenir program where it noted his part in Apollo’s first election. Page 41 of the program notes him as an Apollo “First”—the first tailor.

John died in Apollo on March 11, 1864. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. Jane outlived both of her husbands so must have buried them side by side and then she was buried with them when she died in 1877. The tombstone is a marker for all three.

John’s will was held in bond by Alexander Gordon, James Guthrie, and William Miller in the sum of $1,500 on April 5, 1864. Alexander was the administrator of John’s goods, chattels, and credits.

John’s name carried on for several generations. His son John Milton Smith named one of his sons John Thompson Smith. John Milton Smith’s daughter, Bertha Smith Athya, named one of her sons John Thompson Athya.