52 Ancestors – George Nelson Smith (94-2016)

George Nelson Smith

George Nelson Smith, son of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, was born October 22, 1885 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was the second child of seven—Benjamin Gordon Smith, George Nelson Smith, Edith McCrum Smith, Howard Stanley Smith, Helen Margaret Smith, Bertha Edna Smith, and John Thompson Smith. George’s mother had a brother named George R. Horne so it’s possible he was named for him. George was my husband’s great-uncle.

On June 25, 1900, George and his family lived in the Washington Township of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. At age 14, George was in school and able to read and write.

When George was just 22 years old, his 18 year old sister Edith, blind as the result of measles, died of typhoid fever at Mercy Hospital on October 24, 1906. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

On April 26, 1910, the family lived in Paulton, Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. A neighbor two doors away was John A. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was also a neighbor in 1900 so they must be living in the same house. George, his father, and brother Ben all worked in a sheet mill. Two years after this census was taken, George’s father died on March 9, 1912 in Westmoreland County. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. The family was probably just getting out of their mourning period when John’s 17 year old sister Helen died in Paulton on March 18, 1913 after suffering with endocarditis (an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart) for two years. She was buried on March 20 in the family plot at Apollo’s Riverview Cemetery, sharing a tombstone with her parents and sister Edith.

George registered for the World War I draft in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on September 12, 1918. He listed his mother as the nearest relative. George and his mother were living together at Box 30 in Apollo. George listed his occupation as a “catcher” with the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company in Vandergrift. He was tall and slender, had dark blue eyes, and dark brown hair.

George and Verda (Hilty) Smith

On January 26, 1920, 34 year old George lived with his 60 year old widowed mother in the North Washington District of Washington Township in a home located on Greensburg – Apollo Road. His adult siblings were also part of the household—Ben (age 37), Bertha (age 22), and John (age 18). All were able to read and write. George, Ben, and John all worked in a steel mill with John being a “ruffer.”

George married Verda Mary Hilty, daughter of Samuel E. Hilty and Bella Jane Gibson in November 1925. They never had children.

On April 14, 1930, George and Verda lived in Paulton, Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Verda’s sister May Hilty, age 42, lived with them. George owned their home and they had a radio. He was a ruffer in a steel mill.

George and Verda's house

On April 8, 1940, George and Verda lived in the Washington Township, the same house they lived in in 1930—the neighbors were the same and the census enumerator recorded that it was the same house as in 1935. May still lived with them. George worked a 40 hour week as a laborer at Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation. George registered for the World War II draft in 1942. His mailing address was R.D.1 (Blairton), Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. He listed his mother, living in Paulton, as the person who would always know his address. He worked for the Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation. George’s mother, Amanda Larimer Horne Smith, died on January 11, 1943 following a stroke in Washington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo with her husband and daughters Helen and Edith.

George retired in the mid-1950s after working in the Vandergrift plant of U.S. Steel Corporation for 43 years as a mill worker. On December 15, 1957, his brother Ben died from a heart attack at the Elks Retirement Home in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia where he had been living. Ben was buried in the Elks National Cemetery in Bedford, a section of Oakwood Cemetery designated as the burial place for residents of the Elks National Home. George died of a heart attack at home in the Washington Township on April 24, 1959. He was buried on April 27 with the Hilty family at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

George lived in Blairton for 33 years and was an active member of Apollo Presbyterian Church for 57 years.

52 Ancestors – Mary Ann Wilson (93-2016)

Mary Ann Wilson, daughter of Oliver Porter Wilson and Jane Elizabeth Johnson, was born November 10, 1851 in Greene County, Georgia. She was the third child of four—Martha J. Wilson, William Oliver Wilson, Mary Ann Wilson, and Robert Harrison Wilson. Mary was my 2nd great-grandmother.

On June 5, 1860, 10-year-old Mary and her family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. Her father was a wagoner with a personal estate valued at $300. They lived next door to Nathan Augustus Hobbs Jr. and his wife Harriet (Tiller). Nathan was the son of Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford. His sister was Caroline B. Hobbs, my 3rd great-grandmother. Three years after this census was taken, Nathan would be gone—killed in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1863 while serving with Company C of the Georgia Third Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Eight years after the 1860 census was taken, Mary Ann Wilson married into the Lankford family, becoming the wife of James C. Lankford, son of Caroline (Hobbs) and James Meriweather Lankford on January 5, 1868 in Greene County, Georgia. The marriage ceremony was performed by Lucius C. Broome, Justice of the Peace. Together they had 10 children—Homer J. Lankford, Alice Beman Lankford, Julia Lee Lankford, Jessica Corinne Lankford, James Vason Lankford, Mary Corrine Lankford, Nathan Lawrence Lankford, Vincent Thomas Langford Sr., Oliver Wilson Lankford, and Lillie Della Lankford. Mary and James Lankford were pioneer citizens of Greene County.

On June 8, 1870, Mary and James lived in Penfield. Mary was keeping house and James was a butcher. James’ sister Emma and her husband James Wilson, also a butcher, lived four doors away. Sometime before 1880, Emma died and was buried at Penfield Cemetery in Penfield.
On June 10, 1880, Mary, James, and their children—Homer, Alice, Julia, and Jessie—lived in Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, next door to James’ parents, James and Caroline (Hobbs) Lankford. James was a blacksmith. Mary was enumerated as Mary Ann Lankford.

On June 1, 1900, Mary and her family lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. She and James had celebrated 31 years of marriage. James’ nephew, Julius C. Wilson, son of Emma S. (Lankford) Wilson, lived next door with his wife Elvie and son Julius. James was a farmer and their sons James, Nathan, and Vincent were farm laborers. I assume they were helping their father on the farm. Charles C. Davison, a member of the prominent Davison family of Greene County, lived two doors away with his family.

Mary’s husband James died in Greene County on January 21, 1908. He was buried at Penfield Cemetery. His obituary reads “Mr. J. C. Lankford. At 1 o’clock Tuesday morning, Jan. 21, 1908, Mr. J. C. Lankford’s spirit passed to the great beyond, in the sixtieth year of his age. Mr. Lankford was a busy man, with boundlis energy but never too busy with his own affairs to lend a helping hand to those in distress, and need of help. He was a good neighbor, a faithful and enthusiastic friend, and a man who will be missed in the community. He leaves a large family, a wife, five sons, and five daughters and three sisters, who with a host of other near relatives and friends deeply mourn his untimely departure from our midst. The funeral was conducted by Rev. J. S. Callaway and the interment was in our city cemetery. E.B.R.”

On April 15, 1910, a widowed Mary lived in Penfield. The census enumerator recorded her as the mother of 10 children, all of which were living. Her 20 year old son Oliver, a blacksmith, lived with her. Two houses away was James England George and his wife Gussie (McCarty) George, William McCarty (Gussie’s father and widowed husband of Marian Langford Hobbs of Penfield), and Hayden George (brother of James). Hayden married Mary’s daughter Lillie Della Lankford in September that same year.

Mary died of Bright’s disease in Penfield on March 26, 1919. She was buried on March 27 beside her husband at Penfield Cemetery. Mary’s death certificate listed her birth year as 1841 vs. 1851. If you do the math, that would have made Mary 78 years old—not 68 years, 4 months, and 16 days as recorded on the certificate. Her tombstone is marked 1851. Mary’s death certificate also listed her middle name as Amanda. The only other time I’ve seen a middle name listed for Mary vs. her initial “A” was the 1880 census where she was listed as Mary Ann Lankford. So is her middle name Ann or Amanda? Hard to say. Seaborn Brice Barnhart, her son-in-law, was the informant on her death certificate.

Mary’s daughter Jessica or “Jessie” was the administratrix of the estate. Mary left a “large estate of real and personal property, worth the sum of five hundred ($500) dollars.” Jessie applied to sell the land in the Village of Penfield, Greene County, Georgia on June 9, 1919. The petition showed that Mary’s estate consisted of a tract of land in the Village of Penfield, on the northeast corner of Evans Gresham’s lot, bounded north by Main Street, East by thirty feet street and lot of Mrs. Barnhart, south and west by Evans Gresham lot, formerly owned by Penfield Hosiery Mills. Jessie sold the land for $600 to pay her mother’s debts and then distributed the remaining money among her siblings. Disbursements were made as follows:

• Voucher No. 1/Penfield, Georgia, September 1, 1919. Received of Mrs. Jessie Barnhart as adm’x estate of Mrs. Mary Lankford $191.90 in settlement of the attached eight accounts, transferred to me as shown by entries thereon. [signed] S.B. Barnhart
• Dr. E. G. Adams: $44
• Boswell Trading Company: $76 for one casket and phone messages
• E. R. Boswell: $2 for two hands digging the grave of said Mrs. Lankford
• J. T. Campbell: $3 to fix the grave of Mrs. Lankford
• Dr. W. M. Durham: $13.50 to visit Mrs. Lankford four times
• Dr. Goodwin Gheesling: $8 for one visit and two prescriptions for Mrs. Lankford
• McCommons-Thompson-Boswell Company: $35.90 for brick, cement, lime, flooring, and hearse hire
• Dr. J. A. Stapler: $9.50 for professional services
• The Herald-Journal: $12 to publish citations to sell land and to announce the administration sale
• F. B. Shipp: $23.50 Ordinary services (appointment of administratrix and sale of land), and final estate settlement
• Noel Park: $25 for professional services (attorney)
• Voucher No. 5 [this line cut off of copy]. Said purpose ($18), T. S. Gentry trip same ($1.50), Love Kimbro trip Greensboro to Penfield for medicine delivered same ($1.50), E. L. Leach same to Woodville ($2), J. Roy Boswell same to Woodville ($1.15), Wade Barnhart hauling same to Mrs. Lankford’s grave ($3), P. Kendrick hauling brick and cement to same ($4), Hal English trip in car to Greensboro by adm’x ($1.50), R. W. Copelan, selling land, auctioneer ($1), Revenue stamp on adm’x deed ($1). Total $71.45. [signed] S. B. Barnhart.
• Voucher No. 6—Penfield, Georgia, September 1, 1919. Received of S. B. Barnhart as adm’x estate of Mrs. Mary Lankford $30, commissions due adm’x. on $600 received and paid out. [signed] Jessie Barnhart.
• Alice Beman Lankford Callaway: $27.35
• Voucher No. 8. Penfield, Georgia, September 1, 1919. Received of Mrs. Jessie Barnhart as adm’x. estate of Mrs. Mary Lankford $218.80 for the following items. Share Mrs. Jessie Barnhart in estate of Mrs. Mary Lankford / $27.35 / Amount due Mrs. Jessie Barnhart and S. B. Barnhart as transferees of the following heirs of the estate, to wit: Mrs. Della L. George, J. V., O. W., V. T. and N. L. Lankford, Mrs. J. D. West and Mrs. Mary L. Callaway, see deed dated March 28, 1919, recorded Clerk’s office Greene Superior Court in deed book 19, page 531. / $191.45 / $218.80 [signed] S. B. Barnhart [signed] Jessie Barnhart.

52 Ancestors – Millicent Virginia Overton (92-2016)

Millicent Virginia Overton, the daughter of Abijah Overton and Elizabeth Ann Rhodes, was born July 7, 1849 in Conyers, Newton County,* Georgia. She was the 9th of 10 10th of 13 children—James H. Overton, Mary J. Overton, Unknown Overton, Julia Saphronia Overton, John M. Overton, Elizabeth Z. Overton, William Mosby Overton, Frances A. Overton, Louisa E. Overton, Virginia Overton, Thomas L. Overton, and Emma G. Overton, and Mattie L. Overton. She went by Virginia or Jinnie and was of Cahaba Creek Indian descent. Virginia was my 2nd great-grandmother.

[NOTE on 4/23/2017: I've made corrections to mis-information previously written above. Thomas was the son of Virginia's sister Mary J. Overton and Mattie was the daughter of her sister Frances A. Overton. Also, when looking back at my notes, I'm unsure about the unknown child so am removing it. I apologize if I've sent anyone on a wild goose chase!]

On September 26, 1850, Virginia and her family lived in Subdivision 65 of Newton County, Georgia. She was enumerated as Milly. Her father, a farmer born in South Carolina, was enumerated as Elijah rather than Abijah. His real estate was valued at $1500.

On October 15, 1860, the family lived in Conyers, Newton County, Georgia. Virginia’s father was still farming. His real estate was now valued at $2000 and he had a personal estate valued at $850. Virginia was a seamstress. The next two years were devastating for the Overton family. Virginia’s nephew, John L. Wooley, died in Conyers on March 30. Two weeks later, the Civil War started on April 12. But the Overton family had other things on their mind. Just three days after the start of the war, Virginia’s sister and John’s mother, Julia Saphronia Overton Wooley, died in Conyers on April 15, 1861. I don’t know the circumstances of John and Julia’s deaths, but wonder if they were the result of an epidemic that hit the area. Probably still overcome by grief, Julia’s husband, Hansford D. Wooley, enlisted as a private in Company B of Georgia’s 18th Infantry Regiment on October 2, 1861. Before he left, Hansford filed his will in Newton County in which he directed that he be buried beside his wife. Hansford appointed Virginia and Julia’s father Abijah Overton as the executor of his will. Hansford didn’t survive the war and died “in service” in Richmond, Wise County, Virginia on April 29, 1862. He left his estate to his father Basel Wooley and to Abijah Overton, “share and share alike.” John, Julia, and Hansford all three were buried at Old Conyers Cemetery in Conyers.




Portion of  Hansford Wooley's will

Virginia married Samuel Pride Burnette, son of William Caton and Drucilla Henson, on August 23, 1866 in Newton County, Georgia. Together they had 14 children—John William Burnette, Thomas Terrell Burnette, C. B. Annbelle Burnette, Abijah Winkfield Burnette, Oscar Lee Burnette, Mathew E. Burnette, Laura J. Burnette, Frances Elizabeth Burnette, Mattie Lou Burnette, Benjamin Franklin Burnette, Virginia O. Burnette, Joseph Benjamin Burnette, Mollie M. Burnette, and one unknown to me but recorded in census records.

Marriage license

By July 28, 1870, Virginia and Sam lived in Covington, Newton County, Georgia. She was enumerated as Lily V. Burnett and was keeping house. They had two children—John (2) and Thomas (11 months).

During the period 1873 – 1877, the Burnette family lived in District 476 of Rockdale County according to the Georgia Property Tax digest.

By June 18, 1880, the Burnette’s had eight children, the oldest being 12 years old. They lived in the Harbins District of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Virginia’s oldest sons John and Thomas helped their father work on the farm while Virginia, who was enumerated as Millie V. Burnett, was “keeping house.” Shortly after this census was taken, the family moved to the Buncombe District of Loganville, Walton County where they lived during the period 1883 – 1887 according to the Georgia Property Tax digest.

Virginia’s father Abijah died in Conyers on June 14, 1887. Her mother died in Conyers six months later on December 11, 1887. I have yet to find the location of their final resting spot.

Life was hard for Virginia and Samuel in the early 1900s. Samuel, who had served for three years in Company F of the 24th Regiment of Georgia during the Civil War, filed an Indigent Pension Application in Walton County, Georgia on May 7, 1900 on the grounds of infirmity and poverty stating that he was in feeble health and not able to earn a support by his own or any kind of labor. He and Virginia had no homestead of their own. On June 6, 1900, the census enumerator found Virginia and her family living on a rented farm in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Her son Abijah, his wife Eugenia, and infant granddaughter Robena lived next door. The census record shows that Virginia and Samuel had been married for 34 years that that Virginia had 14 children, two of which had died. There were still six children in the home, ranging in age from 11 to 20 years. Samuel was a farmer.

In failing health, Samuel again filed an Indigent Soldier’s Pension Application in Walton County on January 28, 1902. He and Virginia still owned no property. Samuel filed yearly through at least 1907. In 1905, Samuel’s application stated that his physical condition was “old and in feeble health, not able to earn a support.” His property consisted of “nothing,” and he earned “nothing.” Times must have been hard for Virginia and Samuel.

Virginia’s brother John M. Overton died on April 14, 1906. He was buried at Almand Cemetery in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia.

On April 25, 1910, Virginia, Samuel, and two adult children—daughter Lula M. (age 27) and son Joseph B. (age 22)—lived in the Broken Arrow District of Walton County. Joseph, a “wage hand” on farm, was the only person in the home working.

Virginia died in Georgia on January 10, 1916. She was buried at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia. Her tombstone reads: Come Ye Blessed / Jinnie Burnett / July 7, 1849-Jan 10, 1916 / She was ready to / every good work.




*Today Conyers is in Rockdale County but according to Wikipedia, “… In 1870, the surrounding area was incorporated into Rockdale County out of Newton County, Georgia, and Conyers became the county seat.”

52 Ancestors – Tabitha M. Murphy (91-2016)

Tabitha M. Murphy, daughter of Martin William Murphy and Sarah Elizabeth Anderson, was born in Wetzel County, West Virginia in 1896. She was the 8th child of 11—Cora Belle Murphy, Edward Francis Murphy, Charles Homer Murphy, Essie Lee Murphy, William H. Murphy, Ella Mae Murphy, Arliff Barow Murphy, Tabitha M. Murphy, Cecil Pearl Murphy, Addie Opal Murphy, and Olive Ruby Murphy.

Tabitha’s was a short life having died in 1898 at the young age of two years. The circumstances of her death are unknown to me. She was buried at Anderson Bethel Cemetery in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia.

I’ve been unable to find a record of Tabitha’s birth or death online. I’ve searched records in the Vital Research Records database of the West Virginia Archives and History website but nothing comes up. It’s possible they have a record somewhere and that I might find one if I went to Wetzel County but that’s not happening any time soon. Because Tabitha was born in 1896 and died in 1898, she was never recorded in census records. I wasn’t even aware of her existence until we visited Wetzel County several years ago and went to Anderson Bethel Cemetery where I found her marker. This was a good lesson to me to make every effort to walk the cemeteries when possible. I also learned to take pictures of the surrounding graves and to take notes of who is buried nearby. It’s a good possibility other family members are buried there, you just haven’t made the connection yet. In Tabitha’s case, I first found a metal marker stuck on a tree or pole. She also she had a stone marker in the ground that recorded her as the “daughter of Martin Murphy.” If someone hadn’t added that notation to her stone, I may have never figured out who she was.

52 Ancestors – Connections to Apollo’s history (90-2016)

The borough of Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania is celebrating their bicentennial this year and are in the midst of a “year-long community celebration that will culminate in a 10-day festival July 1, 2016 through July 10, 2016.” This caught my attention several months ago because my husband’s maternal roots extend deep into Apollo’s history. So out of curiosity, I thought I would pull together some of the key items of interest to see how it played out. I’ve noted his direct lines as well as collateral ancestors. Some lived their life quietly, going about everyday business, while others took action and helped shape Apollo.

John Thompson Smith (second great-grandfather)
John T. Smith, a local innkeeper, was elected Apollo town councilman on May 3, 1848 at an election held at his house—the inn. He was also an Apollo postmaster, running the post office from his tavern. When Apollo celebrated its Quasqui Centennial (125th anniversary) June 29 – July 4, 1941, John was included on page 24 of the souvenir program published for the celebration as part of Apollo’s history where it noted his part in Apollo’s first election. Page 41 of the program notes him as a Apollo “First”—the first tailor. John died in Apollo on March 11, 1864 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Apollo's Quasqui Centennial souvenir program.
We have Mary Athya's copy.

Five of John’s six children were born in Apollo: Electra Burnette Smith on February 11, 1841, Eunice Alvira Smith on September 19, 1844, Martha Jane Smith on October 3, 1846, Minerva Smith on May 21, 1849, and John Milton Smith on February 27, 1851. Minerva died from cholera on May 17, 1850 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

His wife Jane Gordon Smith died on March 11, 1877 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery. The tombstone is a marker for Jane, Jane’s first husband John McIlwain, who died in Apollo in 1837, and John Thompson Smith. John McIlwain was listed on page 22 of Apollo’s Quasqui Centennial souvenir program. He 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 there. Upon his death, Jane married John Thompson Smith. T. J. Henry’s book History of Apollo, PA. 1816 – 1916: The Year of a Hundred Years (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.”
 

John Milton Smith (great-grandfather)—son of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon
Census records show that John and his sister Electra lived in Apollo on June 23, 1880. John married Amanda Larimer Horne, daughter of Moses Horne and Elizabeth Larimer, at Apollo United Methodist Church on January 19, 1882. John died on March 9, 1912 in Bell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and was buried at Riverview Cemetery on March 12.

John's wife Amanda was received by probation at the Apollo United Methodist Church on October 25, 1874. She died in Apollo on January 13, 1943 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

Amanda Larimer Horne Smith and her grandson John Thompson Athya

John's son Benjamin Gordon Smith was born in Apollo on November 18, 1882. His mother Amanda, a seamstress, made a baby dress for Ben in 1884. The dress hangs in my bedroom today. Ben joined the Apollo Presbyterian Church on January 21, 1900. He registered for the World War I draft in Apollo on September 12, 1917 and for the World War II draft in Apollo on April 27, 1942.

Benjamin Gordon Smith

Dress made for Benjamin G. Smith
by his mother Amanda Horne Smith

His daughter Edith McCrum Smith was born in Apollo on March 4, 1888. She died from typhoid fever at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh on October 24, 1906. Edith was buried at Riverview Cemetery on October 26, 1906.

Edith McCrum Smith

 
His daughter Helen Margaret Smith died from heart disease in Westmoreland County on March 18, 1913. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery on March 20, 1913.
 

Unknown girl and Helen Margaret Smith

  
Moses Horne (second great-grandfather)
Apollo county land ownership maps recorded the Moses Horne family living on Indiana Street in 1876. Census records indicate Moses was a “dealer in groceries” in Apollo on June 26, 1880. Moses died of heart disease in Apollo on April 11, 1910. His death certificate indicates he was buried in Apollo but doesn’t note the cemetery name.

Several of Moses’ children were born in Apollo: Lydia E. Horne on September 18, 1864, George R. Horne on December 1, 1869, and Keziah Chambers Horne on July 24, 1873.

His daughter Josephine B. Horne was baptized by J. F. Murray at Apollo United Methodist Church on August 26, 1883. She died of mitral stenosis in Apollo on March 24, 1941 and was buried at Apollo Cemetery on March 26. She lived at 213 South Second Street at the time of her death. Jo was deaf and never married.

Josephine and Amanda Horne

Moses' wife Elizabeth died in Apollo on May 1, 1913. She was buried at Apollo Cemetery on May 3.

His son George died on December 19, 1915 from a fractured skull and other injuries caused after being struck by a locomotive on the Conemaugh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad at the West Apollo Crossing. He was buried at Vandergrift Cemetery in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Bertha Edna Smith (grandmother)—daughter of John Milton Smith and
Amanda Larimer Horne
Bertha probably attended events at Apollo’s Centennial celebration in 1916. We have the picture below of her standing in front of a house with patriotic banners I see in other pictures from that year.

Bertha Edna Smith on the left

Three of Bertha’s four children were born in Apollo: John Thompson Athya on June 12, 1925, Howard George Athya on April 2, 1927, and James Jem Athya on June 7, 1930. The family lived at 213 South Fourth Street when Jim was born.

Bertha Edna Smith Athya, Amanda Larimer Horne Smith holding Mary Margaret Athya,
Electra Smith Jack, John T. Athya, and Howard Athya

 
Bertha and her husband George Durie Athya (born in Glasgow, Scotland) lost a home on Cherry Lane when the Kiski River flooded in the early 1940s. The river flooded and took the house downstream where it crashed into a bridge. George built the house himself and was nearly done when the flood took place.

George Durie Athya in white shirt and his wife Bertha Edna Smith Athya
sitting beside him. Others are unknown.

 

Railroad Avenue, Apollo, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1936

 
Mary Margaret Athya (mother)—daughter of Bertha Edna Smith and George Durie Athya
Mary attended Apollo’s Quasqui Centennial in 1941. She was part of the “Kiskicade” cast and was listed on page 37 of the souvenir program: episode XII—Miss Apollo and Her Court—Foreign Countries.

Mary Athya is listed under "Foreign Countries"

Howard, Jim, and Mary Athya

Electra Burnette Smith (second great-aunt)—daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon
Electra was born in Apollo on February 11, 1841. She was admitted to Apollo’s First Presbyterian Church on October 8, 1858 and was baptized and received full communion as an adult on October 10, 1858. Electra married Daniel Jack at the Apollo Presbyterian Church on February 20, 1896. Daniel was the widower of Electra’s sister Eunice. Information for Daniel Jack can be found under Eunice.

Daniel Jack, Electra Smith Jack holding an
Athya great-nephew

T. J. Henry’s book History of Apollo, PA. 1816 – 1916: The Year of a Hundred Years acknowledged Electra’s (and others) contributions for “information furnished from memory’s stores” in the book’s Foreward. She was also mentioned on page 89—“Mrs. DANIEL JACK (nee SMITH), is the oldest native inhabitant of Apollo.”

Electra Smith Jack

Electra's water pitcher sits on my dresser today

Sylvester Hildebrand (pictured below) and Xenophon W. McIlwain witnessed an affidavit in Electra’s filing for a widow’s pension (Daniel Jack) on January 11, 1926.

Electra died on April 1932 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

Erastus Smith (second great-uncle)—son of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon
Erastus mustered into Company E of the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on September 1, 1862. Perhaps wanting to make sure his spiritual life was in order before entering the war, he joined the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo. The church register shows that Erastus was admitted to the church by “Escamination” on October 10, 1862. He married Jane Rachel Anderson, daughter of Samuel Anderson and Mary Mawheny, on March 24, 1869 in Apollo. Census records indicate that Erastus, Jane, and daughter Elsie lived in the Kellys Station subdivision of Apollo on June 24, 1870. He was suspended from the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo on March 21, 1872. Erastus died from erysipelas in Apollo on April 13, 1886 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery. His wife Jane died in Apollo on March 5, 1916. 

Erastus Smith's stone

At least two of his children were born in Apollo: Florence G. Smith on December 2, 1875 and Richard Barton Smith on September 7, 1879 and at least three of his children died in Apollo: Florence on December 7, 1909, Mary Jane Smith on January 12, 1908, and Richard on April 12, 1931.
 

Ladies from First Presbyterian Church, Apollo, Pennsylvania

 

Eunice Alvira Smith (second great-aunt)—daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon
Eunice married Daniel Jack, son of Samuel Smith Jack and Catherine Beck, on June 27, 1867 in Apollo. Eunice died in Apollo on March 19, 1890 leaving six children behind. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery. Six years later, Daniel married her sister Electra on February 20, 1896 in Apollo.

Eunice Alvira Smith Jack's stone

Daniel Jack was born in Apollo on August 30, 1840. He played first alto in Apollo’s First Brass Band in 1857 which disbanded when the Civil War started. Daniel was one of the first recruits to enroll on April 27, 1861 in support of the Union Army when he enlisted at Camp Wright. His unit—Company G, Pennsylvania Eleventh Reserves, 40th Infantry Regiment—was recruited by S. M. Jackson at the first call for troops to fight in the Civil War. Daniel held the rank of Sergeant. After the Civil War ended, another brass band was formed and Daniel again was a member. Apollo census records indicate that Daniel worked in a planing (lumber) mill on June 23, 1870. He and his family lived in the Kelly’s Station subdivision of Apollo. Daniel was elected Quarter Master of the Charles S. Whitworth Post on January 21, 1878. He submitted a Declaration for Invalid Pension in Armstrong County on March 13, 1896 stating that he was “partially unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of general disability.” His address was Apollo, Pennsylvania. A July 1916 newspaper article (name unknown) ran stating “Mr. Daniel Jack is a life long resident of Apollo. He has been quarter-master of the local G.A.R. post for a long term of years and until two years ago has carried the colors to the cemetery on Memorial Day since the organization of the post. His residence is on S. Fourth Street.” Daniel appeared before a justice of the peace on April 15, 1921 in Apollo to file a declaration of pension. He claimed that he was 80 years old, a resident of Apollo, and the identical person who enrolled at Apollo under the name of Daniel Jack on April 27, 1861 as a Sergeant in Captain James H. Mills Company G, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry, in the service of the United States in the Civil War. He further claimed that he was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh on June 13, 1864, ending his service. Daniel died of a paralytic stroke at his home in Apollo on December 10, 1925. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery. His obituary stated that he was “one of Apollo’s oldest and most esteemed citizens.”

Civil War Veterans. First row: Ed Dentzel, Henry Blystone, Mr. Ross, Joseph McGuire, Daniel Jack, Thomas Cochran, Sylvester Hildebrand, John Fiscus. Back row: Unknown, Enoch Whay, unknown, Samuel Ams, James Rowland, David Coulter, Hugh Owens, Col. S. M. Jackson.

Six children were born to Eunice and Daniel in Apollo: Charles Stanley Jack on May 3, 1868, Effie Gordon Jack on May 16, 1872, Ethel Jack on January 26, 1874, Alice T. Jack on May 28, 1875, Samuel Howard Jack on December 28, 1880, and Frank Walter Jack on April 28, 1885. Ethel died in Apollo on August 19, 1879 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

Martha Jane Smith (second great-aunt)—daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon
Five children were born to Martha and her husband Hugh Evans in Apollo: Elsie E. Evans in September 1866, Annie Evans about 1869, William F. Evans about 1871, Edith Evans about 1873, and Alice Evans about 1875. Martha died in Apollo on March 31, 1921 and was buried at Apollo Cemetery.

Martha Smith Evans and husband Hugh Evans stone

Howard Stanley Smith (great-Uncle)—son of John Milton Smith and
Amanda Larimer Horne
Howard was born in Apollo on December 7, 1890. He was a hardware merchant in Apollo during the 1930s and 1940s, retiring in 1946. Howard and his wife Myrtle Mary Stewart lived in their Apollo home on 507 North Fourth Street for 44 years. He was the Apollo borough secretary for 38 years, resigning his post in December 1959 due to ill health after suffering a heart attack in November. Howard died in Apollo on January 14, 1961 following a heart attack and was buried at Riverview Cemetery. Howard was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and a life member of F and AM Masonic Lodge 437 of Apollo. Friends called him “Smitty.”

Bertha Edna Smith, Howard Stanley Smith, Myrtle Mary Stewart Smith

Howard and Myrtle’s three children were born in Apollo: Stewart Stanley Smith on January 11, 1919, Alma Margaret Smith on February 25, 1922, and Richard Franklin Smith on July 17, 1924.

Stewart and Alma Smith

His wife Myrtle died in Apollo on September 5, 1978 and was buried beside Howard at Riverview Cemetery.

Myrtle Mary Stewart Smith

George Nelson Smith (great-Uncle)—son of John Milton Smith and
Amanda Larimer Horne
George was born on October 22, 1885 in Apollo. He died in Westmoreland County on April 27, 1959 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

Willis Hawk and George Nelson Smith

At least three generations of my husband’s family have a connection to Apollo’s milestone celebrations. While my husband isn’t attending the bicentennial celebrations this summer, this is my way of connecting a fourth generation. I wish the people of Apollo a very happy bicentennial!

52 Ancestors – William Henry Church (89-2016)

William Henry Church

William Henry Church, son of Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy, was born February 11, 1895 in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia. He was one of 13 children—George Church, Samuel C. Church, James Benton Church, Jennie F. Church, Anna B. Church, Dessie Church, Charles Cleveland Church, Martha Church, William Henry Church, Donald Roy Church, and Presley Church. Two children are unknown to me but enumerated in the 1910 census record. They most likely didn’t survive. He went by Henry and was the brother of my husband’s grandmother Dessie Church Murphy.

On June 9, 1900, Henry and his family lived in the Church District of Wetzel County. Henry’s father was a farmer. His mother Lucinda was enumerated as the mother of 11 children, 10 of which were living.

On April 28, 1910, Henry and his family lived in the Clay District of Wetzel County. Henry’s parents have been married for 32 years. His mother Lucinda was enumerated as the mother of 13 children, 10 of which were living. Fourteen year old Henry was a farm laborer on the home farm. He was attending school and was able to read and write.

On June 5, 1917, Henry, who lived in Littleton, registered for the World War I draft. He was a farmer, employed near Littleton by his father Robert Church. He was of medium height and build, had grey eyes, and light hair.

Henry married Gay Thomas, daughter of Samuel Jefferson Thomas and Mary Ann (Mollie) Sole, on January 18, 1918 in Hundred, Wetzel County, West Virginia. Henry was 22 years old and Gay 17. Together they had three children—Clarence H. Church, Wanda M. Church, and Laverne G. Church. Clarence was born in May 12, 1918.

On January 30, 1920, Henry, Gay, and their one year old son Clarence lived in Littleton. Henry was 24 and Gay 18. The census enumerator record “none” under the column for occupation/trade. Gay was not working either. Wanda was born in May 1920, and Laverne in July 1923.

On April 18, 1930, Henry and his family lived in the Center District of Wetzel County. Henry rented the home they lived in.

Gay (Thomas) and William Henry Church

Henry’s brother, Samuel C. Church, died at age 50 on June 22, 1931 in the Church District of Wetzel County. His father Robert died on November 29, 1932 in Littleton. Both were buried at Thomas Chapel Church Cemetery in Wetzel County. Henry’s mother Lucinda died on January 13, 1933 in Littleton and was buried at Thomas Chapel Church Cemetery. The Wetzel Democrat of New Martinsville, West Virginia published her obituary on January 19, 1933: “Last rites for Mrs. Lucinda Church, aged 74 years, were held from the Thomas Chapel M. E. Church on Sunday afternoon with Rev. Eismon officiating. Interment was made in the Thomas Chapel Cemetery. Mrs. Church died Friday morning January 13th, following a serious illness of only three days. Mrs. Church was a lifelong resident of this county, being born near this city in 1858. Her husband, the late Robert Church, preceded her in death by only six weeks. The deceased was a daughter of John and Joanna Murphy, pioneers of Wetzel County. She was a member of the M. E. Church. Surviving are nine children: James Church of Hundred, W. Va.; Henry Church of Kodol, W. Va.; Charley Church, at home; Presley Church of Littleton, W. Va.; Donald Church of Clarksburg, W. Va.; Mrs. Dessie Murphy of Littleton; Mrs. Jennie Davis of Weston, W. Va.; Mrs. Martha McIntire and Mrs. Anna Evans, both of Clarksburg.”

Henry’s sister, Martha Church McIntire, died in Clarksburg, on August 6, 1936. She was buried at Elkview Cemetery in Clarksburg beside her two husbands, brothers Lester and Chester McIntire.
On June 29, 1940, Henry and Gay owned a house valued at $1000 in the Center District of Wetzel County. They were living in the same house in 1935. Henry was a farmer on a home farm and had worked 60 hours the week prior to the 1940 census being taken. Laverne, age 17, was the only child left at home.

Henry’s sister Dessie died at home in Littleton on November 20, 1940 from stomach cancer at the young age of 51. She left five children behind with the youngest child only 12 years old. Dessie, along with her parents, husband, and sister Jennie, are buried in the front row at the base of the hill at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Wetzel County. 

In 1942, Henry registered for the World War II draft. He lived in Littleton which had a mailing address of Kodol, West Virginia. Henry was 47 years old and a farmer.

Henry’s brother Charles Cleveland Church died in Littleton on April 12, 1955. He was buried at Anderson-Bethel Cemetery in Littleton.

Henry’s sister Anna died of occlusive arterial disease at Weston State Hospital in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia on March 29, 1959. She was buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Clarksburg.
Henry’s sister Jennie died of a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerosis on February 26, 1963 at Weston State Hospital in Weston. She was buried beside her parents at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Glover Gap, Wetzel County, near the town of Hundred. His brother James died on August 9, 1969 in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio. He was buried at Hope Cemetery in Salem.

My husband remembers visiting family in Wetzel County in the late 1960s or early 1970s. They took their camper and camped at the foot of the hill where Henry and Gay’s house sat. At 6 o’clock one morning, Gay came knocking on the camper with a fresh apple pie for the family. He said he was sure it was good!

Henry died on April 7, 1971 in West Virginia. He was buried at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Wetzel County. 


Henry was a descendent of Henry “Old Hundred” Church for whom the town of Hundred was named.

52 Ancestors – Myrtle Mary Stewart (88-2016)

Myrtle Mary Stewart

Myrtle Mary Stewart, daughter of Abner D. Stewart and Mary Bell Johnston, was born September 25, 1892 in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She had a brother named Harry Howard Stewart. Myrtle apparently had a third sibling that died. This is based on the 1900 and 1910 census records which listed Mary Johnston Stewart as the mother of three children, two of which were living.

On June 6, 1900, Myrtle and her family lived on a farm in the Allegheny Township. Her father was a farmer and her 11 year old brother Harry a farm laborer. A 26 year old man named Harry McCurdy was a boarder in the home, most likely working on the farm as he was also listed as a farm laborer. It’s possible that other family members lived close by as several of their neighbors had the last name of Stewart or Johnston.

Bertha Edna Smith (Howard's sister), Howard,
and Myrtle

By April 23, 1910, the family had moved to Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. They lived in a home located on the south side of North Fourth Street. Myrtle’s paternal grandparents, Robert George Johnston and Mary Catherine Kimmel Johnston, lived next door. Her father was a merchant in his own store and her brother Harry was a college student. Both Myrtle and her mother were unemployed. The move to Apollo was a good one as this was most likely where she met her husband. Myrtle married Howard Stanley Smith, son of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, sometime before June 5, 1917 which is when Howard registered for the World War I draft. Howard noted on the draft record that he was married. He did not however, record that he had any children under the age of 12. This record is important because I haven’t found a marriage record yet so I don’t have a marriage date. Together Myrtle and Howard had three children—Stewart Stanley Smith, Alma Margaret Smith, and Richard Franklin Smith. Stewart, their first born, joined the family on January 11, 1919. The year began full of joy with a new baby in the family and ended with sorrow when Myrtle’s father Abner Stewart died on December 30. He was buried at Apollo Cemetery in Apollo.

Son Stewart and daughter Alma

On January 12, 1920, Myrtle and Howard lived with her mother and brother Harry in the Apollo North Fourth Street house. Howard was a clerk in a mill office. Stanley was 11 months old. Their only daughter, Alma Margaret Smith, was born in Apollo on February 25, 1922. The family was completed when their third child, a boy they named Richard Franklin Smith, was born in Apollo on July 17, 1924. Myrtle’s mother Mary died in Apollo on March 31, 1929. Myrtle was the informant on her death certificate. Mary was buried at Apollo Cemetery.

On April 11, 1930, Myrtle and Howard lived in the First Ward of Apollo. Howard was now a hardware merchant. Their house which they owned was valued at $3000 and contained a radio.

On April 4, 1940, Myrtle and her family still lived in the Apollo North Fourth Street house. Her husband Howard was a salesman in a hardware store. Her son Stewart, who still lived at home at the age of 21, worked as a mortician’s helper. In 1942, Howard registered for the World War II draft. They lived at 507 North Fourth Street in Apollo so were in the same house. I don’t believe Howard served during the war but I’m sure that weighed heavy over Myrtle. Howard retired as a hardware store owner in 1946.

Howard and Myrtle Smith

On December 23, 1959, the Leader-Times of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, reported that “Howard S. Smith, Apollo borough secretary for 38 years, has resigned his post due to ill health. He is recuperating at his home from a heart attack suffered last month.” Howard died at their residence on January 14, 1961 after suffering another heart attack. King Funeral Home handled his funeral with the Rev. Warren Martin, pastor of the Apollo Presbyterian Church, in charge of the service. Howard was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Myrtle’s brother Howard died June 1973 in Apollo leaving her as the last member of the family. Myrtle herself died on September 5, 1978 in Apollo. She was buried beside her husband at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Myrtle and Howard lived in their home on 507 North Fourth Street in Apollo for 44 years. Her husband served as a well-respected member of the Apollo Council for 38 years.