Genealogical Gems

  Emanuel Winter (12 April 1821 – 4 July 1888) is buried at the Zion Reformed Cemetery in New Providence. Sadly, being of an “impaired” mind, he hung himself, thus taking his own life. Emanuel, according to the 1870 US Census, lived in Smithville, Providence Township . He was 49 at the time and a farmer. Living with him then were: Ann Winter, 69; nine year old Marus Gochnauer; and seven year old Elizabeth Gochnauer. The census does not indicate relationships.   Ten years prior, in 1860, the Census shows Emanuel and Anna in Providence Township . Emanuel is a farmer. Living with them are: John, 16, and Simon, 15, Gochnauer. Again, no relations information is provided in the 1860 Census.   Emanuel was just 27 at the time of the 1850 Census, where we find him in Martic Township . The head of household is Joseph Winters, 63. It is presumed from this information that Joseph is the father of Emanuel. Also living there are: Joshua Winters, 25; Benjamin Win...

Fulton Township reports much growth On This Day in 1880. The growth includes residential, barns, and bridges.   John Wright, Mrs. Groff, and Mrs. Harlan all put up new residences. Tom Jones, David Deaver, and Robert Clark built barns, while Timothy Haines build a large tobacco house. The new bridge crossing Peters’ Creek is ready for inspection. Mrs. Reynolds is continuing her mercantile business at Eldora station.   Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 31 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.   On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

The American Union telegraph company has announced On This Day in 1880 that it will open an office in the city. Four wires run already run through the city via the Pennsylvania railroad poles.   Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 30 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.     On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Dennis O’Flaherty is my 2 nd great grandfather. He was born about 1839 in Ireland and died in Phoenixville, Chester County before 1902. He married Martha Durkin in 1867 or before, and they had eight children.   That just summed up my knowledge of Dennis O’Flaherty. Today I am using the Census Records to pinpoint some more information about him.   1870 US Census Dennis, 31, works at a rolling mill in 1870. Hattie (Martha) keeps house. She is 30. At that time, they had two children: Mary, 2; and Hugh, 1. Living with them was 24 year old Ireland born laborer Patrick Hannegan. Dennis states he could not write. Martha could not read or write.   1880 US Census Dennis and Martha O’Flaherty are living on King (sp?) Street in Phoenixville, Chester County . The Census was taken on 7 June 1880. At that time, Dennis, 45, worked in the Iron Works. Martha was 41 and kept house. Both were born in Ireland . Their children are listed as Mary, 12; Hugh, 11; Mic...

Birthdays Happy birthday to Patricia Beattie, Lauren Morris, Alex Soanes, and Tim Peters! May God grant you all Many Years.    Patricia Beattie is my second cousin once removed. She is the granddaughter of Nora Kilpatrick, who was my great grandmother Mary Kilpatrick’s sister. I’ve never met Aunt Nora’s branch of the family but would love to get to know them.   Lauren Morris is also my second cousin once removed. Her great grandfather is my Uncle Reds (Raymond Welsh), who was my grandmother’s brother. Sadly, I have not met her yet either.   Alex Soanes – Alexander really – is my third cousin once removed. He used to be my neighbor! We used to live right down the street from him, his mom (Dawn Mullin) and his five siblings! Alex and his wife still live nearby and they have three children. Oh yeah, Alex’s third great grandparents are Dennis and Martha Durkin O’Flaherty. They are my second great grandparents.   I have not seen Tim Peters in years; s...

A stable, belonging to the widow Mrs. Catherine Doerr, was destroyed by fire, reported the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer On This Day in 1880. The framed stable was likely started by someone familiar with the premises, according to the report. The building was entirely destroyed; however, a horse and two hogs were saved. The building, located in the rear of Doerr’s house at 532 Manor Street , was relatively new and was in fact insured for $200 with the Lycoming Company.   Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 29 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.     On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Today Fearless Females Challenge is: Do you remember your mother’s best friend? How and where did they meet? How long were they friends? What activities did they share?   Although my mom has passed, her best friend is still very much a part of my life. “Aunt” Gloria is my godmother. She and mom met through Girl Scouts, I believe. They became friends as school girls. They also went to Bishop Shanahan High School in West Chester together.       Fearless Females is a daily prompt throughout March celebrating Women’s History Month initiated by Lisa A Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist    © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

The Barr line, though admittedly the one I am the least familiar with, is ironically one that I am the furthest back on. Ancestry.com indicates the majority of people with the Barr surname is Scottish or from Northern Ireland . England , Great Britain and Germany follow. Finally the New York Passengers List shows several from Switzerland as well, though comparatively not many.   The Barr name, at least in my husband’s case, is a Pennsylvania German name. Pennsylvania German names were generally either personal names, occupational names, or derived from whence they came or lived. Barr is an example of a personal name. Barr is derived from Berhard, according to “Early Life of the Pennsylvania Germans” by A. Monroe Aurand, Jr.   Susan Barr was the first Barr I came across in my research. She was born 15 May 1792 to Martin Barr and Maria Herr. She died in Providence Township , Lancaster County on 27 March 1849. She married John Longnecker and they had six children,...

Before TMI meant Too Much Information, many living in Central Pennsylvania felt TMI did not offer enough information. TMI, of course, stands for Three Mile Island . On This Day in 1979, in the early morning hours as many area residents were either still asleep or early birds were putting on coffee, a pressure valve in a reactor at the nuclear power plant failed to close. It was – and still is – the worst nuclear accident in US history.   TMI was only five years old when the pressure valve failed to close and the cooling water drained into that open valve. The cooling water was contaminated with radiation. When the water drained, the core began to overheat.   For those who have never seen a nuclear plant, imagine rods – kind of like large pipes – which must remain within a certain temperature range. Water in the tank cools the rods to keep them in that acceptable safe temperature range. When the water drained, obviously then the water level lowered, exposing the rod...

  This week I have to admit genealogy took a back seat. It was my first full week back to work (I work seasonally at a nursery – LOVE IT!) and my kids had some medical issues (one still does actually) but I did get some reading done. EIN Presswire sent me a news release concerning a new online Jewish database. The Knowles Collection links generations of Jewish families from all over the world. It has reached its one-millionth record milestone and is now easily searchable online. The vast majority of new contributions are coming from families and private archives worldwide. The free collection can be accessed at FamilySearch.org/family-trees . The National Genealogical Society conference is 13-16 May 2015 in St. Charles , Missouri . The early bird registration deadline is this Monday, 30 March 2015. For more information see the registration brochure . Blog posts worth reading: Dear Myrtle has finally published a How To that makes Hangouts easier to navigate. ...

Christiana will soon have new hotelkeepers, it was reported On This Day in 1880. J. Hope Hershberger and his wife would be moving to Christiana, Lancaster County , “in a few days” to keep hotel. The Hershbergers are currently the host and hostess of the Kennett Square hotel.   About the Hershbergers From 1867 to 1872, Hope held a tavern license for the White Horse Inn (White Horse Hotel) in Londonderry . He then held a tavern license for the Kennett Square Hotel, in Kennett Square ( Chester County ), from 1873 to 1879.   By June 1880 they were in fact at the hotel in the then Village of Christiana in Sadsbury Township . He was 53 at that time. His wife was 42. Living with them was his six year old niece Bertha Cox, four borders and two servants.   The 1870 Census shows Hope as being a farmer in Cochranville, Londonderry Township , Chester County . His wife, Vienna , keeps house. They have a domestic servant and a farm laborer living with them. ...

Salisbury Township recalled George Boots On This Day in 1880. The Intelligencer’s correspondent writes of the death of Boots, one of the area’s oldest citizens.    Boots is described as being colored, living on Welsh Mountain , and peculiar. He has “claimed that he had seen 150 returns of Christmas Day,” although his exact age is unknown. Boots had been able to recall the Revolutionary War as well. Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 26 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.     On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

George Shultz was charged with fornication On This Day in 1880. Shultz fathered the dead female baby who had been discovered the week prior. The mother was Christina Denning. She had placed the child in a box.   The deceased decomposing infant was discovered on the 17 th when an unpleasant odor was discovered. Denning had been imprisoned until she was cleared of any criminal intent . The child had been stillborn.    Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 25 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.     On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

    Walter H. Winter (6 August 1860 – 22 February 1934) and his wife Christie G. (11 September 1857 – 6 September 1946) are buried together at the Zion Reformed Cemetery in New Providence. The Winters, according to the 1900 US Census, married in 1883 but had no children yet at that time. They lived in East Drumore , where Walter was a farmer. They had two boarders living with them: Roy Eckman, and Harry Miller. The 1910 US Census shows they employed a 12 year old servant girl, Grace Moss. Grace was the daughter of Jeremiah and Emma Moss, who were neighbors of the Winters, according to the 1900 Census.   By 1920, the couple sold the farm and lived by themselves in Providence Township . Walter was now a laborer in a garage.    In 1930, Walter and Christie are still in Providence but he is now a foreman. Living with them is their 19 year old daughter Lyndelle Aulthouse and her one year old son William G. Aulthouse. Lyndelle married when she was 1...

The puddlers at the Safe Harbor iron works went on strike for a wage increase. The works are, On This Day in 1880, are now closed and 150 men are now without employment.    A puddler involved the manufacture of iron. Puddling was a process converting pig iron into wrought iron using a reverbatory furnace. Hence, a puddler was one who puddled.   The Safe Harbor iron works is located in Southern Lancaster County. Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 24 March 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.   On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

March is Women’s History Month and as such, today’s prompt focuses on my paternal great grandmother, Bessie Matys Hruszczak. The prompt for the Fearless Females Challenge is: Create a timeline for a female ancestor using your favorite software program or an online timeline generator such as  OurTimelines . Post an image of it or link to it.    I am a strong believer in timelines so I thought I would love this one. Not so much. The program asks for a name ad birth and death year. It provides world events. The timeline that OurTimelines created for Bessie is: http://www.ourtimelines.com/cgi-bin/makehist.pl       My simple timeline: 1895 – Bessie is born to Joseph Matys and Olena Vaspleship 1904-1905 – Russian-Japanese War 1912 – Immigrates to America in October (that April the Titanic had sunk); settled in Coatesville 1914-1919 – WWI (US entered in 1917) 1915 – Marries Panko Hruszczak 1916 – 1 st son Theodore born 1918 – 2 nd ...

I hold many things in common with my ancestors, the least of which is DNA, so this week’s 52 Ancestors Challenge was tough for me. Each week Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small , challenges fellow GeneaBloggers with her 52 Ancestors Challenge. This week’s prompt is:  What ancestor is a lot like you? What ancestor do you have a lot in common? Same name? Same home town?   Hometown: I am originally from Coatesville, though like many family members, I was born at Chester County Hospital in West Chester . Many of my family – on both parents’ sides – lived at one time or another in Coatesville. Family members who have lived in Coatesville at some point in their life are simply too numerous to name (that and many are still living).    Religion: I was raised Roman Catholic. Many family members on my maternal grandmother’s side were Catholic, or at least raised Catholic. Like many, I left the Catholic faith. Like many of my dad’s side, I now practice Ort...