Genealogical Gems

My Aunt Helen used to write me long letters about various family stories and information. Sometimes the letters were nothing more than a specific line's names and vitals. Sometimes she would include little stories about her mother or family stories she had heard growing up. Sometimes it might be a newspaper clipping she thought I'd enjoy. No matter what she sent, even if it was simply a birthday car, she always found the most interesting stamps. Today, it is US Postage Stamp Day. T he United States issued its first postage stamp on July 1, 1847. They were not mandatory thou until 1855. Today, not only are they mandatory, but they cost an arm and a leg. To put this in perspective, Aunt Helen was actually my great grandfather's youngest sister. Born 24 August 1903, Helen Mae Still was the youngest of six children of Franklin & Sarah Jennie Van Horn Still. She was an incredible woman. She grew up on the family farm. All the Still girls were educated and Aunt Helen w...

1968 MS State University Robert P Still I found a Baseball Questionnaire today on Ancestry.com. I got excited because there is a family story that involves a local baseball team but this questionnaire was for the professional teams. So naturally I played with family names. I got a hit, even though I doubt he is of the same line. Robert Philip Still was born 24 April 1949 in Georgia to Clinton H Still and Louise Cowan Still. In May 1972, Robert Philip STILL filled out a questionnaire. He played for the Oneonta Yankees, a minor league team of the New York-Penn League.He played Third Base for the Oneonta Tigers. Still was born in 1949 and lived down Decatur, Georgia. He graduated from DeKalb HS in Decatur in 1967. That same year then, in 1967, he was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft, according to Baseball Reference . Three years later, the Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the 10th round of the 197...

I found a wife! Not for me (my husband is work enough!) but for my Uncle Jim! Years ago, my great Aunt Helen (Still) Webster told me a story about my Uncle Jim (James Franklin Still) having a son. By the time we all came along, Uncle Jim was back East living with his brother/my grandfather (Lloyd Pierson Still). He spoke of working on ranches but never mentioned a wife or a child.  Searching on Ancestry.com today, I found a marriage record for James Still born 1910 to a Julie Riddle on 14 April 1931 in  Deep Creek, Routt, Colorado The 1930 US Census shows Uncle Jim, obviously single, still living in East Marlboro, Chester County, PA. The 1940 Census shows him living in Clark Township, Routt County, Colorado. The 1940 Census also reveals he lived there in 1935 as well but now his father, Pierson George Still, has moved out with him and Uncle Jim is single. In fact, it shows that the two of them are living by themselves on a farm.  I found land records for U...

Today's Genealogy Photo A Day Challenge is "Childhood". This photo is of two of my cousins (Ken and Beth) and I (in the white shirt) with our great grandfather, Pierson George Still. Ken is two years older than Beth and I. She is a week older than me. So, much of our childhood involving the Still side of the family includes our great grandfather. He was 90 when he passed in 1977, just two months shy of his 91st birthday. Tomorrow's prompt is "Oldest & Youngest". (c) Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2017

On Friday, 20 May, a new addition to the family arrived! My cousin Tim delivered (well, ok his girlfriend actually delivered!) a beautiful 7 lb 9 oz baby boy! His name is Pierson James Still. He is named after Tim's (and my) grandfather (Lloyd Pierson Still) and our grandfather's brother (James Franklin Still). He was born on the 20th - the day our grandmother ( Mary Welsh Still ) passed away many years ago. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Today is one of "those days". It is my parent's anniversary. They were married in 1967. When I was in sixth grade, I made my Confirmation. I was Roman Catholic at the time. My sponsor was my Aunt Neva (my mom's sister-in-law). When I was in eight grade, my dog died. Troubles had been with the family longer than me. She was a great dog. It is also the day my maternal grandmother passed away today. I remember waking up that morning feeling a heaviness in my chest and feeling very sad. I managed to roll over and go back to sleep but then a few hours later, I heard the phone ring. Daddy came in my room (I was home from college) and asked if I was awake. I remember telling him Mums had passed and about what time she had passed. Mary Rose (Welsh) Still d. 20 May 1989 May Her Memory Be Eternal That day is a bit of a blur but some random things stand out. For instance, my grandparents had a party-line. In all the years they lived there, none of us could ever recall...

The War of 1812 is, in my opinion, an often overlooked war. Schools just kind of gloss over it. The Revolutionary War was the war for America ’s independence from England . The Civil War was the brother fought against brother, literally in some cases. But the War of 1812 … what was it even about? Philadelphia Gazette , 29 July 1812 Britain tried to enact trade restrictions on the United States . Britain also tried to limit our young nation’s expansion. On 18 June 1812, our Congress finally declared war against Britain . In August 1914, Britain captured and burned our Washington DC capital. New York , New Orleans and Baltimore were able to stand up to British forces. Our young nation once again found herself fighting for independence. The War of 1812 ended on 17 February 1815 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. Ancestry.com recently added a database titled, “Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812” My Still family was already well established in Chester Cou...

Judson Still lived a long life. He was a well known resident of the Danville area. Obituary of Judson Still His obituary, which ran in The Morning News , reads: A Judson Still, a widely known resident, died at his home, East Market Street , just before the dawn yesterday morning after a painful illness of three weeks. He was afflicted with cancer of the stomach, in addition to which on November 1 st he sustained a stroke of paralysis, which made it necessary for him to take his bed and which was probably the direct cause of death. Mr. Still belongs to an old Pennsylvania family of Swiss origin, the emigrant ancestor having come from Switzerland and settles in what was then the province of Pennsylvania . A Judson Still is one of numerous descendants, who for the most part reside in the southeastern part of the State. The Rev. Amos B Still, the father of the decedent, was a widely known divine of the Baptist church. By a coincidence his death occurred on Sunday...

Nellie Reed Still was barely a year old when she died. The poor child died Monday, 1 July 1901. The paper claimed she was only 11 months old. Her obituary, which ran in The Morning News , reads: Mr. and Mrs. Still Bereaved Nellie Reed Still, the eleven-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Judson Still died at Elysburg, Monday afternoon. When I did a search for her father, Judson Still, I was not really expecting anything. Wow. Adoniram Judson Still was already in my family tree, albeit distantly. He is, according to Ancestry, my 2 nd cousin 4x removed. That makes Little Nellie my 3 rd cousin 3x removed. Nellie and her brother Ralph were born in Danville in Montour County . Their mom was Dora Kneibles and of course Judson was their father. Little Nellie lived just long enough to be included with Ralph and their folks on the 1900 US Census. That year the Census also revealed the month and year of birth. Nellie had been born in February of that year. Now, that would m...

My Still line had had me at a blockage for years. I am able to get back to the late 1700s but I have not left Chester County . I do not where the family came from originally or even who is my immigrant. As such, I have taken to tracing random Stills from time to time to see if I can connect them. Most I have been able to remotely connect. On Sunday, I posted a Sunday’s Obituary piece of little Emma Still. She was just a year old when she died. The Allentown Leader announces death of Emma Still. Her obituary, which ran in The Allentown Leader , reads: Emma G., the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Still, died at 7:30 last evening of pneumonia, aged 1 year and 4 months. The funeral will take place Friday at 9 a.m., from the parents’ residence, No. 532 North Court Street. Internment in Highland Cemetery . Rev. Dr. J. F. Pollock will officiate. Pennsylvania began keeping death certificates on a state level that year and I found her death certificate. That started me ...

My search for potential Still connections continues. On 18 August 1913, the Harrisburg Telegraph announced the wedding of Violet Still. from the 18 August 1913 Harrisburg Telegraph The announcement – as transcribed: Ranck – Still Wedding Special to the Telegraph Sunbury , Pa. , Aug. 18 – William F. Ranck, of Milton, and Miss Violet Still, of Sunbury, were wedded at the First United Brethren Church here. The Rev. C. A. Mutch, the pastor, tied the knot. Following a wedding trip they will live at Milton , Pa. The marriage announcement appeared on page two of the Harrisburg Telegraph . The wedding occurred in Sunbury, which is located in Northumberland County . Wedding Wednesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Any death is sad but especially that of a young child. Emma Still was just a year old when she died. from the Allentown Leader on 18 July 1906 Her obituary, which ran in The Allentown Leader , reads: Emma G., the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Still, died at 7:30 last evening of pneumonia, aged 1 year and 4 months. The funeral will take place Friday at 9 a.m., from the parents’ residence, No. 532 North Court Street. Internment in Highland Cemetery . Rev. Dr. J. F. Pollock will officiate. At only one year, I doubted I would find much information about little Emma. However since she died in 1906 – the year Pennsylvania began keeping death certificates on a state level – I found her death certificate. Little Emma G. Still died on 17 July 1906 at 532 Court Street, in the 9 th Ward of Allentown in Lehigh County . Her birth date was listed as 26 March 1906 although her age clearly states 1 year 4 months. She died of pneumonia. She was born in Pennsylvania but ...

I had no focus last night but I still wanted to work on my Still family. While exploring various hints on Ancestry.com, I came across one for Agnes Armstrong Still. She was the wife of my 4x great grandfather’s brother David. Her hints however took me to a Civil War soldier who fought in the Colored Troops. Her first hint took me to the Romansville United Methodist Church in Chester County (on Find A Grave) where I knew her to be buried. She died in 1860. Her husband – my 4x great uncle David Still – remarried and lived until 1907. That led me to a hint from the Gerberich Collection which confirmed her burial on 24 February 1860 at Romansville. The Gerberich Collection is a collection of old Pennsylvania church records. She was included under the Romansville Methodist Episcopal Church. I still need to confirm if these are two separate churches or if there was a name/denomination change at some point during the years. Her entry notes that Agnes Still was the wife of David. S...

Mary Rose Still is my maternal grandmother. Born 26 July 1911, she is the oldest child of Martin Welsh and Catherine O’Flaherty. She passed away 20 May 1989. Her funeral service was arranged by Albert F Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square , Chester County. She is buried with my grandfather, her husband, at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett. The images on the front of her cards are mostly Marian images, although I do have one of St. Therese the Little Flower. The back, as can be seen here, is a quote of Cardinal Newman. This indicates, as I already knew, that she is Roman Catholic. Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Lloyd P Still is my maternal grandfather. Born 24 March 1914, he is the younger son of Pierson George Still and Mary Kilpatrick. He passed away 4 May 1993. His funeral service was arranged by Kuzo & Gofus Funeral Home in Kennett Square , Chester County. He is buried with my grandmother, his wife, at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett. The front of his cards are images of Christ or of Mary. I actually have one of each. The back, as can be seen here, is a quote of Cardinal Newman. This indicates, as I already knew, that he is Roman Catholic. I am not sure where the name Lloyd came from but his middle name, Pierson, is that of his father. Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Alvin Still is my 4 th cousin. I have seen his name spelled Alban and also Alvan. In 1916 he married Catherine Leahy in Coatesville, Chester County. The Coatesville Record (sadly, now defunct) used to run a section, as many papers do, in which it would re-print news from the past. On 5 August 1946, under the “30 years ago” heading, it ran the following: Miss Catherine Leahy and Alvin Still, this city, were united in marriage. Alban is the son of Robert and Albina Williams Still. Robert is the son of my 3 rd great grandparents, George David and Sarah Bing Still. Catherine is the daughter of Henry and Clara Supplee Leahy. Wedding Wednesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Robert B Still is my 3 rd great uncle. He is the son of George David Still and Sarah Bing Still, my 3 rd great grandparents. He is buried, next to his wife Albina, at the Hephzibah Baptist Church Cemetery in East Fallowfield Township , Chester County . His stone reads: In Loving Memory Robert B Still Born Aug 15, 1823 Died Feb 16, 1903 Age 64 Years At Rest He was born in East Fallowfield Township . He married Albina Williams in 1874, probably in East Fallowfield Township . He owned and ran a farm in East Fallowfield Township . He and Albina raised two sons – George and Alban – in East Fallowfield Township . He died and was buried in East Fallowfield Township . And yet, I know so little about him. He is but a ghost of East Fallowfield Township .  Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016