Genealogical Gems

Walter G. Deyoe died when he was only three years old. I know little of him. He is the son of Daniel and Louise Sharp Deyoe, my husband’s great grandparents. Walter was born on 11 February 1871 and died on 30 March 1874. Since he was born and died between census records, the only proof per se I have of his existence is Find A Grave and other Deyoe researchers.  I have not found an obituary or church record for him yet either. He is buried in the Deyoe Family Cemetery, Greene County, NY. The stone pictured here is from Find A Grave  (by B rian Christensen ) and I have seen it in several trees that include young Walter. It shows a lamb, which is so often used for graves of children. The lamb symbolizes innocence. Some sources also say the lamb symbolizes the Lamb of God.   Wednesday's Child is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2014

Gloria Elaine Webster was born on 22 March 1926 to Elwood J. and Helen Still Webster. The family lived in East Fallowfield. She passed away less than two months later, on 15 May 1926. She died, according to her death certificate, of Catarrh Pneumonia with Convulsions. Catarrh pneumonia is defined as an inflammation of the lung tissue with inflammation of the bronchial membranes. She is buried at Doe Run Presbyterian Cemetery in East Fallowfield. Wednesday's Child is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

I never knew my Aunt. Her name is Dorothy Helen Still. She was born 17 February 1913 to my great grandparents: Pierson Still and Mary Kilpatrick. I am sure her family was excited to receive her and felt blessed, having lost their first daughter just three years before. She joined my Uncle Jim (James Franklin Still) in this small family. Sadly though, she died less than a month later on 8 March 1913 of Pertussis. Pertussis is also known as Whooping Cough, an infection best known for its tell-tale coughing spells that end with an almost dramatic whooping gasp for breath. She was buried the following day at the Old Doe Run Cemetery. The Cemetery is across the street from the Old Doe Run Presbyterian Church on Strasburg Road, in East Fallowfield, Chester County. She shares a plot with her parents and siblings, with the exception of my grandfather (who is buried with his wife/my grandmother elsewhere). There is one other child - a stillborn - who was buried wit...

Poor Patrick Welsh. In 1918 Chester County was hit hard by pneumonia and influenza. Patrick's young family saw more death than any family should. He buried his wife and two young children. Poor little Catherine was the first to succumb. She was just seven months old. It appears she died at home (235 Hall Street). Her listed Cause of Death is whooping cough. She died 31 August 1918 and was buried two days later at St. Mary's in Phoenixville. St. Mary's of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic parish under the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Not all the dates match up quite right so I can only surmised that Patrick, who was the informant on all three certificates, was simply and understandably devastated. Catherine's certificate above shows her birthdate as 29 January 1918. That seems plausible ... except her brother William was supposedly born 17 June 1918. That's less than five months. Too long to be twins. Too close to be a second pregnancy. William J. Welsh die...

Sometimes the people we seek are not in the births, marriage announcements or obituaries. While checking out the webpage for the Southern Lancaster County Historical Society , I came across a news article about a missing young child. This child is of no known relation to me or to my husband but I thought it interesting enough to share. A brief note ran in the 10 February 1743 of the Pennsylvania Gazette concerning the missing Margaret Dickson. WHEREAS Margaret, the Daughter of James Dickson, of the Township of Little Britain, in Lancaster County, a Child about three Years of Age, has been missing from her FatherHouse ever since the 26th of December past; diligent Search and Enquiry having been made after her, and not being yet heard of, suspected she is stolen and carried away: She is a Child of fair Complexion, with long pale Hair, round fat Face, grey Eyes, a black Mole on the right Side of her Neck, a Place above her Forehead without Hair, her right Hand and Foot bigger ...

Little Ulysses S Eckman is buried at the Zion Reformed Church in New Providence, Lancaster County. He was the infant son of Aldus John Eckman and his first wife Amelia C. Kunkle. He was born 13 February 1875 and passed less than a month later, on the fifth of March. He is buried next to his mother near Aldus' parents and siblings. Amelia died, assumably from complications of childbirth, on 15 February 1873. Photo: Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

I spent a recent afternoon at the Lancaster County Historical Society where I found St. Joseph's Directory. St. Joseph's is a Roman Catholic parish, originally founded in 1849 by German immigrants, in Lancaster City, Lancaster County, PA. I was looking for information on John Kirchner, my husband's great great grandfather, who died in a work related accident on 31 October 1881. I did find his information, but I also found and infant Kirchner! Listed in 1881 was: Kirchner, infant, filia illegitima Rosa Kirchner, mortua statim post partum, 26 m June sepulta est codem. Translation: Kirchner , baby , illegitimate daughter of Rose Kirchner , died immediately after birth , on 26   June and was buried the same (day) . Burial for the child (and for John Kirchner as well) is at the Old St Joseph Cemetery, 440 St Joseph Street. The cemetery, which sadly has fallen into such a disaster, adjoins the church. Rosa, my husband's great grandmother, just keeps getting mo...

1st grade at St. Cecilia's in Coatesville 1975-1976 The school is now closed. The building sits vacant along Lincoln Highway in town.   (If memory serves ...) 1st row: Bernadette (I think), Bobby Olivera, Darlene Riddle, ?, ?, Kathy, Stephanie Palmer. 2nd Row: Maureen Doyle, Gema Szabo, Patrick Lannigan (I think), ?, ?, Gina Labiak, Billy Pilotti, Karen Yankavich. Row 3: ?, me, Mary Hennesy, Michael Jason, ?, Cindy, John Goodyear, Kim Karmilowicz, ?, ?. Row 4: Sister Michael, ?, Bronwyn Zappacosta, Lisa Lemire, ?, Susan Pacana, ?, Tony Previte.   wow lots of question marks there. I though my memory was better than that!