Genealogical Gems

I have several old photos that have sadly started wearing away at the edges and are so frail that I am scared to pick them up.  In searching for a qualified inexpensive place to restore and preserve my photos, I stumbled upon iMemories . While  iMemoriesdoes not restore photos, they do preseve them. They will make DVDs or CDs from your originals, which they return to you. Going forward, I will definitly take care to preserve photos for my girls and their (someday - but not soon at all please) children!

Joseph Ruczhak   1918 - 1997 Anna (nee Kurenda) Ruczhak   1917 - 2001 Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery Chester County, PA my paternal grandparents

Just because your ancestor never served does not mean there isn't some kind of military record on him. The Civil War, for example, used a draft. My great-great-great grand-uncle, David Still, never actually served. Yet, he did register. He is included on the Consolidated List of persons subject to military duty in East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA. This record shows it was written up in June 1863. At that time he was 40 years old. The draft registration also confirms (since I already knew) that he was a white farmer born in Pennsylvania. There is a spot for notes or an indication of military service. He does not have any notes, nor was he sent. An interesting note though about the draft is that if you had the means, you could send a substitute in your place. In this image, notice the two names with notes: John D. Shingle and William Sheeler. Both men have the note "Drafted. Sent substitute" included.

A will is a legal document dictating – to put it simple - how you want your assets divided after you pass. The will is written, signed and witnessed. If the will is decided to be legal and therefore binding, it is said to be testate. Wills are an incredible resource when tracing a family tree. They can provide family relations. They can offer a glimpse into the day to day life of your ancestor and their economic status to a degree. Although there is no one set way to write a will, they all will provide some basic information. They will start with the person’s name and location. An executor will also be named in the will. This is the person who will physically divide the property and take care of any outstanding bills or collections. Every will is different. I have one will – the will of William H. Still (at right) – that lists his kids and little else. From his will, dated 27 December 1913, I confirmed he had a son, William D., and two daughters: Kate Russell and Dorinda S...

Aldus J. Eckman 1849 - 1934 and Emma (nee Miller) Eckman 1858-1942 buried in Clearfield UM Cemetary Lancaster County, PA

Annie Groff Rice was the wife of T. Edgar Rice, the policeman shot by Zachariah Walker. This weekend I attended the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the lynching of Walker, put on by the Coatesville Historical Society. In most accounts, understandably so, everyone focuses on Rice or Walker, but everyone neglects the widow Rice and her five children. Annie R. Groff was born in April 1865. She married T. Edgar Rice in 1888 or 1889. He had been born in October 1865. Their first son, Thomas E. was born in December of 1889. The young couple had two more sons: James Vincent (born August 1892) and George Harvey (December 1895). They also had two daughters: Rachel C. (born November 1872) and Elsie M. (born February 1899). In 1900 Edgar was a farmer, according to the 1900 Census, and the family lived in Newlin. They also had a servant Alfred Hess - an 18 year old farm hand - who lived with them. The 1900 Census showed Annie had five births and all five children were alive. The 19...

Charles Henry Eckman is my husband’s great grandfather. He and his wife Rosa Kirchner are my elusive couple. They lived in Lancaster City on Manor Street throughout their married life. They had five children together. One died a toddler. I have yet to find their burial information. However, I have found lots about his parents – John Henry and Catherine Kezia Cresswell Eckman. His parents lived across from the Zion Reformed Church in Providence Township in Southern Lancaster County. Counting Charles, they had 11 children.   John and Catherine are buried there with everyone except Charles. One other sister, Margaret Estella Eckman is buried in the same cemetery but with her husband, Lewis Eckman. The family was well know – still is – in the church and played a large active role in it. The church is now Zion UCC. The story goes that the family had a huge picnic one Sunday afternoon. Charles and Rosa came down from Lancaster with her parents – John Kirchner and Barbara K...

Today the Ephrata Cloister is a part of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. However, when it was founded in 1732, it was Protestant German community that began as a retreat, a way of life which supported solitude. For a time it flourished and by the mid 18 th century it was well known for its printing and music and art. The Cloister was founded by Conrad Beissel, a German. He came to America in search of religious freedom – not just to worship who he chose but also how he chose to do so. Other men and women joined him in Ephrata. Beissel felt people should focus on preparing to join God in Heaven after their parting. He felt so strongly about this purpose that he did not think people should marry, as spouses may take attention away from that purpose. The Brothers and Sisters of the Cloister were unmarried spending their days in work and prayer.   The Sisters lived in one large communal building known as the Saron. The Brothers lived in the Bethania, a large co...

Reading Estate Inventories How to Use Them by Kenneth Smith ... Hospital waiting rooms are good for something!

Sadsbury Township is one of the earliest municipalities in Lancaster County . It is the rural municipality my parents moved us to when I was seven. As early as 1744, another municipality – Bart Township – was formed from Sadsbury. The first industries included grist mills and iron forges. Later, many cottage industries popped up. The Quakers were among the first settlers. In 1724 Andrew Moore and Samuel Miller petitioned for the establishment of a meeting house. Approved, the Sadsbury Friends built a meeting house the next year and in 1737 the Sadsbury Monthly Meeting was formed. The Quakers were – and still are – a peaceful non-combative people, believing in equality and fairness. To this end, it is no surprise then that Sadsbury Township was a known stop on the Underground Railroad in the years before the Civil War. One such stop was the Coates House, located on the west side of Newport Avenue . The house dates back to the late 1700s. A simple farmhouse, it ...

Yesterday - the Sunday Obituaries - I included Agnes' Death Announcement. It was from the Village Record 13 March 1860 and read "In East Fallowfield, on the 24th ult, Mrs. Agnes Still, wife of David Still, aged 41 years and 1 month." Agnes (nee Armstrong) died at the age of 41 in February due to pleurisy, which she had for one week. This is according to "Schedule 3 - Persons who dies in the year ending 1st June 1860 in East Fallowfield Township in the County of Chester State of Pennsylvania." According to the Mayo Clinic, pluerisy is "when the double membrane (pleura) that lines the inside of your chest cavity and surrounds each of your lungs becomes inflamed." She is buried at Hephzibah. Agnes Armstrong and David Still were married by Rev. J. Hand on 18 February 1845, according to their marriage announcement. The two had one child: William. David remarried after her death.