Genealogical Gems

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Yesterday was an exhausting day. It was a bittersweet day. I saw so many family members who I do not always have the opportunity to see and yet I saw them because of the circumstances. One of my daughters and I attended the viewing of my cousin and the services and burial for my aunt. Katherine Wiker was my paternal grandfather’s sister. She was the last of that generation. Aunt Katie’s obituary reads: Katherine "Katie" Wiker Photo with obituary Katherine Ruczhak Wiker, 92, died Friday, October 21, 2016 in Windsor, New York.   She was the wife of Chester P. Wiker Sr., who preceded her in death having shared 47 years of marriage. Katherine was born in Coatesville, and lived in Hershey, PA and Windsor, NY. She was the daughter of the late Panko and Bessie Ruczhak.   She worked for 24 years at Pepperidge Farm and then worked for the Coatesville Association for the Blind. She was devoted to her family and friends and was a member of Olivet United Methodist Ch...

Last week I mentioned the Honor Roll at my church – the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Coatesville. Our Honor Roll plaque is in the back of the church and was originally created for those who served in World War II but has added the wars and our soldiers since then. Today, I’d like to introduce you to our World War II veterans. The three marked with an * are the three who were Killed In Action (KIA).  They are: Babel, Harry Bilinski, Michael Bodnar, Stephen Bodnar, Michael Bodnar, Paul Branson, Lewis Jr Buckle, Andrew * Buckle, John Buckle, Michael Daniels, George R Jr Donkewicz, George Donkewicz, John Euler, Frank Gbur, John Grycky, William A * Hachak, John Handoe, John Hanna, William H Hasiey, Joseph Hewczuk, Michael Hruszczak, Nicholas ß my Uncle Nick (Gigi’s brother) Hruszczak, Paul ß my Uncle Paul (Gigi’s brother) Jacoby, John Jacoby, Steve Jacoby, William Kasuba, B Myron Katherina, Michael Keshuta,...

Many communities – be it a town or a church family – have an Honor Roll of the brave men and women who served our nation over the years. Some wanted to serve and enlisted while others were drafted and have no choice. My church – Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Coatesville – is no different. Out Honor Roll plaque is in the back of the church. Both the American flag and the Ukrainian flag are attached.  The Honor Roll was originally created for those who served in World War II but has added the wars and our soldiers since then. Three of our men have gold star next to their names, implying they were killed in action. They are Andrew Buckle, William Grycky, and (my uncle) Paul Kurenda. Not every parishioner who served is actually listed. Most of the men are buried up in our cemetery. Some of their stories – like my Uncle Paul – I know but many I do not and fear their stories will be forgotten by the next generation or two if not retold. So, over the next several Mo...

Glenn and I were married on 22 August 1992. Here he is pictured with his parents - Dorothy Deyoe and Frank Eckman. Both passed away a few years ago - Dad in 1994 and his mom in 1996. The photo just felt fitting today. We were married by Father George Schneider at Our Lady of Consolation (I was Catholic at the time) in Parkesburg, Chester County. Wedding Wednesday is a genealogical prompt from GeneaBloggers. (c) Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Chester Wiker, Sr. is my great aunt Katie’s (Katie Ruczhak Wiker) late husband. His funeral card was among my late cousin’s papers so I thought I would share it today. His funeral card is one of those that is folded like an actual card. The front is an image of Christ and simply says “In Memoriam.” The back identifies the funeral home, which in his case was the Robert A Harris Funeral Home, in Coatesville. The inside left is the Twenty-Third Psalm. On the right is his information: In Memory of Chester P. Wiker, Sr. Born March 28, 1917 Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania Passed Away October 13, 1994 Coatesville , Pennsylvania Final Resting Place Romansville United Methodist Cemetery Services from Olivet United Methodist Church 3 rd Ave. & Chestnut Street Coatesville , Pennsylvania Saturday, October 15, 1994 at 1 p.m. Officiating The Reverend J. George Mamourian Funeral conducted by The Robert A Harris Funeral Home Coates...

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...

While going through my cousin’s papers, I came across the funeral card of his mother, Mary Ruzchak. Born Mary Chernecky, she is – to me - the wife of my uncle. My aunt’s funeral card is quite simple. The front is an image of Christ. The back reads:             Prayer for the deceased             Mary Ruzchak             Birth March 17, 1917  Death March 15, 1997 O God of spirits and of all flesh, You trampled death, and broke the power of Satan, and granted life to Your world. Now grant rest, O Lord to the soul of Your servant in a place of light, joy and peace, where there is no pain, sorrow nor mourning. As a kind and gracious God, forgive every sin committed by them in word, deed or thought, since there is no person who exists and does not sin. You alone are without sin, Your justice is everlasting...

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...

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...

I came across the funeral card of Paul Ruczhak while going through my recently deceased cousin’s papers. Paul is my uncle. He is my grandfather’s brother. His funeral card is quite simple. The front is an image of Mary with her Son’s Crown of Thorns in front of her. The back reads:             In Loving Memory of             Paul Ruczhak             Born             September 18, 1922             Coatesville , PA Passed Away January 8, 1995 Coatesville , PA Resurrection Prayer Most merciful Father, we commend our departed into your hands. We are filled with the sure hope that our departed will rise again on the Last Day with all who have died in Christ. We thank you for all the good thin...

While going through my recently deceased cousin’s papers, I came across the funeral card of Wasyl Chernecky. Wasyl was my cousin’s maternal grandfather. To me, he is the father-in-law of my uncle. His funeral card is quite simple. The front is an image of Christ. The back reads:             My Jesus have mercy on the Soul of             Wasyl Chernecky             Born March 15, 1889               Passed Away April 24, 1977 O my most gracious Saviour! Merciful God! Have mercy upon Thine heritage, hear the wailing and suspirations of the repenting, mercifully forgive their transgressions, and liberate them from the deserved punishment, and grant upon them, there, the blessed peace, that unceasingly they may glorify, praise and magnify Thee., the...

February has not been kind to my family and this year has not been any exception. On Thursday, the 11 th I received a call from the police that a close cousin had passed. I am still dealing with everything that has to be done when someone passes and – to be honest – I have a new respect as a genealogist for all those record keepers! Last Thursday, the 18 th , as I was down his place cleaning and sorting, I got a phone call saying another cousin – Maria Toth – had passed that morning. Maria is one of my Uncle Nick’s daughters. Uncle Nick was my grandfather’s brother. Maria’s obituary reads: Maria Toth of East Fallowfield Maria Toth, 60, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. Maria was the loving wife of Michael P. Toth and they shared 37 years of marriage. Born on February 2, 1956 in Coatesville , Pa. , she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Ann Petro Ruczhak. In addition to her husband she is survived by three sons Micha...

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

I recently came across my Uncle Theodore’s marriage certificate. Theodore Ruzchak married Mary Chernecky on 1 February 1941 at my church – the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church - in Coatesville. The Rev. Hilary H. Wroblewsky officiated. My uncle’s parents (my great grandparents) are Panko Hruszczak and Bessie Matys. Aunt Mary’s parents are Wasyl Chernecky and Tatianna Czapel. They had two children. The church is located in Coatesville, Chester County. Wedding Wednesday 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