Genealogical Gems

A young Williamsport boy was traded for a horse, reported the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer On This Day in 1881. A traveling band of gypsies left eight year old Eddie Willum of Williamsport with a farmer near Franklin . The gypsies traded the boy for a horse. Young Willum, according to the article, was believed to have been stolen by the gypsies. Franklin is approximately 175 miles east of Williamsport , along what is now Route 80.  Franklin is in Venango County. Williamsport is in Lycoming County. Source: Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 8 August 1881. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.      On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

A man was found hanging to a beam in his barn On This Day in 1880. Andrew Miller was found in his Jersey Shore , Lycoming County barn. It is believed to have been murder. George Smith and Miller’s wife, Catharine, have both been arrested in this case.   According to an entry for Andrew Miller on Find A Grave, his murder was the “crime of the century.” He had been born in 1822 in York County . Catharine Miller and George Smith, again according to Find A Grave, were lovers and had three girls together. Catharine died the following year.   Andrew is buried in Pine Creek Cemetery , in Jersey Shore . Catharine was buried there as well.   Sources: “Andrew Miller,” Find A Grave   Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 18 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.     ...