Genealogical Gems

Samuel P. and Eliza Ann Miller are buried together at the Octorara Presbyterian Cemetery along Valley Road (Route 372) between Quarryville and Christiana, in Southern Lancaster County. Samuel lived from 1848 to 1906. Eliza lived from 1852 to 1935.     The 1900 US Federal Census notes the couple had four children: Clinton, S. Guy, Charles, and Daisey. They lived on a farm in Sadsbury Township , Lancaster County at that time. The stone in the background (in the photo above) is that of S. Guy and his wife.   Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Sadsbury Township , Lancaster County , lost its police department On This Day in 1994. Unfortunately this story is not unique to Sadsbury Township . Several other municipalities in Southern Lancaster County faced the same situation. They all had one man police departments and when that person passed the municipalities simply folded up the police departments. It was 21 years ago when Chief of Police Frank R Eckman (yes, there is a relation! See Funeral Card Friday posttoday ) passed away. At that time the PA State Police (PSP) assumed law enforcement responsibilities.    On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events. I will make every effort to keep events localized to that of my research or research I am conducting for others. However, from time to time, it will simply be a subject that captured my attention. Some posts will be brief while others may be more detailed.          ...

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 ...