Genealogical Gems

A Lancaster man and his son returned to Lancaster from Europe On This Day in 1880. H. Z. Rhoades and his son had been in Europe for several months. They arrived in New York aboard the L’Amerique on 18 August 1880.   Source Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 19 August 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.    On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

March is Women's History Month and as such GeneaBloggers' prompt today is: Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation. ... We all show courage and strength at some point during our years however one person comes to mind: Margaret Still. Margaret Still is my (mom, Pops, Pierson, Franklin, George) great-great-great-great grandmother. She was born in 1788 in Chester County to Charles and Margaret Rhoades Still. She was one of four children. She was the only daughter. Her father - and possibly one or two of her brothers - owned a tavern in Uwchlan Township. In 1880, at the age of 20, still being single, she gave birth on 3 May to her first of two children: George David Still. George was born in East Fallowfield Township. Her parents - according to my Aunt Helen who was the youngest child of George's son Franklin - "put her out" on a farm. Aunt Helen said that when Margaret got pregnant, her fa...