Lodia Thomas Probert - k.i.a. - 337th Infantry Regiment

Lodia Thomas Probert is my Great Uncle, my Grandmother's brother. He was born in Lonaconing, Maryland on 22 October 1906. By the time he was 14 his family had moved to Baltimore. Lodia was going by the name Thomas in 1928 and in 1930 was employed as a Lithographer at a Printing Company. Lodia is working as a machinist at a Canning Company in 1940 and lives with his married sister, Elsie, my grandmother, in Baltimore.

On 15 May 1942 Lodia decides to enlist and become a part of the War effort. He is 5'6" tall, weighs 144 pounds, has hazel eyes, brown hair and is 35. He is given the rank of Private and assigned in the Army to the 3rd Battalion, 337th Infantry Regiment, 

               

85th Division, Company I.

                 Lodia Thomas Probert

On 21 May 1944 an order was given to capture the city of Terracina in Italy. The men of the 3rd were ordered to clear the eastern slope of Mt. Croce and once they achieved that they were to secure the area above the city of Terracina. On the 23rd of May during the securing of Terracina (this link is a description of the chain of events in Terracina on 23 May 1944) Lodia was killed in action. He was originally buried in Italy but in November 1948

 he was moved to the National Cemetery in Baltimore.  


At some point before he shipped out to Italy, Lodia married Evelyn M. Robe and nine months later she gave birth to Thomas Burdette Probert. 

Louis Jacob Ernst - 11th Indiana Wallace Zouaves

On the 9th of May 1913 Louis Jacob Ernst passes away, the cause of death is apoplexy caused by a cerebral Hemorrhage. He was 69 having been born on April 15 1844 in Cincinnati, Ohio the son of Jacob and Louisa Ernst. Louis is my 1st Cousin 4x removed. 

When Louis was 17 he dashed off to Indianapolis, Indiana to enlist in the 11th Indiana Zouaves or as they became known Wallace's Zouaves. They were infantry regiment on the Union side during the Civil War. They had a very distinct uniform and fighting form.  


This is a photo of Andrew Lynch. He was in the same Company as Louis. What Andrew is wearing is the uniform of the Wallace Zouaves.



 In the 1900 census, living in Cincinnati is Louis and a woman named Lizzie, she is from Kentucky. They are listed as married and she is listed as his wife. They claim to have been married 10 years. There are no children. In 1910 Louis is single and living in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky at 528 3rd St. Remember the death of Louis? Well on the death certificate he is listed as single, living at 528 3rd St. in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky. Guess who signed the certificate as the informant of information? Lizzie Huff who lives at 528 3rd St. Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky. The same address as Louis. 

So who was the Lizzie who they claimed was his wife. Who was the Lizzie who lived in his home when he died.

Lillian - Backbone of Newsam Bros. Coal Company

Lillian Augustus  Comstock worked her entire life at Newsam Brothers Coal Company in Peoria, Illinois. She held several positions within the Company mainly as their Book Keeper, Cashier and Treasurer. 

Her father David Augustus Comstock was also a Book Keeper from 1865 after the Civil War to 1874 in Leavenworth, Kansas. 

Lillian was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on 29 December 1870. After her father died when she was just 4 her mother, Anna Lee Gosling moved them to Quincy, Illinois into the home of her widowed Mother. In 1894 Lillian is living in Peoria and working as a Book Keeper. 

From 1894 - 1910 Newsam Brothers operated  coal mines named Newsam No. 2 Coal Mine and New Star No. 2 Coal Mine. In 1895 New Star No. 2 mine was a shaft mine 175 feet deep with a coal vein of 4 feet 4 inches. In 1896 Newsam Brothers Coal Company leases Star Mine from The Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis. Through the years the Newsam Brothers operate coal mines around Peoria County Illinois.  

Exactly 58 years to the day after her birth on 29 December 1928 Lillian dies. 

Beulah and The Case of the Barking Collies

On Wednesday 24 November 1915, Mary Ellen Yates the wife of John Wesley Lockhart gave birth to Beulah Pauline Lockhart in Wirt County, West Virginia. At this same time Pristina, a capital city in Kosovo fell to Bulgarian Forces. No, none of this is related. Just a world timeline stamp. 

In August of 1938 Beulah married Travis Ignatius Clarence Parsons II. She was 22, he was 37 and she was his second marriage. He brought a daughter named Nancy to the new family and together Beulah and Travis had 4 more children. They lived in Charleston, West Virginia for several years and later settled in Glen Morgan, Raleigh County, West Virginia. 

In the late 1950's Beulah and Travis started breeding Collies on their 17 acre farm. Travis was a having health problems and this was a project he could do at home to help supplement his income. It was in late October of 1959 that a neighbor complained the dogs barking gave her hives and sued Beulah and Travis. 17 November 1959 the trial was under way and made the front page of the local paper just below the fold, "Barking Collies Jury Impaneled". The entire jury was loaded on a bus and escorted to Glen Morgan to view the Collie farm before the trial started. The Plaintiff made a homemade recording of the barking which Beulah's attorney immediately had thrown out as it was not a documented professional certified recording and therefore could have been tampered with. Beulah's attorney had 17 witnesses lined up to testify regarding the noise levels alone. The plaintiff's attorney claims she has to be heavily sedated in order to sleep. On day 3 of the trial the Plaintiff leaves the courthouse before the trial resumes claiming she is too ill from the barking dogs. However it is brought up in court that she had been involved in a "scuffle" in the courthouse corridor with the daughter of a witness for the defense. Not to mention that the Plaintiff's daughter admitted publicly at the courthouse that her Mother had a "nervous" condition that was pre-existing. The jury decides for Beulah and on the afternoon of 19 November 1959 court is over. Let's ring the outside dinner bell over at the Plaintiff's home and get those dogs to barking!

In October 1961 Beulah's husband,  Travis dies. She marries again in 1962 to a man named Lawson Henry Reed and in May 1973 Beulah's divorce is final as she resumes her name as Beulah Lockhart Parsons.
At the age of 88 in June of 2002 Beulah passes. 

Morgan Given - Ghost of Birch

In the ever fascinating world of Ghosts of my Clans I decided to switch it up and my eyes fell upon the name Morgan. I am today going to hunt the Ghost Morgan Given. He is a 1st cousin 4x removed. We share a Very Great Grandfather William Given. 

Morgan one of 13 children was born 1848 in Virginia and is the son of James Given and Ruth his wife. At the age of 2 he is living with his family in the area of Braxton, Virginia. In 1860 Morgan is 12, still living in Braxton and attends school. In 1867 Morgan's mother dies and in 1870 there are still 6 children in the home the youngest is only 5. Morgan helps his father maintain and run the farm. 

In December of 1872 Morgan marries Melsena Friend in Clay County, West Virginia. In 1873 Morgan's first child is born. He lives only 8 months. 1880 we find Morgan in Birch, Braxton County, West Virginia farming with his wife and 2 young sons. 

Morgan is still living in Birch by 1900 and working his farm with his 4 sons. 

In June of 1907 Morgan passes. 

Lemuel "the Deacon" Knapp

Lemuel is the name of a King. He is mentioned in the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 31:1-31 The chapter is about something his Mother teaches him. There is no other mention of him outside this and no one can be sure who he was. 

I have decided to hunt the Ghost of every Lemuel in all of my trees. 

I started with Lemuel Knapp. 
Lemuel Knapp was born in Sturbridge, or at least the text, Aaron Knapp of Taunton, Mass. in 1638 and some of his descendants : a genealogy founded upon the research of Charles Ruggles Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp, Vesta V. Knapp, Shepherd Knapp and Alfred Averill Knapp,  says Jonathon Knapp, Stockbridge ( I believe it is meant to be Sturbridge) had Lemuel, baptized March 4, 1744. Sturbridge is in Worcester. Massachusetts and other documents point him being born in Sturbridge.  I can find nothing else of Lemuel until he shows up in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut in November of 1765 when he marries Mary Marsh. Then nothing more is found until 14 October 1807. 

Deacon Lemuel Knapp shows up to a gathering of Baptist leaders from around the area of Worcester County, Massachusetts in support of the ordination of Calvin Cooper to the pulpit. 

Deacon Lemuel Knapp dies 16 December 1818 and is buried in the East Thompson Cemetery in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut. 

                           
                                         Photo by ASB

Lemuel was a man who went quietly through life. Men like that are needed. 

Seth Staples - Connecting Yale to the Mayflower

Seth Staples is my VERY Great Grandfather. He was born about 1699 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. He didn't always hang around Taunton because about 18 miles away in Plympton, Massachusetts lived a lovely girl, Hannah Standish and he knew who she was. He married her on 4 January 1721 in Plympton with Isaac Cushman performing the ceremony and promptly moved her back to Taunton.  

Seth became a deacon in the First Parish Church. He was respected, well liked and must have been a man with integrity. He bore witness to several local men's wills, and was trusted to appraise many more of their estates. He was a father to 12 children and grand father to several children. One of those grandchildren was Seth Perkins Staples, founder of Yale Law School and a VERY Great Grand Father to me. 

Do Grandchildren of the Founder of Yale Law School get tuition free education because I have a 10 year old granddaughter who will make a Brilliant attorney. She loves to debate with me and is getting better and better at preparing her case. 

Hannah Standish the woman Seth Staples married is the Great Grand Daughter of Myles Standish who came over to America on the Mayflower. Making me and my children descendants of a Mayflower Pilgrim.

Thanx! Grandpa Seth!

In 1778 Seth contracted Smallpox and on 20 March 1778 he passed away. 

Seth Hatcher - Remembers the War of Independence

Born to Josiah Hatcher and Ann Elizabeth Cheatham Hatcher on 13 January 1760 in Goochland, Virginia was a son, Seth. He was their seventh child.  In 1777 Josiah packs up his wife, children and household and moves to Powhatan County, Virginia. 

In September of 1777 Seth is called to service for his new county, and new home. He was under the Command of Captain Thomas Harris and the first place they went to was Williamsburg. After duty there for a time the Company was sent to Yorktown. After a few months of duty Seth was discharged. He served a second tour under Captain George Williamson and their first duty was Petersburg where the Company is put under the command of Major Duval. Then they marched on to St. George Church. They proceeded a few more miles to Hood's Landing this might actually be Hood's Point and there in the night they fired upon the British who had decided to come ashore under cover of darkness. The company then marched on to Cabin Point in Surrey County and then to MacKay's Mills and onward to Suffolk. They were moved once again to Jericho where they camped for some time. Once again the Company was ordered back to Suffolk where they are put under the command of Colonel Parker. From Suffolk Seth was once again discharged.  After a few months Captain George Williamson again made a call to arms and Seth joined in. The Company marched through Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties crossing the Roanoke River at Taylor's Ferry. They arrived in Guilford, North Carolina in March 1781 and on 15 March 1781  were engaged in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. They were under the command of General Robert Lawson, Col. Beverley Randolph and Major St. George Tucker. During the Battle General Nathaniel Greene arrives and takes command. Seth is wounded during the battle.



Captain Thomas Harris owned the land next to where Josiah, Seth's father held land in Goochland. It would seem Captain Harris knew Seth and his brothers. 

In 1805 Seth is called to witness about a sick horse. One claimant accuses the other of causing a horse to be sick and die. The other claims he cared for the horse and that it was not well when he borrowed it. Cared for it better than he would his own horse because it was not his horse.  Seth's testimony is to say that he refused to let the owner keep the horse with his horses because the horse was sick already. 

In 1808 Seth starts to work on what will become his Plantation. There will be housing for his slaves, a creamery, a pond, a smokehouse, barn and several other buildings. Legend tells that Seth built his home in an antebellum Italianate Design for a Bride to be who would die before she ever set foot in the home. Seth would not marry again until 1820. 

In 1816 Seth is appointed a Commissioner along with a few others to access the width of the cross streets in the town of Scottville by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Apparently an old survey is inaccurate and buildings have gone over cross street designations and chaos reigns in the construction of buildings. 

Seth's Bride in 1820 is Elizabeth Ligon and from this union are born Elizabeth and Daniel Hatcher. 

During the 1830s when Seth is in his 70s he bears witness to several "war Buddies" so that they can apply for pensions. His memory of Officers, locations and dates are amazing. I can't even tell you the building or number of my last flat from 4 years ago. 

In September of 1842 Seth writes his Last Will and Testament. He gives testament to a few more "War Buddies" and in December of 1843 Seth passes away. 

Seth Minard - I See You

Trying something a little different to make my Ghost Hunting more creative and fun for me and maybe you. I am going to focus on a name and hunt every Ghost I can find who bears that name. Today I am on the hunt for ghosts named Seth. I love this name. It feels strong, brave, sturdy. The name of a man you can rely on. 

Seth was the name of Adam and Eve's third son. The one born after the death of Able. Seth was often given to the next son born after the death of a son in early America. The name means appointed, to set or to place. As in GOD appointed Eve the son Seth to comfort her after the death of Able.

My first Seth today is Seth Minard. He is the son of Abiathar Minard and Elizabeth Willoughby Minard his wife. All I have found in my hunting of this Ghost is that he died on or about the 30th of January 1820. It was added that he was 20 years of age. That puts his birth at about 1800 which puts him in birth order as the third child born to Abiathar and Elizabeth. Seth's death was printed in newspapers in villages around New London County, Connecticut which is where his family lived. 

Seth is buried in Chester Burying Ground. 

His parents Abiathar and Elizabeth Minard are also buried there.

Noah Mick - Head Kicked In - Murdered

On 3 November 1860 at a Tavern on the corner of 2nd Street and Dickinson Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, William Simmons was pulling beer and serving whiskey as he usually did on a Saturday afternoon. The election was only 3 days away and slavery and rights of individual states were a huge issue.  The candidates running were Constitutional Union Party nominee John Bell, 
Southern Democratic Party nominee John Breckinridge, Democratic Party nominee Senator Stephen Douglas, and Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln.  Noah Mick had been drinking and wrestling. William Golcher, who had been drinking with shipmates  for the better part of the day had started up a lively conversation regarding politics which then turned to wrestling as Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished wrestler.  It was at about this point that the conversation got a wee bit heated. Noah noticed that William was agitated and said to William "I believe you have a spite against me".  William made no reply but sat in silence.  Noah got up and started to leave the bar. 

On 25 June 1866 William Golcher was standing at trial for the murder of Noah Mick.  

According to witnesses for William, he entered the Tavern with a group of shipmates and they were drinking "freely".  They claimed that Noah had been wrestling with another man when he invited William to wrestle him. William turned him down.  Both men became angry about William's refusal to wrestle but then had a drink together to mend the rift. Witnesses for William said that Noah got up to leave when William asked him if he considered him an enemy still. Noah replied yes. William became angrier and punched Noah saying "Take that, Damn you!" and then kicked Noah as he lay on the ground. Noah did not move. William became frightened and ran out the back door of the Tavern. Witnesses say that Noah was dead. 

William's attorney went on about what a brave sailor he was having served valiantly in the last war, he had been a sailor for 16 years, he was noble, and gallant.  Witnesses for his character who claimed to have known him since he was a boy claimed they never saw anything he did or said to be questionable. His shipmates said he was gallant and always exhibited good behavior, he had favor and the good opinion of his superiors and quickly made rank to Chief Engineer of the gunboat Commodore.  

Now apparently after William killed Noah he made his way back to his ship and continued his duties on board his ship which had left Philadelphia and it was not until the ship returned to port in Philadelphia that William sent his father to fetch a justice so he could turn himself in.  

Witnesses for William claimed that Noah had been a bully and tormented William for quite some time during the course of events. They claim that William punched  Noah in self defense. That Noah had raised his arms as though to punch him first. They claimed that Noah was a dangerous character and had great strength and William feared fir his life and so for the safety of his person punched and then kicked the motionless Noah. 

The coroner gave witness that he could not say for sure that the punch or kick delivered by William was the actual cause of death and it could have been from something that had happened during an earlier wrestling match. 

According to William Simmons, the owner of the Tavern, who was a witness, says that he was reading a newspaper when the brawl started but when he looked up Noah was on the ground not moving and William Golcher kicked him 3 times in the head.  Other witnesses concurred with this.   William Golcher was heard  telling Noah that he could "lick him and his friend too." Noah had abrasions and contusions on his jaw, a contusion in his temporal region, blood spewing from his nose, an opening in his cranium with an effusion of blood earning a compression at the base of the brain sufficient to cause death.  The jury returned with a verdict of guilty, that the cause of death were the result of the injuries caused by William Golcher.

Noah Mick was my Great Uncle. He was 30 at the time of the murder.  He was the son of George W. Mick and wife Elizabeth (Park) Mick, was born in New Jersey on 11 February 1830.  He was one of 12 children.  Noah was a Moulder like his father and several of his brothers.  He was married to Elizabeth Van Holt and had three children, Noah, Sarah and Delilah. 

John J. Easley - Master Mason

John J. Easley, Master Mason at Fredonia Lodge No. 247. The Lodge meets on Fridays that fall before a full moon or on a Friday that is a full moon. It was chartered in August of 1852 and William C. Love was the first Master. A Master Mason is a degree of Freemasonry. 

John was born in Virginia in 1826 to William A. Easley and Tabitha Hoskins (Stone) Easley. He had 5 brothers and 1 sister. His father made him and his younger brother William P Easley co-executors of his will. John was a farmer and lived in Lyon County, Kentucky. 

June 1863 John, William and Thomas Easley are recorded in the Civil War Draft Registration in Caldwell County, Kentucky. 

On 8 November 1863 he married the lovely Elizabeth Allen at Charles Miller's in Livingston, Kentucky. They had 2 children John N. Easley and Charles Easley. Before the year 1870 Elizabeth, John's wife has died. He is living in Fredonia, Caldwell County, Kentucky not far from his 2 brothers, Thomas and William.  

In 1872 John, his brother William and several other men get together and decide to create the Princeton, Marion and Ohio River Railroad Company. The purpose was for Real Estate for a railroad and telegraph lines. 

In 1880 John and his sons live in Eddyville in Lyon County, Kentucky. Eddyville was settled in 1798 and in 1799 became the county seat for Livingston County, Kentucky. In 1809 Caldwell County, Kentucky was formed and Eddyville became the county seat there. Eddyville once again changed county when Lyon County was established in 1854.  The original Eddyville was relocated in 1959 after the Barkley Dam was constructed and the original town flooded with what became Lake Barkley.  

In April 1892 John passes away. 

Florence Emaline Probert - Celanese Corporation of America

This is a Trace of Florence Emaline Probert McCrorie.  Shall we see what we can uncover?

Florence was born 31 May 1877 in Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, England. Her parents are William Henry Probert and Sarah (Curtis) Probert. She claims to have arrived in America in 1883 and was also known as Flora and Florrie. 

On 26 October 1879 while she still an infant, Jacob Curtis, her Grandfather died and left in his will for Flora £5o. The money was given, by her 2 Aunts who were the executrix of his estates, to their Brother-in-law, John Allen. John took the money and left for America with the promise to put it in account for Flora but never did. A lawsuit soon followed. 

In 1907 Flora worked as a Stenographer at Schwarzenbach & Son a clothing store for men and boys.  She lived at 19 Fulton Street where she rented a room from Mrs. Schlemmer. 


She marries William McCrorie on 12 June 1911 in Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia where they both claim they live.  Two years after the marriage Florence Margaret McCrorie was born. 

In 1919 Flora's Aunt,  Mary Ann Probert Hadley made Flora the executrix of her will. This added to the soap opera style drama that was unfolding around Flora, her Aunt Mary Ann's son Harry Hadley, and Aunt Esther Probert Dodds (Mary Ann's sister). 

In 1920 the family is living on Lanvale Street in Baltimore. In 1921 they are living on Spruce Street and they have a son named William Curtis McCrorie.  North Centre St. in Cumberland, Maryland is where we find Flore, her son and daughter living in 1930. Her husband William is not living in the home.  Flora works as an inspector at the Celanese Plant in Cumberland.  

The Celanese Plant was actually The American Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and was founded in 1918 to make cheap fabric for airplane manufacturing.  They manufactured cellulose acetate as an alternative to silk. In 1927 the company was renamed Celanese Corporation of America.  There was a massive labor strike  in 1936 at the plant as the workers tried to Unionize. For photos taken during the strike click the strike link. Flora was still employed there and she may be in one of the photos. The facility in Cumberland is now gone and on the site is a State Prison. 

In 1939 Flora is a reeler, she operated the machine that wound the yarn onto the bobbin, and lives on Marion Street in Cumberland.  Flora and her son live Goethe St. in Cumberland by 1940 where she is an inspector at Celanese Corporation of America. Linden Street is her next address in a home with her son and his wife. She is 65 and she still works at the Textile Manufacturer. 

At the age of 86 in November of 1968 Flora passes away.  She is buried in Frostburg Memorial Park. 

Nathaniel Osborne Gandy - Stabbed in the Heart

A BOY SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT
That was the headline in the 29 March 1889 Galveston Daily News. 

This story made the papers not only in Texas but, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and many others.  Harry was 11 at the time of the stabbing and Nathaniel was 16. 

The story of Nathaniel's death was told in detail by three different witnesses in The Philadelphia Inquirer including details like,"stabbed through the heart", "plunged it into Gandy's left breast", and "I saw blood spurting out." 

The stories vary and according to some there was a confrontation and a fight broke out, another says that Harry just pulled out a knife and stabbed Nathaniel. The only thing that was common was that Nathaniel was stabbed with a knife by Harry and was dead.  

Nathaniel Osborne Gandy II was born 18 July 1872 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Nathaniel Osborne Gandy and his wife Sarah Ann (Mick) Gandy.  He had 6 siblings and 4 step sisters. He was my Very Great Uncle. 

Hallie Pearis - Snowbound February 1934

On Tuesday 27 February 1934 the Bluefield Daily Telegraph printed this story:

"AUTOMOBILE PARTY SNOWBOUND OVERNIGHT
 Snowbound at Clark's Gap from 4 o'clock Sunday morning until Monday noon,
Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Craft and son, James, of Springton; D S. Hunt Jr., of Matoaka and a young woman from Springton had a dismal week-end.
They left Charleston, Saturday evening, and were halted by the-snow at Clark's Gap about 4 o'clock Sunday morning.
They arrived at Springton at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon.
During their stay on the mountain they obtained shelter in a
small filling station at the Mercer-Wyoming county line.
A son, who was at home, called his uncle, Sam P Pearis, at Mullens,
and found that his parents had passed through Mullens.
Mr. Pearis rode a horse out to the spot where the car was marooned,
and found that the party was sheltered
in the filling station, but that there were no sleeping accommodations.
Mr. Pearis telephoned H. B. Pearis, of Princeton, who got in touch with state road officials.
Monday morning road forces started working on the road from both the Wyoming county end at Mullens and from
Matoaka and about noon the party was able to resume their journey home.
Mrs.Craft is a sister of H. B. Pearis and G. W. Pearis, of this city."

Let me make this adventure a little clearer. 
Mullens, West Virginia is about 20 Miles from Clark's Gap. Walking there on today's roads would take approximately 7 hours and on horse might take 5 hours.  

Mrs. J.H. Craft is my Great Aunt and the  Sam P. Pearis who rode a horse for hours through cold and snow to get to her is my Grand father. 

Her name is Hallie Pearis and she was born 26 March 1885 in Mercer County, West Virginia to Samuel Pepper Pearis III and his wife Mary Hannah (Barbor) Pearis.  She has 3 younger brothers.  

                                                      Hallie Pearis

In 1900 Hallie is living with her parents and brothers in an area called East River which is more of a populated place than an actual village or town. It is within 5 miles of Princeton and Hallie went to school in Princeton. By 1910 East River is a Township within Princeton, an unincorporated area and Hallie, her mother, and her brothers all live in a house on East Main Street. Boarding at her house is a Doctor James Harvey Craft. The Doctor and Hallie fall in love and on 30 November 1910 they are married. 

In 1914 James Harvey Craft II was born and in 1917 Herbert Barbor Craft is born. A newspaper article from January 1912  says that Hallie's Mother, Mary Pearis stayed with her while she was ill and that they were living in McComas, West Virginia. In 1920 Hallie, her husband and sons are living in the Springton Precinct of the Rock District in Mercer County, West Virginia. This is a coal mining area and Hallie's husband James was a doctor for a coal mine operation.  Bluefield is the closest large city to McComas, Springton, Rock and  Wenonah where she lived in 1930. Hallie was very involved in the P.T.A. where her sons attended school, she held offices on the Board of her Missionary Group and did most of her shopping in Bluefield. Her involvement in everything and her shopping trips are well recorded in Bluefield papers, She must have been the Kim Kardashian of Mercer County. 

On 7 December 1934 Hallie was involved in an automobile wreck and received very serious injury to her ribs, lungs, and head. She was taken to Memorial Hospital in Princeton and at 2:00 P.M. on 9 December 1934 she died.  She is buried at Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia. 

                                                    Hallie Pearis

William Henry Probert - My English Roots

 11 Scotch  Hill in Lonaconing, Allegany County, Maryland is where the home that was owned by William Henry Probert lived with his family.  He was a miner in a coal mine the year was 1910. 

Published by Fowler and Kelly, 1905

William Henry Probert was born in Newland, Gloucestershire, England on 13 March 1852 Thomas Probert and Mary (Price) Probert his wife. He was baptized on 11 April 1852 in a church in Newland, Gloucestershire, England and is had 5 siblings. 

William Henry Probert

On 11 March 1877 William married Sarah Curtis at Cinderford, St. John, Gloucestershire, England, and a few months later Florence Emaline Probert was born and in October of 1878 Sarah dies in Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, England.

In 1880 William, his parents, most of his sisters and his young daughter all immigrated to America and in 1897 William Henry Probert married the beautiful Anna Irene Dutton.

Anna Irene Dutton

 1900 William his wife Anna and their daughter Charlotte Irene Probert were living at #47 East Main Street in a Duplex that was owned by his sister Mary Ann (Probert) Hadley. This duplex became known as the Mary Hadley Tenant House and was located in the Historic District of Lonaconing. It has/had tremendous Maryland historic value. The house has been demolished. 

By the time William is 65 it is 1920 and  he is living in Baltimore at 507 North Stricker Street with his wife and 6 children. He is working at a Munitions Plant as a Laborer. 1926 they have moved from the inner city row housing to a Duplex on Wrenwood and William works as a Watchman. By 1930 the family has moved houses to a single family dwelling on Cedarcroft. 

On November 26 1936 William who is 84 dies from heart complications. He is buried in Frostburg Memorial Park in Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland. 

Orissa Naomi Southwick - Who Was She?

Orissa Naomi Southwick was only 2 when her Mother Sarah (Branch) Southwick died.  She had 5 older siblings and a younger sister who was born just 2 days before their Mother passed away. She is my Very Great Aunt and was born 17 December 1811 in New York. Her father was Johnathan Southwick.

At some time Orissa marries a man whose last name is Parker. They have a daughter who is named Naomi.  In about 1833 Orissa has moved to Troy City, Rensselaer County, New York. The last time I can find her is living in Brunswick, Rensselaer County, New York in 1880 and a reference regarding her living in Brunswick in a book published in 1881. 

Lisethe Eichner - Hiding

Lisethe Eichner is a distant cousin who was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 8 August 1889. She is the daughter of Mary (Uhl) Eichner and George C. Eichner and has one younger sister Frieda. She is called Lillie and at the age of 10 she lives at 70 Garrison Lane and attends school. At the age of 20 she is out of school and still living at home with her sister and parents. In 1920 Lillie, her sister and her mother are living at 2550 West Lombard Street in Baltimore. She is still single and works as a Seamstress from her home.  Lillie and her sister still live on West Lombard Street in 1930 she is still a Seamstress. 

Here is where this story ends. 
There is rumor she married a George Mohr but no proof. There is a death certificate in Maryland for a Lisethe E. (could be her last name initial) Mohr. 

This ghost is hiding.

John Virgil Gibson - Navy Recruit

In Clay County, West Virginia at Clay County High School, John Virgil Gibson was one of 6 boys on the School's first basketball team.

Virgil was one of 4 children and the youngest born to Luther Haymond Gibson and his wife Mary Chestina (Carden) Gibson. He was born 25 May 1899 in Braxton County, West Virginia, he was a cousin of writer and photographer Eudora Alice Welty and my Great Uncle. Virgil had brown hair and blue eyes, was short (his sister, my Grand-Mother was under 5' tall) and according to the draft registration in 1918 "stout".

In 1918 Virgil is accepted into the United States Navy and he is sent to Boot Camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Illinois.  Theodore Roosevelt approved funds in 1905 for Naval Station Great Lakes the first Naval Training Boot Camp to be built away from an ocean. The Naval Station officially opened in 1911.  While in training Virgil in late December Virgil develops Pneumonia and on 1 January 1919 he dies. His body is sent back to Clay County, West Virginia and he is buried in Reed-Stephenson Cemetery in Clay he was 19.               

Edgar Clayton Willoughby - Shot His Heart-Suicide

On 20 March 1859 Francis Edgar Willoughby and his wife Janett Elizabeth (Root) Willoughby welcomed their second child and first son, Edgar Clayton Willoughby  into the world.  They were living near Lynnville, Ogle County, Illinois on a farm. By the time Edgar is 10 the family is living in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. They are farming and Edgar has 2 younger brothers.  At the age of 21 Edgar is farming with his father, he is still living in Rockford, his older sister Augusta Elizabeth Willoughby has married and he has 3 younger brothers. 

Edgar has a cheerful disposition, is well liked, he has many friends and likes to socialize. 

                               Edgar Clayton Willoughby - Photo was shot about 1873

In July 1883 Edgar heads for Colorado. 29 August 1883 he applies for a land patent in  the South East Quarter of Section 23 in Mesa County, Colorado.  In June of 1885 in a Mesa County, Colorado survey Edgar is listed as a farm hand. He is granted a 160 acre land patent in June of 1890 in Mesa County, Colorado. 

Edgar spent 9 years in Colorado and  has returned to Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois by 1892. On the morning of Thursday, 12 September 1895 Edgar's father comes to his room to wake him for breakfast so they can get started on chores.  What he finds is Edgar's lifeless body lying on the bed. He is clothed in his undergarments which are stained in blood as are his bed sheets. Lying near Edgar's body is a revolver. There is a bullet hole in his right temple and another bullet hole over his heart. 

 The County Coroner, Mr. Angessen  is called in and a jury impaneled.  His father is questioned and reports that his son was despondent  on Wednesday morning not coming down from his room until almost noon. He went out to the barn where they worked together until about 12:25 when they went up to the house for dinner. After eating they went back to the barn and continued working.  Sometime after 2 and before supper, Edgar returned to the house.  His father called him down for supper several times and received no response. He went up to Edgar's room where in the dim evening light he saw Edgar lying in bed and assumed he was asleep.  He left him alone and did not return to his room until Thursday morning when he discovered his son's body. Edgar's mother also said her son had been despondent and his health was frail since his return from Colorado. He came down late on Wednesday and went straight to work in the barn but was back in the house for supper with his father. They both went back to the barn. She had left the house at 2:00 to visit Mrs. Woodward, a neighbor.  She did not see Edgar the rest of the day and he did not respond or come down to supper when she called him down. 

After a jury hears all the evidence the death of Edgar Clayton Willoughby is ruled a suicide. The funeral was held on Friday 13 September 1895 at Edgar's home with Dr. W.O. Shepard presiding over the service. 

Amos Aaron Maddox - Disease of War

Amos Aaron Maddox was born in 1839 in Jackson County, West Virginia. Earlier in 1838 Amos's parents packed everything they could onto wagons and herded their livestock and themselves to Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. There they built rafts and after loading the rafts with everything but the livestock they floated down the Ohio River the older boys of the families moving with them herded the livestock along through the wilderness. They landed near Ravenswood and after unloading everything and joining up with the herd of livestock they set out across land following Sandy Creek. They found the perfect location for a new farmstead and soon after Amos was born. 

Amos's father, William Oscar Maddox dies in 1841 of Typhoid Fever leaving his mother, Anna Maria Elizabeth (Cheuvront) Maddox with a new farmstead and 5 children all under the age of 8. By 1850 Amos, his mother and siblings are living in a home with his grandfather Aaron Charles Cheuvront in Jackson County, West Virginia. When Amos is 21 in 1860 he still living on the farm with his mother, Grandfather and a sister and they are farming. 

 dies in 1863 of Typhoid Fever his grave marker tells us he was also a Civil War Soldier. 

Annie Horst - Coroner Writes Suicide

Annie rented a room on Bernard Street in Baltimore from Mrs. Mary Jamison.  She had been living there since she had left her husband,  Emerson Andrew Loomis more than a year earlier. They had become friends.  They were so close in fact that Mary had asked Annie to be her Matron of Honor at her wedding on 14 May 1920 and Annie said yes. 

On the evening of 13 May 1920, the evening before the wedding, Emerson Loomis went to see his estranged wife Annie and threatened her. He said he would kill her and then himself if she did not come back to him. Annie refused and Emerson left. 

On 14 May 1920 Annie performed her duties as Matron of Honor and the wedding went off Beautifully. The reception was another matter entirely. It was canceled. Just after  Mary Jamison and William Clark had made their vows Annie laid down her bouquet to hug and congratulate her friend. A Police officer knocked on the door at that moment  and informed Annie that her husband had shot himself through the temple   just a short time before. Emerson was dead but he had been busy. He wrote a note to his Landlady telling her that no one was at fault or to blame except his wife Annie D. Loomis and to please notify his brother James Loomis of what had happened.  The coroner ruled the death a suicide and the body was sent to the morgue. 

This was not the dream wedding Mary and William wanted. This was not the dream wedding Annie wanted for her friend.  This was not Annie's fault. Troubles seemed to be a companion of Emerson. 24 January 1907 he is committed to court for embezzling $75.00 dollars from his employer the Gardiner Dairy Company where he was employed as a driver.  Emerson insisted the amount was actually closer to $100.00.  14 July 1909 Emerson is robbed of $2.50 as he slept in a doorway where he was waiting for a ride.  On 19 December 1918 he is robbed by the O'Brien brothers. 

I find no trace of Annie after the suicide in May of 1920. 
Annie D. Horst, a distant cousin was born in March of 1890 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was one of five children born to John Frederick Horst and his wife Catherine Marie Uhl Horst.