Resolutions

 Histbuffer here. I truly hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a great New Years! Well, without too many political ramifications. inflation and gas prices, for starters as we know those realities are too capable of taking away the fun from holidays. Sorry, I brought it up.

  It is claimed (www.almanac.com for example) that New Year's resolutions began back with the ancient Babylonians during the vernal equinox, around March 25th one would suppose, when the mostly agricultural society would be expected to give back borrowed farm implements and were encouraged in making grand promises to pay back debts. Their New Year was eventually adopted by the Romans; what wasn't, eh? Then, when the calendars were changed the date was shifted to January first for the New Year and its celebrations. These varied over different cultures.

 Resloutions in the old days in America were more connected with moral and spiritual issues though these began to change over time to - getting a better job, a nicer vacation, not letting certain problems get to you too much, saving for college, drinking less, lose weight...I could go on and on, but I think the point has been made.

 It's really all about one's intentions and setting proper goals in the steps to getting there successfully. Sure sounds simple. 

 I, on the other hand, have been meaning to write more blog posts, for one thing. 

 I can blame the weather, a health situation here or there, even keeping too busy though I am a year into my retirement. Another real thing has been the price of traveling to sites while, since I didn't get that new printer/scanner that is needed for uploading photos here, and some of these are old ones and need to be FOUND again as well. RESOLUTION time! Early in 2023, get together the bucks for achieving that important little goal. And a new software for making good videos and DVD's, though maybe an outmoded application, and sometime soon buy some...O K, you understand. 

 Ideas I still have when the creativity strikes me, in fact, there are new and older plans for articles and they just don't write themselves. There is one concerned with a place far afield from these parts, in a place in Philadelphia. I won't go further, this is a meaningful historical report that should be brought to the public. I promise to get these ideas on here soon! There, I said it, so no excuses, right? 

As an aside, as a kind of quest among the busy activities we all partake in so often within this amazing year while it winds to a sad but necessary close, my promise to myself was to get another post online by New Years Eve, if not sooner. And here we are so quickly it can make my head spin.

First, learn how to use a few items that were sort of interesting, kind of involved, Christmas gifts,. Oh, and get my blood work, a thorny familial issue to be solved, finish with Snap forms, work on better SEO since my blog was sabotaged, take down the decorations and rid up by Epiphany, (there's another holiday for a future post! ?), wash the car...and then, by God,  I'll Get On It.

 While those of you folks who have followed this blog and those who more recently discovered a regional post you found entertaining, await some new bits of traditional information from "Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History" worthy of spending a portion of quality moments reading up on, my advice is try to do your best in life, ignore a lot of stuff that isn't worthy of losing sleep on and pay closer attention to the wonders of our world; expend some degree of energy on the deeper things dear to the heart. 

And, as always I sincerely

 WISH you and yours, in 2023, the completion of your goals, and -

 A very, very HAPPY and, yes, prosperous NEW YEAR! 😄

 

 

Relatives and Ancestors: More Info On The Hatfields

 This article concerns certain  ancestors of mine from my Dad's side of the family. The material was sent by Lori Beal Pfeifer, a distant cousin who contacted me a while back and graciously provided crucial information, particularly various vintage photos in the midst of the tragic passing her relatives. By the way, I am very sorry to hear of her timely grief and offer my sincerest condolences to her family.

Although, curiously, the early Hatfield content differs in some respects from my research, I want to be sure in including the pertinent stuff along with her side of the family as well.

Instead of my explaining the details here, I'm trusting that hopefully she wouldn't mind the personal interchanges of ours, as it makes sense and so is probably for the best clarity in just posting up the emails which will keep her genealogical background correct and to the point.

The initial email from Lori follows and my response is immediately below this:

Hi,

My grandmother was Ruth Miner Beal.  Her father was John Chris Miner.  I 

would like to share  photos I have from the Miner/Hatfield families.  It 

was my second cousins Pam and Bobbi that took care of Wade Miner.  They are 

June Miner Shaffer’s twin daughters. June died tragically in 1968 in a 

house fire. I have photos of Wade and my dad, Miner John Beal.

Lori Pfeifer:

  Hi cousin! Sorry not to of contacted you for so long, but again, I appreciate the photos to no end. My brothers alone, were so interested to see these photos of 'granny Hatfield and Amsi, etc., just such great rare treasures. I am soon to upload some of these to my blog (finally). I know it hasn't been very active this year with various health issues, but I am considering retirement soon and hope to have more posts to sort of get things rolling again. Just needed to let yWhile I haven't been quite as active on the blog as I would like to have more time for, it's also nice to hear from you. So many emails come through, but I'm glad I noticed yours.

  I heard of Wade and the two daughters that took care of him on Spruce Hollow Road. A distant relative, Dorothy Miner, lived next to my parent's house and she wanted to go over and talk to people, but she was in advanced years and passed away not long after I had various conversations with her about our ancestors. You may know of her? And her son, Jim Bob, died suddenly not too long after this. I also had met a 2nd or 3rd cousin briefly some time ago, tell me that she had a diary of Mary (Miner) Wilson's sister, I believe, daughter of Amsi Miner. She was descended from Ravenia Wilson. Well, bottom line, she never got around to emailing any highlights from this and info of other valuable items she apparently possessed. I lost touch with her, but was frankly rather disappointed.

   Having said that, most of the photos we have of those we are related to are shown on the blog, but, you know, I was asked to do a Newsletter article for the Bullskin Historical Society some years ago on some of my old family connections.  So, then when I wrote up what I had toward that side of the family I didn't get much response. Later, I was informed they would of liked a 'family group photo'. I have a folder (somewhere) of what I had posted. I simply don't have any group photos as they appear to be pretty scarce. The President, Kim Brown, seemed to lose interest! Point being, yes, I would love to see any photos of the Miner's and any other information you could pass on of your family and the Hatfield's. Thanks for writing and I look forward to hearing from you again...

Wade Miner was Ruth Miner's brother. My dad and I visited him  a few times.  Wade never married nor did he have any children.  My 2nd cousins Pam and Bobbi Shaffer took care of him for over 25 years.  Bobbi still lives at the property and Pam lives nearby on Bellview Rd.  My Aunt Bonnie, my dad's sister, lives with Pam.  The house Wade lived in was torn down after he passed away. I am almost certain his parent's lived there, J. Chris Miner & Catherine (Kelly).   Amzi did live with them the last 9 years of his life. I will have to ask my Aunt, she may know where he lived prior. 

I did not know Dorothy Miner or her son. 

I did know Ralph Wilson, he was one of Mary and Shed Wilson's sons. We vacationed at Deep Creek Lake during the summer. In the early 1960's our family rented a cabin from Ralph and Laverna (Fleming)Wilson.  In 1967, probably after Ralph's passing Laverna sold property across the road from their cabin to my dad.  We have vacationed there up until we sold it in 2018.

My dad would tell me that he remembered as a kid the older relatives speaking of the Hatfields of Kentucky (the famous ones).  I haven't been able to find a connection.  Devil Amse Hatfield's relatives supposedly came from England, so says an old book my grandma had that was published in1944.

Then follow the next email with her explanation of the next photo as to keep this in order; 

Children of J. Chis Miner and Sara Kelley: Clair, Ruth (my Grandma), Earl and Harry Miner.  No date on this photo but it has to be 1910-1912.  Wade was born in 1912 and is not in the photo.

(Happily, certain photos are captioned and should need no other introductions, unless Lori made more extensive comments.  In case there exist any errors in my references to the back of the photos, I apologize ahead of time for any inconsistencies!)

       Below, are Harry Miner and Jan Etling. I knew there was some relation to the Etlings and they have prominent memorials in Slonecker Cemetery, still, frankly, we had no actual info to go by that could be confirmed.             

The back of the photo of John Hatfield with horse and buggy is shown first below:

                                           

Not sure if the photo is in a proper position, but here's a caption for this one:

"Pic of Ivy Bush and Granny Hatfield.  No date on this photo.  My Grandmother, Ruth, had this photo.  I can only guess this is Mariah Miner Hatfield"

"The old sawmill - my grandmother also had this photo":

The Miner Sawmill

"Ivy Bush - is this a child of Mary Hatfield and John Bush? - Mary, daughter of George and Mariah Hatfield":

Wade Miner

     Finally, it would be appropriate to copy verbatim the Pfeifer genealogy below for her sake and with respect to the amount of work and energy it takes to get all the documentation together, as well as for anybody with further interest to make comparisons between this material with the history of other Relatives and Ancestors posts added to the blog over the years.

i. Peter Biehl born about 1700 was married to Elisabeth had sons Peter Biehl b. 3-21-1726 d. 12-20-1802 and Melchoior b.1725

ii. Peter Biehl (1726) immigrated from Germany (Franconia, Palatinate or Zweibrucken Germany) on the ship Friendship on 10-12-1741. He married Anna Helena Merkel (b.2-21-1725 d. 3-18-1803) on 10-3-1750 at Zion UCC Church Windsor Castle, Perry Twp, Berks County, PA. (info at Bergergirls.com). Their children: John Jacob Beal b 1750 d. 6-27-1795, Jonas, Magdalena 1752-1819, Phillip 1754, Biehl 1757. (Anna and Peter Biehl are buried in Zion Moselem Cemetery, Berk County, Richmond Twp, PA.)

iii. John Jacob Beal married 1-20-1768 to Maria Barbara Geringer (1749-1795). Their children: John Jacob 1768, John Phillip Beal b. 8-22-1769 d. 9-22-1825, Catherine 1772-1855, Nicholas 1773-1857, Conrad 1774-1833, and John George 1781-1825.

iv. John Phillip Beal (1769) Married Hannah (last name unknown) b.1776. They had five children: George Beal, Daniel Phillip Beal b. 1804, John Phillip Beal Jr b. 1805 d.1879., Jacob Beal b. 1811, and Nicholas Beal b. 1819. 

v. Daniel Phillip Beal married Elizabeth Walliser b.1806 d. 1863 

Their children: Eli 1828-1896, John 1829-1901, Phillip Kemper 1831-1910, Catherine Sara 1833-1903, Susanna Beal 1835-1907, Jeremiah 1840-1906, Lorina 1842-1891, Jacob 1845-1912, Samuel 1849-1913. 

vi. Jeremiah Beal married Mary Cook (1845-1883).

Their children: Oliver Bookman b.5-18-1866 d. 5-27-1927, Samuel 1868-1934, Lilly Beal 1872, Cora Alice Beal 1876, Clara Beal 1882.

vii. Oliver Bookman Beal married on 7-24-1890 to Mary Washabaugh (b.2-5-1875 d. 10-11-1959.) (her parents: William & Sarah (Andrews) Washabaugh 

Their children: John Brinker Beal b. 10-3-1894 d. 6-24-1969, Grace Elva (Crise) b.1896 d.7-11-1974, Nora (Wilson)1897-1980, Mary (Basinger) 1913-1996, Oliver 1903-1984, Russell 1891-1892, Cora Elizabeth (Daniels)1910-1985, Mildred Jane (Hepler) b.9-27-1915 d. 2-27-2000, Lloyd 1907-1981, Clyde b. 1892 d.1946, Rev. William Beal 1905-1977, Alma (Keefer)1903-1940. (Oliver Beal is buried in Greenlick Cemetery in Fayette County).

**Nora Beal married George Wilson Feb of 1918.  George Wilson’s mother was Mary Miner, J. Chris Miner’s sister and Amzi Miner’s daughter.  This makes George Wilson and Ruth Miner cousins.  They both married Beal siblings. 

viii. John Brinker Beal married on 6-28-1926 to Ruth L. Miner b. 3-7-1897 d. 2-22-1995. Their children: Miner John b. 4-3-1927 d. 6-14-2016

Bonnie b.10-6-1933 Married Art Budzowski (b. 3-17-1931 d. 10-20-2016) Jan 20, 1954 (John and Ruth Beal are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Aliquippa.)

IX. Miner John Beal married on 9-25-1954 to Dorothy Fedyshyn (b. 11-30-1932 d. 5-28-2010) (Miner and Dorothy are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Aliquippa)

Miner and Dorothy children: 1. Sandra b.10-21-1956 2. Darlene b.3-2-1958 b. 3-15-1957 3. Lori b. 2-11-1963 

X. Sandra Beal Married 5-14-1977 to Kenneth Kisucky b.4-30-1956

Three children: 1)Kenneth John Kisucky Jr. b 1-14-1983 2)Joseph John Kisucky b.5-9-1985 3) Katie Rose b.11-1-1987 

X. Darlene Married 4-8-1989 to George Trkulja (b.3-15-1957) Child: Haley Nickole b.10-4-1994

X. Lori married 4-23-1988 to Thomas Pfeifer b. 5-17-1961: Three Children: Elaine b.11—30-1994 Aaron b.3-21-1996 Alex b. 2-19-1999

XI. Kenneth John Kisucky Jr. married 8-17-2007 to Jill Davies: children: 1)Jackson Hunter b. 7-17-2010  2) Clea Rose b. 6-16-2013

(Divorced Jill 2019) married Feb 2020 to Niki Pointer

XI. Joseph John Kisucky b. 5-9-1985 married Lindsey Monnet 4-18-2015 children: Cole Stevens and Cooper Miner b.4-26-2019 

XI. Katie Rose married Chad Rosatelli 7-26-2014 Children: Stella Rose b.4-17-2016 Lena b.10-30-2018.

    Please send any comments you may have to the email address attached to Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History. For me, this is a fascinating look back at ancestors of ours that have arrested my attention and truly captivated my being for a whole bunch of springs, summers, autumns & winters. Thank you again to Lori Pfeifer for these treasures in time.

Site Test

    I haven't posted in quite some time and my domain name was stolen by the site I bought it from. It is being 'RSSing' but isn't appearing for me in online searches. What a mess while attempting to get control back for it. This post is a test to see if it is searchable as the newer tech is confusing and I am not getting help for this thorny problem. So, if this is available to my viewers, please bear with me.