Upcoming Posts

    HI ALL,

     I hope you history buffers are having a good summer!


     Rarely do I upload this kind of thing, though a Progress Report might well be due and I'm really in between posts. I figured it might be enlightening to include viewers in the process of what I'm doing, so here's a quick update for upcoming regional and historical articles, starting in a few days.

     Please, read on:


     Firstly, it is rather difficult to believe the website is approaching a year since it's initial inception. I feel it a nice surprise we have seen a steady and healthy growth and this sure means plenty for my expectations. I know, too, there is certainly room for improvement here and there. On that, I could go on and on, (BUT, I won't!). Frankly, this just isn't the type of blog that gets little emotional tidbit entries every couple of days, so I try to incorporate a more factual glut of material and less of the every day side of things on each upload. You probably agree it is, mercifully, absent. Another perception is to be admitted some of the technical areas envisioned in the past are still to be achieved.

     Secondly, I do hope to again get with the Indian artifact collector from Mount Pleasant, Duaine Fuoss, for another and maybe more in depth interview soon. It was also a great experience collaborating on Iron Bridge with the author Lannie Dietle, who helpfully initialized the discussion by sending me information on the area. Something he occasionally does. I feel there has been progress made with more meaningful stuff to pass along as I face challenges through the learning curve.

    I speculated a little foolishly back in February and March  that I may run out of quality ideas for the blog. It could just be the gloom of the cold, cloudy season gave pause for a somewhat hazy period and that can happen to anybody that writes, from time to time. Yet, the feeling was probably related to the first winter I spent without the presence of my parents. We all have to be able to let our cherished loved ones pass on and adjust ourselves to some tragic happenings, and deal with that intense grief, but this was the worst from my side, at least. They meant so much to me and with only a few months separating their deaths, felt devastating. My Dad really meant the world to me. We may of not always seen quite eye to eye, but I respected his war service and many of his religious and practical attitudes. In a world that continually is changing, he was a real man. They both cared for me and my family so much. I was especially close to my Mom too. As I look back, I couldn't say enough about how classy a lady she was and how dutiful and selfless, so deeply concerned with every faucet of my life. As an example, she even traveled a few times with yours truly on trips to Europe and the Bahamas. What vacations those were! So, you can understand the tough situation it was, and is, the adjustment to not having their earthly influence. I do feel they watch, and sometimes guide me from Heaven. Well, as was almost bound to take place sooner or later, somewhere in late spring I became more inspired and had a real brainstorm, (no negative aftereffects, I'm happy to report!), and between doing research and talking to a few distant relatives and acquaintances, it became a prerogative to expand the scope here.

    Of course, if you've been paying attention to recent posts, the Connellsville article is STILL in the computer boardroom, but close to completion. I am also working on the one in front of me which, I'm afraid, may come off to some as a bit of a 'fluff piece' on Latrobe. That is basically finished. It really does have some substantial interest, especially to those of a particular sporting persuasion.

    Eventually, a good coverage concerning World War Two, and possibly other wars and some of the veterans of them would be something to consider. What do YOU think? Let me know if that sounds meaningful enough to many of you for future attention. My Dad spent many years on the railroad before retirement and that is something else that could be used as the nexus of upcoming interest. We'll see.

   The up side to doing your own website is the freedom inherent in making decisions. When to publish and what the subject will contain.

   Yes, you have also probably noted my attempt toward branching out more in the late spring and early summer months, including more information on surrounding townships and counties. Now there are plans to get back to areas closer to home soon, as well, with some good stuff on Everson and West Overton in Upper Tyrone and East Huntington townships, respectively, yet I do enjoy broadening the scope of historical material while gathering more afield in as expansive an erudition as I can manage!

    I also submit articles for a newsletter monthly, (there are those of you that are well aware of that), with limited viewership. Sorry, but it is best to keep it at that level. The main reason to mention this here is the spike in number of hits received on the site are a nice compliment and greatly appreciated. I am in the process of hesitantly and cautiously, doing a few speaking engagements.

   Tackling the important history of Fort Ligonier is a real priority of mine, so that will be coming your way, in time.

    Hopefully, everyone enjoyed the post on the Braddock Crossing at the Yough River Park area. That was an experience that was particularly fun for me too, so it's good the event was covered here with some details on what went on.

    It has been exciting from my stand point to improve my skills as I learn more details about our local history, with a larger knowledge base and meeting like minded people. It is with a wiser dedication to a more efficient mode of writing. in keeping a few articles in the pocket, so to speak, just in case.

    Finally, there's actually much in the early planning stages and, for your sake and mine, this would be unfair to pin myself down to describe anything closer or definite than already stated above. Many concepts haven't been decided on yet, so any explanations that far ahead will have to wait.

    

     So that's it for now. Keep checking back folks and I'll see you here 'down the road' and 'around the bend' !

     ~ Histbuffer
   

    

  

   

Relatives and Ancestors Link

  There has been a recent problem with the link to that post.

  This link should work fine in the mean time:

  Relatives and Ancestors

Relatives and Ancestors

Here are some photos of my ancestors. I hope it interests you to check out this post. Some of these of my mom's family are from Somerset County in the 1800's.




two maternal great grandmothers,
one was a very friendly soul



I'd like to of been there and heard this

 

 

fourth and fifth from the left, my maternal grandmother and grandfather Ida and John Hoover

great uncle Scott Hoover

Here is one from my dad's side of the family:

            
This is my paternal great grandfather and great grandmother, Shed and Mary Wilson

They lived near 'Hatfield Corner' across from the Mt. Olive Church

My great, great, grandfather James, great grandfather Shed, and apparently, my great Aunt Vesta Wilson and baby:

            

  And, finally, what would these old black and white photos
  be without...

          

                                       a horse and buggy


  I would like to take a moment to share a link to a meaningful site with you. This concerns information on how best to share your condolences to one who has recently lost a dear relative in the family. Suzie Kolber has written articles for ObituariesHelp.org.
Particularly this article of hers:
http://obituarieshelp.org/words_of_condolences_hub.html
And here is the link to her guest blog post. This is very helpful to be able to convey your sympathies for such a trying time in one's life, so please check it out. Thanks!

                     An update here:

                        Some graves of my ancestors

                   

   

my maternal great, great grandfather

James Wilson of the Civil War Era.

mustered in 9-24-1862, discharged 6-20-1865

                        

great grandparents in 

Mt. Olive Cemetery

here the graves of my paternal grandparents

(these are all from my father's side here)

my grandmother, Hazel Bowser Wilson, went to

and taught at the Ore Mine School. These are from Green Ridge Cemetery.

And on my mother's side,

Israel Hoover, my brave great grandfather, while carrying his company issued New Testament close in his pocket, which we still possess as an heirloom, who fought from the beginning to end of the Civil War:

courtesy of the Bakersville Cemetery, Somerset

   That's it for now; there is more information about an area not too far from where some of them lived at the bottom of this recent article.

  Keep checking for updates, as I hope to include more information as I go along 

Late April 2014, back with more updates in store here:

 

The Old Slonecker Cemetery and some paternal relative's graves

outer wall approach



inside old Slonecker Cemetery on Longanecker Road, Bullskin township




     I recently visited Slonecker Cemetery, a peaceful nook beside the Bullskin Fire Hall on Longanecker Road, near Pennsville in Bullskin Township. GPS: 40.06524 N, 79.55202 W. It was a nice spring day off, (always making it a pleasant experience), and I headed out with my camera, coffee and, ah...concealed weapon permit, as you just never know! Well, very rarely, in a few areas that one is not use to or that familiar with, as it wouldn't be too good to suddenly realize your on someone else's land and try to explain to a cocked and loaded shotgun that your doing genealogical research for you blog and you really mean NO HARM. Of course, if you know it is private land and are aware of a homestead or farm, you should ask permission and attempt to give an accounting as to why you are going there. It goes a long way to keeping your health intact.

Seriously, as usual, no one bothered me in my little quest and my presence could easily be explained. Most people are helpful and cooperative. AND they are my ancestors, after all.

   I did get some fairly good photos. Though I've read there are supposedly, up to 60 unmarked graves near here, with only slate slabs as headstones, I saw nothing of the kind. I do know there is an old family cemetery on another hill near here, above Mound's Creek, but haven't seen it since I was a teenager. Roughly speaking, including babies and children, there are only 12 or 14 gravestones inside the walls. It is sad to see what poor mothers must of suffered in the days when doctors weren't so available, medicine was primitive, and often just a form of home remedies. Mary Wilson was said to one of those with skills in this area.

   Here lies George Hatfield, 'at rest', my great, great, great grandfather. There were 2 or 3 with the same name and that makes it harder to research. The son, or possibly grandson, of Adam Hatfield, who, by the way, according to 'The History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania' by Franklin Ellis, once owned The Pleasant Valley Country Club area that became Detwieler's. Also the original owner of the mill at Laurelville known as Cherry's Mill, sold to him by John Meason. And there are John and Susana Miner's tombstones there; George married their daughter, making them my my great, great, great, great, grandparents, I believe, without subjecting you folks to too many intricacies. I add this information to gain a better perspective on the old, and little known graveyard near Pennsville, and not to encourage others to trod around much, or disturb the place. I do know that between John Miner and George Hatfield, they owned and operated a sawmill, the Royal Brick works, made wagons, had a distillery, did coal deliveries, and so on.

   Miner also donated the land for the Mt. Olive Cemetery. They were industrious, hard working people and I feel justly proud of them.

George Hatfield from Jan 15, 1819-May 10, 1902

John Miner born, 11-30-1798; died, May 14 (?) 1877

Susana Miner, died, Nov. 11, 1869

northeasterly stone wall

bottom of the Slonecker grave and Monument

An area rumored to be old Indian land:

looking southeast toward Mount's Creek and Rt. 982

I'll be quick to admit I didn't have anything with me to prune out weeds and thorns, so the photos were a bit difficult to take. It looks like the graveyard had been looked after some and gets mowed.

 This UPDATE was done in a hurried way, as to being anxious to publish the visit. I will get the dates uploaded soon. My apologies for not having this finished yet, but hopefully, you won't be reading this soon and all will be in order.

     An Update from Memorial Day
A very solemn time for us at my Mom and Dad's graves at Greenridge Cemetery:

                             * God Bless them both! *

     This is my great grandfather's and great grandmother's old house across from the Mount Olive Church, land that came from Mary, (Miner), Wilson's grandfather, John Miner:

  

old Wilson spring house