Descendants of Michael and Elizabeth Helman

 

 

Generation No. 1

 

1.  MICHAEL1 HELMAN was born 1757 in York Co, PA, and died Sep 24, 1821 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA.  He married ELIZABETH UNKNOWN Abt. 1780 in PA.  She was born 1759 in York Co, PA, and died Mar 29, 1824 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA.

 

Notes for MICHAEL HELMAN:

(This Helman genealogy is dedicated to my great-grandmother, Sadie Mariah Helman Greer Ramsay, who, through the tragic death of her mother, was deprived of her Helman heritage throughout her childhood and who may otherwise never appear in a work on the Helman line. In this regard, I am indebted to my aunt, Marjorie Ramsay Laing, who provided me with the nuggets and the inspiration to mine the ore.)

 

Michael Helman, my fourth great-grandfather, was an Army soldier and later a captain, a farmer and later a judge, a husband and a father of ten.  Michael appears in the nation's first census but one wonders: who was living with him in 1790?  Listed as "Mikel" Helman in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA, the census records that living in his household were no fewer than: five males of 16 years and upwards, including heads of families; 2 males under the age of 16; 7 females including heads of families.  Of the children we know about, by the time of the 1790 census, Michael and Elisabeth would have had five children, all aged 10 and under, including two sons and three daughters.  Excluding Michael, that leaves four males over the age of 16.  Excluding Elisabeth and her three daughters, that leaves three females unaccounted for.  One can only speculate if they were workers or relatives, and, since there are no names on that census except for the head of the family, we are not likely to ever know.  However, one of the older males was likely Michael's or Elisabeth's older brother or father because we find an older male on the next census (see * below), the details of which I include in lieu of census images.

 

In 1800, by which time Michael and Elisabeth had four more children, their household was nevertheless smaller than a decade before with five males and four females.  The house headed by "Michal Helmon" contained: a male under the age of 10; a male aged 10-15; a male aged 16-25; a male aged 26-44 (Michael); a male aged 45 and over*; two females under the age of ten; 1 female aged 16-25; one female aged 26-44 (Elisabeth).  Apparently, both boys named John had died by this year.

 

By 1810, Michael and Elisabeth had only three children living with them: one boy under the age of 10 (Frederick); one boy aged 10-15 (Michael); and one girl aged 16-25 (either Rachel or Mary).

 

In 1820, the last census on which Michael and Elisabeth appear, and this one in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, there is just one son, Frederick.

 

According to an Ancestry.com GEDCOM provided by Paul Forstad and Peggy Tygart, Michael Helman was commissioned on 9 Oct 1788 as an Associate Judge for Allegheny County, PA.  The same source states that on 1 Mar. 1822, an intestate petition was granted to partition 140 acres of land among the heirs of Michael Helman.

 

In another GEDCOM file, Craig Sharrow states that on April 10, 1783, Michael, in partnership with Conrad Ludwick, acquired 300 acres of land in Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co., PA., an area which was later attached to Allegheny Co.  "The property was known as 'Partnership.'  It is recorded in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that during the 'Whiskey Rebellion' President George Washington and his troops camped on the Helman farm.  Feelings were at a high pitch during this first and only time that a sitting President led his troops into conflict.  This may explain why Michael was not re-elected," Sharrow states, presumably referring to Helman's judgeship.

 

[According to the 2001 Encyclopędia Britannica, the Whiskey Rebellion is defined thusly:

"(1794) American uprising to protest a federal liquor tax.

Farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled against paying a tax on their locally distilled whiskey and attacked federal revenue collectors. After 500 armed men burned the home of the regional tax inspector, Pres. George Washington ordered 13,000 federal troops to the area. The rebellion quickly dissolved, with no fighting. The event established the authority of federal law within the states and strengthened support for the Federalists' advocacy of a strong central government."]

 

Marjorie Ramsay Laing states that Michael Helman's rank was listed as a captain on Sep 3, 1793 [PA Archives, 6th Series, Vol V, p. 59].  She also notes that Murrysville, where Michael was buried, was formerly Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Michael Helman died in his 64th year.

 

More About MICHAEL HELMAN:

Burial: Sep 1821, Hankey's Lutheran Cemetery, Murrysville, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1790 - 1810, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

Military service: Rev War; Captain, 4th Company, PA Militia

Residence: 1820, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

 

Notes for ELIZABETH UNKNOWN:

It was a thrill to see my fourth great-grandmother's name listed as a churchgoer at Hankey's.  The church records are precious in this regard: they are one of the very few repositories of women's names.  Even so, it is a rarity to see a woman's maiden name in an historic church record.  The census is even worse: the names of individuals were not recorded until 1850 and so there were few women's names on the census from 1790-1840 except in the case of a widow, and often, the woman was referred to simply as "Widow Helman," for example.

 

My husband argues that all genealogy should be based on the matriarchy since we can always be sure of the identity of a child's mother, but not necessarily that of the father.  I concur, and lament each time I have had to write the word "Unknown" as a substitute for a woman's surname.

 

My fourth great-grandmother Elizabeth Helman died in her 65th year.

 

More About ELIZABETH UNKNOWN:

Communicant: Bet. 1822 - 1823, Christ Church (Hankey's)1

 

More About MICHAEL HELMAN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN:

Marriage: Abt. 1780, PA

       

Children of MICHAEL HELMAN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN are:

                   i.       JACOB2 HELMAN, b. Abt. 1780, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA2; d. Unknown; m. MARY UNKNOWN; d. Unknown.

 

Notes for JACOB HELMAN:

I can find no additional information about Jacob and Mary Helman.

 

2.               ii.       CATHERINE HELMAN, b. Abt. 1782, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Abt. Feb 1822, OH.

                 iii.       ELIZABETH HELMAN, b. Abt. 1784, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA3; d. Unknown; m. DANIEL LONG, Bef. 1822, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Unknown.

 

Notes for ELIZABETH HELMAN:

Paul Forstad gives an "Abt. 1788" birth date for Elizabeth but I believe it to be "Abt. 1784" because the 1800 census reveals that Michael Helman had at that time a daughter aged 16-25 and his older daughter, Catherine, was already married by 1800.  I can find no additional information about Elizabeth Helman Long and her husband.

 

More About DANIEL LONG:

Census: 1820, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

 

More About DANIEL LONG and ELIZABETH HELMAN:

Marriage: Bef. 1822, Allegheny Co, PA

 

3.              iv.       DANIEL HELMAN, b. Apr 8, 1786, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Aug 8, 1854, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                  v.       JOHANNES HELMAN, b. Dec 10, 1787, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA4; d. Bef. 1797, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA.5.

 

Notes for JOHANNES HELMAN:

Johannes must have died before Nov 9, 1797 when a second son, John, was born.

 

More About JOHANNES HELMAN:

Baptism: Mar 24, 1788, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA6

Baptism sponsors: parents

 

                 vi.       RACHEL HELMAN, b. Feb 2, 1790, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA7; d. Bet. 1860 - 1870, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA; m. WILLIAM HINDMAN, Bef. 1822, Allegheny Co, PA; b. 1785, PA8; d. Bet. 1850 - 1860, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for RACHEL HELMAN:

Living with Rachel and her husband in 1850 were: her nephew Samuel Helman; her nieces Mary and Margaret Cowan; a ten-year-old girl, Rachel Jeffries.

 

In 1860, living with a widowed Rachel were her brother Frederick and his wife Hannah Ann and Rachel's niece Jane Helman.  Rachel's personal property was valued at $3,800 while her real estate was valued at $4,000.

 

More About RACHEL HELMAN:

Baptism: Apr 11, 1790, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

Census: Bet. 1850 - 1860, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About WILLIAM HINDMAN:

Census: Bet. 1810 - 1850, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1850, farmer

 

More About WILLIAM HINDMAN and RACHEL HELMAN:

Marriage: Bef. 1822, Allegheny Co, PA

 

4.             vii.       MARY HELMAN, b. Sep 13, 1793, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Bet. 1850 - 1860, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA.

               viii.       MICHAEL HELMAN, b. Nov 24, 1795, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA9; d. May 4, 1823, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA10.

 

More About MICHAEL HELMAN:

Baptism: Aug 6, 1797, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

 

                  ix.       JOHN HELMAN, b. Nov 9, 1797, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA11; d. Bef. 1800, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA12.

 

Notes for JOHN HELMAN:

Paul Forstad states that John died before 1821, but he must have died before 1800 because one the census that year, there is only one boy child under the age of five and that would have to be Michael whom we know survived until adulthood.  This assertion carries through to the next census year, 1810, when there is only one boy aged 10-15.

 

More About JOHN HELMAN:

Baptism: Sep 29, 1798, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

 

5.                x.       FREDERICK HELMAN, b. Mar 12, 1801, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Bet. 1860 - 1870, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

 

Generation No. 2

 

2.  CATHERINE2 HELMAN (MICHAEL1) was born Abt. 1782 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA13, and died Abt. Feb 1822 in OH.  She married JOHN FISHEL Abt. 1799 in Allegheny Co, PA.  He was born Feb 22, 1769 in PA, and died Jul 22, 1849 in OH.

 

Notes for CATHERINE HELMAN:

According to the births listed by Paul Forstad, by 1814, the family had moved to Jackson Twp., Franklin, Ohio.  All of the children's birth dates come from Forstad.  Catherine died at about the age of 40 shortly after the birth of her ninth child.

 

More About JOHN FISHEL and CATHERINE HELMAN:

Marriage: Abt. 1799, Allegheny Co, PA

       

Children of CATHERINE HELMAN and JOHN FISHEL are:

                   i.       JACOB3 FISHEL, b. Feb 26, 1800; d. Unknown.

                  ii.       ELIZABETH FISHEL, b. Dec 1802; d. Unknown.

                 iii.       JOHN FISHEL, b. Jun 24, 1805; d. Unknown.

                 iv.       MARY FISHEL, b. Mar 6, 1808; d. Unknown.

                  v.       MICHAEL FISHEL, b. Sep 1, 1810; d. Unknown.

                 vi.       RACHEL FISHEL, b. Sep 29, 1814; d. Unknown.

                vii.       MARGARET FISHEL, b. Jun 23, 1817; d. Unknown.

               viii.       DANIEL FISHEL, b. Nov 26, 1819; d. Unknown.

                  ix.       CATHERINE FISHEL, b. Feb 14, 1822; d. Unknown.

 

 

3.  DANIEL2 HELMAN (MICHAEL1) was born Apr 8, 1786 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA14, and died Aug 8, 1854 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married CATHERINE LUDWICK 1807 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA, daughter of JACOB LUDWIG and MADELINE BAKER.  She was born Jul 31, 1785 in PA, and died Apr 23, 1843 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for DANIEL HELMAN:

1810 census: Daniel and wife, Jacob and Magdalena.

1820 census (spelling Daniel Hillman): Daniel and Catherine, 2 sons, four daughters.

1830 census: Daniel and Catherine, 3 sons, six daughters.

1840 census (spelling Daniel Heilman): Daniel and Catherine, one son aged 15-19, three daughters aged 10-14.

1850 census (spelling Daniel Hellman): Daniel; daughters Isabelle, Jane and Hetty Ann; son Jacob; granddaughter Susannah, aged nine.

 

My third great-grandfather Daniel Helman died at age of 68 years, 4 months, 0 days.

 

More About DANIEL HELMAN:

Census: Bet. 1810 - 1830, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

Misc: settled in Larimer, Pa in 1836

Occupation: farmer, worth $2,500 in 1850

 

Notes for CATHERINE LUDWICK:

I entered an original death date for Catherine of April 23, 1833.  I subsequently changed this to ten years later because there is a woman in Daniel's household on the 1840 census in the same age category as would be expected had Catherine lived to that census year.  I don't know whether the 1833 date was an error in my original transcription or in the information I was given.

 

In 1829, all of the children except Jacob and Hetty Ann were baptized or rebaptized at the First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.  Catherine was the sponsor for all of the children.  Jacob and Isabelle were first baptized at Brush Creek.  I can't find any earlier baptismal records for the other children.  The 1829 church record gives the year only, not the date of, the mass baptism but it does give the birth dates for all the children.  Hetty Ann was not yet born and I can find no subsequent baptismal record for her.  Her age is based on the census.  (Jacob probably balked at being rebaptized since he was 22 years old at the time.  I have been unable to find any baptism records for the children he subsequently fathered.)

 

Elizabeth, Maria and Catherine Helman may have been married or deceased by 1850.  I can find no record of them after their 1829 baptism.  Hetty Ann lived at least until 1850 and then may have married or died.

 

My third great-grandmother Catherine Ludwig Helman died at the age of 57 years, 8 months, 23 days.

 

More About CATHERINE LUDWICK:

Alternate spelling: Ludwig

 

More About DANIEL HELMAN and CATHERINE LUDWICK:

Marriage: 1807, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

       

Children of DANIEL HELMAN and CATHERINE LUDWICK are:

6.                i.       JACOB3 HELMAN, b. Dec 3, 1807, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Bet. 1865 - 1870, Westmoreland Co, PA.

7.               ii.       MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE HELMAN, b. Apr 30, 1809, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Aft. 1880, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                 iii.       ELIZABETH HELMAN, b. Jun 20, 1813, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA15; d. Aft. 1829, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About ELIZABETH HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

                 iv.       SAMUEL HELMAN, b. Jan 10, 1817, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA15; d. Bet. 1860 - 1870, Westmoreland Co, PA16.

 

Notes for SAMUEL HELMAN:

In 1850, Samuel was living in N. Huntingdon with his aunt Rachel and her husband William Hindman.  He was singe.  Also living with the Hindmans were Rachel's nieces Mary and Margaret Cowan and a 10-year-old girl, Rachel Jeffies.

 

In 1860, Samuel was living in Irwin's Station, N. Huntingdon, and listed his occupation as a farmer worth $1,500 in property and $50 in personal value.  He was single.  Samuel's name was in a list of people who lived in a hotel.

 

More About SAMUEL HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1850 - 1860, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1860, farmer

 

                  v.       MARIA HELMAN, b. Jan 22, 1819, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA17; d. Aft. 1829, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About MARIA HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

                 vi.       WILLIAM HELMAN, b. Dec 8, 1820, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA17; d. Bet. 1829 - 1830, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA18.

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

8.             vii.       PETER HELMAN, b. Dec 27, 1822, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Aft. 1880, PA.

               viii.       JANE HELMAN, b. Mar 8, 1825, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA19; d. Bet. 1870 - 1880, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA20.

 

More About JANE HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1850 - 1860, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Misc: never married

Property: 1860, worth $1,000, per census

Residence: 1870, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

                  ix.       CATHARINA HELMAN, b. May 28, 1827, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA21; d. Aft. 1829, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About CATHARINA HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

                   x.       HETTY ANN HELMAN, b. 1830, Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA22; d. Aft. 1850, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About HETTY ANN HELMAN:

Census: 1850, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

 

4.  MARY2 HELMAN (MICHAEL1) was born Sep 13, 1793 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA23, and died Bet. 1850 - 1860 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA24.  She married WILLIAM COWAN Bef. 1817 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA.  He was born Abt. 1790 in PA, and died Bet. 1841 - 1850 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA24.

 

More About MARY HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: Anna Maria

Baptism: Feb 26, 1794, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

Census: 1850, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; living with daughters Katherine and Elizabeth

 

Notes for WILLIAM COWAN:

His parents, George and Rachel Cowan, were still alive and living in N. Huntingdon in 1860, aged 94 and 84, respectively.

 

More About WILLIAM COWAN:

Census: 1840, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

 

More About WILLIAM COWAN and MARY HELMAN:

Marriage: Bef. 1817, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

       

Children of MARY HELMAN and WILLIAM COWAN are:

9.                i.       KATHERINE3 COWAN, b. 1817, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA; d. Unknown.

                  ii.       ELIZABETH COWAN, b. 1827, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA25; d. Aft. 1850.

                 iii.       MARY COWAN, b. 1828, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA25; d. Aft. 1850.

 

More About MARY COWAN:

Census: 1850, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

                 iv.       MARGARET COWAN, b. 1832, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA25; d. Aft. 1850.

 

Notes for MARGARET COWAN:

In 1860, she was living with Nancy J. Wilson, age 37, and her husband, William, in N. Huntingdon.  Nancy may have been another sister of Margaret.

 

More About MARGARET COWAN:

Census: 1850, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

 

5.  FREDERICK2 HELMAN (MICHAEL1) was born Mar 12, 1801 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA26, and died Bet. 1860 - 1870 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA27.  He married HANNAH ANN UNKNOWN Abt. 1827 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  She was born 1810 in PA27, and died Bet. 1860 - 1870 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA27.

 

More About FREDERICK HELMAN:

Baptism: Sep 7, 1801, First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

Census: Bet. 1840 - 1850, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA

Occupation: Sep 25, 1850, farmer, Plum Twp

Property: 1860, worth $3,900 per census

 

More About FREDERICK HELMAN and HANNAH UNKNOWN:

Marriage: Abt. 1827, Westmoreland Co, PA

       

Children of FREDERICK HELMAN and HANNAH UNKNOWN are:

                   i.       SON3 HELMAN, b. Bet. 1831 - 1835, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA28; d. Bef. 1850, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA28.

                  ii.       ELIZABETH HELMAN, b. 1832, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA29; d. Aft. 1850, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                 iii.       JOHN HELMAN, b. 1833, Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA29; d. Aft. 1850, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

 

Generation No. 3

 

6.  JACOB3 HELMAN (DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Dec 3, 1807 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA30, and died Bet. 1865 - 1870 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married (1) UNKNOWN Bef. 1843 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  She died Unknown.  He married (2) MARIA LONG Aft. 1850 in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA, daughter of NICHOLAS LONG and ELIZABETH ALTMAN.  She was born Sep 19, 1833 in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA31, and died Jan 2, 1853 in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married (3) MARY LAUFFER Bef. 1864 in Westmoreland Co, PA, daughter of SETH LAUFFER and ELIZABETH MILLER.  She was born Apr 26, 1836 in Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA32, and died Bet. 1900 - 1910 in Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for JACOB HELMAN:

I do not know where or when my great-great-grandfather died except that he was at least 58 years old when he passed away.  He may have died in Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.  That is where his widow and children were living in 1870.

 

According to family notes, he had three wives.  The name of the first wife is unknown.  She apparently died sometime after giving birth to a son, David.  This son was not living with Jacob in 1850.  At that time Jacob was living with his father and sisters.  The only David Helman I could find in the census is listed under the first wife.  I assume this David survived to adulthood as his lineage indicates, but I am not absolutely certain that the David I found in the census was indeed Jacob's son.

 

Jacob's second wife was Maria Long.  She died after the birth of my great-grandmother, Sadie Mariah Helman Greer Ramsay.  Again, Jacob chose not to raise his child himself.  He entrusted her upbringing to family friends, the Greers, who were childless.

 

In 2003, I finally identified Jacob's third wife as Mary Lauffer.  Her son, William S. Helman, was Sadie's half-brother.  Jacob and Mary also had a daughter who may not have survived childhood.  Jacob's third wife was in a sense as luckless as Jacob's previous wives: Jacob died soon after their children were born.  Mary remarried and was widowed for a second time by the age of 44.  She gave birth to eight children total, three of whom died in childhood.

 

More About JACOB HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: Hellmann

Baptism: Aug 19, 1809, Brush Creek Lutheran Church33

Baptism sponsors: no sponsors

Census: 1850, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About JACOB HELMAN and UNKNOWN:

Marriage: Bef. 1843, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

Notes for MARIA LONG:

Great-great grandmother Maria Long Helman died at the age of 19 years, 3 months, 14 days.

 

More About MARIA LONG:

Alternate spelling: Mariah; Marian, 1850 census

Baptism: Aug 10, 1834, Brush Creek Lutheran Church, Westmoreland Co, PA

Baptism sponsors: Maria Altman, single

 

More About JACOB HELMAN and MARIA LONG:

Marriage: Aft. 1850, Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

Notes for MARY LAUFFER:

Mary Lauffer was the first cousin of Hannah Lauffer, the wife of Peter Helman, Mary's brother-in-law.

 

In the 1870 census, Mary was widowed, living with Lizzie and William.

 

In 1880, Mary was widowed again.  William is incorrectly listed as her stepson; William was her husband's stepson:

 Mary GITTENS   Self   W   Female   W   44   PA   Keeping House   PA   PA 

 William HELMAN   SSon   S   Male   W   15   PA   Trapping In Mines   PA   PA 

 Philipp GITTENS   Son   S   Male   W   4   PA   At Home   PA   PA 

 Susan GITTENS   Dau   S   Female   W   3   PA   At Home   PA   PA 

Source Information:

  Census Place Shafton, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

  Family History Library Film   1255205

  NA Film Number   T9-1205

  Page Number   316A

 

In 1900, Mary was living with her sons Adam and Phillip in Irwin, Westmoreland Co.  Mary stated that she had given birth to eight children, with five of them living.  Who these other children were and to what father they were born is impossible to tell because they are not listed on the census.  The Gittens had a boarder in 1900; none of the family member listed any occupations.

 

More About MARY LAUFFER:

Census: 1870, Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About JACOB HELMAN and MARY LAUFFER:

Marriage: Bef. 1864, Westmoreland Co, PA

       

Child of JACOB HELMAN and UNKNOWN is:

10.              i.       DAVID4 HELMAN, b. 1843, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aft. 1880, Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

       

Child of JACOB HELMAN and MARIA LONG is:

11.             ii.       SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, b. Jan 1, 1853, Larimer, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Jul 12, 1927, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

       

Children of JACOB HELMAN and MARY LAUFFER are:

                 iii.       LIZZIE J.4 HELMAN, b. 1864, Westmoreland Co, PA34; d. Aft. 1870.

 

Notes for LIZZIE J. HELMAN:

Lizzie was either married or deceased by 1880 when she was 16: she is not on the census that year.

 

12.            iv.       WILLIAM S. HELMAN, b. May 1865, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aft. 1930, South Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

 

7.  MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE3 HELMAN (DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Apr 30, 1809 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA35, and died Aft. 1880 in Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA36.

 

Notes for MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE HELMAN:

Magdalena Rachel Isabelle is a name combination that may or may not have existed in reality.  I have combined these names because this Helman woman was known by all three names, depending on her age.  As confusing at it may seem, this attributed name may give another researcher a better chance at finding this woman in public records.

 

Isabelle was quite the chameleon.  When she was first baptized in 1809, her name was recorded as Magdalena.  When she was rebaptized in 1829 at the age of 20, her name was recorded as Rachel, perhaps as the namesake of her aunt, Rachel Helman Hindman.  However, by 1850 when she appears on the census living with her father and other family members, her name is recorded as Isabelle Helman.  So she would be named for 30 years until the 1880 census when her name is recorded as Isabella Fredman.  This erratic name changing would be reiterated for two more generations!

 

I suspect that Isabelle shed her Rachel persona after the family moved to N. Huntingdon in 1840 and a year later she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Susannah, in 1841.  I did not know this when I first saw the 1850 census because Susannah was listed at the end of the list of Helmans living in Daniel's household.  But I wondered whose child Susannah might be because she was too young to have been born to Catherine, Isabelle's mother.

 

Then in the 1860 census in N. Huntingdon, living with Isabelle were: Sarah C. Frederick, age 24, a teacher; Jacob S. Frederick, age 21, a teacher; and Susana Frederick, age 19.  Since Susanna was the same age and had the same first name as the former Susannah Helman, I wondered if Susannah had married Jacob, and if perhaps Sarah was his sister.

 

Then in 1870, I found that Isabelle and her entourage had moved to Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA.  In that year, Isabelle was living with her sister Jane and two others: Ann Frederick, 29, and Jennie Love, age 4.  Given the age of Ann, I wondered if Susannah Helman had indeed married Jacob Frederick and simply called herself Ann Frederick.  But who then was Jennie Love?

 

When I did a search for Isabelle Helman in the 1880 census, I found nothing: at first I assumed she had died.  Then, on a hunch, a did a search for Jennie Love, and this household turned up:

 

Isabella FREDMAN   Self   W   Female   W   71   PA   Keeping House   PA   PA 

 Ann FREDMAN   Dau   S   Female   W   32   PA   Tailoress   PA   PA 

 Jennie LOVE   GDau   S   Female   W   14   PA   At Home   PA   PA

Source Information:

  Census Place Latrobe, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

  Family History Library Film   1255203

  NA Film Number   T9-1203

  Page Number   136D

 

Thus, after 30 years as Isabelle Helman, Isabelle suddenly becomes Isabella Fredman, a widow.  Did she somehow meet, marry and then lose a Mr. Fredman from 1860-1870?  Did Mr. Fredman also adopt her adult daughter?  Or, did she simply change her name and that of her daughter?

 

Was Jacob Frederick the father of Jennie Love?  There is no Jacob in the 1880 census that matches this Jacob's age, so he may have died.  According to the 1880 census and Ann 's single status, Jennie's parents clearly did not marry.  The child's last name seems oddly appropriate.

 

The 1890 census no longer exists and my efforts to find Ann Fredman and Jennie Love on subsequent censuses have proved futile, but not surprising, because had they lived into the 1900's, their names may have changed again.

 

 

More About MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: also known as Isabella Fredman

Baptism: Aug 19, 1809, Brush Creek Lutheran Church37

Census: Bet. 1850 - 1860, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Misc: 1829, rebaptized, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: Bet. 1850 - 1880, homemaker

Property: 1860, worth $1,200 property, $1,500 personal per census

Residence: Bet. 1870 - 1880, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA

       

Child of MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE HELMAN is:

13.              i.       SUSANNAH4 HELMAN, b. 1841, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aft. 1880.

 

 

8.  PETER3 HELMAN (DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Dec 27, 1822 in Versailles Twp, Allegheny Co, PA38, and died Aft. 1880 in PA.  He married HANNAH LAUFFER Abt. 1855 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA, daughter of SIMON LAUFFER and ANNA NELIGH.  She was born Jun 21, 1835 in Westmoreland Co, PA, and died Oct 24, 1902 in PA.

 

Notes for PETER HELMAN:

1880 Household:

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace

Peter HELMAN   Self   M   Male   W   56   PA   Clerking In Store   PA   PA 

Hannah HELMAN   Wife   M   Female   W   44   PA   Keeping House   PA   PA 

Alice A. HELMAN   Dau   S   Female   W   23   PA   At Home   PA   PA 

William W. HELMAN   Son   S   Male   W   22   PA   Miller   PA   PA 

Elmer E. HELMAN   Son   S   Male   W   19   PA   Teamster   PA   PA 

Ulysses S. G. HELMAN   Son   S   Male   W   15   PA   At Home   PA   PA 

Census Place Larimer, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

 

A year after this census, William married.  All of the children except Alice later moved to Beccaria Township, Clearfield County, PA where they were all living in 1900.  Alice turns up on the 1910 census, living with her brother Grant in Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About PETER HELMAN:

Baptism: 1829, First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1850 - 1880, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1850, merchant

 

More About PETER HELMAN and HANNAH LAUFFER:

Marriage: Abt. 1855, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

       

Children of PETER HELMAN and HANNAH LAUFFER are:

                   i.       ALICE A.4 HELMAN, b. 1856, Westmoreland Co, PA39; d. Aft. 1910.

 

More About ALICE A. HELMAN:

Census: 1910, Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA; lived with brother Grant

Misc: never married

 

14.             ii.       ELMER E. HELMAN, b. Apr 10, 1861, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aft. 1910, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                 iii.       ULYSSES S. G. HELMAN, b. Feb 1866, Westmoreland Co, PA40; d. Aft. 1910.

 

More About ULYSSES S. G. HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: Grant; S. Grant

Census: 1900, Beccaria Township, Clearfield County, PA; living with brother Elmer

Occupation: 1900, machinist

Residence: 1910, Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

15.            iv.       WILLIAM W. HELMAN, b. Apr 1858, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Bet. 1910 - 1920, Coalport, Clearfield Co, PA.

 

 

9.  KATHERINE3 COWAN (MARY2 HELMAN, MICHAEL1) was born 1817 in Plum Twp, Allegheny Co, PA41, and died Unknown.  She married WILLIAM MCKAIN.  He was born 1811, and died Unknown.

       

Child of KATHERINE COWAN and WILLIAM MCKAIN is:

                   i.       DANIEL4 MCKAIN, b. 183941; d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 4

 

10.  DAVID4 HELMAN (JACOB3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born 1843 in Westmoreland Co, PA41, and died Aft. 1880 in Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married CATHARINE A. UNKNOWN Bef. 1869 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  She was born 1845 in PA, and died Aft. 1880 in Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for DAVID HELMAN:

This may or may not be the son of Jacob.  David was 7 years old in 1850, living with Mary Smith, age 67, in Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co, Pa.  She may have been his grandmother.  This was the only David I could find in the 1850 census so I assume Jacob left him with his mother-in-law or other relative after his wife died as he did later with his daughter Sadie.  (My understanding is that David survived to adulthood.)

 

On the 1870 census, his named was misspelled Hellman.  He was listed as being 26 years old, a coal miner.

 

The 1880 census:

David HELMAN   Self   M   Male   W   35   PA   Laborer   PA   PA 

 C. HELMAN   Wife   M   Female   W   34   PA   Keeping House   PA   PA 

 G. A. G. HELMAN   Son   S   Male   W   11   PA   At Home   PA   PA 

Source Information:

  Census Place Adamsburg, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

  Family History Library Film   1255204

  NA Film Number   T9-1204

  Page Number   32D

 

 

More About DAVID HELMAN:

Census: Bet. 1870 - 1880, Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About DAVID HELMAN and CATHARINE UNKNOWN:

Marriage: Bef. 1869, Westmoreland Co, PA

       

Child of DAVID HELMAN and CATHARINE UNKNOWN is:

16.              i.       GEORGE A. G.5 HELMAN, b. Feb 1868, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aft. 1910, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

 

11.  SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER (JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Jan 1, 1853 in Larimer, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA42, and died Jul 12, 1927 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA43.  She married MORRIS RAMSAY May 15, 1870 in Westmoreland Co, PA44, son of WILLIAM RAMSAY and ELISABETH SHARP.  He was born Jun 4, 1848 in Fordell, Dalgety, Fife, Scotland45, and died Dec 29, 1892 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA46.

 

Notes for SADIE MARIAH HELMAN GREER:

Parentage: Sadie's natural parents were Maria Long and Jacob Helman.  Sadie's mother died two days after giving birth to her.  Apparently, her father felt that he could not care for her properly.  The Greers, next door neighbors of Jacob in the 1850 census, agreed to raise Sadie as their own since they were childless.  The 1860 census shows Sadie, aged seven, living with the Greers in Larimer, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co., as Sadie Helman.  Her natural father had moved elsewhere by that time.  Years passed, and during that time Sadie was provided with every advantage including her own piano, recalls Marjorie Ramsay Laing.

 

George Greer was born in 1817 in Westmoreland Co, PA, and died after 1880.  His first wife, Sadie's adoptive mother, was Sarah Ewing, born in 1827 in PA, and died on Nov. 18, 1869.  In the census for 1870, the year Sadie was married, George Greer, recently a widower, listed his occupation as "gentleman" and declared his property was worth $10,000.  (George would marry twice more, to Harriet Baughman and then after her death, to Hannah Unknown.  Hannah died after 1900 in Greensburg, PA.) 

 

On the occasion of Sadie's marriage to Morris, George Greer legally adopted Sadie, then just over the age of 17, so that she could be his heir.  After being told that the man she had known as a family friend was indeed her natural father, Sadie became reacquainted with the Helmans.  Jacob had since remarried and fathered several other children.  The Helmans, Longs and the Greers had all lived in the Larimer area and each family accepted Sadie equally, it was said.  (Sadie's death certificate lists her father as George A. Greer.)

 

Marriage: As her husband pursued his ascending career in mining, Sadie was left to care for the children.  Of her thirteen children, only nine were alive at the time of the 1900 US census.  Two babies were stillborn.  Two more young daughters died in a diphtheria epidemic.  In fact, within a two-year period, Sadie had lost three children, her first grandchild and her husband.  Prior to those deaths, the family had at least enjoyed a sense of luxury in the Victorian "Big House" in Mount Pleasant that still exists today.  The current owner, a non-family member, is said to have restored the house consistent with the period in which the Ramsays lived there. 

 

Moving: The Ramsay family bible, through the record of births of the children of Sadie and Morris, shows clearly where the family lived in PA:  Shafton, Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co., 1870-1878; Houtzdale, Clearfield Co, 1880; Loyalhanna, Derry Twp, Westmoreland Co,1881; Monastery, Unity Twp, Westmoreland Co.,1882; Trotter, Fayette Co, 1884-1887; Morewood, E. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co., 1887 onward. 

 

The 1880 Household:

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace

Morris RAMSEY   Self   M   Male   W   31   SCOT   Supt. At Coal Mines   SCOT   SCOT 

Sadia M. RAMSEY   Wife   M   Female   W   27   PA   Keeping House   PA   PA 

William RAMSEY   Son   S   Male   W   9   PA      SCOT   PA 

Sadia M RAMSEY   Dau   S   Female   W   7   PA      SCOT   PA 

Lizzia A. RAMSEY   Dau   S   Female   W   5   PA      SCOT   PA 

Hannah G. RAMSEY   Dau   S   Female   W   3   PA      SCOT   PA 

George RAMSEY   Son   S   Male   W   2   PA      SCOT   PA 

Harriet DAVIS   Other   S   Female   W   20   WALES   Servant   WALES   WALES 

Census Place Houtzdale, Clearfield, Pennsylvania

 

Sadie and Morris had 40 grandchildren, only two of which were born during Morris' short lifetime.  Their first grandchild, Morris Byers Ramsay, died just a few days before the death of Morris.

 

The census data at the turn of the century shows that Sadie was living with daughters Alice and Adelaide at 242 Walnut Street, Mount Pleasant.  Sadie had owned her home, free of mortgage, for seven years.  "Mrs. Sadie M. Ramsay, widow of Morris Ramsay, resides in a comfortable home in Mount Pleasant, is highly esteemed in the community, and enjoys the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends."    (Jordan, p. 335)  Sadie continued to live with Adelaide until her death that occurred at 3:30 P.M. on July 12, 1927.  She had outlived her husband by 35 years.  She died at the age of 74 years, 6 months, 13 days.

 

Her obituary read: "Mrs. Sadie Greer Ramsay, widow of the late Morris Ramsay, died late Tuesday afternoon at her home, 729 Walnut Street. She had only been sick since the previous Saturday. Deceased was 74 years of age on last New Year’s Day. She is survived by one brother, William Helman, of South Greensburg and by the following children: William Ramsay, Bethlehem; Mrs. Sadie Eaton, Brownsville; Mrs. John L. Shields, Walnut Corner; George Ramsay, Bradenville; Mrs. Christena Stahl, Brownsville; Robert Ramsay, Greensburg; Miss Alice I. Ramsay, 729 Walnut Street; and Mrs. John P. Clarke, Jr., Dormont. Her descendants numbered 40 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the home at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon followed by internment in the family lot in the Union cemetery located at Irwin."

 

Pictures of Sadie and her family and the text of her will and obituaries may be viewed on my website at: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/c/Barbara--BeckRamsay/index.html

 

More About SADIE MARIAH HELMAN GREER:

Alternate spelling: Sadie Maria; Sarah

Burial: Jul 15, 1927, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: stroke

Namesake: of her adoptive mother, Sarah (Sadie) Ewing

Occupation: homemaker

Religion: Presbyterian; Reunion Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant, PA

Will: Oct 30, 1925, date filed; No. 443 of 1925, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

Notes for MORRIS RAMSAY:

Birthplace:  Fordell, a village located in the parish of Dalgety, Fife, had "an extensive colliery...employing nearly half the population,'' according to Westwood's Directory for the Counties of Fife & Kinross, published in 1862, when Morris was 14 years old.  My husband and I visited Fordell in 2000.  The local pub owner greeted us and his patrons told us stories of the mines in Fordell that have now been exhausted.  The only evidence of the once-thriving colliery was the former superintendent's cottage.  The miners' pitiful housing had long since been torn down.  The graveyard adjacent to the church at Mossgreen was in poor condition since most of the stones were either too weathered to read or had sunk into the ground.  Giant black bulls grazing behind a stone wall seemed to be the only guardians of the cemetery.  There was, however, a spectacular view of the downward slope, of about five miles, to the shores of the Forth and the magnificent bridge that spans the waters there.

 

Mentor:  Morris was a mentor to his nephew, Erskine Ramsay, who became a millionaire.  Erskine's biography makes numerous references to the part Morris played in his nephew's life, including his serving as a math tutor to the boy who would eventually donate over five million dollars to educational and other causes.

 

Occupation: "Morris Ramsay, after completing a common school education, began learning the trade of machinist at Dunfermline, his birthplace, and completed the same at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in which city his parents located upon their arrival in this country in 1852.  From 1864 to 1869 he worked in the mines of the Westmoreland Coal Company, and in the latter year was appointed mining boss at the Shafton coal mines, in which capacity he served for ten years.  He then removed to Houtzdale, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, and was superintendent of the Kittanning Coal Company's mines for two years.  In 1882 he became superintendent of mines at Morewood; he was transferred two years later to the position of mining engineer for the Frick Coke Company, his services in this capacity being of great value to his employers.  In 1886 he was made superintendent by the above company of their coke plants at Morewood, Warden, Dillinger, Alice and Tarr's.  The ovens at these works numbered 1151, of the eight thousand owned or operated by the Southwest Coal and Coke Company....Among the works of Mr. Ramsay's engineering in the Connellsville coke region are: The Rist tipple, the air shaft at Morewood, the Trotter plant and the new Henry Clay coke works near Broad Ford, Fayette county, Pennsylvania." (Jordan, pp. 334-335)  Morris and his brother Robert also held management positions during the Morewood Mine Riot in 1891.

       

His death: In Henry Clay Frick: An Intimate Portrait, by Martha Frick Symington Sanger, the author notes about great-grandfather's death: "The H.C. Frick Coke Company's Morewood Superintendent, Morris Ramsay, who had named his infant daughter after Frick's wife, Adelaide, was fatally injured in a carriage accident....Although Ramsay was sent by Frick to a Pittsburgh hospital, he died in surgery.  Frick served as a pallbearer at Ramsay's funeral and offered financial aid to his devastated widow." (p. 231)  For some years, this version of Morris Ramsay's death was an accepted family fact and as shown above, found its way into print.

 

However, in 2002, I obtained a copy of Morris' death certificate from the Allegheny County coroner's office.  I was stunned to learn that the cause of his death was listed as cancer of the pancreas.  In September 2002, I returned to Greensburg and searched through the microfilm of the then-weekly Tribune-Herald.  I did not find an obituary but did find two other mentions.  "Morris Ramsey [sic], Superintendent of the Morewood Works, was taken to Dr. Sutton's private hospital, Pittsburg, to have an operation performed in hopes of benefiting his health, which has been on the decline for some months.  The operation will be performed Thursday."  This item was reported on Jan. 4, 1893.  The following week, the paper reported that Morris had died while undergoing an operation.  Then in January 2003, Marjorie Ramsay Laing sent me two obituaries from the Mt. Pleasant Journal that clearly state that Morris died of cancer.  How the carriage accident story got started I do not know but it was clearly a myth.

 

Morris Ramsay died at 11 P.M. on Dec. 29, 1892 at Dr. R.S. Sutton's private hospital at the age of 44 years, 6 months, 25 days.  He had filed his will only a month previously.  Pictures of Morris Ramsay and his family, home and colleagues may be viewed on my website (http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/c/Barbara--BeckRamsay/index.html) in the photo section.  In the text section, there is the full text of his biography, obituaries and his will.

 

More About MORRIS RAMSAY:

Burial: Jan 2, 1893, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: cancer of the pancreas

Census: 1870, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Immigrated: Apr 23, 1852, sailed from Glasgow. Scotland, arriving in New York in June47

Immigration 2: 1863, from Scotland via Liverpool, England, to Philadelphia, ship Tuscarara48

Namesake: his forename is surname of his grandmother, Elizabeth Morris

Naturalized: Sep 30, 1869, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA

Occupation: Chief Engineer for the H.C. Frick Coke Company49

Religion: Presbyterian

Residence: 1892, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Will: Nov 2, 1892, date filed; No. 12 of 1893, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About MORRIS RAMSAY and SADIE GREER:

Marriage: May 15, 1870, Westmoreland Co, PA50

       

Children of SADIE GREER and MORRIS RAMSAY are:

17.              i.       WILLIAM5 RAMSAY, b. Nov 23, 1870, Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Apr 13, 1943, Easton, PA.

18.             ii.       SADIE MARIA RAMSAY, b. Mar 16, 1873, Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Apr 4, 1946, Brownsville, Fayette Co, PA.

19.            iii.       ELIZABETH SHARPE RAMSAY, b. Aug 14, 1874, Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Feb 5, 1904, Fairmont, W. VA.

20.            iv.       HANNAH GREER RAMSAY, b. Jun 17, 1876, Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Aug 20, 1968, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.

21.             v.       GEORGE MORRIS RAMSAY, b. Mar 25, 1878, Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Oct 3, 1934, Bradenville, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                 vi.       INFANT RAMSAY, b. Jan 29, 1880, Houtzdale, Clearfield Co, PA51; d. Jan 29, 1880, Houtzdale, Clearfield Co, PA52.

 

More About INFANT RAMSAY:

Burial: 1880, Houtzdale, Clearfield Co, PA

 

22.           vii.       MARY CHRISTINA RAMSAY, b. Apr 13, 1881, Loyalhanna, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. May 8, 1968, Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA.

               viii.       JANET ROBERTA RAMSAY, b. Sep 20, 1882, Monastery, Westmoreland Co, PA53; d. Sep 16, 1891, Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA54.

 

More About JANET ROBERTA RAMSAY:

Burial: 1891, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: diphtheria

Misc: died in the epidemic

 

23.             ix.       ROBERT ALEXANDER RAMSAY, b. Sep 16, 1884, Trotter, Fayette Co, PA; d. Jun 29, 1970, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                   x.       ALICE ISABELA RAMSAY, b. Mar 13, 1886, Trotter, Fayette Co, PA55; d. Sep 2, 1963, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA56.

 

More About ALICE ISABELA RAMSAY:

Burial: 1963, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: 1910, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Misc: never married

Occupation: 1930, book keeper, bank

 

                  xi.       NELLIE CATHARINE RAMSAY, b. Oct 4, 1887, the "Big House," Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA57; d. Aug 12, 1891, Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA58.

 

More About NELLIE CATHARINE RAMSAY:

Burial: 1891, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: diphtheria

Misc: died in the epidemic

 

                 xii.       INFANT DAUGHTER RAMSAY, b. Jan 5, 1890, Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA59; d. Jan 5, 1890, Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA60.

 

More About INFANT DAUGHTER RAMSAY:

Burial: 1890, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

24.           xiii.       ADELAIDE FRICK RAMSAY, b. Feb 3, 1892, Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Jul 14, 1982, Jefferson Boro, PA.

 

 

12.  WILLIAM S.4 HELMAN (JACOB3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born May 1865 in Westmoreland Co, PA61, and died Aft. 1930 in South Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married MARGARET UNKNOWN 1887 in Westmoreland Co, PA62.  She was born Apr 1869 in PA62, and died Aft. 1930 in South Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for WILLIAM S. HELMAN:

In 1910, all the children except Elsie were living with William and Margaret.

 

In 1920, only William Jr. and his wife were living with the couple.

 

In 1930, a single woman, Hannah C. Lauffer, 53, was living with the Helmans.  The line indicating her relationship is blurred on the census.  It looks like the word "housewife" was crossed out and replaced with the word "servant."  This was interesting because Hannah was the daughter of Phillip and Barbara Lauffer.  In 1870, Phillip Lauffer and his family lived two properties away from Mary Helman, William's mother, in Penn Twp.

 

I decided to look up Phillip Lauffer at Ancestry.com and was gratified to find a genealogy posted by J. K. Warter.  Because of Warter's work, finally, in 2003, I was able to identify Mary Lauffer, sister of Phillip Lauffer, as the wife of Jacob Helman.

 

Hannah Lauffer worked as a servant in 1920 in another household.  Although she was a servant for William in 1930, she was also his cousin.

 

Tracking the lineage of William S. Helman was quite a task and complicated by the fact that he had a cousin, William W. Helman, the child of his father's brother, Peter.  William W. Helman had a son of the same name who was living in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, in 1930 at the same time that William S. was living in South Greensburg.  So they lived only a few miles away from each other. 

 

More About WILLIAM S. HELMAN:

Census: 1900, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1900, miner

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN and MARGARET UNKNOWN:

Marriage: 1887, Westmoreland Co, PA62

       

Children of WILLIAM HELMAN and MARGARET UNKNOWN are:

                   i.       CHILD5 HELMAN, b. Aft. 1887, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Bef. 1900, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62.

                  ii.       ELSIE HELMAN, b. Jul 1889, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Aft. 1910.

 

More About ELSIE HELMAN:

Misc: either married or deceased by 1910; not on the census

 

                 iii.       EDGAR T. HELMAN, b. Jan 1890, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Bet. 1910 - 1920, Westmoreland Co, PA.

                 iv.       ELIZABETH J. HELMAN, b. Jan 1893, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Unknown.

                  v.       MARGARET HELMAN, b. Sep 1894, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Unknown.

 

More About MARGARET HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: Mary M.

 

                 vi.       WILLIAM S. HELMAN, b. Apr 22, 1896, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA62; d. Jan 1976, Youngwood, Westmoreland Co, PA63; m. BLANCHE C. UNKNOWN, Private; b. Private.

 

Notes for WILLIAM S. HELMAN:

The marriage between William and Blanche was short-lived.  She is nowhere to be found on the 1930 census that covers the entire United States.  I can't find William on the 1930 census either.  There is a match in the Social Security Death Index, however, but only for William.

 

More About WILLIAM S. HELMAN:

Census: 1920, South Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1920, machinist

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN and BLANCHE UNKNOWN:

Private-Begin: Private

 

25.           vii.       JOHN A. HELMAN, b. Dec 1898, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Unknown.

 

 

13.  SUSANNAH4 HELMAN (MAGDALENA RACHEL ISABELLE3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born 1841 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA64, and died Aft. 1880.

 

More About SUSANNAH HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: also known as Susana Frederick and Ann Fredman

Misc: confer notes on her mother

       

Child of SUSANNAH HELMAN is:

                   i.       JENNIE5 LOVE, b. 1866, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA65; d. Aft. 1880.

 

More About JENNIE LOVE:

Misc: confer notes on her mother and grandmother

 

 

14.  ELMER E.4 HELMAN (PETER3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Apr 10, 1861 in Westmoreland Co, PA, and died Aft. 1910 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married EVA M. PAINTER Sep 30, 1885 in PA.  She was born Apr 1863 in PA66, and died Aft. 1910 in Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

More About ELMER E. HELMAN:

Census: 1900, Beccaria Township, Clearfield County, PA

Occupation: 1900, founder and machinist

 

More About ELMER HELMAN and EVA PAINTER:

Marriage: Sep 30, 1885, PA

       

Children of ELMER HELMAN and EVA PAINTER are:

                   i.       MERVYN PAINTER5 HELMAN, b. Mar 25, 1887, PA67; d. Mar 1970, Fairmont, Marion, WV67.

                  ii.       THOMAS LAUFFER HELMAN, b. Jan 21, 1890, PA67; d. Feb 1967, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA.

                 iii.       FRANK WHEELER HELMAN, b. Jul 5, 1893, PA; d. Unknown.

                 iv.       ELMER GRANT HELMAN, b. Jun 15, 1895, PA; d. Unknown.

26.             v.       WILLIAM HELMAN, b. Nov 18, 1897, PA; d. Jul 1977, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas, FL.

                 vi.       EVELYN R. HELMAN, b. 1901, PA68; d. Unknown.

 

 

15.  WILLIAM W.4 HELMAN (PETER3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Apr 1858 in Westmoreland Co, PA69, and died Bet. 1910 - 1920 in Coalport, Clearfield Co, PA.  He married MARY E. WHITE 1881 in PA69.  She was born Aug 1862 in PA69, and died 1947 in PA.

 

More About WILLIAM W. HELMAN:

Burial: Unknown, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1900 - 1910, Beccaria Township, Clearfield Co, PA

Misc: name is misspelled Hellman on 1900 census

Occupation: 1900, superintendent, coal mine

 

Notes for MARY E. WHITE:

In 1900, Mary reported on the census that she had given birth to five children, one of whom had died.  Also in 1900, the family had a servant, Rosa Dixson, age 17.

 

1910 census:

William M Helman

  Age: 52 State: PA

  Color: W Enumeration District: 0065

  Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0041

  County:  Clearfield

  Relation:  Head of Household

  Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place

Wife Mary E 48 Pennsylvania

Daughter Gertrude C 27 Pennsylvania

Son William W 24 Pennsylvania

Son John B 22 Pennsylvania

Daughter Mary M 17 Pennsylvania

 

By 1920, Mary was widowed, living with her son John and daughters Cora and Mary.

 

In 1930, Mary's son John was the head of the household.  Gertrude was still living there as well as James White, Mary's brother.

 

More About MARY E. WHITE:

Burial: 1947, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1920 - 1930, Coalport, Clearfield Co, PA

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN and MARY WHITE:

Marriage: 1881, PA69

       

Children of WILLIAM HELMAN and MARY WHITE are:

                   i.       GERTRUDE CORA5 HELMAN, b. Mar 1882, PA69; d. 1963, PA.

 

More About GERTRUDE CORA HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: Cora Gertrude

Burial: Unknown, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: 1930, living with mother and brother in Coalport, PA

Misc: DAR headstone; still unmarried in 1930; age fluctuates with censuses

 

                  ii.       JAMES W. HELMAN, b. 1883, PA70; d. 1886, PA70.

 

More About JAMES W. HELMAN:

Burial: 1886, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

27.            iii.       WILLIAM W. HELMAN, b. Nov 1885, PA; d. 1957, PA.

                 iv.       JOHN D. HELMAN, b. Mar 25, 1888, PA71; d. Sep 1975, Coalport, Clearfield Co, PA71.

 

More About JOHN D. HELMAN:

Census: Bet. 1920 - 1930, Coalport, Clearfield Co, PA

Misc: never married

Occupation: Bet. 1920 - 1930, superintendent, coal mine

Property: 1930, valued at $6,000, per census

 

                  v.       MARY M. HELMAN, b. Dec 1892, PA72; d. Aft. 1920.

 

Notes for MARY M. HELMAN:

Mary may have married after 1920.  After that census year, I cannot find her under her maiden name.

 

 

Generation No. 5

 

16.  GEORGE A. G.5 HELMAN (DAVID4, JACOB3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Feb 1868 in Westmoreland Co, PA73, and died Aft. 1910 in Westmoreland Co, PA.  He married LYDIA UNKNOWN 1890 in Westmoreland Co, PA74.  She was born May 1860 in PA74, and died Aft. 1910 in Westmoreland Co, PA.

 

Notes for GEORGE A. G. HELMAN:

George Helman

  Age: 41 State: PA

  Color: W Enumeration District: 0188

  Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0011

  County:  Westmoreland

  Relation:  Head of Household

  Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place

Wife Lida 50 Pennsylvania

Son Henry 18 Pennsylvania

Son Lawrence 18 Pennsylvania

Son George, Jr 16 Pennsylvania

Daughter Catharine 11 Pennsylvania

   

 

 

 

More About GEORGE A. G. HELMAN:

Census: Bet. 1900 - 1910, Jeannette, Westmoreland Co, PA

Misc: Bet. 1870 - 1880, on the census with parents

Occupation: 1900, sold cigars/tobacco

 

More About GEORGE HELMAN and LYDIA UNKNOWN:

Marriage: 1890, Westmoreland Co, PA74

       

Children of GEORGE HELMAN and LYDIA UNKNOWN are:

                   i.       LAWRENCE K. (TWIN)6 HELMAN, b. Sep 3, 1891, Westmoreland Co, PA74; d. Bet. 1917 - 1918, France.

 

Notes for LAWRENCE K. (TWIN) HELMAN:

The WESTMORELAND COUNTY'S CASUALTY LIST WORLD WAR 1917-1918 lists Helman, Laurence K..................... New Alexander, PA, as being killed in action.

 

 

 

More About LAWRENCE K. (TWIN) HELMAN:

Military service: killed in World War I

 

                  ii.       HENRY M. HELMAN, b. Sep 3, 1891, Westmoreland Co, PA74; d. Jul 1963, PA75.

                 iii.       GEORGE A. HELMAN, b. Dec 189376; d. Unknown.

 

Notes for GEORGE A. HELMAN:

SSN 168-10-2137 Residence:  15001  Aliquippa, Beaver, PA

  Born 13 Dec 1893 Last Benefit:    

  Died May 1975 Issued:  PA (Before 1951)

maybe

 

 

                 iv.       KATHERINE HELMAN, b. Jan 189976; d. Unknown.

 

 

17.  WILLIAM5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Nov 23, 1870 in Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA77, and died Apr 13, 1943 in Easton, PA78.  He married JESSIE THOMPSON Dec 17, 1891 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA79, daughter of JOSEPH THOMPSON and SARAH FLENNIKEN.  She was born Oct 25, 1872 in Greene Co, Pennsylvania, and died Dec 26, 1944 in Bethlehem, PA80.

 

Notes for WILLIAM RAMSAY:

"SON SUCCEEDS FATHER

Will Ramsey Appointed General Manager of the Morewood Works.

 

Will Ramsey has been appointed General Manager of the H.C. Frick Coke Company's Works at Morewood to succeed his father, Morris Ramsey, who died last Friday, December 30th, while undergoing an operation in Dr. Sutton's private hospital, Pittsburg.

 

The appointment is a good one and meets with the approbation of the men employed at these works."  (Tribune-Herald, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA, January 11, 1893.  Note that Morris died on the 29th, not the 30th.)

 

 

More About WILLIAM RAMSAY:

Alternate spelling: Will

Burial: 1943, Bethlehem, PA

Census: 1930, Bethlehem, Northampton Co, PA

Namesake: of his grandfather William Ramsay

Occupation: gen. supt. coke works, Tinicum, PA81

 

Notes for JESSIE THOMPSON:

In 1930, the couple's younger son and three youngest daughters lived with them in Bethlehem.  Daughter Helen and her husband lived next door.

 

More About JESSIE THOMPSON:

Burial: 1944, Bethlehem, PA

Misc: lost five children in their infancy

 

More About WILLIAM RAMSAY and JESSIE THOMPSON:

Marriage: Dec 17, 1891, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA82

       

Children of WILLIAM RAMSAY and JESSIE THOMPSON are:

                   i.       MORRIS BYERS6 RAMSAY, b. Aug 1892, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Dec 1892, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA.

 

Notes for MORRIS BYERS RAMSAY:

"Mt. Pleasant, Dec. 26 [1892]--Mr. And Mrs. Will Ramsey, Jr., buried their only child today.  The little one that blessed this happy home was but four months old."  (Tribune-Herald, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA)

 

More About MORRIS BYERS RAMSAY:

Burial: Dec 26, 1892, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA

 

28.             ii.       OLIVE RAMSAY, b. Nov 18, 1893, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Apr 13, 1970, Birmingham, AL.

                 iii.       FRANK HASKELL RAMSAY, b. 1895, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Abt. 1895, infancy in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA.

                 iv.       KATHRYN RAMSAY, b. Feb 27, 1897, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Bef. 1996; m. (1) JOSEPH GRIFFITH, Apr 12, 1927; b. Abt. 1893, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Unknown; m. (2) JOHN HENRY AYERS, Feb 11, 1941; b. Abt. 1893, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Unknown; m. (3) HENRY GLEN CASON, Private; b. Private.

 

More About KATHRYN RAMSAY:

Residence: 1970, Orlando, FL

 

More About JOSEPH GRIFFITH and KATHRYN RAMSAY:

Marriage: Apr 12, 1927

 

More About JOHN HENRY AYERS:

Misc: Title: Captain

 

More About JOHN AYERS and KATHRYN RAMSAY:

Marriage: Feb 11, 1941

 

More About HENRY CASON and KATHRYN RAMSAY:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                  v.       WILLIAM THOMPSON RAMSAY, b. 1898, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Abt. 1898, infancy in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA.

                 vi.       LINDSAY RAMSAY, b. 1900, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. Abt. 1900, infancy.

                vii.       JOAN RAMSAY, b. 1901, Howe, Choctaw Nation, OK; d. Abt. 1901, infancy.

               viii.       JOHN GATES RAMSAY, b. Jun 13, 1902, Howe, Choctaw Nation, OK; d. Feb 26, 1991, Berea, KY; m. GERTRUDE ELEANOR MARTIN, Private; b. Private.

 

More About JOHN RAMSAY and GERTRUDE MARTIN:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                  ix.       JESSIE RAMSAY, b. Sep 1, 1903, DuQuoin, IL; d. Bef. 2001, Easton, PA; m. CHARLES M. SANDWICK; d. Unknown.

 

More About JESSIE RAMSAY:

Residence: 1996, Allentown, PA

 

                   x.       HENRY WEAVER RAMSAY, b. Nov 6, 1905, Knoxville, TN; d. Bef. 1996, Allentown, PA; m. CLAUDIA SHELLY, Private; b. Private.

 

More About HENRY WEAVER RAMSAY:

Residence: 1970, Easton, PA

 

More About HENRY RAMSAY and CLAUDIA SHELLY:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                  xi.       MARY ALICE RAMSAY, b. Apr 26, 1907, Pennington Gap, Lee, VA; d. Sep 15, 1977; m. RODNEY WESTBROOK; d. Unknown.

 

More About MARY ALICE RAMSAY:

Residence: 1996, Bethlehem, PA

 

29.            xii.       HELEN MAY RAMSAY, b. Dec 23, 1908, Knoxville, TN; d. Sep 25, 1996, Sheffield, AL.

                xiii.       SARAH JANE RAMSAY, b. May 7, 1910, Knoxville, TN; d. Bef. 1996; m. WILBUR KEIPER, Private; b. Private.

 

More About SARAH JANE RAMSAY:

Residence: 1970, Easton, PA

 

More About WILBUR KEIPER and SARAH RAMSAY:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                xiv.       WILHELMINA RAMSAY, b. Jan 21, 1913, Coral, Indiana Co, PA; d. Bef. 2001; m. THOMAS RICHARDS, Private; b. Private.

 

More About WILHELMINA RAMSAY:

Alternate spelling: Billie

Residence: 1996, Allentown, PA

 

More About THOMAS RICHARDS and WILHELMINA RAMSAY:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                 xv.       LOUISE MAY RAMSAY, b. Dec 19, 1915, Frostburg, MD; d. Bef. 2001; m. ROBERT HOFSTETTER, Private; b. Private.

 

More About LOUISE MAY RAMSAY:

Residence: 1970, Los Angeles, CA

 

More About ROBERT HOFSTETTER and LOUISE RAMSAY:

Private-Begin: Private

 

 

18.  SADIE MARIA5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Mar 16, 1873 in Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA83, and died Apr 4, 1946 in Brownsville, Fayette Co, PA84.  She married JAMES HAY EATON Aug 6, 1891 in PA85.  He was born Nov 1868 in Scotland86, and died Jun 4, 1902 in Grindstone, Fayette Co, PA87.

 

Notes for SADIE MARIA RAMSAY:

1910 census:

Sadie M Eaton

Age: 37 State: PA

Color: W Enumeration District: 0253

Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0046

County:  Washington

Relation:  Head of Household

Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place

Son James R 17 Pennsylvania

Daughter Sadie A 16 Pennsylvania

Son Morris R 09 Pennsylvania

NR Inimanuel Fidoe 42 England

NR Thomas 17 Pennsylvania

3 non-relatives 

 

 

 

More About SADIE MARIA RAMSAY:

Burial: Unknown, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: 1900, Franklin Township, Fayette Co, PA

Misc: had only three children

Namesake: of her mother

Occupation: Bet. 1910 - 1920, owned a boarding house in W. Brownsville

 

Notes for JAMES HAY EATON:

James lived a very short life.  He and his large family emigrated from Scotland.  This was their household in 1880 while James was still a teenager:

James EATON   Self   M   Male   W   36   SCOT   Coal Miner   SCOT   SCOT 

Cristenia EATON   Wife   M   Female   W   35   SCOT   Keeping H.   SCOT   SCOT 

Margaret EATON   Dau   S   Female   W   17   SCOT   At Home   SCOT   SCOT

James EATON   Son   S   Male   W   14   SCOT   At Home   SCOT   SCOT 

Rubenia EATON   Dau   S   Female   W   12   SCOT   At Home   SCOT   SCOT 

Mary EATON   Dau   S   Female   W   10   SCOT   At Home   SCOT   SCOT 

Uphema EATON   Dau   S   Female   W   6   PA   At Home   SCOT   SCOT 

Marin EATON   Dau   S   Female   W   1   SCOT      SCOT   SCOT 

John EATON   Brother   M   Male   W   38   SCOT   Coal Miner   SCOT   SCOT 

David BUCANNON   Other   S   Male   W   23   SCOT   Coal Miner   SCOT   SCOT 

Source Information:

Census Place Clifton, Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Family History Library Film   1255090

 

 

More About JAMES HAY EATON:

Burial: Unknown, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Immigrated: 1872, from Scotland

Misc: son of James & Christina Eaton

Occupation: foreman, coal miner

 

More About JAMES EATON and SADIE RAMSAY:

Marriage: Aug 6, 1891, PA88

       

Children of SADIE RAMSAY and JAMES EATON are:

                   i.       JAMES R.6 EATON, b. Sep 1892, PA89; d. Unknown.

 

More About JAMES R. EATON:

Census: 1920, living with mother

 

                  ii.       SADIE RAMSAY EATON, b. Feb 1894, PA89; d. Unknown.

 

More About SADIE RAMSAY EATON:

Census: 1920, living with mother

 

                 iii.       MORRIS R. EATON, b. Apr 1900, Fayette Co, PA90; d. Unknown.

 

More About MORRIS R. EATON:

Census: 1920, living with mother

 

 

19.  ELIZABETH SHARPE5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Aug 14, 1874 in Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA91, and died Feb 5, 1904 in Fairmont, W. VA92.  She married EMMOR MITCHELL SAUNDERS Dec 25, 1894 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA93.  He was born Jun 1870 in PA94, and died Aft. 1830 in Fairmont, WV.

 

Notes for ELIZABETH SHARPE RAMSAY:

The unknown child is based on the 1900 US Census that indicated that Sharpe had given birth to two other children who were no longer living.

 

John Ramsay Clarke states that Sharpe met her husband, then a National Guardsman, when the Guard was called to restore order during the miner's strike at Morewood.  Another relative, Kitty Saunders, states that Emmor was stationed with Co. K of the Morewood Mines in Waynesburg, PA.

 

After Sharpe died, Emmor, or Junior as he was called, was taken to live with his grandmother Ramsay in Mt. Pleasant for a time while his brother Morris lived with his father. 

 

More About ELIZABETH SHARPE RAMSAY:

Burial: 1904, Connellsville, Fayette Co, PA

Census: 1900, Connellsville Borough, Fayette Co, PA

Medical Information: was pregnant when she died

Namesake: of grandmother Elizabeth Sharp

Residence: 1900, Connellsville Borough, Fayette Co, PA; lived on E. Main St.

 

Notes for EMMOR MITCHELL SAUNDERS:

According to the 1930 census, Emmor was living with his second wife, Frances, in Fairmont, WV.  The man who listed his occupation in 1900 as a "capitalist" was by 1930 an accountant, and must have been somewhat successful because the couple retained the services of a servant.  Living with the couple, who by the census account married six years after Sharpe Ramsay Saunders died, was Emmor's son of the same name, his young wife and first two children.

 

More About EMMOR MITCHELL SAUNDERS:

Alternate spelling: Emmer; Saunder

Census: 1900, Connellsville Borough, Fayette Co, PA

Occupation: capitalist

Residence: Bet. 1920 - 1930, Fairmont, WV

 

More About EMMOR SAUNDERS and ELIZABETH RAMSAY:

Marriage: Dec 25, 1894, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA95

       

Children of ELIZABETH RAMSAY and EMMOR SAUNDERS are:

30.              i.       MORRIS RAMSAY6 SAUNDERS, b. Oct 11, 1895, PA; d. Nov 28, 1959, Fairmont, WV.

                  ii.       IMOGENE SAUNDERS, b. Bet. 1896 - 1899, PA; d. Bef. 1900, PA.

                 iii.       CHILD SAUNDERS, b. Bet. 1896 - 1899, PA; d. Bef. 1900, PA.

31.            iv.       EMMOR MITCHELL JR. SAUNDERS, b. Jul 31, 1901, PA; d. Mar 1968, Fairmont, Marion, WV.

 

 

20.  HANNAH GREER5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Jun 17, 1876 in Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA96, and died Aug 20, 1968 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.  She married JOHN LARIMER SHIELDS Aug 9, 1900 in PA97, son of MATTHEW SHIELDS and SARAH LARIMER.  He was born Jun 6, 1857 in near Salem, Westmoreland Co, PA, and died Nov 7, 1925 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA98.

 

More About HANNAH GREER RAMSAY:

Census: Bet. 1910 - 1930, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Misc: 1930, living with sister Alice and Matthew, James and Dorothy

Namesake: of the third wife of George Greer, her mother's adoptive father

Property: 1930, house worth $10,000 per census

 

Notes for JOHN LARIMER SHIELDS:

Prior to his marriage, he and his family lived at 240 Walnut Street, Mount Pleasant, 2 doors down from Sadie Ramsay, his future mother-in-law.

 

More About JOHN LARIMER SHIELDS:

Burial: 1925, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: owner & editor, Mount Pleasant Journal99

 

More About JOHN SHIELDS and HANNAH RAMSAY:

Marriage: Aug 9, 1900, PA100

       

Children of HANNAH RAMSAY and JOHN SHIELDS are:

                   i.       MATTHEW6 SHIELDS, b. 1902, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA101; d. Bef. 1968.

                  ii.       JAMES R. SHIELDS, b. Aug 27, 1904, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA101; d. Nov 1975102.

 

More About JAMES R. SHIELDS:

Occupation: 1930, accountant, grocery store

 

32.            iii.       OLIVER S. SHIELDS, b. May 21, 1906, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA; d. Oct 1981, PA.

                 iv.       DOROTHY SHIELDS, b. Private.

 

 

21.  GEORGE MORRIS5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Mar 25, 1878 in Shafton, Westmoreland Co, PA103, and died Oct 3, 1934 in Bradenville, Westmoreland Co, PA104.  He married MAYME PEGG Sep 23, 1899 in PA105.  She was born 1873 in PA, and died Dec 1941 in Blairsville, PA106.

 

Notes for GEORGE MORRIS RAMSAY:

In 1905, George was a resident of Oliver, PA and was employed by a coke company there

 

1910 census:

George Ramsey

  Age: 32 State: PA

  Color: W Enumeration District: 0236

  Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0283

  County:  Washington

  Relation:  Head of Household

  Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place

Wife Mamie 29 Pennsylvania

Daughter Agnes 06 Pennsylvania

Daughter Sadie 03 Pennsylvania

Daughter Georgia 01 Pennsylvania

   

 

index for 1920 census incorrectly lists him as William

 

More About GEORGE MORRIS RAMSAY:

Burial: 1934, Derry Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Bet. 1920 - 1930, Derry Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Namesake: of his grandfather George Greer and his father Morris

 

More About MAYME PEGG:

Burial: 1941, Derry, PA

 

More About GEORGE RAMSAY and MAYME PEGG:

Marriage: Sep 23, 1899, PA107

       

Children of GEORGE RAMSAY and MAYME PEGG are:

                   i.       AGNES6 RAMSAY, b. 1904, PA108; d. Unknown.

                  ii.       SADIE RAMSAY, b. Private.

                 iii.       GEORGIA RAMSAY, b. Private.

                 iv.       DOROTHY RAMSAY, b. Private.

 

 

22.  MARY CHRISTINA5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Apr 13, 1881 in Loyalhanna, Westmoreland Co, PA109, and died May 8, 1968 in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA110.  She married HARRY MONROE STAHL Nov 14, 1900 in PA111.  He was born 1879 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA112, and died Aft. 1930113.

 

Notes for MARY CHRISTINA RAMSAY:

Harry M Stahl

Age: 30 State: OH

Color: W Enumeration District: 0206

Birth Place: PENN Visit: 0203

County:  Stark, Alliance

Relation:  Head of Household

Other Residents: Relation Name Color Age Birth Place

Wife Emma C  29 PENN

Daughter Sadie M  03 PENN

 

Not withstanding the error on the wife's name, Emma C. instead of Mary C., this can only be Mary Christine.  On the actual census, the wife states that her father was born in Scotland and that she has been married for 9 years.

 

More About MARY CHRISTINA RAMSAY:

Alternate spelling: Christine

Burial: 1968, Union Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: Apr 20, 1910, Alliance, Stark Co, OH

Namesake: of her grandfather's sister, Christine

Residence: Jun 16, 1900, living with the Eatons in Franklin Township, Fayette Co, PA114

 

More About HARRY MONROE STAHL:

Census: 1930, Detroit, Michigan; listed as divorced, working as a machinist

Misc: son of Amos W. and Sarah Stahl

 

More About HARRY STAHL and MARY RAMSAY:

Marriage: Nov 14, 1900, PA115

       

Child of MARY RAMSAY and HARRY STAHL is:

                   i.       SARAH M.6 STAHL, b. 1907116; d. Bef. 1968.

 

More About SARAH M. STAHL:

Alternate spelling: Sadie

 

 

23.  ROBERT ALEXANDER5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Sep 16, 1884 in Trotter, Fayette Co, PA117, and died Jun 29, 1970 in Ligonier, Westmoreland Co, PA118.  He married NINA MARIAH ALLSHOUSE Jun 8, 1910 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA119, daughter of JOSIAH ALLSHOUSE and CATHARINE BECK.  She was born Feb 20, 1888 in Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA120, and died Jul 24, 1967 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA121.

 

Notes for ROBERT ALEXANDER RAMSAY:

I knew him as Papap, the most influential person in my life.  He and Nana raised me as their own child.  Papap had the most wonderful sense of humor, sometimes to the point of being devilish.  He once handed me a biography of Mary Queen of Scots and told me to read it and learn from it.  Mary and I shared a headstrong temper, he said, and he didn't want me to meet a similar fate.  Robert loved the bagpipes, had a jacket made from the Ramsay plaid, and was intrigued by Scot lore.

 

Robert was a talented draftsman, surveyor and civil engineer who became the City Engineer for Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA.  He embodied the "Labora" part of the Ramsay motto, working well into his old age.  Even in his seventies, Robert often walked from his beloved home at 443 West Pittsburgh Street where he had lived all his married life, down one long hill and up another, to the City Hall which he could never quite let go of after his retirement.  Robert's father Morris must have been a man of great intuition because Morris willed then eight year old Robert "my library and all my surveying instruments and my gold watch and my book cases and writing desk," all of which he used his entire life.

 

The 1920 US census shows that Robert's family had retained the services of a live-in Bohemian servant girl.  I recall the house had bay windows, five bedrooms, a separate dining room and parlor and a cavernous attic filled with memorabilia.  Off the back porch was a room once used to bake bread.  The garage had a quaint door that slid on rollers to admit the entrance of a Packard or Dodge. The backyard was filled with pine, buckeye and plum trees and there was a black granite marker that proclaimed "Ramsay."

 

After the death of his wife, Robert's son Morris sold his home to a pharmacist who promptly tore down the Victorian treasure and erected an unsightly pharmacy.  I watched the day the wrecking ball demolished the home, the timbers of which had been so strong that an attic fire merely singed them.  Morris had put his father into a nursing home in Ligonier where Robert's constant request was to go home.  His health deteriorated and he died at 4:45 P.M. on Jun 29, 1970 at Maginnis Hospital in Ligonier.  The final entry in the Ramsay family bible regarding Robert was that he was buried at 1:30 P.M. at the age of 85 years, 9 months, 13 days.

 

More About ROBERT ALEXANDER RAMSAY:

Burial: Jul 2, 1970, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: pneumonia

Census: 1900; 1910; 1920; 1930

Member: Shriners, President of Caravan 8

Misc: 1932, elected county surveyor

Occupation: civil engineer; city engineer for Greensburg

Religion: Presbyterian

Residence: Aft. 1910, 443 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

Notes for NINA MARIAH ALLSHOUSE:

In Nina Allshouse is the convergence of two German families, the Allshouses and the Kunkles, who emigrated from Germany and landed within one day of each other in Philadelphia, PA nearly 140 years before Nina's birth.  Nina's third great-grandfather Henry Allshouse, who sailed on the Judith, arrived in PA on Sep 15, 1748.  A day later, Nina's third great-grandfather Johannes Kunkle, who sailed on the Patience, arrived at the same port on Sep 16, 1748.

 

"Nana" had the blue eyes and facial features of her German ancestors.  She told me that during an illness as a girl, she lost her hair and when it grew back, she resolved not to cut it.  Until she died, she kept her hair long and would dutifully roll it up each day as would befit a matronly woman.  She was a genteel woman but scorned modern inventions.  In the early sixties, she still used a wringer washer, hung her sheets out to dry--even in the winter--and insisted on washing the second story windows.  Why she had household help I don't know because she insisted on doing everything herself.

 

Nina told stories of the great flu epidemic of 1917-18 when family members would knock on the walls by their beds to signal to one another that they were still alive.  She also had marvelous sayings for every occasion such as: “If you don't listen, you'll have to feel; You made your bed, now lie in it; Murder will out.”  Every Sunday after church there was a large meal in the dining room followed by a visit to some relative or a drive in the country.  Nina had taken china-painting classes at nearby Seton Hill College and her china cupboard was filled with delicate teacups and other intricate pieces.

 

Nina and Robert were married when Nina was 22 years old.  They visited Washington, D.C. on their honeymoon.  The couple would later have five children and 14 grandchildren, one of which was myself.  Nana and Papap raised me from infancy.

 

Nana, who had been born at 12 A.M. in 1888, died at 12:01 A.M. in 1967 in Westmoreland County Hospital, less than half a block from the home in which she had lived her entire life.  After an 11 A.M. service at the Kepple Funeral Home, she was buried at the historic Brush Creek Cemetery where her grandfather, Samuel Allshouse, had been one of the originators of the Brush Creek Church and an early director of the cemetery.  She was 79 years, 5 months, 4 days old.

 

More About NINA MARIAH ALLSHOUSE:

Baptism: Aug 12, 1888, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA122

Burial: Jul 26, 1967, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Cause of Death: stroke

Misc: baptized by Rev. G.S. Seaman

Occupation: homemaker

Religion: Lutheran, then Presbyterian

Residence: Bet. 1900 - 1967, 443 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About ROBERT RAMSAY and NINA ALLSHOUSE:

Marriage: Jun 8, 1910, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA123

Marriage note: married at 7:30 p.m. at the bride's parents' home by Rev. Wm. J. Miller124

       

Children of ROBERT RAMSAY and NINA ALLSHOUSE are:

33.              i.       ROBERT ALEXANDER6 RAMSAY, b. Jan 1, 1912, Byrnedale, Elk County, PA; d. Nov 11, 1967, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA.

34.             ii.       DONALD ALLAN RAMSAY, b. Feb 10, 1915, PA; d. Jun 16, 1995, Nashville, Davidson, TN.

35.            iii.       CATHARINE ELIZABETH RAMSAY, b. Jul 14, 1918, Greensburg, Westmoreland CO, PA; d. Aug 8, 1992, Ephrata, Lancaster, PA.

36.            iv.       MORRIS RAMSAY, b. Private.

37.             v.       MARJORIE ANN RAMSAY, b. Private.

 

 

24.  ADELAIDE FRICK5 RAMSAY (SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Feb 3, 1892 in Morewood, Westmoreland Co, PA125, and died Jul 14, 1982 in Jefferson Boro, PA126.  She married JOSEPH PORTER CLARKE Mar 26, 1921 in PA127, son of JOSEPH CLARKE and ADELAIDE HAGOOD.  He was born Feb 16, 1889 in Summerville, SC, and died Nov 24, 1955 in Pittsburgh, PA128.

 

More About ADELAIDE FRICK RAMSAY:

Burial: 1982, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Namesake: of Adelaide, wife of Henry Clay Frick

 

More About JOSEPH PORTER CLARKE:

Burial: 1955, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: 1930, Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA

Occupation: 1930, engineer

 

More About JOSEPH CLARKE and ADELAIDE RAMSAY:

Marriage: Mar 26, 1921, PA129

       

Child of ADELAIDE RAMSAY and JOSEPH CLARKE is:

                   i.       JOHN RAMSAY6 CLARKE, b. Private.

 

 

25.  JOHN A.5 HELMAN (WILLIAM S.4, JACOB3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Dec 1898 in N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA130, and died Unknown.  He married AGNES UNKNOWN in PA.  She was born 1899 in OH131, and died Unknown.

 

Notes for JOHN A. HELMAN:

This entire family is not to be found on the 1930 census, either individually or as a group.

 

More About JOHN A. HELMAN:

Census: 1920, South Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1920, machinist

 

More About JOHN HELMAN and AGNES UNKNOWN:

Marriage: PA

       

Child of JOHN HELMAN and AGNES UNKNOWN is:

                   i.       PATRICIA6 HELMAN, b. Private.

 

 

26.  WILLIAM5 HELMAN (ELMER E.4, PETER3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Nov 18, 1897 in PA132, and died Jul 1977 in Saint Petersburg, Pinellas, FL.  He married EMMA S. UNKNOWN 1922 in Westmoreland Co, PA133.  She was born 1902 in PA133, and died Unknown.

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN:

Alternate spelling: initials "W" and "A" appear on censuses

Census: 1930, Irwin, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN and EMMA UNKNOWN:

Marriage: 1922, Westmoreland Co, PA133

       

Children of WILLIAM HELMAN and EMMA UNKNOWN are:

                   i.       EMMA JEAN6 HELMAN, b. Private.

                  ii.       JAMES A. HELMAN, b. Private.

 

 

27.  WILLIAM W.5 HELMAN (WILLIAM W.4, PETER3, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Nov 1885 in PA134, and died 1957 in PA.  He married HAZEL W. MCCREIGHT 1926 in PA135.  She was born Feb 5, 1892 in PA136, and died Aug 1987 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA136.

 

More About WILLIAM W. HELMAN:

Burial: 1957, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Census: 1930, Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

Occupation: 1930, mining engineer

 

More About HAZEL W. MCCREIGHT:

Burial: 1987, Brush Creek Cemetery, N. Huntingdon Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

 

More About WILLIAM HELMAN and HAZEL MCCREIGHT:

Marriage: 1926, PA137

       

Child of WILLIAM HELMAN and HAZEL MCCREIGHT is:

                   i.       WILLIAM W.6 HELMAN, b. Private.

 

 

Generation No. 6

 

28.  OLIVE6 RAMSAY (WILLIAM5, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Nov 18, 1893 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA, and died Apr 13, 1970 in Birmingham, AL.  She married CHARLES HOWARD MOSES Sep 25, 1913.  He was born 1890, and died Apr 14, 1970 in Birmingham, AL.

 

More About OLIVE RAMSAY:

Cause of Death: injuries sustained in a car crash

Misc: she and her husband died following a car crash

Religion: Presbyterian

 

More About CHARLES HOWARD MOSES:

Cause of Death: injuries sustained in a car crash

Occupation: owned certified public accounting firm

 

More About CHARLES MOSES and OLIVE RAMSAY:

Marriage: Sep 25, 1913

       

Children of OLIVE RAMSAY and CHARLES MOSES are:

                   i.       CHARLES HOWARD7 MOSES, JR., b. Private; m. LILLIAN ANNE MCPHERSON, Private; b. Private.

 

More About CHARLES MOSES and LILLIAN MCPHERSON:

Private-Begin: Private

 

38.             ii.       OLIVE MOSES, b. 1922; d. Apr 14, 1998, Denver, CO.

 

 

29.  HELEN MAY6 RAMSAY (WILLIAM5, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Dec 23, 1908 in Knoxville, TN, and died Sep 25, 1996 in Sheffield, AL.  She married CHARLES EDWIN FRENCH 1929137.  He was born 1906 in NY137, and died Bef. 1996.

 

More About HELEN MAY RAMSAY:

Burial: Sep 27, 1996, Colbert Memorial Gardens

Census: 1930, Bethlehem, Northampton Co, PA

Occupation: columnist with the Colbert County Reporter, Sheffield, AL

Religion: Presbyterian

Residence: 1970, Sheffield, AL

 

More About CHARLES FRENCH and HELEN RAMSAY:

Marriage: 1929137

       

Children of HELEN RAMSAY and CHARLES FRENCH are:

                   i.       MILLIE7 FRENCH, b. Private; m. UNKNOWN MCDONALD, Private; b. Private.

 

More About UNKNOWN MCDONALD and MILLIE FRENCH:

Private-Begin: Private

 

                  ii.       HELEN FRENCH, b. Private; m. UNKNOWN GARRISON, Private; b. Private.

 

More About UNKNOWN GARRISON and HELEN FRENCH:

Private-Begin: Private

 

 

30.  MORRIS RAMSAY6 SAUNDERS (ELIZABETH SHARPE5 RAMSAY, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Oct 11, 1895 in PA138, and died Nov 28, 1959 in Fairmont, WV.  He married (1) UNKNOWN.  She died Unknown.  He married (2) ANN YOUNG Private.  She was born Private.

 

Notes for MORRIS RAMSAY SAUNDERS:

Morris may have been married three times total.  I can't find any record of Morris on the 1920 census under his name or a similar-sounding name anywhere in the US.  He may have been using an alias.  I know he was not living with his father in 1920.  I did find him on the 1930 census as indicated.

 

The date listed for burial may have been the date of death because I have two conflicting sources.  At Arlington, Morris' grave is located in Section 18, grave number 1379-A.

 

More About MORRIS RAMSAY SAUNDERS:

Burial: Dec 2, 1959, Arlington National Cemetery

Census: 1930, Akron, OH

Military service: Cpl., Medical Corps, WWI

Misc: my father had a picture of his tombstone and a map of how to get there at Arlington.

 

More About MORRIS SAUNDERS and ANN YOUNG:

Private-Begin: Private

       

Child of MORRIS SAUNDERS and UNKNOWN is:

                   i.       PATRICIA7 SAUNDERS, b. Private.

 

       

Children of MORRIS SAUNDERS and ANN YOUNG are:

39.             ii.       RONALD MALCOLM7 SAUNDERS, b. Private.

                 iii.       ROBERT MORRIS SAUNDERS, b. Jan 20, 1931; d. 1934.

 

 

31.  EMMOR MITCHELL JR.6 SAUNDERS (ELIZABETH SHARPE5 RAMSAY, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Jul 31, 1901 in PA139, and died Mar 1968 in Fairmont, Marion, WV139.  He married LAURA RUTH TAGGART 1926 in WV140.  She was born May 27, 1906 in WV141, and died Feb 7, 1996 in Mannington, Marion, WV141.

 

More About EMMOR MITCHELL JR. SAUNDERS:

Census: Bet. 1920 - 1930, Fairmont, WW

 

Notes for LAURA RUTH TAGGART:

Email from Laura's granddaughter Laura J. Little: I guess it must have been pretty interesting when Mother and Uncle Gene were born. The babies were born at home, and neither the doctor nor my grandmother knew that she was expecting twins until after Uncle Gene was born and the doctor said, "There's another one in there!"  What made it worse was that when people asked Grandma what she wanted (since she already had a boy and a girl), she'd jokingly say, "Oh, I haven't decided yet, so I think I'll take one of each!"  When that's exactly what she got, she had a hard time convincing people that she wasn't joking again.

 

 

 

More About EMMOR SAUNDERS and LAURA TAGGART:

Marriage: 1926, WV142

       

Children of EMMOR SAUNDERS and LAURA TAGGART are:

                   i.       EMMOR MITCHELL III7 SAUNDERS, b. Private.

40.             ii.       RUTH ELIZABETH SAUNDERS, b. Aug 1828, WV; d. Unknown.

41.            iii.       EUGENE RAMSAY (TWIN) SAUNDERS, b. May 30, 1933, WV; d. Sep 15, 1994, Fairmont, W.V.

42.            iv.       ALICE JUNE (TWIN) SAUNDERS, b. Private.

 

 

32.  OLIVER S.6 SHIELDS (HANNAH GREER5 RAMSAY, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born May 21, 1906 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA143, and died Oct 1981 in PA144.  He married ROSEMARY COOPER Private, daughter of J.A. COOPER.  She was born Private.

 

More About OLIVER SHIELDS and ROSEMARY COOPER:

Private-Begin: Private

       

Child of OLIVER SHIELDS and ROSEMARY COOPER is:

                   i.       JAMES7 SHIELDS, b. Private.

 

 

33.  ROBERT ALEXANDER6 RAMSAY (ROBERT ALEXANDER5, SADIE MARIAH HELMAN4 GREER, JACOB3 HELMAN, DANIEL2, MICHAEL1) was born Jan 1, 1912 in Byrnedale, Elk County, PA145, and died Nov 11, 1967 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA146.  He married MARION JUNE GRAHAM Jun 5, 1935 in Morgantown, WV147, daughter of ARTHUR GRAHAM and GERTRUDE WILKINS.  She was born Sep 11, 1914 in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co, PA148, and died Jul 4, 1997 in Jeannette, Westmoreland Co, PA149.

 

Notes for ROBERT ALEXANDER RAMSAY:

Birth: My father was born on the birthday of his grandmother, Sadie M. Greer Ramsay.  A picture of Robert being held by his mother is in the photo section on my website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/c/Barbara--BeckRamsay/index.html.  Robert, like his brothers Donald and Morris, and his father, Robert, became a civil engineer.  However, Robert had planned a career in the military from which, after nine years, he was persuaded to leave by my mother.  It was a choice he always regretted, he told me, and it is no wonder since his military position afforded him power and the chance to travel.  Afterwards, his worldwide travels were limited to ham radio transmissions, for which he had a passion.

 

Military Service: Because of the fire which destroyed countless records of military personnel, I have been unable to find much documentation of where he served other than the following: entered service Jan 13, 1941, Army Serial Number 0-405-951, Signal Corps; graduated Command & General Staff, Ft. Leavenw