Elkins, West Va - January 8, 1906
This book a present to Rebecca C. Weese and Zebe Weese her husband. Archibald Wilmoth.
Elkins, Randolph Co - January 8, 1906
I am today 81 years, six months, and 23 days old, and wait on myself, shave myself, dress myself, can walk with a cane pretty well, my eyesight good enough to see the small limbs on the trees say 3 miles. My hearing as good as it ever was at a close distance, never had rheumatism, never had head ache but little, and never failed to eat regular except when sick, never was sick much in my life. Never would over eat scarcely, always dressed warm in winter, always went to bed regular and at an early hour, always rose early in the morning. Used tobacco about 67 years up to this January 8, 1906. My recollection pretty good but cannot recognize people as when young. As to mental facilities or mind, my friends can judge. I do not think old age has made me childish. I worked hard all my life until I was too old to labour. That has been about three years. I never used a cane until I was 75 years old: I never was very, vigorous, or healthy and strong man: I was a tanner by trade, work at the business about 52 years. This book a present to Rebecca C. Weese and Zibe Weese her husband and after their deaths to there children. I will give you a list of my fathers family, The Isaac Taylor family, and my own family names and ages.
Eli Wilmoth was born November 9, 1801.Wilmoth was married to Mary Degarma the second time March 17, 1839. Their children born as follows:
Elmira Wilmoth born September 17, 1840.My stepmother was 89 years and about 8 months old when she died.
My mother when married was 16 years, 6 months, and 9 days old. She lived with my father 14 years, 7 months and 18 days. She was 31 years, 1 month, and 28 days old when she died. She had 10 children born to her.
My great Grandfather lived to be 109 years old so I am told. My great Grandmother lived to be 104 years. They died at their son Nicholas Wilmoth's on Cheat River where the Nicholas mill is. The ancestors of our race come from England. I do not know how early or how far back.
Elkins, Randolph Co, W.Va - January 8, 1906
I will give the births of the Isaac Taylor and Elisabeth Taylor his wife.
John Taylor born February 27, 1802. He had three houses burned.Their father Isaac Taylor, a Kentuckian. Their mother Elisabeth Taylor was a Virginian. Before her marriage her name was Hays. This is as far as I can go back on their ancestry as I have never been able to assertain from the Taylors, anything farther back. As to their ancestry, I believe if a race of people are worth anything at all they are worth keeping a record of as the rising generations will want to no something about their foreparents of proginators.
Elkins, Randolph Co. West Va - January 8, 1906
I will give you a list of my family births: Archibald Wilmoth was born June 13, 1824. The same year that General Layfaett visited America. He died in 1834.I was 22 years, 9 months, and 18 days old. Caroline was 21 years, 3 months, and 21 days old. She died at the age of 68 years, 3 months, and 12 days old. She was buried in the Slagle graveyard. The church's name is Israel.
Elkins, Randolph Co West Va - January 9, 1906
My grandfathers name was Nicholas Wilmoth his brothers and sisters as follows:
Thomas WilmothElkins, Randolph. Co. West Va - January 9, 1906
Aaron Vanscoy my grandfather on my mothers side his brothers names as follows:
Jacob VanscoyElkins, Randolph Co West Va - January 9, 1906
Aaron Vanscoy my grandfather on my mothers side marryed Jane Cunningham. I no nothing about their fore parents or but very little. They was good respectable people. I will give the names of their children:
William VanscoyMy grandfather Aaron was in the War of 1812. I no nothing farther back than my grandfather.
Elkins, Randolph Co West Va - January 10, 1906
I will give you some information about my grandmother Wilmoth. I may not be able to give it entirely correct as to her ancestors and where they first come to America from what Nation of the Old World.
William Currence and wife come from Pennsylvania in the latter part of 1600 hundred to the fore part of 1700 for Indan? times. Who was her great grandfather. He settled at the mouth of Mill Creek this side of Crickard and built a fort to practict himself from the Indians and after contending with them six years they killed him. So the Currence race in this country sprang from him. Her name was Sydney Currence. She got very fleshy and weigh I suppose 250 lbs. and one among the best women of her day.
Elkins, West Va - January 10, 1906
I will give you a short history of my early life when I first began to do business for myself. When I was 21 years and 9 months old the first of April 1846, I rented the tanyard of David Blackman formally owned by George Hays. I improved it such 15 tan vats and stayed for 6 years. Then bought the Isaac Canfield farm adjoining the Albert Skidmore farm. I stayed there until the first of March 1852. But had left the tanyard in the fall of 1851. I traded my land for the Eli M. Hart land where Randolph Triplette now lives. I commence to build me a shop sink a tanyard at once, commenced to tan there in 1852 continued the business there until about 1891. But had sold my property in the Spring of 1888. I was 1n the tanning business about 45 years. Did not hope of fortune but always had plenty which now satisfyes me just as well as if I was worth millions if I had of gotten rich I no doubt would be meaner then I am. The richer a man gets the meaner they gets as a general thing they put me in mind of the Hogs. Here you through corn to them some of them trys to get it all take two years of my corn in there mouth and run. So with the rich tals many of them tryes to take all the poor man has then set down and cries because they have no more for them to get. man is deciptful and Despertly wicked.
Elkins, Randolph County, West Va January 11, 1906
I will give you the names of my grandfather Wilmoth's brothers and sisters:
Thomas Wilmoth