Your Dues are Important
As our membership dues come due this March, it may be a good time for us all to stop and reflect upon how important we are as individuals to the group as a whole. Prior to March of 1992, the Allegheny Region had no viable, regional society dedicated solely to those persons interested in the history and genealogy of specific families. Furthermore, there was no publication such as ALLEGHENY REGIONAL ANCESTORS to give such individuals a forum in which to publish their research wants and products. There was no central medium in which members of the area genealogical and historical societies could communicate their various projects. Now there is thanks to YOU! Your $15.00 annual dues to the ARFHS makes this all possible. YOU are important, and YOU make a difference. We look forward to an even more productive year 1n 1993! But we cannot do it without the dues of our individual members. Yes, YOU make it possible. So let's all sign up for 1993. And sign up a friend or relative. Great things are on the horizon!
What's Wrong With People?
A local radio announcer likes to ask that question rather jokingly. But one has to wonder! Recently a cousin and I made a major breakthrough on the history of the BUTCHER family of central West Virginia. The breakthrough ended a fifty year deadlock in progress on that family, identified their German name of METZGER, and extended the family line back 300 years in Germany. Two of my cousins took it upon themselves to hire a German researcher and one of them did a considerable amount of driving in preparation for the hiring of the researcher. I myself had the smallest investment, acting mostly as consultant and coordinating the effort by phone. We wanted to establish firm documentation and accuracy before making the announcement.
Then the announcement was made. The article went out in two publications. All of the descendants of VALENTINE BUTCHER saw the brick wall come tumbling down. The deadlock was over. We had contact with the old world. But much remained to be done. There still was a good deal of formation on our ancestors to be had from Germany. So we included a plea for funding. For donations of any size. For some small contribution from each descendant to help with the high cost of employing the researcher, postage, copies, phone calls, etc. And the donations requested were for future research. Each descendant was assured that new information would be forthcoming, and the article published with the funding request made this obvious. We looked forward to a productive group effort. But what's wrong with people? Only ONE cousins made a donation!!!
A friend of mine used to answer correspondence for an area historical society on a volunteer basis. Often he was asked by persons he wrote to, "How could we find out this or that?" or "If only we knew this." From time to time he pointed out the desired materiel could be had with a day trip to a courthouse in Maryland, or Pennsylvania, or wherever, and he would ask for assistance with funding expenses for such a venture. But it was like the day they held the war and nobody came.......
Why does the idea of helping others with research expenses and funding seem so extraordinary? Do people fail to realize that more can be done through a group effort than individually? Time and again I have heard folks complain that they "can't afford" to help fund a research project, yet I notice that they find plenty of money for bowling balls, designer clothes, new cars, beer, cigarettes, lodge memberships, and anything else they want. Why don't these people just admit that they don't care? How many people can afford to drive in from out west or wherever and fumble around in courthouses, but won't send a few dollars to help someone with experience 1n those courthouses accomplish something for all concerned?
VELTY BUTCHER'S fellow descendants have really taught me something! If he is looking down here 1 would like to apologize to him for exposing the disinterested nature of his descendants! In the future I will be more understanding of those who seem reluctant to share the research materials they have collected. They probably had to pay for it all themselves, they have probably had others benefit from it without any contribution, and they probably have learned a long time ago what it took VELTY BUTCHER'S other descendants to teach me - most folks won't help, even when asked.
DUES ARE DUE
The ARFHS dues are due for 1993 by the beginning of our fiscal year, April 1, 1992. This issue (Volume 1 Issue 4) will be the last issue of the year 1992. It must be remembered that since we did not form until March of 1992 there are only 3 issues for this membership year. The full four issues will be published in 1~93. So in order to avoid missing any issues members should have their dues in by March 1st, 1993, so we will have our mailing list updated prior to mailing the first issue. We are now 115 members strong, and it is hoped that everyone will re-join for next year. Your dues have enabled the ARFHS to accomplish a number of important goals including publication of our journal, paying group expenses and improving communication among genealogists in the Allegheny region.
ARFHS NEW TREASURER
Patty Miller, formerly ARFHS treasurer, has recently resigned due to personal reasons. Patty's resignation was accepted by President Hill, who thanked her for her past service. ARFHS member Carolyn Corley Channell, of Elkins, was asked by President Hill to serve as our treasurer and agreed to do SO. Carolyn is bookkeeping supervisor at the Davis Trust Company Bank and has had extensive experience that will make her an excellent choice as treasurer of our group. The editors of the ARA express our welcome to our new treasurer.
ARFHS LIBRARY GROWING
Some major donations have been made to the library of our society, by Maryland member Jim Collins and others. Jim donated five copies of published Pocahontas County marriages, four of which were to be sold and the money donated to our group. This was done at the December meeting. Jim then made a donation of $200.00 cash to our group, marked for purchase of library materials. We as a group owe Jim a debt of gratitude for his generosity!
The remaining copy of the Pocahontas County marriages was placed with the archivist for inclusion in our library, as well as several other items. Janice Coontz donated two volumes of published Monongalia County court proceedings, which include a number of cases relating to other counties, including Randolph. Janice also donated a copy of marriages of Cumberland County, PA.
Byron, Illinois member Linda Meyers has donated a copy of a biography of John George Jackson, and this book contains a wealth of information on the Jackson and related families of central West Virginia.
Our sister group on the West Fork River, the HACKERS CREEK PIONEER DESCENDANTS have offered us a box of duplicate materials from their library, which includes among other things a number of genealogical periodicals.
Our library is growing rapidly, and it is hoped that the recent spirit of interest will continue.
PUBLISHING PROJECTS/TYPISTS NEEDED
The ARFHS has recently voted to undertake a number of important genealogical publishing projects. We have obtained permission to republish McLeans Diary, which was formerly published by the RANDOLPH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Historical Society has agreed to a publishing deal with ARFHS that is very generous and we extend our thanks to them. In addition, the Randolph County Commission has agreed to cooperate with our group in the future publication of various records at the Randolph County Courthouse. These publishing projects will be excellent fund raisers for our society. TYPIST ARE NEEDED. If any member who has a computer, in West Virginia or Out of State, would like to volunteer to type some of these records please contact Vera Lewis, assistant editor, to make specific arrangements as to which programs to use, etc. The copy can be mailed to the volunteers, typed, and returned for proofreading by return mall. The ARFHS will absorb expenses such as postage, etc. for any member wishing to participate. Vera can be contacted via ARFHS, PO Box 1804, Elkins, WV 26241, or by phone at (304) 636-5793.
QUERY DUPLICATIONS NEED NOTIFICATION
It is the right of each member to publish research queries in each issue of our journal. Some members have expressed a desire to run the SAME query month after month. This also is the right of each member, as their queries may contain whatever questions, comments or suggestions the member may have. However it has been decided that duplicate queries will not run automatically, and that any member who wants to run the same query month after month will need to notify the editors prior to each issue. Published queries will automatically be deleted from subsequent issues after publication unless submitters notify the editors to continue them.
CEMETERY PROJECT TO TARGET BARBOUR COUNTY
At a recent meeting of the ARFHS it was decided, after some extensive discussion, to officially designate Barbour County as the target county for our first cemetery publication. It was decided that the cemetery project is to be done by county rather that by geological survey map quadrangle, and that our goal will be to concentrate efforts on completing the effort in Barbour County. It was also decided that each volume of the cemetery listings will contain a given number of grave listings, rather that a given number of cemeteries, so that the volumes will be uniform in size. Thanks to all members who have turned in cemeteries for publication. Lets continue the effort in all counties.
NEW D & E COLLEGE LIBRARY DEDICATED
The new Booth Library, at D & E College, is now open. This new facility is the largest and most extensive library that the Elkins, WV region has ever seen, and the College is to be commended on the completion of this important project. The resources at Booth Library are available to the general public, and many are of a genealogical or historical interest.HARMAN LIBRARY GENEALOGY SECTION GROWING
The genealogy section of the public library at Harman, WV, recently established, is growing rapidly. According to librarian Maureen Judy, a number of useful sources are available to the people of the Dry Fork region at the library. Sources of an historical or genealogical interest now deposited at the Harman library include, but are not necessarily limited to, Histories of Tucker and Randolph counties, Histories of Davis and Canaan Valley, Pendleton and Randolph County census records, Shenandoah Valley family data, a Currence Family History, and other items. Any persons interested in the collection at the Harman Library are invited to visit or make donations.
SAYRE FAMILY GENEALOGY IN THE WORKS
Ralph Sayre, of Rt. 1 Box 92, Buckhannon, WV 26202-9707, has announced that the final editing of his 1000 page plus history of the Sayre family will begin next year (1993). The book will deal with the genealogy and descendants of David Sayre (1736-1826) who moved from New Jersey to West Virginia about 1778. Mr. Sayre has asked that any interested descendants submit information on their respective branches of the family for publication. (Charleston Gazette 10 Oct. 1992)
TAYLOR COUNTY HISTORY PUBLISHED
The TAYLOR COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC, has published a history of Taylor County based on materials published by Charles Brinkman in the GRAFTON SENTINEL in the 1930's. For more information on this and other publications of the Taylor County society, interested persons may write: TAYLOR COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, PO Box 522, Grafton, WV 26354. (Charleston Gazette 10 October 1992)
GREENBRIER AREA FORT EXCAVATED
The November 18th issue of the ELKINS INTER MOUNTAIN carries a story under the dateline of Associated Press, reporting the excavation of a 1700's era fort site in Greenbrier County. Stephen McBride, a Greenbrier native now of the University of Kentucky reports that archeological excavations at the site have already unearthed a number of artifacts including British and French weaponry, buttons, and tools. McBride says he identified the location of "ARBUCKLE'S FORT" in 1990. Persons with ancestry or research interests in the Greenbrier region will want to watch this important project.
ADDITION
Persons interested in further study of old time medical terms as covered in Vera Lewis' article in Vol. I Issue 1 & 2 are referred to the following source references which were omitted from the article's bibliography: Werle, Susan "MEDICAL TERMS FOR GENEALOGISTS" The genealogical Helper, July-August 1988 Miller, Sigmund Stephen, FUNK & WAGNALLS FAMILY MEDICAL GUIDE, USA: 1983
Thought for the Day: "An old error is always more popular than a new truth." German proverb.