Story told to my father, Douglas SMITH,
by his father Elmer Wesley SMITH (son of Thomas Hamilton).
Young Eagle was nine years old when the soldiers came to send him and his family to join the "Trail of Tears". Both of Young Eagle's parents were killed during the march, but he survived and escaped. He roamed the southeast until he was found and put in an orphanage. Young Eagle was an intelligent boy who spoke, read and wrote the Cherokee language, but knew nothing about the white man.
During the next two years he learned the language and the ways of the white man. By this time he was too old to be adopted and no one would have wanted an indian boy; therefore he was sold into bondage. When he was older and had saved enough money, he bought his freedom. He then moved on the West Virginia where he met a Cherokee girl whom he married and settled down with. He later changed his name to Thomas (should be David) SMITH, after the man who had bought him from the orphanage, because he had grown to love and respect him. He and his wife Sara had two sons. One of the sons was David (should be Thomas) SMITH, who was to become my Grandfather. Young Eagle lived to the ripe old age of 103.
(The Trail of Tears began the Winter of 1838 with 16,000 people & ended the Spring of 1939 with around 12,000 people.)
Story told to Bessie "Micki" Lee SMITH (sister of Douglas) by their aunt, Norma "Nora" Veronica SMITH (sister of Elmer).
David SMITH and his wife Sally SIZEMORE were murdered while their children, Thomas Hamilton (4) and Maggie (8) were hiding nearby under a bush. No one knows what happened to Maggie, but Thomas became a bondservant to a wealthy plantation owner who brutally beat him. Thomas escaped at the age of 15 after turning his abuser's buggy whip back on him. He then fled for his life.
I am looking for ANY information about the following:
Lisa Worley (619) 489-9350 2525-D White Oak Place, Escondido, CA 92027
BODKIN/COWGER: Seeking information on Sara Jane Bodkin, daughter of Michael and Eve Rebecca Cowger Bodkin, born 1842, Pendleton Co., VA and married 6 Feb. 1879 to John McCauley. Family members claim they lived in California and her parents traveled there by train to visit when they were quite old. Carolyn F. Bodkins, P0 Box 29, Norton, WV 26285-0029
Seeking information on Abel Bodkin, son of Michael and Eve Rebecca Cowger Bodkin. He was born 1864 in Pendleton Co., VA. Did he die as a child or did he leave the Pendleton, Randolph Co. area? Carolyn F. Bodkins, P0 Box 29, Norton, WV 26285-0029
SUMMERS BROTHERS: Four brothers named SUMMERS came from Alexandria, VA about 1810 and settled the Winfield area of (now) Putnam County. These were Col. George William Summers (1754-1818), Francis Summers, Samuel Summers (1778-1845), and Thomas Summers (1780-1871). Col. George was the father of Congressman and Judge Lewis and George Summers 2nd. of Winfield and Charleston, WV.
Where was Francis Summers buried and where did he live? He is listed as a farmer in the 1850 Putnam County census and his son Harvey married Elizabeth Dunfield, daughter of Jordan and Rachel (Flesher) Dunfield. John Russell Barr, PO Box 11, Winfield, WV, 25213
BROWN FAMILY MEMBERS: Seek information on what became of lost relativesRobert BROWN of Freemansburg, Lewis County, W. Va. married Margaret KELSO in 1780 and had (among others) the following children of whom I do not have a complete account:
#4 James Brown, born about 1819? married Margaret __ before 1843All of these were living as of 1843, but WHERE DID THEY GO?? Some members of the family are known to have been in Indiana and Iowa. Has anyone out west ran across these names? David Armstrong, 201 Graham St., Elkins, WV, 26241, (304)-636-3964
SHEPHERD/VAN METER: John VAN METER left a will in 1745 in Frederick County, VA, naming among others a daughter Elizabeth, wife of Thomas SHEPHERD. Seek info on Thomas Shepherd and children if any. Where did he go? Did he leave descendants? John SHEPHERD died in Hardy County in 1802, and left a will nameing a large family. Seek information on John Shepherd and children, descendants, background. David Armstrong, 201 Graham St., Elkins, WV 26241LINDA MEYERS, 9682 Woodgate Lane, Byron, IL 61010-9556
E-mail Lmeyers966@aol seeks the following info:
Myers Mystery: George Washington Myers was born 7 April 1868 in Barbour Co. WV. He was the son of Benjamin and Rachel J. Frye Myers, Jr. This is information which my grandmother Ida Myers Moore did not have about her father, as she listed her grandfather as George W. Myers on her fathers death record. This indicates a split with his family. George would not talk much about his family. What little he did tell my grandmother would indicate a mystery. In bits and pieces my grandmother gathered that her dad had been married before he married her mother. Ida's mother was Prudence Virginia Workman, daughter of Aaron and Susan Rosencrance Workman. As just a child I remember my grandmother telling me her grandmother's name was Susan. Who was George's first wife? Well, I'm not quite sure but looking at Randolph Co. WV marriage records would indicate that it was Amanda Powers. The record shows George W Myer (age 26 of Randolph Co.) marring Amanda Powers (age 26 of Randolph Co.) on 9 Dec. 1886. Now for the mystery, family story has it that George found his wife in bed with a gentleman of color. He was suppose to have murdered the man, his wife or both. No one that I know seems to know for sure who was murdered. George went to the service and was there for some years and was discharged in 1894. Just shortly before he married my great grandmother. I have his original discharge papers. If he murdered someone this could have been the reason for a split with the family or if he divorced her this could have caused a split with his family which appeared to be religious. If any one can shed some light on this family story I would be very happy to hear from you. Jeff Harris, P.O. Box 160, Kerens, WV 26276
Moore Mystery: Ada Moore was born 19 March 1894 in Randolph Co. WV and was married to A. D. Taylor (Albert "Dellie" Taylor) on 3 July 1913. According to the family story related to me by Ada's granddaughter this was not Ada's first choice for a husband. It seems that Ada was suppose to get married before this to a gentleman from Barbour Co. WV. On the day before the wedding he had come to see Ada and on his horseback ride home he was struck and killed by lightning. When Ada and Dellie married, not having much money, Ada used the wedding ring that this first gentleman had given her. Ada's granddaughter did not know the name of this man who lost his life. Any one having information that may shed some light on this story, would you please be kind enough to pass this along to me? Jeff Harris, P. O. Box 160, Kerens, WV 26276
THE SECOND FAMILY OF LEONARD REXRODE (b 1771), PENDLETON CO.: I am searching for the parents of Susanna, b 1803, and md in 1820ies, Leonard Rexrode (1771-1842/43), son of pioneer Zacharias Rexrode of Pendleton Co. as his 2nd wife. In 1791 Leonard married Elizabeth Coplinger, had 10 children, and she died after 1820 Census.
Leonard and Susanna had the following children:
1. A male under 5 in 1830 CensusAfter Leonard's death in 1842/43, Susan(na) md on 7 Sept 1843, John Helmick in Pendleton Co. Listed in 1850 Census with John Helmick 36, Susan 47, Ellen Jane 7 (her Rexrode dau); John 5, Sarah A. 3, Elizabeth 1. They have not been found on the 1860 or 1870 Census in WV nor in any other state.
Susan's dau Barbara & Jesse Vance migrated West in 1854, and it is assumed John & Susan did also, especially since Susan 77 and Barbara 49 are found in 1880 Census, both widows, living with Barbara's dau Delia and Miles E. Harper family in Dewitt Co., Rutledge Twp., IL. This is the last knowledge I have of Susan, but I do have an obit for Barbara dying in MO at her son's in 1904.
In 1850 Census of Pendleton Co, Catherine Rexrode age 9 is living with Isaac and Mahala (Judy) Teter. The 1860 lists Catherine 19 and Ellen Jane 17 and Enoch Helmick 8 yrs in the same household. Undoubtedly, John and Susan left Enoch in WV as they moved West.
I'm very interested in finding Susan(na)'s parents, as well as, what happened to John & Susan after they left WV. I will gladly share the info I have.
Ruby Bland Swadley, 1423 Springvale Ave, McLean, VA 22101
BARNHOUSE/COONTZ/MOORE: I would like to correspond with any descendant of Barbara BARNHOUSE COONTZ who died in Barbour County, WV on 25 Aug 1855. She was the wife of Philip Coontz and daughter of John Barnhouse. I would like to correspond with any descendant of Samuel MOORE and William MOORE who lived in Ohio County, WV in 1810. Anna M. Moore, 5209 SW 32nd Ter., Topeka, KS, 66614-4014
COOPER/KEIFFER/KUEFFER: For as long as I can remember, [ I am age 70] my father and grand father always told us that our name before it was Cooper was Keiffer/Kueffer and that our ancestors came from Wales. We have since learned that Wales is not correct but instead was either Germany or Switzerland.
One story we have uncovered is as follows:
Hans Kueffer and wife Lisabeth Keller imigrated from Swiss to Germany in the year 1734 then on to America arriving at Philadelphia in Sept. 1734. They were from the Parish of Besserstroff in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. They arrived in America with 4 children namely Rudolff, Elsabeth, Katharina and HANS GEORG who we believe is my 4 grt grd father George Cooper. Between 1760-1770 they moved to the Baltimore area where Hans Georg married Mary Rutman. She was also an immigrant from Germany coming with her parents. It is reported they were of the Lutheran faith.
The family and relatives moved to Virginia @ 1785, near Winchester. Other Cooper relatives had purchased land there @ 1740, from Lord Fairfax and this was when the name was changed from Kueffer/Keiffer to Cooper. After 1790, they moved to Hampshire county, where it is reported that George and Mary purchased land on Sandy Ridge and died there, it is reported his parents lived about 6 miles away [Hans & Lisabeth] near Pleasant Dale.
George and Mary had 2 sons John and Adam. John being my 3 grt grandfather. One of John and Mary Rinehart Cooper's children was Jacob my 2 grt grandfather. Jacob married Anna Park, her father was Amos Park of Park Hollow. They lived and died at Capon Bridge W.V. One of Jacob's children was James Ellis Cooper who married Mary Elizabeth Heffelbauer. [I have the Heffelbauer ancestors back to 1648 in Austria, Thanks to the book by Lewis Bunker Rohrbach]. John Cooper was a trustee for the land donated by David Heffelbauer {my 2 grt grand father} for a church of the brethren to be built near his farm at Capon Bridge. Thus I am pretty sure all info is correct back to and including John Cooper.
My questions are: Was George Cooper John's father? Was George Cooper's name before it was changed to Cooper., ---Kueffer or Keiffer or something similar? Was George's parents Hans Kueffer/Keiffer and if so were they from Switzerland ?
I will truly appreciate any information that will support, this story if accurate, along with the proof and source.
Sincerely, Ellis T. Cooper, Jr., 3218 No. 36th Terrace, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, e-mail address autx33a@prodigy.com
MUSGRAVE: Please let me introduce myself: My name is James Dallas Musgrave, son of William Dallas Musgrave, born September 2, 1959, in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Like my forefathers back to my great-grandfather five times removed, we have spent our fives in Monongalia County VA/WV area.
I often look at the photo of my great-great-grandfather Ephraim Hall Musgrave and wish he could reveal the lost history of his life. After being emotionally affected by the writings and stories of Samuel Corder Musgrave, I wondered how I may be related to this exceptional person. These and other reasons are what I attribute to my pursuit of the Musgrave family history.
For most of my life I lived in Morgantown, WV, but for the last seven years I have lived in Arlington, VA. Living in Arlington has allowed me access to some of the largest reference libraries available to the genealogist. With the help of county birth, marriage, death records, other genealogist and written county histories, I have pieced together the history of early VA/WV Musgrave settlers. To date, I am researching three distinct Musgrave families that have settled in the Virginia, now West Virginia area around the late 1700's and early 1800's.
Samuel Musgrave, born in Lancaster County, Pa in 1747, moved to Monongalia County, Va. Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth (Brand) Musgrave, lived in Monongalia County for 28 years. Leaving behind some of their 12 children.
Elijah Musgrave shows up on the Monongalia County, VA 1830 U.S. Census where he listed his wife and himself as 80-90 years old. I also found an old Upshur County History publication stating Elijah and his wife Bashebah were direct immigrants from Germany. Due to many old Monongalia County documents being lost or destroyed during the Civil War, I have been unable to prove or disprove the Upshur County History publication. But I am still working on other leads. John Musgrave and Ellen (Stewart) Musgrave, both natives of VA, and of Dutch and Irish extraction, moved from Harvey County, VA, to Mason County, VA, just after the war of 1812
I realize that I have acquired a good bit of information on past Musgrave generations, but have little information on present day generations. I need to ask for your help in gathering information on present day generations of Musgrave's. If you share with me your Musgrave family history, photographs or photocopies and stories, I will be happy to share my Musgrave information with you and try to link you to one of the West Virginia Musgrave ancestors. After organizing the history, I would like to compile and publish my findings. I will offer it and updates at no charge to those families that took time and helped contribute information.
So please, take the time and write down the history of your Musgrave family members that may have migrated to and from the VA/WV area. I hope you can help me accomplish my goals in preserving the Musgrave families throughout West Virginia and beyond. Preserving our Musgrave family history will make it much easier for future Musgrave generations to find their ancestry.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to call, write, visit or e-mail me. James (Jim) Dallas Musgrave, 225 North Piedmont Street, Arlington, Virginia. 22203 703-524-1066 Internet RJRB69A@Prodigy.com
The Allegheny Regional Family History Society