Just about every genealogical publication I know of has carried multiple reminders to researchers to include a self addressed, stamped envelope when requesting information from others. This may not apply to those with whom we are actively exchanging, but certainly ANY unsolicited request for information should be accompanied by a SASE. This is just a courtesy. Yet regardless of these reminders it seems folks still forget. Folks, when you request information from ARFHS or anyone else for that matter REMEMBER THE SASE! It may mean the difference between getting or not getting an answer.
Several items have been added to the library of the ARFHS. Among these are ALLEGHENY PASSAGE by Bittinger, THE MONONGALIA STORY by Core, two volumes of New York and New Jersey records, one Volume of Virginia records, and genealogies of the Taylor, Whiteman, Seward, Tacy and Wood families. Odie Chapman's "THEY REST QUIETLY" book of RANDOLPH County Cemetery records is now at the library, as well as additional census records for Pocahontas and Upshur Counties. The cornerstone of recent acquisitions are photocopies of the Albert Summerfield family group sheets, representing decades of research by Albert Summerfield. These sheets cover the Summerfield and related families, Whites, Wilmoths, Marteny, and numerous other families researched by Albert Summerfield. Thank to Albert for this marvelous donation and thanks to archivist Madeline Crickard for preparing an index to the primary names contained in it.
Hey Jean, look at the page numbers. I numbered them consecutively from last issue to make it easier for you to index if you are moved to do so. I promise to TRY to remember this from issue to issue but I have proven that I ain't too sharp sometimes so .........
This space would have probably had news of interest if the stuff had not got up and walked off of the editor's porch in March. See page 40 of this issue. If you sent news in lately ........SEND IT AGAIN!!!!!
WELL WE DID!
Several items sent in to ARFHS were recently stolen from the mailbox of editor David Armstrong. If you have submitted a query in the two months before 15 March 1997 or if you have submitted an article in the same time period please send these again as they would have been in an envelope stolen from my front porch about the 8th of March.
Interested persons may now order Volume 2 of Randolph County Cemetery readings. The books are back from the printer and ready shipment. See price list below for details.
The photo on the cover of this issue was in the family trunk belonging to the late Charles R. "Bob" Armstrong of Mill Creek, West Virginia. The back of the original was labeled "Peet, W. Va."
"Peet, W. Va." was a post office in Valley Bend District near the head of Shavers Run. The post office opened 9 July 1898 and Charles C. Crickard was postmaster at that time. He was succeeded by Lillie B. Todd in July of 1905, and Jacob Sturm took over for Lillie in January of 1906. Lester B. Armstrong became postmaster of Peet on 8 May 1908 and served until the office was closed 31 July 1909, and the mail rerouted to the post office at Valley Bend.
The identities of the men in the photo are not certain. Bob Armstrong told the editor that the man in the hat and black coat standing on the top on the large log on the left was Harry Armstrong. The man on the right on top of the large log looks to the editor like a young Noble Armstrong based on other photos. It may well be that the identities of the loggers may never be known, but the true value of this photo is to preserve the memory of the majestic timber that once stood in the Tygart Valley and to remind us to take care of the environment - if we're careful to take care of our planet our grandchildren may see trees like that again! It's up to us!
So remember, don't throw that copy of the latest ranting editorial by Armstrong in the trash - RECYCLE IT!!!!!
-- From the editorApril 1800 "Petition of the sundry inhabitants to open a road from Petersburgh (sic) to the Dutch Settlement across the river. Order James Seymour; Martin Power; Rudolph Shobe, son of Martin; and andrew Byrns view the way for the road
Editor's Note: It SHOULD NOT be interpreted that the persons named above were all Dutch. This record is, however, useful in placing geographically the significant settlement of Dutch in present day Grant County
More than once someone has handed me a copy of an E-Mail query looking for information on this or that and sometimes I even have the answers but alas, all that is given is an E-Mail address. Hey, folks, there are still some of us cave men out here who do not have E-Mail nor access to any, and we still need your mailing address if you want to hear from us. I am sitting here holding that 250 year old Bible record that Mr.X has spent 20 years searching for. Too bad I don't have a way to reach him at www.somewhere.com!
Comments regarding this page to: Deborah Johnson.