Marcellene Graham Davis – emails dvsclan@yahoo.com ( superceded, see new email address on 2nd last page)
17.3.2007 So happy to hear from you - I will be glad to send you a ton more information - but can't tonight - I have to give a DAR workshop tomorrow so
need to prepare (That's Daughters of the American Revolution - obviously not our Graham's!)
Even though Mark has received corrected information - it doesn't appear that he has applied it. Meshack Graham was a mulattto - born before ANY of our
Graham's went to the US. His name had been pulled in by someone doing some earlier research and apparently never removed. I saw him mentioned in several
records while I was in PA, but none in connection with our family except proximity of area. There were Grahams in Bedford county by 1819 from Ireland and
other places that we know of no connection with. Centre County wasn't even settled at the time he was born.
John Graham and Jane Proud never were in the US - Jane died in 1832; he remarried - an Elizabeth who also died maybe two years befor 15 MARCH 1835.
John and Jane's daughter Mary wrote to Edward [her brother in PA] about the step-mother's death.
I have not had a chance to fully glean your wonderful pedigree yet. I thought I had heard a mention of Australia before - I see in an email from Beth Bahnson
in 2003, that she had seen an entry by Lancelot Barron claiming George Sr.'s brother as an ancestor in Australia. He has a different wife and children for the
John who would be George's brother, but lists John and Jane (Proud) Grahan as his John's parents and gives our John's birthdate and place. Edward's obit says
our John, Jr. went to Lewiston, PA. She went on to say she had emailed for more info but had no response.
You are 10 days older than I am. (August 2, 1947) If I have quickly pieced out your line correctly - you are the fifth generation from John Graham (who went
to Australia). I am the fourth generation from George Graham, Sr. (John's brother). That is probably because my grandfather married four times and my father
was born when George Jr. was 68. I was 14 when my dad was 65.
I am seeing your line as Greg Heberle from Pauline Emily Graham from William LeFevre Graham from William Graham from John Graham from John
Graham and Jane Proud (our common ancestors). Is that correct?
I am Marcellene Graham from Fred McKinley Graham from George Graham, Jr. from George Graham Sr. from John Graham and Jane Proud. Amazingly,
although we are the same age - you are the same generation as my children.
The cousins I wrote to you about are all great-grandchildren of George Graham, Jr.'s siblings but he was my actual grandfather and he served in our Civil War
in the 1860's.
When you say that your John Graham was a brewer in Carlisle - I assume you mean in England. There is a Carlisle, Pennsylvania not too far from Bellefonte where the Grahams lived. I think they had an Inn in the Bellefonte area briefly - maybe he was involved in that.
This could be wrong - it just came to mind.
So he married a girl in Perth who was from Tennessee, USA. You have him in Australia by 1845. Possibly - via New Zealand. I've been thinking that he may
not have naturalized in the US - if he moved on so quickly. He surely would have just remained a British citizen in New Zealand or Australia at that time - do
you know? Would his children have naturally been Australian citizens by being born there even if he (and his wife) were not native born? Was there
something written - maybe a Bible - in your family to connect him to these Grahams?
Graham sometimes seems fairly common; I have an Irish Graham line on my mother's side.
Was there gold in Australia that had been discovered by that time? What would have been a draw? Although, as an Englishman, maybe just the excitement of
a new country would have been enough. Many English were going to Australia at the same time as the big pushes to the USA then.
His brother, Arthur, married in England just before he immigrated. He was a farmer and chairmaker. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1839 - then finally to
Lee County, Iowa. I don't think I know when brother William went to Iowa, but he was there in 1857, when my grandfather went through there, burying his 10
month old daughter while there.
Brother George Sr. moved to Iowa , before or just after 1860- but to middle Iowa, Jasper County; Lee is on the eastern border across the Mississippi River
from Illinois.
Edward and Thomas remained in Pennsylvania. Edward was a very successful businessman in Bellefonte. No one really knows what happened to Ann - she
supposedly married someone named Stevenson off the boat from England and went West. Mary of course, stayed in England.
I supposed you have your John's christening date. It was 6 FEB 1809 - St. Andrews, Penrith, Cumberland, England. That is an extract from their records.
I noticed someone in your pedigree that was born in Parkes - I was there in January 1979 on my little trip through NSW.
There is more back on at least Jane Proud. Her father was George Proud and her mother was Ann Ridley, daughter of Edward Ridley and Isabel Steele,
daughter of Thomas Steele (Steel).
I will gather some things together for you. I do have a picture of George Graham, Sr. - that's the farthest back for a photo in this family. Edward's family may
have had more since he stayed in touch with Mary in England. Maybe the rest of them did, but we don't seem to have any record of it.
Thanks again for writing - I am so thrilled to find someone else connected to this family.
Have a good day - mate. Marcellene Davis
20.3.2007 Thanks, Greg - It sounds as if your Uncle Bill had better luck in Penrith than we have had at a distance. Cousin Marvel did receive the marriage
record for our George Sr. and Barbara.
I have: William Graham, born 9 JULY 1749, in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. Died 21 MAY 1803, in England. His wife: Elizabeth Morland, born 21 SEP
1748, Penrith, Cumberland, England. Died 3 JULY 1799, England. Her father was Joseph Morland; her mother - Mary Boyess.The pedigrees of the Morlands
and Boyess go back much further.
I only have two children: John Graham, born 20 NOV 1775, Penrith, Cumberland, England. Died 20 APRIL 1845, Penrith, Cumberland, England. He married
Jane (Jennie) Proud,
18 SEP 1803, St. Mary, Carlisle, Cumberland, England. He was the Keeper of Featherstone Castle of the Lord Wallace Estate.
Edward Graham, brother, Head Gamekeeper of Featherstone Castle.
Apparently the Featherstone Castle story is in a family Bible, that must have been in the possession of Edward Graham (brother of your John). The story is
written in his obituary.
It says that they lived "within a stone's throw of the castle". Edward was apprenticed to a shoemaker at age 13. I'll send a copy of the history/obituary - it tells a
great deal about the family - don't know how accurate it is. Cousin Marvel had a fit to read that George Sr. had moved to Iowa to farm after gambling his coal
mines away. She grew up in the lap of the extended family and never heard of any loose behavior of the elders of the family. We have a copy of a letter about
his land that is in his own handwriting. The family was Episcopalian in the East and Methodist Episcopalian in Iowa.
I do not see the name of the ship that George sailed on in his Naturalization petition.
It says he sailed from the port of Liverpool on about the twenty first day of June and arrived at the City of Philadelphia, in the United States of America on the
ninth day of August, ensuing that he was born in the County of Northumberland, England and is now upwards of thirty years of age - etc subject of William
the Fourth. He had married Barbary Milbourne on 12 NOV 1824 at Hesket-in-The-Forest, Cumberland, England. According to our records, Thomas would
have been the oldest child, born 28 FEB 1826; a girl, Mary Jane was born in 1827 - but there is no further mention of her. George Jr was born on 29 DEC
1829, at Dacre, Cumberland, England. Jane was born 11 NOV 1831, apparently in England as well. The other seven children were born in Pennsylvania.
"The History of Lee County [IA]", Chicago, 1879. Arthur lived in Franklin Township. He had married his wife, Sarah Bainbridge, in England on 4 JUNE
1836. [Interesting to note: His brother, Edward, named one of his daughters "Sarah Bainbridge"] Arthur and Sarah lost a Jane and William - raised no
children. He was the Mayor of Franklin Centre and active in his Methodist Church and township. He was a retired farmer and chairmaker.
William - in the same history has only a sentence - farmer and his section and address. He lived next door to Arthur in 1850. He had two daughters from his
first marriage - apparently none from the second. I heard once from a decendent but didn't receive a reply after mine. I have to curb my enthusiasm - I think it
scares people away. I was in Keokuk, Iowa, a few years ago Before I knew William and Arthur had been there - isn't that the way it always goes? William is
actually listed as a chairmaker in 1850, and Arthur as a merchant. In 1870, William is a blacksmith.
Thomas Graham and his wife, Sarah (born in Pennsylvania) lived in Clearfield County, PA.
He had seven children. He was a blacksmith. His first daughter was a Mary Jane - maybe in memory of a lost sister? Sorry - I gave the wrong information
earlier - the Thomas Graham that died early with his wife was my grandfather's brother - not his uncle - brother of your John. These families repeated these
names so often it is terribly confusing.
There is some disagreement about daughter Mary who stayed in England. She stayed in close contact with Edward, then after her death in 1869, her daughter,
Mary Jane Wheeler wrote. One letter was forwarded from John Graham's second wife, Elizabeth. It told of his death. Later another letter told of the
stepmother's death about 1853. You'll see this in the history.
I'm not sure how accurate or up-to-date Mark's information is. As I told you, the Grahams are not his main interest. I can't remember 'when' he received his
information - he may be behind our research. He has a more closely related cousin that has pictures and maybe more information at least about his branch of
the family but her husband thinks she's communicating with terrorists so we seem to have lost her. Its amusing how people view genealogical research or
interest in family history.
I heard from Marvel today - she really is - she's a sweet lady. They are heading back to Iowa this week from their daughter's in Phoenix. Marvel is a retired
nurse and Bob is a retired lawyer. She was new to genealogy but had the home court advantage of being in possession of many family pictures and papers as
the only child of John Graham' only child. John being my grandfather George's brother. She also lives in the same area where they all went from PA. John died
when Marvel was seven years old.
Do you have census returns in Australia that you might find your John on? Did they have to do any paperwork if they decided to stay there in the years he
might have gone there? Tax or land records?
Its late - hopes this helps - I'll have to run my daughter down to scan - haven't used her machine. I could just mail a packet - I know it would take awhile but
might be simpler for you. Let me know. I also don't know how deep you want to get into these USA Grahams - do you? Marcellene
21.3.2007 Yes, I agree - very interesting. Thanks much for your sends. I am holding about a ream of paper that I copied some years ago of IGI microfiche
records of Grahams starting with the most phonetic spelling - through Joseph Graham - don't know why there - probably ran out of time or patience. A
descendant of my grandfather's sister, described as a relative of Clara Gertrude Hinton, on these records initiated work on many John Graham's in the area in
England we are interested in. Another person of interest is John Mayne's - also doing much Graham work in these records. He was a Mormon missionary
possibly connected by marriage to Mary Graham Bell's daughter. There is confusion here because Father Archer insists that Mary Graham Bell did not marry
again so would not have had that Watson connection. John Maynes did a great deal of work on the same people as the relative of Clara Gertrude Hinton. John
was an early missionary to England and if he did actually marry into our family some of the family work was being done in the Endowment House in Salt
Lake City when the Mormons first built it. I read quite a history about him. This is probably clear as mud, but that is one unsolved question. Mary Jane
Watson may not be Mary Jane Wheeler - Mary's daughter - but Maynes did work on some of the same people.
I don't know if I can buy into Greystoke. Why do you accept that over the other choice? I'm looking at a map of Cumberland with ecclesiastical jurisdictions
formed before 1832. None of these areas are that far apart that distance could be used to discount a theory. I guess my biggest objection is the difference in
dates for John Graham and Jane Proud. Edward Graham was receiving letters from England, from his sister, Mary. She kept him fairly current for that day
with news about his father. These Graham brothers were adults, some married, when they left England. They seemed to have known the story of their family i.e. Edward's history/obitiuary. We also know John and Jane's children. A Thomas could have been a father or grandfather. That name runs through the family
along with George, William, Edward, Arthur and John. The data just doesn't seem to jive with what we know for sure. ???
I did visit the World Gen Web site that had a lot of information about the auxillary families married into the Grahams in the Cumberland area - I don't
remember and don't have in front of me what I might have gathered on the Grahams themselves. I don't know why I'm willing to accept William Graham and
Elizabeth Morland as John's parents. Many of the marriages and christenings are actual extracted records but I don't have it at hand to confirm or deny.
Where did you find ships for these people? I've found some Ellis Island ships - but of course, they didn't go through there. I don't think I've ever tried to find
ships for the Grahams.
John Graham DID marry Jane Proud at St. Mary, Carlisle, Cumberland, England on 18 MARCH 1803 - that's an extracted actual record. If one can believe the
scale on this map - thats maybe only 20 miles from Greystoke but the John Graham from Greystoke doesn't seem to be the one that married Jane Proud. These
are the right parents for my George Sr. - Mary's letters confirm that - they are buried next to each other and Jane had died before the sons left England - they
knew who their mother was. These children's christening records, including John Graham of the birthday of your ancestor, are extracted records and they name
the parents as well.
There had to be a Graham under every rock in Cumberland at that time - the names are all so much alike in that pile of records I have and repeated in all the
localities sprinkled around there. Talk about needles in haystacks.
Thoughts on this?
I also just re-read the Centre County, Pennsylvania history - it was my actual grandfather - young George that had the inn. George, Sr. opened the coal mine at
Snow Shoe in 1845, then put in five sections of the railroad in 1858 - apparently went to Iowa in 1864. He has a nice obituary in the history - doesn't sound
like a gambler - maybe my grandfather was - I know he was involved in land speculation in Missouri - that's pretty much a gamble.
I await your further ideas on this question. Thanks – Marcellene
22.3.2007 Thank you once again. I know about Tarzan - was thinking it would be nice to be from Greystoke because of that.
I am pleased to know the name of George Graham's ship. I told you the dates I have for the others - I know nothing about their ships. I just found an email
from Beth Bahnson's aunt that I met in Iowa that summer. Apparently I DID know the name of the ship - she writes that her son had found the ship's
passenger list for the Brig - Benjamin Morgan. Ann is not listed with them, as you probably know. George Sr and Jr, Barbara and Thomas. She wonders
where Jane and Mary Jane are. Mary Jane did not come and there is some question if Jane was born in England or PA - she says she would have been 8 moths
old - maybe they didn't list babies.
The Ann story is a family story - who knows any part of if that might be accurate - her mother had died when George came in 1832 - maybe the brothers several were married thought she should come with them - one would think if she didn't stay with her father that she would have stayed with her sister, Mary.
I've already mentioned Edward's obit/history saying Edward, John, William, Thomas and Ann came together. William came through Montreal. Thomas'
naturalization says he came with a brother. This little history also mentions them coming straight to Pennsylvania from New York - none of the naturalizations
say anything about New York.
I have a printout of an attachment I received in August of 2002. It could either be Sandy Barber's Graham file or Mark Russells - both would have been after
we had communicated a lot because it has my family information in it, as well as Sandy's, Marvel's and Mark's. It is entitled "Descendants of William
Graham". It has the Meshack Graham we've already discussed and discarded listed as one of the children. It is the William Graham that I sent to you with
Elizabeth Morland. I suspect it is Sandy's because we were all sending stuff back and forth to each other and she had a web page at the time - Aquila's
Orchard. Mark also put material together as you know - then sent it to One World Tree. Sandy had done quite a bit of research when she was located in a large
city - can't think of where just now.
I would like to tell you that all my materials are in great order and I can readily bring them to hand - but that would be a lie. I had a horrible flood in my house
- fortunately my genealogy was fairly lucky but everything had to be moved and relocated a random hurry - I am still trying to recover from it and relocate and
organize my life. It was several years ago but devastated a large share of my house and my insurance company!
Father Scott Archer had communicated with Edward Graham's descendant - Charles Harper - and I believe visited there. He said Harper had spent years of
hands-on research in England, PA and Iowa. He said there were pages of notes on the family well-documented but I don't think he ever sent everything. He
did go on to send another time what he had that was proven. He said he did use LDS for clues, but he never takes Internet sources for fact.
He starts with George Graham, Sr. - then John and Jane and then William Graham and Elizabeth Morland = this has to be where I got into William Graham
information.
I hope this isn't too long for your email set up - my daughter isn't here and I don't know how to scan with her machine and don't know how to get this to attach
a file - it's a different set up than I have at work.
He says: here is what I have as proven:
I will begin with George Graham, Sr. (father of George Graham, Jr. and Jane may Graham Archer) George was b. November 24, 1804, in Penrith,
Cumberland, England. He married Barbara Milburn in 1828 in England. He d. 17 March 1877 in Prairie City, Iowa. Barbara was b. July 18, 1805 in Farlam,
Cumberland, England. [Barbara's father was Isaac Milburn]
First the father's side:
George Graham's father is John GRAHAM b. November 20, 1775, in Penrith, Cumberland, England. He married Jane PROUD on September 18, 1803, at St.
Mary's (Church of England) Carlisle, England. He d. April 20, 1845, in Penrith, Cumberland, England.
The parents of John GRAHAM are William GRAHAM, b. July 9, 1749, in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. He married Elizabeth MORLAND , b. September
21, 1748, in Penrith, Cumberland, England. She d. July 3, 1799. He d. May 21, 1803.
Elizabeth MORLAND was the daughter of Joseph MORLAND, b. July 14, 1720, d. July 12, 1804. He was married to Mary BOYESS, b. March 7, 1720, in
Penrith, Cumberland, England. Her baptism was at St. Andrew's, Penrith. She was the daughter of John BOYESS and Mary___.
John MORLAND's parents were Thomas MORLAND and Dorothy ___.
George GRAHAM's mother was Jane PROUD. Jane PROUD was born June 18, 1783, in Knarsdale, Northumberland, England. She died January 7, 1832, in
Penrith, Cumberlnad, England. She was the daughter of...
George PROUD b. August 26, 1758, in Knarsdale, Northumberland, England (d. July 29, 1808) and Ann RIDLEY, b. March 6, 1762, in Crowhall, Haltwhisle,
Northumberland, England. Ann d. May 28, 1812.
George PROUD was the son of...Edward PROUD, b. January 28, 1728, in Knarsdale, Northumberland, England (d. November 20, 1786) and Frances
FEATHERSTONHAUGH (Daughter of Albany Featherstonhaugh)
Edward PROUD was the son of...George PROUD, b. June 13, 1697, in Knarsdale, Northumberland, England. HE married Grace ___ on June 12, 1723, in
Knarsdale, Northumberland, England.
Ann RIDLEY's parents were Edward RIDLEY, who married Isabel STEELE on April 30, 1752. He died April 28, 1800. Isabel STEELE RIDLEY was b.
March 9, 1718, in Newburn, Northumberland, England. She died January 14, 1808.
This has all been proven except for the last name of Frances (Featherstonhaugh). I have reason to believe this is true, but I have yet to find proof.
He goes on to say that John Graham was the Head Keeper of Featherstone Castle and that George Proud was the Head Game Keeper for the Wallaces.
William Graham: He was a mason. He was employed by James Wallace of Careton hall, just outside of Penrith. James Wallace had purchased Featherstone
Castle from the Featherstonhaugh family around 1765, and from time to time made alterations and additions to the buildings. This would require stone
masons. The MORLAND family lived in Carleton Hall Village and it was there that William Graham met Elizabeth MORLAND.
Frances Featherstonhaugh: The Featherstonhaugh family held Featherstone Castle as a member of the barony of Tynedale in the reign of King Edwar I, but at
some point either lost or sold it.
_______End of Father Archer's notes.
I had looked up Featherstone etc probably at that time -online - but don't know where my findings are. I do have a list of people in Cumberland in 1829 from
some internet source in England - there were about 50 John Graham's of various trades and of course the Georges etc - I couldn't point out any of them as
ours.or not.
I rediscovered that the Clara Gertrude Hinton I mentioned was the granddaughter of George and Barbara Graham.
WE, the USA Grahams - do know for a surety the children of John and Jane. With the exception of Ann - and John - having nothing more than his birth and
christening and the idea that he had gone to Lewiston, Mifflin County, PA [but was not located there by me, at least] - the other children are who and where
they are purported to be. They were also all adults and knew about their parents whereabouts and deaths.
What are we seeing here? Is it possible that your John is not the John from this family? There were a number of John Graham's in the Centre County area
before during and after the Grahams got there that apparently had no connection to them. Is the path your John followed a family legend - something always
passed down and known. I really don't want to lose you or your John to the family so try to stay attached here!
I don't know how much you know about the Mormon records but the only ones pretty infallable are the extracted records from actual documents. The ones
submitted by people are very prone to human error. I have found my own father connected up to a George Graham pedigree that had not the faintest real
connection to him. I don't know what Father Archer's proven sources were - but they obviously weren't LDS records or from the internet. He didn't know
about the extracted records until I told him.
I could accept Greystoke - but this list of children is pretty much cast in stone - I have visited most of their graves here in this country. I have had contact with
a descendant of most of them. I was in Bellefonte and surrounding area - digging through records - as well as the Pennsylvania State Library.
See what you think - have to go - sorry this is long. If I can ever be home with my daughter for five minutes - I'll try to get some instruction on the
equipment. Thanks M
25.3.2007 Sorry - I really have been trying to reply. I was combing over my research on Thursday; had to give up the computer to my daughter for her late
night homework session. Last night I entered all my musings and the computer froze up - would not save the draft nor send it so I'm hoping the third time is
the charm and you will actually receive this. Amazing - the copy showed up but will not save or send it so I printed it.
I see from your pedigree that several children were named Longmire - so Elizabeth Longmire must be a correct name. I knew NOTHING about her until I
heard from you. ALL I knew about your John was his birth, christening, and the possibility that he had gone to USA and maybe to Lewiston, Mifflin, PA.
There WAS a John with a family in that area when yours could have been there but I think he was from the earlier families - there was an Irish John and and
earlier English John.One married a Susan Ruble in 1836 - the others were after your John was in Australia. Somewhere in your papers - isn't there a different maybe English place of birth for Elizabeth Longmire? I can't locate it just now. The idea of her going from Tennessee to England at that time is certainly
possible but seems remote, if she didn't go with a husband or family or go to a family in England. Tennessee was REALLY pretty backwoods at that time people were migrating West - many went to Missouri. Backtracking, as it were, seems out of character for the time and place. Longmire must be an English
name so maybe she was returning to family - I'm sure you've thought of these possibilities.
I like that last pedigree you sent - I don't think either of us can question Jane Proud. John's origin is the sticker. There is a film from Salt Lake City on Penrith
christenings, marriages, etc. - maybe I should send for it. I don't know what information shows on each event. I think the best thing would be a will - naming
John - preferably married to Jane and identifiable - from his father William or Thomas. I do have a copy of George Graham, Sr.'s will in his own handwriting but of course he mentions nothing of his heritage. A cousin of mine always says to "follow the money" - land, wills, taxes. There is a census for 1841 in
England - I know Ancestry has it - maybe you have looked there for your John. If I can get to the Tri-Cities - I will check it at the Family History Library.
I may have sent this already but this is another quote from Father Archer:
"For a period of four years after Edward settled in Bellefonte, we have no information regarding his activities. Over the years a close contact was maintained
by letter with his sister, Mary Bell (Father Archer says he doesn't know of another marriage for her), in England, and after her death in 1869, with her
daughter, Mary Jane Wheeler. A number of these letters remain in the family. The earliest is a letter from Penrith, England, dated May 26, 1845, and addressed
to Mary Bell in Manchester. This letter advised her of the death of her father, John, and stated that he had been buried close to her mother. It was signed by
her stepmother, Elizabeth Graham. Mary Bell forwarded this letter to her brothers in Centre County to inform them of their father's death."
Do you want individual information about each of the siblings of your John and their families?
I heard from Marvel - they may be back to Iowa by now. Haven't heard from the other cousins - may have "lost" some of them. My job is pretty demanding so
I "disappear" occasionally. Tell me where you want to go from here. Thanks for all your sends - I keep going over them. I am not great with Excel so I have to
keep picking at the pedigrees - when I print them out they are too tiny to read. I managed to select a page and get some out - I've been battling a huge
spreadsheet at work the last couple of days - I'll either become an expert or a raving maniac. Marcellene
Centre County is precisely in the middle of PA - it was created in 1800 from several other counties - the largest part from Mifflin County. All these towns or
townships I mention are not really that far apart, even when they are in an adjoining county. It's a mountainous area with deep narrow valleys winding through
the mountains. Snowshoe is actually smack on top of a mountain; Bellefonte is tucked in one of the deep narrow valleys. State College - home of Penn State
University - is about 10 miles away - amazingly in a flat open area. The travel would have been very difficult at the time the Grahams arrived - its a little tricky
with paved roads now. All indications are that they went straight to Centre County after arrival - that means they probably knew someone there - family or
friends. There was an earlier John and a Francis that was a British sympathizer in the Rev. War. Others have thought that some of them might have made
return trips to England; they weren't poor. A Matthew Graham from Potter Township appears on a tax roll with George Sr in 1850; he was in Spring Township
in 1840 - I don't have a clue who he was. There's probably a handful of unknown Grahams in the various townships and censuses.
The mention of them going through New York was a fantasy in Edward's history/obit - he obviously didn't write his own. I re-checked the Naturalization
Records at Centre County's GenWeb site. George, Thomas, William and Edward are the ONLY ones from our family - two other Grahams listed are Irish and
Scottish.
I didn't find a record for Arthur in Ohio or Iowa - but theirs aren't posted nicely like PA's so that doesn't mean anything. I think the ship list you found is
probably his. He married Sarah Bainbridge in England, 4 JUN 1836. His history in Lee Co. Iowa says he emigrated in the spring of 1836, he was in Ohio by
1840.
The Pennsylvania Naturalizations: George Graham Sr's petitions says he was born in Northumberland - he was upwards of 30 - sworn to 24 April 1833.
Edward sailed from Liverpool, the 21st day of August, 1839; arrived in the City of Philadelphia in the month of October. He was born in Penrith and was
upwards of 25 years of age. Sworn to 27 NOV 1840 - Naturalized in 1845. (There's a five year waiting period).
William sailed from Liverpool in June, 1837; arrived in Montreal in September and proceeded to Batavia in the US the same month. He was born in Penrith
and was upwards of twenty-two.
Thomas arrived at Philadelphia in 1839 or 1840 - a minor about 16. He was 21, the last 17th of January. After arriving, he removed to Bellefonte, Centre
County with his brother and had lived there except for one year in Clearfield County. He wa born 17 JAN 1825, in Penrith - migrated with a brother. He state
he had been there five years, 27 AUG 1846 - George Graham signed for him. He also petitioned when he was 32, living in Clearfield County. He said he had
lived continuously in the USA until his present application (except for about 20 months during whichtime he was in the service of the United States in the war
with Mexico). Edward signed for him that time.
It looks as if Edward and Thomas may have arrived together in Philadelphia from Liverpool.
So maybe it was just those two and possibly your John. He would have come and returned to England in time to marry in 1838. He may have never attempted
to Naturalize - if he did he didn't stay long enough to complete it.
William Graham/Elizabeth Morland information came from Father Archer - possibly from Charles Harper - descendant of Edward Graham. None of the other
Gen cousins - I call us Grahams R Us - had anything from before John Graham and Jane Proud. I did find more information about the Morlands, Boyess,
Milburn/Melbournes on the Cumberland site at GENUKI. One other thing is that Edward Graham received his Bible at age 11, on the estate of the late Philip,
Lord Wharton - according to his history.
There are probably over 200 John Grahams on the Mormon IGI records I had copied. There is a Christening for a John Graham - Child of William
Graham/Elizabeth on the 20 NOV 1775, at Penrith, Saint Andrews. The source was, I believe, an extraction as the Film No. is P003021. There is also a John
Graham - child of Thomas and Mary - Christened on 11 OCT 1781, at Greystoke - it is film No. C002252 - I don't know that it is an extraction. Your John's
birth was submitted by Clara Gertrude Hinton - who would have been his grandniece. But his Christening was an extraction from actual records for 6 FEB
1809, Penrith, Saint Andrews - Film No. P003021/Sheet: 18680. I did see some Grahams in Greystone in the 1500s but then Graham's are like blades of grass
in the British Isles.
You have probably noticed that we are continually confused with Barbara Graham's maiden name - descendants of her children cannot agree and records vary.
Her marriage record to George Graham, Sr. is Barbara Milbourne. Her father is listed with her, and her sister, Jane as Isaac Milburn married to Eleanor Brown
in Cumberland records.
25.3.2007a What you may have received prior to this really are fragments - for some reason the send was not complete - nor was the end saved so who knows
what I wrote - probably enough to confuse you thoroughly anyhow. I looked at GENUKI and some other sites I used to use - it seems they have all either
connected to Ancestry or have their own membership plans - not much data just sitting there any longer to pick up at will.
I think some of my missing dialog was asking if you want more information about the siblings of your John. Probably not for your Australia book but maybe
for your own information. I guess I need to know what else you are interested in knowing. I have not heard back from the other cousins.
Actually - maybe you did get all my send - it was just scrambled for some reason. Obviously I need to get off the computer for awhile. Let me know where
you are on this. M
26.3.2007 Hello - Thanks for the USA update - is that from Mark Russell's material? I am rather excited to see William Graham (son of George Jr.)married to
Sarah Fiddle - died in High Point, Missouri. I had found this marriage before but could not be sure it was my grandfather's eldest son - since the Grahams all
have to name their sons Thomas, William, Arthur, Edward and George. The clincher is IF he died in High Point, Missouri. When we were in High Point
several years ago, we found George's third wife and his daughter, Georgia - youngest of his first marriage - buried together in the High Point Cemetery.
Captain George Graham (of the Missouri Home Guards) had bought the plot which is shown in a diagram posted on the wall in the post office - probably
original to the day it was posted - the post office is old and lovely - but tiny. There is a tall, 4-sided spire with Georgia's info on one side, and wife Martha's on
one side - two other sides bare. As in the fashion of the day, there are two small Head stones that held pictures with the women's initials on them and maybe
the dates - don't have the picture before me. There are also THREE small foot stones with only their initials - the third one has W.T.G. - there is no record of
another burial on the post office wall. One thought is that Martha and George had another son [besides David and Arthur] that died young - the other is that it
was William from the first marriage. The one on your sheet is in the right place and time in Prairie City in 1880 - and certainly has the right name for his child
- but who knows or thinks he was buried in High Point?
I am a Family History Librarian - I have keys to the Richland FHL and the small one in Basin City but since I'm working full time in Connell, I seldom have a
chance to get to either one of them. I have a pile of films on permanent loan at Basin City that I haven't had a chance to look at. Ancestry has just cut back the
subscriptions that the LDS Church had available to all the libraries. I had a full subscription for several years - then realized I was never home to use it. Now
I'm never in the Cities to use the good facilities available there.
I'll have to look at the Cumberland site to see what the parishes are if it doesn't show on George and Barbara's marriage - Marvel sent for it several years ago.
Father Archer went into great detail on that. He says - The Church that John Graham and Jane Proud were married in was St. Mary's - which is Church of
England. He also say that Edward was very active in the St, John's Episcopal Church in Bellefonte - George and Barbara were as well - their children born in
PA were christened there. I thought he had said he was Episcopalian - but it was Methodist before the became Catholic - BUT the church in Iowa where he
was raised was Methodist Episcopalian earlier. Marvel was incensed to read his idea that the Grahams were Episcopalian but didn't realize that the Iowa
Methodists [that she still is] were originally Methodist Episcopalian.
Father Archer also said that George Proud's father was Henry Proud AND that there was some question if Edward Proud's wife was Frances Featherstonhaugh,
daughter of Albany Featherstonhaugh of Featherstone Castle. Wondered if anyone had proven or disproved it.
***********************************************************************************************
George Graham that married Barbara Milbourne/Milburn had the following children:
Thomas b. 28 FEB 1826 - in Cumberland, England. He married Catherine White, 28 DEC 1848, in Milesburg, Centre, PA, by Jesse Hall. She was the daughter
of Andrew and Mary White of Milesburg. He died 20 MAR 1850, in Snowshoe, Centre PA. Thomas is buried in the Bellefonte Cemetery - S NB
65. Catherine also died soon [don't have her date] because her father - a minister - raised their only child, Thomas L. Graham, born 11 JAN 1850. He died 10
MAR 1861, probably pneumonia, at Milesburg. He had a stone at one time but it was no longer there when I walked the tiny cemetery. Milesburg is seconds
away from Bellefonte.
Mary Jane Graham was born 17 SEP 1827, in Cumberland, England. Nothing else is known about her.
George Graham, Jr. [my grandfather], was born 20 DEC 1829, in Cumberland, England. He was christened 24 JAN 1830, at Dacre, Cumberland, England. He
came to Centre County with his parents in 1832. He married Mary Jane Whitman or Whiteman there before the 1850 census - she was born in PA, but I have
not been able to connect her with a family. There was a Whiteman family in the area - but her eldest daughter's middle name is Whitman - assumedly for her
mother so...
George and Mary Jane had:
(1)William [T.?] Graham - calc. 1852/53 in PA.
(2)Margaret Whitman Graham, born 28 FEB 1854, in Snowshoe, Centre, PA. [This is Mark Russell's line] She married Thomas William Nickson/Nixon, 13
APR 1871 in Oregon, Holt
County, Missouri. They raised a large family in Prairie City, Jasper, Iowa and are buried in the Waveland Cemetery there.
[Her father had married Thomas's widowed mother, 31 AUG 1868, in Jasper County, Missouri - also after the death of Mary Jane Whitman, 20 APR 1867, in
Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri at age 37, of pueperal fever.]
(3) Elizabeth McMasters Graham, born October 1856, died 19 AUG 1857, Keokuk, Lee, Iowa [ according to a newspaper account in Bellefonte, death
occurred while the family was visiting George's Uncles Arthur and William Graham.]
(4) Ida Graham, b. abt 1859 in Missouri. I believe she probably died before 1870. She appears in the 1860 census with the family in Jefferson City, Cole
County, Missouri.
(5) Georgia May Graham, born 13 JAN 1866, in Iowa or Missouri. Died 2 FEB 1886, in High Point, Moniteau County, Missouri - buried there with her
father's third wife Martha A. Hale.
Georgia is with her family in 1860; but with George Sr. and Barbara in Prairie City, Iowa as a 4 year old in the 1870 Census - her father was in Warrensburg,
Johnson County, Missouri with his second wife, Mary Jane McFadden Nixon.
George's second marriage to Mary Jane McFadden Nickson/Nixon produced no children. She was born 23 MAY 1826, in Argyle, Washington, New York. She
died 29 OCT 1875, in Prairie City, Iowa and is buried next to her first husband, Ralph Nixon/ Nickson.
George's third marriage was to Martha A. Hale, She was born 3 FEB 1840, in Missouri. They married 14 MARCH 1877, in Moniteau County, Missouri. She
died 11 MAY 1890, in High Point, Moniteau, Missouri.
They had David Bowman Graham B. 23 DEC 1877, at Burris Fork TWP, Moniteau County, Missouri. He married Della Lee Robert in 1896 and died 21 OCT
1958, in Paradise, Butte, California. They had three children.
Their other son was Arthur Grant Graham, born 1879/80, in Missouri, and died in Los Angeles, California. He married a Gertrude. [Marvel had pictures of
both boys as children and grown and a family picture of David's]
My grandfather's 4th marriage was to Rosanna or Rosa Ann Short [my grandmother]. It was 25 FEB 1894, at High Point. He had served in the Missouri Home
Guards with her mother's brothers before she was born - during the Civil War. She came to the marriage with a son, Will Seymour "Graham" - [know no other
name or details about his birth] b. 14 AUG 1890, Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri. She was born 18 MARCH 1865, in Tuscumbia, Miller, MO. Both sides
of her family were Baptist ministers and teachers - one uncle being a founder of Baylor University in Texas.
You have Will's marriage and children - only Rosemary is left alive now in Portland, Oregon.
Will served in WWI, overseas. He was killed when he rolled a tractor on himself outside of Portland, 28 MAY 1844. He was only married to Marie Gipson.
He and his mother were devoted to each other. He bought the grave plots when she was killed with her last child from her second marriage on a railroad
trestle between Payette, Canyon County, Idaho and Ontario. That was 19 SEP 1913. She's buried across the river in Ontario, Malheur, Oregon.
George and Rosa had two sons. (1) James Steven Graham, born 10 JAN 1895, at home at High Point. We don't know when he died. He married and divorced
Bess Wheeler of Tillamook, Tillamook County, Oregon - having one son, Jack. I am in contact with Jack's son, who lives a couple of hours away but we
haven't met. James quarreled with my dad after Rosa's death and they never saw each other again. He kept in some contact with Will - but not his ex-wife and
child. He was in California in the 1930's with maybe a second wife, Flo and a girl - that Rosemary thinks was her daughter, not his. He was also in WWI.
My dad, Fred McKinley Graham, was born 24 JULY 1896, at home at High Point. He married (1) Hazel - 31 OCT 1914, In Weiser, Washington County,
Idaho. They were divorced. You have their children. He married my mother (2) just before she turned 16 - Chet was 9 - she raised the boys. They saw their
mother, but always were devoted to mine. They both died before she did. My dad was also in WWI. I know so much more about both sides of his family than
he ever did. He didn't even know he was born in High Point. I have George Graham, Jr's Pension Records from the Civil War.
George Jr was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Oleans, Missouri, before they moved to Idaho. He was buried by the lodge in Payette's Riverview
Cemetery. There wasn't room for Rosa - so Will buried her across the river with her baby son. She had married again after George's death - had five children.
Her daughter and her only surviving other child of this marriage was knocked into the river by the train but lived. She and my dad both had weak hearts from
several bouts of Rheumatic fever as children. She died in the 40's - having spent most of her childhood with Will and Marie - when not with her dad. She was
close to my dad as well, and I am in contact with her daughter - who now has Alzheimers.
I want to give you more information on the other Graham children from John and Jane and George and Barbara if you want it.
Jane May Graham was of course Sandy, Beth, and Father Archer's great-grandmother.
Marvel is from John Graham and Matilda Lucas - John Graham and Effie Maud Dinsmore = Floyd Everett Shannon and Ora Belle Graham - her parents. All
of these people are buried in Prairie City. Tons more information about her. SHE did NOT die young.
Christian Graham's middle name is R.. No Christopher. He is buried in Prairie City as well with numerous descendants. - he died 29 JAN 1901 - buried at
Waveland Cemetery. He was married in 1857, in PA. to Anna M. Uzzell - from Wales. One of her brother's descendants, Linda Mathews was in contact with
us for quite awhile and had done much collateral research on Anna and Christian.
I think Arthur's correct marriage is 12 AUG 1878 in Centre County. PA by D.H. Yeager, Justice of the Peace. He died of a heart condition at home, 21 DEC
1916, at Moshannon, Snowshoe TWP, Centre County, PA.
Barbara married into an early pioneer family of Centre County, as did Marvel's John. I have more information - a lot - about their family = but she died in
1907, and is buried in the Colfax Cemetery, in Iowa - not far from Prairie City. I think Colfax is in Des Moines County.
Caroline Humes Graham is buried beside her parents in Prairie City. She died 5 OCT 1874 - before George. She was christened 3 MAY 1846, at the
Episcopal Church in Bellefonte.
More about her later.
Edward Humes Graham was born 25 AUG 1848, Snowshoe, Centre, PA, he was christened 8 SEP 1848, at the Episcopal Church in Bellefonte. He died 10
SEP 1848 - age 3 weeks and is buried at the Bellefonte Cemetery. His name was NOT Edmund.
Both the last two children had Humes as a middle name. The Humes family was very influential in Bellefonte and politics. Their home is the current museum
and genealogy center. Humes signed for George's Naturalization. It seems to have been a fashion to name your children after close friends or relatives - full
names. Caroline Humes was the Humes wife. McMasters - middle name of my grandfather's little Elizabeth was a bank partner of Humes.
I'll tell you more about the John Graham/Jane Proud children. Have to give up the computer.
My daughter has yet another late night session to go. You have a lot more on Thomas Graham b, 1824 than I do. Will follow up with that next time. Thanks
again. Marcellene
27.3.2007 Hello again. Obviously, I didn't take time to proofread my last send - A. "John" is certainly another oft repeated Graham name as you know and B.
Will Graham died in 1944 - not 1844 - as you could also see by his life events.
I'll have to dig into that William Graham and Sarah Fiddle [did not have her last name - only had that 1880 Census]. I feel confident there is no death or burial
information in High Point - the woman there that was so helpful was a retired music teacher. Her great-grandfather married my grandparents there in High
Point. She took me to meet her mother who was almost 100 - very good in mind - but had no information for me. There are only two little 2nd hand stores and
the post office there. Maybe there could be something in California, Missouri- the county seat - but I was there - its a pretty hard period to find things.
I have spent all day on the computer at work and have to gather my tax information to take to the accountant tomorrow so will have to be brief - won't that
amaze you?
Ancestry.com had an England & Wales, Free BMD Death Index: 1837-1983 Record tht I printed out in March of 2006.
It is for: John Graham; Year of Registration: 1845; Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun; District: Penrith; County: Cumbria, Cumberland; Volume: 25; Page:
(click to see others on page)
In discussing John and Jane Graham's children - I will move on to Mary Graham.
She was born 29 DEC 1806 at Penrith - she died in 1869, at Manchester, England. She was married to a Bell and her daughter, was Mary Jane Wheeler.
Whether or not she was married to the Watson connected to Maynes has not been proven.
Of course - your John Graham was the next child. Then Arthur.
Arthur or I should say the Arthurs have given a merry chase to researchers because of their close proximity and mix-up by people writing about them. Arthur
was born 10 SEP 1811 in Penrith, christened 6 OCT 1811 at St. Andrews, Penrith - Extraction No. P003021. He married Sarah Bainbridge in England on 4
JUN 1836, and apparently left for the USA in the same year. He died in JUN 1893, at Franklin Centre, Lee County, Iowa. His obituary in the "Prairie City
News" added further confusion - identifying him as a nephew of Christian and John Graham. In 1840, he was in Ward 5, in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. In
1850, he was a merchant in Iowa, I think. In 1879, he was a retired chairmaker and farmer, and in 1880 census he was in Franklin, Lee, Iowa on page 109A age 68 - chairmaker, with wife, Sarah - age 69. They had a daughter Jane and a son, William B. - both died as children. His history is: Franklin Township:
Graham, Arthur, retired farmer and chairmaker; PO Franklin Centre; born Sept 10, 1811, in Cumberland Co., England, in the spring of 1836, he emigrated to
the United States, locating at Bellefonte, in Centre Co., Penn; followed his trade, chairmaking, till the spring of 1839; he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and stopped
but a short time; then came to Lee Co., Iowa, purchased the claims for three quarter sections of land in Chalreston and Jeffrson Tps., and returned to
Cincinnati, and followed his trade till the summer of 1842; returned to Iowa and secured only one quarter-section of the land he purchased, two of the quarters
being taken by the Government for school purposes; remained upon his farm till the fall of 1867; then sold out and moved to Keokuk, where he remained until
the fall of 1869, when he movedto Franklin, where he now resides. Mr. G. married Miss Sarah Bainbridge in England, June 4, 1836; she was born March 10,
1811; have no children; have lost two-Jane and William B. Mr. G. has fille several offices of trust in his township; was also Mayor of Franklin Centre; is a
member of Wesleyan Methodist Church; Republican."
Edward is next - there is a ton of material about him and his family. He owned two tanneries, and boot and shoe making business, and several business
buildings on Main Street of Bellefonte as well as several large homes. Most of these buildings still stand and are in use.
His son, Benner, named after an early Centre County dignitary, was in business with him until Edward died on June 9, 1891, at the age of 77. I followed the
children's lines - if you are interested. I saw the satin slippers Edward made for his bride in the Edward and Caroline Hume House Museum and Historical
Society. Also a collection of his Antique shoemaking tools.
William Graham was born 22 MAY 1817 in Penrith. You have his immigration information. He married in Bellefonte, Sophia Smith, on 7 MARCH 1839.
Their first child, Mary, was born about 1840, in PA. They moved to Ft. Madison, Lee, Iowa [not 20 miles from Keokuk], then to Charleston, Lee, Iowa, where
he was a blacksmith. They had two more daughters, Matilda, b. 1842, and Sarah, born 1844. Sophia died before 1850. William married Elizabeth Plowman in
April 1852. Daughter Matilda married Rainzo/Reinzo Kern Atherton in Keokuk in 1864, William died in 1901 - someone has seen an obituary but I do not
have it. A descendant of Matilda is Mary Ellen Dahm, she was living in Colorado - she had queries on RootsWeb - she wrote once. Arthur and Sarah lived
next door to him in Ft. Madison in 1850.
He was in Montrose TWP in 1879 - his entry in the history: "Graham, William, farmer, Section 12, P.O. Montrose. I thought I had ran across the actual email
from Mary Ellen but don't see it now. Arthur is listed as a Merchant and William as a chairmaker in 1850.
Ann GRaham - as we know was born 18 MAY 1820 - I think the Stevenson story is way out of reality - and seriously doubt she came to the USA - at least
when she was supposed to have done.
I forgot I had actually found Thomas Graham - I was in Clearfield County. He married a Sarah, born in 1825 in Pennsylvania. You have a lot of info on him I won't go into it right now. The 1850 Census lists 7 children: Mary J, Sarah, Louisa, Elizabeth, Arthur, and Frances - a second Elizabeth is listed. IN 1850, he
was in Gerard, Clearfield County, Pa with wife Sarah and daughter Mary J. He was a blacksmith. I found a family group sheet for them in the Clearfield Co.
Historical Society. Says Mary J was born in Goshen. - lists 7 children with a blank for the name of the second elizabeth.
Somehow - last night - missed George and Barbara's son - Hamilton H. Graham, born 11 FEB 1837, in Snowshoe. He married Emma/Emily E. Scholts. He
died 18 JUL 1884 - is buried in the Askey Cemetery in Snowshoe. He was in Pine Glen, Burnside TWP, PA in 1870 with his wife - born in PA and his sone
Henry H. age 4 - also born in PA. He served in the Civil War - his name is on the big monument in front of the Court House in the town square of Bellefonte.
He was with the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Second Battalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps.
Barbara Graham married Constance Curtin Hinton - a Centre Co. pioneer's child. They married 3 JULY 1862, in Milroy, Mifflin, PA. He was also in the Civil
War so they married right in the middle of it. He was in some of the major battles of the war - Chacellorsville, Lookout Mountain, Fairview, Bull run,
Gettysburg, Wilderness, Culpepper Court House, Mine Run, Sottsylvania, Cold Harbor and skirmishes. Mustered out at the end of the war. They moved to
Colfax, Jasper, Iowa in 1866 - he has a Civil War Marker on his grave - died 31 OCT 1902 - Barbara died 4 FEB 1917. They had 14 children, including the
avid genealogist Clara Gertrude Hinton. I was in touch with one of her descendants but her husband died and I lost track of her.
Christian R. Graham also had a son, Benner - one of 12 children including Christian Jr. I think most of them are buried around him in Prairie City. He lost his
youngest two children
a few days apart of diptheria in 1878. The 1878 History Jasper County, Iowa says:
"Graham, Christian R.; Farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Prairie City, born in Pennsylvania in 1835; came to Jasper County in 1870. Has 280 acres of land, valued at $50
per acre. Married Anna M. Uzzell in 1857; she was born in South Wales in 1837. They have four children - Christa, James, William and John. Republican. has
held the office of School Director since he first came to this county; President of the School Board at the present time; also Township Trustee. Member of the
Home Guards in Pennsylvania." [ which would have been Civil War]
John Graham, son of George and Barbara, was born near Bellefonte, NOV 18, 1833, died at his home in Prairie City, May 25, 1907. The early years were
spent on the homestead in Bellefonte, in 1864, he went to Iowa, located the farm he died on, and returned in the fall to marry Matilda Ann Lucas. Four sons -
Arthur, George, David and John. Thirty five year member of the Congregational Church in Prairie City and its main supporter. [Marvel's grandfather was John
Jr.]
Jane Graham - believed to have been born in England - married Lorenzo Dow Archer - also a Centre Co earliest pioneer - sometimes called Archey. He moved
to Iowa - Fayette County, in 1854 then back to PA to serve in the Civil War - he returned to Fayette after the war where he and Jane lived until their deaths. He
died March 22, 1905; she died FEB 13, 1914. They had 11 children. Father Archer is from George Graham Archer; Sandy Shaffer Barber and Beth Rowland
Bahnson are from Mary Saunders Archer.
Sorry - I think that's all I'm good for tonight. I don't know where all the Thomas Graham info comes from -= must be someone from his line. Good Show!
My sister taught school in Prineville, Oregon some years ago. After she was there, a descendant of David Bowman Graham also taught there. My dad used to
say he had half brothers and sisters that he wouldn't know if he saw them on the street - when I discover the close proximity of some of them at different times
- I think he did pass some he didn't know.
The shame is that he did know David Bowman and his little family - they lived next door when he was a toddler and he played with David's little Gladys exactly a year younger than he. But he forgot them when he went to Idaho at age 4 - and his father died within the year.
Interestingly - his first daughter was Thelma Gladys. Makes one wonder if that little playmate lingered in the back of his mind. His only full sibling was the
one he was estranged from as a teenager. He was really close to Will and his family, as well as Daisy from his mother's second family. He was also close to
Will's stepson from his wife's first marriage. His name was Kenneth Raleigh Piper. He attended my father's ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery on
Friday in 1968; died the next day and was buried soon in the same cemetery.
Life is strange. I was good friends for over 30 years with a woman whose husband worked with my first husband. Then we discovered that our greatgrandparents were brother and sister. She was born in the same town as my grandfather on my mother's side. Very small world. Hope this adds to your
collections. M
29.3.2007 Thanks - that is so great to know the names of the ships.Now - you have on your pedigree that Arthur Graham arrived 25 AUG 1836, on the
"Barque". Did that show his wife, Sarah, as well? So George, his wife and children were on the "Benjamin Morgan" on 8 AUG 1832 - did your list show more
than Thomas, as their child? That was the only child's name on the list that the Archer cousin found. Jane was born in 1831, so should have been with them,
and have no idea about Mary Jane, born in 1827 - maybe had died before they left since there is no mention of her later. If Edward and Thomas arrived on the
"Octorara", 16 OCT 1839 - which sounds like a good bet - that's four of the John/Jane children - yippee! Do you have access to Montreal - for some reason
William arrived there - maybe that was the ship that was going when he was ready to go. SO where is your John - could he have gone earlier - if you give up
the idea that he should have been with Edward and Thomas and Ann - since I assume he's not on that list. As I mentioned earlier - they went straight to
Bellefonte from the ship - why - they knew someone or some reason to do that. Could John have gone to Montreal - maybe even with William?
Jane May Graham is the above mentioned Jane. I see that you have that on your pedigree and I have it on my Pennsylvania notes - her family usually just says
Jane but I had to get it from somewhere.
Christian - They were in Prairie City in 1880 - sometimes the search doesn't find people you know are there. There were 12 children and I will send you their
names and information but not tonight - I'm baking a major amount of cornbread muffins for a potluck at work tomorrow and Cera will arrive any minute and
shove me off the computer. So hold that thought. somewhere in my mind is the idea that Beth had more information about that family that she somehow failed
to get to the rest of us. Anna moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after Christians death. Anna's brother's descendant provided a lot of material on them.
Have to jet - love the ships. G'day mate! M
31.3.2007 Fabulous shipping news - but let's examine George Graham's group more closely.
George (No Date of Birth) Graham
_________Graham (No Christian Name born 1803)
Barbara Graham b. c1807
Thomas Graham b c1826
George Graham b. c1830
Have a look at how these were arranged on the shipping manifest. The shipping clerk could have confused the first George with the ____Graham. George
Graham is the only one with a birthday close to 1803. IF the Graham with no name was confused with George, it could have been your JOHN - they usually
start the families by listing the adults (sometimes they don't list the children). Since the other children were listed, I'm wondering if Barbara was expecting
Jane when they left - you'd think that would have been known in the family - at least hers but ...or they didn't list them under age one year figuring they
wouldn't last the journey or somesuch. If the NO DATE OF BIRTH Graham was listed first, he may have been traveling with the family but not as the
immediate family group - so was listed first - then the father of the family- sometimes they name the relationships but I think that was later on.
Do you have access to land records for Centre County, PA on your Ancestry? I could just kick myself for not getting into that court house. Of course,
Clearfield and Mifflin are possibilities too. They went to that area not by chance; had John gone first? Did he go with George - there are some Johns about in
that area - some things to ponder.
_____________________________________________________
Christian - as I mentioned, the 1880 may just not be pulling him up in the sort - it can be a pain. Christian died 29 JAN 1901 at home in Prairie City - buried at
Waveland - huge stone.
Christian's middle name was supposedly Rupe. I don't know if that is correct.
1878 History of Jasper County, Iowa
"Graham, Christian R.; Farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Prairie City; born in Pennsylvania in 1835; came to Jasper County in 1870. Has 280 acres of land, valued at $50
per acre. Married Anna M. Uzzell in 1857; she was born in South Wales in 1837. They have four children - Christa, James, William and John. Republican. Has
held the office of School Director since he first came to this county; President of the School Board at the present time; also Township Trustee. Member of the
Home Guards in Pennysylvania." Hope I didn't sent this before - sounds familiar but I've read it so many times.
His son, Christian's middle name was Roads (that spelling seems strange but...
born Apr 1864 in PA. married Louisa ___ in 1886. He was an insurance agent. At least two of his children were Raymond C, born May 1891 and Florence A.,
born May 1887.
WIlliam E. was born 1867 - d. 1945 buried Waveland Cem. Prairie City.Married Mary (Mamie) S. Waggoner 15 JAN 1889.
James Stevens may be the third child. He should be one of the eldest. He was born before 1878; was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1915.
John Thomas was born 26 MAY 1869, in Prairie City. He died 23 APR 1915 in DesMoines, IA - buried at Waveland. Married Anna Vetter 24 OCT 1894/5.
Had one daughter, Marjorie - 1901. Auctioneer in 1900.
Charles E. or C. He was born 1873 - died age 5 - buried at Waveland.
Lula - Born 1875. Died 3 yrs 2 days. Buried at Waveland.
Carrie Bell - born 18 AUG 1878 - Iowa; died 15 FEB 1917 - buried at Waveland.
- Benner Garfield Graham - born MAR 1881 in Iowa; was at Mitchellville, IA in 1915.
Tiny town - Marvel lives there. Benner married a Daisy, had at least Benner V. and Helen V. in 1920 in Mitchelville.
- George W. Graham born 1896; died 1963; buried at Waveland. He was not named as a survivor of James S. in 1915..?
- Franklin A - born 11 JUN 1860; died 1 yr 10 mo 3 da. buried at Waveland.
- Sarah A. - b. 10 DEC 1861; died 1 mo 2 days. buried at Waveland.
- Infant son - b. 17 NOV 1862 d. 1 day; buried at Waveland.
Disregard the birth order above - dont have time to change it - I see I later worked it out by years. Should be Franklin, Sarah, Infant, Christian R., James S.,
William E. , John T., Charles, Lulu/a, Carrie, Benner, George W. Only six of the children were living by 1900.
___________
That's it for me tonight - actually this weekend. Have a house full of company coming for my eldest daughter's 20 anniversary and the youngest has 4 ballet
company performances so it will be a wild time had by all. Hope this helps. I need to find what my sister compiled of all my gatherings in PA - this is my
workbook and I don't know what else she might have gleaned to add into the typed version. She refuses to use a computer and I haven't had time to enter more
than the bare bones on most the families I work on if anything. I know its poor work but this is 30 plus years of doing when I had a minute. Later. M
6.4.2007 I'm back - I know it's after the weekend - which was long enough but I've had the Project Engineer and Main Project Secretary at work all week
which requires evenings as well.
I've been reading back over your sends and mine when I fall into bed at night.
I am so glad you found your John in the English census - I'd bet it is him. I think you should look at the marriages - Marvel sent for George and Barbara's Somerset House is the big repository. Maybe it isn't where one sends anymore - see the next few items...
I am looking at "The Handy Book for Genealogists" - this edition came out in 2002 - includes Britain which they had stopped doing for awhile. Its from
Everton Publishers in Utah. Anyhow - it says that civil registraton of Births, Marriages, and Deaths began in England and Wales on 2 JULY 1837. The civil
records include ALL persons, regardless of their religion. Data was collected in registraiton and sub-registraton offices. Entries are arranged chronologically
by the quarter of the year in which they were officially registered. The indexes are also organized on the quarter system, with January through March being the
first quarter, April through June the second and so on. Microfilm copies of the indexes are available at the FHL. To order a copy of the original certificate you
must know the volume and page number on which the entry is found , and the name, the registration or sub-registration office where the event was recorded.
[of course, "finding" the marriage is the first thing - and you seem to have that.] In the Handy Book - it says that copies of the certificates can be obtained
from the Family Records Centre in Islington.
Family Records Centre; 1Mydlleton Street; Islington, London EC1RUW; United Kingdom
Civil Registraton: www.genuki.org.uk/gib/eng/civreg/
Probate Records: www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Probate.html
The "Lonely Planet" tour guide of Britain [maybe 1997] The two most important places to find records for England and Wales are St Catherine's House and
the Public Record Office.
For records of births, marriages, and deaths since 1 July 1837, contact the Office of Population Censuses & Surveys (OPCS), General Register Office, St.
Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP. You can't telephone there - The OPCS publishes a very useful leaflet called "Tracing Records of Births,
Marriages & Deaths". For this and further details contact the General Register Office (phone 0151-471 4800), OPCS, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8
2JD.
The PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE (PRO) has records from 1086 (the Domesday Book) to the present day. Web site: www.open.gov.uk/pro/prohome.htm
Documents referring to individuals are closed for 100 years to safeguard personal confidentiality. They can supply names of agents and researchers. Phone:
0181-876-3444.
It goes on to say if you are serious about ancestry research, it may be worth buyring a copy of "Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office", by
Amanda Bevan and Andrea Duncan. (HMSO, 7.95 pounds?)
I think your English Elizabeth Longmire is the ticket; the one from Tennesse just doesn't fit whereas the other one is in the right place at the right time.
More another time; another busy weekend ahead. I think you are "getting warm" as they say in the child's game so stay with it. When one is immersed in
thinking about a person or specific family- it is so much more likely to "brainstorm" and get somewhere with it.
Good luck. M
10.4.2007 Thank you for the picture. I do have pictures of George Graham, Jr., John Graham (his brother), Christian, Barbara Graham Hinton, and Jane
Graham Archer - all children of George Graham, Sr. I also have Barbara Milburn/Melbourne Graham's picture - undoubtably taken at the same time as George
Sr.'s. Would you like any or all of them? It is so interesting to see the fashions of the day. Your grandmother looks very stylish, and my Barbara's picture has
white ruffled cap or bonnet that was so popular at that time - I see it in pictures of other family members on other lines. Your grandfather's beard was certainly
in style - all of the men mentioned above had one - although theirs are longer, I believe.
In going back over the Centre County, PA history book, I discovered that Hamilton Humes was the benefactor of many of the young men in the area. He must
have been special to George Graham since he named one son "Hamilton Humes Graham", one daughter "Caroline Humes Graham" (I discovered her
namesake was Caroline Humes - Hamilton's young daughter that was thrown from a horse and died at age 20), and "Edward Humes Graham "- Hamilton's
son. I had mistakenly remembered Caroline as being Edward's wife and had not caught on to the Hamilton connection.
IF we can locate the actual record of Jane Proud and John Graham's marriage - it should have his parent's names on it.
I have to run. Let me know about the pictures. I am going over the Graham stuff trying to see if something obvious is staring at me that I have missed or
forgotten. Thanks again. M
23.4.2007 Now I am incredibly jealous! I spent 10 days in New Zealand on that long-ago tour - loved it!We stayed with a couple on a farm out of Invercargill
our last two days - became fast friends - they visited here several years later. He was the president of the Federation of Farmers at that time. One of my best
friends has a daughter farming just outside of Christ Church so they go back and forth pretty much yearly. New Zealand has to be the original Eden. When we
were there, they would not allow outsiders to buy land. Our friends later said they were being bought up by the Japanese, with a change in laws. Their
farmers, I think like Australian farmers, have had some very bad times. Actually, a worldwide condition - ours aren't doing too smashing. Anyhow - lucky you.
I will send the pictures soon. My daughter, the scanner operator, is gone this week to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for National RDA Festival with her ballet
company. My son-in-law could do it but he's also leaving for California for a business trip - both will be back next Sunday.
I tried to look online for land records for Pennsylvania, but the site wouldn't open up for that area. It said they were working it over so maybe soon. I didn't
know if anything would be available that early but according to the site - there are very early records to be had. I don't know what Ancestry has available for
land records. I know they do have some. I think from the general index, one can select land records. The ones I referred to above are our Bureau of Land
Management Records. In a book for Pennsylvania Research - they mention Land Warrantees (1801-91) being on film or publication - preceded by PPA which means Published Pennsylvania Archives. This is apparently huge - I don't recall seeing it. I spent a week at the Pennsylvania State Library and a day at
the Archives in Harrisburg. I did not run on to these but don't remember what all I looked for at the Archives. I did find land records on other family lines in
Bucks County and Lancaster County - did I look for Centre - don't remember. I had meant to get in the Court House there on a return trip - then didn't make it.
Centre County seems to have missed those avid history-recorders - the East side of the state definitely has had the abundance of attention being the earliest
settled. I brought home a pile of local books with cemetery collections etc. but it doesn't appear that the Centre County folks attracted much outside attention despite the fact that at least 6 governors of PA have come from there. The problem is that the Colonial period has always had so much focus - the later
developments of the state until Industrialization didn't seem to attract much attention.
What about return ships to England or off to Australia for that matter? I found my boss's Swedish great-grandfather on both his initial voyage to the USA and
another when he had gone home to Sweden for a visit - but both were later and in to Ellis Island. Do they offer manifests for ships from US to England or from
England to Australia?
I know the Australian data is thin on the ground. I did a bit of research for my daughter's dance director - some areas are better than others but definitely not a
gold mine - or even an opal mine as the case might be.
I see there were 779 people in Bellefonte in 1830 - had added another 1000 by 1850. In 1846, Bellefonte was the center of one of the nation's leading iron
producing areas. This declined with the increase in canals and railroads - imports took over eventually.
Have to go - will keep tryingto find something that might help add info. Glad you had a nice outing. Will send the pics soon. M
30.4.2007 I'm sorry you are having a drought; it was a drought year when we were there - they were herding the cattle down the sides of the road to glean
what grass they could find. One farmer told us they had killed 100 kangaroo that day and hoped to kill another 100 the next day as well - as they eat everything
in sight. They had told us we wouldn't likely see kangaroo in the daylight but we did - droves of them - which makes me thing that they were desparate to
forage. This will probably be a drought year here; the snowpac is gone from the mountains way too early. We haven't been rationed right here but Yakima,
and the Tri-Cities have. I literally live in a desert if it weren't for the dams and the huge irrigation project that Franklin Roosevelt initiated when he was
president long years ago. Some of the other parts of the project do have rationing, but we are closer to Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia River so thus far
we have avoided it. Other areas of the country are hit by it yearly. You have probably heard of the Dust Bowl - during the Depression when the middle of the
country was devastated by drought. Many poor souls straggled West to escape it. One would hope that land management practices had improved so much that
such a thing wouldn't happen again.
We must have our indulgences and haven't figured out that we can't really beat Mother Nature. The Midwest was droughted so badly some years ago, that our
Columbia River was the largest in the US; the mighty Mississippi was a muddy trickle that could be walked across.
If you have the time, I would encourage you to use your remaining subscription to glean as much as you can out of the UK data. It seems your John Graham's
wife was English - you might be able to find something out about her family. If he came to the US with my George in 1832, he would have been 23. Maybe he
already had his sweetheart in England, what else would have drawn him back so soon and with the fact of his brothers establishing themselves and sinking
roots into the new country. Then, he is in England, married - two children born there, John, Sr. (his father) dies in 1845, and your John shows up in Australia
about the same time. There probably was other extended family in England, but we know that his sister and her family; and father and step-mother were still
there. Mother Jane having died about the time that my George went to the US. Apparently, nothing was said about John Jr in his sister's letters to Edward,
because the information that came from his family records was that John had gone to Lewistown - so there must have been no mention of him returning to
England.
I still think it might have been him, with my George, but what do you know that tells you he went to the US at all? We get that impression from
the family stories from Edward's bunch, but we also get Ann, married off the ship at 10 years old - which is ridiculous.
Have you found John Graham, married to Elizabeth, in the 1841 Census in England? or sister Mary? These people have to show up there - your John, as a
brewer, should be on tax roles or town lists. I just wish we could see some wills or marriage records with parent's names.
By the way, I don't remember if I told you this - but on your tree for US Grahams - Jack Wheeler Graham did not die in 1938, it was more likely the 1998 that
you have for his son, Jack, who is still alive. I'll have to look those dates up for you. For some stupid reason, I haven't met young Jack, even though he lives
within 3 hours of me and we exchange Christmas letters. If I'd only had the intuition to look up his grandmother Bess sooner, I could have met Jack Wheeler
Graham - my only full cousin from my dad's only full sibling.
Ah, the if only's.
When I get time for some research again, I'm going to order some films in from Penrith. I'm afraid it won't be right away. I hope you are able to get something
out of the UK. I know a great published researcher that did a seminar here some years ago, if she comes again - her specialty being UK - I'll have to see what
she can suggest. I had paid no attention to UK census - she advised me to look there - and I found my husband's great-great grandfather, in Wales, living with
his youngest daughter, in 1841 - his son, my husband's great-grandfather having come to Pennsylvania to the coal mines. Later. M
15.5.2007 Greg, I'm finally learning to scan on this machine. Hope it comes through well.
The picture of a family is my grandmother Rosa on the left, son James Stevens Graham, son Will Seymore Graham, my grandfather George Graham, Jr., and
my father, Fred McKinley Graham - taken in California, Moniteau County, Missouri, about 1898/99.
The couple picture is a mystery couple from John Graham, Sr.'s album - taken in Bradford, PA. The three in a picture are Jane Graham Archer, John Graham,
Sr. and Barbara Graham Hinton - siblings of my George Graham, Jr. The single man is Christian Graham, Sr. - another sibling.
That's all for tonight - hope all is well. Marcellene Graham
16.7.2007 Greg - Hello - I know I haven't written for ages but its been hectic. "OUR" cousin, Marvel Hall and her husband, Bob, were just here for the
weekend and my sister, Joyce. Your ears should have been buzzing because I shared your emails with them and we talked about all the material you sent - they
loved the picture. That William was a direct cousin to Marvel's great-grandfather John and a first cousin, once removed to my grandfather, George.
Have you published your book yet?
I hope someday we can confirm whether Thomas or William Graham is the next generation after John Graham (and Jane Proud). We have your family who
paid a researcher and went to England to research the family and we have someone in Edward Graham's family who did the same - and came up with two
different men. Unless there is a probate or land transfer showing Thomas or William in connection with John married to Jane or some other definite identifying
factor - I don't know how we will know for sure. Both of the men probably had a son John for which there is a Christening record - but we need something that
plainly IS our John married to Jane. They didn't live all that far apart - can't have been a huge distance even for that time period.
I have been reading a book (which is at my office so can't think of the title) about the settling of Australia and the arrival of the convicts etc. It seems to me
that your John would have gone to Australia just at the right time to acquire land and possibly hire convict labor to develop his place. England was
encouraging people to do just that and of course, many did.
Since I am on the project team building a large facility in WA state - the book is of great interest to me and of course the Austalian connection has always been
as well. I'm sure you know they called the convicts "government men" instead. WE now don't have convicts - we have "offenders"; and correctional officers not guards; and correctional facilities - not prisons. The idea is rehabilitation and re-entry.
This busy summer just continues. I'm going to be in Seattle for training for 10 days the end of the month. Have children coming and going, relatives also and
my house is trying to fall apart - piece by piece - the air conditioning is non-existent right now, as always in the midst of company - have water problems etc
etc - same old, same old.
So - it was a wonderful break to make a pass through the Graham genealogy once again and discuss questions we've had about this one and that one. Marvel
said there was a Thomas Graham living in Jasper County, Iowa, at one time but she has yet to find out who he was connected to. The cemetery had a clean-up
fix-up project and restored old stones to graves, made lists etc. So George and Barbara Graham's have been renovated - Barbara's had been buried completely
under the grass when we were there in 2003.
I still would like to find out who came up with the information on William Graham - my dad's oldest half brother from George Graham Jr's marriage. With
your pedigree saying he died in High Point, Missouri, I feel pretty convinced that he probably is buried with his younger sister, Georgia and George's third
wife, Martha Hale. There is a "foot stone" beside the big stone with the initials W.E.G. on it. Martha and Georgia also have foot stones but their names and
information are on the big stone. It is four sided so George probably assumed he would be buried there but some how W.E.G. never had his information added
to the large stone. Captain George Graham bought the plots - but only Georgia and Martha's names are listed on the plaque at the post office.
I hope things are going well for you - finally got into the rest of the pictures and saw more of your family. My niece was here with my sister. She helped me
print out the pedigrees so they are large enough to read so I'm going to go over them again and try to stay cool. Let me here from you again when you have
time. Is there any other information I might have that would benefit you? I didn't know how deeply you wanted to follow the American Grahams.
G'day mate. Marcellen
4.9.2010
Oops - first thing I did was give you the incorrect email address - megenealogy@connellwa.com is correct - not the one I sent to you.
Some of the names you see in the attached excerpts married into the Graham family. Edward Graham, George Sr.'s brother, remained in Bellefonte when the
others headed West to Iowa. He owned a shoe factory. His wife was descended from the Robert Livingston of our Constitution signers.
Friends of George Graham there were Hamilton and E.C. Humes - prominent in the area, E.C. was a banker who signed George's Naturalization application.
George and his wife, Barbara, named their last two children after Caroline Humes, E.C.'s daughter who died young after being thrown from a horse. Edward
Humes Graham was George and Barbara's youngest child. I don't know if they had connections back into England as friends or relatives. The Humes home is
now the Museum and Genealogy Library on Main Street in Bellefonte. Some of Edward Graham's shoe making equipment and the satin shoes he made for his
wife-to-be's wedding costume are on display there. Barbara Graham married Constance Curtin Hinton, son of the Austin Hinton mentioned. Caroline Hume
Graham married Robert Hinton.
George Graham Jr. (my grandfather) had the tavern mentioned. His first wife, Mary Jane Whitman/Whiteman and he, lost a ten month old daughter, Elizabeth
McMasters Graham, in Keokuk, Iowa, while visiting George Graham, Sr.'s brothers, William and Arthur. It apparently was the fashion to name children after
friends and relatives - both first and last names were used for first and middle names of the child. George, Jr.'s second wife, Mary Jane McFadden, was
related to McFaddens also from the area.
John Graham, Sr.- my grandfather's brother, also went to Iowa - he had married into the Askey and Lucas families you see mentioned. My cousin, Marvel
Shannon Hall, is from those families.
I've probably said all this before. Let me know how things come out with Alan Graham.
I would still like to figure out how we know if your researcher or Edward Graham's found the correct Graham to go back from John & Jane Proud Graham.
Edward Graham, George Sr.'s brother hired a researcher in England, or one of his grandchildren did - would have to look at the support material again.
Your Bill Theodore Graham hired a researcher in England - so how do we know which one got value for his money ???
Going to have to head for the hospital. Talk later.
Your Graham Cousin,
Marcellene Graham (Davis) Hueter
Attachment : HISTORY OF CENTRE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA
By John Blair Linn
Centre County Historical Society
Centre County Bicentennial Edition – 1800 – 2000
Louis H. Everts. 1883
Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co. Philadelphia
A Reproduction by County Heritage, Inv.
P.O. Box 34, Waynesville, NC 28786
Email: countyheritage@mindspring.com
Pg. 87: The year 1845 was marked by no particular events and the absence of Fourth of July celebrations. The heat of the summer was excessive, in
July the thermometer ranging from ninety-eight to one hundred degrees, and a great drought…
December 24th, George Graham opened a mine of bituminous coal at Snow Shoe, striking a superior vein. The bank was situated near the turnpike,
within one hundred and fifty yards of that worked by Austin Hinton.
Pg. 99: 1858 – March 29th, Allegheny and Bald Eagle Railroad Company (now Snow Shoe) let the whole of the Eastern Division, ten sections to
William Fearon and Daniel Welch…and the remainder of the Western Division, five sections, to George Graham, James Gilliland, and P.O.
Laughlin.
Pg. 192: GRAHAM, GEORGE, died in Prairie City, Iowa, on the 17th of March, 1877, at the advanced age of seventy-two years. Mr. Graham was a
brother of Mr. Edward Graham, of Bellefonte, and lived on and farmed the “Red Barn” property below town, on the road to Milesburg, now
belonging to Seth H. Yocum, Esq. Afterwards Mr. Graham moved to Snow Shoe, where he opened up coal-mines and lived until 1864, when he
moved to Iowa and settled in Prairie City. He was born in England, Nov.24, 1804, and came to the United States in 1832, settling in this State, and
engaging in the business of mining and building public works. He was a man of great practical inventive talent, and introduced in Centre County
many improvements in the care of stock, and many good customs, derived from close observation of their long trial in England.
Pg. 424: Roads.- …Among the most noted taverns was the McMasters stand. James McMasters was the landlord, and for some years
carried on a profitable business. Stages topped at his house, and coal-haulers and other freighters gave him much patronage. His stabling room for
seventy-five horses was generally in demand. After McMasters’ retirement Capt. William White kept the tavern. Other taverns were kept by John
Flack, George Graham, Jr., and William Forsiman….Roadside inns on that road are now things of the past.
Pg. 428: Coal-Mining.- It is currently understood that Snow Shoe coal was first discovered by a hunting party composed of Col. John Hold, his son,
John Holt, Samuel Askey, Charles Lucas, Baptist Lucas and Joseph Lucas. The year has been fixed at 1819, and the story goes that the hunters
observed the outcropping close by a spring on Samuel Askey’s land, now owned by the W.A. Thomas Estate. Daniel Weaver was engaged to haul a
load of the coal to Bellefonte, and at the blacksmith’s shop of John Hall it was tested, much to everybody’s satisfaction. This it is said was the
beginning of coal-mining in Centre County. Valentines & Thomas were the first to make an effort towards important coal-mining in Snow Shoe.
Mines were opened from time to time for local supply, notably by Samuel Gunsalus, Thomas Mayes, John Lucas, George Graham, and Meese
Gunsalus, but the coal developments in Snow Shoe may be said to have moved with slow progress until the completion of the Bellefonte and Snow
Shoe Railroad in 1859….