Irvin Johnston's Last Will and Testament, 1878

Will Book 9 (1878-1882)   #7 – Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania

Last Will of Irvin Johnston, decd

In the name of God, Amen.

I, Irvin Johnston of the township of West in the county of Huntingdon in the State of Pennsylvania being of sound mind and memory and considering the motaly of this frail and transitory life do thearfore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament. That is to say:  First:  After all my lawfull debts are paid and dischargd the residue of my estate, real and personal, I give and bequeath and dispose of as follows, to wit:

To my beloved wife Tiney Johnston, all my household furniture that is now in my house and in my posestion, also my horse, carriage and carriage harniss, two cows, three young cattel, six heads of hogs and three hundred dollars of money out of the sale of my personal propertey. I do hearby order that my Exachtors hearin after mentiond to leas my farm on which I now live for the sum of three years after my decease and then put it to sale.  My wife Tena Johnston to remain in the house untill the expiration of the leas and have all hur stock on the farm untill the expiration of the leas of said farm.  I do further bequeth to my wife Tenay Johnston five hundred dollars out of the sale of the farm. The said five hundred dollars to be invested in a homested property whear the said Teney Johnston may select which shall be hur property in fee simple during hur natural lifetime.  At her decease it shall become the property of the several legatees hearin after mentioned.  The five hundred dollars invested in property hearin mentiond shall not be a bar to Tenay Johnston lengal right of Dower in the farm after sale.  I do hearby bequeath to my son Wesley Johnston three hundred dollars and having paid two hundred for him, it will refund the money I got of him when he was a minor; the balance of my money accruing from notes, bank accounts, sale of personal or real estate shall be equily devided between the following named heairs:  Alfred Johnston, Wesley Johnston, Franklin Johnston, Howerd Johnston, and Molley Johnston, my five children. and I do further bequeath to Teney Johnston my wife all the fierwood she may nead during the term of the leas on the farm. I do hearby object to my son Wesley charging aney intrest on the three hundred Dollars set out in this will. And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son Wesley Johnston of Fulton County, Pennsylvania, Executor of this my will.  In witness whearef, I the said testator Irwin Johnston have to this my last will and testament set my hand and Seal the 14th day of November A.D. 1878

                                                                                    Irvin X Johnston (his mark)

Signed, Seald, published and declared by the said testator Irwin Johnston, as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto:

            Ephraim Fisher 

            Henry Davis Jr.

 

 

Will Book 9  Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania p.33

Date of Death of Irvin Johnston, decd

Huntingdon Co Ss:

            Before me, Registrer for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration, in and for said county, personally appeared J. Wesley Johnston, who, being duly sworn, dot depose and say that Irvin Johnston, late of West township, died on or about the 25^th day of November 1878 at 4:35 oclock, a.m., and further said not.

                                                            J. W. Johnston

Sworn & subscribed this 3^rd day of March A.D. 1879, before J.D. Kuntzelman,

Register

Who are Christina Nelson's parents?

I recently discovered a hint to a 3g-grandmother's family.  Christina Nelson has been one of my brick walls.  Who are Christina's parents and siblings?

 

Irvin and Christina (Nelson) Johnston had 5 children survive to adulthood:  William Alfred, John Wesley, Thomas Franklin, Henry Howard, and Mary Malissa (Mollie).  Christina Nelson was born 7 May 1825 and died in Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania on 22 Nov 1895.

 

Mollie married William H. Baumgardner on 18 Mar 1879.  Her marriage occurred between the death of her father on 29 Nov 1878 -

 

"Irvin Johnston of the township of West in the county of Huntingdon… To my beloved wife Tiney Johnston, all my household furniture that is now in my house and in my possession, also my horse, carriage and carriage harness, two cows, three young cattle, six heads of hogs and three hundred dollars of money out of the sale of my personal property…Executors will lease my farm on which I now live for the sum of three years after my decease and then put it to sale.  My wife Tena Johnston to remain in the house until the expiration of the lease…bequeth to my wife Tenay Johnston five hundred dollars out of the sale of the farm to be invested in a homestead…I do hereby bequeath to my son Wesley Johnston three hundred dollars…the balance of my money…shall be equally divided between the following names heirs:  Alfred Johnston, Wesley Johnston, Franklin Johnston, Howard Johnston, and Molley Johnston, my five children" - 

 

- and the recording of the completed Executor's report in 1881 -

 

"Irvin Johnston’s five children, as listed, W. A. Johnston, T. F. Johnston, Howard Johnston, J. Wesley Johnston, and Mary M. Baumgardner."

 

 

 Mollie and William H. Baumgardner lived in Fulton Co, PA and had 3 children:  Maude, Harry, and Paul.

 

Through an online digital newspaper website, I found the following article from the Bedford Gazette, Bedford, PA; Friday, Jan. 3, 1903:

 

 The Hon. and Mrs. John Nelson, of Cessna, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a party of Tuesday, December 30, 1902.  Judge Nelson was born at Spring Mill, Centre Co., Pennsylvania on June 9, 1821.  His father was a tailor.  In 1840 Judge Nelson moved to Neff's Mills, Huntingdon Co.

Among the guests celebrating was "Mrs. Mollie Baumgardner, Wells Tannery, niece to Judge Nelson, and her daughter Maud".

 

Just might need to visit my alma mater for a few days to research in Centre Co, Pennsylvania!

 

Elizabeth Rodenberger - Found at Last!

On my trip yesterday to the DAR Library in Washington, DC, I discovered the burial location for my 5th great-grandmother!  From the Cemeteries of Union County, Indiana book, Elizabeth Rodenberger, wife of John Rodenberger, died on September 30, 1842 at the age of 51 years, 11 months, 30 days.  She is buried in  Philomath Cemetery in Brownsville Twp, Union Co., Indiana.

Elizabeth's calculated birthdate would be October 1, 1790.  Her first child, Samuel Rodenberger, my 4th great-grandfather, was born to her at age 18 (thanks, Ray for the calculations). 

Elizabeth and John (Johannes) had at least 10 children:  Samuel, Leah, Rachel, Elizabeth, John W, George, Jacob, Paul, Peter, and Sarah.  Samuel, Leah, and Rachel were born and baptized in Upper Milford Twp, Northampton Co, Pennsylvania.  After Elizabeth's Pennsylvania birth, the family arrived in Ohio before 1818.  John Rodeberger was enumerated in the 1820 Federal Census of Montgomery Co, Ohio. In 1832, John purchased land in Wayne Co, Indiana, an adjoining county to Union Co.

Elizabeth is still a mystery since I don't know her maiden name or who her parents were.

A side note on the value of cemetery surveys.  The book mentioned above that contained this vital information was compiled in 1934 [Lacks title page, title information from 4th leaf - from the DAR Library catalog].  Based on the photo of the cemetery on the Find A Grave website, I'm fairly certain that these gravestones would be unreadable today.

This cemetery is located off of C. Rodenburg Rd. on the south end of Philomath. The condition is severely neglected. At one time, there used to be a church close by the cemetery but all that is left is the foundation.

Added by: R James
5/28/2011

This cemetery is located off of C. Rodenburg Rd. on the south end of Philomath. The condition is severely neglected. At one time, there used to be a church close by the cemetery but all that is left is the foundation.

Obituary - Dick Sabatini

Carmella and Dick Sabatini
2010

Richard A. "Dick" Sabatini, 78, of Dunmore, died peacefully Tuesday in Hospice Community Care surrounded by his family. His wife of more than 50 years is the former Carmella Quatra.

Born in South Scranton to the late Steve and Stella Fabrio Sabatini, he was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and went on to honorably serve for four years in the United States Navy during the Korean War as part of Jet Fighter Squad #71. He attended and graduated from the University of Scranton on an athletic scholarship and earned his B.S. and M.B.A. For a short time, Dick worked as a special agent with the United States Treasury Department within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He was a teacher at Lackawanna College for 10 years, where he was chairman of the faculty, Athletic Director and coached both basketball and baseball. He later worked as manager for the George Pegula Insurance Company before becoming Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Deputy Director of ten state general hospitals. In 2000, he was elected to Dunmore Borough Council, and upon retirement, he worked for the Lackawanna County Bureau of Elections.

Dick was an active member of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish in Dunmore, and was a former member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in South Scranton. He always found joy in helping others and in serving his church. He was a selfless man, a true friend, and a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Also surviving are a daughter, Gina Galluci and husband, Carl, Voorhees, NJ; four grandchildren who were his "gold," Giuliana, Summer, Dominic Richard and Ava Bella Gallucci, all of Voorhees, NJ; a sister, Virginia Duboski and husband, Tony, Clarks Summit; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Steven Sabatini.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, with Mass at 11 a.m. in the St. Anthony of Padua Church, Smith St., Dunmore. Interment in the Italian-American Cemetery, Scranton.

Friends may call Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. To send the family an online condolence or for more information, please visit www.Dun moreFuneralHome.com.


Published in Scranton Times on January 18, 2012

Sunday's Obituary - Johannes "John" Rodenberger

While visiting the Clay Co. Genealogy Society in Center Point, Indiana, I found the following abstract in the Rodenbarger Family File.

Dem. Archives, Oct. 27, 1870
   d. John Rodenbarger, at res, Wash. Twp, Sat. Oct 22, 1870, 86 yrs.  res of twp for more than 25 yrs.  Member German Reform Church. father of 19 ch., step-father of 2 ch.

Johannes was born on 22 July 1785 in Pennsylvania.  His parents were Johann Georg  and Elisabeth (unknown) Rothenberger.  Johannes married Elisabeth prior to 1809 when their son Samuel was born.  Johannes and Elisabeth's first three children (Samuel, Leah, and Rachel) were born in Upper Milford Twp, Northampton Co, Pennsylvania. 

In March of 1829, the Rodenberger family was living near Montgomery Co, Ohio.  In July 1832, Johannes purchased land in Wayne Co, Indiana and sold the property in December 1846.  He purchased land in Clay Co., Indiana in January 1846.  

I believe Elisabeth died while the family was living in Wayne Co, Indiana after the 1840 Federal Census. Johannes married Catharine (March) Schromyer, a widow with two children, between 1842 and 1844.

The September 20, 2011 post has photos of Johannes' gravestone.

Tombstone Tuesday - "Famous Cartoonist Buried Here"

Weller Rodenberger
1860-1920
McKee Cemetery
Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas
[Photo: Mary Parmele -FindAGrave]

Modern Light
Columbus, Kansas
June 10, 1920

Death of Weller Rodenberger.
     Weller Rodenberger died Friday, June 4, 1920, at his home in Allentown, Pa.  He was the son of Paul and Sarah Rodenberger and was born in Brazil, Ind., August 7, 1860.  He is survived by two brothers, Edgar and B.S. Rodenberger, and one sister, Jeannett Parkinson.  The body was shipped to Columbus from Pennsylvania.  Burial was made in the McKee cemetery at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  A short funeral service was held at the cemetery conducted by Reverend. Alphon Goodrick.

Modern Light
Columbus, Kansas
June 17, 1920

Famous Cartoonist Buried Here.
  Newspaper and magazine readers who have enjoyed the cartoons which appeared for many years signed “Rhoda” will be grieved to know that he is dead, and that his remains were brought to Oswego Monday evening for internment [sic] in the McPee cemetery east of town.  Weller Rodenberger,

was the man referred to.  He was born Aug. 7, 1860, at Brail, Indiana, coming to Cherokee county, Kansas, when small and lived for many years near Hallowell.  Later he moved to Oswego and was in the real estate business here with Geo. King.  He took up cartoon work and was employed on such publications as the St. Louis Globe, the Philadelphia Record and Puck and Judge and other magazines.  At the time of his death he was in charge of the circulation department for a number of states on the Philadelphia Record.  He had one brother, Ben, of Kansas City, and a sister, Mrs. Parkinson, of South Bend, Ind., both of whom were here for the funeral which took place at the McGee cemetery, the sermon being preached by Rev. Goodrick, of Columbus.  Archie Rodenberger of Baxter Springs and Ed. Rodenberger of Kansas City, cousins of the deceased were here also.

– Oswego Independent.

Several inaccuracies are in this article.  Weller Rodenberger was interred at McKee cemetery, not McPee.  He was born in Brazil, not Brail, Indiana.  He had two brothers, Ben, of Kansas City, and Ed Rodenberger of Kansas City (not his cousin).  Archie Rodenberger of Baxter Springs was Weller's nephew, not cousin.

Weller had been married, according to the 1910 Federal Census where his marital status was listed a widowed.

On ancestry's website, the 1890 St. Joseph, Missouri City Directory has an entry for Weller Rodenburger with an occupation of artist for the St. Joseph Herald.

I haven't been able to find any of Weller's cartoons.  I would love to see his artwork!

[Death and burial information, for Weller's brother John Edgar and sister Jennette, has been added to the FGS of Paul and Sarah Rodenberger's posting.]