BERWICK PA LAND SURVEY MAP - FARMS OF M.W. JACKSON EST. November 1911

 

BERWICK LAND SURVEY MAP - 

FARMS OF M.W. JACKSON EST.

November 1911

This land survey is 35” wide and shows many land owners on the eastern edge of Berwick, Columbia County, along the Luzerne County line. The Berwick Water Company lands are shown as is the edge of Berwick at Walnut Street.  The left side starts on Walnut Street in Berwick and the right side extends to the Summerhill area.

Names include: Duval Dickson; C.R. Woodin; Wallace; Victor and Calab Seybert; Reuben Williams; Hugh Thompson; Theodore and Walter Fowler; Clemuel Bower; W.H. Moore; Smethers Farm; Andrew Berger; Richards; Headley Farm; Warren Michael; Jacob Sult; Edward Benscoder; Frank Bower; Alex Sult; Joseph Dice; Hirsch.

 Springtime Outing circa 1900

     This lovely picture appears to be taken in the spring.  The ladies are holding ferns and what appear to be lilacs and many of the men are sporting boutonnieres.  It may be of a church or school group or perhaps a wedding.  It was taken in the area of Berwick, Sugarloaf Township, or Salem Township.

     Behind the man in the center of the front row are my Great Grandparents.  William Moore is wearing a black hat and has a walking stick leaning on his shoulder.  Next to him is Fannie Kile, she has a white blouse that covers her neck and large hat that is tinted blue in the photo.  They were married in 1904, and I believe this photo was taken no later than then.

     Please let me know if you recognize anyone in this photo and I will share it.  William lived in Salem Township, Luzerne county, mostly in the Moore's Hill area.  When they married they lived near Foundryville.  Fannie was born and grew up in Guava, a small village in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County (Guava later became Laubach and is near Camp Lavigne).  Her family then moved to an area known as Town Hill, between New Columbus and Huntington Mills.  So the photo is likely to be a group of young people from these areas.

     Note:  this photo was enhanced and colorized via MyHeritage.com.  

Moore's School

Salem Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania

     Moore's School was in Salem Township, lower Luzerne County and was a one-room schoolhouse.   Water Dam Road starts in Foundryville and it turns into Moore's Hill Road, which is the area where this school was located.  It is interesting today to see that their school year went from October 18, 1898 to April 10, 1899.   This Souvenir Card, presented by the teacher Millie Seely, also lists School Board members.  

     Moore's Church was also in this area and was burned by arson.

1957 - James D. Green, Civil Engineer at AC&F

This photo shows James D. Green, a Civil Engineer at AC&F in Berwick.  He worked with Bob Loughlin & Walt Kastner.  Not sure which man is James or who the other men are. 

Claudia Guay provided this photo or her step-father, Jim Green.  Her family moved to Berwick in 1957 and James Green worked as a Civil Engineer at AC&F.  She recalls "Several of the wives of the engineers who worked at AC&F (including my mom, Paula Green) got together & formed a Ladies Club (might have been called the Berwick Ladies Club) who took flying lessons at the local airport; back then flying lessons were cheap!  I also remember the men (including my dad) took flying lessons, too."  The family moved from Berwick in 1963.

If anyone has any photos or other information on the Berwick Ladies Club and their flying lessons, please share them.  Thank you Claudia for your photos & remembrances of Berwick!
 

1955-1956 Proposed Teacher Salaries for Berwick Borough School Distict

This document is the proposed salary recommendations for teachers and staff for the Berwick Borough School District for 1955-1956.  The document is from the Educational Committee.  Staff are listed by name showing their 1954-1955 wages and proposed increase.

Tax Bills for 1956 & 1958 - Read 'Em and Weep!

Here are two tax bills showing the county tax, borough tax and school tax amounts due in 1956 and 1958.  One is for Berwick Borough and the other for Briarcreek Township, adjacent to Berwick. 

Click on the image to enlarge.

 



1956 Briarcreek Township Tax Bill

1958 Berwick Boro Tax Bill

 

CIVIL WAR - 150 Year Anniversary

The Civil War began 150 years ago and  Pennsylvania sent many sons and fathers to fight.

This is about one of them, volunteer soldier William Nugent.  When the war began William lived in Salem Township, Luzerne County.  He had been

separated from his family as a small child in Philadelphia and essentially orphaned.  Daniel Seybert of Salem Twp. selected William to come work on his farm as a "bond boy" and William was brought to Salem Township from Philadelphia. 

William met his wife, Nancy

Boyles, when she worked for Seybert, they married, and lived in the Beach Haven area after William was released by Seybert. 

William's enlistment record shows he was a 28 year old farmer on September 28, 1864 when he enlisted at Scranton.  He served as a Private in Company E, 2nd PA, 112th Regiment Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.  Salem Twp., Luzerne County's 12th District was credited with his service.

William is described in his records as being 6' 1" + tall with grey eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.  The photo below is reported to be him and was taken in 1892. 

Pennsylvania State Archives records show that William enlisted on July 31, 1875 as a Private with Company D, 9th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard.  He transferred to Company D, 12th Infantry in 1878.

William farmed and worked as a laborer.  In 1871 he sold his land in Beach Haven and moved to Berwick where his wife operated a small grocery store. 

Census records list that he was born in Ireland in 1834, immigrated in 1839, was a naturalized citizen, could read but not write English. 

William died on March 20, 1903 and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Market Street, Berwick.  His wife Nancy died in 1902.  Their children were Clement, Eudora (married John Ashton), Jennie (married George Bason then Ernest Eckstrand), Harriet (married Daniel Boyle), Kate (married James Bason), and Willie.

1961: Berwick's 175th Anniversary

Festivities for the 175th Anniversary of Berwick included electing a Queen, Miss Peggy Mensch.  Other contestants for Miss Greater Berwick were:  Mrs. Nancy Creasy, Mrs. Donna Edwards, Miss Barbara Glenn, Miss Peggy Samsel, Mrs. Kay Stout, Mrs. Barbara Petty, Mrs. Gail Lamar, Miss Daryl Eves and Miss Dorothy Davis. 
Also appearing was Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns.

Elizabeth Laura Walton & James B. Garcia - Albuquerque NM

　　 The search of family history and genealogy leads to many history lessons as new information brings new questions. A minor note on a census record can lead to new questions and new opportunities to delve into history.

One of our family stories is that my great-great grandmother’s father got students from the Carlisle Indian School to work on his farm in the summer. One of his daughters fell in love with one of the boys and they ran off, got married, and lived in New Mexico.

This story resulted in lots of questions, mainly, is the story true, did the Carlisle Indian School send students out to work in the summer, and what happened to the farmer’s daughter and Indian student. The answer to the first two questions is yes. Laura Walton left Pennsylvania, married James B. Garcia of Acoma Pueblo, and they lived in Albuquerque New Mexico. Here’s some of their story.

James B. Garcia was born about 1868 and lived in Acoma, New Mexico. He was a full blooded Pueblo Indian of the Acoma Band. He was sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, PA, arriving August 24, 1884. He entered Carlisle in the 2^nd grade and was in the 8^th grade when he was discharged on September 14, 1891. His records at the school show he was sent "To Country" three times to "Patrons", where he worked farming for the "Patrons". He went to Patron Jos. Walton, Shickshinny, Luzerne Co., PA on March 4, 1889 and returned "From Country" September 13, 1889.



Laura Walton (also known as Elizabeth Laura or Lizzie) was born February 28, 1867 to Joseph and Lavina Walton. The 1880 US Federal Census (Census) shows the family living in Salem Twp., Luzerne County. Joseph Walton owned about 600 acres where he farmed and produced lumber. Laura would have been 22 years old when James came to work on the farm.
 
In 1900 Laura, age 33, was living with her father and a nephew Clyde Walton in Hazleton with five boarders in the home. Laura and James married in 1903 and are shown living in Albuquerque on the 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census’ with her listed as Laura E. Garcia. The census records show she didn’t just ‘run off’ with James, but waited more than 11 years to be with him.

On the 1910 Census Laura reports having 2 children but none surviving, so it is doubtful that they had surviving children. An undated family history reported they had twin boys.

James completed a survey in 1911 and returned it to the Indian School in Carlisle. He reported he married Miss Laura E. Walton on Penna. and was living in Albuquerque. He reports he has his home at 725 S. Edith St., Albuquerque and a property on 2^nd street. James wrote that he did not attend any schools after leaving Carlisle and "I did not graduate at Carlisle I was only up to 12 grade in Miss Cutter’s room." He writes that he is working for A.T. & S.F. RR Co. (Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway) - "my principle work has been railroading at present time I am working in Santa Fe shops at Albuquerque. Census records list him as a machinist for the railroad.

A 1916 directory for boarding houses for tuberculosis patients listed "Mrs. Garcia’s House" at their home address on Edith street in Albuquerque with Mrs. J.B. Garcia as proprietor.

US Indian Census Schedules for New Mexico list James as a member of the Acoma Band of Pueblo Indians. He is listed with his mother Maria Vicente Garcia until her death in 1920. The 1920 Census lists Jas. Garcia, age 58 as "married to white woman, lives Albu." US Indian Census Schedules for 1932 and 1933 list James B. Garcia and wife Lola C. Garcia as not living at the jurisdiction (Acoma) where enrolled, but living in Albuquerque. James is listed as a full Acoma Pueblo Indian and Lola as a not eligible white.

Both James and Laura died in 1939 and are buried at Sunset Memorial Park cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The family story also was that Joseph disowned Laura because she married James. I don’t know if this is true but if it is I believe he forgave her. In October 1904 Joseph Walton of Salem sold for $500 the coal and other mineral rights belonging to him of land in Salem Twp. To Mrs. Lizzie E. Garcia of New Mexico and Clyde Walton (his grandson) of Philadelphia.

If you’ve been to both Acoma New Mexico and Luzerne County Pennsylvania you know how different the land and people are. That Laura left her family and all she knew to be with James in a culture and land so different speaks highly of their love.

I pieced this story together using: US Federal Census and US Indian Census Schedules; James B. Garcia’s records from the U.S. Indian School at Carlisle, PA from the NARA; Luzerne County Deed records; family history records; and trolling Google. One family story took me on a history tangent from the Indian School in Carlisle to Acoma NM to the Santa Fe Railroad.  Isn't genealogy grand!
　

Merry Christmas 2010

This Santa was made by Derl Moore 90 years ago, in 1920. 
Derl lived in Foundryville, outside of Berwick.

Berwick RailFan Photo Gallery

Please visit Andrew Hoke's web site for many photos and lots of information on trains and everything railroad related.  To visit Berwick RailFan Photo Gallery use this link:

http://berwickrailfan.webs.com/

Happy Veteran's Day 2010

Thank you to all Veteran's of the United States of America's Military branches.

Whether you served in time of war or peace,

on land or sea or in the air,

volunteered or were drafted,

thank you for your service to our country!

These photos are from the Bloomsburg/Berwick newspaper published on May 31, 1942 and feature men who left on May 30, 1941 for the Army and Navy.
Shown in this photo are men entering the Army: James Keller, Andrew Krylych, Daniel Henrie, Max Follmer, William Boyle, Dominick Oshman, John Dudeck Jr., Joseph Benish, Leo Talanca Jr., Harold Hopper, Joseph Badolato, Melvin Burk, William Miller, John Uyhely, Henry Schenck, Wayne Naus, Gordon Lawalt, Charles Kemp, Edward Davis, Robert Brown, Thomas Wilson, Frank Respogliati, James Mausteller, Harry Van Horn Jr., Lester Harvey, Marion Hess, Ralph Hunter, Roy McHenry, Alfred Hess and Michael Petock.

This photo shows men who left on May 30, 1941 to join the Navy. Shown are: Peter Horvat, Roland Kalbach, Woodrow Bankes, Edmund Lutkiewicz, Earl Fairman, Alex Ladonis, Gordon Moore, Andrew Slivka, Andrew Michael, Michael Krepich, Ralph Remley Jr., John Kegel Jr., William Stimeling, Julius Mazzochetti and Walter Milo.

1951 - October 30 Military Inductees

Photo from the October 30, 1951 newspaper "The Morning Press" shows seven men ewho entered the Armed Forces through Selective Services. They are: David W. Moore, Joseph McElwee, Wallace Berry, Benjamin Burness, Robert Luchs, Ross Hughes and Robert Hileman. The men were from Berwick, Bloomsburg and Espy.

1949 - Bloomsburg Fair

1949 Bloomsburg Fair newspaper photo.

1949-1950 Berwick High School Football - The Bulldogs Team Photo

This clipping of the Berwick Bulldogs football team

was dated 1949-1950.

Coach Tony Denby led the team to a 9-2 record!

Go Bulldogs !!!

1919 North Berwick School Souvenir

This souvenir card is dated 1919 and lists pupils and school officers for the
North Berwick School in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia County.
Pupil last names: Belles, Bongo, Bower, Cedar, Chamberlain, Collins, Crotzer, Dent, Dowett, Dzurbala, Folk, Holloway, Hough, Hunchar, Hunter, Jano, Kinney, Kramer, Kiriluk, Kyttle, Lynn, Martz, Mittleman, Molnar, Oram, Rough, Smith, Sopkanech and Toth.

Brown's Cemetery - Mifflinville PA

Brown's Cemetery is a small cemetery along the woods on a hill just outside of Mifflinville, Columbia County, PA.

Here are some photos of grave stones located there.

Benjamin Fortner -

In Memory of Benjamin Fortner

Who died July 10 1835 in the 80th year of his age.

His Revolutionary War marker is shown below.

Benjamin Garrison -
Died June 23, 1853
Aged 77 years


Elizabeth (Fortner) Garrison -
In Memory of Elizabeth wife of Mathias Garrison
Departed this life July 13th 1825

James Brown -

In Memory of James Brown
who departed this life Jan. 5, 1833
Aged 24 years, 2 months & 18 days
"Friends depart in peace
And leave your brother here
Now I'll walk in golden streets
Never more to fear"
"Composed for the deceased"

James Brown -

In Memory of James Brown
who departed this life January 4 AD 1820
aged 46 years, 5 months & 25 days

John Brown -

Feb. 1, 1836 - Mar. 25, 1899
Martha Kline his wife
1844 - 1928

John Brown -

In Memory of John Brown who departed this life the 24th of September 1819
aged 73 years & 2 months
His grave is marked with a Revolutionary War Medallion.

John Brown -

Died Feb. 21, 1855
Aged 54 years

Lissie Jane Brown -
Daughter of W.N. & Loretta Brown

Died Dec. 18, 1864

Aged 6 years, 7 months, 11 days

Samuel Brown -
In Memory of Samuel Brown

who died Jan 17th 1850
aged 24 y & 30 d

Samuel Brown -

In Memory of Samuel Brown
who departed this life October 12, 1823
aged 45 years, 5 months, 10 days

Mercy (Freas) Brown -
wife of John Brown
died April 5, 1832, aged 29 years

William N. Brown -
Feb. 15, 1807 - Sep. 17, 1876

George A. Bowman -

Died Dec. 10, 1881

Aged 82 y, 7 m & 16 d.

Other side: 1799 - 1881

Mathias Belles -

In Memory of Mathias Belles who departed this life May 1st 1806,

aged 36 years & 7 months

"Depart my friends, dry oup your tears, Hear I must lie till Christ appears."