Monday, April 18, 2011

Military Monday: George W. Gibbs

George W. Gibbs, soldier in Co's B & H 28th Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

George was first mustered into Co B, 28th Regt. on June 28 1861 as a musician. Transferred to Co H on April 29th 1864 and discharged July 20 1864. (History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.)Pages 442 and 465.




George is found along with his family, wife Catherine M. and children Margaret, William H., Joseph, Morris, Rebecca E., Elizabeth C., and George W.,  on the US Federal Census, June 1900, Westmoreland County, Mount Pleasant Borough, Enumeration District 120, Sheet 5A.  I believe Morris to actually be Maurice L. who is listed on the other side of this marker 1893-1972


George is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant Pa.

George W. Gibbs
1835 - 1902

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sentimental Sunday; Visiting Graves

After four months I finally was able to visit my mom's grave. We had the "grave side' services at the chapel in the cemetery because of a snow storm. It seems to always rain or snow for our family's graveside services. Mom was a very dedicated and productive soul. She went from high school into nursing school and worked at the same hospital her whole career. We were all born in that hospital and that's where she spent her last 3 days, surrounded by her loving family
Last Sunday we did a round of grave visits. Every stone, every grave tells a story. It's part of history. It's not macabre. I took pix with my android if I could just figure out how to put them on here...
'...as long as someone remembers you live forever...'.


Saturday, April 2, 2011

Surname Saturday: Gochenour

For Surname Saturday I am posting the Desendants of Jacob Gochenour.
This surname has been found to be spelled multiple ways, including Gochenour, Cochenour, Couchenour, Coughenour to name a few. Also census takers have done a good job of butchering it also.
We would love to hear from anyone who could also be connected.

Click PDF below

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B52e8aOb1STWM2RkN2ViNTMtYzlhYi00ZDUyLWFjYmYtNTE0MTc1NjFhMTc5&hl=en

Monday, March 28, 2011

Military Monday: Daniel Ashbaugh

Daniel Ashbaugh
Private Co E. 11th Pa Infantry


Daniel Ashbaugh
Feb. 14, 1832
Aug 30, 1862

Daniel was mustered in at Westmoreland County Pa. on Oct. 4, 1861 and was killed on Aug. 30, 1862 at the 2nd battle of Bull Run.
Photo from Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, Pa.

The Pa 11th was nicknamed the "Bloody Eleventh" at the battle of Falling Water, July 21st 1861
A total of 1,890 men served in the regiment during the war, and only 340 men were discharged at wars end.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sundays Obituary; Albert H. Boyd



Obituary of Albert H. Boyd




Albert H. Boyd, 63, Kelly Station carpenter, died at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Citizens General  hospital, New Kensington.
Death resulted from a complication of diseases. He had been in the hospital one week.
Mr. Boyd lived all his life in Kelly Station, Within a half-mile of where he was born.
Surviving are his wife, five children: Mrs. Floyd Conner, Warren, Ohio; Harry, Kittanning: Mrs. Audrey Bennett, Kittanning: Mrs. Geo. Nicholson, New Florence: Ernest, at home: four brothers: Eli, Ford City: Samuel, John and Frank, Kelly Station: three sisters, Mrs Jane Hawk, New Castle: Mrs. John Thompson, Kelly Station and Mrs. Sarah Hartman, Logansport, and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Bethel Lutheran church in charge of Rev. Walter Kennedy, pastor of the Tidal and Templeton Presbyterian churches, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Simpsons' Daily Leader-Times, Saturday, October 17, 1931, Page 5, Col. 5


Albert was my great-grandfather and his daughter, listed here as Mrs. Geo. Nicholson, my grandmother.
Sadly Alberts wife Catherine died just 6 weeks later on Dec.3, 1931
Albert's tombstone has his name as Alvin H. Boyd and on his obit it is Albert. Possibly he was known by different names by different family members.
Albert and Catherine are both buried in the Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Ford City, Pa.


How often do you see a Presby minister doing services at another denominations church? Everyone working together back in the early-mid 1900's? Don't you love history?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wedding Wednesday: Simica and Jovan Dokmanovic

My maternal grandparents where married in 1905 in Pittsburgh Pa. Jovan immigrated to the U.S. from Yugoslavia in 1899 and became a miner in the Pa coal mines like so many other immigrants did.
Simica followed,  in 1904 to marry her sweetheart.(against her families wishes). The family story was that she was marrying beneath herself and he was , well nobody but a poor miner. It must have been true love.


They were married on 6th day of May 1905 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania


Jovan and Simica raised 8 children including my mother

Jovan Dokmanovic
Born 25 April 1880
Died 13 Aug. 1942

Simica Mervos Dokmanovic
Born 14 April 1884
Died 11 Sept. 1967

They now are resting in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.