Farming has always been known as a dangerous job, even more so when complicated machinery started being invented to make farming faster and more efficient, as the machinery was built with very little to no thought of operator safety at the time.
That being said, the following farm accident which occured about 1811 was caused by a scythe, a very old timey, uncomplicated and simple tool, although, apparently, still extremely dangerous:
“When [(Dr.) John George Rogers] the doctor was a lad only fourteen years old, William Goble, a farmer living near Bethel [Clermont County, Ohio], was severly and it was thought fatally cut by a scythe upon his back and shoulder, and a messenger came for his father to come and dress Mr. Goble’s wounds; but the father being miles away on his professional duties, his wife persuaded her son, John, to go and attend the wounded man. The boy went, examined and dressed the wounds, and sewed them, putting in eleven stitches an inch and a half apart, and such was his success that his father on examining him the next day, declared it to be a perfect surgical job.”1
Dr. John George Rogers was one of the most noted of the physicians and surgeons of the pioneer days of Clermont County, who practiced at a time when it was necessary for great sacrifice of personal comfort for the taking of long, arduous rides over poor roads in sparsely settled districts.
After having acquired the knowledge usually taught in the schools of his day, John was placed under the instruction of his father at home…His father, having a large practice, was often away from home and many of the duties were placed on his son, who in boyhood acquired great dexterity in extracting teeth, bleeding and many of the operations of minor surgery, as well as dispensing medicine in the absence of his father. When fourteen years of age, William Goble, a farmer near Bethel, was severely and thought to be fatally wounded by a cut from a scythe upon the back and shoulder, which in the absence of his father, the boy was compelled to attend. He took eleven stitches into the wound, with such success that the next day, upon examination, his father pronounced a perfect surgical job.2
The William Goble of this story was my 4x great grandfather. He managed to survive the accident, and surgery, and went on to live another 40 years, still farming. No doubt due to the loving care administered by his wife Ruth, and of course the ‘perfect surgical job’ of his young doctor.
The scythe mentioned regarding the accident isn’t specified as being the type in this picture, it could have been a smaller hand scythe. Either way…ouch!
Sources: 1. The History of Clermont County 1795-1880, by Louis H. Everts. p414 2. History of Clermont and Brown Counties 1913, by Byron Williams p
Hope you aren’t snowed under but by all reports I guess you are. Eve called Bob last nite & it was pretty bad in Dayton. She left this morning. Sorta hated to see her go. One reason I haven’t written is that we’ve been busy & pretty much on the go as we wanted her to see a little before she left. Our furniture arrived Monday, almost a week after we arrived. Everything OK, but our big mahogeney coffee table & our magazine rack. The coffee table has a crack across one corner & the magazine rack was cracked on the side. Maybe we can collect Both can be fixed I guess.
The weather here is beautiful. Except for the 1st weekend & it dripped continuously then. Not exactly a rain but awful thick fog. And that’s when we drove
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into Los Angeles & Hollywood. We did get to see a little tho. Then Thanksgiving day we drove down to San Juan Capistrano It is beautiful country down there. Saw the Pacific ocean. Tho the Caribbean is prettier.
Bill took the kids horseback riding yesterday. They enjoyed it but Bill is a little sore today. He’s Staff Duty Officer today & won’t be home tonite.
We do like one house very much but I’ve still a lot to do. I’ve got a woman coming tomorrow to clean 75¢ an hour she charges. I guess I’ll have her one day a week & then she baby sits too. She lives almost across the street so it’s handy.
We had her Sat. nite & went to a dinner dance at the Club. Haven’t seen any of the folks that
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we knew at Ramey yet. The Schwaderers live in San Bernardino & it’s quite a ways. It certainly is handy to the field here. Almost as close as living on it would be
I feel sort of let down today. Partly cause Evelyn left & partly cause I cut Davids hair. Poor little stinker. He isn’t the same boy. He didn’t mind a bit & sure looks like Bill now. It was so cute when it curled but now it won’t. He looks cute but it’s such a change.
Evelyn gave me another Toni [perm] Friday. Looks pretty good this time. I still could get into my pink formal & that’s what I wore Sat. nite but I won’t be able to wear it again till after Minnie arrives.
Kenny & Sue seem to like their school They have a cafeteria & eat there lunch there 20¢ a day same as Minerva.
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They’ve learned to cross the street here OK & can go to the grocery for me. I hope to get started on my Xmas shopping this week or next but it just doesn’t seem like it’s that time of year yet.
I haven’t done much today & should get busy. We just stuffed things away to get them out of the road & now I have to get them arranged. I’m to get my stove put in this weekend. Be glad to have it to use again. I’ll write again.
My mother and I took a trip out to Jacksonburg, West Virginia…lets see…well quite a few years ago now. The main reason for the visit was to attend a Hays family reunion, the secondary reason was to see what details we could find out about the Hays and related families. It was also nice to actually see where these ancestors had lived, worked and spent their lives.
No one at the reunion was really much help in filling out blank spots in my research, but we did meet up with one of our Stackpole cousins who gladly showed us around to a few of the cemeteries we would have been hard pressed to find on our own. (It is very hilly and hidden country out there.)
One of the places we were able to visit was the cemetery where my 5x great grandparents, Alexander and Margret (Minor) Lantz, are resting in peace. This quiet, restful, cemetery is at the top of a hill with lots of open space, and looks onto the Stackpole land that is on the next hill over. The view of the surrounding country was excellent.
Margret Minor Lantz
Alexander Lantz
I know very little about these grandparents, except that Alexander and Margret were always buying property. Many of these purchases were for land in the 100s of acres. Sometimes this property was purchased through auctions, the current owners not being able to pay their mortgages, so they were able to get incredible deals. This penchant for owning property has paid off in a great way for everyone, for it has made it possible for a lasting legacy of great value to be created.
I have come to learn that in 2006 the Lantz family farm, which consisted of 555 acres, was “gift deeded” to the Wheeling Jesuit University by Lantz family descendants, so that the land and farm would be preserved, and the area could be enjoyed by the public. The DNR has joined in a cooperative agreement with the WJU to co-manage the property:
…for its wildlife resources and to maximize public outdoor recreational opportunites including hunting, fishing, and hiking on the interpretive natural trails.1
The Field Trip article (below) gives a short history of the property, what you can see when you visit, and also talks about projects in the works. But first, here is the ‘Wyatt patent’ deed as mentioned in the article:
1826 Sep 30 Tyler County, West Virginia — Jasper A Wyatt and wife and Augustus B. Wyatt, Tyler County
to
Alexander Lantz, of Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
… in consideration of $600 of lawful money of the Commonwealth …land containing 177 acres situate in the county of Tyler on the South Fork of Fishing Creek and bounded as follows to wit:
beginning at a white walnut & two sugar trees on the bank of the creek thence S E 46 poles to a white walnut at the mouth of Buffalo Run thence S 15 W 70 poles to sugartree thence S 27 W120 poles to a red oak thence N 70 W 32 poles to chestnut oak and ironwood thence N 20 W 60 poles to two beeches on a hill side thence N 62 W 92 poles to an ash and sugar tree on the creek bank thence N 20 E 44 poles to a white oak thence N 40 E 20 poles to a small white walnut thence S 75 E 60 poles to two hickories on the top of the hill and thence S 86 E 165 poles to the beginning
…together with all the singular houses, barns, buildings, stables, yards, gardens, orchards, lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, feeding commons, woods, underwoods, ways, waters, watercourses, fishing privileges…
Jasper Wyatt
Catherine [herXmark] Wyatt
Augustus [hisXmark] B. Wyatt2
While the property was certainly there, the preserve was barely a glimmer in the eye at the time we were visiting, and now I want to go back and see this wonderful place. Knowing that this property was a part of our family history kinda makes it feel even more special. If Alex and Margret did nothing else with their lives, they made it possible for a little part of world to be preserved.
Source: 1. [picture and quote pulled from the following article: http://www.wvdnr.gov/wildlife/magazine/Archive/07Fall/Providing%20a%20Better%20Tomorrow.pdf]
2. Land Deed [v2p190 image 1336-1337]; Deeds, 1815-1902; Tyler County (West Virginia) County Clerk; Deeds, v. 1-3 1815-1829 – FHL film #855954
Did I include everyone? well I promised to write so here goes. In case you havent heard, I will give you all the news I know.
Arrived here early Wednesday morning after a fine trip. I just received my assignment as Wire Officer for the 15th Air Force. The 15th has the Strategic Air Command fields in the western U. S. Pacific, Japan etc., also some in England. It looks as if I will be traveling some but not too much as my job is a staff job. General “Rosy” McDonnel is my commanding general. By the way please do not at any time release any information of my duties etc, to any newspaper as SAC is very strict about it.
The base is situated very much like Tuscon, desert with mountains around it. The Sierra’s are in the back yard here. The climate is warm by day cold by night. It hasnt rained for some time here,
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and as I understand it, it does not rain too often. Irrigation seems to supply water and when you buy property you get so many water shares with it.
I am going to have Lois try to sell our house and move out in about a month. In case we have to loose too much on the place we will keep it and rent it.
Housing seems to be plentiful here. About a hundred homes for rent in areas near March field. We wont have any trouble finding a home.
It is hard to say how permanent my job will be, but it looks as steady as any in the Air Force today so I guess the family will be better off out here.
I found this article doing a newspaper search recently on Alexander Lantz in West Virginia papers. I have to admit I have had very little luck finding newspapers with any of my West Virginia ancestors in them, so imagine my surprise when I hit pay dirt.
When Alexander and Margret Lantz were first married they spent about 15 or so years living in Greene County, Pennsylvania near their parents. Possibly because their own children were old enough to marry and move on, the two left for Tyler County, West Virginia, for a short time, before they eventually settled in Wetzel County, West Virginia, about 1841. They are both buried in the Jacksonburg area.
I believe that the article below is about my Alex because he would have been ‘an old man’ at the time of this incident, and from what I can surmise he was also the only Alexander Lantz living in the area, at least according to census records.
This incident. which looks like it happened in 1871, was being reported in the newspaper in 1875 (Alex was dead in January of 1873), which does make me leery in claiming that this is my 5x great grandfather in regards to this case. However, possibly because the case was criminal in nature, even if the intended victim had died after the fact, they would still continue to try the perpetrators of the crime. This one appears to have gone on for several years before the men were finally acquited.
I have to say this article is a little confusing regarding why they let the men off. They were caught in the act, by multiple people. But at least no one was hurt.
Source: 1. The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, newspaper, Ohio County, West Virginia, Sat morning, April 24, 1875, page 3 column 2.
I have been doing a lot of CLEGG family research lately, as you can see from my last post and found another story I wanted to share regarding Alexander Clegg and his family.
Alexander’s land was believed to be, unbeknownst to the Cleggs, quite close to the main trail used by Indigenous travelers and raiding parties. This location is possibly what led to several attacks on the settlers. A Monongalia County, West Virginia history book has this short entry:
In July of 1777, Indians appeared in force on Dunkard Creek in the north-western part of the county. Capt. John Minor, on the 14th of that month at 8 0’clock, writes as follows from Fort Statler to Col. Zackwell Morgan:
“This minute Alexander Clegg came in great haste, who escaped the shot of a number of Indians. While we were getting ready to go after them John March and Jacob Jones came in, and say that they think they saw at least twenty, and followed them, but they escaped…1
This was just the first known mention of Indigenous peoples assault on the Clegg family. A more serious attack came on: June 1791 or 18 Apr 1792 (according to the bible of John Hunsaker Sr., who was a neighbor) or late June 1797 (according to two histories of the area). Let’s guess sometime in the 1790s. It is said that Alex, his wife Margaret, and their two daughters, Peggy and Susannah, along with several other neighbors headed out to work in the Clegg’s nearby field. The men and boys were working the corn field, the women and younger children were off past the cabin, when they were shot at by a small party of an unstated Indigenous men. Alex and the other men dropped their tools and took off running back towards the cabin. Alex entered it and found his daughter Susannah already inside. He was able to defend himself and his daughter for a short while, but when the attackers set fire to the cabin he knew they would not survive, so, having no alternative, he surrendered. While the cabin burned the horses were taken, the prisoners were rounded up and they were forced to march off. One man was left behind to watch their backs.
It is not know where Alex’s daughter Peggy had gone during the excitement, but where ever it was, she didn’t hide herself well enough, because she was also captured. The prisoners were taken westward, 7 or 8 miles between Dunkard Creek and Fish Creek, on a ridge just south of the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Margaret, Alex’s wife, had heard the shots, and being some distance from the cabin had to conceal herself in the creek nearby under some overhanging bushes. She waited for the quiet, and then, cautiously, began to make her way back to her home. Perceiving the man left behind, and knowing she couldn’t go back to the cabin, she took off running to a neighbors. The guard saw her and took a shot, but luckily he only grazed her in the shoulder. And, because she had quite a head start, she was able to lose him and escape.
I don’t know how long it took for Simon Girty, (a well know interpreter, trader), to show up, but the Cleggs were lucky that he did because he was able to negotiate a release for Alex and his oldest daughter Peggy. Unfortunately Susannah (<–my 6x great-grandmother) had to be left behind with the promise that Alex would send a rifle and an unknown sum of money back for her release. Both items were given to Simon when they returned home. Simon took the ransom back to the war party and true to their word, Susannah was allowed to go home safe, if not sound.
It is said that when Alex later sold his land he called it “Indian Prisoner”. Although the land deeds I have seen for Alex and Margaret don’t show this. It must have been just a local name.
Source: 1. History of Monongalia County, West Virginia from its first settlements to the present time; with numerous biographical and family sketches, Samuel T. Wiley; Kingwood, W. Va.: Preston Publishing Company, 1883. p40, 59, 79-80.
I have in my family tree an ancestor by the name of Alexander Clegg. He was possibly born around the 1750s, (using his first child’s birth), and was married to Margaret Farmer or Palmer (online trees are not really in agreement regarding her surname). Their daughter Susannah married Samuel Minor, whose daughter Margret married Alexander Lantz (the Lance mentioned below). This Lantz family is found on the Hays side of the family with Susannah Lantz marrying Edmund Hays. So now you have the background tree.
The Clegg and Lantz families lived on the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia at this time, so owned land in both states. Sometimes the same piece of property was also in both states.
Last year’s research at the Family History Library included the goal of finding land records for the Lantz and Clegg families in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Which I did. And recently I began transcribing them.
Here was an interesting entry:
Know all men by these presents that IAlexander Clegg[<–my 7x great grandparent] of Monongalia County, [Virginia at the time, later West Virginia], for and in consideration of the sum of money that I am due and owing Alexander Lance and Margaret his wife [<–my 5x great grandparents] and for the further consideration of one Dollar lawful money of Virginia to me in hand paid the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, I have freely given, granted, bargained, sold and Delivered unto them the said Alexander Lance and Margaret his wife, all the following property to wit:
one negro woman named (Susanna) and her two Daughters Ann and Malin[d]a them and their after increase
upwards of two hundred acres of Land in Monongalia County on Dunkard Creek being the whole tract of Land whereon I now live called Stradlers Town [now known as Pentress], four head of horses,
eight head of cattle,
and six feather beds and beding said furniture to the said Beds belonging
all the aforesaid property to the said Alexander Lance and his wife Margaret for and during their natural lives or the life of the survivor of them, and at the decease of both of them then to go to the children of the said Margaret that she now has or may hereafter have. To have and to Hold all the aforesaid property forever. In witness whereof the said Alexander Clegg doth hereunto set his hand and seal this 29th day of May in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty Six.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered in the presence of us
Wm ThomasJacob LantzPeter [hisXmark] Yager
Alexander Clegg [SEAL]1
It appears that Alexander Clegg was in debt to his granddaughter Margret and her husband, and figured the best way to pay it off was to give them property, which included three slaves. He must have owed them a lot of money. Or a dowry? Or, maybe he was just giving away part of the estate they would inherit anyway.
Two of the above mentioned African American ladies are later found mentioned in the estate inventory of Alexander Clegg from 1829:
Than is in the said bill charged two Negro girls [Anne & Malinda] amt $230 – not sold at the public vand..[??] but has been since sold by said Lantz to John Brookover for $280 as I have been informed…
So, here is clear evidence that the Shepard side of the family was owning slaves as late as the 1820s. I have to say this was a surprising find.
But, here is something else interesting — in the 1830 federal census for Greene County, Pennsylvania we find Alex and Margaret Lantz living with one FREE female African American child who was less than 10 years old. Was she the daughter of one of the two girls they earlier sold to John Brookover? Or a daughter of the older woman Susanna? I haven’t found out what happened to Susanna, maybe she had died.
Looking further into the land records regarding the Lantz family, in 1812 Alexander Lantz’s brother*, George Lantz, freed three slaves: Esther, who was 26, Jacob, a mulatto child of 11, and Nancy (also called Ann), a mulatto child of 8. Did he free them because they were his children?
Well George’s probate2 clears that up, I think:
Jacob is listed in his will as “my yellow boy” which seems to mean his son, who had a half sister Nancy. Jacob was 17 or 18 when he inherited George’s estate. Jacob’s mother is not named, but the probate states she was living with a George Ridge; who we find was a freed slave according to the 1820 federal census for Greene County, Pennsylvania. And, in 1840 an Esther Ridge was living single, with one young child, (George having died/left), both freed slaves. Esther herself probably died about 1844 as there is an estate entry for her in Pennsylvania probate, but no details regarding a will.
George Lantz doesn’t appear to have married or had any legitimate children so was leaving all his property to Jacob whom he appears to accept as his son, or at least his heir. Nancy isn’t acknowledged to be his daughter, which possibly means she wasn’t. There is no reason to believe that he would acknowledge one and not the other. Either way, he must have had some affection for her, because she was to receive some money from the estate when she reached 18.
See the interesting things you can learn from land records.
*George is believed to be Alexander Lantz’s brother because he is the only George Lantz found online who died at the same time as the one in my post, so it is speculation at this time, but, there are a few sources that give it some credibility. Alex’s Uncle George died at a later date and was married, with lots of kids.
Sources: 1. Land deeds, 1826 Monongalia County, West Virginia, FHL Film #840576; Digital: 8219285: vOS10 p350.
2. George Lantz probate, 1818; Will Books, 1796-1918, Green County, Pennsylvania. Online digital images 129-130 – Ancestry.com.
3. Ancestry.com 1820 and 1840 Federal Census records Greene County, Pennsylvania.
Lois is busy filling out birth announcements & feeding the baby.
He was born tuesday afternoon at 2:15PM, while I was flying from St Lucia to Ramey. We named him David Mont. Weighed 7# 8 oz.
Lois stayed in the hospital four days. You know they have a new system now. The mother gets up right away.
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Lois had less trouble with David than either K W or Sue. She is feeling fine now, and Dave is getting along OK too.
Kenny & Sue both have a little touch of fever, nothing serious. They are better this evening.
We are all settled down in our new quarters now. We have four bedrooms & three baths. For once we can all sit in the mornings.
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Not much news other than the baby. It has been raining quite a lot here lately.
Kenny & Sue received their $5 and want me to thank Dad. It made them happiest because it came from home.
K W has been getting a little work in the evenings baby sitting, and you know what a miser he is. It tickles him to pieces to earn money. He spends
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half his time at the swimming pool now and swims like a fish. He plays on the high diving board & swims in the deep end of the pool all of the time. Don’t worry about him as it is a small pool & has two guards. I wouldn’t worry about him anyhow, because he can take care of himself. You almost have to see it to believe it. Sue is swimming a little now too.
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Dont plan on it too much but I just might get a trip home in about a month. Just overnight but that wold be nice.
Well Ill write again, perhaps sooner than the last time.
Yes-I received the package last week after I had written you. Thanks loads for it all. The paring knif is tops. Bill is still in Jamaica but should be home the 15th to stay. Went to OB today & the Dr. says Aug. 5th for the baby. Course I don’t care how soon it happens.
Lucy Williams just called me from the club to tell me Bill made permanent Captain but that will be as of Dec. 9, 1949. But at least he made it. She said a lot of them didn’t who were elegible. It sorta takes the kick out of it to know he had it but won’t be effective
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for 6 months. Nice Xmas present tho.
Had a letter from Helen & she says Trinidad is O.K. but she misses Ramey.
I’m having the group meeting here tomorrow. Then I won’t have to worry about it for several months.
Kenny has his fungus all cleared up & hope we can keep it that way. They had a swimming party & hot dogs & watermelon Monday on the 4th – The kids had a good time Kenny had 8 pieces of watermelon & 9 hot dogs – Didn’t get sick tho Lord know why. Sue lost an upper tooth today is anxiously awaiting the Fairy who leaves the dollar – Well must close & get to bed-
Bill is off again this morning for Vernom[?] Field. He’ll stay two weeks this time unless I call him home. I rather doubt it tho cause most everyone down here goes overdue. Just 4 wks to go so it isn’t too long. I’ve a few things to get yet & a couple more things to make.
Sue is still asleep & Kenny had dinner over at Eric’s & spent the nite. The new swimming pool is open now & it is really wonderful. Kenny has been every day & I took Sue Mon. & Tues. Mrs. Crocker (Kenny’s teacher) had a party for them all again
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yesterday at the Pool. It is really beautiful & the Club really will be nice when they finish. They are redecorating it entirely.
Dick-I’m enclosing $2 & want you to get me a few things & send me. I want 4-4 inch zippers in white for neck openings. Not like a dress placket. The kind that open at the top. And I want 5 nice glass buttons as big around as a penny. And a couple of cards of little white flat peach buttons for Susies dress. About this size [circle drawn on page]. A little bigger than shirt buttons also a couple of yards of white
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feather boning. If $2.00 isn’t enough let me know. I don’t get into Aqualilla now & they don’t have the buttons I want anyway I need the zippers for some shorts I’m going to make. They open down each side.
Went to O.B. yesterday* & I haven’t gained a lb. in 3 wks & only 2# the last two months so I guess I’m not doing too bad & I don’t stick to my diet religiously either. I’ve gained 15# altogether. I have to go to O.B. every week now.
jen's ancestors 