This journey is going to lead me down the path of the Birch's and all those other names that have joined them. I know this will take me to England, Germany, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and elsewhere. The men in this family will be working as coalminers, railroad brakemen and Laborers in Saw Mills.

The common name "birch" is derived from an old Germanic root, birka, with the Proto-Indo-European root *bherəg, "white, bright; to shine."

Showing posts with label Tire Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tire Hill. Show all posts

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Sunday's Obituary ~ Ananias J. Horner & Sarah (nee Eash) Horner


Ananias Horner & Sarah (nee Eash) Horner
 Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
October 27, 1937

Ananias Horner, 78, died at his home in Kelso yesterday after a long illness.  He was a retired employee of the Bird Coal Company, having worked at the Kelso mines for many years until six years ago.  Born in Cambria County, he was a son of Archie and Polly (Helsel) Horner.  Surviving are his widow, the former Sarah Eash, with whom he was united in marriage November 16, 1884, and these children, Irvin, Charles, and Harry, all of Kelso; Clarence Horner of Windber; William Horner of Benscreek; Harvey Horner of Blough; Katie, wife of Harvey Gindlesperger of Johnstown R.D. 4; Minnie, wife of Clayton Mose of Dale Borough, and Ida, wife of Jesse Speicher of Kelso.  Mr. Horner also is survived by 38 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: William Horner of Bedford; Edward Horner of Bolivar; Elizabeth Horner of Sherman Street; Mrs. Kathryn Tesh and Mrs. Lena Spankenberger, both of Franklin Street, and Mrs. Elmer Knipple of Dale Borough.  Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Tire Hill Church of Brethren, by Rev. H. C. Hess, pastor.  Internment will be in Maple Spring Cemetery, near Holsopple.

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Johnstown Tribune
Wednesday Evening, April 19, 1944
Sarah E. Horner Dies at age 77; Funeral Friday
Resident of Tire Hill section most of her life, Husband died in 1937 Mrs. Sarah (Eash) Horner, 77, died at 10:30 o'clock last night at the home of her son, Harvey Horner, 666 Coleman Ave., where she had resided since the death of her husband, Ananias on Oct. 26, 1937.  She had been seriously ill the past two weeks.  Mrs. Horner was born in Richmond Township, Cambria County, on April 15, 1867, a daughter of the late Adam and Catherine (Yoder) Eash.  Her husband was a former employee of the Bird Coal Company.  Mrs. Horner is survived by eight children - Irvin, Tire Hill; Katie, wife of Harvey Gindlesperger, R.D. 4; Minnie, wife of Clayton Moose, 113 Homestead Ave.; Charles, Tire Hill; Clarence, Windber; William and Harry, both of Bridge St; and Harvey, mentioned.  A daughter, Mrs. Ida Speicher, died on Jan. 8 of this year.  Mrs. Horner also leave one brother, Noah Eash, Hollsopple R.D. 2; one sister, Mrs. Lucinda Howard, Tire Hill; 43 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.  The deceased was a member of the Tire Hill Church of the Brethren, in which section she resided most of her  life.  Friends are being received at the Harvey Horner home.  Funeral services will be held at the Tire Hill Church of the Brethren at 2:30 p.m. Friday by Rev. Dorsey Rotruck, assisted by Rev. Earl C. Weaver, pastor of the Park Ave. U.B. Church. Internment will be in the Maple Spring Cemetery under the direction of the Henderson Funeral Home.

Tire Hill Church of the Brethren, Pennsylvania
Maple Spring Cemetery, Pennsylvania












Warm Regards,
  

Friday, June 15, 2012

James Birch Sr. ~ WWII Draft Registration ~ 1947

I love how draft registrations glean so much information on the person we are investigating.   

Here's James Birch, Sr  (little clue here ... for middle name "None") of Conehaugh Township in Somerset, Pennsylvania.  I've confirmed, via Ancestry.com records, that James Birch, Jr. is his son. 

James describes himself as "white, 5'11", 172 lbs, blue eyes, grey hair, ruddy complexion, with a Hernia - left side".

His Date of Birth: Oct 9, 1879

James was employed by "Bird Coal Co." and after doing a little checking around I discovered that company had three mines located on Tire Hill.

Bird No. 1 Mine, near Johnstown, Tire Hill, Conemaugh Twp., Somerset Co., PA
Bird No. 2 Mine, near Johnstown, Tire Hill, Conemaugh Twp., Somerset Co., PA
Bird No. 3 Mine, near Johnstown, Tire Hill, Conemaugh Twp., Somerset Co., PA

I need to do a little more researching on the coal mines in Pennsylvania