Miss Margaret Writes a Letter

Miss Margaret Sanders was a close friend of  Belle and Will. I don't know how they came to be acquainted but when they ventured into managing a restaurant on Main St. in Butler, she took on the role of cook. She made her way into the hearts of their family and was a part of their lives for many years. 

Apparently Uncle 'Babe' traveled to Butler from Oregon in the late teens or early twenties and the following letter written in 1922 was a result of that visit.

Note the formality - Mr. Barnett, Dear Sir:

Note on this page she uses my dad Ralph's nickname. I had forgotten the second half 'Petey Dink' :)  

And that hint of hope that the letter would not be tossed; and oh the romance in the phrase - 'yours until the Eskimo's wear B.V.D.s'---too funny.

Pittsburgh PA

Aug 29-22

Mr. Barnett,

            Dear Sit:

                        Just a line to see what on earth has happened to you. Was up in Butler for three weeks and was out to Bell's for near one week and Bell said I ought to drop you a card to see if you were really living yet or not.

The youngsters were all well when I was up and they still watch for Uncle Babe to come back. The twins are just fine and Ruth said she stilled loved you five bushel. Pete Dink was in possession of the spoon when I was up there. Every time I set the table I would get their things a little mixed but it did not take them long to let me know about it.

Will was working steady when I was up there. He just got through with a job up in North Washington at Mrs. Barr's brother's.

They made $97 in their berries this year. I think that is fine. Will would like to sell and move back to town again on account of the children's schooling. William wants to go to work but Bell wants him to get a little more schooling.

Bob is my pick. He is as funny as a crutch. Poor Bob if I would say I was going to bake anything Bob would give me no peace until I made it. I made 12 pies & cakes, biscuits and goodness knows what not when I was up there. The kids said they were getting good eats when I was there.

Well Mr. Barnett I hope you won't think I am bold or forward but Will said he wished I would write to you.  Maybe you would answer and they would hear how you were. Hoping that this does not find the waist basket I am yours until the Eskimoes wear B.V.Ds

Margaret Sanders,

973 Deely St

Squirrel Hill Station

Pittsburgh Pa

Who Was 'Babe'?

This is my second post on the contents of the package I received containing some of uncle 'Babe''s belongings. The first post can be found HERE 

It occurred to me that in my haste to begin sharing what was in the box, I didn't really give a background on uncle 'Babe' for any of you who don't know his story.

His given name was James Authur McCorcle Barnett when he was born in Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia, on March 16, 1879. He was the 'Babe' of Robert Francis and Mary Elizabeth (Turner) Barnett and younger brother of Will Barnett. (which makes him Belle's brother-in-law)

Family researchers quickly learn that first and middle names were often flip flopped for unknown reasons and in 'Babe's case he had an additional middle name that got tossed around.

Here are samples of his signatures:

The first two were in his Bible

 The third is from his WWII draft registration card

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, 'Babe', his brother Joseph and family, and their sister Maggie boarded a homesteader's train bound for Oregon. Several other adventurous relatives did the same. Historic maps indicate that he owned 80 acres in 1910.

In the early days of the last century, many Americans came West in search of a better life. Encouraged by the American government, settlers pushed the frontier further and further west, fulfilling what some saw as America's "manifest destiny."

From what records that have been found, for the next 40+ years 'Babe' appears to have made his living as a house painter and paper hanger.

This book of paint samples was in the box which he may have used with his customers.

There is no record that 'Babe' ever married but a future post will include a glimpse that there was one lady who may have been interested and whose letter 'Babe' chose to keep. Hmm.

Just When You Least Expect It . . .

you receive a Treasure Trove.

Back in July I received an e-mail sent by a complete stranger from Oregon. She had found me on Ancestry.

Jul 30, 2017

Hi, I am __________ from Pendleton Oregon. I have a Bible that belonged to Mr. Barnett. It was given to him by his friend and my great grandfather Ance Wilson. I would like to pass it along to the proper descendant. In his handwriting is states his name and date and place of birth and his parents names.

 Aug 02, 2017

My grandfather lived with Babe for a time in Wallowa, but he and my great grandfather were friends of Babe for a long time. I never knew my great grandfather, Ance Wilson, but I think he was a religious man and gave the Bible to Babe. Inscription inside says by A Wilson. The rest of the info is in Babes handwriting.

I think he passed away while my grandfather Fonzy Wilson was living with him, and having no relation, grandpa sort of inherited his stuff. When my grandpa died, my Mom and I went to Wallowa (we lived in Elgin) and cleaned out the house. The Bible was among the things. 

She said one item was missing and I assured her that was not a problem. 
So when my Mom passed away last Aug. we were cleaning out her things and there was an old suitcase that belong to Babe I guess, it had a bunch of his stuff in it. The Bible among them. Mostly old checks and receipts and a pair of false teeth. My grandparents were carpenters, and one census record says Babe was a painter. I never met him, but I think my folds knew him.
We both had a laugh over that.

Fast forward to today and the arrival of the box. Not only does it include Uncle Babe's Bible but several letters, cards, and bank books to name a few of the other items.

I am especially thrilled to have received the personal letters and will be sharing the rest of the items over the next few days.

Sepia Saturday - 15 July 2017

This week's Sepia Saturday theme photo

Sports - Spectators - Fashion

Ping Pong

Class of 1942

Click HERE for more Sepia Saturday photos

Sepia Saturday - 08 July 2017

My interpretation for this week's prompt . . .

A day of leisure 

My paternal grandparents with family and friends

at McConnell's Mill.

They certainly did get 'gussied' up for an afternoon outing.

This mill has attracted tourists from near and far for generations.

It is located along Slippery Rock Creek 

in a deep gorge created in the Ice Age

with swift white water, boulders and large trees.

Be sure to join Sepia Saturday 'here'

Sepia Saturday - 02 July 2017

Seeing Eye to Eye

circa 1949

Joining Sepia Saturday

Dividing Family Lands

As family historians we share what we have gathered knowing we have given the time and done our best with what we've found.  We open and close our research with an open mind that something new may come to light down the line and that's o.k.

I begin this post with that statement because the information that follows contains some correction to facts that have been updated. It originally appeared that Belle's great grandparents Jacob and Mary Ann (Cornelius) Covert had obtained land in Mercer County as the result of the Bounty Lands Act for his service in the War of 1812.

• He did serve in the War of 1812
• He did purchase land in Mercer County
• That land was not his bounty lands. (the search goes on for those acres which now appear to have been located in Butler County.

As the community around West Liberty, Butler County continued to grow, in April of 1856 Jacob made the decision to purchase one hundred acres of land along Wolf Creek in Liberty Twp., Mercer County. This tract was bought from James McClintock. It was a part of an original land grant to George Taylor. Once again the wagons were loaded and Jacob and Mary Ann along with their youngest son Jacob D. set off for this new land of opportunity.  While in those days transportation was by horse and wagon, the new location was only ten miles to the northwest from West Liberty, and the family continued to be active in both areas.

Three months after the move Jacob sold twenty-five acres of the new tract to his son-in-law John W. Campbell and nineteen acres to his son William.

During the same time period some of his adult children also made the move to Mercer County. They were Mariah who first married Henry Campbell and later, Wm. Dale; Isaac M. married (Belle's grandfather) to his second wife Nancy Campbell; as well as William married to Catherine Adams; Elizabeth Jane, married to John H. Campbell; and John V. married to Clara Taggart.  Jacob's son Lucas, married to Elsie Douglas, chose to move to Iowa between 1850 and 1860.  Daughter, Rose Ann married before the family move and settled with her husband, James Thompson in Cherry Twp, Butler County. He was a casualty of the Civil War and she later married Thomas Campbell and a third time to John Turk. Maps of that time also indicate that other families from the West Liberty area moved to Mercer County also.

Several of these names can be seen on the map above along the northern border of the township near Wolf Creek. For a closer look: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3823m.la000774/ 

Being in their seventh decades, Jacob and Mary Ann built their new home along Wolf Creek just southwest of the village of Pine which would later become Grove City. They were probably glad to sit back and watch the family grow surrounded by grandchildren to dote on. Their youngest son, Jacob Decalb Covert lived with them and he and his wife, Sarah (Bixler), raised their family there.

Land records also show that in 1864 Jacob sold property to a granddaughter, Mary E. (Campbell) Miller. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Jane (Covert) Campbell. Mary had recently been widowed when her husband James Y. Miller was a casualty of the Civil War. Her husband's family lived in the area as well and it appears everyone came together in helping her become settled nearby to raise her two children. This sales agreement also stated that Isaac M. was a co-seller but no earlier deed from Jacob to Isaac has been found. The 1860 census of Liberty Twp. records that Isaac M. owned real estate. Yet another land record mystery.

Jacob also sold property to George Clupper, the husband of a niece, Isabella (Vogan) Clupper.  Isabella was the daughter of Jacob's sister Sarah (Covert) Vogan and she and her husband were residing with Isabella.

The last tract of land, eight and one half acres, that Jacob sold was too James Christy in 1868. This left Jacob about fifty-three acres of the original one hundred he purchased in 1856. Those acres were bequeathed to his youngest son, Jacob Decalb Covert.

Having acquired many acres of land over the years, Jacob could go to his grave knowing he had provided well for his family. In his eighties Jacob wrote his will in which he stated that he was leaving his home and acreage to his youngest son Jacob Decalb Covert. To his other living sons he gave one dollar since he had helped them with their lands earlier and his living daughters five dollars. His remaining assets were left to his beloved wife, Mary Ann.

excerpt from a Covert Family research project I am co-authoring.

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