Jacob Irven Greenawalt Sr. in the news in 1932

Found this little gem this morning.  It places Jacob Irven Greenawalt Sr. residing in far north Pennsylvania (Pine Grove, Warren County, on the border with New York) late in his life.  Also interesting is that the old man taken to the hospital (Jacob) was not the focus of the article--it was the Good Samaritan slightly injured in his rescue efforts and confined to his home.

THE OIL CITY DERRICK, SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1932

LOCAL MAN HURT NEAR MARIENVILLE
Allen Rehr Injured Helping Victim of Crash; Condition Good

Allen Rehr, 11 East Third St., is confined to his hom with injuries sustained about 10:15 a.m. Friday near Marienville, while helping extricate another man for under an overturned automobile. His injuries are painful but not serious; his condition last night was reported as good.

Jacob Greenawalt, 76, West Pinegrove, the man Rehr was assisting when hurt, in in the Kane(?) hospital, where his condition Friday evening was reported as not serious. He is suffering considerably from shock.

Rehr and John Bridge, 34 Pearl Ave., National Transcript Company employees, found Greenawalt pinned under his car. According to reports, another automobile stopped and the occupants rendered aid. A fourth car, it is said, crashed into the parked machines as Rehr was entering his car. Bridge was uninjured and brought Rehr to his home her.

Greenawalt was taken to the hospital by Theodore Johnson, Bradford.

Obituary for Jacob Irven Greenawalt Jr.

Yes, that handsome guy in the blog header, my great-grandfather.

LEADER-TIMES, KITTANNING, PA
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1962

J. Irven Greenawalt

A resident of Oak Ridge for the past 45 years, J. Irven Greenawalt, 75, died at 11:15 pm Saturday (March 10 1962) at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Greenawalt was born Jan. 6, 1887 at White Cloud, Mich., a son of Jacob I. and Margaret (Gallentine) Greenawalt. He was a retired Pennsylvania Railroad engineer, having worked for 45 years until his retirement in 1952.

He was married to the late Violet (Blair) Greenawalt in 1909. He later married the late Margaret (Bailey) Greenawalt in 1920.

Mr. Greenawalt was then married to the former Gladys [(Milliron)] Jamieson, who survives along with three daughters, Mrs. Chester (Alma) Choncek of Kittannin, Mrs. Hilton (Virginia) Minich of Fairmount City RD 1, Mrs. Donald (Jeanette) Klepfer of Mayport RD 11; two step-daughters, Mrs. Robert (Mary) McCanna and Mrs. Bernard (Ruth) Shank, both of Kittanning.

Four sons, Joe of Ashtabula, Ohio, Edward of West Kittanning, Ray of Youngstown, Ohio, Malcolm Bailey of Oak Ridge; a step-son, Gerald Jamieson of Atwater, Calif.; four sisters, Mrs. Charles (Lettie) Gray of Philipston, Mrs. Minnie Corley of New Kensington, Miss Jane Greenawalt of Widnoon, Mrs Byron (Flora) Anthony of Widnoon; three brothers, Lee of Saskatchewan, Canada, Myron E and Joseph V., both of Sligo. Also survivin are 35 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

A son, Joseph I. Greenawalt, preceded his father in death on Oct. 28, 1961, and a brother, Lyman T. Greenawalt, also preceded Mr. Greenawalt in death.

Mr. Greenawalt was a social member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of New Bethlehem and was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.

Friends are being received at Reitz funeral home, New Bethlehem. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Tuesday at Oak Ridge Methodist Church. Rv. A.R. Babbit, assisted by Rev. William Shick, will officiate. Interment will take place in Rimersburg cemetery.

Obituary for Jacob Irven Greenawalt III

He's not in my direct line, but I was still sad and excited to find it.  The obituary included a picture, and he so much resembles many of my Greenawalt cousins that it broke my heart.

LEADER-TIMES, KITTANNING, PA

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1961

Serviceman Funeral Will Be Thursday

OAK RIDGE -- Funeral services will be held at 2pm Thursday in the Oak Ridge Methodist Church for SP4c Jacob Irven Greenawalt, 21, or Oak Ridge.

SP Greenawalt died on Oct 28, 1961, iun the US Army Hospital in Badcannstatt, Germany, of injuries received in an accident at 6pm that day near Neuenstedt, Germany, on Highway 19.

Greenawalt was assistant driver on a 2-1/2 ton vehicle which turned over when the driver failed to negotiate a turn. Hospitalization was required for the driver and eight passengers at the US Army Hospital in Badcannstatt.

Greenawalt was given medical assistance at the scene of the accident and was pronounced dead on arrival a the hospital. He was serving with Company "A" 126 Ordinance Batallion, Fourth Armor Division, at Neu Ulm, Germany.

Greenawalt was born Aug. 4, 1940, in Oak Ridge. He was the son of J. Irven and Gladys Cora (Milliron) Greenawalt.

Greenawalt was graduated in 1958 from Redbank Valley High School. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Oak Ridge.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, wo reside in Oak Ridge, are five brothers and five sisters: Malcom Bailey or Oak Ridge; Gerald Jamison of Atwater, Calif; Edward Greenawalt of West Kittanning; Joe Greenawalt of Ashtabula, Ohio; Raymond Greenawalt, Youngstown, Ohio; Mrs Donald (Jeanette) Klepfer of Mayport RD 1; Mrs Hilton (Virginia) Minich of Fairmount City RD 1; Mrs. Robert (Mary) McCanna, Mrs Bernard (Ruth) Shank, and Mrs Chester (Alma) Chocek, all of Kittanning.

A maternal grandfather, Frank Milliron of Kittanning RD 2, also survives.

Friends will be received tonight and tomorrow afternoon and evening at the Reitz funeral home, New Bethlehem, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Rev. Arthur R. Babbit of Summerville will conduct services. Military services will also be held. Interment will be in Rimersburg Cemetery.

Ha! I love it when I stumble on new sources and new NAMES! Last night I found SeekingMichigan.org, which has a selection of death records scanned. I found four previously unknown ancestors of great great grandmother Margaret Ann Gallentine.

This first death record is for Margaret's father, John W. Gallentine (b. 25 Dec 1838; d. 3 May 1905). I previously had no record of his parents, but lo and behold, both names are recorded: Abraham Gallentine and Louisa McKnight! The information was given by his wife Mary Wilson Gallentine.

This next death certificate is for Mary's mother, Margaret, who lived with Mary and John after Mary's father died. I had no record of her maiden name, let alone her parents. Imagine my glee upon seeing both her parents' names recorded: Charles Anderson and Amy Henry.  So she is Margaret Anderson Wilson (b. 24 Dec 1825; d. 4 Jan 1904).

Last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair

One of the documents I discovered at the Clarion County courthouse: The official record of the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair.  Below is a pic of the most pertinent text.  Joseph's mis-spellings were left by the transcriber, but underlined.

Now here is my transcription (spellings corrected) of the FULL transcription, including all the legal mumbo-jumbo and rigamarole.  Not all of the wills in the volume had this, so I'm thinking perhaps it was necessary because he died in Ohio, owned property in Ohio, but his will was executed in part in Pennsylvania.  Regardless, it's all here, every word of the seemingly endless certifications and truths and whole truths and nothing but the truths.

Last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair

I, Joseph Blair of Youngstown, County of Mahoning and State of Ohio, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made.

First, I direct that all my just debts and liabilities of my estate be paid and discharged by hereinafter-named executor as soon as conveniently may be after my death.

Second, I direct that my body be interred beside that of my deceased wife Clara in the Rimersburg Cemetery.

Third, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lena B. Blair, inter married to D.H.Mortimer, all my household goods and lot and house, situated in Parkwood Ave in Youngstown, Ohio, known as City Lot No. 9818, and the balance of the Estate to be sold and equally divided among all of the other heirs.

I do hereby make, constitute and appoint C.J. Blair of the Borough of East Brady, State of Pennsylvania, to be Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof, I, Joseph Blair, the Testator above named have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the Twenty first day of April, in the year of our Lord on thousand and nine hundred and twenty-three.

Joseph Blair (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Joseph Blair as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names at his request as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other.

C.J. Blair
J.V. Heidrich

Probate Court, Mahoning Co., Ohio
Deposition of J.V. Heidrich, East Brady, Pa, subscribing witness to the last Will and testament of Joseph Blair, Deceased, late of the County of Mahoning, State of Ohio, in said matter pending in the said Probate Court, taken before me, a Commissioner appointed by said Court, pursuant to the [annered?] Commission, on the 23rd day of March, 1926, at East Brady, Pa.

J.V. Heidrich, East Brady, Pa, of lawful age being by me first duly sworn, as hereinafter certified deposes and says: That he was present at the execution of the instrument of writing now before him bearing date of the 21st day of April, 1923, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair, deceased; that he subscribed his name thereto as witness, at the request of said Testator and in his presence; that he saw said Testator sign said instrument at the end thereof, and heard him acknowledge the same to be his Will, and that said Joseph Blair at the time of executing the same was of full age, and of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint.

J.V. Heidrich

The State of Pa., Clarion County (SS:

I, Emery Best, duly appointed and commissioned by the Probate Court of the County of Mahoning and the State of Ohio, to take the deposition of J.V. Heidrich, subscribing witness to the last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair, deceased, late of Mahoning County, State of Ohio, which Commission and the said Will are hereto annexed do hereby certify that in pursuance of said Commission i caused the above named J.V.Heidrich, subscribing witness as aforesaid, to appear before me at the time and place above mentioned; that he was by me first duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in relation to the execution of said Will, and that the deposition by him subscribed as above set forth, was reduced to writing by Joseph Blair, and also so written in the presence of the witness aforementioned, and was subscribed by the said witness, in my presence, and I further certify that I am not counsel, attorney or relative of any of the parties named in said Will, or otherwise interested in the probate thereof.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 23rd day of March, 1926.

(Seal)   Emery Best, Commissioner

My commission expires First Monday of January, 1930.

The State of Ohio, Mahoning County (SS:

Personally appeared in open Court C.J. Blair who being first duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in relation to the execution of the last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair, deceased, deposes and says: That he was present at the execution of the instrument of writing now before him bearing date of the 21st day of April, 1923, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair, deceased; that he subscribed his name thereto as witness, at the request of said Testator and in his presence; that he saw said Testator sign said instrument at the end thereof, and heard him acknowledge the same to be his Will, and that the said Joseph Blair at the time of executing the same was of full age, and of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint.

C.J. Blair

Sworn to before me and signed in my presence by said witness in open Court this 25th day of March 1926.

Clifford M. Woodside
Probate Judge

The State of Ohio
Mahoning County (SS:

I, Clifford M. Woodside, Judge and Ex-officio Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said County, having the custody of the Files, Journals, and Records of said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing is an authenticated copy of the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Blair, late of Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio, deceased, together with the Order of the Court admitting the same to probate and record; also a copy of the Letters Testamentary issued to C.J. Blair as Executor of the Last Will and Testament of the said Joseph Blair, deceased, as the same appears upon the records of said Court; and I further certify that I have carefully compared the foregoing copy with the original record, and that the same is a full and correct transcript thereof.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Youngstown, Ohio, this 25th day of June A.D. 1927.

(Seal) Clifford M. Woodside
Judge and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Probate Court

The State of Ohio, Mahoning County (SS:

I, Clifford M. Woodside, Judge and Ex-officio Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said County and State, the same being a Court of law and of Record, do hereby certify that Clifford M. Woodside, whose signature is attached to the foregoing certificate, is and was at the time of signing the same, Ex-Officio Clerk of said Probate Court, and as such, full faith and credit are due his acts, and that the above certificate and attestation are in due form of law and made by the proper officer.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Youngstown, Ohio, this 25th day of June AD, 1927.

(Seal) Clifford M. Woodside, Judge of said Probate Court

Filed July 26, 1927

Researching in person

When one lives 1300 miles from the areas where family lived, researching family history is pretty much limited to info one can obtain online or by mail.  But this weekend I was in Pennsylvania for a family wedding, so I took the opportunity to drive a just a few hours to Clarion.  Yesterday I spent the morning at the Clarion County courthouse, then drove down to Rimersburg to hike through cemeteries.

I'll post a more about what I learned from wills and cemeteries later.  Right now I wanted to share the info on the four marriage records I found.I printed off each Application for Marriage License image from microfische.  Will scan those and append this post when I get home.  The interest here for me personally is the location of Jacob Irven Greenawalt, Sr.

When Lettie Mae Greenawalt (age 26 and a housekeeper) marries 21-year-old farm laborer Charles Stroud Gray (on 27 Mar 1915 before a Justice of the Peace), she says that her father, Jacob I Greenawalt, lives in Hillthorpe, Canada. (Further research shows that this was near Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, which is where he was in the 1911 Canadian census.)  He's a farmer there, and was born in Toby Twp, Clarion Co., Pa. Her mother, Margaret A Gallantine Greenawalt, lives in Lawsonham, Pa.  She's a housekeeper, and was born in Allegheny Co., Pa.

Five years later, when Minnie Ethel Greenawalt, who is 17, marries 21 year-old miner Herbert J. Shoemaker, (on 15 Jan 1920 before a Justice of the Peace), Minnie says she doesn't know the residence or occupation of her father, J. I. Greenawalt. By this time, Margaret's occupation is 'none', but she still lives in Lawsonham. Because Minnie is just 17, the document states that 'consent of mother filed.'

On 14 Dec 1929, Joseph Victor Greenawalt (age 20 and a miner) married 19-year-old housekeeper Dorothy Belle Gertrude Lucas (age 19). He says his father, J.I. Greenawalt, is a farmer who now lives in Marienville, Pa (Forest County), and was born in Catfish, Pa (that's a new one for me!). His mother, Margaret, is a housekeeper who still lives in Lawsonham.  He obtained his mother's consent before appearing before the county clerk. Dorothy got her father's consent.

Finally, on 28 July 1930, 38-year-old engineer Myron Earl Greenawalt marries 35-year-old housekeeper Hannah Jane McKinney (first marriage for both), father Jacob still lives in Marienville, still a farmer, mother Margaret still lives in Lawsonham, still a housekeeper.

That's it for now.  More research on the docket today!!

Jacob Irven Greenawalt, Jr., Part 2

Click here for Part 1

By January 1920, Violet/Mary has died, and housekeeper Margaret Bailey and her son Malcom are living with the family on Penn Street in New Bethlehem, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Both Jacob and Margaret are widowed. Note that Jacob claims to have been born in Pennsylvania. He rents the house he lives in, and is a salaried engineer with the railroad.


In April 1930, the family is living on Grant Street in Kittannang, Armstrong County, PA. Jacob has married 'Maggie' and Malcom is listed as his son with the last name Greenawalt. The family pays $20 per month in rent, and owns a radio. Here he says he was born in Michigan. He is still an engineer with the railroad.


In April 1942, Jacob registers for the WWII draft. This one's kind of odd--he says he is 58 and was born in 1884, which, if you've been paying attention to the paper trail, you know is patently false. He's 55, born in 1887. I'm thinking he fudged his age as extra insurance against being called up in the draft. By this time he is married to Gladys Milliron Jamieson, and they live on Main Street in Oak Ridge, Armstrong County, PA. They have no telephone, but he is still an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Note that the printing is in the same hand as the signature, but the cursive is different. It's the handwriting of registrar Merle Klahr (whose signature is on the back of the card, not shown).

Additional information on the back: Jacob is 5'6", 220 lbs. He has brown eyes and black hair, light skin with a scar on his forehead. And he certifies that he has given no untrue answers to his knowledge.

Jacob died March 10, 1962 at age 75 and is buried next to his first wife, Mary Violet (or Violet Mary) Blair in Rimersburg Cemetery, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.