Newspapers: Items from the Martinsburg Herald, 1904: Blair Co, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Annie Whiteman
 
RJWNLW65@AOL.Com

USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing free
		information on the Internet, data may be freely used by
		non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all
		copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
		format for profit or presentation by other organizations.

Martinsburg Herald, Jan. 01, 1904

Death of John L. Crawford
Christmas morning while descending the steps at his residence in Altoona John L. 
Crawford fell and was precipitated to the bottom, striking on his head and shoulders 
and sustaining injuries which proved fatal, he having died Tuesday morning, aged 69 
years. His wife and eight sons and daughters survive. Rev. R. O. Crawford, of 
Bowmandale, is a son. Deceased was a former resident of Roaring Spring.

Thursday night at 10 o'clock Mrs. Marietta Rice died at her home at East Sharpesburg 
aged 73 years. Her death was caused by pneumonia. She was born near Henrietta. Mrs. 
Rice was a member of the Reformed church and had a wide circle of friends. One daughter
survives, Mrs. Charlotte Hainley, with whom she lived. Funeral services were 
conducted on Sunday by her pastor, Rev. J. S. Heffner. Interment in the cemetery at 
East Sharpsburg.

The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Leitkam of Stonerstown, died with the 
measles last week, and was buried at Dudley on Thursday. A pathetic incident occurred 
during the wake of the corpse. One of the candles at the head of the body toppled over 
and the flames fell upon the head of the corpse, igniting its hair. Before the flames 
could be extinguished most of the hair was burned and part of the face charred.

Mr. Harvey B. Hershberger eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hershberger, south of 
town, was married to Miss Bertha Snell, Wednesday evening of last week, Dec. ??d, at 
the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Snell, at ??ppecanoe City, Miami 
Co, Ohio.


FOUR GENERALTIONS REPRESENTED
----------
Noted Family Reunion-George Croft Hale and Hearty at the age of Ninety Years.
Editor Herald:
Dear Sir: 
    Kindly let me tell the readers of the HERALD how Christmas 1903 was spent at the 
home of Mr. George Croft, near Woodbury. Christmas day was a happy day at this old 
mountain home. Grandmother Croft having been laid to rest a few years since, a 
son-in-law, Mr. B. F. Longenecker lives with Grandfather Croft.
    For some months, plans were being matured for a surprise for Grandmother 
Longenecker. She had been inviting grandchildren home for Christmas, but no one have 
her any satisfaction. They all told her that they could not come. Nevertheless she 
prepared for them and when they came bringing with them turkeys, chickens, cakes and 
other fats of the farm, it was found that Grandmother had provided so well from the 
abundance of her mountain home that children and grand children, many as they were, 
could not eat the half that had been prepared. 
    No family had more reason to be grateful to a kind Providence on that Christmas 
day than this one. For here was Grandfather Croft, well and hearty, having been spared 
to the ripe old age of almost ninety years. Here was Grandfather and Grandmother 
Longenecker enjoying good health and knowing that, while all six of the children could not 
enjoy Christmas with them, they were all living and well. The oldest of the children 
is Nannie, now Mrs. D. A. Replogle of Williamsburg. The next is Frank, of Toledo, Ohio, 
director of the Toledo Traction Co.'s band and orchestra. The third is Harry, a 
professor in the Berkley High School, of Berkley, Cal. The fourth is Lotta, now Mrs. 
S. H. Replogle of Altoona. The fifth is Malissa, now Mrs. Samuel Frederick, of Henrietta, 
and Lorrine who is yet at home. All of these were present except Frank and Harry, 
who were missed very much. Then there were the grandchildren to make glad and lively 
the day. Nine of these are Replogles, four of Mr. D. A. Replogle's, Earl, May, Margaret 
and Marie; five Mr. S. H. Replogle's, Camilla, Jo, Ned, Ruth and Clara. Two are 
Fredericks; Frank and Benjamin. Now if that far away from California baby cousin could 
have been three, there would have been one round dozen grand children! One grandchild, 
Beatta, a little son of Mr. D. A. Replogle, has been at rest for some few years. To 
him it was given to keep watch with the angels over this happy family on this glad 
Christmas day.
    It was not altogether a surprise to Grandmother Longenecker, for she had prepared 
for us, and had sent Grandfather Longenecker to the hills to keep a look out for us, 
while she anxiously watched for us from the upstairs windows; for she had been given 
such little encouragement that she had almost lost hope. Almost dinner time her 
anxiety was turned to joy by the appearance of two well filled carriages which she at 
once recognized.
    The dinner was a feast. The afternoon was spent in mingling of happy voices of 
children, parents and grandparents and in relating sweet reminiscences of the glad 
days gone by.
    Late in the evening there was a reluctant dispersion for the several homes, each 
one carrying with him or her memories of the moment spent at the old mountain home of 
Grandpap Croft Christmas 1903.
S. H. Replogle