Fanny Ethel SANTMYER

Notes:

Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley was called Ethel by all who knew her -but to her grandchildren she was just "Mom", a name, which I as her first grandchild, bestowed upon her. I think she had a difficult life. I'm not saying her life was unhappy, but I think there were some very hard times. As a young girl she was captivated by Stephen's charm and good looks. Most girls of 21 would be pleased and encouraged with the attentions of a man 10 years their senior, and, indeed, she was. She was falling in love - and that should have been the happy beginning. Instead, her parents refused to allow her to be courted by Stephen. I believe, because of his age, they thought him too worldly and a lady's man. It troubled her deeply to go against her parents, but she continued to see Stephen away from under their watchful eyes. Love blossomed! They eloped! They were married at the McBroom family hotel on 8th Avenue in Homestead, Pa. The hotel was run by Margaret and John McBroom, Stephen's aunt and uncle. Ethel and Steve lived here in the hotel until 1913. This should have been such a happy time for Ethel and it would have been except that her Papa had disowned her. He ban her from visiting and refused to go to see her. Her mother did visit her after a while. In 1914, she and Steve had moved to Flatwoods, Pa. It was here that their first child, James Richard (named for his grandfathers), was born. It was after the birth of James that Papa eased up on his stand toward Ethel and Steve's marriage. The family accepted Steve, and once they really got to know him, they loved him dearly.

Ref: Based on information told to me by my grandmother, Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley

"Mom" always had a special story to tell. Her bedtime stories were far better than any story from a book. Sometimes they were scary, other times they were like fairy tales, but most often they were about kids just like me. As I grew into my teens and young adulthood, the bedtime stories were replaced with talking about my interests and friends. It was during these years that we talked a lot about her parents and siblings. After a time I began to feel as if I had actually known all of them. Her stories of her family were so vivid, that they seemed to come alive to me. I never tired of hearing her talk of her family and her growing up years. This was actually the beginning of my interest in the "family tree".

Ref.: Family records and papers located in the family Bible.
Marriage cert. 21137-H Death cert. 053560
Newspaper obit.
Interviews with Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley, Helen Rowley Robert, Billie Rowley MacArthur and James Richard Rowley.
My own recollections.

Fanny married Stephen John ROWLEY 30 Dec 1911, Homestead, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Stephen was born 24 Mar 1880, Mansfield, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania; died 4 Mar 1971, Coraopolis, Moon Twp, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania; was buried 8 Mar 1971, Perryopolis, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania at Mt Washington Cemetery. [Group Sheet]

1. James Richard ROWLEY

Notes:

When James and Helen married they were both living in Allegany Co., MD. James listed his occupation as a miner on their marriage application which was issued on 20 August 1875. There was no record of the marriage as the minister did not return the license. Helen was listed as a maid of 17 and James as a 21 year old. When they were first married, the couple lived in Keyser, WV. They were probably in Keyser until about 1884. From Keyser, the family moved to MT. Pleasant, PA. It's confusing as to how long they remained in MT. Pleasant. Interview notes show the family in Scottsdale, PA from 1890 to 1895. But, these same notes list Minnie's 1888 birth in Scottsdale, F. Ethel's 1890 birth in Scottsdale and Margaret's 1895 birth in Star Junction, PA. F. Ethel Santmyer Rowley supplied all the above information. However, the copy of Ethel's and Stephen's marriage certificate gives MT. Pleasant as her place of birth. I think she probably remembered her place of birth better at age 21 than at age 85. This would place them in MT. Pleasant until May 1890 and would still allow for the move to Scottsdale in 1890. Margaret's birth in June of 1895 places them in Star Junction and still allows for them to be in Scottsdale in the earlier part of that year. They remained in Star Junction until 1918 when they moved to Homestead, PA. The family lived on a rented farm in Scottsdale. James was working for the B&O Railroad. He was an engineer on the passenger train that ran from Scottsdale to South Bend (an area in Westmoreland Co.). B&O wanted to move the family to South Bend, but before the move transpired there was a train wreck at South Bend. His wife, Helen, then refused to move as she didn't want him to have that dangerous run. James then took a more local run and the family moved to Star Junction. It appears that the family attended the Methodist Episcopal Church during their early years in Star Junction. Somewhere around 1902 they were attending the Baptist Church, Helen was baptized here on 17 December 1905. I had no record of James being baptized, but would have to guess, he was. Around the 1920's they became Christian Scientists - perhaps when they moved to Homestead. James belonged to the Knights of Pythias, Prospect Lodge 507, Star Junction and to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Tygarts Valley Lodge No. 284. Upon moving to Homestead, James operated a grocery and confectionery store at 141 East 16th Avenue from 1918 until January 1922, when he retired. He and Helen then went to live with their daughter Ethel and family in Hayes, PA. He died while visiting at his son Oscar's home in Star Junction. The Ira Blair Funeral Home in Perryopolis handled the funeral arrangements. James was buried in MT Washington Cemetery in Perryopolis, PA.
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James was a red head.
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Records vary with date and even name for the birth of James:
*Family Bible: James Jacob Santmyer b. 5 November 1854
*Marriage application dated 20 August 1875: James Santmyer age 21
*Death certificate #78827 James J. Santmyer dob 5 November 1854
*Courthouse records in VA, Rockingham Co.:
Birth - James S. Santmyers 14 September 1858
Father Harrison Santmyers - Occupation Blacksmith
Mother Lad Santmyer
Residence Portsmouth Furnace
*Charted Information from Fred M. Chilcott:
James Isreal Santmyer b 5 November 1854
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1880 CENSUS WEST VIRGINIA, Vol. 2, Mineral Co.
K023 (Keyser-New Creek area)
Santemier, James - age 24 - RR Fireman - VA - VA - GR
" Helen 21 - Keeps house - MD - MD - MD
" Harry 4 - MD - VA - MD
" Oscar 1 - MD - VA - MD
Neff, David - boarder - 28 - RR Fireman - MD - MD - MD
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1900 CENSUS PENNSYLVANIA, FAYETTE CO., PERRY TWP.
Santemeyer, James P. age 54 b. MD
" Y Helin age 50 b. WV
" William age 33 b.
" Oscar Y age 31 b. MD
Other children: Mimi, Ethel, Donald and Margaret
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For his 53rd birthday a number of his friends presented him with a "magnificent chair". I wonder if this is the same chair that appears in many photos of him in his later years?
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Ref: Family records and papers located in the family Bible
Interviews with Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley
Death cert. 10935 File No. 78827
Marriage Application from Allegany Co., MD
Newspaper articles

James married Helen Marr SHAW 24 Aug 1875, Moscow, Allegany Co., Maryland. Helen was born 17 Jan 1859, Morgantown, Monongalia Co., Virginia (West Virginia); died 27 May 1927, Pittsburgh (Crafton), Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania; was buried May 1927, Perryopolis, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania at Mt Washington Cemetery. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

There is a great possibility that Helen's family relocated to Morgantown, VA (now WV) shortly after Helen's birth. Her father, William Burns Shaw, enlisted in the Union Army at New Creek, VA (now Keyser, WV) and joined for duty on 23 September 1861 in Morgantown. They probably stayed with Helen's uncle - her mother's brother, Andrew Jackson Koontz, who lived in Morgantown with his family. By late 1862, the family was back in Barton/Moscow, MD. The Civil War must have had a tremendous effect on Helen, for even though she was very young (she was only four when the war ended in 1865), she had vivid memories of a Confederate raid on the town. The soldiers ransacked and burned all the businesses, except the general store (which her father ran) and this was because it had bars on the windows and they mistook it for a jail. While the buildings were burning, the soldiers rode through the town with bolts of material that were unrolled and flowing like a long flag behind them. Helen was raised a prim and proper young lady. The family had at least one slave, Mary Perry, who helped raise the children. Helen dearly loved her; Mary was more like a member of the family, than a slave. At the end of the Civil War, she chose to remain with the Shaw family. Even though, Helen came from a well-to-do family and had a lot of advantages, there was a certain amount of sadness during her growing up years. Helen was the fourth child, but her two older brothers were buried even before her birth. Then her younger brother, Millered Stewart, not quite two, died in 1867. Less than a year after her marriage, her father died. Her brother Oscar K. died in 1884 and her little sister, Minnie, in 1886, followed by her mother a few months later. By the time Helen was 26, she had lost her entire family, except for her older sister, Fannie Susan.
Helen married at 17 to James J. Santmyer, who was employed as a coal miner, and most likely worked in the Shaw Mines. In 1882, her mother, along with Oscar and Mary (Minnie), moved to Keyser, WV. Her brother, Franklin, was managing a hotel in Keyser, and they possibly went to live with him or near him. It is also possible that Helen and James moved to Keyser around that time - however by 1884 they were in MT. Pleasant, PA. Even though the move to PA put many miles between Helen and her family and relatives, she always kept close ties to them. Helen frequently traveled the great distance by train to join her relatives for weddings, funerals or other special occasions. In her later years, Helen joined the Christian Scientist religion. In 1927 she came down with pneumonia - following the beliefs of her religion, she refused medical treatment. Helen died from the pneumonia. The Wm. I. Stewart Funeral Home in Swissvale, PA handled all the arrangements; she was buried in MT. Washington Cemetery in Perryopolis, PA.

Ref: Family records and papers located in the family Bible
Interviews with Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley
Death Cert. 10919 File No. 58700
NATIONAL ARCHIVES - pension records for service of her father in the Civil War
MARRIAGE APPLICATION - on file in Allegany Co., MD
Baptismal Cert. - Star Junction Baptist Church

Notes:

According to family lore, Harrison Santmyer, supported the South during the Civil War. I was told by my Grandmother (Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley), that her grandfathers, William Burns Shaw and Harrison Santmyer, fought against each other during the war. I have found no evidence that Harrison actually fought in the Civil War. He was, however, involved in copper and wagon building during the War. Thus far, I have not been able to pinpoint his location during the War years. In 1860, Harrison lived in Hardy Co., VA (now WV). Prior to that, in 1854, he was in Rockingham Co., VA. I have to wonder if perhaps he may have returned to Hardy Co. to support the Union. Or perhaps, did he bring his wife and children back to Lost River to stay with her family, while he went off to serve in the Confederate, or, possibly the Union Army. Their sixth child, Aaron, was born in 1861. All previous children were born two years apart, followed by a three year gap between George and Aaron. Then there was not another birth until 1867. Could the reason for the six year gap be that Harrison was engaged in the War? By 1870, Harrison, now in MD, had buried Leah and their two youngest children, married again and started a second family. The family was in VA in 1876 and by 1879, had settled in PA. This is where they finally put their roots down in Fayette Co., Mt. Pleasant area. All his children from his first marriage, except Emily, were on their own by 1880. He died from a gun shot would, inflicted by his own gun. One story is that he was cleaning his gun and it went off accidently - another is he held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
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ROCKINGHAM CO., VA - BIRTH RECORDS IN COURTHOUSE
Birth - James S. Santmyers - Born Sept. 14, 1858 at Capon Furnace
Father Harrison Santmyers - Occupation Blacksmith
Mother Lad Santmyer
Residence Portsmouth Furnace
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1860 TAX LIST: HARDY CO., VA (WV)
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1860 CENSUS: DISTRICT 1, HARDY CO., VA
Name: HARRISON SANTIMIRE
State: WV
County: Hardy County
Township: Wardensville P.O.
Year: 1860
Record Type: Federal Population Schedule
Page: 558
Database: WV 1860 Federal Census Index
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1870 CENSUS: ALLEGANY CO., MD
1880 CENSUS: UPPER TYRONE, FAYETTE CO., PA
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*RECEIVED FROM GLENN SANTMYER - DATED 1 AUGUST 1985:
"Harrison's death was self-inflicted (of this I am positive) and he is buried in MT. Pleasant, PA cemetery. My father made the gravestone on his burial place." (Glenn's father J. Joseph is the son of Harrison and Catherine Howell Santmyer.) "Harrison was born in Shenandoah Co., VA in 1828. He died in 1905. My grandfather was a son of Barney Santmyer and Martha Elly Caine, both of Shenandoah Co., VA. Both were born and died there. They were of some substance and property. Barney's father was Jacob Santmyer and mother Jane Knapps. They were married in Frederick Co., VA in 1794. I have related Jacob back to Lancaster Co., PA where he was a member of the 2nd Lancaster Militia during the American Revolution in the 1770's (these records are in the PA archives). In the 1790's Jacob served in the VA Militia in Winchester, VA. Quite a number of Santmyers were in the Confederate army during that war including Harrison's brothers and nephews, - but not Harrison. He conducted a blacksmith and horse dealing business during the war period."
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*NOTE ON THE CHILDREN OF HARRISON & CATHERINE HOWELL SANTMYER:

Izetta Barbour lists the children as: Isaac B., Jasaby, Frank, Joseph and Brouciu.
Colleen Zak's lists the children as: Jacob, Robert, Isaac B (and step-daughter Emma)

I have found in my research records of the following children:
Jacob H., Lily, Robert R., Isaac Benton, Joseph, Franklin D. and Brancin. Lily and Jacob were twins. I have not found a death record for Lily, but her death was before 1880.
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REFERENCES:
*FAMILY RECORDS & PAPERS IN SANTMYER FAMILY BIBLE.
*INTERVIEWS WITH FANNY ETHEL SANTMYER ROWLEY
*INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY FRED M. CHILCOTT, GLENN SANTMYER, GERILEE SANTMYERS & JAN JENNIER
*US CENSUS RECORDS
*TOMBSTONES AND CEMETERY RECORDS
*OBITUARIES
*NEWS ARTICLES
*BIRTH RECORDS
*TAX RECORDS
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY IZETTA BARBOUR, COLLEEN ZAK, CHIP HIXON AND RON SANTMYERS
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DIRECTIONS TO MT PLEASANT CEMETERY:
Take Rte 31, which becomes Main St. in the town of Mt. Pleasant; just on the edge of town, turn left at the corner of 31/Main and Raddock or Braddock St. At the corner is the Mt Pleasant Church of God. The cemetery is just a short distance down the road on the right. Catherine is buried beside Harrison. There are several other Santmyers buried in same area and two more graves closer to the cemetery road.


This from Linda Casey, July 2010: "My aunt, Gertrude Santmyer Dettling, told me that Harrison had worked in the mines and was told he was no longer needed, probably because of his age. He was despondent for almost a year when he shot himself in the bedroom. My mother was Melva Santmyer Devorak."

William married Leah CHILCOTT 23 Dec 1849, Lost River, Hardy Co., Virginia (West Virginia). Leah was born 8 Nov 1823, Lost River, Hardy Co., West Virginia; died 1868, Westernport, Allegany Co., Maryland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Leah at the time of her marriage was 26, five years older than her new husband. By the time her last child, Charlotte, was born Leah was 44 years old. Little Charlotte died soon after her birth. I believe, based on the age of Leah, the death of the infant and the fact that Harrison was remarried by 1869, that Leah died of complications of childbirth. I suspect she died following the birth in 1867 or at least early in 1868. As to the place of death, I think a search should be done in Hardy Co., WV or Allegany Co., MD. UPDATE: Recently located information indicates that another child was born to Leah & Harrison after Charlotte. Fanny was born in 1868 in Allegany Co., MD and died after 1870 but prior to 1880. With this new information, I strongly suspect Leah died and is buried in Allegheny Co, MD

Ref: Family records and papers located in the family Bible.
Interviews with Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley.
Information contributed by Fred M. Chilcott, Glenn Santmyer, Gerilee
Santmyers and Jan Jennier.
Rockingham Co., VA courthouse records (See Wm. Harrison Santmyer)


Note: Information contributed by Izetta Barbour (source Colleen Zak) gives Leah's year of birth as 1836 and Harrison's as 1829. Colleen obtained this information from the 1860 VA census for Wardensville, Hardy Co.

Notes:

John Barnet - his name also appears as Barney, Barnet and Barnabas - he seems to have been called Barney by his family. Barney's and Martha Elly's marriage bond was issued 4 October 1816; the bondsman was Jeremiah McNeeley. They were married in that part of Shenandoah Co. which became part of Warren Co. in 1836.

Ref: Information contributed by Gerilee Santmyers

VIRGINIA HISTORIC MARRIAGE REGISTER
Shenandoah County Marriages 1772 -1850, Page 256
Cain, Martha & Barney Sanskrives (Santmyer)
4 October 1816
Dau of William

John married Martha Elly CAIN 4 Nov 1816, Shenandoah Co., Virginia. Martha was born Abt 1800, Shenandoah Co. (now Warren Co.), Virginia; died 3 Jun 1869, Warren Co., Virginia; was buried Jun 1869, St. John's Lutheran Cemetery at Mountain Falls (Winchester), Frederick Co., Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ref: Information contributed by Gerilee Santmyers
Shenandoah County Marriages (see John Barnet Santmyer)

*This part of Shenandoah Co. now Warren Co.

Note: St John's Lutheran Church Cemetery located on Back Mountain Road off of Route 50 West.