The histories that are listed below were written by:

Vernon Wesley Lankford
Bertha Mae (Seevers) Lankford
Giles Alpheus Seevers
Dorothy Ellen (Seevers) Ackerman (1)
Dorothy Ellen (Seevers) Ackerman (2)
Ethel (Barrows) Shilling

Following is the family history written by Vernon Wesley Lankford. Vernon was the son of Clinton Blaine Lankford and Bertha Mae (Seevers) Lankford. He married Myrle E. Daniels. Vernon was born on February 10, 1919 and died on November 30, 1978. He was the grandson of Noah Matheny Seevers and Rosetta Mott, the great grandson of Daniel D. Seevers and Catherine Matheny and the great, great grandson of William Seevers and Elizabeth Devol. This was sent to me by Vernon’s daughter, Christine Ann (Lankford) Dettorre.

This a family history written by Vernon Lankford.

It is only fitting that the story of my life should begin with my parents who gave me this life.

My father was born and raised in the family home at Sandhill in 1885. My mother was born in Illinois two years later, but early in life moved with her family to Cornerville, a mere distance of about five miles away. There, in that small community, their lives crossed and they were married in 1907. Shortly thereafter they moved to a small lumber camp called Crestmont in the mountains above Charleston, West Virginia. It was there in 1909 that brother Harry was born and two years later, my sister Dorothy.

Shortly after, the family returned to Ohio; first to settle “down on the run” to a small house that Dad built on property given or purchased from his father. He traveled back and forth to his job at the Marietta Chair Company by bicycle; a most demanding and difficult time he must have had! Finally moving to Marietta, he suffered the hardships of World War I and the 1918 flu epidemic in a rented house on Ridge Street at the top of Quarry Street hill. Later they moved to the house of my birth at 732 Seventh Street and back to Sandhill in the rented big white house surrounded by cedars across the road from Berthy Miller’s store.

THE FIRST DECADE: 1919 - 1929

It was at this home the first recollection of my life occurred. I vaguely remember the spacious house, the trees and yard where I played, and of being frightened by a screech owl one night; of family gatherings with both the Lankfords and Seevers family. Many times my mother mentioned that this home and this short period of our lives were the most pleasant in her memory.

Then it was back to town again to a house at 7ll Wayne Street. Here I remember more of the happenings in my life; good neighbors, the Johnny Jacksons and the Dovenbarger boys next door. I remember the death of President Warren G. Harding. I was about four, and for some unexplainable reason, I began telling the neighborhood that he was my cousin. The old Goins Store next door and the German Shepherd dog, which I was probably teasing, that took a nip out of my chin.

The move to our final family home took place about 1924. The house on Montgomery Street; bought this time with much worry and fretting by my father, who was not particularly a good business man, but prodded by my mother, he took the plunge and went into debt; a house that was doomed to be re-financed later and almost lost due to the layoffs in the depression days of the thirties. I remember the giant concrete cross outlined with electric lights that had been erected in the front yard; why we never knew, but the first improvement was to dig a hold alongside and topple the cross into it, where I suppose it lies buried to this day.

Dad acquired a car, a Model T Ford. Mom bought a Maytag washer that she financed by taking in washings, and a telephone she paid for the same way. It was here I remember well the September morning that the Shenandoah broke up over Ava spilling its crew and passengers over the Noble County countryside and creating a spectators’ paradise for many days among the death and destruction. Harry and his friends visited the site and returned with some interesting stories and a twisted bit of aluminum that stayed in our box of souvenirs for many years.

In the summer of 1926 my grandmother, Catherine Redfox Lankford, took sick and Mom and I stayed most of the summer at the house on Sandhill taking care of her. Grandpa worked on the Newt Thorniley farm and pumped oil and gas wells so was unable to take care of her. She had angina and some other respiratory problems and was unable to lie down. She spent most of her time reclined in a Morris chair and many times almost expired, unable to get her breath. In spite of the sickness, this summer remains in my memory as one of the most enjoyable. The schoolyard was all sand, a country store nearby, trips to my cousins, the Longs, down the road; Albert and his two sisters, Jennie and Marie, all unmarried, kept a “neat as a pin” little farm, and so happened to like their 7 seven year old little cousin to stop in for cookies and milk. There were other children to play with, helping Dad and Grandpa in the garden, and just the novelty of being in the country made a most enjoyable summer.

We all made many friends on Montgomery Street. There were children of all ages. My special friend was Paul Chapman and we went everywhere together, exchanged presents at Christmas and on our birthdays. As we became older we made other friends from further away. Our good friends, the Jim VanFossens, lived next door, and our families were to remain friends for many years later. They had children of all our ages; Monad, Virgil, Dorothy, James, and John. A Jewish family lived in the old brick house beside the store on Front Street and “Shorty” Magid pastured his cow at the head of Montgomery Street and drove it back and forth for milking each day. He had two daughters, one a cute dark little girl my age whom we called Hucky. There were several other Jewish people in the neighborhood along with several Negro families, but we lived together in complete harmony. There are fond memories of tin can hockey in the street, roller-skating on the sidewalks and wintertime sledding on Montgomery hill. There was adventure among the tall reeds along the river bank, arrowhead hunting along the river bottoms after spring plowing; playing around the old Lobdell building on lower Montgomery Street. The older boys, Harry’s age, would snitch bicycle handle bars from the Lobdell building and mount them on blocks of wood, fill and tamp with black powder, light and move out quickly. What 4th of July fun!

We had our almost weekly visits to Aunt Glady’s and Uncle Jake’s at Reno. They and my six cousins lived in an old house on the banks of the Little Muskingum near the Ohio River. They were a warm-hearted though rough bunch, but there was always something happening. Their father, Dad’s brother, Jake (Cliff) always complained of their destructive nature so therefore made his furniture of angle iron and heavy sheet metal where he worked at the Safe Cabinet Division of Remington Rand.

About this time in our lives, my mother’s maiden aunt came to live with us. Aunt Kathryn was a lovable person and lots of fun. Dorothy was still home and it would appear that we must have been a crowded household but I never remember it being that way.

Kathryn went each day to her job at the Wakefield Cafeteria. Harry also worked there during his high school days part-time. One of his duties was to deliver the prisoners’ meals to the jail across the street. Harry graduated in 1928, then went to work for F. W. Woolworth, eventually being transferred to Peru, Indiana. I remember the Christmas he came home from there bringing gifts for everyone and for me, a big fire engine that I could ride. Dorothy also had married about that time. She and Herb Millspaugh moved from Cincinnati to Columbus where we visited one Christmas. It seemed like a long journey. We used bricks for warming our feet and would stop at a small restaurant at the junction of Route 33 and 50A where we had refreshments and re-heated our bricks for the rest of the trip.

We were always in close contact with my mother’s family, the Seevers clan, who all lived in or near Alliance, Ohio. We would welcome visits from them and look forward to traveling there. My Grandpa Seevers was a great storyteller and Wayne and Earl and their families were always “cutting up”. My mother’s mother, I never knew, but my step-grandmother, Emma, was a gracious lady and I always liked her.

One of my greatest adventures occurred in the late twenties. My Grandfather Seevers, who subsequently lived into his nineties, took sick, thought he was going to die, and summoned the whole clan to Alliance. Mom and I made the trip by train on a snowy winter day, up through Duck Creek Valley to Canton where someone met us by car, thus to Alliance to the house on Cherry Street. We still have a photo of all of us taken outside in the bitter cold. Grandpa looked as healthy as anyone, and we all had fun and a good visit. I believe his sickness was more that of wanting us all together again.

On one occasion we traveled to Alliance with my Uncle Richard, the widower of my Aunt Sophia, who was the owner of a 1916 Buick touring car. It was a distance of 150 miles more or less, but the roads were mostly unpaved and unmarked, resulting in a stop at most every crossroad to inquire the way to the next town on our itinerary. It was a dawn-to-dark trip sometimes resulting in an overhaul of the car before starting back. But not the Buick. It survived the ages until the middle of World War II when it was sold for the precious scrap metal it contained.

About this time, my mother’s sister Vada, who had married Ray Thomas, returned to Ohio. Ray had had a head injury and appeared at our door one night, a refugee from Athens State Hospital. It seems that he had been confined there for observation and had walked away. They never sent him back and although he had some very painful headaches, I cannot remember that he ever received treatment.

THE SECOND DECADE - 1929 - 1939

Ten years old now, I had the usual assortment of childhood diseases. The worst I remember being whooping cough. I had been vaccinated for smallpox and during a diphtheria scare I had a painful shot in the back. I went to Marion School, made new friends, learned a lot of lessons the hard way such as; don’t put your tongue on a frosty iron pipe. I remember the dedicated teachers of that day, and have since compared them with those teaching my own children and have found many of the new breed completely lacking in resourcefulness and ability to deal with children. One of my favorites was Walter Schweikert, my fifth grade teacher, and later to be one of my best friends.

In 1930, the Thurman family, with Ray and Vada, leased a large farm near Watertown that was to become an education in farm life. There were many acres of all types of land for farming and grazing. They grew wheat, corn, all kinds of vegetables, and almost every farm animal for their own use and money crop. There was a large farmhouse with country kitchen for use in preparing meals for threshing crews. All kinds of barns, outbuildings, orchards, and even a small stream for ducks and geese. I recall one time finding several ducklings missing and we caught the thief; a large snapping turtle, and had a feast of turtle soup. The upstairs of the farmhouse was not needed for living quarters and Ray would keep young turkeys in one of the rooms. They thrived in that environment, being a very delicate fowl when young. Ray’s brother, Orville, a boy about my age, and I had some wonderful times on that farm during the summers of 1930-1931. They were drought years and people still remember the unbearably hot summers.

We used to spend some winter days there too. Three miles of the road was inaccessible in the winter months and we used to leave our car in Watertown and ride with Ray in the wagon pulled by a team of horses.

Vernon Wesley Lankford was an upholsterer by trade, as was his father, Clinton Blaine Lankford. They worked together for years until his father's retirement. My brother, Daniel Mark Lankford, also learned the trade from Dad and Grandpa. He worked up to the time of his death on November 30, 1978. He was an elder at Harmar Hill Church of Christ. He also served as councilman on Marietta City Council and later was elected President of Council, a position he held at the time of his death. I remember that all city flags were flown at half staff. He was always a gentleman, humble and fair, and respected by all.

Following is the family history written by Bertha Mae (Seevers) Lankford. Bertha was the daughter of Noah Matheny Seevers and Rosetta Mott. She married Clinton B. Lankford. Bertha was born on March 21st, 1887 and died on January 9th, 1976. She was the granddaughter of Daniel D. Seevers and Catherine Matheny and the great granddaughter of William Seevers and Elizabeth Devolld. This was sent to me by Nancy Williamson.

This a family history written by Bertha Lankford

On this 7th day of may 1954, as I sit here, I have decided to write down a few things of my life. I am 66 now and still feel young in heart.

It seems the first thing I can really remember is back in Illinois. I was crying because my tooth was being pulled. Later my mother said I was only 2 years old but how well I can remember it. Father saying it would not hurt, thou later, several months later, in fact, 4 months later, my mother grieving because my baby sister was born a hare lip. She blamed it all upon holding me while having my tooth pulled. Of course this is impossible, as we know now.

There were three of us then, my dear older sister, Sophia, 4 years older, then I, who I always adored, she, and myself. She a handsome child, dark of skin and hair, eyes full of love for us. How heart aches when look back to those years. Of all my sisters I believe I loved her best of all. Never had much to say, always so quiet and steady. Often I heard my mother say she could always be trusted, whatever she done. An unhappy marriage at the age of 18 to a much older man who adored her. She died at the age of 35, so young and beautiful: so brave in her dying. Died of a ruptured appendix. Then sister Kathryn, Solemn child with her hair lip. She was a beautiful child, dark brown curls, big black eyes, a very quiet somber child, fat and roly-poly. Our next move was back to West Virginia. Can't remember about moving , but can remember living in Cumberland. Over-hanging rocks above our house, the railroad below us: how its big bright head light used to frighten me of night when we would go out on the porch to watch it pass by. They looked like some wild wicked eye peering at me and the noise was so scary to me. How u used to hide in my mother's skirt and how my father used to laugh. My pet name by him was Pet. He would say, " Can't hurt you Pet, Just a train".

Then again packed and ready to move to Illinois again. My father was a restless man, Always wanting to move. He was a hard worker, big and strong and dark, it must have been hard on my little mother , all this moving. She was never very well, small and light around 90 pounds. Such a quiet little mouse. Anything your pa wants to do.

I was very small for my age and active: never still a minute, quick on my feet, so different from my 2 sisters, all; my dad's looks and disposition.

Then in Illinois again. How I love horses. WE always lived on a farm. It was my chore to get the cows of evening. How I hated the cows. Their big wild eyes and horns. I always was afraid of cows and hogs but never horses and they seemed to sense I liked them also. How I loved to stand in the barn door and watch them. Their big hairy feet. Percherons the were: short and heavy how afraid my mother was of me to go there. She always said I should have been a boy and how I wished I had been.

Then one morning when we got up there was a new baby sister, big and bald, such a big baby to my small mother. What a time trying to name her. At last, LaVada was decided upon, shortened to Vada. She should have been a boy, so boyish looking , but so cute. How she grew. Then all to soon came 2 baby girls, twins. How near my little mother came to death then. She never was strong. They were so sweet and Sophia and I used to take one apiece and go to the old orchard swing and sing to them while my mother did her family work. How that old song comes back to me," Oh, The children of the Lord". What happy memories of my older sister and I swinging them. Then on summer morning while we were out playing, Mother washing, I heard my mother call. We rushed in. She said the babies were very ill: run and get your father. He was out in a corn field, plowing corn. The fields were so vast there , they rode riding plows. He looked like a miniature man and horses riding up and down. It seemed a long hot walk for us but at last he reached the end of the row. He had to unhitch and go several miles for a doctor.There was no hope from the first, Cholera infantum they call it. Six months old.The darlings died of each other in 2 days. My Mother's grief was terrible. She was so proud of those babies. She was a very religious woman, and for awhile she said she almost forgot God; Took as well as gave. One evening when we came in from school and Dad home for supper, she was smiling. Dad said, "What is it Etta, you seem like yourself?" She said; "Oh, Noah, I saw my babies today, " How startled we all were. She said such a longing come over her to see her darling, she hardly stand it. All at once there lay my babies one each arm and they looked so peaceful. I know God let me see them once more. Now I am content. How understanding God is to us in our sorrow.

My next chapter is again starting. This time my Mother's sister coming to stay with us, all the way from West Virginia where there are hills. Something we never remember very well. She was very different from our dear Mother. Our Mother was always quiet and sweet, while Aunt Clare was always crabbing, but we loved her. She married while at our home, a tall man. I see him now, thin with a dark mustache, always wearing stripped trousers and derby. We children did not take to him, probably because he was taking our Aunt away.

Then one morning we awoke to another baby, another girl. Such a tiny dark little thing. Aunt Clara insisted we name it for her, so Clara Belle it became: Belle for one of Mother's dear friends who lived near. Auntie was so good to all of us and then 3 weeks after the baby came, my Mother took very ill. Typhoid the Doctor said. How ill she was. Of course , we children never knew how worried poor Dad was: 5 children and a sick wife.At last Mother was out of danger but the Doctor said she must be moved to another climate. It was bad for her there anyway. Those days there were swamps and mosquitoes and this caused Malaria, which my Mother had fever, and ague.

Our next move then was to Ohio. Sophia, 13,; me 9; Kathryn 7; Vada 3; and baby 3 month old Dad had his hands full with Mother. She had to have a bed, not able to sit up even. Poor Sophia was a little Mother at 13, caring for the new baby our long trip from Illinois to Ohio. Was a drain on poor Dad in money and everything. Every time the train would stop, Sophia would let the baby's bottle roll out the window. Of course, it would break. Then our waiting at depots while Dad ran around hunting bottles and milk, carrying poor Mother to the train while I trying to care for our little sister Vada. At last we reached Marietta. Dad hunted up a team of ponies; never will I forget those little black and white ponies. Now we enjoyed the drive to our grandmothers at Cornerville. Kathryn, only 7, cried for fear the trees would fall on us as they hung over the road. We could not remember how hills looked and the old derricks we thought we windmills without wheels. At last we reached our grandmothers. She lived on a hill, which seemed a mountain to us. I helping Vada up, Sophia with the baby and Dad last, carrying our sick Mother.When Grandmother came to the door at Sophia's knock, she thought, what a young mother.n Then Kathryn came and she said, " My God, it's Noah's family, and Etta is dead," for she heard of our mother's sickness. Poor Grandmother, how hard it must have been on her for 7 to run in on her, as our Aunt and uncle lived with her and they had 4 children, all boys and we all girls. We were so shy never knowing many boys, but they were such nice cousins and made us so welcome.

At last Dad started to build our house, after a year with Grandmother, just a 4 room at first. Such a cold , cold winter. At last we moved in around November or December. How nice to be alone and how happy our Mother was. Also Grandmother too no doubt, but she never did say so; Then in March of that year, a baby boy came to us. Clara was only 18 months. How well I remember Dad telling us we should stay all night with Auntie and Uncle and Cousins. What a treat! As we were going over, we met Grandmother with a large red box. She was a midwife also. She always told us she had our brother in that big red box ,and we thought so for years. How different then from now and how innocent we were in those days. A better world for children. We stayed children longer then.

How proud Dad was of his son and Mother too. Although she would never admit it I believe she loved him better than the girls. He was a nice baby, big dark eyes and looked so much like Mother's brother, very quiet and steady boy.

My Mother was better by then and Dad had strawberries to pick. How hard it must have been for Mother to do all the work and cooking for us all, as we had 3 cousins come and stay and pick berries. Sister Vada was about 6 then, and she had a place under a tree, which she called her patch. Berries always grew nice and big near water and shade.While she was picking, Dad going down to see how she was doing and help her, he felt something hit him on the shoe. He wore high shoes. He paid no heed, then it hit higher. He turned and there was a large Copper Head just ready to strike above his shoe. Our little sister had picked all around and over that snake, and God had protected her. Even the snakes seldom bite little ones.

Now our sister Sophia was getting married. Such sewing and quilting. How I remember yet the beautiful October day she was married. Could ever a day be more perfect? One of those drowsy October days when summer hated to say goodbye and let winter rule her out. The Sky so blue and how strange to have a brother-in-law.They moved not to far from us and he worked in the oil field. He was very good to her, but she was far to young to know what love was. She stayed faithful to him, but we all thought she found her mistake. What happy times we had, she and I. I used to stay with them and we enjoyed each other so.

Again, my Father decided to move to Akron this time. Plenty of work there. How we hated to see them go. By this time I also was married and had 2 children, a son and daughter. A darling son, dark eyes and hair white as cotton. Our girl dreamy blue eyes with a faraway look, like she could still see some of heaven yet. Then we got word our mother was dying. Can I ever explain the pain and heart-ache when one loses their Mother?Poor little Mother. Even before they moved, there had been born to them another girl baby, little Lillie Fay, a blue baby. How many times we thought she was dying, revive again. At last at the age of 8 months, she passed away, after long suffering. Again, our parents hearts were torn and again I still remember Mother crying on the day of the funeral." Oh, everyone has their baby but me". How lost she was after laying the little broken body away and came back to the empty house; After so many months of caring for her and loving her. Again, another baby girl, our little Ruby. She was a proud beautiful child, a heart breaker, Mother used to say. She loved me so much. I was Bata to her. Mother was not well. Ass the years drew on, so I took so much care of her. She around 3 or 4 when we found there was another coming. I was engaged to be married then, so I was still home, when the last baby came , another boy. Such a big husky son, Earl my Mother said he should be. He was her pride sure.

What a hard time my Father had to make a living with so many mouths to feed. How my Mother baked bread, 15 to 20 loaves of bread a week, great pans of dough. How hard it was for her to knead such large quantities but we girls had to help. Remember when we used to stand on stools or chairs to knead the dough and wash dishes. Mother never washed dishes; it was our task to do them. Of course, we hated that chore as all children do, but it had to be done. Then long evenings Mother would read a good novel to Father while we children would have to go into another room as we could not play here she read.Such good times we had playing with our paper dolls, or acting out plays. Those good old times. Mother did not read every evening. There were evenings when we popped corn, and Dad sat in the kitchen among us smoothing down ax handles. How he labored on them and they sold for such a small price too.

What happy times we had on Sunday afternoons sitting in the maple grove all together. Seemed there were no worries or cares. Oh how good it was to have us all there. The younger ones playing so happily while we older ones with friends of our age just enjoyed ourselves. why can't parents and children get together now and how much they miss by not being closer.

The old home is gone now; torn down. Yet, I know I will always remember it. Seems as if yet I can see my Mother come out the back door and go down into the cellar. How we used to love the old beech tree growing beside the bedroom, throwing its shade over the little house,. Sister Vada, how she loved to sit in the chicken house door and love to watch the chickens going to roost. She would laugh until she cried at their talk and how one would sometimes push the other off the roost. How the old rooster would be so concerned over his harem. Now she is so far away and we children, some gone beyond, While other across the states, yet so far. Poor Vada, her life was not a happy one, yet she is so cheerful. God is her stand by in all trouble. Would I could have as much faith.

Then came the time when Father again felt her to move to Bellaire, where there was more work. It was hared indeed to keep such a hard family going. Although we girls worked at various things, taking care of babies, helping our neighbors in apple butter time, but how I hated , more than all else, was having strawberry plants. That large hill of plants always had weeds in it.I guess we did more playing than working; so our Father said. Those long summer days-what fun we had! It was not all work. My cousins were all boys,as I said.The oldest my age, and what wonders we discovered. We hunted hollow weeds, made dams while Dad built little miniature saw mills with a can lid with teeth into it with an old pair of scissors with water power from the hollow weed. No wonder I thought boys had more fun. Then the time we two went up on the hill above the highway, finding an old wagon wheel, started it rolling down the wooded hill side. How scared we were when we found it was going to cross the road below- and it did: clear into the creek below. Lucky for us one was in its path. Then the time my older sister picking berries, and black racer got after her. How she screamed and ran. I being a tom boy threw a rock and pinned it to the ground. How Dad and Dick, Sophia's future husband, killed it and hunted for days of the mate, but never found another. Little did we think those times would seem so far away now.

And how one night, a screaming woman running to Grandmothers, rousing every one. Their house was burning. How they brought a woman and her baby to Grandma's. She being deaf and dumb with a baby several months old. How she started to talk the dumb language to us. How sorry we felt for her. Their house burned to the ground, that I remember. How prickles of fear went through us at being allowed to stay up and see the sky lit up by the fire. Being girls we were only allowed to see the reflection while our cousins got to tag the men along.

Well, as I started to say when I was 16, Dad move to Bellaire. Little Ruby, a baby then , and I stayed behind with my older sister and her husband. How I went to the river landing at Reno to see them off. How my heart ached to see my loved ones go so far away. It was far in those days. My poor mother hated to go but wherever Dad went, she was ready. Her sad eyes filled with tears as she left, telling me to be a good girl.

I got to go and visit them. Before they returned and got the children's picture taken. Little Ruby 21 months old. Dear little sweet Ruby, dying at the age of 48 with cancer. So young to die. How sweet she looked in her casket, the flower of youth on her long lashes shading her cheeks and a sweet smile on her dear lips as if she might open her eyes and speak. Of how our Father, now close to 90 years, almost fainted at the parting with his youngest daughter. Such a hard life. Dear old Dad; he had out lived 3 of his grown daughters and buried 2 wives and when his call came he met it so bravely. If only I can take death so calmly. How young and happy he looked in death, not over 65. How everyone remarked how young he looked. Thank God I got to be with him in his last sickness. He always told me he wanted to be with me when death came. He passed away at my youngest brothers. They were so good to him. His wife and children also. He lies buried now beside our Mother near where I can visit their graves.

When they returned to the old home at Cornerville, never will I forget. A little boy I met as I was returning from the grocery said,"Your folks are back".Wayne and Clara were at school today. Mother not telling us as she wanted to surprise us. How I sped to Sophia with the news. How we hurried to see them. How over-joyed to have them back at the old home again.

Later they moved to Akron as I mentioned before. My Mother dying there. If fills my heart with pain just to remember. She did not know me, Just lying there and being delirious and calling the small children, then Dad. Finally at last the poor tired body was quiet, her soul at rest at last. But how our hearts ached to know our little Mother was gone.No one to run to for advise and counsel. Kate, our quiet somber sister, always her mind some where else, but a heart of gold for all in need, seemed to have second sight. She said when I first came,"Mother won't get well". I saw her spirit following her up steps. When almost to the top, she screamed and said," Who touched me?' No one near but Kate sitting in the room below. She said it felt like a icy hand had touched her neck.

Then the long lonely ride on the train to our hometown with the two little ones, 4 and 7 asking where Mamma was and my poor little Mother in the baggage coach ahead. It is years since it happened, but still my heart feels full of tears when I remember. Such a hard life for her and her so frail. So many little ones always holding her down. Surely God has found a place for her near his throne.

My own marriage to such a good man, always so kind and good. Our children are all married now. Such a dear sweet daughter, blue eyed and blonde. Our son in business of his own with a dear wife and darling son, who in a few short years will not be theirs but Uncle Sam's. Our youngest son in business with his father. We thought those two would be all we would ever have, but God sent us another son 10 years younger than his sister. He has been our staff. How we rely on him. He is married now and has one of the sweetest wives ever was. I know, I choose her while he was in service. Two lovely Children, a darling boy, dark eyes and hair, such a darling, our pride and joy; and a small doll of a girl, now 2 months, reddish gold hair and dark eyes.

But how our hearts almost broke when our boy was called to service. How my heart almost broke when we told him good-bye, wondering if ever again we would see him. Then the work he was being sent over seas, without us seeing him before leaving. Then 8 long weeks before any word, hearing of ships being lost with all on board, wondering if our boy, our baby,was lost. Then the delight after hearing he was in the land down under, so far away where only our prayers could reach him. The night when a raging storm came in March when we knew he was on water. How I walked the floor calling on God to care for our boy and wondering where he was. Four long years the war raged on, with his father and I trying to carry on our upholstering shop alone. How it aged us, not knowing what we might hear, but God was good to him and us. He cabled he was coming home. How we thanked God and looked and waited. At last the day came. He seemed the same dear boy that went away; his honorable discharge and home for good. More fortunate than a lot others. Many were lost and sleeping in lonely graves over there, or peacefully here. To young to die, but some way God knows best. Some day we will all understand.

Again, my thoughts return to Illinois, when a child. How on Sundays Company would come. Such cooking and baking on Saturday. Mother killing chickens and baking pies and cakes. How us children always had to wait at the 2nd table as they used to say. Our hungry eyes watching, afraid everything would be gone.Seemed as if they never would get away from the table, just talk and talk. Finally , we would get our turn, necks of chickens or backs, with the flavor of the best gone, but to we children it was nectar of the Gods with our healthy appetite.

Or our turn to visit. How Dad would hitch up the horses and we in our best would ride over the dusty country roads. How I always had to ride up front between Mother and Dad. I loved to watch the horses. How Dad would let me hold one end of the reins. I was in heaven sure then. Dear old Dad. He was so good to us, and still stern when needful.

Again, I will return to the mountains in Virginia where we went when we were married. Such a wild place, crude people, rough looking with a heart of gold under their rough coats. We boarded a while until our house was done. My husband was a trimmer man in a large sawmill there. A funny little log train took us where we wanted to go. One little car for passengers to ride in, a pot bellied stove in one corner, rough men and tired looking women, mostly with babies, the men chewing an spitting on the stove which made such a stench, the women with snuff in their lip( was almost afraid) but how good and kind they were to me and how beautiful everything was when the trees were out. The mountains with their Laurel in bloom and high towering trees making them look ever taller. How one night I was awakened by a walking upon the roof of our house. All company houses one story. Waking my husband, we listened to the steady walk and sniffing, fear of awakening our children, we kept quiet. At last a thud as it leaped to the ground. Then the dogs chasing something out of our hearing. Next morning, large cat tracks around our house. A large wild cat had come down to the smell of fresh meat. We had cut up a hog the night before.

At last we left there, I was glad. I was home sick for our own people. Sister Vada separated from her husband( he a drunkard). She always such a good girl has given her life to the work of Christ. Sister Kate, with a heart of gold, always giving up for others. Arthritis sufferer been with her 4 years. How I have seen her suffer until tears came. We are getting old now but God has been good to us. We have health. WE may live to see another war and the fear of another, is darkening for us, with our oldest grandson in it's shadow. Our oldest granddaughter the apple of our eye. How glad we were she was not a boy. We may live yet to see Christ come in the clouds. The shadow of the anti-Christ is hovering over us.

Now after all these years, it's the year 1965. I am near 78. Dear Sister Kathryn has been gone for near 8 years. How dear she always was to me, and I thank God I was here to care and look after her. She and Vada lived just below us at Mrs. McMann's when she died. We went to Columbus after her several years before she died. She was so happy to be with me. Then when Vada came to Marietta, after parting with Ray, she moved in with her. How I wish now I had kept her with us. She kept getting worse and worse. No blood it seemed. In the hospital after hospital but at last she passed away with a stroke, which left her without speech. How she tried so hard to tell me something before she died. Dear God if only her will forgive me for not bringing her up here. Now all are gone but our 2 brothers and Vada and I. Dear Vada, she has such a big heart. I know she is one of God's Saints. Clint is very slow in his steps now and understanding is slow. He has not worked for years, been in hospital so many times or he would have been a real strong man yet.

It's now October 25, 1965, Another chapter closed. Herb passed away the 16th of July. Did not last long in hospital; day and a half. Dorothy has been so faithful, dear girl. Hope some day she can make a new life. I did not get to the funeral, could not leave Clint alone, the boys and families went and Dotty was so glad, a widow at age 55. May God grant her a good life. She has Jean, a darling girl. Grandma's pet, always she of all the grandchildren loved me the most. I will soon be 79 years old, too many years. No one comes to visit us any more.

Following is the family history written by Giles Alpheus Seevers. Giles was born on June 4th, 1871. He was the son of Hamilton Waldo Seevers and Sarah Maria Palmer. He was the grandson of Abraham Seevers Jr. and Anna Hamilton. This was sent to me by Kay Brittan and Bill Seevers.

Seevers History

Prepared by G. A. Seevers

My paternal ancestors came from Holland. My father's grandfather is the first as I was informed. He could not speak English. At that early date labor saving machinery had not been invented. Surnames were derived from the occupational name. Grain was harvested by hand, with sickle and threshed with flail or trampled upon by cattle. It had to be seperated or cleaned by seiving hence the occupational name was derived was Seivers or sifters, this became Seevers by usage. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this but accept it as handed down.

My father, Hamilton Waldo Seevers was born Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta on Oct. 2-1826. He was a farmer and was held in high esteem by his associates. Popularly known as "Ham" Seevers, he was frequently consulted and the opinion of Ham Seevers was valued highly. He was a school teacher and as such held night schools especially geography school. Educational facilities were limited.

He married Sarah Maria Palmer during the decade between 1840 and 1850. To this union were born 8 children, 7 boys and 1 girl.

Father had three brothers and two sisters. His mother's maiden name was Hamilton, hence the frequent use of the name in the family, viz Hamilton W. Seevers,- Austin Hamilton and Charles Hamilton. His brother's names were Thomas, Wiley and Benjamin. Thomas had two children to my knowledge, Emma, and Carrie. Emma Seevers was the first college graduate in the family. She graduated from Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio and married a minister graduate of Oberlin, Rev. Jones.

I did not know the family of Wiley as we did not live near them, if he had any children they were unknown to me. Uncle Ben had 11 children, 10 girls and one boy, a reverse in sex to that of father. I remember only two of the children, Alice and Heyl or Hile. He was sadly disabled by five.

Father's family made three moves to Kansas, returning to Ohio twice, the first before I was born. He homesteaded a place in Shawnee County, Kansas, near what is known as Vinewood Park. My mother's people lived in the same vicinity. The second return to Ohio was because of grasshoppers which ruined every sign of vegetation. I was about 1 year old. The third trip to Kansas was final. We came to Topeka in the winter of 1880-81 and moved to Ellsworth County Kansas in the spring of 1881. My mother died in the spring of 1882. Farming was an uphill business then and there were many hardships. We tried sheep raising as there was large areas of railroad land for grazing, but wool was so cheap he abandoned sheep after heavy losses by blizzard.

After mother' was gone housekeeping devolved upon my sister. In a few years she married and the housekeeping became my business. I kept house for father for several years or kept at it.

Mother's parents were James and Pollie Palmer. She had four brothers and three sisters. Her borothers were Alpheus, Luther, John and Ernest, her sisters Emily, Jane and Josephine.

Then Alpheus and the granparents lived together on a farm beyond Vine Wood Park. Uncle John owned the land where Vine Wood is located. Uncle Luther lived on the farm. The only one of mothers parents I ever saw was Grandmother Pollie Palmer. I recall living with Uncle Alpheus for whom I was named. Grandmother Palmer lived upstairs in thier large stone house. Uncle Alpheus had two children, Harris and Jesse. Uncle Ernest never married. Uncle Luther had two sons Horace and Charlie, two daughters Olive and (Effie)

Aunt Emily married a Mr. Boutwell and had four boys and two girls

Note - It ends here. This seems to be incomplete. I only have one page of this and their may be more somewhere.

Following is one of two family histories written by Dorothy Ellen (Seevers) Ackerman. Dorothy was born on November 30th, 1917. She married Alpheus Kent "Red" Ackerman. She is the daughter of Clarence Martin Seevers and Letha Lee Kimberley. She is the grand-daughter of Thomas Richard Andrew Seevers and Emma Rosetta Harmon. She is the great grand-daughter of Andrew Jackson Seevers and Sarah Ann Gill. This was given to me Dorothy herself.

CLARENCE M. AND LETHA (KIMBERLEY) SEEVERS

Clarence Martin Seevers was born September 15, 1892 in Spencer Township, Guernsey County, Ohio, one of seven children of Thomas Richard Seevers and his wife, Emma Rosetta Harmon. He attended Barnett one-room school near Adamsville in Muskingum County. On September 16, 1915 in Coshocton County, Clarence married Letha Lee Kimberley, and went to housekeeping in the old Milligan homestead on the farm in Bethlehem Township, where both of their children, Raymond P. and Dorothy E. were born. In 1918, the Seevers family moved from the farm to Columbus.

Mr. Seevers was a retired carpenter and mill worker when he and his wife moved to Licking County in 1960. At that time, they purchased the home on the northeast corner in Appleton, Bennington Township. Clarence died on January 6, 1970.

His paternal grandparents were Andrew Jackson Seevers, born in Noble Township, Morgan County, Ohio and his wife Sarah Ann Gill, born April 16, 1810 in Virginia, and died in Zanesville at the age of 110 years. At the time, she was believed to be Ohio's oldest woman. She was planning to vote for President in November, 1920, the first election that women were permitted to vote, but her death occurred on August 29, 1920. Her parents were Willis and Mary (Young) Gill.

Our subject's paternal great-grandparents were William Seevers, married in Guernsey County to Elizabeth (Betsy) Devol, who was born October 13, 1801 in Belmont County, and died on February 13, 1886 in Washington County, Ohio.

The first Devol ancestor to arrive in America was William Devol, born in England in 1619, married Isabel Anderson in Spaulding, Lincolnshire, England on August 16, 1639. He died in Newport, Rhode Island in 1681. Many of his descendants were among those in Colonial times serving with the military, fighting for the freedom of our Country, and have a notable place in history.

Several of the Devol ancestors were master ship builders and carpenters, designing and building the boats that were used to transport a number of the Colonial families, including the Devols, to the mouth of the Muskingum at the Ohio River near Marietta in 1787. They assisted in erecting the stockaded garrison called Campus Martius. This structure answered the double purpose of a fort and for housing. Within these walls the Colonists were safe from the attack of Indians. The fort was a square of one hundred and eighty feet on each side, built of planks four inches thick and eighteen or twenty inches wide. They were sawed by hand from the huge poplar trees which grew nearby, dovetailed together at the corners, and with the smooth surface left by the whip-saw, gave the exterior a finished and beautiful aspect.

The Devol descendants are still very numerous in that area, as well as in many other Ohio Counties, including Licking.

Letha Lee Seevers, widow of Clarence M., was born on November 6, 1892 in Bethlehem Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, where she attended one-room Soggy Hill School. The land for this school was donated by her grandfather, William Milligan, and the building designer and contractor was her father, Parker Kimberley. In 1902, when her family moved just south of Coshocton, she attended grade school and high school there. In 1914, Clarence was in Coshocton helping build the new high school, and he and Letha were married the next year. Their son, Raymond R., married Frances E. Such, living in Westerville, and their daughter, Dorothy E., widow of A. K. Ackerman, lives near Johnstown.

Letha was the sixth child, and the last survivor of the nine children of Parker Kimberley, (May 3, 1857 - March 19, 1920) and his wife Ina Samantha Milligan (August 25, 1862 - November 23, 1937). Ina was the daughter of William Milligan (November 3, 1834 - November 9, 1900) a Civil War Veteran. and his wife Lanah Hains (June 14, 1835 - January 30, 1907). Parker's parents were John Kimberley, Sr. (January 14, 1825 - January 21, 1910) whose wife was the widow of Samuel Fortune. Her maiden name was Marth (Mattie) Randles, one of nine children of Isaac Randles, Sr. and Mary (Polly) Chaney. Isaac's parents, James and Martha Randles, came with their children from Loudoun County, Virginia, and settled in Jackson Township, Coshocton County in 1817.

Ira Kimberley, Letha's paternal great-great-grandfather, was of Scotch descent. He resided for a time in Jefferson County, then moved to Coshocton County, being named as one of the first settlers in 1801, Locating in Bethlehem Township. The place where the bridge now crosses the Walhonding River was long known as "Kimberley's Ford". A ferry was kept there by Ira's son William (April 1, 1804 - May 24, 1880) and later by his grandson John, Sr. A large flat boat of Sufficient size to hold four horses and a loaded wagon was used. Here, in 1868-69, a bridge was erected and the contractor for the masonry was John Sharke, Newark, Ohio, costing $6,709. The superstructure of wood was contracted by John Heskett for $6,100.

On April 27, 1802, Ira Kimberley married Sally Carpenter, one of seventeen children (nine lived to adulthood) of John and Nancy Carpenter. Born in England, John Carpenter had been a neighbor of George Washington in Virginia around 1750, fighting under him in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and later, was sent west of the Alleghenies to assist the settlers in fighting the Indians and the British. About 1781, the Carpenters settled near the mout of Short Creek, now Jefferson County, near the Ohio River. They built a cabin and established "Carpenter's Fort" which was in the midst of fierce Indian warfare. Many exiting tales are told in history about their experiences. Later they moved to Guernsey County, then on to Coshocton County, being numbered among the first settlers there.

Note: Letha (Kimberley) Seevers died in Johnstown OH on 11 Jan 1984.

Following is the second of two family histories written by Dorothy Ellen (Seevers) Ackerman. Dorothy was born on November 30th, 1917. She married Alpheus Kent "Red" Ackerman. She is the daughter of Clarence Martin Seevers and Letha Lee Kimberly. She is the grand-daughter of Thomas Richard Andrew Seevers and Emma Rosetta Harmon. She is the great grand-daughter of Andrew Jackson Seevers and Sarah Ann Gill. This was given to me Dorothy herself.

ALPHEUS K. AND DOROTHY (SEEVERS) ACKERMAN

Alpheus Kent Ackerman was a machinery and automobile mechanic, auto body and paint repairman, then later a farmer in Bennington Township. He was born May 15, 1910 in Columbus, Ohio, one of three sons of Ira and Pansy Alice (Slygh) Ackerman. He married November 24, 1943 in Franklin County, to Dorothy Ellen Seevers, daughter of Clarence M. and Letha L. (Kimberley) Seevers.

At the time of their marriage, the Ackermans intended to buy a small farm or suburban home, since the farming instinct prevailed with them both. Being unable to find a suitable place, they purchased a small city home in the Linden area of Columbus. Following World War II, teh Ackermans were in the auto repair and gasoline station business just a block from their home. They hired no help, taking care of the business themselves. Needing a retreat to get away from the business after hours, they sold their city home, and purchased a small farm in the New Albany area of Franklin County, moving there in the spring of 1948. However, Mr. Ackerman's severe leg injury in August of that year, forced them to close the business and retire to their small farm. After his recovery, their decision that farming was more the lifestyle they wanted, engaged them in a search for more acreage.

In 1959, the Ackermans moved to Bennington Township, Licking County when they purchased the "old Decrow Farm", which had been in the possession of the Decrow family over 125 years. Joseph Park Decrow, Sr. had purchased the farm, and he and his bride, Delilah Brooks, went to housekeeping in a small log cabin there following their marriage in 1832. Their grandson, Rolla S. Decrow, was the owner when the Ackermans bought it. Although Rolla was born and raised on the farm, he did not live there following his marriage to Bessie Channel. The home and farm had been rented to others for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman's farming operation included dairy cattle and raising some sheep, along with general farming. In 1965, the dairy cattle were sold and later replaced with a few beef cattle. Mr. Ackerman was in very poor health for several years before his death on November 27, 1971. They had no children.

Dorothy E. Ackerman is the widow of Alpheus K., and the daughter of Clarence M. and Letha L. (Kimberley) Seevers. She is a member of Appleton United Methodist Church and Bennington Grange. She was born November 30, 1917 in Bethlehem Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, on the old Milligan homestead farm. The Seevers family moved from the farm to Columbus when Dorothy and her brother, Raymond Parker Seevers, were very young. In 1925, they built a new home near Grandview, Franklin County, and moved there. Our subject was a graduate of grandview High School and of Office Training School in Columbus. She is the family genealogist, which is her favorite hobby, a project she started in her teens while in school.

Dorothy's great-great-grandparents were Cuthbert Milligan, of Irish descent (November 15, 1794 - May 25, 1887) and his English wife, Dorothy Reed (June 14, 1803 - June 17, 1890) daughter of Anthony Reed, Sr., Revolutionary War veteran, and his wife Mary Lusis, all of Hardy County, Virginia. Cuthbert enlisted in the War of 1812, but was never called to active duty. After their marriage in 1819, the Milligans left for Ohio, with one horse, which each would alternately ride or walk, and $50 but very few possessions. They followed mostly old Indian trails and finally settled in Keene Township, Coshocton County, which was then a wild and almost wholly uninhabited area, except for a few pioneers who had penetrated the district. Cuthbert entered a claim on which he built a little log house, covering it with a clapboard roof, a puncheon fllor, and the door was hung with wooden hinges. The chimney was of sticks and mud, emitting the smoke from an immense fireplace where the cooking was done with iron kettles. They sat upon wooden stools and ate with wooden utensils which Cuthbert made. The first of their 14 children was born in 1821, with all but two living to adulthood and marriage. Our subject is descendant through their seventh child, William Milligan who married Lanah Hains.

The Milligans spent the rest of their lives on this farm, accumulating many more acres through the years. In the early 1830's, they built a large stone home to replace their primitive log house. This home is now being restored on the inside for living quarters, but the outside is still as true and stately as when first built in the picturesque setting near a hill between two large pine trees. The Milligans had built a cave in the hill directly behind the home for an up-ground cellar, storing much food all the year around for their large family. The cave, with a stone front, is still in use today.

Our subject is a great-great-great granddaughter of Henry, Sr. and Hannah (Lybarger) Hains, the descent through their third child, Henry, Jr. and Margaret (Maston) Hains.

Following is a history written in 1985 by Ethel (Barrows) Shilling concerning mainly her memories of her grandmother Mary Ann (Lightfritz) Seevers. Ethel was the daughter of Maria Submittie (Seevers) Barrow. Maria was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Lightfritz) Seevers. This samuel was the grandson of our ancestor Abraham Seevers through his son Jacob. This was sent to me by Gary L. Seevers.

Some History of Grand Ma / Grand Pa Seevers.

Mary Madageline Lightfoot. Where Born. ? John _____ Seevers Where Born ? (Not sure of his name, marker will tell.)

Report are and have been, they have Indian blood and perhaps they have, Who hasn't. But, I to perhaps think Grand Father might of been of the Indian Tribe. I'm that age. Seems the public wants to class them of the Indians. I never heard of any comment from my mother as such. They surely could of been accoiated with them in those days. Grand Mother knew a lot about wild life, nature, etc. You name it. She was a great Herb Doc. She was the main Doc of the country, And saved a lot of lives and brought many lives into the cummity. Emma Limpert says Grand Ma brought her into the world. Also she saved one of her sisters from Dyptheria, from her herb doctiring. Grandma lived in a log house as I remembered one side sloped down to ground like a shed, an out side dug cellar with sod banked at the side, herbs of all kind were hanging inside drying. She had curly hair (of which I don't think Indians have) wore black, and a black hood or a fasinator, she chewed tobacco, Pieced Comfortors and quilts (by hand sewing) in the winter. When she got older, so I understand she pieced each grand chiled one. These pieces were very small she never had no waste to throw away. Her fingers were very much drawn crooked by her age.

She stayed with us. (Maria Barrows) her daughter when she got old. My Father (Allen Barrows) built her a bed room all her own. We lived down on Fountain St. Uncle Jim Seevers her son was her gaurdian. This log house was joining Uncle Sam Seevers farm, back a lane, Perhaps a mile. She went fishing in what you call Little Lake close to her home. She was a great fisherman.

Her funeral was at the Logan Church. I was about ten yrs old and well remember it all. She paased away at Aunt Tan Cole home. She and Grand father and two babies lay at Six Corners Cemetary about in Middle of the big section with a large brown marker. The only brown I think in that side. You cannot miss it. You can get correct dates. I used to sometimes sleep with her. Before going to sleep she would make noises of different animals, especially like a bear. I used to curl her hair when a little girl. She also knew how to rob the squirrels of thier winter nuts, by finding them in rotten logs and stumps she would always come up with all she could pack. She was quite a person in her age and was instered in her family and community. She passed away at the age of 87.

Her family consist of the following.

1. James George Washington Seevers. No Family.

2. Samuel Lightfritz/foot Seevers. Children, William, Ernest, George

3. Maria Submittie Seevers Barrows. Children Lillie, Howard, Alta, Josie, Ethel.

4. John Henry Seevers. Children ?

5. Leonard Seevers. Jim, Nora Rickley.

6. Sarah Bir-Tana-Tlithia Cole. Children. Harry, Elsie, Glen, Marvin, Donald.

7. Marguret Anna Kyle. Children. Clarance, Dale, Ralph.

8. Mary Madaglene Donley, Johnson. Children. Clyde, Fred, Charley, Homer, Mildred, Clara, Sylvia, Eva, Elmer.

This family or thier family went to school at Seevers Corners. Is that what you call West Milford? Any way the school house is still there. Seems they are changing it some as to what I don't know. This family was of the United Bretheran Church. I imagine they attended the Logan Church. I don't know if Homer Donley could tell you any more or not.

I cannot give you any dates. I don't have any records of such. Only as I remembered down through time. My Mother never said much about the life or I was to young to get it. Yes I imagine you could find some of the record at the Court House. Any way you should.

(Samuel Severs. B. June 11, 1809. - D. May 27, 1877.) (Mary A. Severs. B May 15, 1821 - D. April 25, 1909.)

(This information provided by Ethel Shilling, from her memory, in 1985.)