Virgil D. Smith

Tall 6'2", blue eyed, brown hair, ruddy completion, guitarist, and adventurer. If it is true,"that a picture says a thousand words" then Virgil is a perfect example.  The pin stripped suit and fur collar were fashion statements of the 1920's. I was told by his daughter that he was a real ladies man but he was eventually captured by my great grandmother Marie Bell Hayden. They married in 1919. This must have been where my dad inherited this "ladies man" trait. Virgil was born 01 February 1901 in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas and died in San Diego, California. 

                                                                        

Virgil D. Smith                    

father of                              

Loene Leona Smith/Hayes

mother of                            

James Dewayne Hayes        

father of                                  

Teri Lynette Hayes

                             

FH quote

John Eugene Adams 1956-2006

 John Eugene Adams 

I see the pain and sorrow in your faces

I feel the deep love in your hearts

Do not look upon me with sadness or pity

Do not see my life as a tragedy

My purpose has been fulfilled

Many see the hardship and pain of my life

But sit, very very still, 

still your mind and listen, 

listen for the truth.

My life was no tragedy

If I have brought out in you tender feelings

Of mercy, of compassions, or bonds of love

My purpose is fulfilled

You may see great sorrow

But listen quietly, there is so much more!

Inside John was a heart that was good.

You find no evil there!

Inside was a tender heart 

Of kindness, of meekness, of love.

A life of sacrifice,

that you and I might sit and listen 
and know

John’s purpose in life has been fulfilled

Not all are given the same roles in life

John’s gift to me now is as fresh as spring.

John loved; John’s flesh may have been weak

But if you listen closely you will know

John’s heart was so good.

John is a man that has taught us

That love knows no bounds.

Because we love John that way!

The truth stands.

God’s love and goodness are manifest,

in mercy, in love, in humility, in sacrifice.

Now with John it is manifest, in peace, 

and a heart filled with joy.

A love of God open wide!  

A great reunion with dearest family.

Tragedy Never! 

In the arms of God?  Yes!

In a place of love and peace to his weary soul? Yes!

A resounding, Yes!

If you listen carefully,  
you will  know these things are true. 

For the love and mercy of God is manifest

in the life of. . . John Eugene Adams

Grandson of 

Chester Reynald Keele and Elizabeth Greenhalgh

Son of

Lawanna Keele Adams and Owen Adams

Brother and Cousin to many.

Dearest John,

This is a hard post to share and very personal.  I can't speak for others but I feel a tribute is so appropriate.  You left us so young but you left an impression that will last forever and you are never forgotten.   Till we meet again. Your Cousins, Bill & Teri

John Presley Latimer 1861 - 1935

From New Castle News, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania September 4th, 1904 

Lost Her Cucumber and Got a Black Eye 

                John Latimer a farmer living near Ellwood is in trouble of a more or less serious nature because of a charge made by John Van Emans that the farmer took and carried away from his place cucumbers to the value of 50 cents.  Mrs. Della VanEmans has also made an information against Latimer, in which she charges assault and battery. 

                The VanEmans live on Latimer’s place, and their story is to the effect that he has without authority helped himself to the products of their toil whenever he felt so inclined.  They say that at one time they remonstrated with him because of this fact. And it was then that the alleged assault took place.  Mrs. Van VanEmans, when she came to New Castle Thursday morning was the processor of a highly ornamental black eye, which she says is a result of the assault said to have been committed by the defendant. 

The case will be held for hearing at an early date before Alderman Ranney. 

John Latimer Has Been Held To Court               14  September 1904

                The two cases involving an alleged larceny of cucumbers to the value of 50 cents and a  case of assault and battery in which Della and John VanEmans are complainants and John Latimer, defendant, came up for hearing before Alderman Ranny Wednesday evening.  The defendant was discharge on the larceny case, but held to court on the other.

Cost Were Divided Between the Parties              28  June 1905

                The case of the commonwealth vs. John Latimer of Wayne township, who was charged with assault and battery by Mrs. Della VanEmans was tried a jury in court Thursday afternoon and resulted in a verdict of not guilty.  The defendant, however was directed to pay three fours of the costs, the remaining fourth being placed on the proscentrix.  A.M. Graham assisted the district attorney in the trial of the case for the commonwealth and the defendant was represented by Robert K. Alken.
The trouble over which the prosecution was began happened last august.  The VanEmans and the Latimers were living on the same farm at the time and became engaged in a dispute over the division of some products.  On one occasion Latimer struck Mrs. VanEman a number of times, but claimed he did so only after she had assaulted him.  The jury naturally took the ground that both parties were in error as it shown by the verdict.

John Presley Latimer born 8 March 1861, married to Bessie Luella Jones 

father of 

Lyle Sylvester Latimer born 1903

father of

William H. Latimer

Oh Dear, John!

What on earth was going on here?  Sounds like a good old fashion spat with the neighbors. I've always believed that a woman cannot expect to strike a man with no consequences. So here is truth in action.  I can just picture Mrs. VanEman's shiner!  Thank goodness that this wonderful picture of you was not added to the newspaper.   It was bad enough that all that dirty laundry was aired years ago but now here it is relived and posted for all to see.  Don't worry,  I love your mischievous spirit and now understand where my boys get it from.  All this fuss over 50 cents worth of cucumbers.  What a hoot!  Sincerely, Your friend, Teri

Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church

Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church

One Hundred Years on a Hilltop

There's a church in the woods on the hilltop where the old Pittsburgh and Ellwood-New Castle roads meet. Slippery Rock United Presbyterian Church has stood on that hill for 100 years. A peace treaty with the Indians in 1794, which was never violated, opened up this area for settlement by Scotch-Irish pioneers who came from Fayette County in 1796.
     Some first members of the Slippery Rock congregation were: Jesse Bell, William Cairns and his wife Nancy, Joseph Hennon and Margaret, and John Newton.
     The log building was not very large and was said to be built in one day. Logs, from the trees in the surrounding forests were felled and used for the building. The logs were sealed together with mud. There was no floor, no seats, no stove and very little light. A fireplace of sorts was built by placing two logs across the room at the eaves and upon this was built a chimney of clay, split sticks and straw, supposedly to draw the smoke upward from the fire on the dirt floor. Great care was taken of possessions so even the female members would often walk barefoot and pause before reaching the Church and put on their shoes.
     Rather than standing for the lengthy services, some people made benches of split logs with sticks driven into them for legs. It is noted that the owners of these first seats were criticized for being “uppity”, but soon everyone had these crude seats. Although this first church building was very crude it involved much sacrifice to construct. Most families were very poor and worked long hours to even exist, so they had very little to give to their place of worship.

Joseph Hennon b 1761 m. Margaret Morrow

parents of

John M. Hennon b 1809 m. Sarah Ward

parents of

Elizabeth L. Hennon b 1835  m. Thomas R. Jones

mother of

Bessie Luella Jones b 1881 m. John P. Latimer

parents of

Lyle Latimer b 1903

father of

William Latimer

     Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church is where several generations of Latimer, Hennon and Newton families attended church. Many are a buried in the nearby cemetery.  A wonderful stop if you are in the area on vacation! 

John Brooks 1790-1818

Melancholy shipwreck – 

"The Schooner Independence, of Sandusky, John Brooks, master and owner, John Chambers, seaman, cleared from the mouth of the Black River, on Saturday the 14th, instant for Detroit, loaded with corn for John S.Reid, Esq. who sent his son Cornelius Read, to Assist Captain Brooks, and dispose of the corn--

The vessel was capsized in a gale—the cargo lost, and every soul on board drowned. The wreck drifted on shore on Monday the 16th inst. near the mouth of the Black River, (Lake Erie, Ohio area) with her foresail and jib standing; her mainmast had been carried away in the gale.

Capt. Brooks bore an irreproachable Character. He left a wife and two children residing near Urbana, Champaign County, (Ohio) to lament the loss of an affectionate husband and tender father."

Evening Post
New York, New York
Wed. December 9, 1818 pg 2

John Brooks b 1790 married Cinderella Munson

parents of 

Charles Brooks b 1816

father of 

George Andrew Brooks b 1846

father of 

Charles Daniel Brooks b 1869

father of 

Carl McKinley Brooks b 1896

father of 

Shirley Brooks

Dear John,   With such scant information about you and your life it is amazing the personality that is revealed. It is a joy to read that your character was irreproachable and that you were an affectionate husband and tender father.  That speaks volumes. I  found that you were only about 28 years old when you left this earth.  So young, but you accomplished so much.  The owner of a schooner in 1818? Such a young age.  I am impressed, but I also wonder.  How did you earn the money for such a purchase?  Where did you learn to sail? Were you in the military? At the very least you were an adventurous spirit and hard worker.   You must have been a prince charming too.  After all you did marry Cinderella. (Cinderella Munson b 1793)        Until we meet again. I will continue to seek clues as to your life and family.                                          Affectionately,                                                                                                                                            Your 5th Great Granddaughter, Teri