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Author: nicenonya2
Surnames: Cameron, Gabel, Burris, Riegel, Williams, Young, Niles,
McConnell, Bories, Wolf, McConnel, Rush, Gossert, Long, Meffert,
Walter, Foesig, Evans, Walker, Poffenbeger, Vogel, Wagner, Buchananyer
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cameron/1778.2.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
this is all I have on this family,I believe Mary Burris Cameron is
the daighter of Peter and Catherine Gabel Burris buried in
Juniata,Co.,PA
6/19/1913 letter from Samuel Riegel Lebanon Co.,PA
Mary Williams Cameron died 1911/wife of Henry Nelson Cameron
Mrs. Sarah (Cameron) Young Niles,Michigan Lebanon PA June 10 1913
My dear Cousin
It was a great pleasure to me several days ago to receive your
welcome letter. The letter you refer to that I wrote to your father
was not answered. Cousin Olivia kept me well informed at the time and
I knew of the great loss you sustained by the death of your mother.
And realizing the issues the had to be met during the accident,
sickness and death of a beloved parent, and the new cares that had to
be met of an aged father. You all had my sincere sympathy on account
of my past experience. It was truly gratifying to me to read in your
letter of the distribution your father made of his property and of
the nice feeling pervading among the children.
Since March 11, I have Uncle Joseph McConnell at home. He was twelve
weeks in the hospital. His first thought, when leaving the hospital,
was to take rooms at the nearest hotel to the Homestead, but on
inquiry, I found all the rooms taken and they could only take him as
a border. That was not satisfactory. I secured a private boarding
place across the street from the "Homestead," and I suggested
starting the fires and making the house comfortable, and to stay with
Uncle at night as long as necessary. I have been doing this to the
present and uncle is well cared for. He has a slight indisposition
for a few days, but is doing nicely at present. His great trouble is
weakness. We were fortunate in securing a good boarding place. Uncle
enjoys his meals and rests well, sleeps well at night.
I am heartily glad you referred to the matter of genealogy to me,
because there are not as many who are informed, besides while Uncle
Joseph is still living, I can consult with him. I am sorry not to
have something real nice for you daughter to help her being eligible
to the societies referred to (DAR). Our ancestors were of the
peaceful but nevertheless best citizens. Uncle Tommy Cameron was an
honorably discharged soldier of the Civil War, and on special
occasions wore badges and credentials enough for the whole
"Friend-Schaft."
I will now answer your Grandmother Cameron's maiden name. Uncle
Joseph Cameron's wifes maiden name Bories/Burris?. Polly
Bories(Burris?). Uncle Tommy Cameron spoke of a brother of your
Grandmother, Joseph Bories(Burris?). My Grandmother McConnel's
father's name was Lewis "Ludwig" Cameron. His wifes' family name was
Wolf. There are immediate relatives living at the Wolf homestead and
own the place. I visit there. Grandmother McConnel, Polly May, the
eldest, Catherine (Aunty Vogel) were the two daughters of the first
marriage. John, the eldest son and Joseph, Your Grandfather were the
children of the first marriage. Uncle John Cameron mentioned, may
have drifted into the war of the Revolution. It was he of whom I
wrote to your father that one day while your grandfather, Joseph
Cameron, was out along the Juanita he was addressed by a voice from
the opposite of the river, and looking in the direction of the voice
saw a man. Uncle Joseph Cameron was addressed "Brother Joe, is tha!
t you?" Answered "Yes is that you brother John?" Uncle Joseph
Cameron hurriedly made his way to his boat, and crossed the river to
meet his brother. And in his own language met on one. If the earth
had opened and swallowed him, he would not more effectually been out
of sight. You of course know when Uncle Joseph Cameron went west as a
pioneer in his own equipment, all of the family but your father who
had preceded the rest, were overtaken by sickness(Cholera) and had
three funerals in five days. Uncle Joe's wife, daughter Catherine
(Mrs. Rush) and her husband. The latter, Cousin Mae Williams
Grandparents. While my Grandparents were still living in the country,
your Grandmother Cameron with your father, Cousin Henry Nelson
Cameron, visited by grandparents at their home. My mother (86 years),
your father, and Uncle Tommy Cameron were near the same age. Family
name of the second wife Gossert, Aunt Betsy (who died with us) the
eldest Sarah, married to a man named Long. Lydia ma!
rried to Meffert. Third wife Maria Walter. Simon Cameron the eldest of
this marriage. Noah, Louisa (married to Foesig), and Tommy Cameron.
My birth date was Sept. 4, 1845. May following Great Grandfather
Ludwig Cameron visited my Grandparents at Lebanon and I have the
honor of being carried out of the house first time bare headed by
him. Grandmother McConnel always spoke of your father by using his
full name Henry Nelson Cameron. My Grandparents were in touch with
Uncle Joseph Cameron (Your Grandfather) and were informed of their
preparations to go west and received letters when they were overtaken
by sickness and death. Before starting for the west, Great
Grandfather Ludwig Cameron with his family and Uncle Joseph Cameron
(your grandfather) lived near together, near East Salem. Uncle Noah
Cameron was already married. So was Uncle Simon Cameron. Uncle Tommy
Cameron was living home most of the time with his parents.
Grandfather Ludwig Cameron was a shoemaker by trade and a useful man
in the Community.He had given much attention to tree culture !
and raising fruit.Skilled in Grafting. when Uncle Adam McConnel and
Uncle Joseph McConnel (brothers) were on a visit at Thompsontown,
they were shown by Father Evans a worthy resident of Thompsontown,
grafted in Mr. Evans orchard and posts and fencing set by Great
Grandfather Ludwig Cameron. Mr. Evans spoke in highest praise of
Great Grandfather Cameron as a friend and neighbor and a useful
citizen. When Uncle Noah Cameron died, the two uncles (McConnel) were
at the funeral. It was said of Uncle Noah Cameron that he was worth
more in the community than some others that might be named by the
dozen. All of Uncle Noah Cameron's family are well to do, and are in
possession of the homestead. Two of the sons within the last year
have gone to Florida and bought land with the purpose of making their
home there. One of Uncle Tommy Cameron's daughters (Mrs. Sarah
Walker) lives at Post Falls, Idaho. They have a farm of 160 acres,
and have set an orchard of over 700 choice fruit trees.!
I had a letter from Cousin Sarah last fall stating they had 800 choic
e apples in boxes ready to be shipped. Cousin Emma Poffenbeger, a
sister of Mrs. Walker and her husband are looking forward to making a
trip to Post Falls,Idaho. And when they accomplish it, expect to stop
at Niles, Mich. Great grandfather Cameron was a deeply religious man.
The last time he visited Lebanon, when I was an infant, Uncle Joseph
McConnel know of this visit, and when he left Lebanon, Uncle Jacob
McConnel, Uncle Adam McConnel and Uncle Joe took G. Grandfather
Cameron to Highspire with Grandfather McConnel's horse and carriage
to visit Uncle and Aunty Vogel.
When Great Grandfather Cameron visited Lebanon last time, Great
Grandmother McConnel was still living. She was a very intelligent
woman, and at that time considered an educated lady. It is said that
she and father Cameron spent much time in social intercourse talking
over the future and religious matters,, and their parting was never
forgotten. My Grandmother McConnel persuaded her father while on this
visit to attend catechetical lecture in our church, conducted by our
Pastor, Rev. Henry Wagner, he was deeply impressed and remarked of
Pastor Wagner when he came home "Er is ein guten Lehrer" I can not
tell you what a comfort it is to me to receive your letter. Trusting
it will be of help to you and your daughter, if there is anything I
have not mentioned call my attention to it and any information I can
give, you shall have cheerfully. My youngest daughter, Rhoda, is very
much interested in knowing of the past and means to profit by it,
while Uncle Joseph McConnel and I are !
still here to give her information. She is a teacher at Cornwall,
and enjoying her vacation and a much needed rest. It would be a great
comfort to me to have your daughter write to Rhoda with the hope that
they will become correspondents.
Please remember us kindly to the relatives at Niles,MI and South
Bend,IN. I expect to hear from some of you coming East this summer.
Great Grandfather Cameron is buried at East Salem near where they
lived before your Grandfather Joseph Cameron went west. His first
wife is buried at Kimmerlings Church little more than three miles
from Lebanon. Father Cameron's parents came into the U.S. by way of
Canada. In their travels, his mother carried him Indian fashion on
her back. Later his father returned to Canada. The mother with her
little boy drifted into Lancaster Co. Pa where they lived on a farm
with a kind family, when the poor little boy, our Great Grandfather,
was forsaken by his mother, who also returned to Canada. The family
with whom they were living kept the little boy, and in time he made
his way into Lebanon Co. He learned the shoemaker trade at
Stumpstown, now Fredericksburg, by Jacob Buchananyer. He prospered at
his trade and married into a respected family !
near Kimmerlings Church by the name of Wolf. His first wife died when
the children were young, so small that their father lifted them
to...(need to find the last page of the story!).I think I corrected
all the mistakes...
John Walker
nicenonya3(a)yahoo.com
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