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Surnames: Cameron, Riegel, Williams, Young, McConnell, Bories,
Burris, Wolf, Vogel, Rush, Gossert, Long, Meffert, Walter, Foesig,
Evans, Walker, Poffenbeger, McConnel, Wagner, Buchananyer, Umholtz
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
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Message Board Post:
I can't find where I got the name Daniel,I thought he was a son of
Lewis Cameron's third marriage??I'll keep digging.
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 bestcitizens. 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 Juaniata 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 C!
ameron was addressed "Brother Joe, is that 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.John 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 name
d Long. Lydia married 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 b!
y 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 Pos!
t 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 choice 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 McC!
onnel 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 see their mother in the coffin.Some of our
immeditate relatives still live at Kimmerlings's Church and are
highly respected and prosperous people.
Hoping to hear from you soon,trusting this message will find you
enjoying good health.All of us join in love to you all.
Your Cousin,
Samuel Riegel
928 Walnut St.
Lebanon,PA
After writing this letter,my youngest daughter expressed so much
interest in it,that I gave it to her to make extracts from it.She
wishes me to give her all the information and help her formulate it
into a family tree.In a local history some years ago there is a brief
sketch of Samuel Riegel,tracing briefly genealogy on the paternal and
maternal side of the Palatinate in "The Fatherland".When daughter
Rhoda has a little more leisure I will ask her to make you a copy and
send it to you.I was looking for a card sent to me by cousin Sarah
Walker of Post Falls,Idaho giving the picture of a squaw,carrying a
babe on her back.She was employed by the Government of Washington as
a guide to surveyors in surveying a Gov't Route across the
mountains.And they have erected a bronze statue in her memory,in
Idaho.In bringing Uncle home from the hospital,this card has been
misplaced.
After all this delay,for which I ask your pardon,I will mail this
letter,with the hope of hearing from you soon.I am in error when I
say Uncle Jacob,Adam and Joseph McConnel took Gr. Grandfather Cameron
to Highspire.That was another occasion.Grandfather and Grandmother
McConnel and Uncle Joseph McConnel have the honor on this last visit.
Would be pleased to have your daughter write of the information she
has been able to gather.
True copy of letter written by Samuel Riegel to
Sarah Cameron Young on 6/19/1913
letter notarized on 6/21/1954
by Maude Young Umholtz R.R 4 box 74,Niles,Michigan