A Genealogist’s New Year’s Eve

The following poem is offered in honor of the late Beatrix Potter, the English author who wrote, Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, and many other such absolutely delightful adventurers. Beatrix Potter stated, “I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations.”

A Genealogist’s New Year’s Eve

The year is 1852, it is New Year’s Eve.  An ancestor dips his pen into his ink bottle as he sits at his desk writing his New Year’s Resolutions, by candlelight.

My New Year Resolutions for 1853.

1.  No man is truly well-educated unless he learns to spell his name at least three different ways and does so within the same document.  I resolve to give the appearance of being extremely well-educated during this coming year.

2.  I resolve to make certain that all of my children are named the exact same names which my ancestors have used for the past six generations.

3.  My age is my own business and that of no other person; therefore, I resolve to never list the same birth year twice on any business or religious document.

4. My children shall all be baptized in a different church, parish or perhaps even in a different faith. Every third child shall not be baptized at all or shall perhaps be baptized by an itinerant minister who keeps no records at all.

5.  I resolve to move to a new town, new county, or to a new state, at least once every ten years just a month or so before those pesky enumerators come around asking their silly questions.

6.  I will make every effort to reside in only counties and towns where no vital records are maintained or where the courthouse burns down every few years or so.

7.  I resolve to join an obscure religious cult which does not believe in record keeping nor in participating in military service.

8.  When the tax collector comes to my door, I shall lend him my own pen which I have carefully dipped into my own special rapidly fading blue ink.

9.  I resolve that if my beloved wife, Mary, should die, I will marry another lady with the same given name [Mary] in order to ensure that I never error in speaking her name.
10. I resolve not to make a will.  Who needs to spend money on a lawyer?

Christmas In The Shenandoah Valley Of Virginia

                           

Since 1726, most of my mother’s family has been blessed by being able to live their lives in the shadow of the Massanutten Mountain which lies in the middle of our beautiful and beloved Shenandoah Valley. 

The Shenandoah Valley is divided into two smaller valleys by the Massanutten or Peaked Mountain which is a complex ridge that extends for a distance of approximately fifty miles from Strasburg southwest to Harrisonburg. The main valley, just south of Strasburg, is about five miles wide and is drained by the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, while the narrower Page Valley is drained by the South Fork of the Shenandoah River and is approximately less than a mile and a half wide at the Town of Overall which was once the antebellum Town of Milford. In reality, there are two valleys within a valley. 

I am positive that most of you are aware that today’s Interstate 81 borders the western side of the Massanutten with US Routes 33 and 340 bordering the eastern side.  This is important because the geography of an area has a profound effect upon the human history of that area. We know that the oldest rocks in the Blue Ridge are to be found in the eastern part of Rockingham County near the vicinity of Swift Run Gap or the area which Virginia’s Governor Spotswood explored in his 1716 journey across the “blue mountains.”

There are basically two very old roads running into this geographic area: The Warrior’s Trace also known as the Great Wagon Road which runs from north to south and enters the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania and Maryland [basically today’s Interstate 81] and the road which crosses the Blue Ridge to eastern Virginia [basically Rt. 33].  Hills, ridges and streams provided many secondary routes of travel during the early years of settlement.  Much of the Valley’s early commerce such as grain, wool, lumber, and tanning bark moved down the forks of the Shenandoah River to ports further north and also to the east.

People of various nationalities made their way into the Shenandoah Valley using these two major pathways resulting in our people being multi-lingual.  Two newspapers were read in the Valley prior to the American Revolution: the German paper out of Philadelphia and the English paper from Williamsburg.

We all know that our area was physically invaded, burned with many farms and businesses  totally destroyed less than one hundred years after the Revolution during the War Between the States. The following engagements are long remembered by Valley residents: 1862- First Kernstown, McDowell, Front Royal, First Winchester, Port Republic 1863- Lee’s Gettysburg Campaign, Second Winchester, Manassas Gap 1864- Lynchburg Campaign, New Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Early’s Maryland Campaign, Monocacy, Cool Springs, Rutherford’s Farm, Second Kernstown, Sheridan’s Shenandoah Campaign, Guard Hill, Tom’s Brook, Cedar Creek 1865 - Sheridan’s Expedition to Petersburg and Waynesboro. If we are very lucky, we do remember memories and stories our own grandparents shared with us about their own childhood, exactly as they lived it here within our beautiful Shenandoah Valley.  My grandfather was born the 18th of December 1893 or only sixteen years after the period of “marshall law” had come to an end in Military District One which was, the Commonwealth of Virginia. Exactly what was Christmas like in this area which had experienced such devastation?  Why do children remember certain things from their childhood? What makes one day stand out as being special in a child’s memory? When I was a child, I did take the time to ask my grandfather about his Christmas.  He picked me up and sat me down upon his knee and said, “Well, you know, Christmas was different back then.  We lost so much during the war that… well, we were very poor.  Santa came to see us, but he only left an orange, some nuts and a little candy in each of our stockings… .” After a moment’s pause, he went on to explain that his mother got up a little earlier than usual to start their special Christmas breakfast.  The way he said, “special Christmas breakfast,” let me know that this was, indeed, important to him. With a smile on his face, he continued, “On Christmas Eve day, Momma always baked her special  applesauce cake with the black walnuts in it that we children had gathered and cracked for her in the evenings after supper as we sat around the fireplace before we went to bed. We could hardly sleep that night as we thought about eating the cake that had made the whole house smell so good. We always had eggs, meat, oatmeal, hot breads, butter, jams and fruit pies for breakfast; but on Christmas morning, Momma always fried the gallon of oysters daddy had gotten for our breakfast.  As I grew older, I made a point of asking other older folk about their childhood memories of Christmas.  I soon discovered that all shared just about the exact same basic memories.  It seemed that all mommas also baked a coconut cake sometime during the week of Christmas.  Sometimes this special cake was baked on Christmas Day or shortly thereafter. Most families decorated this cake with candied orange peel or made orange marmalade from the orange rinds to go between this cake’s layers.  Of course, they had to drain the milk from the coconut and then crack the shell, peel the brown skin from the fresh coconut and then shred it to put on the freshly baked cake. Eventually, I understood that in my grandfather’s generation, Christmas gifts were for the benefit of the whole family.  Boys received guns, knives, etc. as they acquired the skills necessary to use these items correctly and had an actual need for them. Girls learned to sew, knit, crochet, and embroidery about the same time their brothers were learning the manly skills necessary for every day success in their lives.  They received crochet hooks, knitting and sewing needles as the need arose. Brazil nuts, chocolate drops, peanut brittle, and pink and white coconut candies filled the areas in the children’s stockings left by the round oranges. About 1900, boxed chocolate covered cherries were added to the above as a specialty candy available for the whole family to enjoy during the Christmas holidays. All of you who have been in one of my classes or lectures, have heard me say repeatedly that you absolutely, positively cannot judge the past upon today’s values. The Christmas holidays are an excellent example as to why this should never be done. How many of you have heard the common phrase, “Why, our family was so poor that we only received an orange for Christmas?”  If you persisted in asking  what else was in the stockings, the answer would be that it also contained a few Brazil nuts and some candy. While these statements are very true, they are also very deceptive as to what they tell about those holidays.  Let’s step back and remember that both of the major roadways into the Shenandoah Valley were not hard surfaced but were dirt and gravel pathways.   Let’s also take into consideration that Christmas is a winter holiday and add our winter weather to the road situation.  Add to the above facts, we know from written records that it was literally one day’s journey by stage coach from the Golden Horseshoe Tavern at the base of the Blue Ridge in present day Greene County to the Shipp Tavern near the base of the Blue Ridge in Rockingham County.   Now, let us carefully consider the reality of the Christmas gifts as described above: 1. The nearest oysters live in the Atlantic Ocean and had to be gathered, shucked of their shells and packed in a container to be brought to the Shenandoah Valley to be prepared for Christmas breakfast.  2. Brazil nuts are rich in dietary minerals, fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, thiamin, and selenium.  Even today, six of these nuts supply ten times the adult recommended level. These nuts grow on large trees in Guianas, Venezuela, Brazil, eastern Columbia, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia. They also occur in large scattered trees on the banks of the Amazon River, Rio Negro, Tapajos, and the Orinoco. 3. Any kind of candy was considered special because it contained sugar which was not grown in the Shenandoah Valley.  Molasses was available and many families would make taffy.  Molasses and honey were also used on hot breads. 4. Scurvy is a serious disease which is caused by a diet that lacks vitamin C. Patients develop anemia, debility, exhaustion, edema or swelling in parts of the body and sometimes ulceration of the gums resulting in loss of teeth.  During the American Revolution men could not serve in the military if they had no teeth because they could not eat military rations of hard-tack, dried corn, etc.  Eighty-six years later, during the War Between the States, scurvy was still considered a serious disease.  Citrus fruit was known to help prevent scurvy; therefore, a gift of an orange could prevent scurvy. Sailing ships carrying oranges which originated in China and had then spread to the Mediterranean area, could take months to travel to the United States.  It was not unusual for one half of the orange cargo to rot before they reached their destination. This caused the orange to be a very expensive item. At Christmas, many folk remembered family members who were no longer with them and tried very hard to make Christmas time memorable for their own children.  It is important for us, living today to remember that an orange was more expensive than the best mountain bike of today.  Most of our families were farmers who were doing their best just to rebuild their lives and educate their children. If you then add in the cost of the oysters, coconut, candy and nuts it is easy to understand that a family worked all year just to give their family members things that were very special on Christmas. One other thing always comes to mind as I remember the way mom’s family celebrated Christmas: two large country hams were always served.  Granddaddy always had a two year old ham for “his” Christmas dinner and, in addition, my grandmother always cooked her ham which was only one year old.  Indeed, they seemed to enjoy teasing each other about the quality of their respective choices. Perhaps, it had nothing to do with Grandmother’s family being of a Germanic heritage and while my Granddad’s family was of Scotch-Irish descent. At Christmas, I choose to give boxes of chocolate covered cherries to honor the memory of my grandfather and yes, we still serve fried oysters, a country ham and the traditional coconut cake.

Christmas

Traditions and symbols which are deeply engraved in the folk consciousness take on a much deeper meaning as holidays are observed.

Christmas is a sacred religious holiday celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth whose teachings form the basis of the Christian religion. People from around the world have observed Christmas Day (December 25^th) for two millennia. It has been a United States federal holiday since 1870 or for just one hundred forty-five years.

Christmas is also a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon which people observe by the decoration of Christmas trees, shared meals with family and friends, the giving of gifts, religious services at church and the arrival of Santa Claus.  

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration.  In the darkest days of winter, early Europeans celebrated the winter solstice as a time when they could look forward to extended days of sunlight.

The Norse, in Scandinavia celebrated “Yule,” the winter solstice, from the 21^st of December through January.  Fathers and their sons brought home large logs which they would set on fire in observance of the return of the sun. A feast was held until the log burned out which took about twelve days. It was believed that each spark from the fire represented a new calf or pig to be born during the coming year.

In most areas of Europe, the end of December was the perfect time for a celebration as the majority of cattle were slaughtered in order that they would not have to be fed during the winter months. For many families this was the only time of year in which they enjoyed a good supply of fresh meat.  Also, most beer and wine made earlier during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time.

In Germany, Oden was honored, as it was believed, that he flew the night sky to observe his people in order to decide who would prosper or perish. Because of this belief, many folk stayed inside.

Germany also gave the world their “tannenbaum” or as it is better known, “the Christmas tree.”  The old pagan custom of the sacrifice tree was revived by Martin Luther; but, ornaments and lights were used for decorations instead of the traditional live sacrifices.  The tree was brought to America by Hessian mercenaries in the service of King George III of England during the American Revolution. Later, in the 1840’s, Prince Albert, the German born consort of Queen Victoria, set up a tree in the Palace.

In Rome, “Saturnalia” was a hedonistic holiday honoring Satum, the god of agriculture which was celebrated the week leading up to the winter solstice and continued for a full month.  Perhaps this was because the winters in this geographic area were not as harsh as those in the far north.  Food and drink were plentiful and the normal social order of the Romans was literally turned upside down.  Slaves became masters and peasants were in command of the city.  During the “Feast of Fools,” business and schools were closed in order that all could join in the fun. Each year, a student or beggar was crowned the “Lord of Misrule,” who presided as celebrants played the part of his court.  Homes of the rich were visited by the poor demanding their best food and drink.  If it was not forth coming, the visitors would terrorize the home owner with mischief.  Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined debt to society by entertaining those less fortunate.

Romans also celebrated “Juvenalia,” a feast honoring the children of Rome about the time of the winter solstice.  On the 25^th of December, members of the upper classes celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun.  It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock.  Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year for some of the upper classes of Roman society.

Easter was the main holiday during the early years of Christianity as the birth of Jesus was not celebrated as a holiday. Church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday in the fourth century when Pope Julius chose the 25^th of December, even though some evidence suggested that his birth occurred in the spring. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention the date of his birth.  Later, the Puritans pointed out this fact in order to deny the legitimacy of the Christmas celebration.

It is commonly believed that the church chose the 25^th of December in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.  First called the “Feast of the Nativity,” the custom had spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the Christmas celebration had spread all the way to Scandinavia.

Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches of today, celebrate Christmas thirteen days after the 25^th of December.  This holiday is referred to as the “Epiphany,” or “Three Kings Day,” as this is the day on which it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.

By allowing Christmas to be held during the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the possibility that Christmas would be embraced by the people, but, in doing so, they gave up the manner in which it was to be celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had just about replaced pagan religion.  Believers attended church, then celebrated in a carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s “Mardi Gras.”

The first eggnog was made and consumed in 1607 at Captain John Smith’s Jamestown settlement.

 In 1645, when Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe as they had vowed to rid England of decadence; therefore, they cancelled Christmas.

Charles II was restored to the throne by popular demand, and with him came the return of the popular Christmas holiday.

The Pilgrims, who were English separatists that came to the colonies in 1620 aboard the ship, Mayflower, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than was Cromwell, resulting in  Christmas not being a holiday in the Colony of Massachusetts. In 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.

After the American Revolution, English customs, including Christmas, fell out of favor.  Christmas was declared a federal holiday on the 26^th of June 1870.  In the early 19^th century, Americans re-invented Christmas changing it from its raucous carnival style holiday into a family one which was centered upon remembrance, peace and joy.

This change most probably occurred as the early 19^th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil.  Unemployment was high with gang riots by the disenchanted occurring during the Christmas season. For instance, in 1828, the New York City Council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot.  This caused members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in the United States of America.

Washington Irving, the best-selling American author, wrote, The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gentleman, which was a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house.  They feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday.  The two groups mingled effortlessly in contrast to problems faced by those in American society.  Irving believed that Christmas should be a happy, peaceful holiday bringing groups together across lines of social status or wealth. His fictitious characters enjoyed “ancient customs.” Irving’s book was not based upon any celebration that he, himself, had ever attended.  Many historians state that Irving’s account “invented” tradition by implying that it actually described the true customs of the season.

About this same time, Charles Dickens, the English author, wrote A Christmas Carol, which became a classic holiday story. The importance of charity and good will toward all humankind showed Victorian society in both England and America the benefits of celebrating the holiday season.

 In America, Christmas was celebrated as the perfect family holiday resulting in people looking to new immigrants, the Episcopalian, and the Catholic Church to better understand the way this special holiday should be celebrated.  Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own during the next one hundred years which included the sending of holiday cards, decorating trees, candy canes and gift giving.

Clement Clarke Moore had introduced the American people to the iconic image of Santa Claus in his 1823 poem, “A Visit From St Nickolas,” more popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas.” Four decades later, the modern-day figure of St. Nick dripped off of the pen of the famous illustrator, Thomas Nast for the 3^rd of January 1863 cover of Harper’s Weekly.

Poinsettia plants were brought to the United States from Mexico in 1828. The plant was named for Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico.

The practice of sending Christmas cards is fairly recent.   In 1843, Sir Henry Cole of England sent cards designed by J. C. Horsley to friends.

Since the 1890’s, the Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus clad donation collectors in to the streets.

The Rockeffer Center Christmas Tree tradition was started in 1931 by construction workers.

In 1939, Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” came into being in the imagination of Robert L. May’s most famous poem, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” which was written to lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.

Merry Christmas To All.

A Journal - Elkton - McGaheysville Area

Miss Lottie  M. Davis

A Journal
Elkton - McGaheysville Area

Page Seventy
May 1932
  1 May 1932 - All day service at United Brethren Church $400.00.
  2 May 1932 - Daddy taken blood. Test on Mon[day].
  5 May 1932 - Covered dish supper at church.  L[adies] A[ide]. $31.00.
  6 May 1932 - Mr. Clarence Life died.  Forty-five years. Friday.

Page Seventy-one
May 1932
  6 May 1932 - Charles Rogers died. Twenty years Friday. Funeral Sun[day].
  6 May 1932- Mrs. Edith Maiden Armentrout on Fri[day].

  8 May 1932 - Mother's Day.
12 May 1932 - Lindy [Charles Lindburg] baby found by Negro, William Allen truck driver five miles from home on Thursday, gone seventy-two days.
14 May 1932 - Mr. Bob Bridge died age seventy-two years.  Heart trouble. Saturday.
    May 1932 - Philadelphia -city produce.
    May 1932 - Eggs .08 cents.
24 May 1932 - Mr. Worchester died.
27 May 1932 - New paper on Hall.  Mr. Hammer.
26 May 1932 - New carpet on steps from Sears.
26 May 1932 - Mrs. Amos Shifflett died on Friday.

Page Seventy-one
June 1932
  2 Jun 1932 - Mr. Bill Carco killed self age twenty-three.
 4 Jun 19 32 - A. T.[J?] Turner killed by Tom Ware, Sr.

 5 June 1932 - Children's Day.
11 Jun 1932 - Daddy went to hospital.

Page Seventy-two
June 1932
      Jun 1932 - Mrs. Will Shifflett was a Lawson before married.
 12 Jun 1932 -  Mr. Brown limb taken  off.
   4 Jun 1932 - Mrs. Lester McGuire new Baby.
 22 Jun 1932 - Mrs. Maggie Life taken to Richmond.
 23 Jun 1932 - Mrs. Bud Flory new baby.
 24 Jun 1932 - Daddy came home from Hospital.
    Jun 1932 - Archie Louderback married.
[To be continued...]

The Mustache Cup

  

 The Mustache Cup

In fashion, styles change as rapidly as the seasons of the year.  Many times, we tend to forget that fashion is influenced by a nation’s political and religious environment. For instance, historically, short skirts and small hats are indicative of a nation's economic prosperity while long skirts worn with large brimmed hats normally indicate a lack of prosperity or point to a nation that is in a state of financial depression.

If we look at the cut of men’s clothing during the "Regency era" which sometimes refers to a more extended period of time or the period between 1795-1837,   it is somewhat easier to state that the Empire style began as part of Neoclassical fashion reviving styles of the Greco-Roman art which showed women wearing loose fitting rectangular tunics.  English women's styles often referred to as "regency" followed the same general trend.

As 1850 approached, many men who considered themselves fashion leaders of the day, adorned themselves with large, flowing mustaches to compliment the curves in their cutaway coats.

The unveiling of the Mustache Cup designed by Harvey Adams in Britain ca. 1850 was received with great enthusiasm as the “moustache guard” which was a moustache-shaped ledge that extended across the cup, with an opening in the middle allowed a gentleman to sip his drink and still keep his mustachioed upper lip dry and free from the melted wax with which he had groomed his mustache. 

Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective as played by David Suschet is but one such example of the many men, world-wide, who dyed and waxed their mustaches to keep them curled and looking fabulous.

A Journal - McGaheysville - Elkton, Virginia Area

March - April 1932

The Peaked [Massanutten] Mountain

March 1932 came in on Monday. 

  2 Mar 1932 - Apron opened at church Made $33.00.
  3 Mar 1932 - Bossie [cow] dehorned.
  1 Mar 1932 - Lindy [Lindbergh] baby taken from home.
  1 Mar 1932 - Jessie Hensley killed himself.
  1 Mar 1832 - Egg  .08 cents.
  1 Mar 1932 - Daddy paid Earl for radio. $5.17 R.[radio?]
  6 Mar 1932 - Snow Storm on Sunday. Light & phone line down.
  5 Mar 1932 - Uncle John Davis placeral. sold.
11 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Edna Shifflett ___ baby?
13 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Edna Shifflett baby funeral.
Page 69
 6 Mar 1932 - On Sun[day] Snow Storm 27 at Sunday School.
14 Mar 1932 - Margie Maiden new baby.
14 Mar 1932 - Eggs only 8 cents.
14 Mar 1932 - Miss Mable Baugher married House.
14 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Will Shifflett came home.                                                                            
11 Mar 1932 - Mrs. H.B. Heatwole hurt.
    Mar 1932 - Mrs. Clara Frey Stanley new baby.
17 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Lester McGuire goes to hospital.
17 Mar 1932 - Mrs. J. Burner died age 77 years.
22 Mar 1932 - Mr. Brown goes to Hospital at R[?] Virginia.
23 Mar 1932 - Mr. Noah Koontz died age 71 years Wed.
25 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Sam Flick in hospital.
27 Mar 1932 - Easter Sunday rained.
29 Mar 1932 - Mrs. Dick Baugher  died. Tuesday.
30 Mar 1932 - Limb operated on by Dr. Miller & Dr. Deryle.
30 Mar 1932 - Virginia Cover operated on.
31 Mar 1932 - Randolph Robinson operated on.
Page 70 
April 1932
 2 Apr 1932 - Helen Lam married.
 2 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Tal Eppard came to Hospital.
11 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Bill Shook died.
11 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Walter Morris operated on.
11 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Lillie Frazier operated on.
17 Apr 1932 - I came home from Hospital.
17 Apr 1932 - Mr. Clarence Life went to Hospital.
18 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Lester Hensley operated on.
18 Apr 1932 - Mr. Clarence Life operated on.
19 Apr 1932 - Mrs. Ernest Hensley's child burned.
    Apr 1932 - Mr. Joe Sugare [?]  moved to Keezletown.
20 Apr 1932 - Miss Ruth Plum and Ben Eppard married.
17 Apr 1932 - Mary Washington colored operated on.
To be continued-



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Butchering was a day of "Thanksgiving."

In the Shenandoah Valley, Thanksgiving was not celebrated until the late 1950’s- early 1960’s because everyone  knew that they were “Thankful for God’s Blessings” every day of their life and that they did not need to set aside a special day just for this purpose.  What we know as Thanksgiving, was the traditional day in November that was used for butchering because the weather had to be just right, it could not be too warm nor too cold – crisp or even cold temperatures were best for this  important job which involved the whole family.

Butchering day was normally a busy day in which all members of the family were  awakened several hours earlier than  usual and it was also a day when everyone usually remained at their tasks until long after dark.

If we step back and consider that pork was the mainstay of the family’s diet and that in earlier times it was said that every part of the pig was used except for its squeal, we can better understand the necessity for this very long day and consider that it did involve everyone  including  young children whose parents knew that, “idle hands were the devil’s workshop.”

Way before daylight it was customary to set up the butchering site which was normally located near the house.  Wide, hand cut boards which had been well scrubbed with lye were placed across saw horses to make a large work space as it was normal for a family to process six to eight hogs at a time as pork was the mainstay of the family’s diet: bacon, side meat, sausage, souse,  scrapple, panhaus, pork chops, pork loin and fabulous hams.

The butchering site also included a scalding trough which was filled with water that was brought to a rolling boil.  Adjacent to the trough would be ropes or chains which were then connected to the hind feet of the slaughtered hog.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back and begin just as the farm family would have started their day.

If extended family and neighbors were not butchering at their own homes, they arrived very early to help with the multitude of chores which had begun before anyone sat down at the family table to eat a hearty breakfast of hot biscuits, sausage, gravy, eggs, fresh butter, jams and jellies, and pots of steaming hot coffee.

Women prepared the meals and ran the kitchen.  Men tended to the outside area. All children did chores resulting from one area or the other.  Why even children three years of age would help carry water to fill the scalding trough or the big, black iron kettles which were necessary to process the meat.

The actual process began with the men going to the hog pen or sty.  A sharp double-edged knife was thrust into the throat of each hog.  In more recent times a more humane method of execution which kills the animal almost instantly was a rifle shot into the animal’s brain.  Even if the animal were shot it was still necessary for the hog to be bled out.  

The carcass was hauled to the scalding trough, where the laid out ropes or chains were hooked to the hogs hind legs which allowed the hog to be more easily rolled and turned after it was put into the hot water.  Care had to be taken to see that the water was not too cold nor too hot which would allowed the skin to come off along with the bristles. 

Next, the carcass was pulled from the scalding trough and scrapped clean of hog’s bristles which were sold or used by the family to make brushes or were saved to be used in plastering rooms in their home.   It was then hung on a tall wooden tripod made of logs.  It was a laborious job, requiring several strong men, to raise a hog weighing between five to seven hundred pounds to the top of the log tripod.

With the hind legs spread wide apart by a piece of wood placed through the tendons the carcass was now ready for the actual butchering process to begin.  First the head was cut from the body and hung on the tripod rest or on the lye scrubbed boards.  Later the women would cook the head and use the meat in making souse, panhaus, scrapple, etc.

The internal organs were removed and placed in large tubs.  These had to be scraped clean of fat if they were to be used to make stuffed sausage links.  They were determined to be useable if they inflated like a balloon when blown into.  If they were full of holes from improper scraping they could not be used to make stuffed sausage. 

The women would cut the fat into small cubes to facilitate it being rendered into lard; grinding meat into sausage, boiling meat  and juices and preparing the puddings, pans of scrapple, panhaus and souse.

Thrifty farm families strived to use all parts of the hogs…even the reproductive organ of the male hog was hung in the woodshed where it was used for greasing the buck-saw.  What little that did remain from butchering was fed to the cats and dogs as a special treat.  Some families enjoyed pinning the tail on an unsuspecting person’s back at school or even at church or so I’ve been told.

Hanging Smoked Hams and Shoulders

  In addition to the shoulders, hams and sides which were normally cured by smoking or other methods which was somewhat unique to each family, the following products were made.

Chittlings were made by washing the large intestines of the hog, removing any fat.  They were then turned inside out and the tissue was scraped off. A specific board about four inches wide was commonly used for this purpose.  Many people contended that they should be scrapped three complete times.  They were then soaked in salted water for several days.  To serve they were boiled in water until tender, drained and then deep fried in hot fat.  They were then served crisp similar to potato chips. 

Dutch Goose is made by mixing the following: one quart of diced potatoes, one pound of sausage, one chopped onion and two quarts of bread cubes.  The mixture is then moistened with water or milk and stuffed into a clean pig’s stomach.  Roast for about two hours.  A  rich gravy will also result.

Fried Brains was made by covering the hog’s brains with cold salted water to which three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar had been added.  This was then allowed to soak for several hours.  The liquid was then drained and the membranes removed.  The brains were then simmered in salted water until they were tender.  They were then drained, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then dipped into a well-beaten egg and then dipped into well crushed cracker crumbs.  They were then fried in deep fat.  Other folk might have chosen to chop the brains fine, fry them in butter and then mix them into scrambled eggs.

Liver Pudding was made by cooking a hog’s liver and its heart along with skins until all were very tender.  The meat was then ground by a coarse chopper.  The broth was then added to the meat mixture.  Flour  and corn meal [about half of each] was then added to thicken the mixture.  This was stirred constantly until it was poured into shallow pans and then allowed to cool.

Panhaus  is made by heating six cups of pork broth and slowly sprinkling one and a quarter cups of yellow corn meal into the boiling liquid.  Cook until the mixture thickens and then stir in two cups of finely chopped pork [use odd parts left over from butchering].  Add one tablespoon of salt; a quarter tablespoon of pepper and a half tablespoon of finely chopped sage.  Stir well to blend the mixture and pour into loaf pans.  When cool, remove the panhaus from the loaf pans.  To serve, cut the loaf cross wise into quarter inch thick slices, fry slices in hot fat until they turn a golden brown on both sides. 

Scrapple is made by soaking a hog’s head in water overnight.  Add this to the hog skins and pieces which were left over from butchering.  Boil together until well done.  Remove the meat from the bones and cool.  Strain the liquid to removed unwanted parts. Chop the meat by running it through a coarse grinder and place it in the liquid and allow this mixture to slowly simmer.  Sprinkle in a  quart of corn meal  and stir constantly.  Season with black pepper, salt and finely chopped sage to suit your taste and then cook the mixture for at least twenty more minutes.   Pour this mixture into loaf pans and allow it to cool.  To serve, cut the loaf into thin slices and fry until golden brown.

Souse is made by cooking eight hog’s feet and four ears in salted water to cover.  When the meat is tender, pick it from the bones and chop it into very small pieces.  Add pepper and finely chopped sage  or thyme into the meat and liquid.  Pour into loaf pans or other molds and allow it to cool. This is a jelled meat.  Some folk add finely chopped red and green peppers and a tad bit of apple cider vinegar to the mixture for color and a more pronounced flavor.

Tripe is made by soaking the pig’s stomach in salt and baking soda.  Scrape the stomach so it is not lick and then soak it again in cold salted water overnight.  Parboil the stomach until it is tender.  Slice and fry in butter.

A Journal - McGaheysville - Elkton, Virginia Area

Page 64

1932 January came in on Fri[day].

  1 Jan 1932 – Rained all day.

  2 Jan 1932 -  Georgie [,] Annie & Mrs. Fogel came to see Lee Opal.

  2 Jan 1932 – Mr. L.A. Hensley came home from hospital.

  3 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Dick Baugher came from hospital.

  3 Jan 1932 – Mr. G. W. Keezle died 71 years old. Funeral in home buried McGaheysville.

Page 65

1932 January

  9 Jan 1932 – Mr. George Bruce killed himself age 56 years on Sat evening.

11 Jan 1932 – Taken Ray to Dr. Conrad

12 Jan 1932 – UB [United Brethern] Church get money from Winchester.

 6 Jan 1932 -  Miss Adell Scruggs operated on.

15 Jan 1932 – Bus from Harrisonburg to Richmond $5.00 one way are $7.50 round trip.

12 Jan 1932 – Eggs 13 cents dozen.

14 Jan 1932 – Mr. Willie Sipe cut throat.

17 Jan 1932 – Luther Kite died.

12 Jan 1932 – Keezle flue afire.

18 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Minnie Thomas Shifflett new baby.

18 Jan 1932 – Rev. Stearn taken to Hospital.

22 Jan 1932 – Taken Daddy to Hospital on Friday.

     Jan 1932 – Mrs. Arthur Gooden broke arm.

20 Jan 1932 – Taken Rev. Stearn to Staunton Hospital.

24 Jan 1932 – Daddy First dose of medicine in arm.

Page 66

1932 January

26 Jan 1932 – Mr. Longley died seventy-six years old. Buried at McGaheysville.

28 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Sam Monger sick.

28 Jan 1932 – Mrs. McGuire had Silver Tea.

23 Jan 1932 – First step on the new Lee Highway.

24 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Harold Workman new baby boy Sun[day].

25 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Ralph Eppard new baby boy  Mon[day].

31 Jan 1932 – Daddy came home from Hospital.

31 Jan 1932 -  Fire at Shenandoah.

27 Jan 1932 – Bassie came.

31 Jan 1932 – Mrs. Alice Nash baby died.

February 1932 came in on Monday.

 1 Feb 1932 -  Dofflemyer filling station burned.

 2 Feb 1932 -  Mrs. Alice Monger Nash died twenty-four years old.

 2 Feb 1932 – Mr. Brown came home from Hospital.

 6 Feb 1932 -  Everette Davis operated on. Arch Davis son.

12 Feb 1932 – Mr. Charles Collier died.  Mrs. Joe Leap’s father for $12,315.

Page 67

February 1932

  9 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Clara Nicklas died seventy-one years old.

  9 Feb 1932 – Earl brings the radio over here.

14 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Joe Workman goes to Hospital Sunday.

17 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Will Shifflett taken to hospital Wednesday.

18 Feb 1932 – Bill Allen taken to jail got with blood H[?].

18 Feb 1932 -  Mrs. Irene Baugher new baby.

13 Feb 1932 – Alma Baugher married to Byrd, Sat[urday].

18 Feb 1932 – Mr. Sam Herring George Herring and Ross Gooden hurt in Harrisonburg Va [Virginia].

19 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Will Shifflett operated on Friday.

20 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Grace Gooden’s smoke house burned.

18 Feb 1932 – Busy Bee had play at church - $29.18.

11 Feb 1932 – Ladies had covered supper at McGuires.

     Feb 1932 – Robert S. Keezle left Heard’s Store.

23 Feb 1932 – Virginia Dean new baby boy.

23 Feb 1932 – EmaJean Davis Meadows new baby girl.

20 Feb 1932 – Mrs. McComb had tonsils taken out.

23 Feb 1932 – Miss Cash twin baby [babies].

20 Feb 1932 – Mrs. Mose Long and Gooden married.

Page 68

February 1932

25 Feb 1932 – Mrs. John Cubbage died.

27 Feb 1932 – Put in Radio.

27 Feb 1932 – Daddy gets new glasses from Dr. Miller.

26 Feb 1932 – Ladies Aid served lunch at Mr. Bond’s sale made $65.50.

29 Feb 1932 – Vella [Maude Monger] hurt.

Valley Forge, 1778 - Oaths of Allegiance

Oaths of Allegiance
Valley Forge, 1778

On February 3, 1778, Congress, having taken into consideration the report of the special committee appointed to devise effectual means to prevent persons disaffected to the interest of the United States from being employed in any of the important offices thereof, resolved, That every officer who held or should thereafter hold a commission or office from Congress, should subscribe the oath or affirmation of allegiance.  These oaths or affirmations the commander-in-chief or any major or brigadier-general was authorized and directed to administer to all officers of the army or of any of the departments thereof.  Those mentioned in the following list (with a few exceptions) took the oath at Valley Forge in the spring of 1778 before that encampment was broke, and who undoubtedly were members of the army actually in camp at Valley Forge the ever memorable winter of 1777-1778.  The names are given in the order in which they appear in the volumes of original manuscripts from which they are taken.

Oath of Allegiance – 1 Oath of Allegiance – 2 Oath of Allegiance – 3 Oath of Allegiance – 4 Oath of Allegiance – 5 Oath of Allegiance – 6 Oath of Allegiance – 7 Oath of Allegiance – 8 Oath of Allegiance – 9 Oath of Allegiance – 10 Oath of Allegiance  

Source:  "The Army and Navy of the United States 1776-1891", George Barrie Publisher, Philadelphia, 1890.

John Parks, lieutenant 13th Penna. regiment.

John Gregg, lieutenant 13th Penna, regiment.

Joseph Brown Lee, lieut. 13th Penna. regt.

Edward Spear, ensign 13th Penna. regiment.

William Johnson, ensign 13th Penna, regt.

Joseph Collier, ensign 13th Penna. regiment.

Jacob Weaver, ensign 13th Penna. regiment.

Thomas Lincoln, ensign 13th Penna. regt.

Daniel Topham, ensign 13th Penna. regt.

Andrew Little, qr. mas. 13th Penna. regt.

Joseph Brown, surgeon 13th Penna. regiment.

Aaron Woodruff, surg. mate 12th Penna. regt.

Nicholas Miller, captain 12th Penna. regt.

Henry McKinley, captain 12th Penna. regt.

John Reily, captain 12th Penna. regt.

Neigal Gray lieu. col 12th Penna. regiment.

Andrew Ledlie, surgeon 12th Penna. regt.

Thomas Dungan, paymaster l2th Penna. regt.

Andrew Engel, ensign 12th Penna. regt.

Stewart Herbert, 2d lieu,. 12th Penna. regt.

Stephen Chambers, captain l2th Penna. regt.

George Vaughan, qr, mas. 12th Penna. regt.

William Ball, lieutenant 12th Penna. regt.

John Boyd, lieutenant 12th Penna. regiment.

James Mackey, 1st lieut. 11th Penna, regt.

Samuel Dawson, captain 11th Penna. regt.

William Magaw, surgeon 9th Penna. regt.

Thomas Bartholomew Bowen, captain 9th Pennsylvania regiment.

Jacob Vaaderslice, lieut. 9th Penna, regt.

Sam. Platt, surgeon's mate 9th Penna. regt.

Robert McBride, lieutenant 9th Penna, regt.

George Knox, quartermaster 9th Penna. regt.

Jacob McClellan, captain 9th Penna, regt.

Nicholas Coleman, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

Samuel Davis, lieutenant 9th Penna, regt.

Francis Nichols, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

John McKinney, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

William Vanlear, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

Richard Butler, colonel 9th Penna. regt.

Daniel Danrough, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

John Bickham, 9th Penna. regiment.

William Thompson, adjutant 9th Penna. regt.

George Grant, captain 9th Penna. regiment.

Thomas L. Swyler, ensign, 9th Penna. regt.

John Ashton, lieutenant 9th Penna. regt.

John Davis, captain 9th Penna. regiment.

John Tate, paymaster 9th Penna. regiment.

Mordecai Morgan, 1st lieut. 9th Penna. regt.

Mathew Henderson, captain 9th Penna. regt.

Frederick Vernon, major 8th Penna, regt.

Nathaniel Welch 2d lieu,. 2d Va. regiment.

Benjamin C. Spillar, captain 2d Va. regt.

James Quarles, captain 2d Va regiment.

Thomas Quarles, ensign 2d Va, regiment.

John Baytop, ensign 2d Va. regiment.

William Evans, lieutenant 10th Va. regiment.

John Hackley, ensign 10th Va. regiment.

William Stirling Smith, qr. mas. 10 Va. regt.

John Roberts, surgeon 6th Va, regiment.

Charles Simms, lieut.-col. 6th Va. regiment.

James Mabon, lieutenant 6th Va, regiment.

Richard Apperson, captain 6th Va, regiment.

Simon Summers, adjutant 6th Va. regiment.

John Stokes, lieutenant 6th Va. regiment.

William Hudson, lieutenant 6th Va. regiment.

John Gibson, colonel 6th Va. regiment.

Christian Sandridge, qr, mas. 6th Va. regt.

Thomas Massie captain 6th Va. regiment.

James Barnett, lieutenant 6th Va. regiment.

Samuel Hopkins, major 6th Va. regiment.

John Kennon, paymaster 6th Va. regiment.

Jacob Snider, lieutenant 2d Penna, regiment.

John Bankson, captain 2d Penna. regiment.

Christian Stoddle, captain 2d Penna. regt.

Henry Piercy, 1st lieutenant 2d Penna. regt.

Abel Morris, lieutenant 2d Penna, regiment.

James Johnston, paymaster 2d Penna. regt.

William McMurray, 2d lieut. 1st Penna. regt.

William Williams, major 2d Penna. regiment.

John Best, lieutenant 1st Va. regiment.

James Meriwether, lieut, 1st Va. regiment.

Windsor Brown, captain 1st Va, regiment.

Epaphoditus Rudder, lieu,. 1st Va. regt.

William Brent, lieut: col. 1st Va. regiment.

John Allison, major 1st Va. regiment.

John Lee captain 1st Va regiment.

Thomas Ewell, major 1st Va. regiment.

Thomas Hamilton, 1st Va. regiment.

William Campbell, lieutenant 1st Va, regt.

John Triplett, lieutenant 1st Va, regiment.

Peter Stubblefleld, lieutenant 1st Va. regt.

John Nicholas, captain 1st Va. regiment.

Thomas Meriwether, captain 1st Va. regt.

Frederick Woodson, lieut,. 1st Va. regiment.

John Cole, 2d lieutenant 2d Va. regiment.

Thomas Parker, lieutenant 2d Va, regiment.

Francis Cowherd, lieutenant 2d Va. regiment.

John Crawford, lieutenant 2d Va, regiment.

Thomas Catlett, lieutenant 2d Va, regiment.

Benjamin Hoomes, captain 2d Va. regiment.

William Porter, ensign 2d Va. regiment.

Marcus Calones, captain 2d Va. regiment.

John Kennon, lieutenant 2d Va, regiment.

Alexander Parker, captain 2d Va. regiment.

Samuel Cobb, lieutenant 2d Va. regiment.

James Moody, lieutenant 2d Va. regiment.

Christian Febiger, colonel 2d Va. regiment.

Ralph Falkner, major 2d Va, regt.

Robert Beall, captain 13th Va. regiment.

Thomas Moore, lieut. 13th Va. regt.

Lewis Thomas, Lieutenant 13th Va. regiment

Andrew Lewis, ensign 13th Va. regiment

Daniel De Benneville, surgeon 13th Va. regiment

Richard Campbell, major 13th Va. regiment.

Nathan Lamb, lieutenant 10th Va. regt.

John Green, colonel 10th Va. regiment.

Thomas Hord, lieutenant 10th Va. regiment.