This page contains a list of various documents, newspaper clippings (and links to copies of some of the clippings), and journal entries I found among my grandmother's stuff and my g-grandmother's stuff. I have learned how important it is to save old papers, because you never know what document may lead you to other documents and the information you have been searching for.  I have also learned that documents in your possession may provide clues for other researchers on some of their surname searches.  Consequently, here are the list of documents or events described in handwritten journals, together with the date and the name of the person referenced therein.  There are some newspaper clippings or other items that are not dated, yet clues for the dates appear therein.  I have listed them at the bottom of this chart (with links to copies of some of the articles).
 

DATE	EVENT	NAME
1921 Jan 8	Note in Bessie's Hartley's notebook said in 1921 she was operated on for complications and gallstones.  Dr. Johnston was doctor.  Allegany Hospital.	Dr. Johnson
1923 Mar 17	Letter to Mr. Thomas Barkins, 219 Elder Street, Cumberland, MD, from The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company Relief Department, stating unless a reply was received to their letter regarding the submission of a certified copy of divorce decree from his second wife, Ella, their file would be closed and she would continue as the beneficiary in his application for membership with the relief department.	Thomas Barkins Ella Barkins
1923 Dec 26	Insurance policy issued by Caledonia Insurance Company, Thomas J. Anderson, agent, insured furniture and property located on Lot No. 14, Block #7, Rose Hill Additions, Cumberland, Maryland (now known as #547 Patterson Ave.) insuring contents in the amount of $1,000 for a premium of $6.70.  Policy issued to A. Browne Lynn and Margaret A. Lynn.	Thomas J. Anderson A. Browne Lynn Margaret A. Lynn
1924 Jan 28	Divorce Decree dated 1/28/24 stating that marriage between Robert McKinley Slaton and Bessie Blair Slaton was dissolved; the court was of the opinion that Robert McKinley Slaton was entitled to relief prayed for in his bill of complaint.  Robert was ordered to pay the cost of the divorce.  (Circuit court of Taylor County, West Virginia, entered of record at the February Term, 1924, and recorded in Chancery Order Book No. 19, page 277.)	Robert McKinley Slaton Bessie Blair Slaton
1925 Nov 15	Insurance on furniture at #547 Patterson Ave., issued by Caledonia Insurance Company of Scotland (Thomas J. Anderson of Cumberland, MD, agent) to A. Browne Lynn of Cumberland, MD, insuring furniture in the amount of $500 for a premium of $3.85; building described as a two story, slate roof, frame building, occupied as a dwelling at No. 547 Patterson Ave., (Rose Hill Addition), Cumberland, Maryland	Thomas J. Anderson A. Browne Lynn
1927 Nov 17	Tax bill from V.F. Alkire, Sheriff, County of Mineral, Keyser, W. Va. to Susie J. Fleek for tax year 1927 in amount of $2.06 on 5 acres at Georges Run Drains (it looked like Drains, but hard to read)	V.F. Alkire Susan J. Fleek
1931 Apr 24	Letter to Bessie Hartley from R. M. Johnson, Alaska, West Virginia.  He apparently was an attorney.  He said that after giving the deed some thought, Susan could deed Bessie or anyone her life interest; he went on to discuss possibilities of what could happen; that if the brother that is dead had children, though he was divorced from his wife the children would be his heirs and would hold his share in spite of anything.  He told her he thought he'd better write her before doing anything.	R.M. Johnson Bessie Hartley
1931 July 21	Receipt from A. F. Ridenour, J.P. to Bessie Hartley in sum of $5 for writing deed.  ALSO:  Deed made July 21, 1931, and recorded in Deed Book No. 51, Page 191, from Susan Jane Flick, widow, Robert W. Flick and Clara A. Flick, his wife, parties of the first part, and Mrs. Bessie B. Hartley of Cumberland, Md., party of the second part.  (Robert W. Flick was Bessie's brother.)  The deed conveyed the following real property lying and situate in Mineral County, West Virginia, at the Eastern foot of Knobley Mountain, and more particularly described as:  "Beginning at a dead locust on the North-West side of the Knobley Road near Flick's house, corner to the land of William Urice, then running down the road North 61 degrees, 30 minutes East 15 poles, North 39 degrees, 30 minutes East 18.3 poles to a young white oak by the side of the road, then leaving said road North 35 degrees, 30 minutes West 25 poles to a small white oak on a flat, then south 54 degrees, 30 minutes west 32 poles to a stake about six feet west of a red oak, now corner marked in said Urice's line, then with said line south 35 degrees, 30 minutes east 29 poles to the beginning, containing five acres, more or less."  This is the same property that was conveyed to Susan Jane Flick and children from Simon Umstot and wife by deed dated Jan. 10, 1887, and of record of the Clerk of Mineral County, West Virginia in Deed Book No. 12, pages 117-8.  The said Robert W. Flick and Mrs. Bessie B. Hartley being all the living children of said Susan Jane Flick.  One child, Adam D. Flick having died intestate and without children.  Deed gave fee simple title to Bessie.	A.F. Ridenour Robert W. Flick Clara A. Flick Bessie B. Hartley Susan Jane Flick Simon Umstot Adam D. Flick
1931 Oct 8	Letter from Mrs. Bessie Hartley, 315 Poca St., Cumberland, Md., to Mr. T.T. Huffman enclosing $1.75 for recording deed and asking how much the taxes would be.	T.T. Huffman
1935 Dec 2	Newspaper clipping from a Cumberland paper; article entitled "Hit Run Victim Found Dying on Ellerslie Road" and this part was underlined:  "Miss Virginia Miller, who lives near the Smouse service station, told officers that she heard a car, apparently traveling at high speed, strike something shortly after 1 a.m.  The machine did not stop, the girl said, and she did not look out of the window, because she heard no other noise to indicate that an accident had occurred.	Virginia Miller
1936 Jan. 2	Virginia Evelyn Haws got marriage license January 2, 1936 to Anthony Contina.	Virginia Evelyn Haws
1937 Oct. 8	Divorce Decree issued to Leoda A. Minnick and James F. Minnick in Allegany County, Maryland; Leoda given custody of child	Leoda A. Minnick James F. Minnick
1938	Note in Bessie Fleek Hartley's notebook said in 1938 and 1939 she was going through change of life, and Dr. Trevaskis of Cumberland, Md. took care of her.	Dr. Trevaskis
1939 Aug. 27	Bridal Bells book which stated on the inside that on this date Cloyd Foster Bingaman of Frostburg, Maryland, and Leoda Almeda Minnick of Frostburg, Maryland, were united in holy matrimony at Grantsville, Maryland by Rev. D. R. Carder.  On the inside of the book was the actual marriage license from Garrett County, Maryland.  Cloyd was 48 and divorced; occupation was barber.  Leoda was 29, divorced, and occupation was a presser.	Leoda Almeda Minnick Rev. D. R. Carder Cloyd Foster Bingaman
1940 Mar. 19	Newspaper clipping which had handwritten on it the date 3/19/40 which listed marriage licenses.  It would appear to possibly be a Cumberland paper, and since I don't know which names may be important, I'll copy them all:  "David Doyle Mease, Langley Field, Va. & Margaret Elizabeth Lucas, Cumberland; Ralph Andrew Moore, Eckhart, and Hazel Virginia Durst, Frostburg; Frederick Allen Gentry and Nancy Louise Marks, Cumberland; Lester Clarence Hause and Betty Jane Berkley, Meyersdale, Pa.; Elmer Ellsworth Peters, Beech Creek, Pa., and Ida Marie Mann, Monument, Pa.; John Thomas Noonan and Beulah Lee Rounds, Piedmont, W.Va.	David Doyle Mease Margaret Elizabeth Lucas Ralph Andrew Moore Hazel Virginia Durst Allen Gentry Nancy Louise Marks Lester Clarence Hause Betty Jane Berkley Elmer Ellsworth Peters Ida Marie Mann John Thomas Noonan Beulah Lee Rounds
1940 Dec. 20	Divorce Decree dated 12/20/40 decreeing that marriage between Claude Richard Hartley and Sue Bessie Hartley is declared null and void as if marriage had never been celebrated.  Claude was ordered to pay for the divorce.  (Circuit Court for Allegany County, Maryland)	Claude Richard Hartley Sue Bessie Hartley
1941 May 13	Newspaper clipping from paper in Cumberland, MD, which stated Thomas Barkins asked for annulment of his marriage in 1922 to Virginia Bessie Barkins of Frostburg on the grounds that she had previously married Robert Slayton, from whom no divorce had been obtained.  The Barkins separated in 1924.  Morgan C. Harris, attorney, docketed the bill of complaint.	Thomas Barkins Virginia Bessie Barkins Morgan C. Harris
1941 Jul. 3	Letter to Mrs. Thomas Barkins, Cumberland, Md. from Robert Jackson, Clerk, stating that Thomas Barkins applied for a divorce May 12, 1941 from Virginia Bessie Barkins, and that the summons was duly issued for Virginia Bessie Barkins but the Sheriff was unable to find her and the summons was returned by the Sheriff and nothing further had been done so far.  The number of the case is 16,122 Equity.	Thomas Barkins Virginia Bessie Barkins
1942	Newspaper clipping re 98th birthday celebration of Mrs. Bridget Swift, who was born in Ireland in 1844.  She came to the U.S. in 1870 with a younger brother, James Lowther.  She was married to John Swift, who died 53 years ago, and she had one daughter who married Gibson Umstot.  The daughter died, so Mrs. Swift took over the Umstot's four children, giving them the best education possible.  The oldest of these grandchildren, Frank Umstot, is now state's attorney at Tampa, FLA; the next grandson, Lester, was killed WWI; the third child, Vincent is in business in Newark. NJ, and the fourth grandchild, Elese, is with Mrs. Swift.	Bridget Swift James Lowther John Swift Gibson Umstot Frank Umstot Lester Umstot Vincent Umstot Elese Umstot
1943 Dec. 13	According to a notebook kept by Bessie, she started working at the Peerless Steak House, N.W. corner Tradd and New Sts., Charleston, S.C., William N. Lempesis, Proprietor, on Monday, Dec. 13, 1943	William N. Lempesis
1943 Dec. 29	Letter from Weston State Hospital to Mrs. B. V. Hause, General Delivery, Charleston, South Carolina, re Cramer Haws, stating her letter of Dec. 27 regarding remains of her late son was received.  Said "his death was caused, as is often the case among such patients, by what is called Status Epilepitus.  This means, in simple language, epileptic seizures, which cannot be relieved by any of the quieting medicines ordinarily used for cases of epilepsy.  The patients simply go into a state of spasm and prolonged convulsions, which no safe medicine will relieve."  Cramer was unconscious toward the end and did not speak of anyone.  His remains have been embalmed and are being kept at undertakers in Weston who have the state contract:  Sweeney & Toothman.  The State of West Virginia does not pay any expenses incident to the casket, preparation for shipping of remains, etc.  Letter signed by Harry A. Garrison, M.D., Superintendent	B.V. Hause Cramer Haws Sweeney & Toothman Harry A. Garrison, MD
1943 Jan. 10	Receipt from Louis Stein, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Frederick St., Cumberland, Maryland, received of Leoda Bingaman $37 for opening grave.  Also a receipt from Sweeney & Toothman, directors of Funeral Service, Weston, W. Va. to complete funeral arrangements for Kramer Haws, including expense to Cumberland.	Louis Stein Sweeney & Toothman Kramer Haws
1946 June 11	Letter to Bessie Hartley, 141 N. Flower St., Apt. 306, Los Angeles 12, CA, from Baltimore City Health Department acknowledging her request for a verification of their files for birth record of James Richard Stottlemeyer, who is reported to have been born in Baltimore on August 30, 1928.  They said they needed to know her relationship to David and also info re parentage, birthdate, birthplace.  (NOTE:  James Richard was the son Bessie HAWS Hartley adopted, and he went by the name of Dave or David.)	James Richard Stottlemeyer
1946 Sept. 23	Letter from Baltimore City Health Department to Mrs. Bessie B. Hartley, 141 N. Flower St., Apt. 306, Los Angeles 12, California, enclosing two transcripts of birth for her son, James Richard Hartley, and to advise her that it is necessary that they retain permanently for their files the decree of adoption sent to them.  They were returning, however, the baptismal record she had forwarded to them sometime ago.	Bessie B. Hartley James Richard Hartley ("Dave")
1949 May 27	Enoch Wright Fleek died.  (He was born at Cresaptown, Maryland June 11, 1906.)	Enoch Wright Fleek
1950 June 21	On 6/21/1950, the clerk of the court in Mineral County, West Virginia notarized the Delayed Certificate of Birth for Bessie Blair Fleek, which is fully described under Aug. 7, 1892 above.  With the Delayed Certificate of Birth was a letter from Gilmore Umstot, which said:  "To Whom It May Concern.  I Gilmore Umstot am an uncle to the said Bessie Blair Fleek Haws Hartley, her mother Susan Jane Umstot was my sister.  James Henry Fleek was my sister's (Susan Jane's) husband and the father of Bessie Blair Fleek.  James Henry Fleek was born at Keyser, W. Va.  Susan Jane Umstot was born at Keyser, W. Va.  Bessie Blair Fleek was born at Alaska, W. Va. August 7, 1892	Bessie Blair Fleek Gilmore Umstot Susan Jane Umstot James Henry Fleek

 

UNDATED NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS OR DOCUMENTS

(Note:  There are copies of a couple newspaper clippings on my Newspaper Page.)

Undated	OBITUARY:  Newspaper clipping from Cumberland Evening Times.  It shows Wednesday, April ___ but the date is cut off.  It reads:  John Howard Brashear, 47, Williams road farmer, who was fatally injured yesterday when caught in the belt of a saw mill on his farm, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from Mt. Hermon Church, with interment in the church cemetery.  He is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Louis R. Jenkins, Mrs. J. R. Twigg, Miss Clara Brashear, all of this city, and Mrs. Carrie Holloday, Cresaptown; two nieces, Miss Hazel Jenkins, this city; and Miss Wiletta Green, New York, and two nephews, Percival Twigg and William Twigg, this city.	John Howard Brashear Mrs. Louis R. Jenkins Mrs. J.R. Twigg Miss Clara Brashear Mrs. Carrie Holloday Miss Hazel Jenkins Miss Wiletta Green Percival Twigg William Twigg
October 24 sometime during WWII	Newspaper clipping regarding a party held for Mrs. Heffer.  (On the back of the clipping was an article regarding "Holland's Dikes Act as Frontier Guard" dated Oct. 24, and discussed watery graves prepared for Nazis if German troops start to cross Dutch frontier."  This is where I came up with the date of October 24, sometime during WWII.  The article reads: The Happy Birthday Club gave a party for Mrs. Florence Heffer, 230 Arch St., Saturday.  Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. William Heffer and newphew Billy, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Leasure, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. James Humbertson, Mr. and Mrs. George Erling, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lookabaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Meyers and son, Herman, Mrs. Elizabeth Odgers, Frostburg; Mrs. Anna Lemons, Lonaconing; and Mrs. Gertrude Whitman, Viola Corbin Hallie Tracy, Aileen Conaway, Jane Gurtler, Hallie Spangler, Isabell Varner, May Mowery, Miss Pauline McCarty and Ruth Baker, Mrs. Ruth Eckhard, Louise Nichols, Lula Hoey, Anna Salayards, Josephine Biggs and son Eldred, Anna McCarty, Mary Abbott; Virginia McKenzie and son, Vincent, Edna Swick and son, Paul, Gertrude Wilkes and Barbara Tally. I have no idea why my g-grandmother, Bessie Blair FLEEK, cut out this article, but I hope to find a connection someday to one of the names.  To conserve typing, I will only type the husband's name in the right column, since none of the first names of their wives were included in the article.	Mrs. Florence Heffer William Heffer Billy Morris Leasure Joseph Meyers James Humbertson George Erling Joseph Lookabaugh Herman Meyers Elizabeth Odgers Anna Lemone Gertrude Whitman Viola Corbin Hallie Tracy Aileen Conaway Jane Gurtler Hallie Spangler Isabell Varner May Mowery Pauline McCarty Ruth Baker Ruth Eckard Louise Nichols Lula Hoey Anna Salayards Josephine Biggs Eldred Biggs Anna McCarty Mary Abbott Virginia McKenzie Vincent Edna Swick Paul Gertrude Wilkes Barbara Tally
Undated	Undated newspaper clipping entitled:  "Knobley and Mt. Zion Items" stating that Mrs. Alice Umstot had mashed her finger so badley last Sunday it had to be amputated.  Dr. Coffman of Keyser, West Virginia operated.  It went on to say that Arch Tasker of Deer Park, Md. is visiting Vanse Ellifritz.  The next paragraph said Mrs. Maude Umstot Bossos of Florida was visiting friends & relatives at Keyser when she was called home because of illnes.	Alice Umstot Dr. Coffman Arch Tasker Vanse Ellifritz Maude Umstot Bossos
Undated	Two newspaper clippings, one regarding a fire and one regarding a club and plays coming to Frostburg.  Date is Nov. 12, but no year given.  I do not know why Bessie Blair FLEEK Haws Hartley cut these out.  I am trying to find some connection to one or more of the names.  Names mentioned in article listed in column on right.	Vanderbilt Beeman Harold Bell Wright George Arliss Will Rogers Dorothy Brode Dorothy Watkins Lydia Carter Inez Meagher Mildred Watkins W.A. Manges Claude Cage Guy Roby

 

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