James Henry Luther Irvin (1862 - 1941)

James Henry Luther Irvin was born on May 7, 1862 in Fannettsburg, Metal Township, Franklin County, PA. His parents, John Andrew and Margaret Karn Irvin, had at least five children before James. His baptism was recorded on November 8, 1862 at Fannettsburg Presbyterian Church.

James married Ida Catherine Rossman Bock in either 1878 or 1880. In either case, husband and wife were very young. The young couple took residence with Ida's parents, David Taylor and Eliza Rossman Bock, as shown in the 1880 Federal Census. The term 'shot-gun wedding' comes to mind. If this label applied to James and Ida, then the 1880 birth of Bessie Mae may have provided the motivation for such a young union. James became a father on his 18th birthday. 

In the ensuing years, James and Ida produced ten more children. The family lived for sometime in or near Fannettsburg. By the time of the 1900 Federal Census, James brought the family to Chambersburg. James found employment as a laborer for the railroad and, later, for a foundry.

The Chambersburg years were marked with tragedy. His son, Harvey, was crippled at work in 1908 when struck by a train car. Another son, George "Mack", disappeared on a hunting trip in 1909, only to be found dead several years later. And in 1915, Ida passed away three weeks after being paralyzed by a stroke. 

James spent the subsequent years residing with his daughters in Shippensburg and finding work as a day laborer on nearby orchards. He alternated between the homes of of his daughters, Bessie Rockwell and Margaret Gossert. He lived in Harrisburg at the time of the 1930 Federal Census, but he returned to Shippensburg by the end of 1933. He remained with Margaret until his death. Jean Eshenman, a great-granddaughter, remembers that during this time, "He sat on his chair and watched the world go by." Surely, that was his right after parenting and providing for 11 children during hard times.
James died on his birthday in 1941. 

The Children of James and Ida Irvin

1. Bessie Mae (m. George Rockwell) 1880-1963

2. John Alexander (m. Elizabeth Grace Coble) 1881-1965

3. Harvey Rossman (m. Gertrude Jacobs) 1883-1939

4. William Russell (m. Bessie Peoples) 1885-1948

5. Wilmer Harry (m. Nora Hollinger) 1887-1946

6. Welthey Jane (m. William Oscar Rummel) 1890-1955

7. Margaret (m. Charles Gossert) 1892-1960

8. George "Mack" McClellan 1895-1909

9. Mabel Elizabeth (m. Andrew Peters) 1897-1929

10. Ralph R (m. Ethel Manuel) 1899-1966

11. Grace Marian (m. Martin Shipley) 1906-1979

4 Generations of Irvins

Standing: John Richard Irvin & Wilmer Irvin

Seated: James Irvin & baby

Ida Catherine Rossman Bock's Biological Father Revealed

Some time ago, I submitted a post about Ida's mother, Eliza Jane Rossman. In that entry, I discussed some of the problems we encounter when we try to identify Ida's father. Ida was born in 1865. In the 1870 US Federal Census, she is listed as Ida Rossman, age 5, and she lived with her maternal grandparents, Bartholomew and Margaret Rossman in Metal Township, Franklin County, PA. Please note that she retained her mother's maiden surname. The circumstances seem to suggest that Ida was born out of wedlock.
At the time of the 1880 census, Ida, aged 15, was already married to James H. Irvin. The young newlyweds lived with Ida's mother and step-father, David Taylor Bock.
Ida's step-father was married once before his union with Eliza. He married Teliah Gelwicks soon after the 1860 census. He and Teliah had two daughters, Mary and Lydia. But Teliah died in 1869. David took Eliza as his second wife within a couple of years.
The quest for Ida's biological father seemed hopeless. Where could one hope to find any record of the illegitimate 1865 birth of poor girl in the seclusion of Path Valley?
No written record may exist but the answer lies still within living memory passed through at least four generations. In a recent discussion with a distant relative with whom my family has long lost touch, I learned that David Taylor Bock was Ida's biological father.
The story comes from an elderly relation named Jean. She and her husband extensively researched the Irvin family history in the 1960's and 1970's. They traveled to Fannettsburg to meet an elder of the Bock family still living there at that time. This woman knew a great deal of the old Bock lore. With certainty, she explained the circumstances of Ida's birth.
Bock oral tradition maintained that David Taylor Bock had an affair with Eliza and fathered Ida while he was married to Teliah. After Teliah's death in 1869, David married his mistress. He and Eliza soon had a second child, John Rossman Bock.
One can now reasonably accept that the Irvins and Bocks are indeed related by blood. We are very fortunate to benefit from the work done decades ago by Jean and her husband. Though much can be regained by searching microfilm, census records, and death certificates, the greatest genealogical resource is still the living memory of our elder generations.

Adam Brandt Inventory

The following record is a transcription in the Estate Inventory Adam Brandt. The original record is held at the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, PA.

[Page 1]
The following is a list of all the goods and chattles rights and credits which were of Adam Brandt, late of Monroe Township, Deceased, at the time of his death, with valuation annexed as appraised August 24th 1838.

1 clock	$	40	00
1 stove and pipe		8	00
1 wood chest		2	00
shovel tongs and scraper		1	00
1 table		3	00
1 lot of tin ware		-	25
1 lot of delph ware		-	50
1 lot earthen ware		-	31 [not legible]
1 looking glass		-	25
1 pr bellows and brush		-	25
1 pr saddle bags		2	00
1 lot carpet		2	00
4 chairs @37 1/2		1	50
1 slate and basket		-	12 1/2
1 lot of spoons		-	37 1/2
1 gridiron etc		-	25
1 bed and bedding		6	00
1 bed and bedding		13	00
1 table		-	50
4 augers @ 25		1	00
1 lot tubs etc [not legible]		1	00
1 iron kettle and chimney hooks		2	00
1 lot benchs		1	50
1 stove and pipe		3	00
1 lot of books		2	00
1 lot knives and forks		-	25
1 case drawers		5	00
1 box and thread		-	50
Amount		97	56 1/2

[Page 2]

Carried forward		97	56 1/4
1 lot of bedclothes		1	50
1 pr bottles etc		-	50
1 lot sheets and bedtick		2	00
1 lot table cloths towels etc		1	00
1 lot Sundries		-	37 1/2
1 pr scissors and yarn		-	37 1/2
1 set scales and weights		1	00
1 box and pocket book		-	12 1/2
6 pr spectacles @20		1	20
1 pr spectacles silver		2	00
1 lot sundries [not legible] etc		1	00
1 box sundries		-	12 1/2
1 Girth		-	12 1/2
1 lot wearing apparel		7	50
5 Shares Bridge Stock Harrisburg @$20		100	00
3 Shares Berlin and Hanover [not legible] Com  @50		150	00
Cash		111	20
Bond. Principle and Interest		749	83
Note Principle and do		306	87 1/2
Note do and do		118	00
Note do and do		158	49
Note do and do		152	00
Note do and do		50	00
Note do and do		25	37 1/2
Note do and do		102	16
Note do and do		27	18 3/4
Note do and do		30	00
Note do and do		56	25
Note do and do		265	00
Note do and do		75	00
[not legible]		2583	75

[Page 3]

brot over		2583	75
1 Bond payable 1st April 1839		583	33 1/3
1    do       “         1    “      1840		583	33 1/3
1     do      “         1    “      1840		583	33 1/3
1 payement due  1    “      1839		150	00
1      “                  1    “       1840		150	00
1      “                  1    “       1844 (or [not legible])		597	94
	$	5231	64

Cumberland County [not legible]

     Before me the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for the said County, personally came Lewis Hyer, Esq and John Brandt, who being duly affirmed as the law directs, do depose and say that they appraised the personal property of Adam Brandt of Monroe township late deceased, as contained in the foregoing inventory, to the best of their Judgements and abilities. Further they say not. 

Affirmed and Subscribes      }                                                        Lewis Hyer

the 25th day of August         }

A.D. 1838 [not legible] me  }                                                        John Brandt

   Lewis Learing

Levi and Eliza Heagy Celebrate Golden Wedding

The following article appeared on page 4 of Harrisburg's The Patriot on Friday, January 11th, 1907.

     Mr. and Mrs. Levi Heagy, 1516 1/2 North Fourth street, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in a most fitting manner at their homes last evening.
     The couple received the congratulations of their friends, and were presented with a purse of gold by John Heagy in behalf of their children. The house was beautifully decorated throughout with flowers, potted plants and greens. Refreshments were served. The event was closed with a prayer by A. K. Hollinger.
     Mr. Heagy was born in Lancaster county seventy years ago and has lived in this city for the past twenty-six years. He is a carpenter by trade, and is a veteran of the Civil War.
     Those present were the following: Children, Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Hollinger, of Shippensburg; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hayes, of Carlisle; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. William Kreig, Mr. and Mrs. William Heagy, Mr. and Mrs. John Heagy, and A. L. Heagy, of this city. Grandchildren, S. A. Hollinger, of Chambersburg; Mrs. Clarence Railing, of Shippensburg; Nora Hollinger, Ester V. Hollinger, Mollie A. Hollinger, Elmer H. Hollinger, Herman Hollinger, of Shippensburg; C. A. Hayes and Jesse Hayes, of Carlisle; Levi R. Heagy, Miss Sarah E. Creig, Miss Mary E. Thomas, of Harrisburg. Great-Grandchildren, Mrs. William A. Hollinger, of Chambersburg, and Herman C. Railing, of Shippensburg.

Adam and Eve Brandt

Adam and Eve Metzger Brandt, great-great-grandparents of Zella Miller Irvin, are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Monroe Township.

The cemetery is located at the intersection of York Road and Boiling Springs Road.

Adam's headstone reads:

"In Memory of Adam Brandt
born Nov 29 AD 1751
& departed this Life the 15th of August AD 1838
Aged 86 Years 8 Months & 15 days"
Next to the headstone is a Revolutionary War marker. There are several records in the PA State Archive's Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File with the name Adam Brandt or Adam Brand. It is unclear, at this time, which of these files is associated with this Adam Brandt. All of the Adam Brandt/Brand Abstract Card Files are labeled "Inactive Duty, Militia." It is likely that our Adam supported the war effort without engaging in active service. More research is required to determine the full extent of Adam's participation in the American Revolution.

Eve's headstone reads:
"In Memory of Eve Brandt who
was born the 14th of November 1752
& died the 10th of February 1830
Aged 77 Years 2 Months & 27 days."

The dates of birth and death on the headstones are consistent with the Brandt Bible records located at the Cumberland County Historical Society and with the Adam Brandt will on record at the Cumberland County courthouse.