Stories

This page contains links to various locations on the ancestors' pages that represent family stories that might be of special interest. There are also several stories that area presented following the links below that do not necessarily fit in a single ancestor's page.

'Burned in a wildfire'

'Missing'

'Battlefield appearance'

'Pneumonia'

'Carrie's Poetry'

'Beneficial Accident?'

'The Name Game'

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Luther L. Colyer - "Young and in Love"

Look what we found on Ancestry.com in the Virginia Marriage Licenses for Winchester County Virginia.

Luther L. Colyer and Betty Grassmyer give their age as 21. But Luther is just 16. He lists his parents as Luther R. and Carrie Colyer and his address as 1840 Green Avenue, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It is dated August 6, 1942. I believe Betty was about the same age as Luther.

New Information Regarding

Mary Pannebaker Swails, William S. Swails and Edna Swails
In the April 26, 1899 edition of The Juniata Sentinel and Republican it is reported that "William Swails who has been confined to the county jail since the December term of court for not fulfilling the sentence of the court for desertion was discharged from the court under the insolvent law."

Since this is the same paper in Juniata County which reported Lizzie Pannebaker's charges against James Ramsey Dobbs and we have been told William deserted her, it is most likely that this is our William Swails.

Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Pannebaker Swails has shown she is willing to prosecute when she is wronged.

This information brings up the subject of a more sensitive nature. The issue of Edna Swails Snook Berry's father. It has been rumored that William was not her father. He is reported to have been in jail since December of 1898 and Edna was not born until May 1900. It is unlikely that William returned to the household and he is not living with the family for the 1900 Federal Census. The census listed Mary Elizabeth Pannebaker as a widow. With the constraints of that time period it is understandable for herself and the sake of the family why she would say so. There is also the suggestion that this was the result of an assault. It would seem that it would be unlikely that it would happen twice in Mary Elizabeth's life, it is a possibility.

Carrie Swails Colyer told her grandson Stephen that she had a bible with a lot of family history written down in it but the bible went missing from her home. Carrie's grand daughter mentioned this to Carrie's daughter, Elizabeth Jane Colyer. Elizabeth said, "Aunt Edna did not want anybody to see what was in that Bible." Grandma Colyer never told anyone what was in it but Edna must have known.

I know there is one person that has more information on this but we have not been able to find her. She is in possession of Edna's birth certificate which most likely names the father.

We do not wish to offend anyone with this information. It is just family history.

News Snippets for William C. Swails

From the August 13,1862 issue of the Lewistown Gazette it is reported "Among the patients on board different vessels which have come down the James River we notice the following from the 49th regiment", a list of many men follow including, William C. Swails company I.