Person Page - 14

Father: John Richmond Harris
Mother: Mary Eva Coutz

Birth date: 23 June 1907
Birth place: Pleasant Valley, Marshall County, West Virginia.²

Commonly known by his middle name, Ray.

On 19 September 1925 in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, James applied for a marriage license with Mary Horner, daughter of Joseph Cornelius Horner and Myrtle Morris. Written consent was given by J. R. Harris, father of the male.³ The couple's marriage took place on 19 September 1925 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. H. W. Bankes, minister, certified that he united them in marriage.³

Ray and Mary bought 97 acres on Fork Ridge in 1942, and moved there in 1943. According to their son, Glen, they experienced their first and only tornado while living in that home.⁴

At age 86, Ray died on 2 May 1994 in Ohio.^5,6

Father: Joseph Cornelius Horner
Mother: Myrtle Morris

Birth date: 19 April 1903
Birth place: Wetzel County, West Virginia.^2,3

On 19 September 1925 in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, Mary applied for a marriage license with James Ray Harris, son of John Richmond Harris and Mary Eva Coutz. Written consent was given by J. R. Harris, father of the male.³ The couple's marriage took place on 19 September 1925 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. H. W. Bankes, minister, certified that he united them in marriage.³

Ray and Mary bought 97 acres on Fork Ridge in 1942, and moved there in 1943. According to their son, Glen, they experienced their first and only tornado while living in that home.⁴

At age 88, Mary died on 24 August 1991.² She was interred on 27 August 1991 in the Salem Church of Christ Cemetery, Bowman Ridge, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia.²

Father: John Richmond Harris
Mother: Mary Eva Coutz

Birth date: 25 September 1902
Birth place: Marshall County, West Virginia.¹

Lena married Garnett Isaac Keller, son of John William Keller and Martha J. Crow.

At age 52, Lena died from Hodgkins Disease on 7 November 1954 in 1516 Fourth Street, Moundsville, West Virginia.² She was interred on 10 November 1954 in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Lena Harris Keller."²

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.³

Father: John William Keller
Mother: Martha J. Crow

Birth date: 7 May 1904.¹ It has also been reported that Garnett was born on 6 May 1904.²
Birth place: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.¹

Garnett's first marriage was to Lena May Harris, daughter of John Richmond Harris and Mary Eva Coutz.

At age 85, Garnett died on 13 May 1989.² He was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Garnett I. Keller."³

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Father: not yet identified
Mother: not yet identified

Birth date: about 1807
Birth place: Pennsylvania.¹

Samuel married Sarah Wilson on 29 March 1831 in Ohio County, Virginia. John Burch certified that he "joined them together in the holy state of Matrimony."²

Father: not yet identified
Mother: not yet identified

Birth date: about 1807
Birth place: Ireland.¹ It has also been reported that Sarah was born in Pennsylvania.²

Sarah married Samuel Stewart on 29 March 1831 in Ohio County, Virginia. John Burch certified that he "joined them together in the holy state of Matrimony."³

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 14 May 1897
Birth place: Calhoun County, West Virginia.^2,3

A second birth record appears in the "Index and Register of Delayed Reports of Births - Ritchie County, W. Va." with the same birthdate of 14 May 1897 and showing his name correctly as Okey Anise Church. A note on the record states: "This record made from photostatic copy from Div. of Vital Stat., Charleston, W.Va. File No. 30942, recorded Aug. 24, 1943." According to this record, Anise was born in Pennsboro, Ritchie County. I cannot explain why the county would have changed from Calhoun to Ritchie, but my theory is that because the original birth record contained the name Carl rather than Okey Anise, perhaps he initiated the creation of this birth record in order to have one with his correct name. However, if that was the case, why did he not simply have Calhoun County generate the correction?^4,5

Commonly known by his middle name, Anise.

Photograph of Anise. Date taken: unknown. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

Around 1913, his parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷ Photograph of Anise with his parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁸

On 6 April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and officially entered World War I. Every male living within the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 45 was required to register for the draft during one of three separate registration periods. The second registration was held 5 June 1918 for men who had turned 21 years of age since the first registration a year earlier. Anise registered in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, and was described as follows: tall and slender, with blue eyes and light brown hair.⁹

As of 5 June 1918, when he registered for the draft, Anise was employed by Fostoria Glass Company, 1200 First Street, Moundsville, West Virginia, and was living at 1809 Center Street in Moundsville.⁹

Anise married Eula McMillen, daughter of John Oscar McMillan and Jennie Sabra Francis, on 23 June 1926 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. W. C. Harold, a Baptist minister, certified that he united them in marriage.⁵ At some point, Anise and Eula became the owner/operators of Church's Dry Cleaning in Moundsville.^1,10

Photograph of Anise with his mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹¹

Photograph of Anise with Eula Church. Date taken: April 1948. Location: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia. Photo was taken in the yard of Homer and Lela (Church) Leach; Lela was one of Anise's sisters. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹²

On 21 May 1954 at age 57, Anise died at home (2005 Meighen Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia) from an apparent heart attack. Per the death certificate, he died within minutes from coronary occlusion (obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery which often leads to a heart attack). Three years prior to his death, he had a lung embolus (occurs when a blood vessel supplying the lung becomes clogged up by a clot of coagulated blood.)¹ Interred on 23 May 1954 in the Limestone Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Limestone, Marshall County, West Virginia, his name appears on the gravestone as "O. Anise Church."^1,13

Father: John Oscar McMillan
Mother: Jennie Sabra Francis

Birth date: 4 August 1899
Birth place: Dry Ridge, Cameron, Marshall County, West Virginia.^1,2

Eula married Anise Church, son of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 23 June 1926 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. W. C. Harold, a Baptist minister, certified that he united them in marriage.³

Photograph of Eula with Anise Church. Date taken: April 1948. Location: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia. Photo was taken in the yard of Homer and Lela (Church) Leach; Lela was one of Anise's sisters. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁴

Eula owned and operated Church's Dry Cleaning in Moundsville, WV, with her husband, Anise.² At the time of Anise's death, the couple lived at 2005 Meighen Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia; Eula continued to live there until her own death.^5,2

At age 96, Eula died on 24 May 1996 at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁶ An obituary was published on 25 May 1996 in the Moundsville Daily Echo, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.² The following is a transcription of that obituary:


Following a graveside service, she was interred on 27 May 1996 in the Limestone Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Limestone, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Eula M. Church."^2,7

Father: Elias Sheridan Alley
Mother: Mary H. "Mollie" Young

Birth date: 19 March 1897
Birth place: Lynn Camp, Marshall County, West Virginia.²

Photograph of Forrest with Vella Church. Date taken: 1918. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.³

On 6 April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and officially entered World War I. Every male living within the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 45 was required to register for the draft during one of three separate registration periods. The second registration was held 5 June 1918 for men who had turned 21 years of age since the first registration a year earlier. Forrest registered in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, and was described as follows: medium height and build, with brown eyes and brown hair.²

As of 5 June 1918, when he registered for the draft, Forrest was employed by United Zinc Smelting Co.Moundsville, West Virginia² and was living 108 Tomlinson Avenue, at Moundsville, West Virginia.² Per his father's subsequent draft registration, that was the home of his parents, Sheridan and Mollie Alley.^4,2

Photograph of Forrest with Vella Church. Date taken: 1919. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.³

Forrest married Vella Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 28 June 1922 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Although the marriage license was issued and recorded in Brooke County, the actual marriage apparently took place in Marshall County. The preprinted location of Wellsburg is crossed out on the marriage record, and W. C. Harold certified that he united Forrest and Vella in marriage at Moundsville.⁵

At age 55, Forrest died from aspiration pneumonia due to glioma on 5 June 1952 at Veterans Hospital, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.⁶ He was interred in the Fairview Cemetery, Rt. 250, Fairview, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Forrest W. Alley."⁷

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Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 30 October 1903
Birth place: Pennsboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia.³

Around 1913, his parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁴ Photograph of Ollie with his parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁵

Photograph of Eli and Lenora Church with sons Ollie and Orrel. Date taken: 1920. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Eli and Lenora were reportedly practicing for a play. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

On 24 March 1927 in Marshall County, West Virginia, Ollie applied for a marriage license with Erma Katherine Crow, daughter of Wesley Crow and Elizabeth Esther "Lizzie" Leach. Written consent for issuance of the license was given by Wesley Crow, Erma's father, as she was only 20 years old. The authorization to marry was signed 24 March 1927 by J. E. Chase, Clerk of the County Court.⁷

Ollie married Erma Katherine Crow, daughter of Wesley Crow and Elizabeth Esther "Lizzie" Leach, on 30 March 1927 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. W. C. Harold, (known to be a Baptist minister), certified that he united them in marriage.⁷

Photograph of Ollie with his mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁸

Ollie was employed as a foreman in the Etching Department of Fostoria Glass Company, 1200 First Street, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Quoting his third child, Gary, "When he passed away he was 62 yrs. old and had three more yrs. to go to retire. He worked at Fostoria Glass for 53 yrs."^9,10

Photograph of Church and Alley family members. Date taken: believed to be circa 1950. Location: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia. Taken in front yard of Herbert and Nellie (Church) Kuhn. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹¹

Ollie resided with his wife, Irma, at 444 Clinton Avenue, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁹

At age 62, Ollie died from coronary occlusion on 1 April 1966 at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia. Just like his older brother, Anise, Ollie died within minutes from the obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. He had had two previous coronaries.⁹ He was interred on 4 April 1966 in the Halcyon Hills Memorial Park, Rt. 88, Sherrard, Ohio County, West Virginia.^9,12,13

Father: Wesley Crow
Mother: Elizabeth Esther "Lizzie" Leach

Birth date: 17 December 1906
Birth place: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁴

On 24 March 1927 in Marshall County, West Virginia, Erma applied for a marriage license with Ollie Church, son of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers. Written consent for issuance of the license was given by Wesley Crow, Erma's father, as she was only 20 years old. The authorization to marry was signed 24 March 1927 by J. E. Chase, Clerk of the County Court.⁵

Erma married Ollie Church, son of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 30 March 1927 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. W. C. Harold, (known to be a Baptist minister), certified that he united them in marriage.⁵

Photograph of Church and Alley family members. Date taken: believed to be circa 1950. Location: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia. Taken in front yard of Herbert and Nellie (Church) Kuhn. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

Irma resided with her husband, Ollie, at 444 Clinton Avenue, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷ She became a widow at age 59 when Ollie died on 1 April 1966 – she was listed as the informant on his death certificate.⁷

At age 72, Irma died on 12 May 1979 at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia.^8,4 Her body was interred in May 1979 in the Halcyon Hills Memorial Park, Rt. 88, Sherrard, Ohio County, West Virginia.^9,8

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 21 May 1905
Birth place: Roane County, West Virginia.^2,3

Commonly known by her middle name, Elizabeth, or simply as Liz. She absolutely hated her first name, Hannah, and refused to use it. She was also known as Aunt Cissy to her nieces and nephews and their families. As recalled by nephew Bob Leach, Aunt Cissy was a nickname that originated when his brother, Norman, couldn't pronounce Liz. The name stuck, and she became Aunt Cissy to family members for the rest of her life.^4,1

Around 1913, her parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁵ Photograph of Elizabeth with her parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

As of 1 April 1930, she lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with her parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as her siblings Vera Church, Orrel Church, Lela Church, Lenna Church and Eileen Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.⁷ As of 1 April 1940 (the official date of the 1940 U.S. census), she was still living at 206 Mulberry Avenue along with her mother, Lenora, and sister, Eileen.⁸

Photograph of Elizabeth with her mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁹

At some point, Elizabeth bought a house of her own at the corner of Second Street and Pine Avenue in Moundsville, as she sold that house in 1948 and bought a house on Fork Ridge with her sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Homer Blake, according to one of her nephews.¹⁰

Elizabeth married Arnold Marsh, son of William Thomas Marsh and Lina Ethel Carter, reportedly about 1950.¹¹ Interestingly, Arnold's second wife, Lora Starcher, who had died in 1949, was a first cousin to Elizabeth ... Lora's mother, Sarah (Church) Starcher was a sister to Elizabeth's father, Eli.

Arnold had lived in Akron for several years; I don't know whether Elizabeth had been living there too or if she moved there after they married. The couple lived at 791 Merton Avenue in Akron according to Arnold's death certificate.¹² She was left a widow at age 57 when Arnold died on 12 May 1963.¹²

In June 1984 at age 79, Elizabeth died at home (Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia). She was found in bed, where she had died in her sleep.^1,3 She was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Elizabeth Marsh."¹³

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Father: William Thomas Marsh
Mother: Lina Ethel Carter

Birth date: 8 November 1907
Birth place: Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky.^2,1
Having looked at several official documents and at census records for Arnold, it it surprising how many support a birth year of 1908 vs. 1907. Even his gravestone shows 1908 as the year of his birth. However, 1907 is the year that appears on his first marriage license, his death certificate, the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) and in his obituary, so that is what I believe to be correct at this point pending discovery of an actual birth record.

On 30 December 1944, Arnold and Mildred (Hamblin) Thornton obtained a marriage license in the Probate Court at Akron, Summit County, Ohio. Her parents were Charlie B. Hamblin and Maude Graham. As of that date, Arnold was living at 761 Miami Street in Akron, was a pipefitter, was 37 years old and had never been married. Mildred was 32 years old and divorced. The marriage return part of the license is blank except for a note signed by Arnold that reads, "License destroyed."²

It would seem that Arnold may have been trying to choose between two women as he obtained a second marriage license seven days later on 6 January 1945. (My first reaction was to think that maybe there were two different men named Arnold Marsh, but it didn't take long to realize that the information was identical as to Arnold's parents and his birth info.) This license was with Mildred Perkins. In contrast to the first license, this one shows Arnold's address as 487 S. Main Street in Akron and his occupation as a plumber.³

Having obtained marriage licenses to two different women, Arnold's first marriage was to Mildred Louise Perkins, daughter of Russell Perkins and Bessie Alkire, on 6 January 1945 at Akron.³ The rest of the info about Arnold agrees with the first license as previously noted; Mildred was 26 years old and had never been married.³ The marriage turned out to be short-lived though, as the couple was divorced about a year and a half later per Case 156966 dated 30 September 1946 in Summit County, Ohio, (info recorded on Arnold's next marriage license.)⁴

His second marriage was to Lora (Starcher) Whitworth, daughter of Elmer Leasure Starcher and Sarah Church, on 2 June 1948 at Akron, Summit County, Ohio. By that time, he was living at 181 W. Cedar Street in Akron; both Arnold and Lora worked at Goodrich, he as a pipefitter, she as a rubberworker.⁴ He became a widower at age 41 when Lora died on 10 March 1949.⁵

Arnold's third and final marriage was to Elizabeth Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, reportedly about 1950.⁶ An interesting side note is that Elizabeth and Lora were first cousins ... Lora's mother, Sarah (Church) Starcher was a sister to Elizabeth's father, Eli.

Arnold had lived in Akron for several years; I don't know whether Elizabeth had been living there too or if she moved there after they married. The couple lived at 791 Merton Avenue in Akron according to Arnold's death certificate.¹ As of 1963, Arnold was still a pipefitter at the B. F. Goodrich Co. rubber factory in Akron.^1,7

At age 55, Arnold died from lung cancer on 12 May 1963 at Ohio Valley General Hospital, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. He was at OVGH for seven days prior to his death.¹ An obituary was published on 13 May 1963 in the Moundsville Daily Echo, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


A second obituary was published in the Moundsville Daily Echo per an undated clipping. The date of publishing was probably Tuesday, 14 May 1963, as the clipping references the burial on Wednesday, which was the 15^th. (The first obituary shown above was also from an undated clipping, but this second obituary states that it was published on Monday, which would have been the 13^th of May.)⁸ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


He was interred on 15 May 1963 in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Arnold Marsh."¹

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Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 14 September 1907
Birth place: Roane County, West Virginia.¹
It has also been reported that Vera was born on 15 September 1908 at Triplett, Roane County, West Virginia. This date comes from a typed birth index/register that apparently contains errors as no other records agree with this date.²

I have been told that Vera's middle name was spelled Rosemond vs. Rosamond; and it is, in fact, spelled with an "e" in her obituary. However, on a written record of the Church family, Vera spelled her own middle name as Rosamond - and it is also spelled that way on her application for a Social Security number. Therefore, I believe that Rosamond is the proper spelling.^3,4

Around 1913, her parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁵ Photograph of Vera with her parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

As of 1 April 1930, she lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with her parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as Liz Church, Orrel Church, Lela Church, Lenna Church and Eileen Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.⁷

Vera married Homer Blake on 24 November 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. B. D. Evans, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage.⁸ Here is the interesting part of the story as told by the younger son of Lee and Homer Leach:


Photograph of Vera with her mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹¹
In 1948, Homer and Vera moved their family to the country, buying a house with Vera's sister, Elizabeth, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.¹² I don't know for sure when Elizabeth moved out, but it may have been when she got married circa 1950 - her husband had lived in Akron, Ohio, for years. My memory from the 1960s timeframe is of Elizabeth living in Akron and Homer and Vera still living on Fork Ridge, less than two miles from my family.

I grew up living across the road from my grandmother, Nellie, who was an older sister to Vera. A third sister, Lela, lived just beyond Vera, a little closer to Moundsville. With three of the sisters living in close proximity to each other, there were frequent gatherings of the Church siblings on Fork Ridge, much to the chagrin of oldest sister, Vella, who was strictly a town type of gal. Cousins have told me that when Vella was visiting her country sisters, she couldn't wait to get back to town.¹³

By 31 May 1972, Vera and Homer had moved back to town and were living at 226 Curtis Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia.¹ She became a widow at age 65 when Homer died on 17 June 1973.¹⁴

At age 74, Vera died on 2 March 1982 at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia.^15,16

An obituary was published on 3 March 1982 the Moundsville Daily Echo, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.¹⁶ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


A second obituary was published on 3 March 1982 The Intelligencer.¹⁵ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


A memorial service for Vera was conducted on 4 March 1982 at Kirby-Vance Funeral Home, 118 Grant Avenue, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.¹⁷ She was interred on 4 March 1982 in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Vera R. Blake." The inscription reads, "Mother."^14,17

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹⁸

Father: not yet identified.
Mother: not yet identified.

Birth date: 2 June 1910.^1,2 It has also been reported that Homer was born on 3 June 1909.^3,4
Birth place: Wetzel County, West Virginia.^1,2

Photograph of Homer. Date taken: unknown. Location: Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia. Click on camera to view full (or larger) image than the one shown here, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.

Homer married Vera Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 24 November 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. B. D. Evans, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage¹ Here is the interesting part of the story as told by the younger son of Lee and Homer Leach:

In 1948, Homer and Vera moved their family to the country, buying a house with Vera's sister, Elizabeth, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷ I don't know for sure when Elizabeth moved out, but it may have been when she got married circa 1950 - her husband had lived in Akron, Ohio, for years. My memory from the 1960s timeframe is of Elizabeth living in Akron and Homer and Vera still living on Fork Ridge, less than two miles from my family.⁸

By 31 May 1972, Homer and Vera had moved back to town and were living at 226 Curtis Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia.⁹

At age 63, Homer died on 17 June 1973.¹⁰ He was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Homer R. Blake." The inscription reads, "Father."¹⁰

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Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 16 June 1909
Birth place: Roane County, West Virginia.²

Commonly known as Oac (rhymes with dose), a nickname derived from his initials.

Around 1913, his parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.³ Photograph of Orrel with his parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁴

Photograph of Eli and Lenora Church with sons Ollie and Orrel. Date taken: 1920. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Eli and Lenora were reportedly practicing for a play. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁵

As of 1 April 1930, he lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with his parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as Liz Church, Vera Church, Lela Church, Lenna Church and Eileen Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.⁶

On 27 April 1938 in Marshall County, West Virginia, Oac applied for a marriage license with Margaret Ruth Henderson, daughter of Thomas Edgar Henderson and Linnie Mae Reese.² As of that date, he was living at 206 Mulberry Avenue, in Moundsville, West Virginia.² The couple's marriage took place on 30 April 1938 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Vernon C. Cutright, a minister of the Methodist/Episcopal Church, certified that he united them in marriage.²

Photograph of Orrel with his mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁷

At age 74, Orrel died on 8 December 1983 at New Martinsville Health Care Center, New Martinsville, Wetzel County, West Virginia.^8,9,1

An obituary was published on 9 December 1983 The Intelligencer, Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.⁸ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


He was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Orrel Church."¹⁰

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Father: Thomas Edgar Henderson
Mother: Linnie Mae Reese

Birth date: 14 March 1917
Birth place: Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia.²

Commonly known by her middle name, Ruth. She once told me she grew up in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia.³

On 27 April 1938 in Marshall County, West Virginia, Ruth applied for a marriage license with Orrel Amos "Oac" Church, son of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers.² As of that date, she was living at 17 Linden Avenue, in Moundsville, West Virginia.² The couple's marriage took place on 30 April 1938 at Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Vernon C. Cutright, a minister of the Methodist/Episcopal Church, certified that he united them in marriage.²

She became a widow at age 66 when Orrel died on 8 December 1983.^4,5,3

As of 8 September 2001, Ruth lived at 2405 Center Street, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. She was still living there when she died⁶ at age 97 on 26 September 2014 at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷

An online obituary was published by the Grisell Funeral Homes & Crematory, 400 Jefferson Avenue, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁷ The following is a transcription of that obituary:


A memorial service for Ruth was conducted on 29 September 2014 at Grisell Funeral Homes & Crematory, 400 Jefferson Avenue, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, with Evangelist Brian Price officiating.⁷ She was interred on 29 September 2014 in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Ruth Church."⁷

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁸

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 23 January 1912
Birth place: Roane County, West Virginia.²

Around 1913, her parents moved their family from Roane County to Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.³ Photograph of Lela with her parents and siblings. Date taken: 1913. Location: Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Parents Eli and Lenora are shown with their first eight children: Anise, Vella, Nellie, Ollie, Elizabeth, Vera, Orrel and Lela. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁴

As of 1 April 1930, she lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with her parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as Liz Church, Vera Church, Orrel Church, Lenna Church and Eileen Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.⁵

Photograph of Lela with Homer Leach. Date taken: 3 April 1932. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

Lela married Homer Leach, son of Oscar Leach and Emily Alice Cunningham, on 24 November 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. B. D. Evans, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage.⁷ Here is the interesting part of the story as told by the younger son of Lee and Homer Leach:


Photograph of Lela. Date taken: 1936. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view full (or larger) image than the one shown here, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.⁹

Photograph of Lela with her mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹⁰

She became a widow at age 61 when Homer died on 10 November 1973.^1,11,12

At age 77, Lela died on 8 February 1989 in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.^2,1 She was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Lela E. Leach." The inscription reads, "Mother."¹³

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹⁴

Father: Oscar Leach
Mother: Emily Alice Cunningham

Birth date: 23 August 1910
Birth place: Champaign, Illinois.^1,2,3,4

Former address as of 12 September 1918: Mansfield, Illinois.⁵

Photograph of Homer with Lela Church. Date taken: 3 April 1932. Location: unknown. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁶

Homer married Lela Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 24 November 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. B. D. Evans, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage.⁷ Here is the interesting part of the story as told by the younger son of Lee and Homer Leach:


At age 63, Homer died on 10 November 1973.^1,2,3 He was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Homer O. Leach." The inscription reads, "Father."⁹

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹⁰

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 20 March 1914
Birth place: Moundsville, West Virginia, Born at home, believed to be on eastern Seventh Street.^1,2

His name was also spelled as Wiliam Holly on a handwritten family record.

On 3 May 1914 William died at home (eastern Seventh Street, Moundsville, West Virginia) from pneumonia as a result of whooping cough.^1,2,3

An obituary was published on 8 May 1914 the Moundsville Daily Echo.³ The following is a transcription of that obituary:




Per a written family record, William was born on 20 March 1914 and died on 03 May 1914 at the age of 1 month 14 days (six weeks). A single paragraph obituary published in the Moundsville Daily Echo on Friday, 08 May 1914, reported that "a five weeks old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Church died on Sunday night," which would have been 03 May 1914.

The Marshall County Death Register includes two entries on the same page that both recorded 03 May 1914 as the date of death:
(1) Wm. R. Church, age 1 mo 13 days, born at E 7th St, Moundsville, died from pneumonia as reported by physician L. H. McCuskey.
(2) Wm H. Church, age 2 mo, born in Moundsville, died from whooping cough as reported by Eli Church, his father.

I believe that all of these documents and records are for the same little boy even though there are several inconsistencies:
-- The Death Register entries were written in two clear, but very different and distinctive hands; as two persons were involved the chance of realizing there was any duplication was minimal.
-- The difference in the middle initial could have been a transcription error when a clerk made the entry in the Register of Deaths or the doctor may have simply mis-reported it; "H" was the correct initial as reported by his father.
-- The family record and the physician are only 1 day apart in reporting William's age at death, most likely a simple calculation error. The newspaper and Eli both reported the age incorrectly.
-- The physician reported the exact place of birth (street and city) whereas Eli simply reported the city.
-- According to MedicineNet.com, the most common complication and the cause of most whooping cough-related deaths is secondary bacterial pneumonia, with young infants being at highest risk for both. So the two reports actually support each other: the primary cause of death was pneumonia, secondary cause was whooping cough.^1,2,3

Photograph of William in his casket. Date taken: about 3 May 1914. Location: unknown. Although a picture of a six-week old infant in a casket may seem offensive today, this quote from Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel provides another viewpoint while writing about the pioneers who settled the western part of America:
     "Among a people whose lives were often scarred by the death of children, the photograph quickly became a cherished souvenir. Such pictures might be placed on a mantel or table in a sitting room."
     While the Church family was not on a westward journey, William's death when only 6 weeks old may well have occurred before any other photographs of him had been taken, thus making this a most cherished photo. A valuable lesson may have been learned, as a picture of William's younger brother, Arles Lloyd Church, was taken as he sat in his mother's lap. This proved to be a fortunate thing as he died when only a few months old. Click on camera to view full (or larger) image than the one shown here, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.⁴

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 19 March 1916
Birth place: Marshall County, West Virginia.^1,2

As of 1 April 1930, she lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with her parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as Liz Church, Vera Church, Orrel Church, Lela Church and Eileen Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.³

Lenna married Allen M. Bonar on 20 June 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. F. M. Billingsley, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage.⁴

Photograph of Lenna with her mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁵

She became a widow at age 71 when Allen died on 24 February 1988.^6,7

At age 79, Lenna died on 21 January 1996.^8,2 She was interred on 24 January 1996 in the Riverview Cemetery, Round Bottom Hill Road, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.^8,7

Father: not yet identified.
Mother: not yet identified.

Birth date: 18 January 1912.¹
Birth place: unknown.

Allen married Lenna Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers, on 20 June 1934 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. F. M. Billingsley, a minister, certified that he united them in marriage.²

At age 76, Allen died on 24 February 1988.^1,3 He was interred in the Riverview Cemetery, Round Bottom Hill Road, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.³

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 31 January 1919
Birth place: Marshall County, West Virginia.¹

He was apparently called Arley as that is how his name appears in the obituary of his sister, Vera Blake.²

Photograph of Arles with Lenora Church. Date taken: 1919. Location: probably Moundsville, West Virginia. Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.³

Arles died of pneumonia on 22 April 1919 in Michigan. The date agrees with a written family record that is believed to have been originally started by Lenora. The death of Lenora's two infants is written in the same hand as the date of Eli and Lenora's marriage and the birth dates of the entire family.^4,5

An obituary was published on 25 April 1919 the Moundsville Echo, weekly edition, Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.⁶ The following is a transcription of that obituary:




The obituary indicated that Arley had died the morning of 25 April, but as the official Death Register says he died on the 22nd of April in Michigan, perhaps the family had just returned to Moundsville on the 25th after being in Michigan. The newspaper erred in reporting the father's name as Levi rather than Eli, and it's quite possible they reported an incorrect date of death.

Father: Eli Church
Mother: Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers

Birth date: 19 January 1923.¹ It has also been reported that Eileen was born on 17 January 1923.²
Birth place: Harrison County, Ohio.¹ Per my grandmother who was one of Eileen's older sisters, Eileen was born while the family was living on a farm near Adena.³

Photograph of Eileen. Date taken: unknown. Location: possibly in Moundsville, West Virginia. Click on camera to view full (or larger) image than the one shown here, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.⁴

As of 1 April 1930, she lived at 206 Mulberry Avenue, Moundsville, West Virginia, with her parents, Eli Church and Lenora Church, as well as Liz Church, Vera Church, Orrel Church, Lela Church and Lenna Church; It's not clear exactly when they left Ohio, but by 1 April 1930 they had returned to Marshall County, West Virginia, where they were recorded in the 1930 U.S. census.⁵ As of 1 April 1940 (the official date of the 1940 U.S. census), she was still living at 206 Mulberry Avenue along with her mother, Lenora, and sister, Elizabeth.⁶

Eileen married Robert Carl Clayton.⁷

Photograph of Eileen with her mother and siblings. Date taken: July 1944. Location: farm owned by Nellie and her husband, Herbert Kuhn, on Fork Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia.Click on camera to view image, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁸

At age 66, Eileen died in October 1989.² She was interred in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; her name appears on the gravestone as "Eileen M. Clayton."⁹

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.¹⁰

Father: not yet identified.
Mother: not yet identified.

Birth date: 31 March 1923
Birth place: Marshall County, West Virginia.²

Robert married Eileen Marie Church, daughter of Eli Church and Lenora Susan "Nora" Summers.³

He became a widower at age 66 when Eileen died in October 1989.⁴

At age 71, Robert died on 1 February 1995.^2,5 He was interred on 3 February 1995 in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, 8681 Fork Ridge Road, Glen Easton, Marshall County, West Virginia; his name appears on the gravestone as "Robert C. Clayton." The inscription on his military marker reads, "PFC, US Army, World War II."^6,5

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo(s) of gravestone, then use your browser's back button to return here.⁷

Click on camera icon(s) to view photo of military marker for serving in the Army during World War II. Use your browser's back button to return here.⁷

Father: William S. "Bill" Church
Mother: Elizabeth Jane "Betsy" Roberts

Birth date: 9 June 1865.^2,3 Alternatively, he was born 06 June 1864 according to his death certificate.⁴ As a further complication, the 1880 U.S. Census indicates he was born circa 1867.⁵
Birth place: Wetzel County, West Virginia.^4,2

Commonly known by his middle name, Grant.^6,5

Noah married Sarah (Riggs) Roberts, daughter of James Riggs and Rebecca Starcher, on 30 March 1927 in Calhoun County, West Virginia. Sarah was the widow of James R. Roberts.^7,1 When Grant died just 7½ years later, he was recorded as single on his death certificate.⁴ I find this interesting as I would have expected his marital status to have been married, widowed or divorced - not single. Until I locate a death record for Sarah or discover that they were divorced, this remains a mystery.

At age 69, Noah died of cholerra morbis [sic] on 3 October 1934 at Littleton, Clay District, Wetzel County, West Virginia.⁴ Per numerous websites, cholera morbus is a term no longer used. It did not refer to the cholera epidemics we think of when we hear the word cholera, but was used for what is now known as gastrointestinal illnesses.

His body was interred on 6 October 1934 in the Robinson Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery, Knob Fork, Wetzel County, West Virginia.⁴ For a long time I could not decipher the handwritten name of the cemetery where Grant was buried as it appeared on his death certificate. I kept thinking the first word was something like Robain but could never find a cemetery with a name close to that spelling when I searched lists of Wetzel County cemeteries on the internet. Then one morning it dawned on me that it reads "Robsin Ridge C" - an interesting spelling of Robinson Ridge Cemetery, also called Robinson Cemetery.

Next step was to try to find a photo of his gravestone online, but I was coming up empty. Samuel and Jennie Bradley Church are the only two Churches that show up in Robinson Ridge ... but then I discovered a note on the Wetzel County WVGenWeb site that says that there is a whole section of the cemetery that is full of graves with no markers. Perhaps Grant is buried in that section.⁸

Father: William S. "Bill" Church
Mother: Elizabeth Jane "Betsy" Roberts¹

Birth date: 23 November 1861 The year of 1861 is supported by Samuel's gravestone inscription.^3,4 The date of birth on Samuel's death certificate clearly reads 23 November, but the year was written over with a correction, making it hard to read. However, the numbers 1861 can be made out once one knows the year. The full date can also be calculated by subtracting his age on the death certificate (76 years, 4 months, 23 days) from his date of death (15 April 1938.)¹
Birth place: Wetzel County, West Virginia.¹

Samuel married Mary Virginia "Jennie" Bradley on 20 March 1881 in Wetzel County, West Virginia.⁵

At age 76, Samuel died from carcinoma on 15 April 1938 at Knob Fork, Clay District, Wetzel County, West Virginia.^3,4,1 He was interred on 17 April 1938 in the Robinson Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery, Knob Fork, Wetzel County, West Virginia;^1,3