Gilbert Brink

Gilbert Brink
I and 5,000 other drivers who use 191 and the Stites Tunnel Bridge on a regular bases are taking a detour. PennDOT's idea of a detour is pothole ridden, unsafe ride. I was on that ride when I decided to stop at the Cherry Lane United Methodist Church and Cemetery. The church dates back to 1866 and has undergone a number of renovations. I was on the search for another relative when I was struck by the amazing stone of Gilbert Brink. It is a tree, I've seen stone like his before but never with a huge peace lily at the bottom.

There is a carved Woodmen of the World insignia on the tree. The organization is also known as the MWA or Modern Woodmen of the World founded in 1890 by Joseph Cullen Root in Omaha. There is close to 1 million members and over 3,000 lodges. The organization provided the grave marker, up until the 1920s see the stacked wood on the bottom

Gilbert was born probably in Pocono Township Monroe Co., Pa. On 1 February 1868. His father John Brink and mother Ann Hellyer. The Brinks were farmers, living in Pocono township. He died on 30 October 1916 in Scranton, Lackawanna Co. His wife Susan Sebring (1870-1954) who he grew up with is buried next to him. He and Susan were married in about 1903. They had children Earl, John, Helen.(1909-1910), Robert, and Arthur
Gilbert worked on the farm and became a coal miner when the family moved to Scranton, Pa., I wonder when he became a member of the Woodmen, what prompted him? 48 years old when he died. That is very young to die, the coal mine could have played a role in that.
After Gilbert died, Susan moved back to East Stroudsburg.by 1940 and was a housekeeper for Harry Gilbert.
In 1910 there was a Typhoid Fever epidemic.I thought Helen might have died from that but her death certificate said she didn’t die from the fever.

https://www.poconorecord.com/…/stites-tunnel-detour-bumpy-r…
http://cherrylanechurch.com/
https://www.woodmenlife.org/about/history.cfm
https://www.bing.com/videos/search…
https://www.bing.com/videos/search…

Photo Robert Brink, Gilberts brother from Patty Mullins album

Susie Smith Stiff

SUSIE E Smith Stiff

I had looked at Susie Stiff tombstone pictures a number of times last week and had planned on her being my Tomb Stone Tuesday. My research really turned up very little on her. I decided on someone else. Jackie Magann sent me a note and asked me to stop at the Barrett Township Research/ history center. First, if you are in Cresco, Pa it’s a must see place. It doesn’t matter if you are from the area or not. The displays are fun and there is something for the whole family. I asked the curator Joanne Seese Seese if she knew anything about Susie. Susie is buried in the Seese Hill, Cemetery so I thought Susie was a Seese. She found info on Susie and sent me an email. While at the Center I was reading a book on The Seese Family by Gwenn Johnson Seese The center didn’t have any for sale and I realized it was written in 1996. The ladies suggested I contact someone in the family. Well believe it or not NO ONE in my direct Harrison family line married into the Seese family “yet”. I then realized that I was Friends on Facebook with Gwenn's daughter Jeryl, so I just sent her an instant message and Jeryl is married to John Rinehart Reinhart who I went to kindergarten with I sent him a text. His brother is married to a Harrison. ANYWAY!!!!! No, they didn’t have a copy of the book. So I just figured I had enough on Susie and I could go back and finish reading the book later. Two days later John and Jeryl Rinehart find some copies while cleaning some stuff out of a closet. He then drops it to me later that day. So I find pictures of Susie and her mom Mary LOLOLOLOL It makes me laugh how these things get written.

Susie Elizabeth Smith was born 22 November 1874 In Barrett Township, Monroe County, Pa. She was the daughter of William and Mary Elizabeth Seese Smith

Willaim (24 April 1832-24 July 1914) is the son of Jacob and Catherine Mills Smith he is also buried in Seese Hill Cemetery but I have not found his stone or Marys. Mary Elizabeth Seese 14 Jun 1835-9 Feb. 1898 was the first child of Peter and Lydia Phares Seese. I did a Tombstone Tuesday on Lydia Phares sister lLeahPhares.

William and Mary lived their lives in Barrett Township, he a farmer and her a housewife. They also had 6 other children; George, Lydia, Charles, Willard, Julia, Mary Ida.

Susie met Franklin Stiff (1872-1922) probably a neighbor and married in about 1895. They had a daughter Letitia May born 7 October 1896 Letitia married Lafayette Strunk she died 15 Mar 1956 and they are buried in Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, Pa.

Susie Smith Stiff died 18 Oct 1897, probably from complication due to childbirth and is buried in Seese Hill, cemetery, Canadensis, Pa.

Franklin married in 1905 to nettie Bisbing. They had a daughter Marion. I can not find that Letitia ever lived with Franklin and Nettie. She lived with her grandparents William and Anna Stiff.until she married Layfette.

https://www.facebook.com/Barrett-Township-Historical-Society-814825878582400/

The Seese Family History 1733-1929 by Gwyneth John Seese 1996

https://tombstonetuesday.blogspot.com/search?q=leah+phares