Cron, Kern, Bellevue

It’s 2020, I repeat it again 2020…#tombstonetuesday I decided to start my new year off right and clean off my desk. Going through all those tiny pieces of paper I have. Smirk...I run across a note regarding a book; All Roads lead to Milford by Skip Gregory and Andy Leiser 2007. WHAT????... What a good way to NOT clean off the desk! A quick search in the card catalog @ Hughs Library and they have a copy at Smithfield library. Off I go, to read and enjoy this book that just takes you there very well written and informative. Since the main street of the town of Dingmans Ferry, Pa. went by by when the Tock Island project acquired or stole all the land depending on who you talk to. I have been interested in where the different builds where located in the town.

The Bellevue hotel a small boarding house which stood on Main Street could accommodate about 25. They like other hotels at the time sold fresh air, farm-fresh

food, and clean water. A Jas. Frick was the proprietor according to an advertisement in 1892. In the 1900 W.E. Kern and P.F. Mercier owned the Bellevue. It was thought that either of them could have built it, I'm thinking added on to it most likely.

In 1941 Fred Cron, a native of Dingmans Ferry, Pa, his parents Alonzo (1872-1955) and Caroline Martin (1886-1976) marries Ann Vanwinkle (1906-1973)born in New Jersey. Both are buried in Delaware Cemetery, Pike co., Pa. They would be the last owners of the Bellevue. They decide to remodel the hotel and discover a trunk in the basement. The trunk was filled with sketches and a notebook and charts of the 1840’s Fremont Expedition, belonging to the Kern brothers. So as you can imagine the thought of running home to clean off my desk was far from my thoughts!!! Who are the Kern brothers???? and what happened.

The Crons turned the artwork over to the Bank of Matamoras where they were stored and later sold to Harvard University. It was thought by Skip Gregory W.E. Kern was a nephew to Richard, Edward, and Benjamin Kern.

John Fremont was an American Explorer, he led five expeditions into the American West. I have a link below, fascinating man. So which one was the Kerns brother on? Edward Meyer Kern (1822-1863 see picture) his namesake is Kern River California, Richard Kern (1821-1853) and Benjamin Kern ( 1818-1849 was a doctor. It would seem the brother would join Edward on his expeditions. They were the sons of John Kern lll and Mary Elizabeth Bignell of Philadelphia. Edward was on the third expedition and the fourth with Fremont., he served as a cartographer and sketched landmarks. On one of Edwards's drawings, he documents Fremont's party murdering 30 Northern Paiute Indians. The papers the Crons discovered were used by David Weber for his book on Richard Kern. According to Wikipedia the diary and papers can be found at the Beinecke Rare Book and manuscript Library, part of Yale University. The W.E. kern was probably William born in 1812-about 1879 he was a drawing teacher and a brother. Benjamin and Richard were murdered by Indians in 1849. Edward is buried in Philadelphia, Pa.

https://books.google.com/books?id=YndGQ9qgbLQC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=bellevue+hotel,+Dingmans+Ferry,+pa&source=bl&ots=olgaYoM3gI&sig=ACfU3U1fyZxBCvI4qfJVC4NJa98F5kW9kA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiGx6z_kJPnAhWxdN8KHVTtDpcQ6AEwAXoECAwQAQ#v=onepage&q=bellevue%20hotel%2C%20Dingmans%20Ferry%2C%20pa&f=false

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beinecke_Rare_Book_%26_Manuscript_Library

https://pikehistorical.org/

https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Kern-Expeditionary-Southwest-1848-1853/dp/0826307701

Jacob and Elizabeth Kintner Smith

I received a very generous gift this week from Albert Fiacre Jr. he has been researching the Smith family for over 10 years and has written an amazing book. The Ancestors, Descendants and Related Families of Jacob Smith Sr. and Margaret Smith. The almost 500-page book covers all the Smith family lines. Why you asked did he send the book to me, well he used my books as part of his research. I have and had a few confusing “John Smith” family questions.

My x-mother in law and I were discussing the book and she said: “I have a Smith connection threw a Labar family connection”. My answer was “Gail we all have a Smith in our family”.Smirk.. I did find her connection also

I have been in the deep end of the pool this week reading the “Smith book” I was not surprised to learn that Old Walpack Cemetery or the Lower Walpack Cemetery which is on the Rosenkrantz farm, in the Delaware Water Gap, Recreation Area. The house was built by Jonas Smith. The deed for the land from John Smith to his oldest son Jonas excluded out ½ acre for the cemetery. I had a chance to explore that cemetery for the first time this summer.it is maintained by the Walpack Historical Association.

No surprise when going through my photos that I had taken a picture of Jacob Smith and also his daughter Sarah. Jacob was baptized John Jacob Smith 25 December 1789 and born 28 November 1789 in Upper Mt. Bethel, Northampton co., Pa. His parents Jonas Smith (1763-1828) and Anna Maria Labar (1762-1820). To satisfy all you Labar researchers Annas' father was William Labar. Jonas and Anna are both buried in the Lower Walpack cemetery. John Jacob was one of 11 children. His siblings: John, Catharine, William Elizabeth, Anna Maria, Jonas, Margaret, Philip, Sarah, and Barbara

Jacob married Elizabeth Kintner (1793-aft 1870) She was the daughter of Conrad and Christina Buss Kintner. She is probably buried near her husband but there is no stone present for her. They have children: Christina, Susanna, Conrad, Jacob, Sarah, and Jonas K (probably Kintner). The question on everyone’s mind is Elizabeth related to Don Kintner, Yes, she is Don’s 1st cousin 4 x removed. There are a number of questions regarding Jacob gravestone it is carved with the birth date 1787 which conflicts with the church records. 1789. He served in Second Regiment, Captain Dunn’s Co. of Infantry, New Jersey Militia for three months from 1814-1814. His will was probated 7 July 1856, leaving Jonas K the executor. In 1856, there were only three of his six children alive. Jacob a merchant, Postmaster, mill owner and farmer in Flatbrookville, NJ, owns a large portion of land. In 1871 his remaining land approximately 122 acres was sold to Elijah Rosenkrans and Philip J. Gariss in four transactions.

Andrew Treible ?Zions Lutheran, Middle Smithfield Twp., Pa

ANDREW TREIBLE

I was treated with the perfect cemetery day this week when I stopped at Zions Lutheran. It's off of River Road, Middle Smithfield Township, Pa. It was Sunny, cool and NO snow on the ground. I can’t complain when it the 6th of January. The sun was at a perfect angle to catch a look at some of the stone faces.

Andrew Andreas Treible was born 6 August 1825 to John and Mary Michaels Treible. He was a blacksmith and he and his wife, Catherine Reinheimer 1826-1905 lived in Middle Smithfield, Township, Pa. Catherine was born in Warren County, NJ the daughter of Joseph. They had three children: Franklin 1851-1933, Mary Margaret 1856-1929 and William 1856-1894. They are both interred at Zions Lutheran church Cemetery, Pa.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95284160/andrew-treible

The Church and Cemetery can be found, about 2 miles northeast of the Shawnee On Delaware, Pa. crossroad of River Road and Church Road, in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The church cornerstone was laid on June 16, 1851.On property probably owned by George Michael. In 1974 a determination was made that there were approximately 210 souls buried here. The cemetery is well maintained with a few stones fallen over, but no weeds. The church building is still standing, doesn’t look bad for park property. It still has a foundation, windows, and a roof. Not in need to be torn down and has all it’s windows and is used by the park for their Office of Preservation and Design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_Lutheran_Church_(East_Stroudsburg,_Pennsylvania)

So happy to announce a few items in our Tombstone Tuesday store at Zazzle. 

Elizabeth and Philip Smith, Lower Walpack, NJ

A few weeks ago I was over on Old Mine Road in Warren and Sussex Co., NJ. It was the first time I got a  chance to look at the Lower Walpack Cemetery. The Cemetery is very very old, I was so very happy to see that the Walpack Historical Association is taking very good care of it. It needs to be preserved, the oldest stone dates to about 267 years ago, yes readable and standing.

I spotted these 2 stones that was at least 4 feet high, I was thrilled that they were not push over or marred in any way.

Elizabeth Transue Smith born 6 Nov 1808 Smithfield Township, Pa., she was  the daughter of Peter and Maria Elizabeth Grube Transue. I found a record of her being baptized in Easton, Pa. 17 April 1809 or she could also be Elizabeth Smith Smith d/o Jacob and Susannah Frutchey Smith Elizabeth died on 10  Oct. 1848.

There seems to be many Elizabeth and Philip Smith in the time period.

Elizabeth married on 29 March 1727, Sussex Co., Nj. To Philip J. (John ) Smith born 28 Oct 1798 in Sussex co., Nj., he was the son of Jonas and Anna Maria LaBarre Smith.  Philip dies on 6 Oct 1848.

An update 1/14/2020 Elizabeth Smith is the d/o Christian and Mary Keithline Smith.  they were married 29 march 1826 Sussex co., NJ. Elizabeth was the granddaughter of George Smtih.
Philip was one of the wealthiest farmers in Walpack, NJ and he and Elizabeth had 10 children.There oldest child Mary Anna took over the family estate and married Benjamin Rosenkrans.They lived in the Rosenkrans homestead built by Jonas Smith. The home is now owned by the National Park Service.

https://walpackhistory.org/

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60525&h=93084393&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=slM10&_phstart=successSource