Eclectic Ann

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

William Haycock/Heacock, My First DAR Patriot

William Haycock/Heacock

1716 – 1800

Patriot #A206644

The Heacock name has been found spelled many different ways. In the documents used by the DAR to prove William’s patriotism, it was spelled Haycock. There are other records of him with the Heacock spelling. In referring to any document, I will use the spelling in that document. In general, I will use Heacock.

William was born the fourth child of English Quaker immigrants Jonathan Heacock and Ann Till on 13 January 1716/17 in Marple, Chester (now Delaware) Co, Pennsylvania. His parents came from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England in 1711 finally settling in Chester Co, Pennsylvania in 1718. These dates come from the Quaker records for when the Heacocks left Wolverhampton with a removal certificate and presented this certificate in order to join the Chester Quaker meeting. The seven years’ time between is not documented but it is supposed that they did not immediately settle in Chester and may have moved around a bit or rented before buying land in Marple where William was born. William had two sisters, Mary and Ann, and three brothers, John, Jonathan and Joseph, all born in Pennsylvania.

In 1739, William purchased 100 acres in Rockhill, Bucks County from Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, and built several mills. A sawmill, an oil mill, and nearby a grist mill. This area had been known as “The Bog” or "The Great Swamp" but was later found to have very rich and fertile soil and named Richland. In 1745, William purchased an additional 50 acres in Rockhill and again in 1747, 100 more acres in Rockhill. One of William’s mills is still standing today and is occupied by a family counselor office. William also built a house in 1748 which stood across from the mill. It burned down in 1906 but was rebuilt. The mill stayed in the family for several generations.

In 1746, William married Ann Roberts through the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in Bucks County. They would have 9 children:

Jeremiah 1747-1797 - Also a DAR Patriot #A052486 by paying the 1783 Supply Tax

William 1749-1814

Ann 1750-1823

Mary 1752-1770

Jesse 1 1754- 1763

Alice 1756 – 1835

Jane 1758-1816

Jonathan 1760 – 1828 m. Hannah Davis - the line that we are descended from

Jesse 2 1763-1841 would inherit the Saw/Oil Mill

Many Tax Records were found recording what William paid and for what. Specifically, the years 1779, 1781 and 1782, years during the Revolutionary War, were used to prove him as a Patriot. These specific taxes were called Supply Taxes and were used to support the Continental Army during the war. Bucks county taxes and other contributions were significant in supporting the war effort. The taxes were paid to the state and in turn each state sent its tax quota to the Continental Congress. At first the taxes were on freemen over the age of 21and land but would later cover trades, personal property, mills, plate, horses, cattle or anything that could be sold for ready money. Other taxes were also collected in Bucks County on luxuries like liquor, carriages and billiard tables. Quakers, in most cases and in compliance with their religious beliefs, would not serve in the military. Having stated that, I have found several Heacocks of this family who did serve during the Civil War and a southern family who owned slaves.

The first census of the United States was not taken until 1790. Two William Haycocks are found living in Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co at that time. They would be William and his son William in separate households. The 1800 census lists only one William Heacock so it was likely taken after William Sr died, which was on 12 Apr 1800 at home in Rockhill. William’s youngest son Jesse inherited the sawmill after his father died. William Sr’s wife Ann is not listed as a head of household in the 1800 census. Ann would have been 82 at the time and lived until 1807.

William Heacock’s lengthy and detailed will was probated on 8 May 1800 and his wife Ann was left all of the furniture and 100 pounds in gold or silver money, as well as directing that his son Jesse live on his 147 acres with his mother until her decease or remarriage at which time the property be sold, with Jesse keeping the mill. He also gave instructions on the distribution of the proceeds of that sale amongst his children and grandchildren. He was likely buried in Bucks Co, exact location unknown.

William Haycock's Proofs for DAR

1779 Supply Tax - owned 70 acres in Richland, value -700lb, paid 16lb,9shillings

1781 tax in Rockhill 160 acres and a sawmill - 1 horse, 4 cattle - Value 392lb - paid 4 lb,10shillings

1782 Tax paid Rockhill Twp - paid 8 shillings 6 pence

William Haycock and Ann Roberts Quaker marriage declaration

Ann Roberts Heacock Quaker birth record

William Haycock's mill and property location in West Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co, PA

William Haycock's mill - photo shared by Michael J Beauchamp

1831 map of Rockhill Twp with location of mill marked as "S & Oil M" and "J. Heacock" below, this would be Jesse Heacock

Bucks Co in 1831 - Rockhill Twp in Northwest Bucks

The Mill today - Google Earth photos

Current occupants

Some older photos of the mill

1899

William Heacock home built 1748, burned down in 1906 but rebuilt home today is below

photo shared by Michael J Beauchamp

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William Haycock/Heacock’s Descendant Lineage for my DAR membership

Son of William

Jonathan Heacock was born in Rockhill, Bucks Co, Pa on 11 Apr 1760 and died in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa on 21 Dec 1828. Jonathan married Hannah Davis on 21 Oct 1783 in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa. In 1782, Jonathan was listed as a single man on a tax list for Bucks Co. Jonathan was a Quaker and in the tanning business and lived in Haverford for his entire married life. They are buried in Delaware Co, Pa and were members of the Haverford Meeting. Their 10 children were:

Joseph D 1784 – 1867 He was a surgeon in the either the Mexican War or the War of 1812, moved to Alabama and had 4 sons in the Confederate Army, he and at least one of his sons are recorded as owning slaves

Martha 1786 – 1867

Jesse D 1788 – 1851

Reece 1791 – 1866

Anna 1794 – 1865

Mary 1797 – 1886

Davis 1799 – 1885 m. Mary Williamson – our line

Jonathan 1802 – 1858

Eli 1805 – 1842

Lewis 1808 – 1823

Proofs

William Heacock's Will 1800 - son Jonathan Heacock

1783 Quaker record of marriage declaration for Jonathan Heacock and Hannah Davis

Jonathan Heacock's Quaker death record

Hannah Davis Heacock Quaker death record

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Grandson of William

Davis Heacock was born on 16 Dec 1799 in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa and died on 1 Dec 1885 in Washington Co, Indiana. He was a Quaker and a farmer. He married Mary Williamson about 1822. They had 6 children all born in Haverford at the farm. According to a Haverford Meeting Record Book, Davis may have been disowned at some point. No reason or date was given and a member could be taken back into the faith if later was judged an acceptable member again. About 1848, they sold the farm and moved to Indiana, living in Henry Co, Rush Co and finally Washington Co. In 1858, Davis was the co-builder of the Phillips Schoolhouse near Salem, Indiana. Davis and his son James were also teachers at the Phillips school. In 1870 Davis and his wife are found living in McLean Co, Illinois but moved back to Indiana in 1873 with their son James where they passed away. They are buried in the Highland Cemetery in Salem, Washington Co, Indiana. Their children are:

Elizabeth W 1825 -1866 - died in Illinois

Emily D 1828 – 1893

James Williamson 1833 1910 – m. Sarah Nixon – our line

Jesse Davis 1836 – 1919 - served in the Civil War Union

Mary Ann 1840 – 1913

Joseph D 1846 -1876 – married and stayed in Illinois

Proofs

Davis Heacock birth record and disowned for ?

Davis Heacock gravestone

1850 Census Ripley Twp, Rush Co, Indiana showing Mary as Davis's wife and her age

Mary Williamson Heacock's gravestone

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Great Grandson of William

James Williamson Heacock was born in Darby, Delaware Co, Pa on 25 Oct 1833 and died in Salem, Washington Co, Indiana on 4 Jan 1910. He married Sarah Nixon on 21 May 1861 at her home in Washington Twp, Washington Co, Indiana. In 1855, he moved with his parents to Highland, Washington Co, Indiana. 10 years later, they moved to Benjaminville, McClean Co, Illinois where his three children were born. James and his brother Jesse were listed on a Civil War Draft Registration record on June of 1963 in Washington Co, Indiana. James never served but Jesse did. James' family remained there until 1873 and later they took possession of Spring Hill Farm in Washington Co, Indiana where he farmed and raised fruit on the “Spring Hill Farm”. The Spring Hill Farm originated with an 1814 land grant to Matthew Coffin, who passed the property to his daughter Priscilla Hunt in 1815 who in turn sold it, in 1843, to her son in law Toms Nixon, father of Sarah Nixon Heacock. In 1874, James and Sarah Heacock acquired the deed to the farm and later in 1898, deeded it to their son Foster. James at one time was the assessor for Washington Co. and also worked as an appraiser for Washington Co’s Farmers Insurance Co. He and his wife are buried in the Quaker cemetery at Blue River. Their children are:

Elmer Ellsworth 1862 – 1934

Semira Elizabeth 1865 – 1879

Foster James 1869 – 1939 – m. Clara Alice Martin – our line

Proofs

James W Heacock's Death certificate showing his birth and death date

James Heacock and Sarah Nixon marriage

Sarah Nixon Heacock's Death certificate with birth and death dates

Three generations of William Haycock's descendants

James Williamson, Foster James and Floyd Hanley Heacock

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2^nd Great Grandson of William

Foster James Heacock was born in Benjaminville, McLean Co, Illinois on 22 Sep 1869 an died in Dayton, Montgomery Co, Ohio on 3 May 1939. He married Clara Alice Martin on 10 Aug 1896 in Washington Co, Indiana. Clara died on 6 May 1917 and he married for a second time on 21 Aug 1919 in Bedford, PA to Margaretta Blackburn.

“Foster moved to Washington Co., Indiana when he was 4 years old from McLean Co., Illinois. He graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso in 1893 from the commercial department. He taught 4 terms in Washington county schools and moved to New Castle, Pa. in 1894 and then to Butler, Pa (near where I now live). where he was the principal of Butler Business College until May 1897. Foster moved back to Washington county where he was appointed to serve on the Board of County Charities Corrections for one year. Foster served in this capacity without compensation. He was also the secretary of the Washington County Historical Society in 1914 and was helpful in getting information for the county history published in 1916. Foster was a noted agriculturist and was head of the Heacock Fruit Company which was widely known for the quality of it's orchard products. He owned "Spring Hill Farm" in Washington Co. Indiana as well as the "Friendly Fruit Farm" in Clearville, Bedford Co, Pa. At the time of his death, he was Superintendent of the Waynesville, Ohio Friends Home. “ Source - "Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana", Warder W. Stevens, 1916, B.F. Bowen Co., Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana. pg 824. Foster held several patents for equipment useful in orchards as well.

Foster was buried with his first wife in the Quaker Blue River Hicksite Cemetery in Washington Co, Indiana. Foster and Clara ‘s children are:

Lawrence (twin) 1898 – 1966

Florence (twin) 1898 -1984

Marian 1900 – 1900

Oliver James 1902 – 1995

Floyd Hanley 1905 – 1989 – m. Mary Elizabeth Arnold – our line

Helen Blanche 1908 – 2000 - lifelong Quaker and the family historian

Proofs

Foster Heacock's Death certificate showing birth and death dates

Foster Heacock and Clara Alice Martin marriage certification

Clara Alice Martin Heacock's death certificate with birth and death dates

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3^rd Great Grandson of William

Floyd Hanley Heacock was born in Canton, Washington Co, Indiana on 15 Jan 1905 and died in Bedford, Pa on 21 Jun 1989. He married Mary Elizabeth Arnold on 4 Jun 1928 in Bedford, Pa. Floyd moved with his family to Bedford, Pennsylvania after the census of 1920. They lived on a farm near Clearville called the "Friendly Fruit Farm", where they raised apples and peaches from about 1920-1938. Their produce won many ribbons. The Heacock's would live at the farm except in the winter, when they would move into Bedford and rent a house. Floyd would often walk from the farm in Clearville into Bedford. He also worked as a soda jerk in a local drug store. He graduated from Bedford High School in 1924 and went on to take a radio correspondence course. This course was a graduation gift from his father. It was after taking this course that he began his job with ATT, in 1926, at the switching station at the corner of East John St & S Wood St. This building is now the Bedford Library. His starting salary was $20 a week. He worked at ATT until his retirement in 1968 after 42 years of service. About 12 or so years after he was married, Floyd, a birthright Quaker, converted to his wife’s Catholic faith. Floyd also had a side business of repairing radios and televisions. He was known as the "TV Doctor" in and around town. His son John relates that Floyd owned the first television in Bedford. Floyd was also affectionately known as "Taters" and always had a vegetable garden in his backyard on East John St. Floyd and Elizabeth are buried in the St Thomas Cemetery in Bedford. Their 8 children are:

John Floyd 1929 – 2016 m. Kathryn Carole Bonadio – my line

Margaret Theresa 1930 – 2019

Mary Elizabeth

Frederick Eugene

Ruth Ann 1939 – 2011

Catherine Alice

Joseph Ralph

James Foster

Proofs

Floyd Heacock and Mary Elizabeth Arnold's Marriage application

Death certificates showing their birth and death dates which I will not post here.

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4^th Great Grandson of William

John Floyd Heacock was born in Bedford, PA on 5 Jul 1929 and died in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co, Pa on 22 Mar 2016. He married Kathryn Carole Bonadio in Lock Haven, Clinton Co, PA on 28 Aug 1954. John grew up in Bedford where he developed interests in Stamp Collecting, Flying, Science Fiction, Horse Racing and the Space Race, he being Bedford's resident expert on the Russian Sputnik flight and was able to spot it in the night sky. He attended Bedford High School where he excelled in wrestling and became the school's first state champion in that sport (1945). John wrestled in the 112 lb. weight class. He also played football and was a member of the 1945 undefeated championship team and was a member of the High School Band playing the Cornet. John was an Honor student and scholar athlete. Some jobs held were as an attendant at the ESSO station on the PA Turnpike at the Bedford Midway Rest Area, where they would use the underground tunnel which connected the two opposite rest areas at that location; working at the Bedford airport digging ditches to help drain the runway and painting the identifier of "Bedford" on the hangar roof for which he was paid in flying lessons in Aeronca Champs and T-Craft Aces; working for Paul Logue helping remodel the elementary school; working for his uncle, Gene Davidson, in his machine shop during World War 2 helping machine parts for aircraft carriers and pilot evac kits. John also holds his private pilots license which he received after flying his first solo flight at the age of 16. After graduation, he attended Parks Air College in St. Louis, Mo. as an ROTC student for one year and then transferred to Lock Haven State Teacher's College in Pa, where he also wrestled and participated in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament. John was in the Army for two years during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan as a radio operator in the 101st Airborne, earning the Good Conduct Medal, United National Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, and the Army Award for Public Service. After his marriage to Carole Bonadio of Lock Haven, Pa in 1954 he took a teaching/coaching job at Central Bucks Jr High School in Doylestown, Bucks Co, Pa. only about 16 miles from where his DAR ancestor lived. After a year there, he returned to Bedford to teach math at Bedford high school for five years. John also helped coach the wrestling and football teams in Bedford. During this period, he attended summer classes and received his Master’s degree from Penn State. In 1960, he began teaching math for Penn State at its Schuylkill Campus in Pottsville, Pa. During his tenure in Pottsville, John was a private Math tutor, helped with the local Spelling Bee and helped with the then College Boards Exams (SAT). He retired early, in 1978, due to a disability. He lived with his wife, Carole, a retired social service aide, in Pottsville. In 2007, John was inducted into the Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame. And in 2014, into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. John passed away on March 22, 2016 in Pottsville, PA. John and Carole are buried in the St Johns #2 Cemetery in Pottsville, Pa. Their children are:

Ann Marie DAR

Teresa Helen

Thomas William 1960 - 1960

Dianne Elizabeth

Proofs

Church marriage certificate for John Heacock and Carole Bonadio

Also their Birth and Death certificates - not posted

Four more generations of William Haycock's Descendants
Floyd, John, Ann, Amy& Tommy

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5^th Great Granddaughter of William - DAR member Jacob Ferree Chapter

Ann Marie Heacock was born in Bedford, Bedford Co, Pa. She married Thomas Sinton in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co, PA. Ann lived in Bedford until she was about 5 years old. The family moved to Pottsville, PA and she began Kindergarten at the Jackson St school. Beginning with the first grade she attended St John the Baptist Parish School and graduated from 8th grade there. Her high school years were spent attending Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville. She and Tom lived in Cressona, Pa and welcomed their first child. Tom enlisted in the US Air Force and the family moved to Rantoul (about an hours drive from where her ancestors lived in McLean Co) and where they had their second child, then to Summerfield, Illinois, where they spent about 6 years. Opportunity knocked and they moved to Virginia Beach, Va where Tom worked for Douglas Aircraft Co on contract to the US Navy. While living in Virginia Beach, Ann became a volunteer tour docent at the historical Lynnhaven House c. 1725 for three years. After 7 years, the family moved one more time, to Pittsburgh, Pa (just a two hours' drive from Bedford) where Tom worked for USAirways (now American Airlines) until his retirement. Ann was a full time Mom until she began working briefly for Hechingers as a cashier, two years at Ames Dept store and finally for almost 21 years as a receptionist for Dr Robert Hodes OD. Their children are:

6th Great Grandchildren of William

Amy Melissa m. Cullen Matthew Flanders

Thomas Ellsworth Jr m. Amanda Lee Schiller

Proofs

Birth and marriage certificates - not posted

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7th Great Grandchildren of William

Hannah Cathryn Flanders m. Mitchell Edward Miles

Ethan Robert Flanders

Dylan Thomas Flanders

Nathan Thomas Sinton

Emily Kaye Sinton

Luke Ryan Sinton

And the latest generation of William Haycock's descendants

John and Carole Heacock and their great grandchildren

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Monday, September 15, 2025

Week 38 - Animals (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

When I saw this prompt, horses immediately came to mind. While sadly, I have never owned my own horse, I have some history with them as do others in my family. Girls and horses, what can you say, they just seem drawn to each other naturally. I was always interested in horses. I read book after book about them or their stories from elementary school on up. Walter Farley was a favorite author with his Black Stallion series of stories. But I think the first horse book I read was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and I was hooked for good. I loved pony rides at fairs and amusement parks when I was little. I even entered a radio station contest to try and win a horse. I didn't win. I don't know what my parents would have done had I won. Although by this time, horses were already trotting their way into my family, so who really knows what could have been.

Pony ride at Hershey Park

Almost all of us have ancestors who used horses for transportation or working the farm or sport. Horses are in integral part of human history. I even have a cousin, who used her horse to deliver newspapers in town on her paper route when she was young girl. My dad's grandfather farmed and dad would have been exposed and surely rode some horses, although he never told us much about that. He was also very interested in thoroughbred horse racing. As a math teacher, dad was naturally interested in how numbers played a part in placing wagers at race tracks. He would sit for what seemed like hours with his racing form newspaper trying to figure out which horse would win a race. He seemed to have devised his own system to choose potential winners. He also attended live racing events at tracks in Charles Town, West Virginia and Hagerstown, Maryland not far from where he grew up in Bedford, PA. I think one other thing that influenced him was an aunt, an uncle and his grandmother who also followed the races and came along on trips to the track as well. When he would go to a track, they would also send along their picks so he could place bets for them as well. He did take me along once or twice and it was fun to watch all of the horses. I was partial to the gray ones. When two new tracks opened up in Harrisburg and the Poconos in Pennsylvania, near where we lived, he would be able to go more often.

Dad in later years still working on his system

My mom's first experience with horses came in 1954 right before she was married. She and my dad were visiting his sister in Pittsburgh and they all went riding at South Park where trail rides were offered. All mom talked about was the saddle sores she ended up with. She would not mount another horse for another 17 or so years.

Mom - 1954 - South Park

Our family's chapters of horse ownership started with my maternal grandfather. Grandad was the son of Italian immigrants and was born in 1906. He said he rode horses when he was young and was a big fan of Western movies all of his life, especially John Wayne and Louis L'Amour books. Grandad had worked in a silk mill from the time he was 16. He retired at 65 after 49 years at the mill. As a widower and single dad since age 35, this 64 year old, 5' 5 1/2" tall Italian grandpa bought a horse, all the tack, a cowboy hat and boots and eventually, a horse trailer. His horse was a palomino Tennessee Walker with four white stockings named Checkers. Grandad lived in Lock Haven, PA and boarded Checkers at a local farm owned by a Ben Collins. He used to take us there to ride Checkers and some of the other horses there. So much fun! He also found a man named Lundy Flick, who gave riding lessons and also bred Appaloosa horses on his farm.

Grandad and Checkers

Fun at the Collins' farm

And at Flick's farm

As granddaughters whose grandfather owned a horse, my two sisters and I would get to go riding almost every time we would go visit him. Unfortunately, he lived about two hours away from us, but none the less, it was more horse time than we had ever had before. The following summer, we spent about 6 weeks or so visiting grandad and we also took riding lessons from Mr. Flick. He had four children and at the end of our lessons we had a Fun Show with them where we got to show our parents what we had learned. I was 16 at the time and my sisters were 13 and 9. Also that year, grandad had taken a liking to the Appaloosas he saw on Flick's farm. He somehow made a deal with Lundy to buy one of that year's yearlings. Lundy told him he could pick out whichever one he wanted. So grandad made his pick. Lundy, a bit chagrined, told him that he had picked the best one of the lot. Grandad named his new horse Cherokee Chief. Cherokee was a leopard Appaloosa, meaning that he was all white with black spots all over. A lifelong friendship had begun.

The Express 26 Jul 1971

Our first lesson was taking care of your horse

At the Fun Show after lessons - me riding Pebbles and Grandad mounted on Cherokee's father Chief

and yes, bareback riding on Checkers

While grandad was waiting for Cherokee to be ready for him, an opportunity came along for a job at a brand new riding stable, Belle's Springs, where he would be the manager and Lundy Flick provided the horses. That next summer we visited grandad again for 2 weeks and helped out at the stable and helped keep the horses in riding shape for visitors. Checkers was stabled there also and grandad spent his down time teaching Checkers to bow like Roy Rogers' horse Trigger. Grandad kept riding Checkers while Cherokee was being trained. Once he was trained and Grandad could ride him, he found Checkers a new home. He and Cherokee continued their riding lessons. He also taught Cherokee to bow along with a some other fancy footwork. Grandad managed the stable for a few years and then he moved in with my mom and dad. Of course, Cherokee came along. Grandad found a new place to continue his riding lessons.

The Express, 4 May 1972, pg 8

Checkers learning to bow

Grandad and Cherokee

By this time I had gotten married, but my sisters benefitted greatly from having Grandad and Cherokee close by. So much so, that our parents bought them a horse from Lundy Flick, Sheba. Unbeknownst to all, one day Sheba presented them with a surprise foal that they named Flecka. Now they owned two horses! They joined 4H and began participating in small local horse shows. They did all kinds of events, from halter classes to barrel racing. A few years later, they found Sheba a new home and bought a new horse named Rags for barrel racing events. I believe he may have been a Quarter Horse. One sister rode him and the other used Cherokee in equestrian events.

Sheba and her 4 day old foal Flecka

Rags

Cherokee with his saddle blanket hand made by our paternal grandmother

My husband enlisted in the US Air Force and we moved to Illinois. We found ourselves renting a mobile home on a farm in southern Illinois, a farm that had horses. We had small children at the time so not much horseback riding for me. We lived there for 7 years though, and once the kids started school, I was able to ride more. The farm's owner was not able to exercise the horses any longer and asked me if I wanted to do it for her. I jumped at that chance. There is nothing like having horses right outside your window to watch and dream about. And ride. Our kids also benefitted from this and did a little supervised riding also. So not only did my kids get to enjoy horses on the farm, they also visited them with their grandparents twice a year when we could visit home. My daughter's first time on a horse was on Sheba. She was barely a year old. My kid's first actual horse back rides were as toddlers on Cherokee. You might wonder about putting toddlers on a horse, but Cherokee was the kind of horse that you could put anyone on. In his later years, he was borrowed from time to time, to give lessons on for kids.

A young Cherokee

My daughter's first time on a horse - Sheba

And some of her first rides on Cherokee at 2 years old and with her aunt and great grandfather

My 2 year old son on Cherokee during a visit home

On the Farm Roxanne

On the Farm Lady

Horses in the backyard on the farm

Last rides on the Farm Rocket

Lady

Rocket

Visits home - Kiowa and Cherokee

Everyone's favorite pony Cupcake

Kiowa and Cherokee

Meanwhile, during this same time, Grandad had an idea. The year was 1976, the Bicentennial year. One of the events for that celebration was a Wagon Train. Hundreds of people from all over the country left their homes on horseback or by wagon and met in Valley Forge, PA on July 4, 1976. Some were on the road for a year traveling thousands of miles across the country. Grandad decided he wanted to do this with Cherokee. By this time Grandad was 70 years old. The wagon train would be passing through his old hometown of Mill Hall near Lock Haven, so that is where he began his ride. He rode Cherokee 220 miles in 11 days to Valley Forge, sometimes sleeping under the stars. Mom thought he was crazy, but they made it. An adventure of a lifetime. Afterwards, grandad had the four horseshoes that Cherokee used in the wagon train mounted and framed. It hung in mom's house for many years. His home video of scenes from his adventure is posted on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR2J-UzLAqc

Grandad and Cherokee ready for the 1976 Bicentennial Wagon Train

Pottsville Republican interview with Grandad

Lock Haven Express Article on Wagon Train

Cherokee's wagon train horseshoes

Grandad and Cherokee moved back to the Lock Haven area for a brief time to be near his family which left my sisters with just one horse. I am fuzzy on the timeline of these years but a quarter horse, named Handy, joined the family. He was my youngest sister's horse. Also in this time period, my other sister became interested in farrier work and took a course at Penn State to learn the trade. She learned a lot about the anatomy of a horse's legs and hooves which served her well when she began working as a groom at the local thoroughbred race track in Harrisburg. She eventually became a trainer for both horses she owned and others variously over the years. She worked at tracks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. Her husband was a jockey. Later, she remarried to another jockey turned trainer. He was a successful jockey in New York in his riding days. They ended up settling back where her equine career started near Harrisburg. It can be a hard life working from early mornings till late at night taking care of and training thoroughbreds on a racetrack. You have to really love it. My sister eventually gave that up but her husband always kept his hand in it in many different ways. Up until recently and in his 80's, her husband worked walking horses at the track and as an agent for jockeys. My sister also took up a new equestrian activity in recent years - horse drawn carriage competitions. She started by taking care of the carriage horses, which were beautiful Friesians, and learning the sport as she went. Eventually she earned a place on the carriage during competitions.

Handy

An old clipping of my brother in law

Thoroughbred racing in the winner's circle

Carriage competition - the two people on the back helped with balancing the carriage when making turns

Her granddaughter riding

My mom did eventually ride a horse again, after being a 4H and horse show mom for years. And so much like her father bought her own horse, Kiowa, an Appaloosa. She took lessons and would eventually participate in some of the same horse shows as her daughters. In the meantime, Grandad moved back in with her and Cherokee came back as well. Kiowa and Cherokee were ridden by my mom, my grandad and my sisters for fun and in shows. Mom and Grandad made many lifelong friends by owning horses. They would go on trail rides together and more. Even my dad would occasionally go along.

Mom and Cherokee

Kiowa and Mom

During these years, my time on the farm ended when we moved to Virginia. No more horses for me except when we visited home and not every time. Grandad passed away shortly after we moved to Virginia at age 76, but Cherokee did not lose his home. He was a part of the family. Mom kept him.

Cherokee at age 20

As time went on, more grandchildren were added to the family. My sister's horse, Handy, found a new home on a retirement farm for horses and Cherokee passed away. Kiowa was gone but Mom bought a new horse named Albie, a blanket Appaloosa. She continued riding with friends and my sisters were married with kids. Some of these grandkids had their first rides on Cherokee or Kiowa. Dad would occasionally ride Cherokee with Mom.

Dad and Cherokee

Cherokee and Mom's grandson

Riding Kiowa with his cousins

Kiowa and Cherokee

Kiowa and Mom's granddaughter

Trail riding with Albie

Albie

Mom's great granddaughter and her first horse ride on Albie

My daughter and I back in he saddle on Albie

Mom's great grandsons meeting Albie

My aging mom eventually had to give up riding but kept a retired Albie. She passed away in 2019 with some wonderful memories.

My sister's time with horses would have seemed at an end as well. BUT, after her kids grew up and she remarried, they bought 13 acres and began building a dream. She had a quarter horse named Jed, and when the barn was ready to be occupied, Jed became it's first occupant. They bought a second horse for her husband, a pinto named Chance. Now she and her husband could ride together and with friends. Later, when Jed developed a hoof issue, he could not be ridden as much, so my sister bought a young pinto named Tucker, that she trained and rides today. Jed lives a life of retired ease. Three horses in her backyard. My sister now has a granddaughter who comes to visit her and has also fallen in love with horses. She will stay for a week or so just like we did with our grandad, riding and learning. She takes riding lessons where she lives and loves jumping horses. But Chance is her favorite.

Jed and my granddaughter

Tucker and Jed

Chance

My sister's granddaughter at her lessons

My sister's lifelong time with horses has also given her a business. She has created a guide to trail riding. Her guide includes maps and information needed to travel and trail ride. And all kinds of other equine related information.

https://trailriderspath.com

As for me, I would ride sometimes when we visited. We lived a bit closer, Pittsburgh, but not close enough to do frequent visiting. I now have grandchildren as well. The oldest, a girl, had her first ride as a toddler on her great grandma's horse Albie. As she got older, my daughter, granddaughter and myself took a few "girl trips" to visit my mom and sister's horses. We would all ride and had a lot of fun. My granddaughter fell for Jed, another gentle soul of a horse. We were in town for a family wedding one year and all of us stopped to see my sister. By this time I had six grandkids and all of them got to meet the horses. Another granddaughter had her first ride on that visit. The sons and grandsons in our family did not share the same interest in horses. The sons rode occasionally but did not develop the love for it. The grandsons were very young and it was just a curiosity to them I think. I once gave the older granddaughter a birthday gift of a trail ride at a local farm here, but, for me at least, it was just not the same experience as life had given our family. But it was very nice to have been able to ride with my granddaughter for an afternoon. Both of my granddaughters had a few more horse experiences thru Girl Scouts and a few actual riding lessons, but that is where it ends for my girls. Or does it? Time will tell.