the local legend of “pawnee bill” lilly - heritage … · william lilly was also said to be...

Volume 34, No. 2 Spring 2012

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

Some families have a rich tradition of preserving sto-

ries from earlier generations that occasionally connect with

famous people. In certain cases, the stories may be true. In

others, they were merely wishful thinking that evolved into

family folklore. For example, most Lee families with Vir-

ginia roots probably have a tradition that they are somehow

related to Robert E. Lee. This article will present a local

example of such a family tradition.

If you have ever heard of “Pawnee Bill,” the famous

Wild West show promoter and businessman, you may won-

der what his connection could be with Rockingham Coun-

ty, Va. The answer may be simple: Not much!

However, a tale has been told that William Lilly was

the father of “Pawnee Bill” Lilly. William Lilly was also

said to be responsible for naming the neighborhood in

western Rockingham County after his surname. The tale

adds that William Lilly, who helped start the Lilly post of-

fice, had 19 children. More oral history is told about the

famous son: “Pawnee Bill” was also known as Major Lilly

because of his success in the U. S. Army in the 1880s. He

supposedly came to the Harrisonburg area in 1895 to find

musicians for his Wild West show’s 14-member band and

chose 10 men from this area.

Let’s extract the main points from the tradition. Wil-

liam Lilly had 19 children, one of whom was “Pawnee

Bill” Lilly, the famous Wild West show promoter. The

Lilly neighborhood in western Rockingham County had a

post office that William Lilly helped establish and name.

“Pawnee Bill,” who rose to the rank of major in the army in

the 1880s, came to the county in 1895 and chose 10 local

musicians for his western show band.

The story may have its origins in an article in the Daily

News-Record when Pawnee Bill died in 1942. The article

contained some slight variations about Pawnee Bill Lilly’s

supposed connections with Rockingham County that differ

from those mentioned above. Information for the article

came from Kirby Bassford, a Harrisonburg resident who

wrote several booklets and newspaper items about the city

and its people. Unfortunately, Bassford was not the most

accurate of historians, and his writings contain occasional

errors. The article stated that Pawnee Bill Lilly was “a na-

tive of Rockingham County and had relatives here.” Bass-

ford told that he had spent six months touring with Pawnee

Bill’s band, which included 10 Harrisonburg men. Howev-

er, in the article, he could recall the names of only four of

his fellow musicians.

by Dale MacAllister

The Local Legend of “Pawnee Bill” Lilly

and how it informs us about historical research

See page 6

Gordon William Lillie was best known as a Wild West

showman and performer. In the late 1870s, he began work-

ing for the Pawnee Indian agency in Indian Territory. The

tribe gave him the nickname “Pawnee Bill.” He was hired by

showman Buffalo Bill in 1883 as a Pawnee interpreter. Lillie

started his own Wild West show in 1888. His wife May (see

photo on page 6) starred as the “Champion Girl Horseback

Shot of the West.” Lillie’s show was reorganized several

times and was finally called “Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East

Show.” In 1908, he again joined with Buffalo Bill in a ven-

ture called the “Two Bills’ Show.”

Calendar Of Events

May 25: “Sensation, Science & Scandal: The Popular

Press in Antebellum America,” 7 p.m. With Mark Sawin.

How dimensions of the economic, technological, and social

changes underway in Antebellum American society manifested

themselves in the national culture

May 28: Museum and Offices Closed for Memorial Day.

June 3: “Civil War Firsts,” 2 p.m. Income tax, the U.S.

Secret Service, home delivery of mail—come and learn from

Irvin and Nancy Hess, as they present a program about a few

of the many “firsts” to come out of the Civil War.

June 7: “Stonewall’s Narrow Escape,” 7 p.m. Irvin Hess

speaks about the surprise Federal cavalry raid at the village of

Port Republic on the morning of June 8, 1862 that nearly led to

the capture of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

June 8: “The Metamorphosis in Stonewall Jackson's Pub-

lic Image, May-June 1862,” 7:30 p.m. With Robert Krick,

author of “Stonewall Jackson at Port Republic.” Turner Ashby

High School, Bridgewater, VA.

June 9: “If This Valley Is Lost: Preserving the Legacy of

Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign.” 6-8:30 pm at the

Widow Pence Farm (owned by HRHS Trustees Irvin and Nan-

cy Hess), Cross Keys Battlefield, near Harrisonburg. A sesqui-

centennial program co-sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley

Battlefields Foundation and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of

the American Civil War Commission. Barbecue dinner, period

music, on-site interpretation, living history, youth activities.

Guest speakers include Dr. James I. “Bud” Robertson Jr., pro-

fessor emeritus at Virginia Tech and leading Jackson biog-

rapher. $20/person, $30/family (two adults and children under

18); youths 13 and under/free. For tickets, download registra-

tion form at bit.ly/svbftj, email [email protected] or call (540)

740-4545.

June 21: “Brigadier General Turner Ashby,” 7 p.m. With

David Dillard.

July 4: Museum and Offices Closed

Sept. 20: “The Civil War According to the Rockingham

Register,” 7 p.m. The Rockingham Register, begun in Harri-

sonburg in 1822, became a newspaper of regional importance.

This lecture will examine the Civil War as witnessed by

citizens of the Shenandoah Valley and reported by the paper.

Stay in touch for new listings at www.heritagecenter.com or

visit the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society on

Facebook!

Volume 34, No. 2

The Heritage Museum Hours

Tuesday—Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seasonal Sundays 1 p.m.—5 p.m.

Genealogy on Mondays by appointment

Office closed on Saturday and Sunday Telephone: (540) 879-2616

Email: [email protected] www.heritagecenter.com

www.heritagemuseumstore.com

Trustees

Chairman: Greg Owen

Vice-Chair: Nancy Hess

Secretary: Monica Frackelton

Treasurer: John Paul

HRHS Staff

Executive Director: Penny Imeson

Administrator: Margaret Hotchner

Archivist: Laura Adams

Newsletter Editor: Lauren Jefferson

Staff: Amy Kiracofe, Juanita Wysong

2012 Newsletter Submission Deadlines

All articles are subject to editing. Ideas for feature articles

must be submitted in advance of the article. We reserve the

right not to use unsolicited feature articles. Genealogical que-

ries welcome.

Submissions can be emailed to the editor

[email protected]

Or mailed to HRHS

P.O. Box 716

Dayton VA 22821

Summer July 15

Fall October 15

Winter January 15

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Charlie Collette Wes Graves

Nathan Miller Michael Hill

Irvin Hess

Have you moved or changed your address?

Please contact Margaret so that we can

update our records.

http://www.bit.ly/svbftj

https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&[email protected]

Volume 34, No. 2


Notes from the Executive Director

The best training opportunity I could ask for as a newbie to

the museum world was to attend the annual Virginia Associa-

tion of Museums (VAM) conference in Newport News from

March 17-20. With a theme of Launching New Connections, it

was an excellent opportunity to set sail into the broader scope of

the museum business and activity. Approximately 25 sessions

ranged in topic from “Building a Membership Program from

Scratch” to “Including Films in Your Museum” to “Connecting

with Traditional Media.” Speakers and workshop leaders in-

cluded museum staff members and industry consultants.

Most Interesting Program

The conference was designed to take advantage of our en-

tire stay, providing workshops and vendor networking during

the day, as well as museum sightseeing during the evening. The

first night I was tired and not so enthusiastic about loading onto

a bus, but load I did. We were shuttled to the Downing-Gross

Cultural Arts Center to be treated to music by petite Suzuki vio-

linists, a children’s art exhibit and opportunities to get creative

in both art and dance studios. The highlight was a one-man

show by Southampton County native Michael LaMelle in the

Ella Fitzgerald Theater. Portraying Nat Turner, he brought the

story of the slave rebellion to life in a thought-provoking, ener-

getic, and engaging manner. Here’s a deep dark secret: I was

never an enthusiastic history student. So I was excited to realize

I was being entertained by history as well as fascinated by Mr.

LaMelle’s ease as an African-American man discussing slavery

with a mostly white audience. This performance opened my

eyes to broader avenues of sharing and discussing history.

Most Informative Program

A panel discussion on “The Brave New World of Muse-

ums” with consultant James Chung, president of Reach Advi-

sors, and William Hennessey, director of the Chrysler Museum

of Art, provided insight on issues which will affect the future of

museums. As the traditional core audience shrinks, how do we

encourage more frequent visits and develop nontraditional visi-

tors? As the period of dramatic economic growth ends and baby

boomers age, how do we maintain our budget? How do we rec-

ognize the impact of the immediate nature of today’s technology

on future generations? Can we teach philanthropy? Museums

around the country will be asking these and many more ques-

tions raised by demographic, social, and economic change and

then attempting to reinvent and remain relevant.

Best Museum Management Tips I Learned

Charlotte Whitted, Director of Historic Crab Orchard Mu-

seum, was one of three leaders of the session entitled

“Shrinking Budgets and Nowhere to Cut.” Her mantra is

“make do or do without.” She offered the following program

and activity assessment questions: 1) Is it museum mission-

related? 2) Is it revenue generating? While I believe The Her-

itage Museum scores well on question one, I can confirm that

most of our programming is provided free of charge which

translates into negative revenue. Having been called the Val-

ley’s “Best-Kept Secret,” we have been investing in bringing

new visitors through the doors in order to build awareness. I

will certainly be considering Charlotte’s suggestions for gener-

ating funding opportunities as we grow forward. It’s definitely

time to share the secret, but we must also recognize the econom-

ic value of our unique facility and unique programming within

the community.

During a workshop on fundraising, I was reminded of the

importance of stewardship and good communication by Laura

Vaughan, executive director at the Barrier Island Center on Vir-

ginia’s Eastern Shore. This is simple, yet essential advice. For

the record, I am so grateful for all the wonderful members, do-

nors, and volunteers who help keep The Heritage Museum a

vibrant place to work and visit!

New Vocabulary Word I Learned: Educator

I didn’t realize some museums have staff members called

“educators” who are responsible for making the museum experi-

ence meaningful to all visitors. An educator at the Children’s

Museum of Virginia shared the concept of “bag programs,”

which could easily be used at The Heritage Museum as we work

toward becoming a more youth-friendly attraction. The idea is

to create an appealing bag that parents or teachers can check out

at the front desk to provide a more interactive visit for younger

family members. Using activity and question cards along with

simple and inexpensive tools like a magnifying glass or com-

pass, the bags help interpret the stories in the galleries and pro-

vide a richer and more entertaining visit for families and school

groups.

Overall, the conference was packed with information and

opportunity. Networking allowed me to make new friends and

find a mentor or two. Through presentations and conversations,

I added to my growing list of museum “field trip” sites. (This

month, I traveled to Abingdon to visit the William King Muse-

um and meet with the executive director who, like me, began

her museum career recently from a Masters in Business Admin-

istration background.) I also learned about collections practices

and fundraising and where to get supplies for exhibit installa-

tions and wished there were three more days to learn much

more. I’d say my VAM theme this year was Discovering New

Connections, but I was also launched into a new level of under-

standing and enthusiasm.

Penny Imeson shares the superlatives of her Virginia Association of Museums conference experience.

Volume 34, No. 2


Contentment is a large symmetrical two-story, Federal

-style house situated on a small knoll southeast of Mt.

Crawford. The dwelling is in fine condition and has under-

gone few changes since its construction. Bricks for Con-

tentment were fired on site and laid in a Flemish-bond pat-

tern on all four elevations. The five-bay house has a pair of

chimneys placed at each end of the gable roof with an unu-

sual brick parapet between each pair. The interior has a

central-hall plan and boasts thirteen-foot ceilings and

much original woodwork, including nine mantels, each in

a different style. Most doors, moldings, double-hung wood

-sash windows, and wainscoting have been preserved

along with door trim with bull’s-eye corner blocks. While

Contentment is a fine example of Federal style, it is also

associated with events in the Civil War.

After the burning of an earlier home in 1823, Robert

Grattan Sr. faced a daunting task of building a dwelling

worthy of his older sister, Catherine, and her well-

connected family. At the time, Catherine lived in Rich-

mond in a house designed by Benjamin Latrobe, designer

of the U.S. Capitol. Catherine’s daughter Nancy was the

wife of former Virginia governor William H. Cabell. And

Nancy’s younger sister Elizabeth was the wife of U.S. At-

torney General William Wirt. Grattan also needed to con-

sider the expectations of his daughter Eliza who had mar-

ried an aspiring young congressman from Georgia, George

Gilmer, who would win re-election several times before

being elected as governor twice in the 1830s.

Contentment was Robert’s answer—his definition of a

“grand” house. The dwelling is large, even by modern

standards. With 1,500 square feet on each of two main

floors, it also boasts a full basement and a floor-covered

attic for a total of 6,000 square feet of enclosed space.

While the results probably gave Robert great pleasure, it

would take his son more than a decade to restore the fami-

ly’s finances. In the 1840s and 1850s, Robert’s daughter

Eliza and her husband, the former Georgia governor, often

stayed at Contentment for long visits, realizing the fami-

ly’s social ambitions.

While Contentment is noted for its unusual architec-

ture, it is also associated with events in the Civil War. Two

skirmishes occurred on the estate and an army was orga-

nized in its fields in early June 1864. Many in Rocking-

ham Country are aware of the Confederate victory at New

Market, but few may realize what happened next. The bat-

tle on May 15, 1864, led to the removal of the inept Feder-

al general Franz Sigel. His replacement, David Hunter,

reorganized and reinforced Sigel’s army and quickly

marched south. These events took the Confederacy by sur-

prise, as most of the New Market troops had been sent

elsewhere. Seeking to buy time, Confederate commander

Brigadier General John D. Imboden responded to Hunter’s

maneuvers by an alternating strategy of harassment and

retreat. The terrain around Contentment offered remarka-

ble military potential. The turnpike bridge crossed the

North River at the base of a steep hill on the south bank. In

contrast, the land on the opposite shore slopes slowly

down to the river from Mount Crawford. Artillery on the

hill could shell an enemy on the low open fields. A differ-

ent choice for Federal troops would be to sweep across the

lowlands to the old river ford near the Grattan house. Even

this plan had a frightful problem. A millrace cut off the

entire low point on the south side of the river from the hill

to the east of the house.

When Imboden arrived at Contentment on June 3, he

saw 2,000 ragtag troops gathered in the fields. General

William E. Jones had collected dismounted cavalry, recov-

ering wounded soldiers and small units from Lynchburg

and beyond. Imboden spent the night at Contentment de-

veloping a plan to put them into brigades. Jones arrived

with reinforcements early the next day and approved Im-

boden’s efforts. The army grew to almost 4,500 soldiers

and two batteries of artillery with the subsequent arrival of

General John C. Vaughn.

Contentment: A Mount Crawford home

by John T. Foster Jr.

See page 5

Volume 34, No. 2



Your treasures may rest at HRHS!

Please consider donating artifacts and papers unique

to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County to the

Historical Society. Items must be reviewed before

being accepted into the permanent collection. We

request that you make an appointment with the Col-

lections Committee. For questions or to schedule an

appointment, call (540) 879-2616.

To the dismay of the Southern generals, Federal

troops marching out of the area on June 4 avoided Mount

Crawford, instead marching from Harrisonburg to Port

Republic and then turning south. The Confederate army

left Contentment on June 4 and clashed with David

Hunter’s much larger army the next day near Piedmont in

Augusta County. After considerable fighting, Federal

troops broke through a gap in the Southern line, killing

General Jones and shattering his forces. One-third of the

Confederate army was killed or wounded. It was the first

Union victory in the Shenandoah Valley.

Skirmishes occurred later on two separate occasions.

The first came at the end of the “Burning.” As General

Philip Sheridan finished destroying Valley farms, the

forces of Jubal Early shadowed the withdrawing Union

army. A major skirmish began at Contentment on October

4. According to a military map, Southern units formed a

line along the banks of the North River extending from

the house across the hill less than a half mile away. From

these positions, Confederate troops crossed the stream at

the Valley Pike while other units forded the river near the

house. General Wesley Merritt, a member of Sheridan’s

staff, reported from Mount Crawford: “The enemy ad-

vanced and skirmishing took place along my entire line,

lasting all day.” The second happened when Sheridan

returned to Mount Crawford in March 1865.

John T. Foster Jr. is the co-author, with wife, Sarah

Whitmer Foster, of the newly-published history,

“Contentment and the Pursuit of Ambition: The Grattans

and Their Remarkable Women.” To learn more about the

book, see page 8. The Fosters reside in Tallahassee, Flor-

ida, and are frequent visitors to Contentment.

Skirmishes occur near grounds

Judith Brinegar, Ramseur, NC

Janice Carroll, Bridgewater, VA

Matthew Connor, Allentown, PA

Warren Coonce, Eagle River, AK

Pamela Cox, Harrisonburg, VA

Colleen M. Eagan, Staunton, VA

Lee & Patricia Early, Mt. Crawford, VA

Janet Gillespie, Anderson, IN

Cheryl Harrison, Columbus, OH

Joyce Allen, Bridgewater, VA

Barbara Horan, Woodbine, NJ

Joyce King, Baltimore, MD

Carl & Margaret Krize, Highland, PA

Erich Lantz, Harrisonburg, VA

Jim & Carol Lawson, Elkton, VA

Roxanne Lynnes, Grand Forks, ND

Dawn Mahaffey, Heathsville, VA

Laura Mapp, Bridgewater, VA

Robin McNallie & Christine Edwards,

Harrisonburg, VA

Angela Meyers, Potomac, MD

Larry & Anne Moore, Martinsburg, WV

Michelle Neal, Palm Coast, FL

Dorothy Schaff-Mowen, St. Thomas, PA

Nan Sweeney, Blue Bell, VA

Laurie Weitzel, Lakewood, CO

Lynn Wise, Lancaster, PA

Leighanne Zeigler, Bunker Hill, WV

A Warm Welcome To

Our New Members

Our Wish List

Donations for Library books

Acrylic display stands for brochures

Large magnifier desk lamp for archives

Volunteers to scan, enter data,

submit history book reviews,

join hospitality team, and

many other opportunities.

The newspaper article explained that Lilly was born

near McGaheysville and “went west with his father as a

child.” It also stated that “his father’s brother [was] Wil-

liam Lilly, [who] established the Lilly post-office in west

Rockingham.” It explained that Solomon Lilly, a son and

only surviving child of William Lilly in 1942, when the

article was written, was a “first cousin of “Pawnee Bill.”

And from this article, we learn that “Major Lilly paid fre-

quent visits to his relatives here in the early days.”

Let’s begin to parse through these questions with a

search of the public records. What do the public records

say about the William Lilly family of western Rocking-

ham County? William Jackson Lilly was born in 1801 and

married Nancy Ann Fye in 1823. Nancy Lilly died in 1837

and is buried in Massanutten-Cross Keys Cemetery. Wil-

liam Lilly married Harriet Earman for his second wife in

1838. Lilly had many children, but he most assuredly did

not have 19. His family Bible lists 17 children, 4 by the

first wife and 13 by the second. Census, marriage, obitu-

ary, and cemetery records also concur on 17 children.

Oddly, William’s brief obituary in the Rockingham Regis-

ter when he died in 1884 states, “He reared fourteen chil-

dren, thirteen of whom survive him.” None of his sons,

however, was named Gordon William, the given name of

“Pawnee Bill.” Harriet Earman Lilly died in 1894, ten

years after her husband. They are buried in Bank Mennon-

ite Church Cemetery in West Rockingham. The 1880 cen-

sus gives important facts about William Lilly’s back-

ground. His father was born in Ireland, and William was

born in Virginia.

Was Pawnee Bill born in Rockingham County? His

spelling of his actual name— Gordon William Lillie—

provides a clue. His birthplace was far from Virginia. He

was born in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, in

1860, the son of Newton and Susan Conant Lilly. Newton

Lilly (his spelling) was a miller, born in Stanstead, Canada

(near the border with Vermont) in 1829. Susan Conant

was born in Illinois.

We can go even further back, but the point is that evi-

dence shows Pawnee Bill’s Lilly ancestors were born in

the northeast: father in Canada, grandfather in Connecti-

cut, and great-grandfather in Massachusetts. There is no

apparent connection to Rockingham County or even Vir-

ginia.

Gordon William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie was the oldest

of four children. He had a brother Albert and sisters Effie

and Pauline. When their mill in Illinois burned in 1873,

the family moved near Wellington, Kansas. It was at Wel-

lington that Gordon William became familiar with the

Pawnee tribe that was associated with Pawnee, Oklahoma.

Gordon William later moved to that town where the muse-

um memorializing him operates today.

Was the Lilly Post Office named for William Lilly?

The post office at Lilly was among many in the county

that were established, operated for a few years, and then

closed shortly after the turn of the twentieth century when

Rural Free Delivery began. Lilly P. O. was established in

1885 with William H. Sipe, the local merchant, as post-

master. Fannie Newman became the second postmaster in

1898, and the office closed four years later in 1902 when

the mail was transferred to the post office at Ottobine.

William Lilly, having died in 1884, a year before it

opened, likely had little to do with establishing the office.

Volume 34, No. 2


May Lilly, the wife of “Pawnee Bill.”

From page 1

See page 7

Public records, archival research helps answer questions

Volume 34, No. 2


However, the post office name was assuredly suggested

by his large Lilly family that lived near Sipe’s store.

Lakes’ Atlas for 1885 shows the “estate of William

Lilly” at the northwest corner of the intersection of cur-

rent Coopers Mountain and Clover Hill roads. Notice

also that Lilly had died the year before the atlas was

printed. The William Lilly residence was just north of

where Dry River flows under the bridge on Clover Hill

Road (Route 613). Sipe’s store and the Lilly Post Office

were located across the river south of William Lilly’s

land.

What about Pawnee Bill’s success in the U. S. Army

in the 1880s? He was never in the military. The “Major”

title that he used all his professional life was honorary or

self-applied.

And the band members from Harrisonburg? This is

still a puzzle. Bassford named four Harrisonburg boys

who were in it, but a check of available obituaries made

no mention of them having been in Pawnee Bill’s band.

There were, in fact, two bands used with the show in

1895: a ten-member Mexican Band (with all Italian musi-

cians) and another band that accompanied the side show.

None of these musicians was from Harrisonburg.

As is true with so many family traditions, the stories

are memorable, they survive for generations, but they

often stray far from reality.

The words and voices of the peo-

ple who lived on the land that became

Shenandoah National Park have

much to tell. The collection of 135

recorded audio interviews about life

in the Blue Ridge Mountains before

the park’s creation has been digitized,

so that transcripts can now be ac-

cessed online.

About 460 families lived on what

became park land, according to the

park’s website. Some of their sur-

names include Atkins, Beahm,

Breeden, Cave, Corbin, Dodson,

Graves, Judd, Long, Meadows, Ni-

cholson, Shifflett, Wood and Yager.

Starting in 1926, the park was

formed from more than 3,000 indi-

vidual tracts of land that were either

bought or condemned by the Com-

monwealth of Virginia. By early

1938, 42 elderly residents had been

given life estates and 175 families

were relocated to resettlement com-

munities. While some were forcibly

removed, most people left the area of

the own accord. Later, their houses

were burned. Remnants of their pres-

ence can still be seen in cemeteries

(some still active), apple orchards,

and flowers in bloom (such as iris

and lilac).

Referred to as the Shenandoah

National Park Oral History Collec-

tion, the interviews were donated to

James Madison University Special

Collections Library in 2001 from the

park’s headquarters in Luray where

the documents were not available to

the public.

Researchers interested in learning

about topics such as Civilian Conser-

vation Corps camps, subsistence

farming, folk medicine, schooling,

music, folklife customs, moonshine

and food preservation will find a

wealth of information in the first-

hand accounts of the mountain peo-

ple.

Most of the interviews were con-

ducted by Dorothy Noble Smith, a

longtime writer for the Page News &

Courier. She published Recollec-

tions: The People of the Blue Ridge

Remember in 1983 based on her find-

ings in the oral histories. The earliest

interviews date to 1964.

This oral history collection is

available at http://mdid.cit.jmu.edu/

snp/. Click on “Browse the Collection

Website” and then on appropriate

icons to listen to audio recordings,

read interview transcripts, and see

photographs of the interviewees.

The collection can be seen in

JMU Special Collections Library,

located in Room 207 of Carrier Li-

brary. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, or by appoint-

ment at (540) 568-3612.

by Rosemarie Palmer

Voices of the Mountain: Interviews of displaced mountain

residents available online

Historical records still leave mystery to legend of “Pawnee Bill”

http://mdid.cit.jmu.edu/snp/

http://mdid.cit.jmu.edu/snp/

Volume 34, No. 2

New In The HRHS Bookstore

For these titles an more shop and support The Heritage Museum online:

www.heritagemuseumstore.com


Civil War Stories

Collected and Edited by Rosemarie Joswick Palmer

$15.00 softcover

With 130 personal accounts about people and events

in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County found in

letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, chronologies, and

newspapers of the day, as well as excerpts gleaned

from local books, newsletters, and publi-

cations. The stories are about ordinary

and prominent citizens, soldiers and paci-

fists, wives and husbands, slaves and free,

heroic men and women and witnesses to

the battles and The Burning, Confederates

and Yankees, Secessionists and Unionists,

Generals and farm boy volunteers, poign-

ant incidents and 19th Century modes, but

most of all, people on the home front dur-

ing four years of strife and turbulent

times.

Backroads:

Plain Folk and

Simple Livin’

Lynn Coffey

$15.00 softcover

With chapters on Butchering Hogs, Digging

Ginseng, Chair Caning, Making a Kraut Mal-

let, Early Mountain Schools, Grave Digging,

and Rural Route Carriers plus 25 more Lynn

provides stories and images of mountain her-

itage in rich detail.

A to Zax, Third Edition

Barbara Jean Ev-

ans

$14.95 softcover

A comprehensive

dictionary for genealogists and histo-

rians with meanings for thousands of

little-used or old-fashioned words

and abgreviations that you might en-

counter in the course of your re-

search.

Contentment

and the Pursuit of Ambition

John T. Foster, Jr. & Sarah Whitmer Foster

$19.95 Softcover

For several generations the Grattans produced

strong women. To ensure their family's suc-

cess, daughters and nieces engaged in business,

made economic decisions, and one even set the

social calendar of a governor.

“The strong-willed Scarlett

O'Hara had nothing on the

women of the Grattan fami-

ly." Canter Brown, Jr., J.D.,

Ph.D., Executive Vice Presi-

dent, Fort Valley State Univer-

sity, Fort Valley, GA.

All profits benefit HRHS!

Thank you, John & Sarah!

Volume 34, No. 2


From the Genealogy Library

Whether you are just getting started

or a seasoned searcher . . .

Visit our extensive Genealogy Library

Or Hire a Researcher!

We have one of the largest collections of

Rockingham County records.

We are very proud of our Genealogy Library. Of course,

its focus is Rockingham County, but it also includes a collec-

tion of books regarding other Virginia counties and various

states including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and

Ohio.

Resources include marriage and death records, burnt wills,

books on various families, local and military history, churches

and cemeteries, houses and mills, and various indexes for

courthouse research. Our surname files fill 20 drawers, while

our obituary collection fills 135 card catalog drawers! We have

a unique collection of newspaper clippings which pertain to

people, places, history, businesses, government, the arts, and

various other miscellaneous categories —all of which fills up

an additional 12 drawers.

As marvelous as it is, we couldn’t keep it organized and

running without our volunteers! They assist staff and our visi-

tors with research, catalog new acquisitions, enter information

into our online database, and reorganize and straighten the vari-

ous records, files, and books in our library.

We receive phone calls and correspondence from people

looking for their ancestors. Some ask if we know of anyone

else who may be researching a particular family line. Although

we have a Queries file in our library, it has been overlooked for

quite some time, and we would like to get it back up and run-

ning. If there is enough interest, we may start up a Surname

Registry at some point.

We are always looking for ways to improve, update, and

add to the library. We can’t do it without our volunteers or

YOU! If you would like to add a query to the Query file or add

to our genealogy library (e.g. bible records, obituaries, letters,

remembrances, family books), please let us know. E-mail infor-

mation to [email protected] or mail to PO Box 716,

Dayton, VA 22821.

—Margaret Hotchner

Archives Kathleen Pridgeon Broderick donated various photos from

her family album to be digitized.

Lorna Campbell donated a book, “New Starry Grown: For

the Sabbath School.”

Marlin Diehl donated a letter written by Samuel B. Coyner

to Samuel Deal, Esq. of McLean Co. dated 6 May 1861

along with a book with a reproduction of same letter trans-

lated.

Sallie Funkhouser, J. William Ewing, and Ann Homan

donated print plates from the Newtown Producing Co.

from 1917, and, early poultry magazines, photos, and blue-

prints.

Library Norman L. Baker donated the books, “Braddock’s Road –

The Final Thrust” and “Fort Cumberland to the Mononga-

hela – A Definitive Mapping of Braddock’s Route.”

Marlin Diehl donated genealogy information

Roland Garber donated 11 family folders of genealogy and

cemetery photos.

Eugene Holsinger donated the book, “The Spitzer Family,

Germany to Lancaster, PA to the Shenandoah Valley of

VA, and Beyond.”

Raymond Tracy Hunter donated a copy of his book, “All

Roads Lead to Roman.”

Earl R. Layman donated a copy of his book, “Lehman,

Layman Genealogy Handbook, 2011 Supplement.”

Linda N. Layman donated two books,” Genealogy of Val-

entine Shirley and Related Families” and “Documentation

of the Runyon House at East Jersey Olde Towne.”

Diana Rader donated genealogical files and books regard-

ing the Rader family.

Ethel B. Simons donated a genealogy book regarding the

Harman family (Southern Branch) along with seven Lingel

titles.

Rebecca Gooden Taylor donated copies of the Thomas and

Susanna Hoffman/Huffman Gooden family Bible along

with the article, “A Daughter of History – Susan Hoffman

Gooden 1796-1884.”

—Compiled by Margaret Hotchner

Acquisitions

BONNIE L. PAUL, P.C.

Attorney at Law

4159 QUARLES COURT TELEPHONE: 540.433.0990

HARRISONBURG, VA 22801 FACSIMILE: 540.433.2691

EMAIL: [email protected]

Thank you

to our

Business

Sponsors!

mailto:[email protected]


Volume 34, No. 2

My fifth-grade class had just completed its reading work-

book exercise to create a family tree for the family in our

reading story. Then the teacher gave us an assignment: “Now,

I want each of you to see what you can learn about your fami-

ly and create a family tree for your own family.” When I ar-

rived home that day, I quizzed my parents and later some old-

er relatives. Shortly after that, I turned in my family tree to

our teacher, but the assignment didn’t stop there. That assign-

ment initiated a lifetime journey in genealogy.

As a 10-year-old, I had one living grandparent and lots of

great aunts and uncles to give me a start. From there, I turned

to distant cousins. Research progressed from personal inter-

views to identifying family pictures to learning how to re-

search in county clerk records of deeds, taxes, wills, births,

deaths, marriages and more. My family and I visited cemeter-

ies and other locations. Ten years after that first assignment, I

completed A History of the Joseph Alley Family, 50 mimeo-

graphed copies including several inserted pictures.

Throughout my pastoral career, genealogy became my

“golf,” a past-time experience to relax and enjoy something

different from my routine ministry. In 2007, I learned that the

National Genealogical Society was holding its “Conference in

the States and Family History Fair” in Richmond, Va., only

two hours away. Numerous seminars took my interest in the

four-day conference. One was titled “Certification Seminar.”

In this two-hour seminar, I learned about the application pro-

cess and requirements to become a certified genealogist. The

National Genealogical Society founded a Board for Certifica-

tion of Genealogists (BCG) in 1964 to promote uniform

standards of competence and ethics among researchers. Certi-

fication may be attained for basic genealogical research and

subsequently for teaching purposes.

According to the BCG, “The ultimate goal for all geneal-

ogists is to assemble (and perhaps share with others) a recon-

structed family history that is as close to the truth as possi-

ble” (The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual, Millennium

Edition, p. 3). Such a goal requires standards for collecting

information, evaluating evidence, and compiling results. BCG

has identified 56 standards to be attained for certification.

These standards ensure that research has been done as a com-

petent, reasonably exhaustive search—analyzing and collating

evidence, resolving conflicts in evidence, and reaching appro-

priate conclusions.

The process for certification includes a preliminary appli-

cation after which the applicant is provided a formal applica-tion and materials. One year is given for the application pro-

cess from the time of signing the preliminary application. Ap-

plicants compile a portfolio demonstrating their skills in re-

search.

This portfolio includes:

1. Signing the Genealogist’s Code.

2. Preparing a Background Resume .

3. Document Work on a document supplied by BCG. This

work includes a transcription of the document, an abstract of

the transcription, a statement identifying a research focus

from the document, an analysis of the data in the document

pertaining to the research issue, and a research plan to contin-

ue working on the focus.

4. Document Work on a document supplied by the appli-

cant. This work includes the same elements as those for the

BCG-supplied document (#3).

5. A Research Report prepared for a client. This report must

include the issue identified by the client, permission to use the

client’s report for the certification portfolio, copies of materi-

als sent to the client, etc.

6. A Case Study: Conflicting or Indirect Evidence. This

section of the portfolio is often taken from the applicant’s

own research. The purpose is to demonstrate the applicant’s

skill in solving genealogical problems that are not solved by

direct uncontested evidence.

7. Kinship-Determination project. Again, this part of the

portfolio may be the applicant’s own family. Linkages be-

tween individuals are documented through at least three gen-

erations, but they may not include the applicant or his/her

siblings.

The application process is a rigorous one including read-

ing of the standards manual for certification, evidence, etc.

The process includes significant writing and verification of

evidence. In essence, it becomes an academic term paper or

project. Once the applicant submits the portfolio, several

months will expire before three judges report their analysis of

the portfolio and grant or deny certification. All three judges

must agree to pass a portfolio for a person’s certification. If

one disagrees, a fourth judge is selected.

I found the certification process most fulfilling. It provid-

ed the challenge of compiling research and verifying evi-

dence, honing and testing my skills. I submitted my profile

with full expectation of receiving certification, but confident

that if I did not, the process had been an important learning experience. For persons who want to advance in their genea-

logical research skills and perhaps make them available for

others, certification provides a public verification of expertise

for a most rewarding hobby and profession.

Becoming a Certified Genealogist

by Robert Earl Alley



Volume 34, No. 2

Special ThanksSpecial ThanksSpecial Thanks

We truly appreciate the volunteers who helped with

spring landscaping to help beautify the HRHS grounds:

The fifth-graders at Blue Ridge Christian School in

Bridgewater and their chaperones.

Lois Paul and her co-worker Diana Adams with the

assistance of her daughter Katie Adams. Special

“kudos” to the Department of Environmental Quality

in Harrisonburg which allowed Lois and Diana to vol-

unteer during their work day.

The Glendale Garden Club for many seasons

of service in the flagpole flower bed.

Special Thanks

HRHS Spring Activities

The Collections Committee celebrated a successful coordination with

First Presbyterian Church to “dress” the windows of the former Fauls

Clothing Store on Court Square for a Harrisonburg walking tour.

To celebrate her milestone birthday, volunteer Libby Custer stands in front

of “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Cheer on the Wall” decorated by family mem-

bers. HRHS thanks you for your many years of helpful volunteering.

The museum hosted members of the Museum of Early Southern

Decorative Arts for a quilt turning, organized by Beverley Ev-

ans of Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates.

The 10th Virginia Infantry Encampment and Spring Drill April 14-15

offered visitors an authentic look at 1862 camp life.

Visitors, including many Lincoln relatives, attended the opening of the

“Lincoln’s Rockingham Roots” exhibit on his birthday, Feb. 12.

Harrisonburg - Rockingham Historical Society

P.O. Box 716

Dayton, Virginia 22821

OR CURRENT ADDRESS


Valley Music Exhibit Opens

A new permanent display highlight-

ing “Shenandoah Valley Music” opened

May 12 with a lecture and performance

by exhibit co-curator Don DePoy. He

brings a wealth of experience to the ex-

hibit. A fifth generation Valley musician,

DePoy holds a PhD specializing in Amer-

ican Music and Popular Culture. He is the

executive director of the Shenandoah

Valley Mountain Music Makers Associa-

tion, Inc., and performs with his wife as

part of the duo “Me & Martha.”

The exhibit features musical instru-

ments from the region as well as popular

instruments of the 19th and early 20th

centuries. An 1870s walnut pump organ

made in Dayton, Va. by the Virginia Or-

gan Company takes center stage.

During early years of settlement and

western expansion, virtually the only

musical instruments on the frontier were

fiddles and scheitholts. A Junior Davis

(1904-2002) scheitholt, which he affec-

tionately called a “swinette,” is displayed.

The scheitholt quickly evolved to a new

instrument, the mountain dulcimer. A

Virginia-style mountain dulcimer is part

of the exhibit. As part of the exhibit’s

hands-on experience, visitors will have an

opportunity to play a song on a mountain

dulcimer.

Other instruments in the exhibit in-

clude: a Kay Kraft Venetian Model -

Style A (c.1933) parlor guitar and a Pian-

ophone (c. 1898) with an accompanying

booklet showing how it’s played. The

pianophone is a "chordless" gizmo harp

and at the time was a popular mail order

musical instrument.

The exhibit also features instruments

reflecting the Valley’s string-band tradi-

tion. There is a 1880s open-back Ameri-

can 5-string banjo, and an original 1932

National Instrument Company tricone

Resophonic guitar.

Rounding out the exhibit is the fiddle

of Emory Stroop. “Stroupy” was born in

Rockingham County, VA, and was con-

sidered one of the best Valley fiddlers. In

1939-40, “Stroupy” was recorded along

with several other Valley musicians by

folklorist Alan Lomax. Lomax was work-

ing with the Library of Congress as part

of the “New Deal” to capture the

“essence” of the American experience.

These recordings are part of the Folk Mu-

sic Archives at the Library of Congress in

Washington, DC.

This new permanent exhibit at The

Heritage Museum provides a link to the

“The Mountain Music Makers Trail,” a

project bringing together 14 counties in

western Virginia, as well as musicians

and music venues, other historical socie-

ties and educational institutions, to pro-

mote and preserve the traditional music

heritages, including sacred and secular

music. HRHS and The Heritage Museum

is proud to be a part of this venture.

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 19 Harrisonburg/Rockingham

Emory

Stroop was

one of the

Valley’s

best-known

fiddlers. His

instrument

is now on

display at

the museum.

the local legend of “pawnee bill” lilly - heritage … · william lilly was also said to be...

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