Tombstone Tuesday~ The FIKE Family ~ Peter FIKE and Magdalene ARNOLD

Peter FIKE ~ Magdalene ARNOLD

and Family

Maple Spring Cemetery near

Elgon, Preston County, West Virginia

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PETER FIKE

B - NOV 3, 1794

D - NOV 28, 1871

WED - MAR 12, 1818

MAGDALENE ARNOLD

B - NOV 16 1796

D - SEPT 1883

CHILDREN ~~ MARRIED

SUSANNA ~~ JOHN L SNYDER

SAMUEL A. ~~ RACHEL SNYDER

DAVID ~~ ELIZABETH SNYDER

LYDIA ~~ HENRY SPIKER

CHRISTENA ~~ JACOB WEIMER

MARY ~~ PHINEAS MILLER

ANNA ~~ JEREMIAH MILLER

MAGDALENE ~~ JOHN WEIMER

MOSES ~~ SOPHIA RUDOLPH

AARON ~~ REBECCA RUDOLPH

PETER FIKE ~ THE ORIGINAL FIKE IN THIS

COMMUNITY CAME IN 1854 -

ACTUAL GRAVE SITE 1 MILE EAST 1/4 MILE NORTH

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(The reverse of the FIKE Memorial)

PARENTS

CHRISTIAN FIKE

B                     1761

D                     1850

WED  APR 18 1784

CHRISTENA LIVENGOOD

B   MAR 2 1763

D  MAY 5 1857

BURIED NEAR MEYERSDALE PA

SAMUEL ARNOLD

B     FEB   9  1765

D    MAY 29 1831

WED  APR 15 1788

MARY LUDWIG

DEDICATION: "On May 26, 1985, a Homecoming was held for the Eglon WV congregation and the Peter Fike Memorial Dedication. The Master of Ceremonies for the Event was Galen Fike, and the pianist Cynthia Fike.

Alonzo Fide conducted the Minute Moments of Reflection and Roger Fike performed the Dedication. Special music was provided by all the Fikes, and many other descendants and guests gathered around and performed special roles.

By 1986, Peter Fike and Magdalene Arnold are said to have 10,000 living descendants among which there are 125 ministers of the German Baptist Brethren Church."

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SOURCES:  Search for FIKE and MILLER families:

Found FIKE etc: www(dot)concentric.net/pvb/GEN/pfike.

Search for FIKE in the *BRIDE INDEX:  http://brideindex.info/

Found Mary FIKE and others.

*The Bride Index is a huge site that I stumbled upon some time ago. Alphabetical index for brides, includes personal details. Worth checking out.

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Rather than the original tombstone, this is the Memorial for the FIKE family. It is unique in that it shows all of the children and their spouses. The reverse shows the parents of Peter FIKE and Magdalene ARNOLD. Three generations on one marker!

My connection to this family is with Mary FIKE and her husband Phineas MILLER.

My paternal grandmother was Ada May (MILLER) GATES. Ada's parents were Sarah BEEGHLY and William Howard MILLER.

William Howard's parents were Mary FIKE and Phineas MILLER. So Mary FIKE and Phineas MILLER are my great great grandparents.

Also, interesting to note that Mary's sister Anna Fike married Jeramiah MILLER.

In addition, there are three spouses with the surname SNYDER; two with the surname WEIMER; and two with the surname RUDOLPH.

Tombstone Tuesday~George ARMSTRONG - Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland & Inistioge, Grey County, Ontario, Canada

Inistioge United Church Cemetery,

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

GEO. ARMSTRONG

Who died   . . . . . . . . . . . .

JULY 29, 1867

Aged 70 years

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SARAH FREACHAN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EDWARD FREACHAN

Died July 12 1867

Aged 95 years

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Natives of Inistioge

Co. KILLKENNY IRELAND

W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . and open'd Mercy's door

. . . . . . . . . . with Faith eternal.

NOTE: The dotted lines represent inscription that was illegible.

County Killkenny should be spelled Kilkenny.

I have no information on Sarah and Edward FREACHAN.

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CANADA WEST / Grey (county) 84 Artemesia Township p. 7d, 8a, (15).

TAKEN UNDER THE ACT 14TH & 15TH Vict. Chap. 40 George ARMSTRONG ENUMERATOR.

Line   9  George Armstrong, Builder & Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 61
Line 10  Margaret Armstrong, ------------- Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 58
Line 11  Frederick Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 30
Line 12  Henry Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 23
Line 13  Mary Ann Armstrong, --------- Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 19
Line 14  John W. Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 10

Line 50  W. Hill, Rev, Wesleyan Minister, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 33

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The Census is recorded in a beautiful flowing legible handwriting.

Of interest: John W, the youngest son is listed as a carpenter even though he is only 10 years. Like father, like sons! Also, if John W was born in Ireland, then the family had to have left Ireland between 1842 and 1850.

There is evidence that George and his family had arrived in Inistioge in the late 1840's. George is also attributed with being the 'father' of Inistioge, County Grey, Ontario.

I just happened to notice that the Wesleyan Minister was included on the page of the Census.

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As mentioned before, George ARMSTRONG and his family were lifelong friends of my ancestors the ACHESON family. Both families had emigrated from Ireland in the late 1840's. George's son Henry is mentioned in the ACHESON Family History 1850-1950, (page 11).
Both families lived in the small pioneer community of Inistioge.

The ACHESON Family History 1850-1950, (page 11) shows that the Christina and William ACHESON lived on a farm across the road from the little log church - the Methodist Church - from 1856 to 1863. In 1863 they family moved to their final destination, a homestead about one mile away.

ACHESON families still own some the property 160 years later. There were five lots that the ACHESON families occupied. Four were situated at an intersection that was dubbed "Enniskillen Corners" after the eldest family members that emigrated from Ireland in 1850.

As the years passed, the younger generations called it "ACHESON Corners."

That's another story!!

Black Sheep Sunday ~ Jail House Census!

From "Mother Goose" 1901

W. W. Denslow 1856-1915

I've been researching George ARMSTRONG and his family. Henry ARMSTRONG is mentioned in our ACHESON family history. I thought Henry might be George's son.

First I searched for Henry and found him in the 1851/1852 Census Canada. Using the "split view,' I'm able to see the original handwritten documents.

To my surprise the heading is "Name of Inmate" rather than just "Name." Included on this page are are 50 names which include 6 or 7 families with their children.
How curious! Have they all been arrested or is the jail being used for additional housing?

Since there was an influx of settlers at that time, perhaps there was nowhere else for them to live.

Henry ARMSTRONG is shown as the Enumerator.
All entries in a lovely legible flowing script.

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TAKEN UNDER THE ACT 14TH & 15TH Vict. Chp. 40
Henry Armstrong ENUMERATOR.

1852 CANADA WEST/Grey (county)/95 Proton - see Sub-district 92; p. 7d, 8a, (15)

Henry ARMSTRONG, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 24.

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Other listings of interest:

Mary A. Hind, Born "On Sea." Wesleyan Methodist, Age 20
(She is listed by herself, there is no other HIND listed with her.
Her parents would have been aboard a ship sailing to Canada in 1832.)

Hugh Hodgins, Weaver, Born Scotland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 31.

The fun and free vocabulary game for all ages.
An easy way to give and make a difference.

Sunday Services ~ Bethel United Church, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario

Bethel United Church, Proton Station

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario ~ Built 1896

The little Church still stands today and is opened to the occasional special Service.

It was originally the Bethel Methodist Church. In 1925, the Methodist Church of Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, seventy percent  of the Presbyterian Churches in Canada and the small General Council of Union Churches amalgamated to form the United Church of Canada.  SOURCE: United Church of Canada, internet search.  

The Bethel (Methodist) United Church was built in 1896, some 45 years after the Inistioge (Methodist) United Church. In 1851, that first Methodist Church at Inistioge was built of logs. It is likely that that log Church was built by George ARMSTONG, who was a builder and carpenter. His three sons, Frederick ages 30, Henry age 23 and John W. age 10 are all listed as carpenters in the 1851/1852 Canada Census. They were likely assisted by their pioneering neighbours. The log Church was replaced with a brick one 20 years later, The last service at the Inistioge United Church was held in 1961 and dismantled in shortly after. The bricks sold to a farmer to build a machine shed.

These two little Churches served the community of the earliest settlers, which included my 2nd great grandparents, Christina (FALLIS) and William ACHESON; my great grandparents, Mary Jane ACHESON and Christopher JOHNSTON; and my grandfather George Albert JOHNSTON/JOHNSON.

My Grandfather left the family homestead in about 1898.

EXCERPT FROM THE ACHESON FAMILY ~ 1850 - 1950:

         Christina (FALLIS) and William ACHESON:

The true spirit of adventure was theirs, and with their two-year old son [born November 1851] they travelled northward [on foot] by forest paths, and settled on Lot 205, Range 2, Artemesia. . . . Here two other children were born, John [June 1854] and Mary Jane [born October 1856 my great grandmother]. They then moved to the farm opposite Inistioge Church on the Toronto-Sydenham Road (now Highway 10). . . .

"Here at Inistioge the Achesons enjoyed the rich friendship of their near neighbours, the Henry Armstrong family -- a friendship still retained by the surviving members of these two families after a lapse of nearly one hundred years. Here, too, in the old log church, under the preaching of a Rev. Mr. Green, and the influence of the Holy Spirit, they gave their hearts to the Savior. Consequently, they endeavoured to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they, themselves, living consistent Christian lives." -- Aunt Kate.

[Aunt Kate is Catherine, youngest daughter, born August 1867.]

SOURCE: The Acheson Family 1850-1950; self published 1951;

family committee of ten; page 11.

NOTE: The Toronto Grey & Bruce "TG&B" Railway line to this Northern community was built in 1873.

As mentioned before, George ARMSTRONG was also one of the earliest settlers in this small community.

George died 29 July 1867, age 79. He is buried at the Inistioge United Church Cemetery.

The 1851/1852 Census Canada records show George, carpenter, age 61 (born 1791 in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland)  with his wife, Margaret, and four children, including son Henry, carpenter, age 23, (born in 1829 in Inistioge, County  Kilkenny, Ireland.
All are born in Ireland and are Wesleyan Methodists.

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Ancient bridge on the River Nore, County Kilkenny, Ireland

SOURCE: Wikipedia - public domain

CANADA:

Inistioge, County Kilkenny Ireland is the birthplace of George ARMSTRONG, who emigrated to Canada sometime before 1850. George died in 1867 aged 79 years and is buried in the little United (Methodist) Church Cemetery at Inistioge, Grey County, Ontario. The Cemetery is now 170 years old.

As mentioned in the previous post, George was the 'father' of Inistioge,  Grey County, Ontario. A hamlet in the area of Ontario where many of the Irish immigrants settled in the eary 1850's.

IRELAND:

Inistioge is a scenic and historic village in County Kilkenny, South East Ireland. Know as the "Jewel of the South." It was the location for the filming of "Circle of Friends" and "Widow's Peak." Hollywood Ireland!

LINKS:

INISTIOGE, IRELAND : http://www.inistioge.ie/ 

Site includes beautiful photos as well as visitor and  local information.

LOOK AROUND IRELAND: http://www.lookaroundireland.com/ 

Extensive site with travel and history.  Includes Genealogy.

IRISH GENEALOGY: http://www.lookaroundireland.com/genealogy.php 

Includes Irish Diaspora and The Great Famine: 1845-1850.

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

Inistioge, Canada and Ireland

Hello from Canada to Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland. ;-)

I've recently been in contact with a visitor who left a comment about a post regarding the "Inistioge United Church Cemetery, Inistioge, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario.

Hi, I am facinated to see that there is a little place in Ontario called Inistioge, named after the one in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. I am from Inistioge, Ireland and would love to find out the name of the founder that travelled from our little village. I would appreciate any information that anyone may have. My email address is rayslocalnews@yahoo.ie Thank you. Ray.

So I thought that I would collect what information I have about Inistioge, Proton Topwnship, Grey County, Ontario and put it together here.

HISTORY: GHOST TOWNS OF ONTARIO ~ INISTIOGE

Inistioge was born in 1851 and died in 1971. Its father was a George Armstrong who fled his native village of Inistioge in Ireland for a better life in Canada. It too was a stopping place along the Toronto-Sydenham Road, a resting place for weary travelers. Armstrong donated a portion of his land for use by a Wesleyan church and the early settlers quickly built a small log chapel. Twenty years later it was replaced with a small red brick building. The hamlet might have flourished had it not been for the railroad locating its station closer to Proton, a village just a mile away. The last building to survive was the church. Its last service took place in January, 1961 and was dismantled shortly afterwards. REMAINS: All that survives today is the cemetery and commerative plaque that proclaims: "Inistioge ~ 1851 - 1971" 

SOURCES: HOME PAGE: http://www.ghosttowns.com/bottomcanada.html 

INISTIOGE PAGE: http://www.ghosttowns.com/canada/ontario/inistioge.html

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Inistioge United Church Cemetery ~

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario ~ 1851-1971
1851-2010 = 159 years

SOURCE:

http://www.ontarioobits.com/genealogy/cemetery/GreyCountyCemeteries.htm

The Church was originally Methodist, until the amalgamation of the Methodist, Presbyterian (2/3) and Congregational Churches across Canada in 1925.

From what I can determine, these grave markers were gathered together at the location of the little Church in order to preserve this cemetery site. There are 47 markers, the earliest date I see is 1856 and the latest date is 1942. However, several of the markers (8) are so worn that the dates cannot be read. It appears that the oldest stones (14) are the ones lying flat in the front row, along with the two that are for children. The gray one on the left is too worn to read, but has a little lamb on the top of it. The white one on the right is for the three ACHESON children that I have posted about before. The ACHESON families are my ancestors.

May 18, 2010
Thanks to Janet Iles for her comment providing the following information:

"In my information on the Inistioge United Church, (originally Methodist) was not torn down when the church closed in 1961. The church shed, where the horses had been tied in early days, was purchased by a farmer. William Crockford removed the bricks from the church building and he hauled it away to become a machine shed."

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates