52 Ancestors: #7 Rebecca Jane CLONCH 1888-1950

Time is flying by while I’m researching and writing about my paternal ancestors. This is my entry for Week 7 of Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

This week I’m doing the fourth and last of my paternal great-grandparents. Rebecca Jane CLONCH was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, midwife, avid gardener, and an inspiration to her husband Walter Farmer ROOP who wrote poetry about her after her death in 1950. She was Grandma Roop to her grandchildren and Aunt Becky to her nieces and nephews.

A Tribute to Rebecca

Walter Farmer ROOP loved his wife so much that he wrote at least five poems for her in 1950 following her death: “The Letters You Loved and Kept”, “That Darling Pal of Mine”, “Admiration”, “My Garden: Gethsemane”, and an unnamed poem which begins with “Dear heart, since you have gone to rest I only think of you”.

The first poem, seen below, tells of the letters, written by her husband, that she loved and kept. Walter placed the letters, tied with a blue ribbon, on her breast as she lay in her casket.

After reading the poem one can only imagine the wonderful things Walter wrote about in the letters Rebecca took with her to her grave.

Born 6 January 1888 as seen on her grave marker?

Rebecca Jane CLONCH was born Friday, 6 January 1888 in Mason County, West Virginia, to Alexander “Alex” CLONCH (1842-1910) and Tabitha Ann “Tobitha” COOLEY (1861-1913).¹ She was the fifth of nine children of this marriage and the ninth of thirteen children for Alex who had previous relationships. [to be discussed in 52 Ancestors #14]

Roop burial plots in Mt. Olive Cemetery. From left, Lacy Shelton Roop, Baby Piercie Roop, Walter Farmer Roop, and Rebecca Clonch Roop. The photo was taken summer of 1954.

Lack of records complicate matters

Unfortunately, a birth record has not been found for Rebecca to prove the date and place of birth seen on her death record and the grave marker. She has not been found in the 1900 and 1910 census. In the 1900 census, the only census to show month and year of birth, she would be with her parents and siblings. We know:

• where her siblings were born but not all can be confirmed with birth records
• that the family lived in Arbuckle, Mason County, West Virginia, when the father Alex applied for his Civil War Pension in April 1887
• Alex was in Arbuckle when he was enumerated on the 1890 Veteran Schedule
• the family was living in Bell Creek, Clay County, West Virginia, in 1893-1894, when two children were born
• Alex was living in Dixie, Fayette County, West Virginia, in 1898, when he filled out Civil War papers [I’ve contacted the researcher who obtained copies of the Civil War records and shared the information with Ralph Hayes, a Clonch researcher. She has offered to dig out her genealogy files and help me if she can. I will discuss this further in 52 Ancestors #14]

And the records found are problematic

A closer look at Rebecca’s siblings has turned up another problem. Let’s take a look at her, her parents, and siblings:

Parents: Alexander CLONCH married 19 August 1880 Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, Tabitha Ann “Tobitha” COOLEY.²

Sibling 1: Timothy CLONCH (1881-bef. 1898) birth 20 December 1881 Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia³ Alex did not mention him in his Civil War papers, therefore, it has been assumed that he died bef. 1898.

Sibling 2: Lorena Ellen CLONCH (1883-1961) birth 10 March 1883 Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia.⁴ Alex declared 10 March 1882 on his Civil War papers.

Sibling 3: Frances “Fanny” CLONCH (1885-1943) birth 30 April 1885 Mason County, West Virginia NO BIRTH RECORD FOUND. Alex declared 30 April 1884 on his Civil War papers.

Sibling 4: Bertha CLONCH (1887-bef. 1898) birth 9 December 1887 Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia.⁵ Alex did not mention her in his Civil War papers, therefore, it has been assumed that she died bef. 1898.

Rebecca Jane CLONCH (1888-1950) birth 6 January 1888 NO BIRTH RECORD FOUND. Alex declared 6 January 1886 on his Civil War papers.

Sibling 6: Sarah Ann “Sallie” CLONCH (1890-1979) Birth 20 June 1890 Mason County, West Virginia NO BIRTH RECORD FOUND; Alex declared 20 June 1890 on his Civil War papers

Sibling 7: Harrison Sanders CLONCH (1893-1970) birth 11 February 1893 Beech Hill, Mason County, West Virginia.⁶ Alex declared 11 February 189_ (illegible) on his Civil War papers.

Sibling 8: (unnamed) CLONCH (1894-1894) birth 6 October 1894 Clay County, West Virginia [entry 32];⁷ died 13 October 1894 Clay County, West Virginia.⁸ [entry 13]

Sibling 9: Ida Bell CLONCH (1896-1981) Birth 5 March 1896 Smithers Creek, Fayette County, West Virginia.⁹ [line 63] Alex declared 5 March 1896 on his Civil War papers.

[Alex’s Civil War papers: Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions, 15 January 1898, reply dated 4 June 1898. Alexander Clonch of Dixie, WV, provided information]

Can you see the problem I’m having? Rebecca was born a month after her sister Bertha if we believe her husband Walter F. ROOP who was the informant on her death record. That doesn’t work for me. Let’s look at her marriage record. Rebecca Jane CLONCH married 12 July 1903 in Fayette County, WV, Walter Farmer ROOP.¹⁰ She was 16 years old, born in Fayette County (sic), which would mean that she was born in 1887 and not 1888 as seen on her death record. Her father wrote 16 January 1886 however he had her two older sisters Lorena and Frances each born a year earlier than they actually were. Could Rebecca have been born in 1887?

The 1940s: Walter Farmer Roop and wife Rebecca Jane Clonch shopping in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia

Early years of married life

Let’s get on with the story. Rebecca and Walter had their first child, Lacy Shelton Roop (1904-1937) on 7 Feb 1904 in Pond Gap, Kanawha County, West Virginia.¹¹ A little over a year later the second child Piercie Clay Roop (1905-1905) joined the family for a short seven weeks. He is buried in the Clonch Family Cemetery, Mount Olive, with the dates: 15 March 1905-5 May 1905.¹² My grandmother Myrtle Hazel ROOP (1906-1997) was born on 26 March 1906 when the family was living in Belva.¹³ We see the family moving around in the northwestern corner of Fayette County as two more sons are born: James Henry Roop (1908-1957) on 11 February 1908 in Marting and Walter Gordon Roop (1910-1984) on 9 March 1910 in Mount Olive. Birth records for James and Walter have not been found.¹⁴,¹⁵

Rebecca and Walter’s family was growing when the 1910 census was enumerated on the 15th of April 1910. As mentioned before neither Rebecca and her young family nor her parents were enumerated. It should have been the last census that Alex CLONCH would have been seen on as he died 9 June 1910 and was buried in the Clonch Family Cemetery, Mount Olive.¹⁶

Rebecca gave birth to her second daughter Edith Estelle “Edie” Roop (1913-2003) on 9 June 1913 in Marting.¹⁷ Six months later her mother Tabitha Ann “Tobitha” COOLEY died on 16 December 1913 and was buried next to her husband Alex in the Clonch Family Cemetery.¹⁸

Antique Chiming Mantel Clock ca. 1914

A treasure that Rebecca’s daughter Edith shared with her family was this antique chiming mantel clock. Edith’s grandson Robert wrote, “The clock is one that my mother says she remembers seeing on the mantle when she ‘visited Grandma Roop.’ It still runs. My mom had it cleaned years ago but just doesn’t wind it up….the ‘tick-tock tick-tock’ she says it’s too loud. I told her after a day or two she wouldn’t even notice it. As I recall it does chime too. Scratched on the back, about an inch high, is ‘1914’. On top of the clock is the [winding] key and the pendulum weight.”

Rebecca has her last child at age 31 or was she 32?

U.S. Federal Census,1920 > WV > Fayette > Falls > ED 11 Sheet 14A

World War I (1914-1918) came and went before Rebecca gave birth to her last child Alfred Lee Roop (1919-1981) on 22 August 1919 in Jodie where the family had finally settled.¹⁹ By 1920 the complete family was at last seen in a census: father, mother, and their six living children.²⁰

Walter Farmer Roop and Rebecca Jane Clonch with youngest son Alfred Lee Roop ca. 1921

Rebecca becomes a mother-in-law and grandmother at 35 (or 36?)

Myrtle Hazel ROOP was the first of Rebecca’s children to marry on 20 January 1923 in  Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia, to Fred Rothwell DEMPSEY (1899-1975).²¹ Rebecca, a midwife, was present at the births of all of Myrtle’s children, her grandchildren: Thelma 1923, Lois 1925, Leona 1927, Doyle 1931, and Fred 1935 in Jodie, as well as, Leland 1941 and Lloyd 1944 in Victor.

Rebecca Jane Clonch, Walter Farmer Roop and Edith Estelle Roop ca. 1924

Edith Estelle “Edie” Roop, seen above with her parent, was the next of the Roop children to marry. She married James David Ramsey (1907-2001) on 23 December 1929 in Fayetteville.²²

By 1930 Rebecca’s older boys were working and only her youngest Alfred was still going to school.²³

U.S. Federal Census, 1930 > WV > Fayette > Falls > ED 5 Sheet 6B

Three of Rebecca’s sons married in the 1930′s: Walter Gordon married 18 July 1931 Ica Laurel CARR (1913-1993);²⁴ Lacy Shelton ROOP married 28 March 1932 Lulu Irene HAYS (1915-1992);²⁵ and Alfred Lee ROOP married 15 May 1937 Lorena Lea ELSWICK (1918-1992).²⁶

Rebecca’s oldest son Lacy Shelton ROOP was killed on 8 July 1937 in Sprague, Raleigh County.²⁷ “He was crushed by a giant lump of slate 18 feet long which broke loose from the mine roof. He had finished his day’s work and was starting the gathering motor to take his load of coal to the tipple.”²⁸

On the 1940 census, we see Rebecca and her husband on their own. From the same, we learn that Rebecca had six years of education.²⁹

U.S. Federal Census, 1940 > WV > Fayette > Falls > ED 10-5 Sheet 19B

Rebecca Clonch Roop was an avid gardener. Courtesy of Roop family member

“Grandma Roop” Rebecca Jane Clonch Roop ca. the late 1940s.

Rebecca Jane CLONCH died the evening of 3 February 1950 at her home in Belva. Her cause of death was arterial thrombosis due to arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular and renal disease.³⁰ Surviving were her husband W. F. Roop; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Dempsey of Victor and Mrs. Edith Ramsey of Russellville; three sons, James, Gordon, and Alfred Roop, all of Jodie; three sisters, Mrs. Sallie Krise of Belva, Mrs. Ida Auxier of Marting and Mrs. Lorena Tomshack of Glen Easton; one brother, Harrison Clonch of Belva; one half brother Joe Clonch of Marting, twenty-five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Rev. Benton Simpson officiated at the service held on Sunday afternoon in Bell Cree Community Church. She was laid to rest in the Clonch Family Cemetery in Mount Olive.

Postscript: A couple of great-grandchildren and a grandson shared the following memories shortly after this post was published.

Becky, a great-granddaughter, wrote:

“I was indeed named after her but I don’t know a whole lot about her. My mother adored her; I think she first taught my mom how to crochet and do needlework, which my mother enjoyed all her life. She always related one story about her. She said that she took me to see Great Grandma Roop when I was about 6 weeks old. She was on her deathbed at that time. As Grandma Roop was holding me, she said to me “Just don’t let them call you Becky.” Which of course, I have always been called by family. That remark makes me wonder if she liked her nickname. I think she died as a result of a blood clot (in the leg I think) which resulted from a fall.”

Linda, a great-granddaughter, and wife of Larry, a grandson, wrote:

“Larry was very sickly when he was small, as his mother had had measles before he was born. He had to have an operation on his ear when he was 6 or 7 (he is not sure how old he was). He was told to eat a lot of iron rich foods as he was anemic. His Grandma saved all the cream from her milk for him, because he needed to gain weight. She pampered him by making him fishhooks out for straight pins and taking him to the little creek to fish! She saved her wooden thread spools and made him little wheeled cars to play with.

Larry remembers them talking about going to Summersville in a model T and having to stay the night and make the return trip the next day.

Granddaddy called his beloved wife ‘Jack’. He loved her deeply and she was the perfect companion. She kept chickens and sold the eggs to get household money. She sewed her clothing, and I know of at least one instance when she decided she wanted a cabinet for her kitchen and she gathered the materials and built it herself!

Larry remembers going to their home and a grand table set with dishes Grandma had prepared. She cooked a giant breakfast, a feast at lunch time and covered the leftovers with a tablecloth for the evening meal. Granddaddy would go to the table in the evening saying he was getting a ‘Jack bite’.

I am lucky enough to be in possession of one of her cookbooks, which contains handwritten recipes. She was a remarkable lady and one that I truly wish I could have known.”

This Post Was Updated on 13 February 2022: Missing source citations were added, images were watermarked, and some corrections were made to the text and format.

© 2014-2022, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

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1. West Virginia Vital Research Records Project (database and images), West Virginia Division of Culture and History citing county records in county courthouses, West Virginia (A collaborative venture between the West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah to place vital records online via the West Virginia Archives and History Web site accessible at https://archive.wvculture.org/vrr), West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 1984143, image 1997, Certificate of Death, State File No. 1965, Rebecca Clonch Roop, 3 February 1950, citing Belva, Nicholas County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/1984143/0001997.gif : accessed 2 February 2022). ↩
2. “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016” (index and images), FamilySearch (citing digital images of originals housed at the county courthouses in Ohio), Marriage records (Gallia County, Ohio), 1803-1955 ; index, 1803-1950 > Marriages, v. 5 1878-1884 > image 132 of 352 > page 193 > no. 576 > Alexander Clonch and Tabitha Cooley, 19 August 1880. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RMD-SV3N?cc=1614804&wc=M94Q-V7T%3A390869322 : accessed 18 December 2013). ↩
3. WVculture.org, West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 1855008, image 449, West Virginia, Mason County, Register of Births 1881, line 7, 20 Dec 1881, Timothy Clonch, citing Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/1855008/00449.jpg : accessed 1 February 2022). ↩
4. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 1855008, image 462, West Virginia, Mason County, Register of Births 1883, page 560-561 (stamped), line 10, 10 Mar 1883, Rena E. Clonch, citing Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/1855008/00462.jpg : accessed 4 February 2022). ↩
5. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 1855008, image 496, West Virginia, Mason County, Register of Births 1887, page 676-675 (stamped), line 14, Bertha Clonch, 9 Dec 1887, citing Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia. “.” http://images.wvculture.org/1855008/00496.jpg : accessed 4 February 2022. ↩
6. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 567453, image 225, West Virginia, Clay County Register of Births 1893, line 25, H. S. Clonch, 11 February 1893, citing Mason County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/567453/00225.jpg : accessed 5 February 2022). ↩
7. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 567453, image 236, West Virginia, Clay County Register of Births 1894, line 32, 6 Oct 1894, unnamed female child, citing Bell Creek, Clay County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/567453/00236.jpg : accessed 5 February 2022). ↩
8. Ibid., West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 567453, image 242, West Virginia, Clay County Register of Death, line 13, unnamed female Clonch, 13 October 1894, citing Clay County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/567453/00242.jpg : accessed 5 February 2022). ↩
9. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 584762, image 37, West Virginia, Fayette County Register of Births, page 57-58 (stamped), line 63, 5 Mar 1896, Ida B. Clonch, citing Smithers Creek, Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/584762/00037.jpg : accessed 5 February 2022). ↩
10. Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 58476, image 366, Fayette County, West Virginia, Register of Marriages, 1903, line 5, 12 July 1903, Walter F. Roop, Rebecca J. Clonch, citing Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/584765/00366.jpg : accessed 2 February 2022). ↩
11. Ibid., West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 521731, Kanawha, West Virginia, Register of Births 1904, page 40, line 37, Lacy S. Roop, 22 Feb 1904; citing Pond Gap, Kanawha County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/521731/00046.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
12. Clonch Family Cemetery, Mount Olive, Fayette County, West Virginia (photos of gravemarkers taken by Heather Manley-Duncan), gravemarker of Piercie Clay Roop 14 March 1905-6 May 1905 photographed 31 May 2014. Note: The middle name and dates of birth and death were not known before viewing the photograph of this gravemarker. ↩
13. WVCulture.org, West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 1992812, Delayed Certificate of Birth 7454, Myrtle Hazel Roop, 26 Mar 1906; citing Belva, Fayette, West Virginia. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=3448835&Type=Birth : accessed 7 March 2013). ↩
14. Ibid., West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 2074135, Raleigh, West Virginia 1957 Certificate of Death 8106, James Henry Roop, 03 Jun 1957 citing Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia. (http://archive.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=1613279&Type=Death : accessed 15 January 2022). Includes date of birth: 11 February 1908. ↩
15. “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1002/), The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) Record Group Number 147, National Archives and Records Administration, NAI: 2658141, West Virginia, Fayette County, Local Board 3, Walter Gordon Roop, Serial No. 2596. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Feb 2022). ↩
16. “United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-FWSS-26?cc=1832324&wc=M9WY-MC3%3A881461769 : accessed 5 February 2022), > image 579 of 681; citing NARA microfilm publication M850 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). ↩
17. “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014” (index only), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/), citing Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA. Original data <i>Social Security Death Index, Master File</i>, SS #236-24-2765 issued in West Virginia; Edith R. Ramsey; born 09 Jun 1913; died 25 Oct 2003 (V); last residence Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida 34601. ↩
18. Clonch Family Cemetery (photos by Heather Manley-Duncan), gravemarker of Alex Clonch Mar 2, 1842 – June 3, 1910 and Tobitha Cooley His Wife Feb 11, 1861 – Dec. 16, 1913 photographed 31 May 2014. ↩
19. WVCulture.org, West Virginia Births, 1853-1930, FHL microfilm 584755, Fayette, West Virginia, Register of Births 1919, page 298 (stamped), line 21, Alfred Lee Roop, 22 Aug 1919; citing Jodie, Fayette, County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/584755/00485.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
20. 1920 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/), citing Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls, Roll: T625_1947; Falls, Fayette, West Virginia; Enumeration District: 11; Page: 14A; line 15-22; HH #239-247; Walter F. Roop household (accessed 9 Feb 2014). ↩
21. WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 494264, Fayette, West Virginia, Register of Marriage, 1923, page 39, line 4, Fred R. Dempsey and Myrtle Roop, 20 Jan 1923, citing Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view2.aspx?FilmNumber=494264&ImageNumber=168 : accessed 14 November 2010). ↩
22. Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 494264, Fayette, West Virginia, Register of Marriages 1929-1930, page 151 (stamped), line 16, 23 Dec 1929, James Ramsey and Edith Roop, citing Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/494264/00417.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
23. 1930 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), <i>Ancestry</i> (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/), citing Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication T626, 2,667 rolls, FHL microfilm: 2342265, West Virginia, Fayette County, Falls, enumeration district 5, sheet 6B, lines 61-64, household 42-107-110, Walter F. Roop (accessed 16 July 2002). ↩
24. WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 494264, Fayette, West Virginia, Register of Marriages 1929-1930, page 152 (stamped), line 32, 18 Jul 1931, Gordon Roop and Ica Carr, citing Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/494264/00418.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
25. Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 580561, Wood, West Virginia, Marriage License 574 (stamped), 28 March 1932, Lacy Shelton Roop and Irene Lula Hays, citing Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/580561/00604.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
26. Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 494265, Fayette, West Virginia, Register of Marriage 1937, page 147 (stamped), line 17, 15 May 1937, Alfred Roop and Lorena Elswick, citing Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/494265/00288.jpg : accessed 15 January 2022). ↩
27. Ibid., West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 1983278, Raleigh, West Virginia, Certificate of Death 10987, Lacy Roop, 08 Jul 1937, citing Sprague, Raleigh County, West Virginia. (http://archive.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view2.aspx?FilmNumber=1983278&ImageNumber=2024 : accessed 10 January 2022). ↩
28. The Raleigh Register (Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/51917/), database created from microfilm copies of the Beckley, West Virginia, newspaper, Friday 9 July 1937, page 12, “Sprague Miner Is Killed By Fall Of Slate”. (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/51917/images/News-WE-RA_RE.1937_07_09-0012 : accessed 5 February 2022). ↩
29. 1940 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/), citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., NARA microfilm publication T647, 4,643 rolls, Roll: m-t0627-04401, West Virginia, Fayette County, Falls, enumeration district 10-5, sheet 19B, lines 60-61, household #368, Walter F. Roop (accessed 31 March 2012). ↩
30. WVculture.org, West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999, FHL microfilm 1984143, image 1997, Certificate of Death, State File No. 1965, Rebecca Clonch Roop, 3 February 1950, citing Belva, Nicholas County, West Virginia. (http://images.wvculture.org/1984143/0001997.gif : accessed 2 February 2022). ↩