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 Spring 2003


 

Lybarger Linkages Newsletter

Spring, 2003 . . . . . Vol. XIX No. 1 . . . . . ISSN 0887-9354

Official Newsletter of the Lybarger Memorial Association

Lee H. Lybarger, editor llybarger@columbus.rr.com

 

LYBARGER ANNUAL MEETING & REUNION

The 2003 annual meeting of the Lybarger Memorial Association and family reunion will be held on Saturday and Sunday July 19‑20, 2003. As is the custom it will be held at the Lybarger Church in Madley, PA. For those arriving Friday the 18th there will be an informal gathering after dinner around the pool at the Best Western Motel in Bedford, PA. The schedule of events are as follows:

 

Sat. July 19:

Lunch: 12 noon, Clara's Place, Best Western Motel

Trustees meeting :1:45 pm, Lybarger Lutheran Church

Annual meeting: 2:30 pm, same place

Dinner : 6:30 pm, The Apple Bin Restaurant, east of Bedford (directions will be provided)  

Sun. July 20

Breakfast: 8:00 am, Clara's Place

Church service : 10 am, Lybarger Church nondenominational service of remembrance Group photo opportunities : 11 am

Reunion picnic : 12 noon, Lybarger Grove  

Twelve rooms have been reserved at the Best Western Motel for Lybarger relations. Call 814‑623‑9006 for reservations. To get the group rate mention that you are part of the Lybarger reunion. The deadline to receive this rate is July 1. No reservations are required for meals at the Best Western or at the Apple Bin.

Coming by car via the PA Turnpike, exit at Bedford. After the tool booth turn left going uphill. You will quickly see the Best Western on your left. There are many excellent motels in Bedford but our group rates are only available at the Best Western. If you have the equipment you can camp under the trees at the Lybarger Picnic Grove. Call Jack Lybarger at 814‑266‑7919 for details. Any other questions? Call John H. Lybarger, the LMA president, at 740‑342‑3110. 

DNA COMES TO GENEALOGY

We have all read about DNA and how it is used to identify the perpetrators of serious crimes. It is also coming into use as a way to trace one's family lineage. But just what is DNA and how can it be used in genealogy?

The bodily tissues of all organisms, dead or alive, are made up of cells within which there are nuclei called chromosomes. They contain DNA which comprises the particular genes of that organism. They are the distinctive markers, or genetic codes, which are passed on from one generation to the next.

In England, geneticists Brian Sykes and George Redumonds have begun to investigate whether surnames in the United Kingdom (L1K) can be traced genetically back to the original individual who used that name. Last names did not come into use in England until between 1250 and 1450 when questions of property and inheritance made it important for people to establish their family connections.

Since the Y chromosome is transmitted from father to son, it is possible to establish a positive paternal line of descendants. Sykes wanted to know if he and other people with that name in England shared a common genetic marker that would mean that they all descended from one individual.

To test his theory he searched the voter registration rolls in the UK and found 10,000 Sykes registered to vote. He selected a random sample of males from this group and contacted them by letter, asking each to swab the inside of his cheek with Q‑tip and send it to him. Sykes found that there was only one DNA masker that was shared among this group of men. This means that there was only one original person named Sykes and that the others were descended from him.

The first records of people named Sykes appear in the 13th century in the villages of Flockton, Slaithwaite and Saddleworth which are close to the village of Hudderfield, where many of the modem‑day Sykeses live. About 50% of the people that he tested did not share this genetic marker. The reason for this is called a "non‑paternity event", meaning that while a child might have been born to the wife of a man named Sykes, the biological father was, in fact, someone else.

Dr. Sykes has tested his theory that surnames can be linked by DNA back to an original name holder on three other surnames in the UK and has found similar results. It is his hope that he will be able to begin a type of genetic library of surnames that can be used to establish common ancestry, especially for people who do not have the historical documents needed to prove kinship.

What can DNA testing do for Lybargers? According to Family Tree DNA, testing could be done to determine if distant Lybarger cousins did actually descend from a common ancestor and it might be done to match US and Canadian Lybargers to a. line in .Germany, While testing cannot identify a specific ancestor, it can verify existing research that has already been done and might extend what is known about the Lybarger lines.

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

Warren and Edna (Cordova) Lybarger of Fort Collins, CO celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18, 2002 with a Catholic Mass of thanksgiving and a buffet reception hosted by their children, Warren, Stephen, Timothy, Suzanne and their families at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Warren and Edna met in the fall, 1951 at J.M. McDonald's department store in Ft. Collins. Warren was attending Colorado A&M (now Co. State Univ.).

He was a public accountant and tax preparer for more than 20 years before becoming a business administrator for St. Joseph Church and School. He is also a deacon in the Archdiocese of Denver. Edna has worked as a clerk at McDonalds, a lab technician at Fishback Photo Lab and a nutritionist at CSU Food Services.

They have 16 grandchildren and one great‑grandchild. Warren, born Dec. 12, 1933, is the third of six children of Willis Charles and Helen (Ilow Stark) Lybarger.

LYBARGER VS. THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Remember the editor recounting how he saw a billboard in Las Vegas for a personal injury lawyer named Charles Lybarger? It turns out that he is representing 12 Nevada residents in a law suit in which his clients state "We allege in the complaints that these were huge multinational and national companies that lied to the American public for years about the dangers of smoking. They did so to make a profit, knowing, full well the dangers", Lybarger said.

According to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal of Sept. 28, 2002, "Lybarger has a long road ahead of him. Nevada has always been a smoker friendly state even though the state took part in litigation against the companies in the late 1990'x. But that settlement had nothing to do with individual smokers, and it provides no relief for them, Lybarger said. Lybarger said it is unknown yet just how many lawsuits he will end up filing on behalf of Nevada smokers. He eventually hopes to obtain class‑action status for the litigation."

LYBARGER RESTORES OLD TRACTORS

On July 16, 2002 a major story in the business section of the "South Bend (Ind.) Tribune" appeared about restoring farm tractors. Included was a photo of Jeremy Lybarger, a body and paint specialist, working on an old John Deere tractor for a collector. A typical restoration job can cost up to $5,000 but some have cost $10,000 or more. Steve Mellott, owner of the business in Bourbon, IL said that most of the collectors are well‑to‑do professionals such as business owners, doctors, lawyers, accountants ‑ those not interested in using them for farm work.

Jeremy is the son of Jon Courtland and Judy (Payne) Lybarger and the grandson of Courtland Waldo Lybarger both of Madison County, IL

TAMI TAE LYBARGER MARRIAGE

We are happy to announce that Tami Tae Lybarger was married to Chad Ruhl on Nov. 2, 2002 in Mt. Vernon, OH. Tami, the second child of Beryl and Janice (Haldeman) Lybarger, was born on July 3, 1968 in Arcadia, CA. She is the granddaughter of Merle and Margaret (Coe) Lybarger.

E. L. LYBARGER CANAL BOAT

The editor acquired from his cousin, Nancy L. Rhoades, of Dublin, OH, a photo of the canal boat named for her grandfather, Edwin Lewis Lybarger. He was born in Coshocton County, on Sept. 19, 1845 and died in Warsaw (Cosh. Co.) on June 27, 1924, He had a long distinguished career beginning as a lieutenant in Union Army during the Civil War and that later included a three term as a legislator in the State of Ohio General Assembly. His biography may be found in the 1997 edition of The Lybarger Descendants.

The original photo was taken in 1896 on the Ohio Canal at Navarre (Stark County), OH. To put it in context it is helpful to recall that a system of canals linking Lake Erie with the Ohio River was critical to Ohio's economic development. So it was that the Ohio and Erie Canals were completed in 1845. However, with the rise of the railroad canal business soon declined beginning in 1851. By 1860 business on the canals was only one‑third of what it was in 1851. Their efficient operation also suffered from political wrangling on the Board of Public Works.

In 1896 nineteen miles of the Walhonding (Coshocton County) Canal were abandoned. By 1900 only two canals remained in the system, In 1898, The Ohio Historical Society's history of Ohio recorded that "In 1898, some of the reservoirs belonging to canals now in disuse were made into state parks and recreation spots." Today, one can take a nostalgic ride on a canal boat in Coshocton (Roscoe Village) and catch the flavor of life on the canals as those seen in the photo. But ladies, you don't have to dress as they did.

LYBARGERS ARE A COOKIN'

The following continues the series of Lybarger recipes that was begun by Kathleen Romstedt in the last issue.

Grandma's Pineapple Upside Cake (circa 1930)

  1. 1 egg

  2. 1/2 cup sugar

  3. 1 cup pastry flour

  4. 1 teaspoon baking powder

  5. 1 /4 cup Pet Milk

  6. 1 tablespoon melted shortening

  7. 1 teaspoon vanilla

  8. 8 slices pineapple, drained

Melt butter in cast iron skillet (or heavy frying pan), add brown sugar and stir until entirely melted. Let cool while mixing batter. Beat egg until light, add sugar and beat well. Sift flour and baking powder, and add alternately with milk. Beat well and add shortening and vanilla. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar mixture. Cover with batter and bake in moderate over (350 degrees) 30 minutes. Serves 6.

Apricots, peaches, cherries or apples may be substituted for the pineapple. Submitted by Nellie Lybarger Skordahl, Anoka, MN.

MORE NEWS FROM COUNTRY MUSIC BAND

The last issue of "Lybarger Linkages" reported on the Lybarger country music band. "Blazing Country". It brought a response from Don Lybarger, the band's leader. Here is part of what he said:

"We have been offered the opportunity to come to Nashville and record a 10‑song CD. It will then be distributed to retail music stores in 5 selected states. They will release 2 songs from the CD to major radio stations in those states. We will film a video of one of the songs to be aired on GAC country music video network.

"CD sales are down this year so the big boys are reluctant to sign up an act that hasn't been tried and tested. But our contact feels that the time is right for a family act and he believes that we have a product that people will buy."

"It is an independent label that is behind us for this project. Since they don't have the capital that the big companies do they require us to make an investment in the project. We are trying to raise $25,000 to cover our share of the project, which will probably run between $125,000 to $150,000 before it's all through. So far we've raised $3,000 of the initial $10,000 that we need to get in the recording studio.

WHO IS FAMILY?

That seems like a no-brainer question until you peer beneath the surface. It was a question raised in "Reunions" magazine last September. They could see many ways to answer the question. They stated that "there is no one guideline unless a family chooses to set rules to exclude rather than include members."

Lets face it, today families may not only consist of mom, dad, and the kids. They may be single parent families, or blended families that bring two divorced persons and their children together. They may include interreligious, interracial and gay couples.

Reunions" thought that “we are at a time. in history when family is where you find it or where it finds you. It can be everyone descended from one ancestor or everyone who knows and cares about a descendant. Some families include persons too distant to really have a fix on the relationship, or even have so much fun at reunions that they want to include friends."

"Most families "deal with" how they relate to one another from the nuclear to the extended family. If the nuclear family accepts significant others or people living together without benefit of marriage, why shouldn't the extended family accept it?"

The writer of the "Reunions" article said "My personal preference is to be as all‑inclusive as you possibly can". So we ask, should this include the spouses of Lybarger relations who are a different race, or religion, or ethnic group? What if the partner happens to be of the same sex? What you think? Please send your opinions, pro, con or otherwise, to the newsletter editor.

A POET'S REFLECTION ON FAMILY

The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended ‑ and not to take a hint when a hint isn't intended.                               -Robert Frost 1874‑1963

NAMES STARTING WITH LY

Have you ever wondered how many different names starting with the letters LY come after your name? We all know of the common ones like Lyle, Lynch, Lyndon, and Lyons. Would you believe that there are at least 132 names that follow Lybarger starting with the letters Ly? That excludes Lyberger and Lybyer. If your name is Lyberger there are 129 such names. And if your surname is Lybyer there are 126 names that follow yours beginning with the same two letters. There are only About 4 names the precede "Lybarger". They are Ly, Lyall, Lyan and Lyatuu

There are six names where the first three letters are LYB. They are Lybeck. Lybecker. Lyboualan& Lybrand, and Lybrook. Here are some of the more interesting spellings starting with LY that follow ours: Lycyniak, Lyendecker, Lykkehoy, Lyngaard, Lyrenmann, Lyskawa, Lysohirk, Lystvedt, Lythgoe, Lynthacumand Lyzun. They come from many nationalities including Japan.

The editor found the 132 names by checking the telephone directories of two major cities and a daily listing of death notices that he receives over the internet.

FINDING THE LIVING IN THE CEMETERY

The above caption was the title of an article in "Reunions" magazine of June/July 2002 It went said that by visiting a cemetery on Memorial Day you might meet living relatives of your ancestors. If not, do what one person did. She put a note explaining who she was, how she was related to the person in question, and how she could be contacted. She put the note in a zip lock bag and attached it to an inexpensive flower and left it at the grave. Very soon after that she got a call from a relative.

LYBARGER MAKES THE HONOR ROLL

The Patriot Ledge of Quincy, MA reported on Jan. 3, 2003 that Megan Lybarger was one of 22 senior students to make the Honor Roll in her high school. Congratulations to Megan.

LARRY LEE LYBARGER 1938-2002

Larry Lee Lybarger of Ceres, CA died on Aug. 9. 2002 Born on Sept. 24, 1938 in Coffeyville, KS, he was the second child of Lawrence Elijah and Bessie Treva (Townson) Lybarger.

He was a sanitation crew leader for General Foods from which he received a safety award. As "leadman" he was in charge of 1,000 women and 70 men. Due to health problems he took early retirement. He served in the Army in the Nike Missile Battalion.

He is survived by his second wife, Joyce D. Bargewell, and by children from his first marriage, Linda and Barbara and by six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A son James preceded him in death

THOMAS E. LYBARGER 1942-2003

Thomas Emanuel Lybarger, of Mt. Vernon, OH died on Jan. 18, 2003 at his residence in Allenhurst, GA. Born in Mt. Vernon on Feb. 24. 1942, he was the first of five children of Clarence H. and Sara (Garr) Lybarger. Thomas was married to Deborah Goldstein in Bronx, N.Y. who survives him.

He was a Navy veteran, serving 9'/i years as a radar man. We was a master gardener, an amateur photographer, a gourmet chef, and had a strong interest in genealogy.

His three children include Alicia Mara Gregory, Justin Cyn Lybarger, and Deva Braden Lybarger; three grandchildren, brothers Chris and Michael and a sister Bonnie Harper. Rabbi Arnold Belzer officiated. Burial was at sea with full military honors.

GEORGE A. LENZ 1967-2002

We are sad to report that George Lenz, 35, of Cozad, Neb. died on Dec. 14, 2002. For the past 16 years he had been employed at Cozad Alfalfa. Survivors include his parents, Henry and Carolyn Lenz, two sisters Dora and Anita, a brother Henry and two nieces. George's grandparents included George A. Lenz and Nettie Blakeslee who was the daughter of Mary M. Lybarger (1880‑1970).

WILLIS CHESTER LYBARGER 1920-2003

Willis Chester Lybarger died in Newark. Oh on Jan. 12. 2003. Born on Mar. 5, 1920 in Saskatchewan, Canada, he was the sixth child of eight known children of John Andrew and Carrie E. (McCamon) Lybarger. By occupation he was a painter. He served in the Navy doting World War II from 1941‑47. Douglas E. Judith E., Ellen D., Sue A., and Gregory A. Lybarger are their five known children.

ADDITIONAL DEATH NOTICES

The Social Security Death Index records the following additional deaths in 2002 (b. = born, d. = died). Nothing else is known about these persons other than place of last residence which is here noted.

Lelia G. Lybarger, b. Apr. 21,1941, d. Apr. 23, (place unknown) 

Josephine Lybarger, b. May 5, 1907, Apr. 6, Poplar Bluff, MO 

Pauline J. Lybarger, Dec. 26, 1910, d. Jan. 9, Carson City, NV. 

Dorothy R. Lybarger, Aug. 2, 1902, d. Jan. 14. Redmond, WA. 

Mary L. Lybarger, b. Sep. 19, 1944, d. Jul. 4, (place unknown). 

Virginia C., b. Aug. 12,1909, d. Nov. 12, Wayne, IN

Charles E.. b. Oct. 4, 1929, d. Sep. 6„ Carrolton, MO. 

Harold P., b. May 6, 1926, d. Sep. 16, Florissant MO 

Francis A Lybarger, b. July 19, 1914, d. Mar 15, Plymouth, County, OH

Patrician A. Lybarger, b. Mar. 10, 1944, d. Jun. 17, 2002. Greenbriar. AR.

The following deaths were recorded in 2003:

Lemuel O., b. Mar. 3, 1918, d. Jan. 1, 2003, Shelby, OH 

Dorothy A., b. Mr. 13, 1920, d. Jan. 2, 2003 Hanna City, IL. 

William K., b. Apr. 7, 1927, d. Jan. 20, 2003, Clinton, MO.

LYBARGER RECEIVES OKLAHOMA AWARD

Stanley Alvin Lybarger, of Tulsa, OK, was one of the first of three recipients to receive the "Champions for Student Success" award that was presented by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education. According to a report in the Dec. 9, 2002 issue of The Journal Record (Okla. City) this award is a way the "State Regents can honor members of the Oklahoma community who have demonstrated a high commitment to student success during the past year. Chancellor Hares Brisch said, "These three individuals routinely go above and beyond the call of duty... to promote excellence in education throughout our state."

Stan is president and CEO of the Bank of Oklahoma with assets of $12.2 billion. Their net income in 2002 was a record $150.4 million which compared with a net income of $116.3 million the year before.

In 2002 Stan was the co‑chairman of the Tulsa Area United Way fund raising campaign with a goal of $25 million. So, we Lybargers can be proud of a relation who is bringing honor to our family name in an important city in our country.

Stan, born in 1950, is the son of Sanford Alvin Lybarger (1898‑1990) and the grandson of Alvin M. Lybarger. Stan is married to Marcia S. Holland. they have two children, Stacey Ann and Brooke Elizabeth. He is a Presbyterian and enjoys golf and tennis.

BURN CARE EXPERT IN THE NEWS

Patricia M. Lybarger was in the news for her work as a nurse at the Shriners Burn Institute in Boston. She was the staff development coordinator for 16 years and has written and taught extensively on burn care. This came to light in a story about the Station Nightclub disaster that appear6d_.in The Providence-(RI). Journal Bulletin on Feb. 22, 2003. Patricia said that first and second decree burns will heal on their own, because structures in the skin are able to instigate the process of cell growth. In third degree burns those structures (hair follicles, sweat glands) have been destroyed, and regrowth cannot occur.

She further said, as reported in the newspaper, "Sometimes burn victims don't have enough healthy skin to provide their own grafts. Doctors can use cadaver skin and some artificial skin products in those cases. Meanwhile, other trouble is brewing beneath the skin. For unknown reasons, the heart pumps less blood, a weakening unrelated to the loss of fluids." Patricia said. "What we're trying to do is support the body in its healing process." She is now in charge of the content side of information technology where which is a more comprehensive rather than an immediate hands‑on position.

Born in Newburgh, N.Y, in 1947, Patricia, lives with her sisters Barbara and Linda in a two‑story home that they own jointly in Roslindale, MA a suburb of Boston. They are the daughters of Clarence and the granddaughters of Samuel H. Lybarger of Johnstown, PA. 6

BUILDING HOUSES ON OHIO FRONTIER

The following is a continuation of the early history of Knox County, Ohio where so many of our Lybarger ancestors migrated in the early 1800's. Earlier issues of "Lybarger Linkages" have described various aspects of life in those early settlements based on the History of Knox County. compiled by N.N. Hill in 1881. In this newsletter we tell how the early homes were built. Hill's description that follows on pg. 216‑217 could as easily apply to Lybarger relations who pioneered on the Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois frontiers.

"The houses, or huts, in which these pioneers lived ... were built of round logs with the bark on, and side clapboard roof with and without a loft or second floor. and all put together without a nail or particle of iron from top to bottom. These buildings stood many a year after the original inhabitants moved into better quarters. They served for stables, sheep­-pens, hay‑houses, pig-pens, smith‑shops, hen‑houses, loom­-shops, schoolhouses, etc. Some of them are yet standing in this county, and occupied, to some extent.

"A second grade of log cabin, built later, was quite an improvement on the first, being made of hewn logs, with sawed lumber for door and window frames and floors. Glass also took the place of paper windows of the old cabin: nails were also sparingly used in these better cabins. It was sometimes built near the old one and connected with it by a covered porch. When nails were first used, for a few years a pound of them was exchanged for a bushel of wheat. They were a precious article, and were made by hand on a blacksmith's anvil. out of odds and ends of old worn‑out sickles, scythes, broken clevis‑pins, links of chains, broken horse‑shoes, etc., all welded together to eke out the nail rods from which they were forged.

"The first cabins were often erected ready for occupation in a single day. In an emergency, the pioneers collected together, often going eight or ten miles to a cabin‑raising, and in the great woods, where not a tree had been felled or a stone turned, begin with dawn the erection of a cabin. Three or four wise builders would set the cornerstones, lay with the square and level the first round of logs; two men with axes would cut the trees and logs; one with his team of oxen, a "lizard" and a log‑chain would "snake" them in; two more, with axes crosscut saw and frow [a cleaving tool] would make the clapboards; two more, with axes, "Often the chinking and daubing of the walls, putting in crosscut saw and broad‑axe would hew out the windows and hanging the door were left until fall or puncheons [large casks] and flatten the upper side of some leisure time after the corn crop and the contents the sleepers and joists. Four skillful axemen would carry up the corners. and the remainder with skids and forks or hand‑spikes would roll up the logs.

"As soon as the joists were laid on, the cross‑cut saw was brought from the woods, and two men went to work cutting out the door and chimney place; and while the corner men were building up the attic and putting on the roof, the carpenters and masons of the day were putting down the puncheons, laying hearth and building the chimney high enough to keep out the beasts, wild or tame.

"In one corner at a distance of six feet from one wall, and four from the other the bed post was placed ‑ only one being needed. A hole was bored in the puncheon floor for the purpose of setting this post in (which was usually a stick with a crotch or fork in the upper end) or if an augur is not. at hand, a hole is cut in the puncheon floor and the fork sharpened and driven into the ground beneath; rails were laid from this fork to the wall and usually nice, straight hickory poles formed the bottom, upon which straw or leaves were placed and the blanket put on. This made a comfortable spring bed and was easily changed and kept clean.

A QUOTATION WORTH CONSIDERING

Every family has a history rife with struggle and heartache, but also often rich with joy and triumphs. Searching for that legacy is an emotional cathartic process. Ultimately it is also a process of discovery, as you begin to understand yourself as a lint: to the past and to the future.                            Pat Shapiro, April, 199

LYBARGER RECIPES REQUESTED

Favorite recipes are urgently needed especially those that have been in your Lybarger extended family for more than one generation. Please send them to Mrs. Kathy L. Romstedt. American Language Program. Ohio State Univ., 65 Arps Hall, 195 N. High St., Columbus. OH 432110. Or you can e‑mail her at kromstedt@hotmail.com

 

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Last modified: July 31, 2008