Health Issues

I continue to have some serious health issues to deal with. This entails numerous medical tests, doctor visits, and trips to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. In addition, house and yard maintenance takes quite a bit longer due to some physical limitations. All this eats into the time I have to spend on my history projects and the Blog, so the Blog postings may be somewhat spotty over the next month or so. Please keep checking back, as I eventually will get around to the weekly Blog posting.

Pete S

Mystery Postcard

A few weeks ago Dick Ireton alerted me to the sale of a postcard that was offered on EBay. The scene was unidentified, but the New Gretna post mark suggested that the photo may have been taken on the Bass River.

The upper left message is somewhat cryptic and may present some clues as to the location of the postcard photo - "Tuckerton of Str EJ McKeever. NJ". Does the symbol of a shamrock mean anything to anybody? Any guesses on the name of the garvey (First 3 letters are ALD)? Unfortunately, I can't decipher the name of the person sending the postcard, as it may be a significant clue.

I sent a copy of the postcard to my Bass River expert, Jim McAnney, in hopes that his knowledge of the Bass River may shed some light on the photo's location. Following is his reply.

I think the picture could be the John Mathis farm. It looks like it could have been taken across from the lower end of Allen's Dock. Being east of McKeevers, this is my best guess. The grove of trees on the right of picture looks similar to the one that was near the John Mathis house.(This guess plus a dollar will get you a cup of coffee)!!!!

Jim

The McKeever Brothers owned the Crab Island Fish Factory and kept their menhaden fishing boats near the Bass River bridge for the winter. They owned the area now called Allen's Dock. Does the postcard notation regarding EJ McKeever somehow refer to this area?

The McKeever Brothers menhaden fishing boats docked near the Bass River bridge for the winter. Courtesy of Paul Steinhaurer.

I am hoping that someone out in the Blog-O-Sphere may be able to shed some light on the location of the postcard photo.

Pete S

Herbert Franklin Mathis

This is the eighth, and last, in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their eighth child was Herbert Franklin Mathis.

Following is a brief family history from Jean and Murray Harris' "The Mathis Family of Little Egg Harbor".

Herbert Franklin Mathis, son of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born June 27, 1915 at New Gretna, married Kathryn Rader of West Virginia. Children:

i Eugene, born January 4, 1946

ii Nancy, born July 21, 1952, died July 21, 1952

Well, that about wraps up our photo survey of the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. It's been quite a journey.

Pete S

Clarence Lloyd Mathis

This is the seventh in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their seventh child was Clarence Lloyd Mathis.

Following is a brief family history. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of information. I'm hoping that someone out in the Blog-O-Sphere can provide more information and/or photos.

Clarence Lloyd Mathis, son of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis, born November 15, 1911, died August 29, 1974. Clarence married Margaret Ford, born 1914, died March 3, 1990. They had no children. Clarence and Margaret are buried in the West section of Miller Cemetery in New Gretna.

Here are a few photos of Clarence and his wife, Margaret.

Clarence and Margaret Ford Mathis lived on East Greenbush Road. The house has been expanded and extensively remodeled.

The Clarence & Margaret Ford Mathis homestead today.

Courtesy of Bing Maps.

Clarence and Margaret are buried in the West section of Miller Cemetery in New Gretna.

The stone reads - Clarence L. 1911-1974 and Margaret 1913-1990.

May 11, 2010 photo by Pete Stemmer.

Pete S

Adelia Margaret Mathis

This is the sixth in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their sixth child was Adelia Margaret "Dee" Mathis.

Following is a brief family history.

Adelia Margaret Mathis, daughter of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis. Born July 24, 1909, died April 22, 1992. Married Arlington Conrad. In 1982, they were living in Green Bank. They are buried in the Green Bank Cemetery. They had one child:

i Eva May Conrad married William Walters

The 1930 Bass River Township Census shows Arlington and Adelia as a young couple. He is 24 years old, and she just 18. They had been married about two years before and were living on North Maple Avenue. The census shows that their neighbors were Samuel B. Allen, William E. Adams, Joseph B. Mathis, and Otto Kalm. Alittle detective work should reveal which house they were living in. Perhaps, someone out in the Blog-O-Sphere will figure it out.

Following are some photos of the Adelia and Arlington Conrad family.

Eva May Conrad

From Sara Allen Ware photo album.

Eva May Conrad

From Sara Allen Ware photo album.

Funeral Card

From Sara Allen Ware photo album

That's about all that I have on Adelia Margaret Mathis. Any additional information and/or photos that our Blog readers can provide would be appreciated.

Pete S

Leon Hilliard Mathis

This is the fifth in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their fifth child was Leon Hillliard Mathis.

The following family summary was taken from Murray and Jean Harris' book, "The Mathis Family of Little Egg Harbor". Some additions have been made.

Leon Hilliard Mathis, son of Joshua H. (2043) and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born May 9, 1904 at Atsion, died September 25, 1976 at Manahawkin, married (a) October 1, 1924 Verda Mamie Mott, daughter of Joel Milton Sr. and Florence Virginia (Quinn) Mott, born September 28, 1906, died April 26, 2002 and (b) Elizabeth S. Baker, born 1912, died January 19, 1971 and (c) Awilda Lippincott. Leon was a supervisor of public works and lived on Stage Road, Tuckerton. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery there. He had five children with Verda and four with Betty.

i Leon Jr., married Lorraine Silvia of Bristol, RI. (died 1999)

ii Cecil Allen Milton, born January 22, 1928, (died 1992), married Joyce C Leek.

iii George W., born November 14, 1929, married Mary Jones. Lived in Farmville, VA in 1999.

iv Mary, married Charles A. McGill who died in Februaty, 1988 in N.Y. Mary was living in Little Egg Harbor in 1999.

v Charles, adopted by the Luker family, married Jeannie Patricia Dovak. Charles was adopted out to the Luker family. Their children: Denise Ann, Kathleen Patricia and John Elliot Luker. Charles and Jeanie were living in Hanover Indiana in 2010.

vi Clarence, married Patricia Klein

vii Helen, married on October 8, 1966 William White, son of George White of Tuckerton. They lived in L.E.H. in 1999.

viii Margaret M., married William Boyd. They lived in Southampton in 1999.

ix William J. lived in L.E.H. in June 1999.

The 1930 Bass River Township Census shows Leon H (age 25) and his first wife, Verda M. (age 23) with their children Leon H, Jr, (age 5), Cecil A. (age 2 years, 2 months), and George W. (age 4 months). They were living on Greenbush Road.

Following are some photos of Leon Hilliard Mathis and his family.

Obituary courtesy of Shirley Whealton.

That's about all that I have on Leon Hilliard Mathis. Any additional information that our Blog readers can provide would be appreciated.

Pete S

George Washington Mathis

This is the fourth in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their fourth child, George Washington Mathis, was tragically killed, at an early age in the development of his family, in a construction accident.

George Washington Mathis, son of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born 1900, died 1929, married Jennie Holman Brown (1903-1964) from West Creek. After George was killed in a construction accident, Jennie married Arthur J. Fallon of Bristol, Pa. Children of George and Jennie:

i Esther Olive (1922-2004), married Herbert Miller and had Mary Kathleen (born 1943), Thomas (born 1944), Anne Louise (born 1954), Marie (1957-2002) and Douglas Arthur (born 1959).

ii Anne Gertrude (1925-1993), married Henry Bonham and had Linda (born 1952) and Lori (born 1954)

iii Mary Alma (1927-1927)

Following are some photos of George Washington Mathis and his family.

Pete S

PS- Got the following email and two photos from Kathleen Miller Kimble, George Washington Mathis' granddaughter and thought I would share them with you. Thanks, Kathleen!

Thank you for all of your hard work and research on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Mathis. My siblings and I check your blog each week and have learned a great deal about the family.

FYI: To date George W. Mathis has 7 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. I'm attaching photos of my grandmother, Jennie (Brown) Mathis, and mother, Esther (Mathis) Miller, as young women for your files.

Thanks again,

Kathleen (Miller) Kimbell