This step can be the most fun and often the most time consuming! The Register/Recorder’s Office holds deeds, mortgages, agreements, etc and can be a wealth of information. Start with the information you received at the Assessor’s Office and find the earliest possible owner on this list. Then, if you have their deed information (book and page number), find that deed and check for who these people purchased it from. It may mention the last transfer in the deed (which is a great sign) including the deed book number and page. If so, keep tracking back using this method. If no “last sale” is mentioned, you must then look in the indexes. There are several sets of these spanning different date ranges. Most items from the last 30 years or so are on the computer and can be searched, however, prior to that, you much use the index and search for the last name. Most of these books have a legend at the top to help you find the correct page in the index. These records (the indexes) are arranged alphabetically by first name within being arranged alphabetically by last name. Thus, find the last name for your earliest owner and go from there. Take the book and page numbers from these to continue your search until you find various owners of your home. From here there are two places you can go.

 

If you run into a sheriff sale of the property (sold due to debt or unpaid taxes) you may need to cross the hall to the Prothonotary’s Office. Ask them for the records and they will refer you to their location. Otherwise, if you have the names and deeds of your home, head to The Crawford County Historical Society.

 

The last step in our search (other resources may be available elsewhere…other societies, the internet, and other records may be available) will often bring us to the historical society. We now have a list of names, sale dates, and prices. What do these mean? Here we will find out!

 

There are several resources you can use to put a life to a name at CCHS. Look in our obituary card file to see if you can find a newspaper obit for the builder or inhabitor of your house. This may tell you about their life and accomplishments. Ask the volunteer at the society to get you the city directories for your area as they may list the person and occupation. Newspapers sometimes listed new construction for each year. The History of Crawford County contains short bios of several of our earlier citizens. Check the photo card files, the marriages, and other records the staff suggest. Keep searching. Using some of these tips, you can find out who roamed the halls of your home. Who’s stories could the walls in your house tell you?

While doing some fall cleaning recently, I couldn’t help but become perplexed at a portrait I was walking past. Charles Yates currently resides in Section 5, Lot 121 of Greendale Cemetery (for those who would like to pay their respect) with both his first and second wife. One wonders, however, what Yates did during his lifetime? What impact did he leave? What happened during the “dash” that is now seen between the dates on his tombstone?

 

After having my interest sparked from this painting, I started digging (in books that is) for more information on my portrait. Charles M. Yates was born January 2, 1804 in Germantown, just outside Philadelphia, PA. He was left as an orphan at approximately eight years old, inheriting his parents’ estate. With this money for a decent education, Yates was put under the direction of a private instructor, Rev. Francis Luther. Several other schools followed, leading him to finish medical school at the University of Maryland in 1825. He practiced for over 40 years in Meadville, retiring here.

 

Charles Yates was married twice. He and his first wife, Maria Buchanan (brother of future President James Buchanan) were married in 1826, having five children. Maria passed away in 1849.

 

The November 13, 1849 issue of the Lancaster Intelligencer printed the following obituary for her:

 

                        “Died at Meadville, on Friday, the 2d instant, Mrs. Maria T. Yates, wife of Dr. Charles M. Yates, and the only surviving sister of the Hon. James Buchanan.  This excellent lady throughout life endeared herself to all her acquaintances by the cheerfulness and benevolence of her disposition, and in the domestic circle she was the object of enthusiastic affection.  Her last illness was long and painful; but she bore it with resignation to the will of her Heavenly Father, and died the death of a Christian.  She has left a husband and six children to deplore their irreparable loss.”

 

In 1850 Yates was remarried to Clara Chamberlain, the daughter of a fellow doctor in Crawford County and had seven more children.

 

Yates was an early physician, upstanding citizen, and notable member of our community and even connects Meadville to a presidential family! What was just another “pretty face” on the walls of the Baldwin-Reynolds House now has a story. The “dash” between his dates is filled in at least a little more!

Daniel and Anna Dick Shryock- Parents of Katherine Reynolds in the BR Solarium

Now there are several ways you can keep up with happenings at the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum in Meadville, PA! Check us out, follow us, or just leave a note to say hi!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talk to you soon!

 

-The Curator

With Rural Heritage Day over and the fair around the corner, summer is winding down fast. Things at the Baldwin-Reynolds House are anything but quiet this time of year. There are plenty of ways to see or get involved at the museum in the upcoming weeks, as well as throughout the fall.

 

Although Rural Heritage Day is over, there are still summer exhibits throughout the museum. Quilts and coverlets are prominently displayed in several rooms as well as exhibits on the Crawford County Fair and the once famous Shadeland Stock Farm near Springboro, PA. Throughout the latter half of the 1800s, the Powell Brothers raised Clydesdales of which were sold worldwide. Photos, advertising, and the Powell’s traveling trunk are just of a few of the artifacts you can still see in this exhibit.

 

Oil is still on the brain at The Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum as well and next on the list of demonstrations is being presented by none other than your friendly neighborhood museum curator! Keep an eye out in next week’s article for a more complete description.

 

The museum and the historical society will, as always, have displays at the Crawford County Fair in just another week or two. Be sure to stop in the Grange Building to see the museum’s display and the building next door to see historical society displays, books for sale, and much more!

 

In addition to several more programs on oil, we will have the George Delemater carriage as a float in the Oil 150 Parade! We are still looking for someone who has horses that is willing to pull our carriage through Titusville, but are looking to put it on a float if necessary.