On Sept. 23, the Fayette County Genealogical Society held its annual Sharing Meeting. During this meeting, members and guests are welcome to share a family story, family history, keepsake, memento, pictures, or Fayette County history.

Vince Chrisman shared a belt buckle from the uniform of a Union Civil War soldier. Chrisman found the buckle in the dirt while tilling a garden. He said he often wondered about the soldier to whom it belonged and how it was there in the dirt.

Martha McFadden shared a red beaded necklace worn by her grandmother during the 1920’s. Sue Raypole shared a large portrait of a memorial dedicated to an ancestor who fought in the Revolution.

Sue Gilmore shared a story about her grandfather, Harry Minshall, who lived in the New Holland area. He had just bought a life and injury insurance policy as a young man with a young family. He hadn’t had the policy very long when he was injured in a blasting accident while removing tree trunks and lost his eyesight. Gilmore had the cane he used, and a newspaper article written when he was elderly stating he was paid more than anyone from the insurance company on the monthly amount he received through the years. In the newspaper article was a picture of Gilmore’s grandfather and an uncle who was born after the accident. A son her grandfather was never able to see.

Lise Wilson Roth shared a newspaper article depicting her grandmother who lived over 100 years. She also shared the bonnet her grandmother had worn. Peggy Lester shared two books written by Harold Bell Wright in the early 1900’s that had belonged to her late parents. The books were entitled “Printer of Udell” and “Helen of the Old House,” which was a favorite of her mother’s because her name was Helen.

Jeff Garringer shared an album of pictures of the Garringer family from the past. Cathy Massie White shared a white embroidered dress her late mother, Betty Clay Massie, had made for her when she was a very small girl. White did not have any picture of her wearing the dress that is 68 years old as her mother’s house was lost in a fire. She did have a picture of her daughter Heather wearing the dress when she was small. This is always an interesting and fun evening for the Society.

The next meeting of the Society will be Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the downstairs room of the Economic Development Building at 101 E. East St. in Washington Court House. Kelli Bergheimer, a DNA expert from Powell, Ohio, will be presenting “Finding Continuing Genealogical Education.” She will be presenting what genealogical educational opportunities are available and how to make a plan when studying DNA in family research. Bergheimer comes every October to present for the Society. The Society is very fortunate to have a DNA expert known nationally for her work on the schedule. As always, the public is welcome

For more information concerning this meeting, Society membership, membership in the Lineage Societies, or research, please contact president Peggy Lester at 740-495-5720 or peggylester09@gmailcom, or secretary Cathy Massie White at 740-333-7227 or [email protected].