NYDELAWA-L Archives

From: Ruth A Messick< >
Subject: Flood Dec 1901in Readburn
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 02:55:45 EDT

Hello Delaware Seekers

We have a bit of a mystery that someone might have an answer to. There
were floods all around NYS and loads of articles in every surrounding
county's newspapers, as we have checked them. My cousin Carl has
added names and ages to help with info. We found the following
information but wish anymore about the following incident:

The death of William Henry Parsons, son of Jonathan, son of Henry, son of
William.

>From the issue of the Hancock Herald Dated Thursday.
December 19, 1901.

The house occupied by William Parsons, wife {Augusta Barber
Parsons} and two children,( {Wilber} age 8 and {Frank} 15 years)
stood on the bank of Read Creek at Readburn. Also living in the
home was Joseph Charles, a boarder. The two men had been
removing furniture in order to save it from the flood. They went back
to the kitchen to remove the range. The kitchen was located over the
creek bank held by posts. The force of the flood and trees floating in
the rising waters hit the foundation posts and the kitchen with the two
men in it was carried downstream. It was crushed when it struck a
large tree fatal to both men. Parsons body was found two days later
*__ miles below Readburn. Charles was found on an island __ mile
below the factory. The funerals were held Wednesday, December 18.

William Parsons died Sunday, December 15. The article also stated
that this flood was worse than the Pumpkin Flood of 1869. He was
buried in Pine Mills Cemetery, PA (near Equinok). He was buried next
to his son George Parsons.

The local library has all of the Hancock Heralds on microfilm so that
this
article may be seen, if by any chance you are ever in the area. There
is a
death certificate for Joseph A. Charles on record in Hancock, but nothing

on William Parsons. Was a certificate issued in Pennsylvania? If so
where?
Just where was this house located, address?

Would also like any info known on Augusta Barber's family. She ran
a boarding house near an acid factory after the flood to support herself
and children. Any info on this family would be greatly appreciated.

*I used __ for the miles as the info was all jumbled when received email.
from my cousin Carl Parsons in CA.

God Bless
Ruth Ann


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• Flood Dec 1901in Readburn by Ruth A Messick< >