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Archiver > WVBOONE > 2003-02 > 1044283250


From: Naomi Waters <>
Subject: Workman>Waters Union Mission Adoption abt 1916
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 06:40:53 -0800 (PST)


I cannot even begin to express my bountiful thanks for all the valuable information, support, caring and sharing of experiences that so many wonderful people on these lists have generously given to me and my family regarding my search for my father's bith information and family.

Gene people are just the very best of people!!

Last Friday, I sat waiting in hopeful anticipation for the call from the Union Mission in Charleston as they searched for my father's records. By mid-day I received a call from their very helpful staff and after hearing they did not find anything, we dicussed more details of the adoption and the staff person even offered to look through the actual files by hand for the birth name that we heard was "WORKMAN."

I waited with great hopes all afternoon only to find that they did not locate any information. We were all very disappointed to feel that we got so close and then were right back where we started in some ways

I'd like to ask for anyone's help who can find anything to do with my dad's adoption and/or birth family as I am now turning to you for help. I intend to search as much census information that I can online and if I were close enough I would conduct my own archive search but that is not possible. So here are as many details as I have if you are willing to lend a hand.

My father was Herman Foster Waters. he was given the names of Herman Foster and was called "Foster" through most of his early life by his adopted family of WATERS & friends in Prenter, Boone Co., WV where he grew up. His adopted parents were Isaac William Waters, b.26 Jan 1898, place unknown and d. 9 May 1963 of a heart attack in Prenter, Boone Co., WV. He was married to Julia Faye Halstead, b. 23 Jul 1898, in WV and died 28 Mar 1989 in WV on the 2 Sept 1914. (I have located my dad's and his parents' SSDI info is anyone needs that.)

Issac William "Bill" Waters was the son of Isaac Waters and Callie ?. I believe they were from WV but have no evidence of that yet and I have no other deatils on them. The only other info I have is that Bill had a sister named Minnie Waters who m. a man with the surname of Kirk. I have memories of her, but not her husband, coming to visit when I was a child.

Julia Faye Halstead was the dau of Thomas Benjamin Halstead (I believe he may have gone by his middle name) and Cerrilda J. Aliff. Thomas was b. abt 1870 and that is all I know of him. Cerrilda was b. abt 1875 in Raleigh Co., WV. They were m. on 20 Oct 1892 in Boone Co., WV. Their children were:

Julia and her twin sister, Sarah "Sarrie" Halstead, b. 26 Jul 1898.

Stella G., b. 21 Aug 1893 and d. 1957 and m. an unknown Keeney.

Howard b. 18 Apr 1896 and d. Jun 1981 in Huntington, Cabell Co., WV

Thomas Benjamin also produced other children w/an unknown spouse.

If family stories have any truth (lol), my father thinks his last name was Workman and that his first name might have been Peter. My mom remembers that dad was supposed to be abt 3 years of age (not 5 as I said earlier) when Bill & Julia Waters adopted him and so they thought he MAY HAVE BEEN born in 1913. He was allowed to pick his own birth month and date of October 20th. So, 20 Oct 1913 is what he used in life as his b date.

The story goes that he and a younger brother (possibly named Paul) were dropped on a mountain road by their mother and taken to the orphanage. They were adopted by different familes within three days of each other. Julia & Bill did not know abt this younger brother until after he was addopted.

If they were adopted in 1916 that would have been abt 2 yrs after Bill & Julia's marriage date. They never had any other children.

I think that is all I can think of that might be helpful. If you have read this far....THANKS!! If you are willing to try to help me in this search and have any questions let me know and I'll answer them if I can.

I thank all of you for all that you are...wonderful people!!!

Naomi Waters-Karrick





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