Woman traces family back to the American Revolution

MECCA -- With a detective's eye for detail, Wanda Tolley discovered a family history that goes back to the American Revolution.

The enthusiasm generated through this knowledge led to uncovering local ancestral connections as a member of the Trumbull County Genealogical Society, of which she is now president.

Researching families requires paying attention to familiar names and asking questions to reveal additional information.

"I have a T-shirt that says, 'GENEALOGY: Where you confuse the dead, and irritate the living,'" Tolley said.

"Some people don't like all the questions about family, and some families use the same first name a lot. And when it's a popular last name, it's hard to keep everyone straight. That's why the T-shirt statement is so true. You are always appreciative of any help or information that someone can give you."

In her teens, Tolley gained a fascination studying the line of descent of a person, family or group from an ancestor.

"We went to visit my great-grandfather, Sherman Shafer. We had visited him many times, but this time he started talking about when he was young. His father, William Jacob Shaffer, had been with (Brigadier General William Tecumseh) Sherman, on Sherman's March to the Sea during the Civil War."

She explained that the spelling of her pre-marriage surname can include one 'f" or two. It changed during the war.

"The story I heard is that Sherman, being a teacher, said you can only hear one 'f', so that was all he was going to use," Tolley said.

DOING RESEARCH

Discussing how genealogy works, she said, "To do research, you start with yourself and go back in time. A generation chart is a way to help keep track of the generations, and a quick way to refer back to. The 5 Generation Ancestor Chart is the most popular. It has a place to put your name on the chart and work back to your parents, your great and your great-greats.

A Descendant Tree is an outline starting back as far as you can go, and bringing it down to present, listing all those you have found descending from that ancestor.

"The reference to a family tree would be putting the parents / grandparents, as the trunk of a tree, and the branches as their children, and just keep branching out with each generation."

She added, "Working on your genealogy makes history more interesting, when you realize that your ancestors were a part of that history, and it makes you want to learn more about both to see what part your family played in it."

Doing research uncovers more layers of her family's history in ways that continue to surprise her. A 1959 graduate of Mecca High School, Tolley found out years later that she was related to a couple classmates.

"My family settled in the Champion, Bazetta, Bristolville and Mecca areas. So, those cemeteries have many family names. Walking through them brings back memories of the loved ones gone on or brings to mind the information you have learned about that person, even if you never had a chance to meet them.

"Growing up, you hear things about family members, but never know if they are true. When you start doing research, you sometimes find that they are, or not, but it can also lead you to an area. It's a good hobby that will never end because there's always another generation to go back to."

Going beyond her connection to the Civil War, Tolley found an ancestor, Nicholas Clemmons, who was an indentured servant for George Washington.

"He is my fifth great-grandfather, and was his cook during the Revolutionary War. He came to Youngstown in his later years and is buried in Lake Park Cemetery," she said.

Besides scouring historical documents, modern technology such as DNA testing can unlock new information on relatives.

"There is also a company that gives you the ability to find an app on your phone and see if there is anyone in the room or a group of people around you that you are related to. It was a fun thing that many of the attendees did at our Ohio Genealogy Conference last April. There were many surprises," Tolley said.

PRESERVING HISTORY

As president of the Trumbull County Genealogical Society, she and its other members document local history. It has published numerous books, including "Trumbull County Marriage Records Index 100 Years 1800-1900," two volumes, "Trumbull County Marriage Records Index 25 Years 1900-1925" and "Trumbull County Birth Records 1867-1908" as well as a deed index book, a bible records book and a death index book.

Those interested in the historical books created by the Genealogical Society can visit the Local History & Genealogy Center, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

"We have members from all over the United States, as many families settled in Ohio in their movement west. At one time, Trumbull County was all of the Connecticut Western Reserve and Warren was the county seat," she said.

The group also undertook a hands-on project, cleaning and restoring Pioneer Cemetery on Mahoning Avenue in Warren.

"We got permission to go in and give it some tender loving care. The limbs were picked up, the stones washed and registered, with a photo of each stone and research done on some of those buried there. Several Boy Scouts earned their merit badges by taking on a project to enhance the cemetery," Tolley said.

"It was the first registered cemetery in the Western Reserve, and there are about a dozen or more Revolutionary soldiers buried there. The Daughters of the American Revolution go on Memorial Day to place a flag at the cemetery."

A book gathered all those buried there, while a separate book compiled all the veterans buried there. Both are available at the Genealogy Center.

Other than summer break, the Genealogical Society gets together once a month. Its next meeting takes place at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 8 in the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

Anyone can learn more about the group and assist in research.

There also will be a Genealogy Class on "Genealogy Basics" from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 in the Genealogy Center. To register, call 330-399-8807, Ext. 202.

"I encourage people to do some research into their families, even if a relative has already done some. There is always more to learn, and someone has to keep recording family information to keep the family up to date. The programs, 'Finding Your Roots', and 'Who Do You Think You Are?' show how interesting it is to learn about your ancestors. There are many exciting things you can learn by doing the research."

When asked about her family life, it discloses additional history of the area.

Her family moved to Mecca in 1950. Her deceased husband, Melvin, moved with his family from West Virginia to Mecca in the late 1940s.

"Our fathers, Raymond Shafer and Otho Tolley, were both involved in starting the volunteer fire department in Mecca, and my father, Raymond, was fire chief for several years before he passed away. Our mothers, Judy Shafer and Ivy Tolley, were two of the original fire auxiliaries," Tolley said.

She and Melvin have three children: John of Bazetta and Matthew and Pamela, who live out of state.

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