This article is one of the most interesting I've ever seen. It is about my 3rd GGrandmother, the Mother of John William ALBAUGH who married Mary E.LAYTON and migrated to Leon, Iowa from Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana.

The "The Democrat" in Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana of 14 January 1893 published a sketch of Mary Harper Burks' life, from her own lips:

" I was born", she said in reply to the reporter's query, "on Salt Creek, in Washington County, Kentucky on November 10, 1800; but my parents moved to Mercer County when I was but a brat. Being the oldest of fourteen children, I had little educational advantages as I had to remain at home and help with the work while the younger ones attended school. Three of the children are yet alive. My parents lived to be very old people. My Father was a soldier when a very young man and served under General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

My maiden name was Mary Harper Burks. I married Peter Albaugh and came to Indiana over sixty years ago, shortly after my third son, Will, was born. All the rest are Hoosiers. We settled near Oakalla. Deer and other large game were already getting scarce.

I can well remember the time when a dozen fine chickens would bring only 75 cents and a pound of butter could be bought for 6 cents."

She lived to be 95 years, one month old. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are still living as follows:

John, Ed, Will, Phil, Henry, Mrs. Nannie Moss (or Goss), Mrs. Jane Fisher, and Misses Sarah and Addie. There are twenty-one grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren.

Her husband died in 186l and since that time her home has been with her two devoted daughtes, Misses Sarah and Addie. She was a member of the Baptist Church for nearly 30 years.

The funeral occurred at 10 o'clock Friday morning. Rev. J. E. sherrill of Danville conducting the services.

This article is unique with a pencil sketch (looks like) of her face but I was told to do this for the newspaper, they would have had to do a wood carving, probably similar to our rubber stamps today! How interesting. And to think this newspaper article was originally found...folded up.....hidden away behind a picture on the farm of Frank and Maude Chastain (my grandparents). Mary BURKS ALBAUGH is the mother of William ALBAUGH, the Father of Sarah Ann ALBAUGH (my Great Grandmother). Thank God Judy Chastain, my cousin Joe's wife, found it!

In the meantime, I got a copy of the original article showing her face.