Recent Gary Family Research

Recent Gary Family research concerns three subjects: The Gary-Clark Intermarriages, The Descendants of Sarah Gary, and The Parentages of Peter Gary, Sr. and Catherine Kester. The work is imperfect and on-going, and we welcome the corrections and additions of others.

The Gary-Clark Intermarriages

Harry Burkholder, who descends from both Peter and Elizabeth Eve Helsel Gary, Jr. and Robert Paine and Sarah Gary Clark, and Arlo Rimel, who descends from John G. and Rosanna Gary Clark, contributed the following:

We have known for some time that three of Peter and Catherine Gary's children had spouses with the surname "Clark".

 We suspected that the three Clarks were related, but that relationship has not been investigated until now.

The LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City has a Family Group Record for the James and Jane Paine Clark Family of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, whose factual basis has not been investigated yet.

That record is summarized as follows:

  • James Clark, husband, born 1780, Ireland
  • Jane Paine, wife, born 1784, Ireland
    • Robert Paine Clark, born 1802, Stahlstown
    • David Clark, born 1804, Stahlstown
    • Thomas B. Clark, born 1806, Stahlstown
    • Nancy Clark, born 1808, Stahlstown
    • John Clark, born 1810, Stahlstown
    • Ruth Clark, born 1815, Stahlstown
    • Mary Clark, born 1817, Stahlstown
    • Joseph Clark, born 1819, Stahlstown
    • Moses Clark, born 1821, Stahlstown
    • Sarah Clark, born 1823, Stahlstown
    • Joseph Clark, born August 21, 1812, Stahlstown
    • James Clark, born August 21, 1812, Stahlstown, died 1812

As written, the record suggests that twin boys named Joseph and James were born and died in 1812. However, the Fort Palmer Presbyterian Cemetery at Ligonier, Westmoreland County apparently contains the so-far-unexamined grave of James F. Clark, born August 21, 1813 and died September 8, 1901. The fact that the months and days of James' birth are the same but the years are different between the two records suggests that the twin boys may have been born in 1813 rather than 1812, and James survived to adulthood. The inclusion of James F. in the list of children adds another child between John and Ruth in the above list. Interestingly, the 1870 Census listings for Nancy Clark (Gary), Thomas B. Clark, and James F. Clark all indicate that their father, but not their mother, was "foreign-born". Those facts further support the inclusion of James F. Clark in the list of children but call into question the Family History Library information that Jane Paine was born in Ireland. Indeed, the 1800 Census for Donegal, Westmoreland County lists the Robert Paine Family with a female born between about 1785 and 1790, suggesting that Jane Paine was Robert's daughter and named her first-born son after him in 1802.

The 1810 Census for Union Township, Westmoreland County shows a "James Clark" family group with both a male and female born between about 1765 and 1785 and four males and one female born after 1800. That information fits perfectly with the above Family History Library Record showing males Robert Paine, David, Thomas B., and John, born about 1802, 1804, 1806, and 1810, respectively, and female Nancy born about 1808.

The 1820 Census for Donegal Township, Westmoreland County shows a "James Clark" family group with children consisting of two males born between about 1810 and 1820 (James F. and Joseph), two males born between about 1805 and 1810 (Thomas B. and John), two males born between about 1802 and 1805 (Robert Paine and David), two females born between about 1810 and 1820 (Ruth and Mary), and one female born between about 1805 and 1810 (Nancy). Thus, the inclusion of James F. in the list of children makes a perfect match with the Family History Library Record. The father and mother of this family had birth years between about 1775 and 1795. Therefore, when the birth years of the parents in the 1810 and 1820 Censuses are considered together, both "James" and his wife had birth years between 1775 and 1785. That result also matches the Family History Library Record perfectly.

The 1830 Census for Donegal Township shows the "Widow Jane Clark" family group with an older female, born between about 1780 and 1790 (Jane), a male born between about 1820 and 1825 (Moses), a female born between about 1825 and 1830 (Sarah), and two females born between about 1815 and 1820 (Ruth and Mary). Again, the fit with the Family History Library Record is quite good with Sarah's birth year being the only inconsistency. When the birth years for Jane in all three censuses are considered together, Jane's birth year was between 1780 and 1785 and a perfect match with the Family History Library Record.

The 1840 Census for Westmoreland County shows "Jane Clark" with a female child born between about 1825 and 1830. Thus, both the 1830 and 1840 Censuses list a female child born between about 1825 and 1830, suggesting that Sarah's birth year was not 1823 as the Family History Library Record shows. Assuming James was Sarah's father, he must have died sometime between 1825 and 1830.

The 1850 Census contains no record of a "Jane Clark" with a 1780 to 1785 birth year living either alone or with one of her children, suggesting that she may have died between 1840 and 1850.

Thus, all it takes to make the Family History Library Record an absolutely perfect match to the data from the four censuses is adding James F. Clark with his 1813 birth year from the Fort Palmer Cemetery information and changing Sarah Clark's birth year from 1823 to "between 1825 and 1830. That fact gives us high confidence that the birth years in the Family History Library Record are reasonably accurate for the James and Jane Paine Clark Family.

Therefore, if the Robert Clark who married Sarah Gary was "Robert Paine Clark" of the James and Jane Paine Clark Family, we should expect to find factual evidence of an approximate 1802 birth year. And, if the Nancy Agnes Clark who married Jonathan Gary was "Nancy Clark" of the James and Jane Paine Clark Family, we should expect to find factual evidence of an approximate 1808 birth year. And finally, if the John G. Clark who married Rosanna Gary was "John Clark" of the James and Jane Paine Clark Family, we should expect to find evidence of an approximate 1810 birth year.

As it turns out, the Ligonier Library contains unconfirmed gravestone transcriptions from the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cook Township, Westmoreland County for Robert P. Clark and his wife, Sarah. As shown there, Robert P. was born May 4, 1802 and died July 22, 1879. Sarah died December 28, 1845, age 38 years, 9 months, and 18 days. Her age at death translates to a March 10, 1807 birth date. The Greenwood Cemetery in Belmont County, Ohio contains gravestones for Jonathan Gary and his wife, Nancy Agnes. As shown there, Jonathan was born April 10, 1806 and died September 16, 1881, and Nancy Agnes was born June 15, 1807 and died September 15, 1878. Finally, the Fairview Cemetery in Bullskin Township, Fayette County contains gravestones for John G. Clark and his wife, Rosanna. What remains of John G.'s gravestone does not have his birth date. John G.'s date of death was October 27, 1872. Rosanna was born July 11, 1811 and died September 29, 1889. However, the 1870 Census for Bullskin Township, Fayette County lists John G.'s birth year as 1809. Therefore, all three of the Clarks buried with Peter and Catherine Gary's children do indeed have birth years that match up with the Family History Library and Federal Census records for the James and Jane Clark Family.

Moreover, the only Robert Clark Family living in Westmoreland County at the time of the 1840 Census (shortly before Peter Gary, Sr.'s will was written) has a female whose birth-year-range matches Sarah Gary, and the 1850 Census for that family shows that the female in Sarah's birth-year-range is missing. Thus, the Census records are consistent with the Ligonier Library gravestone transcription for Sarah Gary Clark's death in 1845. The 1850 Census also shows an oldest daughter, Catherine, presumably named after Sarah's mother, Catherine Kester Gary. Similarly, both Jonathan and Nancy Gary and John and Rosanna Clark had female children named "Catherine" and "Jane", presumably named after their mothers. John and Rosanna Clark also had a daughter named Sarah born about 1845, presumably named after Rosanna's sister, Sarah Gary Clark, who died that year. Thus, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming that three children of the James and Jane Paine Clark Family of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania did indeed marry three children of the Peter and Catherine Kester Gary Family of Somerset County. What remains to be understood is exactly why those two families developed such a strong relationship when they lived relatively far apart, given the transportation limitations of the time.

The Descendants of Robert P. and Sarah Gary Clark

Vera Avetta, who descends from Sarah Belle Wadsworth, and Harry Burkholder, who descends from Anna Agnes Wadsworth, contributed the following.

Having now determined what happened to Peter and Catherine Gary's daughter, Sarah, a progress report on the identification of the first three generations of her descendants is described below.

The 1830 Census for Donegal Township, Westmoreland County describes the Robert Clark Family as a male and female, both born between 1800 and 1810 (Robert and Sarah), a female born between 1825 and 1830.

The 1840 Census for the same location describes the Family as a male and female, both born between 1800 and 1810 (Robert and Sarah), a female born between 1825 and 1830, three females born between 1830 and 1835, and one male and one female, both born between 1835 and 1840.

The 1850 Census for Donegal Township explicitly lists Robert, born about 1802, Catherine, born about 1827, Matilda, born about 1831, Ellen, born about 1835, Elizabeth, born about 1837, William A., born about 1840, and Moses, born about 1841. Thus, Sarah and a so-far unknown daughter, born between 1830 and 1835, died between 1840 and 1850. As noted above, the Ligonier Library documentation of Sarah's death on December 28, 1845 is consistent with this Census information.

The 1860 Census for Cook Township, Westmoreland County lists Robert, born about 1802, Catherine, born about 1827, Matilda, born about 1831, Moses, born about 1842, Canada, born about 1849, and Susan, born about 1857. Thus, Ellen, Elizabeth, and William A. had left the family, and two new children appeared, even though a new mother was not present. The fact that Canada was born before the previous census, but not listed in that census suggests that he may have been the child of a second "mother" by someone other than Robert. Susan may or may not have been the daughter of Robert and a second "mother", who left the family or died before 1860. In any event, Canada and Susan were not the children of Sarah. In this regard, Mr. Burkholder's now-deceased aunt, Mabel Ruth Burkholder, thought the maiden name of the mother of at least some of Robert Clark's children was "Darr", and indeed there are Darr's buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Aunt Ruth also thought that her grandmother was "Elizabeth Clark Wadsworth". Indeed, the 1860 Census for Cook Township shows the Elias Wadsworth Family with Elias, born about 1828, Elizabeth, born about 1835, Joseph T., born about 1855, and John W., born about 1857. At this time, what happened to Ellen and William A. is not known, and they remain subjects for further research.

The 1870 Census for Derry Station, Westmoreland County, Westmoreland County lists Robert, Catherine, Moses, and Kennedy (Canada). That information shows that Matilda had left the family and suggests that Susan may not have survived childhood. The 1870 Census for Derry Township lists Elias and Elizabeth Wadsworth with children Joseph F., born about 1855, John W., born about 1861, Matilda, born about 1862, Annie A., born about 1863, Judson C., born about 1865, Emma V., born about 1867, and Canada E., born about 1869.

The 1880 Census for Derry Station, Westmoreland County lists the Clark Family, including Catherine, Matilda, Moses, Canada, Moses' son, Tomas J., born about 1872, and Moses' nephew, Elmer W., born about 1868. The fact that Elmer's last name was "Clark" implies that he was the son of either Catherine, Matilda, or Canada. Thus, Elmer may or may not have been a descendant of Sarah Gary Clark, depending upon which Clark child was his parent. Consistent with the Ligonier Library's documentation of Robert P. Clark's July 22, 1879 date of death, he is missing from the 1880 Census. The 1880 Census for East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County lists Elias and Elizabeth Wadsworth, born about 1830 and 1837, respectively, and their children Joseph, born about 1857, Joseph, born about 1861, Annie A., born about 1864, Judson C., born about 1865, Emma V., born about 1867, Kennedy (Canada), born about 1872, Elias A., born about 1873, and Sadie B., born about 1874. Matilda Wadsworth is missing from this Census, suggesting that she either left the family or died. What happened to Matilda Wadsworth is another subject for further research, as is what happened to Tomas J. and Elmer W. Clark. The Indiana Weekly Progress documents that "Elias M. Wadsworth, a well-known citizen of Latrobe, dropped dead in a cornfield on or about November 26, 1885."

The 1900 Census for Derry Borough, Westmoreland County, lists the Clark Family, including Catherine, born May 1827, Matilda, born February 1831, and Moses, born November 1841. The 1900 Census for Allegheny, Pennsylvania lists Ellen Clark, born 1835, as an inmate in the Allegheny County Home for the Aged Poor. Whether or not she is the "Ellen Clark" of this family is unknown. The 1900 Census for Ward 1, Latrobe, Westmoreland County lists Elizabeth Wadsworth, born September 1837, living with her children, Judson C. , born April 1862, Elias, born April 1873, and Lulu O., born May 1884. The 1900 Census for Ward 3, Derry Borough lists the Canada Clark Family, including Canada, born October 1849, his wife, Margaret E., born February 1853, and his daughter, Lulu S., born March 1894. An on-line transcription of the gravestones in Section B, Lot 79 of the Coles Cemetery, Derry Township includes Canada Clark, born October 29, 1848 and died 1919 and Margaret E. Clark, born on February 1, 1853 and died 1908.

Catherine Clark's Certificate of Death lists her date of death as March 1, 1908 and place of death as the Westmoreland County Home, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County. Robert Clark is listed as her father, and Sarah Clark is listed as her mother. A. P. (Allen) Darr, the Head of the Home, signed as the source of the information on the Death Certificate. Thus, Aunt Ruth may have misinterpreted the significance of the "Darr" name on the Death Certificate, and the maiden name of the mother of Canada and Susan Clark may not have been "Darr" after all.

Elizabeth Clark Wadsworth's Certificate of Death lists her date of birth as September 12, 1837 and her date of death as September 17, 1910. Robert Clark is listed as her father, but her mother is listed as "unknown".

The State of Pennsylvania claims that there are no Certificates of Death for Canada Clark in 1919 and Moses and Matilda Clark for the period 1906 through 1915. If the State's claims are true, the former suggests the possibility of a transcription error for Canada's gravestone in the Coles Cemetery, and the latter suggests the possibility that both Moses and Matilda died before Pennsylvania began recording death certificates in 1906. Thus, Catherine Clark, with no children, may have had no choice other than living at the Westmoreland County Home at the end of her life.

Summarizing from the above, the children of Sarah Gary Clark were the following in chronological order of birth:

  • Catherine Clark, born May 1827 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and died March 1, 1908 in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County; never married but possibly one child
  • Matilda Clark, born February 1831 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and died after 1900 in Westmoreland County; never married but possibly one child
  • Unknown daughter, born between 1830 and 1835 and died between 1840 and 1850
  • Ellen Clark, born 1835 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and possibly died after 1900 in Allegheny County; possibly never married and children unknown
  • Elizabeth Clark, born September 12, 1837 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and died September 17, 1910 in Ward 6, Connellsville, Fayette County; married Elias M. Wadsworth (1830-1885) with thirteen children, ten surviving to be listed in a census
  • William A. Clark, born 1840 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Moses Clark, born November 1841 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and died after 1900 in Derry, Westmoreland County; married unknown and one child

The 1900 Census also contains information for some of Elias and Elizabeth Clark Wadsworth's children who had left home. The 1900 Census for Pittsburgh Ward 30, Allegheny County lists Joseph, born about 1856, his wife, Alice, born about 1874, and children, Joseph, born about 1896 and Camilla, born about 1899. The 1900 Census for Dunbar Township, Fayette County lists Agnes Burkholder, born August 1863, her husband Henry F., born September 1859, Joseph, born June 1885, Lizzy B., born November 1886, Anna, born October 1888, Elsie M., born October 1890, Ruth, born February 1993, Pauline, born July 1885, and Mary, born April 1897. The 1900 Census for South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County lists Sadie Kalbaugh, born March 1877, her husband, Zedock, born October 1867, and child, Mary E., born February 1899.

The 1910 Census for Ward 4, New Castle, Lawrence County lists the Joseph F. Wadsworth Family including Joseph F., born about 1864, Alice B., born about 1869, step-daughter Adelade, born about 1894, Joseph F., Jr., born about 1897, Elsie M., born about 1903, Myrtle D., born about 1904, and William L. Pyle, Alice B.'s father. The 1910 Census for Dunbar Township, Fayette County lists the Anna Burkholder Family including Anna, born about 1863, Elizabeth B., born about 1888, Elsie M., born about 1891, Ruth M., born about 1893, Pauline W., born about 1895, Mary E., born about 1898, Henry F., born about 1904, and Russell C., born about 1906. Anna's husband, Henry, and her oldest child, Joseph, had died. Her daughter, Anna, had left the family. The 1910 Census for Ward 6, Connellsville, Fayette County lists Judson C. Wadsworth, born about 1862, with his mother, Elizabeth, born about 1836. The Census for that location also listed C. E. (Canada) Wadsworth, born about 1871 with his wife, Emma F., born about 1870. The 1910 Census for Ward 2, Glassport, Allegheny County lists Elias Wadsworth, born about 1873, with his wife, Mary, born about 1882, Marie Jones, born about 1899, Charles Jones, born about 1901, and Leona Wadsworth, born about 1906. Only Leona would be a descendant of Sarah Gary. The 1910 Census for Ward 4, McKeesport, Allegheny County, lists Sadie B. Kalbaugh, born about 1875 with her husband, Zedock L., born about 1870, and her children Mary E., born about 1900, Zedock L., Jr., born about 1901, Inez E., born about 1905, Harry L., born about 1906, and Canada R., born about 1910. Finally, the 1910 Census for Ward 4, Latrobe, Westmoreland County lists Lulu O. Hulfish, born about 1882, with her husband, Randolph, born about 1871, and her children Lewis R., born about 1905, and James W., born about 1907.

The 1920 Census for Dunbar Township lists the Annie Burkholder Family including Annie, born about 1864, Ruth, born about 1893, Mary, born about 1899, Henry, born about 1904, and Russell, born about 1905. The 1920 Census for Brownsville, Fayette County lists C. E. (Canada) Wadsworth, born about 1870, and his wife, Emma, born about 1865. The 1920 Census for Ward 10, McKeesport, Allegheny County lists Sarah Kalbaugh, born about 1876, her husband, Z. L., born about 1870, Mary E., born about 1900, Z. L., Jr., born about 1901, Inez, born about 1904, Harry, born about 1906, and Walter, born about 1912. Finally, the 1920 Census for Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia lists Lulu O. Hulfish, born about 1885, her husband, Randolph N., born about 1872, Lewis R. born about 1905, James W., born about 1907, Virginia E., born about 1913, and Charles E., born about 1917.

Summarizing from the above and adding a bit of private family information, the grandchildren of Sarah Gary included the following in chronological order of birth:

  • Joseph F. Wadsworth, born about 1858 in Westmoreland County and died about 1914 in Lawrence County; married Alice B. Pyle, born between about 1869 and 1874 and four children
  • John W. Wadsworth, born about 1860 in Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Matilda J. Wadsworth, born about 1862 in Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Anna Agnes Wadsworth, born August 30, 1863 in Waterford, Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County and died December 3, 1946 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County with burial in Hill Grove Cemetery; married Henry Foster Burkholder (1859 -1906) and nine children
  • Judson C. Wadsworth, born April 1865 in Westmoreland County and died after 1910; never married and no children
  • Emma V. Wadsworth, born about 1867 in Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown (However, there is a family story that she married a "Porter" and died in the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. If true, she was one of the long list of unknown victims.)
  • Possibly Elmer W. Clark, born about 1868 in Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Canada E. Wadsworth, born about 1870 in Westmoreland County and died in 1944 with burial in Hill Grove Cemetery; married Emma F., born about 1865, with no children
  • Tomas J. Clark, born about 1872 in Westmoreland County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Elias A. Wadsworth, born April 1873 in Westmoreland County and died after 1930; married Mary E., born about 1882 and one child
  • Sarah Belle Wadsworth, born March 10, 1877 in Fayette County and died June 8, 1936 in McKeesport, Allegheny County; married Zedock Luther Kalbaugh (1867-1952) in 1895 and six children
  • Lulu Olive Wadsworth, born May 20, 1884 in Westmoreland County and died December 5, 1937 in Upper Marlboro Township, Prince Georges County, Maryland; married Randolph Nicholas Hulfish (1871-1942) in 1904 and four children

The 1900 Census also contains information for some of Elias and Elizabeth Clark Wadsworth's children who had left home. The 1900 Census for Pittsburgh Ward 30, Allegheny County lists Joseph, born about 1856, his wife, Alice, born about 1874, and children, Joseph, born about 1896 and Camilla, born about 1899. The 1900 Census for Dunbar Township, Fayette County lists Agnes Burkholder, born August 1863, her husband Henry F.

Summarizing from the above and adding private family information, including in particular, information from the Burkholder Family Bible, the great grandchildren of Sarah Gary Clark included the following in chronological order of birth:

  • Joseph Coulter Burkholder, born June 3, 1885 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died January 18, 1902 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County with burial in Hill Grove Cemetery; never married with no children
  • Elizabeth B. Burkholder, born November 24, 1886 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died February 16, 1963 with burial in Green Ridge Cemetery; married Freddie Melville on June 3, 1919 with one child
  • Anna A. Burkholder, born October 23, 1888 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died August 3, 1973 in Uniontown, Fayette County; married J. Ross Morrow (1881-1961) on March 11, 1909 with two children
  • Elsie M. Burkholder, born October 10, 1890 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died March 23, 1991 in Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio; married Clarence E. Walton (1890-after 1920) on May 14, 1918 with no children
  • Mabel Ruth Burkholder, born February 26, 1893 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died June 21, 1975 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County with burial in Green Ridge Cemetery; never married with no children
  • Pauline W. Burkholder, born July 6, 1895 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died May 26, 1990 in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County; married Everett O. Brown on November 16, 1917 with one child
  • Joseph F. Wadsworth, Jr., born about 1896 in Allegheny County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Mary E. Burkholder, born April 20, 1897 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died January 7, 1977 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County with burial in Green Ridge Cemetery; never married with no children
  • Mary Elizabeth Kalbaugh, born February 10, 1899 in Westmoreland County and died December 1, 1980; married Daniel B. Wingard, born May 1896, with children unknown
  • Camilla Wadsworth, born about 1899 in Allegheny County and died between 1900 and 1910; never married with no children
  • Zedock Luther Kalbaugh, Jr., born June 16, 1900 in Westmoreland County and died December 4, 1973 in Allegheny County; married Myrtle M. and children unknown
  • Elsie M. Wadsworth, born October 11, 1903 in Lawrence County and died unknown; may have married Joseph LaRue, born March 18, 1904 and children unknown
  • Henry F. Burkholder, Jr., born March 15, 1904 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died January 18, 1969 in Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio; married an unknown with no biological children
  • Inez Eleanor Kalbaugh, born May 10, 1903 in Allegheny County and died December 31, 1937 in Allegheny County; marriage and children unknown
  • Myrtle D. Wadsworth, born about 1904 in Lawrence County and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Lewis R. Hulfish, born October 16, 1904 in Haymarket, Virginia and died unknown; married Virginia Haislin (1904-1932) and children unknown
  • Leona Wadsworth, born July 8, 1905 in Allegheny County and died July 14, 1993 in Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio; married unknown Stevenson with unknown children
  • Russell Calvin Burkholder, born July 13, 1905 in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and died August 20, 1958 in Connellsville Township, Fayette County with burial in Green Ridge Cemetery; married Esther Marie Ansell (1909-1986) with one child (Note: Esther Marie Ansell was a 3G granddaughter of Peter and Catherine Kester Gary through Sarah Gary Clark's brother, Peter Gary, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Eve Helsel)
  • Harry Lincoln Kalbaugh, born February 12, 1906 in Allegheny County and died July 29, 1958 in Summit County, Ohio; married Emma Louise Corbly (1905-1983) and children unknown
  • James W. Hulfish, born August 6, 1906 in Westmoreland County and died February 15, 1989; married Erma L., born about 1910, with children unknown
  • Canada R. Kalbaugh, born about 1910 in Allegheny County and died between 1910 and 1920; never married and no children
  • Walter Manefee Kalbaugh, born April 22, 1912 in Allegheny County and died December 11, 1991; married Bertha N. and children unknown
  • Virginia E. Hulfish, born about 1913 in Prince William County, Virginia and died unknown; marriage and children unknown
  • Charles E. Hulfish, born July 20, 1916 in Prince William County, Virginia and died September 8, 1977; marriage and children unknown

The Parentages of Peter Gary, Sr. and Catherine Kester

Cathy Barlow and Harry Burkholder contributed the following.

We have believed it possible that Peter Gary, Sr.'s father was John Geary, based principally on the existence and location of his Somerset County grave. We have also speculated that John Geary came to Somerset County from either Northampton County, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, where Peter lived earlier in his life. As it turns out, if one looks up the names "John Gary", "John Garry", "John Geary", "John Gerey", "John Garey", and "John Gerhi" in the 1790 Census, there is only one living in Northampton County, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, the John Garry Family of Forks Township, Northampton County. If the Census was accurate, that family included one male over 16-years-old, three males under 16 years old, and three females. The family is missing from the 1800 Census and replaced by the John Gerey Family of Saltlick Township, Westmoreland County. That latter family had one male and one female older than 44 years and a male between the ages of 26 and 44. Taken together, that information suggests a possibility that John Geary lived most of his life in Eastern Pennsylvania and elsewhere and moved his family to Western Pennsylvania between 1790 and 1800.

The Gary File at the Somerset County Historical Center contains a single sheet of paper that describes a purported chronology of John Geary's life. Without any supporting reference whatsoever, the document states that John's wife was Anna Elizabeth Beverage and that Peter and Catherine Gary's first daughter was named after her. "Beverage" is not a common name, but "Beveridge" is a well-known, old Scottish name. That document suggests that a search for Beverage or Beveridge families prior to 1790 might be helpful to the understanding of Peter Gary, Sr.'s ancestry.

A transcription of records from the Berlin Lutheran and Reformed Church document the following:

  • Adam Kester witnessed the baptism of John Hoden on July 27, 1779
  • Eva Barbara, the daughter of George Adam Kiester, was baptized on July 27, 1779
  • Susanna Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Kister was baptized on July 27, 1779
  • Anna Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Kister, was baptized on April 25, 1780
  • Elizabeth Kister witnessed the baptism of Peter and Catherine Gery's daughter, Anna Elizabeth, on February 27, 1792

That information appears to establish the presence of Kester/Kiester/Kister's in the Berlin area of Somerset County both before and after to the marriage of Peter Gery and Catherine Kester on July 20, 1790 and suggests that Catherine Kester may already have been living in Somerset County when Peter Gary arrived around 1785.

Peter and Catherine Kester Gary, Sr. had four male children: Peter, Jr., Jonathan, Killian, and Adam. Peter, Jr. was obviously named after Peter, Sr. Jonathan could have been named after Peter's father. Killian was obviously named after Peter's brother. Similarly and consistent with the church records above, Adam could have been named after Catherine's father or brother. This makes Adam and George Adam Kester/Kiester/Keister/Kister and possibly Kooser targets for future research.