
Edward’s family moved around frequently as his father took different coal mining jobs. His younger brother Charles was born in Coalport, Clearfield County, in 1902. Thomas was born in Garrett, Somerset County, in 1904. After the family moved to Llanfair, Cambria County, their final child was born.
Edward writes, “Their fifth child named Jennie was born June 2, 1906. My mother developed bad, bad heart trouble and died June 22, 1906, leaving four children. Edward – 5, Charles – 3, Thomas – 1, and Jennie – 20 days.”
But “bad, bad heart trouble” was the explanation a father could a five-year-old. Katherine’s death certificate listed puerperal hemorrhage and anemia as the causes of death. It wasn't heart trouble -- Edward's mother died of complications from childbirth.

Extended family members offered to take in a child, but Charles would only part with his newborn. His brother Herb and sister-in-law Delila wren't able to have children of their own, so they “arranged to take Jennie and raise her without adoption which they did for the rest of their lives.”
Edward, Charles, and Thomas stayed with their father and moved to Barnesboro. There, he could find work while also staying close to Katherine’s family. During that period, Charles (Sr.) worked in different places around Barnesboro – Spangler, West Branch, Cymbria, and Greenwich. For church, they traveled to nearby Germantown.
Edward went to elementary school in Greenwich until sixth grade, when he walked to Barnesboro. He writes that “for two winters I lived with Uncle Herb, Aunt Delila, and Jennie, who thought I was her cousin.” It is unclear if Edward ever corrected the misperception.
In April 1917, while Edward was 16 years-old, the United States declared war on Germany. On May 29th, 1918, he enlisted as a private and was assigned to the 315th Cavalry Regiment.


Soldiers and sailors from Monaca who had deployed returned throughout that year, and on August 9th participated in a parade. Apparently, the spectacle convinced Edward that he’d missed out on the experience of a lifetime; on August 17th, he enlisted in the Navy for two years.


Edward returned to Monaca, and found work as an electrician at a steel mill. He married Margaret B. Henry in 1924, and had three children: John (1926-2014), Norma (1929-2001), and Richard (1931-2019).



Edward was survived by his wife, his three children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren, many of which appeared in this family picture.

It was where he grew up, where chose to spend most of his life, and where he died. But I think Edward's time away from Pennsylvania was what allowed him to truly appreciate the family he had there.

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