Jesse and Hettie

Jesse Booker Rusmisel and Hettie Elizabeth Jordan were married in Staunton, Augusta, VA 27 Aug 1902:

Marriage License of Jessie B. Rusmisel and Hettie E. Jordan
Date of Marriage: August 27, 1902 Place of Marriage: Staunton, Virginia
Husband Wife
Name: Jesse B. Rusmisel Hettie E. Jordan
Race: White White
Age: 24 26
Single, widowed, or divorced: Single Single
Birthplace: Highland County, Virginia Bath County, Virginia
Parents: Jno. H. and Eliz Rusmisel Jno. H. and Maggie Jordan
Occupation: Farmer
Ceremony performed by Wm. M. Scott
Reported by: not listed
Clerk of Circuit Court, Bath Co. Virginia, Line 26

According to his daughter Letha, Jesse had stayed at home to look after his parents. Hettie was a "nurse."  Letha (Rusmisel) McVeigh said that when he and Hettie were married he was a caretaker at a hunting club named the Pimrod Inn [sic--should be Nimrod Hall] on the Cow Pasture River and she was a nurse at a hospital in Staunton. A Rusmisel Cousin, Rick Armstrong, who has done a lot of research, found a reference to him being there in Sep 1905.  [Rick says, "The place is Nimrod Hall. In the early part of the 1900's the place was a hotel and later a summer camp for children. The old buildings are still there and seem to be in fairly good repair."- Dec. 3, 2002]

They moved to Clifton Forge around that time since Chertsey was supposedly born there 12 April 1905.  After the death of her husband, Jesse's mother Elizabeth E. Rusmisel remained on the farm. At some point, she deeded her property to her son, J. B. Rusmisel, with the understanding that he would pay her burial expenses and other debts. She later became dissatisfied, and asked for the property to be returned. J. B. Rusmisel had not recorded the deed and complied with her wish. He stated in September 1905 that his brother Harrison Rusmisel had gotten her dissatisfied and convinced her to give the property to his wife, Mary C. Rusmisel. Maybe his mother didn't like him marrying Hettie.
According to daughter Letha, between 1903 and 1905 they moved to Clifton Forge. Jesse was working as a railroad mechanic in shop repairs. Chertsey Brooks Rusmisel was born Apr 12, 1905 when they were living on Church Street and was named after a nurse who worked with Hettie. About 1907 John Rusmisel was born, but he only lived a few hours. On Feb 19, 1909 Maude Moore Rusmisel was born on Hospital Hill and was named by Hettie's father John Jordan. All of the children were baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Clifton Forge. Jesse was Lutheran until his marriage, but Hettie was Presbyterian, so they went to the Presbyterian Church. Hettie became ill with "TB or Black Lung." The children stayed a while in Millboro with their grandparents Jordan for a while, then later Hettie put them in the Presbyterian Orphanage in Lynchburg. Hettie died in Clifton Forge and was buried in Staunton.

In Clifton Forge, Jesse may have worked in the coal mines according to Letha. He was also a mechanic in shop repairs and "car repair" on the railroad (1910 Census). Hettie's death certificate (1913) says he was a "House mftr, contractor and carpenter." Hettie's death certificate says she died of tuberculosis.

Certificate of Death, Hettie Rusmiselle
Place of Death: Alleghany Co., State of Virginia
Bureau of vital Statistics file No. 27956
City of Clifton Forge
Full name: Hettie Rusmiselle
Sex: Female, Race: white, Married
Date of Birth: 1865, Age: 38
Occupation: House Mfr
Birthplace: VA
Name of Father: John H. Jordan
Birthplace of Father: VA
Name of Mother: Margrette Brooks
Birthplace of Mother: VA
The above is true to the best of my Knowledge: J Rusmiselle
Address: Clifton Forge, VA
Medical Certificate of Death:
Date of Death: Nov. 23, 1913
I hereby Certify, that I attended the deceased from Nov. [20?], 1913 to Nov. 23, 1913, that I last saw her alive on Nov. 23, 1913, and that death occurred , on the date stated above, at 12-5 am, cause of death was as follows: Tuberculosis (Pulmonary). Signed: B.B. McCutcheon, MD Nov. 23, 1913, Address: Clifton Forge, VA
Place of Burial or Removal: Millboro, VA
Date of Burial: Nov. 24, 1913
Undertaker: [illegible] address: Clifton Forge, VA
Filed: Dec. Rept. Local Registrar: W. M. Revercomb?

After Hettie's death the girls were in the Orphanage in Lynchburg, VA and Jesse went to Charleston to work in the shipyards. Letha said it was cold and awful like in the book Jane Eyre [but other sources say it is actually quite nice--it is still there]. She said they had single beds but would sleep together to keep warm. They were there for about 6 years, when Letha was about 11 to 16.


Letha left the orphanage first about 1919 and went to Charleston. There she worked as a messenger and then as a file clerk. Maude and Chertsey went to Ohio to stay with Hettie's sister Carrie Jordan, who had married Joe Pearce. Chertsey met Floyd Carswell  and they were married. Maude came to Charleston.

Letha said that during World War I the spelling of the name was changed to make it less German sounding--from Rusmisel to Rusmiselle. They told people it was a French name.
Letha met Norman McVeigh in Charleston, SC, when he was stationed there during World War I. They met while dancing. He had been dating Chertsey and Letha was dating a doctor. Chertsey had a temper and the doctor was too jealous. Letha was working at the Ferscott Store, a ready-to-wear. John, Henry, and Norman McVeigh were all in the Navy together. Their sister Ora had come to Charleston to visit so Letha had also met her. Letha and Norman went for a vacation to Waynesville, GA to meet the rest of the McVeighs. Letha was 18. They were married at First Methodist Church in Brunswick, July 23, 1921.

About 1920 (after the Census on Jan. 22) Jesse married a widow, Jeanne Drucilla "Jennie"  (Oxner) Harmon, who had a child named Mary Ellaphine Harmon. 
After the war Jesse went to live in Ohio near his daughter Chertsey where he worked as a contractor and a carpenter. He also worked as a contractor in SC and GA. He came to stay with Norman and Letha McVeigh in Waynesville because he couldn't get work. Jennie and Elophine came, too. They also stayed in Charleston and Lexington, SC, where Ginnie's folks lived. Jesse and Norman McVeigh built the first McVeigh store in Waynesville.

Jesse died 30 Jan. 1942 in Waynesville in an accident with a gun.  He is buried at Highsmith Cemetery in Waynesville. Jeanne Oxner Rusmisel  died 8 Jan. 1985 in a Claxton, GA nursing home. She is buried in St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lexington, SC.  

Fifty Years in the School Room

Indiana School Journal, Vol. 45 (Mar. 1900), Issues 1-7, by Indiana Teachers Association, Indiana Department of Public Instruction, p. 136.

Fifty Years in the School Room

William C. S. Jordan, who is now finishing his fiftieth year in the school room as teacher of the Lexington school in Carroll County, was born February 12, 1830, in Rockingham County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. He started to school at the age of eight and had three miles to walk. He attended the country schools until he was fourteen, studying reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling and geography, and then took a term's work In English grammar and algebra in a town school. At this time he was called to take charge of a school some sixty miles from home, and worked twenty-six years at Williamsville and Milboro Springs.

At the solicitation of a former pupil, Mr. Jordan came to Cutler, Ind., and has labored faithfully for her people for twenty-four years. He has seen our school system grow into its present complex organization and has been one of the main factors in working it out in his county. He has always been conspicuous in teachers' meetings and has put forth every effort to farther the Interests of the teachers' and young people's reading circles.

Ther e is such a contrast in the length of time devoted to teaching by this gentleman and the majority of teachers who enter the profession that our attention is called to the fact and we look for its cause. It is no doubt true that many persons teach for a considerable period of time simply because they have got in the habit and can't break it. Others keep on teaching from the lack of something to do that will bring tbem more money, but there are a few who start out in the profession with a determination to accomplish an end and to stay with it as a life work until such an end is accomplished. The teacher with a goal ahead for a year's work, a month's work, for a series of lessons or for a single recitation, moves smoothly along from one point to another and is not baffled by any turn of affairs until such point is accomplished, while the one working without such purpose naturally becomes embarrassed in the presence of pupils and loses herself in the dissipation of energy. The person teaching with a specific purpose in view in every movement will be obliged to continue in the profession to preserve the fulness of her life.

Mr. Jordan expresses the thought very forcibly, for he feels what he speaks when he says, "The hardest task of my life is to say good bye to my fellow teachers and sever my relations with school work." Nothing can be of more value to the teaching profession than an earnest, conscientious, entire life devoted to it.

Google Books: Fifty Years in the School Room

Diana Frances (Jordan) Coff Death Certificate (1843-1928)

Transcription of text in document

Name: Diana Frances Coff
Death Date: 15 Oct 1929
Death Place: Randolph, West Virginia
District: Mingo
Town: Mingo
Gender: Female
Age: 86,5,0
Birth Year: 15 May 1843
Birth Place: Virginia
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: George Jordan
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Name: Frances Hess
Mother's Birthplace: Penn
Occupation: None
Street Address:
Residence:
Informant: C M Coff, Elkins, WVa
Cemetery: Mingo Cem
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 16 Oct 1929
Cause: Senile Decay
Contributing: Colitis
Film Number: 1953474
Digital Folder Number: 4256278
Image Number: 2802
Source: County Records
Reference Number: 14763

Adam RUSMISEL 4 generation descent tree

This is the descent tree I posted on the RUSMISEL mailing list on ROOTSWEB in 2002. I'm not sure if there are errors that need to be corrected, but thought I'd fish it out of the RUSMISEL-L Archives so current researchers will be more likely to find it and to add a RUSMISEL tree to this blog. Other listers and I have posted data there in the past.

Descendants of Adam Rusmisel (son of Georg)

1 Adam Rusmisel 1752 - 1822

.. +Rachel Shumaker - 1820

........ 2 John Rusmisel 1783 - 1850

............ +Margaret Fifer 1785 -

................... 3 Mary Rusmisel 1806 -

....................... +Daniel McMullen

................... 3 Nancy Rusmisel 1808 -

....................... +Unknown Hall

............................. 4 Sarah M. Hall 1842 -

............................. 4 Elizabeth A. Hall 1844 -

................... 3 Girl Rusmisel 1810 -

................... 3 Adam Rusmisel 1811 -

....................... +Ann Unknown 1810 -

............................. 4 Ellen Rusmisel 1839 -

................... 3 Jacob Rusmisel 1815 -

....................... +Jane Martin 1817 - 1880

............................. 4 John H. Rusmisel 1839 -

............................. 4 George Rusmisel 1840 - 1880

................................. +Susannah Unknown 1842 -

............................. 4 Margaret Rusmisel 1842 -

............................. 4 Mary E. Rusmisel 1845 -

............................. 4 Sarah Ann Rusmisel 1846 -

............................. 4 Emily Rusmisel 1849 -

............................. 4 Ellen Rusmisel 1856 -

............................. 4 William Rusmisel 1857 -

........ 2 Adam Rusmisel, Jr. 1786 - 1873

............ +Salome Sherman 1785 - 1873

................... 3 Adam Patrick Rusmisel

....................... +Ann Eagle

............................. 4 George W. Rusmisel

............................. 4 Samuel Cooper Rusmisel

............................. 4 Ann Eliza Rusmisel

............................. 4 John D. Rusmisel

............................. 4 Emma Rusmisel

................... 3 Peter Rusmisel

....................... +Lucinda Eagle

................... 3 John C. Rusmisel 1810 -

....................... +Elizabeth Orebough 1815 -

............................. 4 S. E. Rusmisel 1838 -

............................. 4 G. S. Rusmisel 1843 -

............................. 4 J. A. Rusmisel 1846 -

............................. 4 V. A. Rusmisel 1852 -

................... 3 Simon Rusmisel 1820 -

....................... +Sarah Swisher 1827 -

............................. 4 H. L. Rusmisel 1851 -

............................. 4 E.C. Rusmisel 1853 -

............................. 4 N. F. Rusmisel 1855 -

............................. 4 M. S. Rusmisel 1858 -

................... 3 Andrew S. Rusmisel 1822 -

................... 3 Catherine A. Rusmisel 1824 -

................... 3 Elizabeth S. Rusmisel 1826 -

........ 2 Christain Rusmisel 1787 - 1860

............ +Ann Shelly - 1830

................... 3 David Rusmisel

....................... +Catherine Deal

................... 3 Sarah Rusmisel

....................... +Asher Argenbright

................... 3 John C. Rusmisel

................... 3 Elizabeth Rusmisel 1814 - 1884

....................... +Thomas Burton

............................. 4 S. M. Burton 1839 -

............................. 4 J. W. Burton 1842 -

............................. 4 E. S. Burton 1844 -

............................. 4 R. H. Burton 1846 -

............................. 4 V. C. Burton 1848 -

................... 3 Mary Ann Rusmisel 1817 -

....................... +Simeon Cupp

................... *2nd Husband of Mary Ann Rusmisel:

....................... +Simeon Cupp

................... 3 George Rusmisel 1819 - 1889

....................... +Catherine Cupp 1825 -

............................. 4 S. S. D. Rusmisel 1853 -

............................. 4 David V. Rusmisel 1854 -

............................. 4 Mary L. V. Rusmisel 1856 -

............................. 4 Sarah M. R. Rusmisel 1860 -

............................. 4 Anna L. C. B. Rusmisel 1862 -

............................. 4 John A. Rusmisel 1866 -

............................. 4 Luvina A. Rusmisel 1869 -

................... 3 Rebecca Virginia Rusmisel 1822 - 1886

....................... +[1] David Props

................... 3 Rachel Rusmisel 1827 -

........ *2nd Wife of Christain Rusmisel:

............ +Martha McMullen 1805 - 1887

................... 3 Priscilla A. Rusmisel 1833 -

....................... +Augustus W. Staubus

................... 3 John Irvine Rusmisel 1834 - 1900

....................... +Elizabeth Estaline Wooddell 1839 - 1912

............................. 4 Mary Catherine Rusmisel 1858 - 1859

............................. 4 Margaret Ann Rusmisel 1859 - 1924

................................. +Alfred Eli Wilson 1850 - 1916

............................. 4 Martha Elizabeth Rusmisel 1862 - 1933

................................. +William Ambrose Price 1855 - 1917

............................. 4 Alfred Harrison Rusmisel 1865 - 1928

................................. +Mary Catherine Malcomb 1866 - 1910

............................. *2nd Wife of Alfred Harrison Rusmisel:

................................. +Mary Virginia Brinkley

............................. 4 Harman H. Rusmisel 1868 - 1869

............................. 4 Malissa Cora Rusmisel 1868 - 1871

............................. 4 Meiarim Augusta Rusmisel 1870 - 1871

............................. 4 George William Rusmisel 1872 - 1965

................................. +Mary Magdalena Bodkin 1870 - 1944

............................. 4 Malulu Rusmisel 1873 - 1940

................................. +William Howard Lee Wooddell 1866 - 1950

............................. 4 John Robert Rusmisel 1876 -

................................. +Lydia E. Malcomb 1878 -

............................. 4 Eli Ambrose Rusmisel 1878 -

............................. 4 Jesse Booker Rusmiselle 1878 - 1942

................................. +Hettie Elizabeth Jordan 1875 - 1913

............................. *2nd Wife of Jesse Booker Rusmiselle:

................................. +Jeanne Drucilla Oxner 1893 - 1985

................... 3 Catherine E. Rusmisel 1837 -

....................... +Solomon Staubus

................... 3 Miriam E. Rusmisel 1839 -

....................... +[1] David Props

................... 3 Martha M. Rusmisel 1845 - 1888

....................... +Robert McLaughlin

............................. 4 Bassie E. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Miriam M. McLaughlin

............................. 4 William C. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Martha A. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Mary C. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Bertha F. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Robert L. McLaughlin

............................. 4 George C. McLaughlin

............................. 4 Bersa McLaughlin

........ 2 Frederick Rusmisel 1789 - 1817

............ +Elizabeth Beard

................... 3 Sarah Rusmisel

....................... +Peter Ellinger

........ 2 George Rusmisel 1790 - 1832

............ +Rebecca Hanger 1795 - 1875

................... 3 William Rusmisel 1816 - 1892

....................... +Frances Susan Bear

............................. 4 Arthur Rusmisel 1849 -

................... 3 Mary Ann Rusmisel 1818 - 1873

....................... +John Bosserman 1817 - 1894

................... 3 Adam Rusmisel 1819 - 1857

....................... +Eve Margaret Hoover 1819 - 1906

............................. 4 Sarah C. Rusmisel 1845 -

............................. 4 Elizabeth Evaline Rusmisel 1846 -

............................. 4 Rebecca Rusmisel 1849 - 1860

............................. 4 William P. Rusmisel 1855 -

................... 3 Jacob Rusmisel 1822 - 1825

................... 3 Eliza Jane Rusmisel 1824 - 1857

....................... +William Hall 1818 - 1867

............................. 4 Mary Amanda Hall 1843 - 1884

............................. 4 James Leander Hall 1844 - 1874

............................. 4 Rebecca Jane Hall 1846 - 1927

................................. +William Lawson Seay

............................. 4 George Washington Hall 1848 - 1917

................................. +Estella Ellis

............................. 4 Sarah Margaret Hall 1852 - 1939

................................. +Rudolph Wenzel

............................. 4 Son Hall 1853 - 1853

............................. 4 William Aurelius Hall 1855 - 1934

................................. +Melvina Catherine Courtney 1860 - 1902

............................. 4 Eliza Ann Hall 1857 - 1858

................... 3 David R. Rusmisel 1825 - 1905

....................... +Elizabeth F. Rodenhizer 1825 - 1864

............................. 4 Newton B. Rusmisel

............................. 4 Mary E. Rusmisel 1847 -

............................. 4 Allice V. Rusmisel 1850 -

............................. 4 William Rusmisel 1853 -

............................. 4 George W. Rusmisel 1854 -

............................. 4 Charles E. Rusmisel 1860 -

................................. +Maggie J. Eubank 1864 -

................... *2nd Wife of David R. Rusmisel:

....................... +Isabella Fix 1838 - 1919

................... 3 George Brown Rusmisel 1828 - 1904

....................... +Mary E. Armstrong 1835 -

............................. 4 Newton B. Rusmisel 1857 -

................... 3 Sarah Margaret Rusmisel 1830 - 1908

....................... +William Wilson Cale 1830 - 1888

............................. 4 John E. Cale 1854 -

............................. 4 George W. Cale 1860 -

............................. 4 Mary M. Cale 1871 -

................... 3 Rebecca Frances Rusmisel 1833 - 1862

....................... +John Brubeck 1833 - 1862

Major Research Lines

I never adequately introduced myself or what I am researching, so I will now. I have been seriously researching my family since 1981 when my grandfather died and I realized I knew very little about his family. In the next four months before my grandmother died I learned a lot from her and my great-aunt about both of their families--the McVEIGHs and the RUSMISELs. I started writing and calling family members and visiting libraries and historical societies. Soon I had a serious addiction. When I had exhausted all the avenues I had access to at the time, I started on my husband's lines. These are the main lines I research and a main proven early member of the line:

1. McVEIGH: James Lawrence McVEIGH came from the Isle of Man to Savannah, Georgia about 1836. He was born about 1819 but we are not certain where. He claimed to be Scottish, but may have been born in Ireland or on Man. He was working on a ship when a mast fell on his leg and broke it, so they put him off in Savannah to recover. When they came back for him, he preferred to stay in Georgia and moved to Liberty County where he taught school, served as a flutist in his Confederate Unit in the Civil War, and died in 1897. He had three wives and 14 children.
2. PINHOLSTER: Elizabeth PINHOLSTER married James McVEIGH. She was his second wife of three. Her father was David PINHOLSTER. David's father is somewhat of a mystery. Supposedly he came from Minora to work in the indigo plantations for a man named Trumbull in St. Augustine, Florida. His name may have been ESPINOSA of ESPINETA or another variant. There have been many searches of the Spanish records, but it is still in doubt. There may be several generations who lived in FLORIDA. He (or his son, or his grandson) later moved to South Carolina when he married a Miss KITE and Anglicized his name. Delilah SPINHOLSTER, widow, who drew in a lot in the 1827 Land Lottery in Liberty County, is thought to be Miss KITE.
3. RUSMISEL: Adam ROSSMEISSEL came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia in 1773 from Prussia, indentured to work in the mines for three years to pay his passage. He fought in the Revolution, married Regina (Rachel) SCHUMACHER (SHUMAKER), moved to Virginia, and had 5 known sons and 1 known daughter.
4. JORDAN: George William JORDAN was born in 1802 in Virginia. His father was named William JORDAN. He and Frances "Fanny" HESS had five known children.
5. SPORT and SPORTS: William Sport was born about 1756 possibly in Scotland. He fought in the Revolutionary War for North Carolina. He married Elizabeth and had 4 known sons and 2 daughters. He later moved to South Carolina and died about 1820 in Marion District. Aroung the time of the Civil War the SC SPORT lines added an -s to the end of the name. The original name might be SPOWART.
6. TAYLOR: William Taylor was born 1796 in North Carolina. He married a woman named Maria and they 3 known daughters and 3 known sons. He died about 1852 in Marion District, SC.
7. LOONEY: Robert LOONEY was born about 1700, probably on the Isle of Man in the British Isles. He and his wife Elizabeth (maybe LLEWELLYAN) immigrated to Philadelphia. They lived in PA for a number of years, then moved to the frontier of Western Virginia where they had a fort and ferry on the James River in Augusta County. They had 13 children.
8. IVIE: Thomas IVIE married Mary "Polly" RUCKER, lived in Habersham County, Georgia, and had ten children. His father was John IVIE and John's father is thought to be Lott IVIE.

I have many other lines I research, plus I also help friends. It is always an exciting puzzle and I have fun putting the pieces together.

What is a Blog?

Hello Blog World,

I'm new at this, but I thought I'd better join the Twenty-First Century and learn to blog. It seems like a somewhat narcissistic endeavor, but I will try to make this about others in the past, and not just about me. This blog is devoted to genealogy.

My name is Tess and I am a Geneaholic. I have to research every day or start withdrawal symptoms. I research all my lines, all my husband's lines, and some friends' lines. I volunteer to help others with their lines. This has been an almost 30 year obsession.

This weekend I have probably put in about 25-30 hours on the computer. It has been an exciting day! I made some discoveries to prove back another generation on my paternal grandmother's line:

Frances "Fanny" HESS was born about 1800 in Rockingham County,VA. She married in 1830 to George William JORDAN and had five known children. On her marriage certificate it lists her father as Philip HESS. I just received a copy of her marriage bond this weekend. That was exciting.

I found some other things about Fanny, but then today I found an abstract of Philip HESS's Will:

Hess, Philip ___13, 1850
My two daughters Fanny Gordon and Betsy Minigh. To my wife. My son John Hess. Witnesses. T. H. Erwine. John Fleming. Jacob Simmers. Proved Aug 1850

The will is taken from "Virginia Valley Records," by John W. Wayland (1930), Rockingham Wills, Abstracts of burnt records, p. 412.

Then I found him on the 1820 and 1830 Censuses. Philip, you are found! You are not forgotten. I have proven you exist and now your memory will live on.

Tess