The Roane County Historical Society, Inc. met Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Roane County Library for their regular monthly meeting. Rick Greathouse, President, called the meeting to order. Jack Nida, 1st Vice President, led an opening prayer and the pledge to the flag was recited.

Carol Board-Westfall, Treasurer, reported a good balance to carry on the work of the society and Johanna Nutter read the minutes from the previous meeting. Linda Liss, Membership & Corresponding Secretary, reported the gain of one new member, bringing membership to 193. Members who had not paid their 2010-11 dues have been contacted.

The society is continuing the process of identifying historic homes, churches and other buildings in Roane County to recognize with a plaque. Any pre-1910 building, home or church, that has been maintained, is eligible for inclusion in this ongoing project, if it still displays some of its original architectural features. If you own or know of a qualifying structure, please contact Carol Board-Westfall, email at carol@wvroane.org or phone her at 304-927-1340.

The RCHS is seeking a photo of the late Congressman Harry Chapman Woodyard. (1867-1929). Woodyard, wholesale grocery and lumber businessman, served nine terms as Congressman from Roane County. The society is making plans to recognize Roane County?s only U. S. Congressman with a memorial plaque which will include his likeness. If you have a photo to share, please contact Carol Board-Westfall.

The RCHS is always interested in and looking for ways to interest young people in genealogy and preserving their family history & the history of Roane County. To that end the Society is making plans for accepting and processing applications for the first annual $500 scholarship to be awarded by the R.C.H.S. Using specific guidelines, Roane County High School seniors will be invited to write an essay on their family history/genealogy. The winning essay will receive the scholarship during the school?s Spring awards ceremony. The Essay/Scholarship Committee includes, Linda Liss, Carol Cronin, Marvin Stemple and Johanna Nutter.

Carol Cronin, newsletter editor, reported that she is scanning and transferring older issues of the society?s newsletter, The Journal, to compact disks. Several years of newsletters can be stored on one disk.

Plans for the Saturday, September 25th, 16th Annual Genealogical Fair, sponsored by the society, were discussed and finalized. Johanna Nutter, Chairperson.

The meeting adjourned. Those in attendance were: Carol Board-Westfall, Susan Tucker, Susie Wyatt, Patty and Bernard Wyatt, Rick Greathouse, Hazel Gandee, Carol Cronin, Denver Gandee, Johanna Nutter, Jean and Jack Nida, Bob Ashley and Linda Liss.

The next meeting of the Roane County Historical Society, Inc. is scheduled for Thursday, October 28th, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library downstairs. Members are urged to attend and guests are welcome.

The Roane County Historical Society, Inc. met Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the Roane County Library for their regular monthly meeting. Mike Hill led an opening prayer and the pledge to the flag was recited.
Carol Board-Westfall, Treasurer, read the minutes from the July meeting and gave the Treasurer?s Report. Johanna Nutter served as secretary, pro tem.
Linda Liss, Membership & Corresponding Secretary, reported the loss by death of one member, bringing membership to 192. Members who had not paid their 2010-11 dues have been contacted.
Carol Cronin, Newsletter Editor, reported that she is working on the Fall Issue of ?The Journal? newsletter . She welcomes articles of historical or genealogical nature for publication.

16th Annual Roane County Genealogical Fair
Saturday, September 25th
9 a.m. ? 3 p.m.
Heritage Park Community Building in Spencer.
Johanna Nutter, Fair Chairperson, reported that she has received several requests from vendors for table-space. Mr. Joe Geiger, Director of W. Va. Division of Culture and History Archives, will be the 10 a.m. guest speaker. As in past years, the American Legion Auxiliary will take care of the food service.
The society is still looking into identifying, reframing and moving several pictures from the society?s library to a vacant wall in the downstairs common area. This will free up wall space for more shelving to store and display additions to the library?s collection.
Also, the society is continuing the process of identifying historic homes, churches and other buildings in Roane County to recognize with a plaque. Any pre-1910 home or building is eligible for inclusion in this ongoing project if it still displays some of its original architectural features. If you own or know of a qualifying structure, please contact Linda Liss at 304-768-2207 or by email at WVRoots@aol.com.
Now that the new school year has begun, the Society will soon be accepting and processing applications for the first annual $500 scholarship to be awarded by the R.C.H.S. Participating Roane County High School seniors will be invited to write an essay on their family history/genealogy. The winning essay will receive the scholarship during the school?s Spring awards ceremony.
Those in attendance were: Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Hazel Gandee, Mike and Shirley Hill, Carol Cronin, Denver Gandee, Johanna Nutter, Wilma Rhodes and Linda Liss.
The next meeting of the Roane County Historical Society, Inc. is scheduled for Thrusday, September 23rd, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library downstairs. Members are urged to attend and guests are welcome.

Historical Society Elects 2010-2011 Officers

The Roane County Historical Society, Inc. met Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Roane County Library. Rick Greathouse, president, called the meeting to order and led an opening prayer. The pledge of allegiance was recited.

Susan Tucker, secretary pro-tem, read minutes from the June meeting.
Carol Board-Westfall gave the treasurer?s report.
Linda Liss, membership & corresponding secretary, reported one new member, bringing the membership to 193. Annual dues, $12. for the 2010-11 fiscal year are now past due. She will send reminder e-mails and letters to members who have not paid.

Reminder: The 16th Annual Roane County Genealogical Fair will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Heritage Park Community Building in Spencer. To reserve table space to sell books & other genealogy related materials you may contact Johanna Nutter, Fair Chairperson, at 304-927-0390 or e-mail her at johanna@wvroane.org Cost per table: $10. Those persons needing table space, but not selling anything, need to reserve table space as well.
Mr. Joe Geiger, director of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History Archives, will be our 10 a.m. guest speaker for the fair.

The report from the Nominating Committee was read by Susan Tucker. Those nominated and elected for the 2010-2011 fiscal year are:
President ? Rick Greathouse
1st Vice President ? Jack Nida
2nd Vice President ? Paul Hughes
Recording Secretary ? Susan Tucker
Membership/Corresponding Secretary ? Linda Cottrell Liss
Treasurer ? Carol Board-Westfall

The RCHS is looking into identifying and reframing several photos located in the downstairs area of the library. Susan Tucker will look into prices for the project.

Plaque Project: The Society is still trying to identify historic homes and buildings in the Spencer area to recognize with a plaque. Those pre-1910 buildings, homes, churches may be remodeled but must retain some of their original features to meet the criteria established by the society. If you own or know of a qualifying structure, please contact us at P. O. Box 161, Spencer, WV 25276 or email the corresponding secretary at address below.

The meeting adjourned with refreshments being served to Carol Board-Westfall, Susan Tucker, Rick Greathouse, Bernard and Patty Wyatt, Paul Hughes, Hazel Gandee, Jack and Jean Nida and Linda Cottrell Liss.

The next meeting will be Thursday, August 26 at 7 p.m. at the library, lower level. Members are urged to attend and guests are welcome.

For more information, contact Linda Cottrell Liss at: WVRoots@aol.com.

Madge Crane
August 3, 2010
Parkersburg News & Sentinel

Madge Crane, 95, of Waterford, Ohio, died at 1:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, peacefully in her home with her family after a courageous 33-year fight against bladder cancer and the last few years with chronic lung disease.

She was born on Jan. 14, 1915, at Tariff, Roane County, W.Va., daughter of Isaiah Daniel and Elsie Carper Looney, both descendants of Revolutionary War patriots. She attended Glenville College, where she met her future husband, Dwight M. Crane. She later graduated from Salem College with an A.B. degree. She took additional hours at Marietta College, where she was privileged to be in one class with her granddaughter, LaDonna. Her last college hours were completed at Ohio University.

Madge and Dwight Crane were married on Dec. 28, 1936, at Oakland, Md. They raised registered Angus cattle on their farm near Harrisville, and their sons showed prized feeder cattle at Jackson's Mill while in 4-H and FFA. Dwight was drafted in 1944 while teaching at one room Mitchell School in Ritchie County, W.Va., and due to a shortage of teachers, Madge took over his school. Family members have been told many stories about the 3 mile walk each way to and from school with her oldest son, Bill, through the fields and up the dirt roads. These walks helped instill a life-long love of animals (especially birds) and flowers which she spotted along the way. This was a very rough time because she had to raise two boys, teach, and manage the farm.

After Dwight returned in 1946 from serving in the Philippines and Korea, the family settled down on a 220 acre farm, raising large gardens, canning, butchering, and doing all the other jobs that go with farming. Almost all the time there were over 100 Angus grazing the pastures on the Crane farm.

In 1961 the Cranes left the farm and moved to Waterford. They found one school, Watertown Elementary, where there were two openings, Madge taught fifth and sixth grade and Dwight taught seventh and eighth grade. It was a happy decision, since they could now travel during the summer months. Madge saved the best work of her students during the year, which she showed (a full booth) at the Waterford Fair for 25 years. They taught 14 years when Dwight died suddenly. The Watertown community was very supportive and comforting during this time. Madge continued teaching at Watertown, but at times it was very difficult because so much about the school reminded her of Dwight. In appreciation for her work with students, the Fair Board chose her as Parade Marshal of the Waterford Fair the year she retired (1986), an honor she valued highly. All totaled her teaching career spanned 54 years, although with time off to raise her family, she taught 37 years. She taught in three states (Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio). Her first three schools (Indian Creek, Lewis County, Ky.; Triplett and Knight in Roane County, W.Va.) were one room. Her next school (Amma, Roane County) had two rooms. Mitchell had one room. Ellenboro (Ritchie County, W.Va.) had several rooms. Watertown (Ohio) had four rooms.

Madge belonged to the Waterford Methodist Church, where she served on the missionary board for many years, Mt. Moriah 506, Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma, Life Member of Ohio Retired Teachers, D.A.R. Marietta Chapter, Roane County Historical Society, Society of Boonesborough, and a charter member of the Lower Muskingum Historical Society. She was in Literacy Volunteers for three years. With her son, Phillip, she co-authored a family history on their ancestor, Robert Looney, and a second book about his 10 known children. She traveled extensively in the U.S. and to Europe with a teacher tour in 1979, visiting eight countries.

She is survived by three sons, William C. Crane and wife, Sharon, of Pullman, W.Va., George E. Crane and special friend, JoAnn Silliman, of Georgetown, Texas, and Phillip L. Crane and wife, Teresa, of Waterford, Ohio; five granddaughters, LaDonna (Randy) Sarie of Charleston, Anita (Don) Shumake of Parkersburg, Charlene (Tom) Tuttle of Charleston, S.C., and Judy (Joel) St. Amant and Jessica Crane of Georgetown, Texas; two grandsons, Col. William E. (Tina) Crane of Charleston, W.Va., and Dwight Daniel Crane of Waterford; great-grandchildren, Ryan Shumake, Tommy and Sam Tuttle, Nicole, Derek, and Joshua Crane, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Margaret Saria, Laura Blakeman, and Evan St. Amant; one sister, Merle (Bill) Noble of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; sister-in-law, Velma Looney of Aiken, S.C.,; and several nieces nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father in 1973; her mother in 1997; her husband; three brothers, Charles, William and Robert Looney, and two sisters-in-law, June Looney and Erma Looney.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Waterford Methodist Church by the Rev. Russell White. Burial will be in Waterford Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at McCurdy Funeral Home, Beverly, Ohio.

The family asks that donations be sent to the Beverly-Waterford Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 146, Waterford 45786 or Marietta Hospice, 210 N Seventh St., Suite 400, Marietta, OH 455715.

Tribune/Chronicle - 10-9-2009

LIBERTY (Ohio)- Harold L. Donahue, 81, of Liberty, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at Liberty Health Care.

Harold was born Feb. 27, 1928, in Lost Creek, W.Va., a son of Andrew J. and Lona E. Jones Donahue.

He retired from from Valley Mold & Iron and was a member of Liberty Assembly of God Church, Girard.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy S. Small Donahue; a daughter, Dawna D. Gettings of Vienna; a son, Harold L. ''Rink'' Donahue II; a sister, Clella ''Kay'' Diceglie of Warren; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by five sisters and four brothers.

Private services were held at Blackstone Funeral Home.
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Sister, Mrs. Clella Diceglie, is a member of the Roane County Historical Society, Inc.