During the past fifteen years Jack Nida has traveled the U.S. and Germany in search of information regarding the NIDA/NIDAY/NIDY/VONADA and von NIDA families.

The Roane County Historical Society met on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Roane County Library for their regular monthly meeting. Those present were: Susan Tucker, Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Jack and Jean Nida, Bernard and Patty Wyatt, Thomas Cottrell, Bobby Skinner, Johanna Nutter, Linda Cottrell Liss and guests, Janie K. Matics and her parents, David and Laura Matics.

Rick Greathouse, President, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Jack Nida led an opening prayer and the Pledge to the Flag was recited. Minutes from the April 2014 meeting were read by Recording Secretary, Susan Tucker, and approved. Carol Board-Westfall, treasurer, reported a balance of $14,741.54 The Membership Secretary, Linda Liss, reported membership steady at 198, with two new members whose memberships will be effective July 1.

Liss reported that she has sent cards where needed. She also reported that she had talked with Carol Cronin, Newsletter Editor, who is working on Volume 21 – Issue 4 of “The Journal” newsletter. This is the last issue for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The society commends and owes a debt of gratitude to Carol for the excellent quarterly news-letters she produces.

Liss reported on and displayed a family album she is working on with photos and memorabilia of the late Ralph Lowery family of the Walton area of Roane Co. The album will be kept in the historical society’s library when completed. She is also working on an album for the Ernest C. & Lakie Board Munson papers which were donated to the R.C.H.S.

Board-Westfall brought and displayed a collection of photographs donated to the Society from the estate of Ralph Nester. She also announced that the extensive collection of genealogy books from the estate of the late Garnet Camp has been delivered to the library. Mrs. Camp was a long-time active member of the Roane County Historical Society.

President Greathouse announced that he is working on lining up presenters for future Society programming. Future presentations may include; Ms. Rebecca Park portraying, Sudna Tanner and Mr. Dan Cutler portraying, Shawnee Chief Logan. Watch for our announcements for program line-ups.

There has been quite a bit of interest in publishing a Volume VI of Cemeteries of Roane County, WV. Several members have previously unpublished cemetery readings to contribute. If you have a Roane County cemetery you would like published in the next book, please drop us a note at P.O. Box 161, Spencer, WV 25276 and tell us about it.

Linda Liss, 2014 Essay Scholarship Chairperson, introduced our special guest, Miss Janie K. Matics, recipient of the $1,000 Essay Scholarship. Janie read her very interesting essay about her paternal and maternal ancestors. Excerpts from the essay will appear in the next “Journal” newsletter. Liss and Greathouse presented her a Certificate of Participation and a year’s honorary membership in the Society.

The next meeting of the society will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at the Roane County Library at 7 p.m. June is typically R.C.H.S.’s birthday month. This the 20th year the society has been promoting Roane County family genealogy. Cake and ice cream will be served. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.
Questions, membership requests and comments may be directed to Linda Liss at WVRoots@aol.com

The Roane County Historical Society met on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at the Roane County Library for their regular monthly meeting. Those present were: Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Paul Hughes, Linda Cottrell Liss, Carl Paxton, Reva Paxton, Peggy Starcher, Melissa Swisher, Susan Tucker, Brenda Whited, Bernard Wyatt and Patty Wyatt.

Rick Greathouse, President, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Paul Hughes led an opening prayer and the Pledge to the Flag was recited. Minutes from the March 2014 meeting were read by Recording Secretary, Susan Tucker, and approved. Carol Board-Westfall, treasurer, reported a balance of $15,231.24 The Membership Secretary, Linda Liss, reported membership steady at 198.

Inquiries: 1. From Peggy Stewart of Elyria, OH. Liss reported that she had followed up on a recent inquiry on the McClellan “Mack” W. Wilmoth, George M. Falls, Bertha May & Tuda May families, all having Roane County roots.
2. Member Eloise Boggs is looking for information on the old log church known as Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Wallback, Clay County near Roane County line.
3. Carol Landers of Charleston, SC is looking for information on the 1918 flu epidemic. How many people died ? How many from Roane County?

Susan Tucker and Melissa Swisher represented the Roane County Historical Society at the Sat., March 29th Ritchie County Gen. Fair. They sold some of the society’s books & CD’s, had a good time and made some good contacts.

Essay Scholarship: Linda Liss, Scholarship Chairperson, reported that the committee met and read the submitted essays. After much deliberation the committee voted to select the essay of Miss Janie K. Matics as the 2014 Essay Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. The scholarship will be awarded on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Roane County High School’s annual awards ceremony. Committee included: Reva M. Paxton, Paul M. Hughes, Carl E. Paxton, and Linda Cottrell Liss.

Liss reported that a folder of papers was donated recently to the R.C.H.S. by Mr. Bernard Taylor of Spencer. The folder contained 1920 era papers from Spencer residents Ernest Clark Munson and his wife Lakie Board Munson. Mr. Munson managed Robey Theatre for a time and had a print shop in the basement of the building where he printed show bills, newspaper ads and booklets, one in particular titled, “Munson’s Money-Making Manuel. Mrs. Munson was a Roane County school teacher. Mr. Taylor reported that he did odd jobs for the Munson’s over the years until her death in 1981.

The society’s president, Rick Greathouse, will be working on a schedule of programs for future meetings. If you have suggestions, please contact him at rick@wvroane.org

The next meeting of the society will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Roane County Library at 7 p.m. Our special guest will be Miss Janie K. Matics, 2014 Essay Scholarship recipient. Janie is a graduating Senior at Roane County High School. She will read her winning essay and tell us about her future plans. Refreshments will be served. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Questions, membership requests and comments may be directed to Linda Liss at WVRoots@aol.com

IT'S NOT TOO EARLY TO START MAKING PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2014 FAIR!

Mark your calendars for the 20th Annual Genealogical Fair sponsored by the Roane County Historical Society, Inc. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 [9 a.m.-3 p.m.] held at the Heritage Park Community Building, 110 Church St., Spencer, WV. Vendors from all over the area will have books, genealogies, histories, etc for sale. Breakfast items and hotdogs will be served. The RCHS will have all their cemetery books, birth records and other publications available, plus all our new CD's

To reserve table space or further info, you may contact
Melissa at melissaswisher@suddenlink.net, or Johanna at joeandjo30@wirefire.com, or Carol at legallady@hughes.net

RCHS TO MEET ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014. The first meeting for 2014 of the Roane County Historical Society will be held at the Roane County Library, Parking Plaza, in Spencer on Thursday, March 27th at 7 p.m. Since we do not meet in Jan/Feb, we now have a lot of items to discuss....Members are urged to attend and guests are welcome. Hope to see you on the 27th.