Genealogy teaches value of our roots
ANITA BELCHER
The family trees of David and Elizabeth Coleman Deel, Benjamin and Polly Stigner Deel, Henry and Sarah Anderson Deel, along with Andrew and Nancy Gemes Anderson, have aroused so much interest that I feel obligated to continue writing about some of their descendants and where they fit into our local history, and the history of our country, for at least two more weeks, maybe three.
Don’t worry. You won’t be bored. You’ll probably find some limbs off your own tree hidden in these columns and the farther back you go, the more you’ll find.
For instance, someone asked me if the Fuller family is a part of the genealogy I’ve been writing about. Yes, they are, beginning with Thomas Fuller who was married to Mary Annie Gobble (Gable), from Montgomery and Washington counties, and their son, Thomas, who married Matilda Deel. Here is a little information about Thomas Fuller and Matilda Deel Fuller.
Thomas and Matilda lived on Hagy Ridge near Birchleaf. They moved about 1880 to Rock Lick Branch near Colley. He served in Virginia State Line and in Co. 3, 21st Va. Cavalry.
He was Justice of the Peace, Sandlick District, and Overseer of the Poor, 1916-1918. In between the years of 1800-1924 (following this particular branch) you find the names Stiltner (Stigler), Widener, Counts, Kelly, Deel, Fuller and Colley.
Several local historians have done a great deal of research, and some have written very informative books including these family names and many more.
I recommend them all to you, but especially Mountain Legacy by Gayle Fuller Stanley, The Wright Connection by Negetha Gourley Powers, and of course, Pioneer Recollections, as well as Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Judge E.J. Sutherland and his wife, Hetty Swindall Sutherland.
I have turned to these and other books time after time and they have proven to be invaluable. Also, my interviews with many older people over the past 20 years have added much to my knowledge, and I’m still learning.
Now, some additional information that I gleaned from some material that someone gave me regarding the Stigler (Stiltner) family: Christopher Columbus Stigler was born about 1721 in Germany. His son, Charles Fredrick Stigler (Stiltner — see last week’s paper) married Marion Elizabeth Widner, daughter of Johann (John) and Sarah Widner. Marion Elizabeth Widner’s ancestors and descendants were German, many of them settling in Washington County in Widner Valley.
According to the information I’m reading through right now, David Deal (Deel) may have been the son of Richard and Marian Deel of Floyd, Ky., though this has not been verified. We know he married Elizabeth Coleman.
David Widner Deel, son of Benjamin Franklin and Marry Polly Stiltner Deel, married Mary Anne “Pop” Colley. For a while they lived on Tom’s Hill near Sandlick where he served as Justice of the Peace, 1860-1864.
I wanted to print David Widner Deel’s full name because some of you have ancestors whose name is “Widner” and you’ve wondered where it came from. Now you know. Keep in mind that many people have done much research on this information and mistakes are inevitable. If you catch one, let me know.
If this column is to be printed this week, I must stop it here and continue next week. I will share this with you: in talking with Bill Anderson, he gave me much information that you’re going to enjoy reading about later.
Maybe some of you are wondering why I take all the time that it takes to both get this all together and then put it all together. I promise you, it isn’t that I haven’t anything else to do. There are two main reasons, and I think one is as important as the other, but first I’ll give this reason.
The outside world as well as our own people should understand the great pioneering spirit that our early settlers had. People need to realize what the people of the Appalachian Mountains have contributed to our entire nation in times of peace and times of war.
Second, but just as important, our children need to know how valuable their roots are. We are living in a “rootless” culture. Many young people don’t know where they came from or where they’re going. They should know both.
Some children hardly know who their grandparents are and that’s tragic. A house without a foundation will fall, and children who have no knowledge of the past to build their future on are like a boat without an oar. They’re likely to drift through life, or worse.
We don’t need to live in the past, but we need to learn from it and help our young people to avoid the failures and build on the strengths of past generations.
So now you know some of the reasons that I take the time to write and share with you the things I do.
Note: The remainder of interesting facts about Sarah Anderson Deel and her family will be included in next week’s Star. I felt that many of you needed the information I published today.
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