The following information
is per Bob Gallagher who furnished this material: This
above photograph is of Bramwell's pioneers, James and
Elizabeth Toy as taken in Bramwell area with their
children at the time, Alice Beatrice, Arthur Wearn, and
Harry Stanley. Bob shared that his grandmother was Anne
Theresa Toy (Liebermann) who was born in Bramwell, WV in
1901-02. Her father was James Toy who lived with his
family for a time in Bramwell and worked for John Freeman
(“as grandma told me, running the company store”).
James Toy was married to Elizabeth Beals, Elizabeth being
the sister of Annie Beals (Freeman) who married John
Freeman’s son, George. Thus the family connection.
The Toy family was based primarily in St. Petersburg, PA
(N.W. Pennsylvania) as was the GEORGE FREEMAN family.
Exact date of the photo is unknown but Bob wrote that,
"my great Aunt Ruth and great Uncle Paul were born
after Alice, Arthur, and Harry shown in this photo and
before my grandmother’s birth so I am guessing this
photo could have been taken during the 1890’s."
Bob also shared in regards to the Toy family moving back
to Pennsylvania that "I read somewhere that Alice
Beatrice contracted a substantial disease in Bramwell
relating to bad water and in light of that, James moved
his family quickly back to St. Petersburg."
James Toy married Nary Elizabeth Beals in 1886. In 1900 James at age 37 was a Store Manager and Mary was 33 in 1900. The family was living in Bramwell, Mercer, West Virginia at that time. James Toy died on 25 May 1955 at age 91 in St. Petersburg, Clarion, PA.
Updates furnished by Bob Gallagher (Oct. 30. 2009) :
Mary and Bob's great Uncle Paul were born after Alice, Arthur, and Harry shown in this photo and before my grandmother’s birth so I am guessing this photo could have been taken during the 1890’s."
Bob also shared information in regards to the Toy family moving back to Pennsylvania. He said, "I read somewhere that Alice Beatrice contracted a substantial disease in Bramwell relating to bad water and in light of that, James moved his family quickly back to St. Petersburg."
James and Elizabeth quickly moved their family back to NW Pennsylvania from WV as their daughter, Ruth Toy, contracted both Scarlet Fever and Typhoid Fever while living in the Bramwell/Freeman area, which were sicknesses prevalent in those days. This was verified by Ruth's daughter, Martha.
TOY FAMILY INDEX
( Material
furnihed by Bob Gallagher ) |
