Person Page 4,137

per Virginia Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (ancestry.com), or 11 OCT per other sources.

per Virginia Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (ancestry.com), or 11 OCT per other sources.

On Jay's death certificate it gives his birth date as 15 Sep 1874. Census records and the fact that 15 Sep 1874 is too close to his older sister's birthdate, suggests that the correct birthdate is 15 Sep 1875.

The informant on Jay's death certificate was his half-sister, Katherine Reeser "Kate" (Blondel) Kearney.¹

Shepherdstown Register, Shepherdstown, WV; Thursday, Aug 15, 1901; Vol: 36; Page: 3; (GenealogyBank.com):

"Notes from Nearby":

Mr. Jay H. Blondell and Miss Annie B. (sic) Hardy, both of Martinsburg, were married in Hagerstown a few days ago.

Article - The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); Saturday, 09 February 1946; Page 3; (Newspapers.com):

McKees Rocks Man Reported Missing

Jay H. Blondell, 72-year-old retired railroad foreman, of 411 Island Ave., McKees Rocks, has been missing since Tuesday.

He was last reported seen Tuesday afternoon by a cashier in the First National Bank, downtown where he went to get money to pay bills.

Relatives said the missing man, who worked for the P. & L. E. Railroad 45 years, had been brooding over being retired recently. He also had been in poor health. He had approximately $100 when he disappeared.

Mr. Blondell was wearing a long black overcoat and working clothes. He is partly bald, has a prominent forehead, walks with a limp, wears size 12 shoes despite his short five-foot-six stature and has a sailor tattoo on his right arm.

Police have not discounted the possibility of foul play.

Shepherdstown Register, Shepherdstown, WV; Thursday, Aug 15, 1901; Vol: 36; Page: 3; (GenealogyBank.com):

"Notes from Nearby":

Mr. Jay H. Blondell and Miss Annie B. (sic) Hardy, both of Martinsburg, were married in Hagerstown a few days ago.

Obituary -- The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); Wednesday, 24 Mar 1948; Page 30; (Newspapers.com):

BLONDELL - On Tuesday, March 23. Mrs. Anna A. Blondell, wife of Jay H., of 411 Island Ave., McKees Rocks; mother of Mrs. Lillian McFadden, of Niles, Ohio and Charles Robey. Friends received at McDemott Bros, 1225 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. Services on Friday, March 26, at 2 p.m.

The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois); Saturday, 14 Dec 1907; Page 10; (Newspapers.com):

Marriage Licenses

Milton P. Lent, Elizabeth M. Blindell (sic), ages 40-30.

Obituary -- The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana; Tuesday, 29 Oct 1957; Page 11; (Ancestry.com):

Mrs. Elizabeth Lent

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth M. Lent, 80 years old, 4240 Cornelius Avenue, who was found dead Saturday in her home, will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Flanner and Buchanan Fall Creek Mortuary. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Lent was born at Martinsburg, W.Va. and had lived in Indianapolis for the last 52 years. She was a member of the Fairview Presbyterian Church.

A niece, Mrs. George Lippincott of Cambridge, MD., and a nephew, George R. Hollida of Martinsburg, W.Va., survive.

Shepherdstown Register, Shepherdstown, WV; Thursday, March 30, 1899; Vol: 34; Page: 4; (GenealogyBank.com):

Mr. George S. Hollida, one of Berkley County's popular young men, and Mis Rosa Lee (sic) Blondel, daughter of Mr. John H. Blondel, were married Tuesday evening at the home of the bride in Martinsburg, Rev. Dr. J. A. Hoffbeins performing the ceremony. After the wedding a reception was held, when a number of relatives and friends tendered their congratulations to the happy couple. The bride and groom took a train later for a trip to Washington. We extend to them our best wishes for their future happiness.

NOTE: About six years after Sarah passed, George remarrid:

Shepherdstown Register; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Thursday, February 5, 1920; Page 2 (GenealogyBank.com):

Wedding Bells

A wedding to which peculiar interest attaches occurred in Martinsburg last Saturday, when Miss Rose Lee Cline was married to Mr. George Shannon Hollida, Rev. Dr. Fred Wagner, of the Lutheran Church, officiating.? ? The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's father, Mr. D. Aaron Cline, who at the same time celebrated his 96th birthday.? ? The patriarchal father of the bride is the oldest resident of Martinsburg, and is also the Oldest Odd Fellow in West Virginia.? ? After the wedding Mr. and Mrs. Hollida left on a wedding trip to Cumberland.? ? The groom has friends in this neighborhood, who will wish for him and his wife great happiness.

NOTE: After Sarah died, George remarried to Rosa Lee Cline on 31 JAN 1920, daughter of D. Aaron Cline.

Death notice -- Pioneer Press, Martinsburg, West Virginia; April 4, 1914; image 2; (Chronicling America, Library of Congress; Internet):

In the death of Mrs. Rosalie Hollida, daughter of Mr. John H. Blondel, this city lost one of its best women. She was a devoted daughter, a loving wife, a tender, careful and dutiful mother.

OBITUARY - Shepherdstown Register; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Thursday, April 2, 1914; Volume 49, Page 4 (GenealogyBank.com):

Mrs. Sarah Rosalie Hollida, wife of Mr. George S. Hollida, died at her home in Martinsburg early last Sunday, after a long period of ill health, age 34 years. The deceased, who was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Blondel, was a sweet and lovable woman, and she calmly faced death with quiet resignation, passing away peacefully. Besides her husband and two children, she is survived by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She was buried in Martinsburg on Tuesday.

Articles:

Woodlynne News - Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey); Friday, 24 Sep 1926; Page 21; (Newspapers.com):

The local W. C. T. U. was represented at the forty-first annual convention of the Camden County Women's Christian Temperance Union, held yesterday in the North Baptist Church, Camden, by the following delegates, Mrs. Mary Louise Scott, Mrs. Emma Blondell, Mrs. Effie Havens, Mrs. Mary Farrow and Mrs. Caroline Walton. Mrs. Scott was honored by being elected corresponding secretary for Camden County.

Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey); Thursday, 14 Oct 1926; Page 8; (Newspapers.com):

Convention Echoes Heard by W. C. T. U.

The second fall meeting of the Woodlynne W. C. T. U. was held on Tuesday evening at the home of Mrs. Frank Havens, of Parker avenue. Devotional services were in charge of Mrs. Emma Blondell.

Echoes from the county convention were given by Mrs. Mary Louise Scott, Mrs. Frank Havens and Mrs. Emma Blondell.

.................."

Shepherdstown Register, Shepherdstown, WV; Thursday, March 30, 1899; Vol: 34; Page: 4; (GenealogyBank.com):

Mr. George S. Hollida, one of Berkley County's popular young men, and Mis Rosa Lee (sic) Blondel, daughter of Mr. John H. Blondel, were married Tuesday evening at the home of the bride in Martinsburg, Rev. Dr. J. A. Hoffbeins performing the ceremony. After the wedding a reception was held, when a number of relatives and friends tendered their congratulations to the happy couple. The bride and groom took a train later for a trip to Washington. We extend to them our best wishes for their future happiness.

NOTE: About six years after Sarah passed, George remarrid:

Shepherdstown Register; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Thursday, February 5, 1920; Page 2 (GenealogyBank.com):

Wedding Bells

A wedding to which peculiar interest attaches occurred in Martinsburg last Saturday, when Miss Rose Lee Cline was married to Mr. George Shannon Hollida, Rev. Dr. Fred Wagner, of the Lutheran Church, officiating.? ? The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's father, Mr. D. Aaron Cline, who at the same time celebrated his 96th birthday.? ? The patriarchal father of the bride is the oldest resident of Martinsburg, and is also the Oldest Odd Fellow in West Virginia.? ? After the wedding Mr. and Mrs. Hollida left on a wedding trip to Cumberland.? ? The groom has friends in this neighborhood, who will wish for him and his wife great happiness.

NOTE: After Sarah died, George remarried to Rosa Lee Cline on 31 JAN 1920, daughter of D. Aaron Cline.

Death notice - Evening Star; Washington, D.C.; Wednesday, April 15, 1931; Page 5 (Newspapers.com)

Berkeley man Stricken

MARTINSBURG, W. Va., April 15 (Special). -- George S. Hollida, 68, native of this county and member of a well known Berkeley County family, died suddenly at his home yesterday, the result of a heart attack.

Newspaper article - Shepherdstown Register; Shepherdstown; Saturday, February 10, 1883; Page 3 (GenealogyBank.com)

LETTER FROM NEWTOWN.

NEWTOWN, January 29, 1883

Messrs. Editors. -- The company of cave explorers, under command of Miss Bettie Billmyer, of Jefferson County, proceeded to the cave at Whiting's Neck, prepared with ropes, torches, ladders, &c. Of the original large company only the following responded to the roll-call at the mouth of the cavern: Misses Ida Lemen, Mollie and Jennie Hollida, John Hollida, Esq., of Scrabble City, and Messers. John H. Lemen, Thomas Turner, George Folk, Jr. and George S. Hollida. At the point where daylight is gone a council was held and pilots appointed. Mr. John Hollida, having been in the late war, was chosen to protect the ladies from bats. The pilots kneeled and advanced single file, the rest following. There is not room to turn in the narrow passage of 100 feet. Then there was a grandly ceilinged room, with pillars and fountains, and dangerous openings in the floor, after which there was a long avenue to the dining hall, on to the brink of the cliff, down which the party was lowered by ropes to the firm bottom below, about fifty feet. Then along narrow ledges to the war-paint mountain. Having painted each other's faces, a positive proof to the outside world that they had been to the present terminus of the cave, the pilots were lowered to the bottom of some rooms that were flooded with water, and they had to be drawn back. After four hours had been used up in this way the ascent to the outside world was made safely, nobody hurt, and everybody glad they had explored partly the nineteenth century wonder.

NOTE: George is shown twice in the 1900 census - on June 7th boarding out in Martinsburg without his family & on June 27th in the house on North Queen with his wife & son. In both records he is a night clerk at a hotel.

After Sarah Rosalie "Rosalie" (Blondel) Hollida died, George later married Rosa Lee Cline (Saturday, 31 Jan 1920, daughter of D. Aaron Cline).

George's death certificate says he was going to be buried in the Old Norbourne Cemetery (aka Norbourne Parish Cemetery); however, his Find a Grave memorial says George and his second wife are buried in Green Hill Cemetery.

Obituary (via Findagrave.com):

WOODSTOCK, Va. - Virginia "Ginny" Brunk Hollida, 97, of Craven Hall, Woodstock, Va., formerly of Martinsburg, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, at the Rosedale Cemetery, Martinsburg. The Rev. James Embrey will officiate.

Mrs. Hollida was born March 13, 1908, in Singers Glenn, Va., daughter of the late Rev. John H. and Viola Funk Brunk.

She was formerly employed by Potomac Edison Power and Citizens National Bank of Martinsburg, before leaving the work force to become a full time wife and mother. She was a member of Christ Reformed Church and the Dillon Sunday School Class. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Mrs. Hollida married George Reynolds Hollida on April 16, 1934, in Baltimore, Md.

She was preceded in death by her husband; five brothers, Welby Brunk, Edgar Brunk, Joseph Brunk, Byard Brunk and Dwight Brunk; and two sisters, Leona Stewart and Marguerite Landis.

Mrs. Hollida is survived by a son, George S. and his wife, Mary C. Hollida of Maurertown, Va.; a sister, Dorothy B Michael of Martinsburg; three grandchildren, Laurie Thomas of Edgewater, Fla., Tammy Weigel of Dublin, Ga. and Tony Bauserman of Maurertown, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Joshua Thomas, Lauren Weigel, Matthew Weigel, Paige Weigel, Justin Bauserman and Trevor Kerns; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Sun-Gazette (Williamsport, PA) Thursday, November 3, 2005.