KINFOLK
FAMILY OF MICHEAL AND RACHEL ELMA CRISLIP THRASH
THE THRASH FAMILY IN AMERICA (cont.)
NEXT - Family of Marion James Thrash & Lillie Josephine Henderson
III. Micheal Thrash was born January 2, 1834, in Hampshire County, W. Va. He died October 5, 1903, in Braxton County, W. Va. He and Rachel Elma Crislip were married Sept. 11, 1856.
Rachel was born Aug. 26, 1838, in what is now Barbour Co., W. Va., but at the time of her birth the area was a part of Harrison Co. She died March 30, 1909, in Braxton Co., and both are buried in Big Run Cemetery, near Napier, W. Va., where they
owned a store. There is a monument at Micheal's grave but none at Rachel's. There is a space between Grandfather's grave and that of their youngest child, Dora Alice Thrash Rader, so I assume that Grandmother is buried there. They were the parents
of 14 children, namely:
IV. 1. Minerva Ellen Thrash, born I-26-1857. Died 10-21-1937. Married
John J. Wilson. They had the following four children:
V. 1. Daisy, born 1883, m.
William Clayton. No children.
2. Emma, born 1885, m.
Roy Coogle. Children:
VI. James, John, Robert and Ellen.
3. Layafette, born 1887, m.
Minnie Davis. Children:
VI. Hector, Norma (Others?)
4. Orma, m.
Russell Clyde Musgrave.
VI. Clyde Wilson Musgrave, (Clyde Wilson Musgrave drowned at
Rivesville, W, Va. in 1950 or 1951.) m.
Genevieve Hankins, first wife. They had three
children, listed below;
Chloe Shimer. Second wife. They had no children.
VII. 1. Richard Lee
2.
Eleanor Jane
3.
Barbara Ann.
VI. John Edgar, m.
Patricia Ann Merrill, 7-2-1949.
They had at least one
child, Ronald Edgar, Born 4-10-1952.
IV. 2. Mary Catherine Thrash (Molly) Born I-27-1858. Died 8-I1-1916 in a
car accident between Jane
Lew and Weston, W. Va. M.
Theodore Allman. They had nine children:
V. 1. Guy Allman, born 9-28-1879. Married
Mary Blanche Musser, born 8-31-1880. Died in the
early 1940's.
They had three children:
VI. 1. Clay Julius, married
Helen Rice, Their children are:
VII. 1. Nancy Jean, born
9-15-1935;
2.
Carol Ann, 1-17-1937;
3.
Peter, 11-11-1938
VI. 2. Mildred Christine, born 4-10-1912. Unmarried in 1941.
VI. 3. John Kimmel, born 5-12-1919. Married and had one son,
VII.
John Kimmel, Jr. in the early 1940's.
V. 2. Zelma Allman, m.
Howard Hammer. They had one daughter,
VI. Geraldine Hammer. Zelma died in 1949.
3. Lora Allman, m.
Byron Bailey. They had a son and a daughter,
Catherine.
4. Clyde, died unmarried.
5. Floy Allman, m.
Hue Ramsburg
6. Arzie
7. Russell
8. Raymond
9. Hazel
Aunt "Molly" Allman lived near Valley Chapel, a village not far from Weston. When we moved to Pricetown and served the Valley Chapel Church she was still remembered by many people as a wonderful Christian
woman. Ruby and I visited her and Aunt Lettie's family in the summer of 1913. I was just short of six years old, and it was she who bought me the doll which was the pride and joy of my childhood I still have that doll, as well as the one bought for
me by my parents two or three years later. That one visit gave me an abiding love for Aunt Mollie. Her children were all grown and she gave me a lot of attention and affection. I wanted to spend our entire visit with her, although Aunt Lettie had a
boy just my age, one just older and another a little younger. Her daughters were about Ruby's age, so Ruby wanted to stay at Aunt Lettie's all the time.
IV. 3. Barbara Upresha, b. 5-1-1859 d.7-20-1861
4. Anthony Ward Thrash, 9-20-1861 to 12-12-1937, m. 10-4-1887
Harriett Mendens Ash, 10-4-1887 Died in the 1940's.
Four children:
V. 1. Byrl, born 9-13-1889, died at birth.
2. Oris Loyal Thrash, born 1-11-1891 married 12-9-1912.
(Recorded in Book #3, page 93, in Harrison County, W. Va. Married
Pearl Law. They had at least one child, Wilma
Pearl Thrash.
Her first husband was a
Trisbie," by name. She had a son by him.
3. Eileen Westfall Thrash, born 7-16-1897. (She probably would be
surprised to learn that
her birth is recorded as "Iolene" in the
court house in
Clarksburg, W. Va. Book 4, page 32.) She married
Alison Raleigh Wolf, on June 16, 1917. He was born
11-8-1889.
They had three children:
VI. 1. Alison Raleigh, Jr., born 6-21-1918. married
Edna Almond in 1941.)
2. Robert Nelson, born 2-28-1920.
3. Richard Lee, born 1-4-1931.
4. Leo Moore Thrash, born 5-28-1904. Leo ran the Thrash Insurance Agency
in Buckhannon, W. Va.,
but died in middle age. Married
Zelma Diamond, April 20, 1935. They had two children,
VII. 1. James Anthony, born 9-4-1940 and
2. Sue Amy born 8-2-1942.
IV. 5. Andrew Johnson. The Bible record shows his birth as Feb or March 20, 1863,
and that he died 11-6-1866, but the court house
records in Philippi show
his birth as 9-17-1862. Evidently the Bible
record was made later and is
inaccurate.
6. John William Thrash, born 9-20-1864. Died 1957. He married
Margaret Caroline Post Crislip, who was the widow of one of his cousins,
and the mother of four children. She was born 8-16-1855 and died
3-1-1929.
Her children by her first husband were:
V. 1. Theodore Ernest, b. 1-14-1875, d. 1935.
2. Albert George, b. 7-25-1876, d. ---.
3. Icy Maud, born 8-25-1878.
(Troy R. Brady preached her funeral Feb. 22, 1940.)
4. Miram David, b. 11-5-1880, d. ---.
V. 1-2. First two children were twins, Voyle and Vella, born 2-24-1885.
Voyle lived only five days; Vella died in 1969. Vella was married two times, and she had two sons. One son, Lester Thrash, whom Uncle Johnny reared. Lester married Mary Catherine Ellis. They had at least
two children, Sheila Catherine, b. 7-11-1944 and Ny Lynn, born 9-11-1946. Vella's other son was a minister, Ralph Hawkins. He married Mabel Benjamin on Feb. 18, 1947. Vella's only daughter was by her second husband, El Howell, Her name was
Marguerite Howell. She had one daughter in the 1940's, whose given name was Mary Margaret. Lester Thrash died 4-30-1988.
3. Floy, born
4-8-1888. He married
Carrie Marrill, and they
had only one son.
His given name, Marion, for my father, Marion James Thrash. ETB
4. Amy, b. 2-24-1891 d. 7-7-1991. Born on Copen Run. m. 1-1-1908
Esta Calvin Wilson, b.
3-23-1889
VI. 1. Gertrude, b. 9-23-1908 d. 1993
John Henry Davis, b. 9-30-1905
VII. 1. John
Henry, Jr. b. 9-12-1928
2. Amy Margaret, b. 1-7-1930
Jesse Stewart
3. Patricia Ann, b. 7- -1931
4. Nancy Lee, b. 4-_-1934
5. Paul Wayne, b. 2-11-1945
VI. 2. Esta Calvin, Jr. b. 9-14.1911
Virginia Oavis, b. 9- -1915
VII. 1. Gerry
Sue, b. 7-29-1942
VI. 3. Margaret Geraldine, b. 9-8-1912 m.9-_-1934 d.
1993
4. Jasper William,
b. 4-19-1914 d. 1932
5. Lorraine
Virginia, b. 4-1-1915
Fred Straight -
VII. 1. Roger Keith
Straight, b. 1-2-1967
VI. 6. Ernest Lloyd, b. 5-10-1919
Maxine See
VII. 1.
Ernest Lloyd, Jr.
2. William Terry, b. 11-28-1946 d.1949
VI. 7. Marine, b. 1923(?) d. 1928
V. 5. Orval, b., 1-26-1894
Ina Wright
VI. 1. Maud
Edward Holt
2. Lorrene
VII. 1. Clyde Edward
Holt
V. 6. William Brown Thrash, b. 1-22-1898 d. 1934 m.
Reeva Matheney, b.
8-20-1902 d. 1986
VI. 1. John William Died 2-9-1994
June (We met them at the Crislip reunion in 1983.)
VII. Patricia
VI. 2. Jackson Calvin
3. Margaret, m.
Dave Schauffner
4. Elizabeth
(Betty)
IV. 7. Helen Eleanor Jane Thrash, b. 3-15-1866 d. 12-7-1937 m. 10-14-1890
John Fox, 2-12-1854 d. 2-16-1931
V. 1. Mary Alta, b. 6-24-1891, d. 9-7-1900 in Copen, W. Va,
2. John Odbert, b. 1-2-1893 d. 12-10-1980 m. 5-27-1916
Martha Guyer, b. 9-1-1892 d.
8-16-1970. No Children.
3. Ortho Caleman, b. 6-27-1894 d. 1- -1961 m. 1921
Emma Jane Mayo
VI. 1. Walter Clyde Fox, b. 3-20-1922
V. 4. Orville Fox, b. 7-9-1895 d. 7-12-1895
5. Arlie Lee Fox, b. 5-27-1898 d. 5-24-1972
Ida May Stipe, b. 12-3-1900 d.
3-7-1970 m. 11-7-1924
VI. 1. Carol Virginia Fox, b. 12-17-1926
V. 6. James Vodre, b. 2-15-1899 d. 2-27-1901
7. Dorsey Dane Fox, b. 11-18-1901 d. 12-23-1980
Icie Gainer, b. 9-23-1939 d.
8-12-1980
8. Dallas Kyle, b. 6-13-1905 d. 6-13-1980
Buvella Marguerite Miller, 3-29-1905
d. 5-13-1978
VI. 1. Bradley K. Fox, 12-5-1939 (adopted)
I received all the early dates on this page from Aunt Helen Thrash Fox. The later ones were supplied by her son, John O. Fox, in Pittsburgh, when we stopped there in August of 1978. He lived within a block
of the house his parents had owned before retiring, They had returned to Lewis County W. Va., where both died. We had exchanged letters concerning genealogy so I almost felt I knew him. His wife's sister and brother were living with him and Esther
(Lightner) had a lovely lunch for us. We had stayed the night before with friends in Morgantown, so got there early enough for a good visit before going on to Akron. John and Esther both kept thanking us for coming. John said it was the most
enjoyable day he had had in years.
I received a letter from Esther, written Jan. 9, 1981 telling me of the deaths of John and his last two brothers. All died in 1980. John was working on his reminiscences, which he called "Fox Tales", at the time of our visit. After he finished he
sent me a copy. This was the first time I had ever seen this first cousin and I enjoyed so much getting acquainted with him.
THRASH, CONTINUED (Henry Jackson, Lydia Virginia, Lettie Hannah)
IV. 8. Henry Jackson, 5-23-1868 to 2-1-1875
IV. 9. Lydia Virginia Thrash, 5-21-1870 to 8-21-1921
William David Birch, 12-3-1861 to 5-25-1913
V. Chloe, 5-3-1894 Married 8-3-1915
Ira Medlin Smith, 1-13-1894
VI. 1. Harry William Smith, 3-23-1917. Married 10-25-1941
Edna Ruth Wise, b. 9-12-1923
VII. 1. Harry William, Jr. 2-4-1943
2. Robert Paul, 9-23-1944
3. Floyd Birch Smith, 12-5-1949
(The above information on Aunt Lydia's family was given to me by her daughter, Chloe, at the time that she gave me all her mother's family pictures. I think Aunt Lydia was Mother's favorite sister-in-law.
The "Virginia" part of my name was for her. Mother suggested that I be named Lydia Elizabeth, but Aunt Lydia said, "Name her Virginia Elizabeth. Lydia is an ugly name.")
IV. 10. Lettie Hannah Thrash, 12-31-1872 to 11-28-1947. Married 10-27-1897
Alvadore Hughes, 1-26-1872
V. 1. Rosemary, 10-19-1898. Died the day she was born.
2. Lorraine Regina, 6-9-1900 Died ----, married 12-22-1922 to
Harry Ceager Bee, 8-18-1898
VI. 1. Harry Hughes Bee, 6-24-1923 m.
Ethlyn Geraldine Mmbrell, 6-27-1924 (They had had two
children by the time of the death of Aunt Lettie.) One was
named Harry Hughes, Jr, born 5-25-1943 and died 10-24-1943.
2. Ruth Annabelle, 9-26-1924
3. James Robert, 8-21-1926
4. Patricia Lee, 7-29-1934
5. Donald Kyle, 7-3-1936
6. Carol Eileen, 4-9-1941 (Stillborn)
V. 3. Letha Garnet, 11-26-1901 Died 1218-1933. Twice married.
James Raymond Hyde, married in May of 1926; d.12-18-1931
Elbert F. Garton (Letha married Garton after the death of
Hyde.)
VI. 1. Harold Ronald Hyde, 414-1927
2. Billy Raymond Hyde, 1-27-1930
3. Carol Lee Garton, 9-19-1933 (Carol Lee Garton was
only three months
old when her mother died,
of what was then called "hasty consumption."
Aunt Lettie reared Billy.
Letha's brother, Lester, reared Ronald and
Garton kept his daughter,
along with six or eight children by his first wife,
who also died.)
V. 4. Lester David, 3-10-1904 m. 6-23-1929
Sarah Olive McIntire: No children of their own.
Divorced after several years of marriage.
5. Harold Elwin, 9-12-1907, m. 4-26-1930
Mildred Zinn, 3-25-1912
VI. 1. Charles Harold, 11-4-1932
2. Roger Lee, 12-6-1940
V. 6. Rupert Earl, 5-28-1911, m. 9-5-1933
Marjorie Lee Fisher, 1-31-1915
VI. 1. Nancy Lee, 4-24-1935
2. David Rupert, 7-15-1937
3. Robert Franklin, 9-22-1940
IV. 11. Marion James Thrash and Lillie Josephine Henderson Thrash's family belong here in the Thrash family records, but since my records are so extensive on this, my own
family, they are listed separately. CLICK HERE
IV. 12. Addie Leonie, b. 7-6-1877 d. 2-10-1936. Died at Atwater, Ohio. Married 10-9-1902
Howard Swisher, 6-13-1872 to 7-26-1942
V. 1. Rachel Elma Swisher, 1-29-1904 d. 5-26-1994
Paul Day 3-18-1902 d. 1981
VI. 1. Richard James Day, 3-4-1930. Married 8-18-1961
Judith Ann Baltz
VII. 1. Richard James, Jr., 9-28-1962
2. Marsia Elaine,
5-6-1965
VI. 2. Marilyn Ann, 6-28-1932 (Retarded)
V. 2. Thomas Nelson Swisher, 1-6-1907
Jane Stultz
VI. 1. Thomas, 3-20-1939
2. Beverly Ka, 3-3-1941
IV. 13. Claudius Hamilton, 12-23-1878 to 12-28-1950 (No children),
Emma Norman
IV. 14. Dora Alice Thrash, 5-23-1880 to 9-11-1932
(Her death is recorded in Death Records Book, page 193, as Dora Ellen, but that is wrong. A sister was Minerva Ellen. Her teen age children probably supplied the
information, or it was recorded incorrectly.) She is buried in the Big Run Cemetery, where her parents are buried, near Napier, W. Va. She evidently placed the stone after the death of her husband, for the date of his birth and death are on the
stone, but only her birth is on it. She lived only eighteen months after his death. He died in the state hospital in Weston, W. Va., where he had been a patient for several years. His daughter, Mary, inherited his mental illness and spent short
periods in mental institutions. While doing research in the court house at Sutton we were told that Mary had terminal cancer.
IV. 14. Dora Alice Thrash, 5-23-1880 to 9-11-1932
Burton Clay Rader, 3-5-1880 to 6-5-1931
(Death recorded in Records Book 5, page 165, at Weston, W. Va.)
V. 1. Mary Elma Rader, b. 4-13-1909 d. 12-9-1977 (Letter from Paul gave date of death)
William Beard Cook, 7-13-1908. Died in the 1970's.
2. Pauline Rader, 1-25-1911 to 2-10-1932.
Cecil Dewey James (Her death recorded in book 5, page 89.
Certificate gives acute appendicitis. She was
pregnant at the time of her death.
No other children.)
3. Paul Thrash Rader
4. James Homer Rader, b. 12-10-1916 d. 8-22-1980 (Letter from Paul)
5. Camden Ralph Rader, 5-12-1918
Arlene Nelson 1917
VI. 1. Carolyn Sue Rader, 10-26-1939
2. Mina Louise, b. 9-_-1941 d. 12-_-1941
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MICHEAL THRASH'S WILL
A copy of the will of Micheal Thrash, great-grandfather of Marion and Howard Brady, on their mother's side. It is recorded in Will Book #5, Page 4 in the Braxton County Court House, in Sutton, West
Virginia. (The first name is spelled at least three different ways in legal and family records. At the top of this will it is "Michial," in the body of the will "Micheal," and in his father, John Thrash's will and in the family Bible held by John
William Thrash of Rivesville, West Virginia, until his death in 1958, it is spelled, "Michael." I have tried to copy the will exactly, although there are errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. in the original.)
I Micheal Thrash of Napier in the county of Braxton and state of West virginia Merchant being of sound and
disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, herby revokeing all former wills by me at any time hertofore made, As to my worldly estate and all the property both real and personal or mixed of
which i shall die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, I devise bequeathe and dispose thereof in the manner following to wit: My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall by my
executor herinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient, I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Minerva Layman, ten dollors, to my daughter Mollie C. Allman I give ten dollors to my
daughter Hannah L Hughs I give ten dollors, to my daughter Hellen E. Fox I give ten dollors, to my son Anthony W. Thrash I give ten dollors, to my son John W. Thrash I give ten dollors, to my daughter Addie Swisshr I give ten dollors, to my
daughter Lydia Birch I give ten dollors, to my son Marion J. Thrash I give ten dollors, to my daughter Dora Thrash I give ten dollors, to my son Claud H. Thrash I give the residue of my property both real and personal Who is to comfortable
support my wife Rachel Thrash dureing her natural life, in case the said Claud H. Thrash shall fail to comfortable support the said Rachel Thrash, she is herby authorized to take possession of sufficient property to secure the maintaince
herin named, the amount of ten dollars to each of my ten children hertofore named shall be paid by my executor within two years after my death, and tastily I do nominate and appoint my son Claud H. Thrash, to the executor of this my last will
and testament, without security, In witness wherof I the said Micheal Thrash, have to this my last will and testament subscribed my names and affixed my seal this 28 day of September 1903,
his
Micheal (X) Thrash
(seal)
Mark
Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Michael Thrash as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each
other have subscribed our names as witnesses therto.
(tics)
Mathew Walton, resideing at Napier Braxton county
West Virginia.
J. B, Norman, resideing at napier Braxton County
West Virginia.
Recorded October 7th, 1903
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Michael Thrash letter and Comments
by the (Kinfolk) book's author, Elizabeth Thrash Brady
(photocopy of Micheal Thrash letter below)
Sept. 23, 1993.
I was very indignant when I discovered the Will of my grandfather, Michael Thrash, and saw that it had been signed with an "X", which was usual for people who could not write their names. I felt sure that
he was not illiterate, since he owned a country store at the time of his death. After checking the dates I was sure I understood the estrangement that always seemed to exist between my Uncle Claud and the rest of the siblings.
The will was crudely typed, probably by Claud, and signed by witnesses on the 28th day of September, 1903. All the offspring of Michael and Rachel Elma Crislip Thrash were called home because of the expected death of their father. The two family
pictures reproduced for this book were taken on October the 4th, 1903. He died the next day, exactly one week after the signing of the will. Two days later the will was recorded at the court house.
Claud and the youngest child, Dora, were still at home with both parents. A reading of the will would lead anyone to the conclusion that undue pressure had been exerted on a man too sick and weak to sigh his own name. Uncle Claud and Aunt Dora were
still single and at home, yet Claud got everything, including all personal property as well as the real estate. The other ten children were left $10.00 each, to be paid to them by Claud within two years. No security was required, so I wonder if
they even received that. Claud was to look after Grandmother but he never seemed close to any other member of the family after Grandfather's death, and he placed no marker for her grave. I guess the rest of the children felt that that was his
responsibility. Ruby said she thought Grandmother did live with him until her death. However, Rachel Swisher (Day), an older cousin, said Grandmother lived with Aunt Dora (Rader) and died there.
I was convinced that my understanding of this situation was accurate when I became acquainted with Virginia Thrash Chapman, of Johnstown, West Virginia, in 1984. She showed me the following letter,
which she had found among other papers, belonging to her grandfather, a younger half-brother of Michael. Virginia and her husband own the old farm where John Thrash III and his second wife, Prudence Hickman Thrash, had lived at the time of their
deaths.
Aunt Dora Rader and her husband, Burton, are buried on the Thrash lot. Evidently Aunt Dora had their markers placed soon after Uncle Burt's death. His stone is cut with the dates of his birth and death (1880-1931) but hers has only her birth
(1880). She died the next year, just seven months after the death of her daughter, Pauline Rader James. We visited Aunt Dora in the summer of 1932 and she died a month or so later. She was still able to be up, but was in bad condition with much
swelling in her legs and body.
We are not to think of Michael as being uneducated for that period of our history. The small. "i" and the deep indentation for the salutation were perfectly acceptable for that day. The tablet paper, on which the letter is written, must be acid
free for after almost 100 years it is remarkably white and in good condition. I appreciate so much Virginia's generosity in giving it to me.
I thought the letter would add a little human interest for the descendants of Michael Thrash to enjoy. A genealogy is rather dull reading in spite of all an amateur researcher can do!
Letter from Michael Thrash to his half-brother (Worthington?)
 
(Letter transcribed below)
Copen Braxton Co Wv
Sept the 7th
Dear brother
i seat myself to drop you a few lines. i landed home from your place a short time ago and acording to promise i have Been looking around enquiring about stock. i can not
find any place that you can trade your horse to any advantage. Yearling cattle The kind you want is not very plentiful in this neighborhood however There is some if you was here you might gather a Bunch by taking one or two at a place i think
they can be bought for about 3, cts
I have been laid up with Rheumatism ever since i was at your home not able to do any work at all. i have been somewhat uneasy about you since i was there. i would love to hear from you. i
hope you are well and be able to be up tending to business. There is a good deal of sickness in this part of the country. one of the neighbors died since i came home, a stout young man. we cant tell when death will come so it would be better for
us if we could be ready any and all the time. write to me and let me know how you are and if you are coming out or not. i will close i am so nervous.
M. Thrash
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The Brady Trilogy I Reclaimed Memories - (1991) I Pop Troy's
Anthology - ( 1992) I Kinfolk - (1994)
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