Bio-Farabee, Cleveland

Cleveland Farabee
(1884-1935)

On Aug. 28, 1907, 23-year-old Cleve married 18-year-old Grace Leona Cumley (1891-1913), daughter of George and Katharine (Ireland) Cumley. James E. Darby performed the wedding ceremony.

When Cleve was in his early 20s, he worked as a "portrait agent," likely selling photographs from a local studio. In the photograph seen at right, he and Grace stand together, while he pulls a string that snaps the camera shutter.

Cleve's work as a photographer is further evidenced by a group of old glass negatives found in his attic many years later. His first cousin, Ward C. Miner, also was a professional photographer of that era, first in Washington, Washington County, PA, and later near Denver, CO.

The Farabees resided in the Morrisville section of Waynesburg, Greene County, PA and belonged to the Morrisville Methodist-Protestant Church.

Tragically, Grace suffered from tuberculosis. On May 17, 1913, she died from its devastating effects, just eight days after her 22nd birthday. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Rush, with burial in the Oakmont Cemetery near town.

Cleve registered for the military draft during World War I, and listed his occupation as miner for Farabee Bros.

After five years as a widower, Cleve married housekeeper Jessie (Wendell) Barnhart (1885-1971), daughter of Andrew "Jackson" and Mary (Davis) Wendell. The wedding took place on March 30, 1918, by the hand of John H. Debolt. Jessie had been married once before, and brought her daughter into the Farabee household, Edna Mildred (Barnhart) Zollars.

They resided at Morrisville, near Waynesburg, PA, in a cluster of four homes owned by his parents and brothers. Cleve worked as a “catcher” in the local tin mill.

Glass plate photo scenes from Cleve's coal mine in Dotysburg, PA

Circa 1918, Cleve and his brother Clinton Theodore Farabee were partners in a small coal mine close in nearby Dotysburg, Greene County. The mine did not produce much, and the operations were decidedly "low technology," with coal wagons pulled by mules.

The Farabees enjoyed camping and other outdoor activities together as a family. In the photo seen at left are, left to right: Mildred, Hazel May, Wilma Gene, Jessie and Cleve.

Cleve suffered from kidney disease and heart problems in the early 1930s. In April 1935, at age 50, and after enduring his illnesses for two years, he died at home of the afflictions. His obituary was published in a local newspaper. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Howard Emerick of Amity, Washington County, with burial in the Oakmont Cemetery, near his parents and brothers.

On Jan. 7, 1943, after eight years as a widow, Jessie married widower Joseph Herman Morris (1886-1964), the son of Lindsey and Margaret (Swearingen) Morris. Herman had several children from a previous marriage to Essie (Belford) Morris, including Samuel Morris, who was killed in World War II. Herman was a mechanic employed the the Pennsylvania State Highway Department and the Greene County Memorial Hospital. Herman died at age 78 on Aug. 11, 1964.

Cleve's newspaper obituary and grave in Waynesburg

Jessie outlived Herman by seven years. She died at Morrisville on Feb. 17, 1971, at the age of 85. She is buried at Greene County Memorial Park.

Daughter Hazel (1907-1944) married Dolph David Walker (1901-1971). They occasionally took their son David to Morrisville for weekend stays with a great-uncle, Oliver J. Farabee. David later authored a memoir of these pleasant childhood experiences, entitled Visits With Uncle "Ol." Sadly, Hazel passed away shortly after her 36th birthday, on Jan. 31, 1944, at the Greene County Memorial Hospital in Waynesburg. Dolph outlived her by more than a quarter of a century, and died on Feb. 12, 1971 at Washington Hospital in Washington, PA. They are buried in unmarked graves at the Amity Cemetery in Washington County. Son David served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Daughter Gene (1919-1993) married James M. Newkirk (1910-1995) on June 25, 1938. He was a coal miner at Gateway Mine for 36 years, and retired in 1976. Gene passed away on Feb. 28, 1993. James outlived her by two years, and died on May 14, 1995. They are buried at Greene County Memorial Park in Waynesburg.

Grandson David Walker in Korea during the war

Stepdaughter Edna Barnhart (1905-1957) married James Russell Zollars, Sr. They resided near Waynesburg, and were members of the Morrisville Methodist Church. The Zollarses had 12 children -- Ivanore Knisley Foster, Wilma Deary, James R. Zollars Jr., Dolores Cox, Donna Harrier, Patricia Mathison, Billie Zollars, Judith Adamson, Bonnie Cain, Cheryl Wise, Carol Jean Zollars and Robert Allan Zollars. Edna passed away after a long illness, at age 51, on Jan. 11, 1957.

The Newkirks had a son, James L. Newkirk, who circa 1965 as employed with Hussey Copper Range in Leetsdale, Allegheny County, PA.