Martha
(Harbaugh) Laughery
(1865-1933)
Martha Jane "Mattie" (Harbaugh) Laughery was born on May 24, 1865 on a farm at what is now Clairton Lake near Scullton, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of David and Mary Magdalene (Whipkey) Harbaugh.
On Nov. 21, 1889, when she was 24, Mattie married David Leander Laughery (1858- ? ), the son of Daniel and Cathran Ann (Harbaugh) Laughery of Dunbar, Fayette County, PA. David was seven years older than his bride.
The
Laugherys' children were Cathleen
Martin, Mary Lou Laughery, Leona Wilkerson, Ira Hubert Laughery, Arthur Davis
Laughery, Anna May Thompson and Willis Harbaugh Laughery. Sadly, Mary Lou died
at the tender age of 3 days.
Some members of the family, though unidentified, are seen here in front of their house in this undated photograph.
In 1909, 14-year-old daughter Leona sent a birthday card to her grandmother Mary Harbaugh, and referred to the recent birth of Leona's brother Willis:
Wishing you a happy birthday. Hellow Grandma, How are you these days. We are all well and hope you the same. The baby is growing. We haven't named him. Our school starts in two weeks.
The Laugherys lived in Vanderbilt, Fayette County, where, according to the Harbaugh History, David was postmaster of the town for many years. Later, they moved eastward to Delaware, settling on a farm there in Farmington. Reasons for this move are not known.
Seen at left, sons Ira (left) and Arthur
pose with a 50 lb. fish they are said to have caught. The date and place are
unknown.
On Dec. 17, 1933, a week before Christmas, Martha died of pneumonia in Farmington. She was a widow at the time, but the facts of her husband's passing are not yet known.
The
Laugherys are
both buried at Harrington, DE.
Daughter Leona, married and living in Greenwood, DE, provided information about the family for the Harbaugh History, published in 1947 by the Coopriders.
Daughter Cathleen married Percy L. Martin. They resided in the Bullskin Township area of Connellsville, Fayette County.
In 1958, son Willis Laughery traveled 340 miles from his home to attend the annual Harbaugh Reunion in Kingwood, Somerset County, and received the "Furthest Traveled" award.
Likewise in 1976-77 and 1991-92, grandson Jack Wilkerson and his wife traveled 336 miles from their residence in Delaware to attend the Harbaugh Reunion and won the award.
Grandson Walter A. Martin (1913-2006) married Sarah Elizabeth Spaugy. The Connellsville Daily Courier said that Walter was "employed at Gatlings Auto Stores and at Agway. He was a charter member of the Bullskin Township Lions Club and a member of the NRA and the Pleasant Valley Grange. [He] was a member and former president of the Bullskin Township School Board and he served with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing and gardening."
Laughery
descendants began holding an annual family reunion in 1964. The family's 43rd
reunion was on Aug. 18, 2007, at the home of Dayna and Rell Winand in West
Chester, PA. Officers of the 2007 reunion were president Tim Douglas, vice
president Kim Douglas, and secretary/treasurer Ron and Peggy Case. All attendees
were asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Copyright © 2000-2003, 2007 Mark A. Miner