George L. Dumbauld, 1884

George Luther Dumbauld was born on Jan. 27, 1834 in either Fayette or Westmoreland County, PA, the son of Jonathan Cable and Elizabeth (Dull) Dumbauld.

He migrated as a boy with his parents to Somerset County -- was an adventurer spending 26 years in American West -- and is pictured and profiled in the 1884 book History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania. 

George grew up learning the flour milling business. In 1849, after gold was discovered in Sutter's Mill, California, the 15-year-old George decided to travel west with some friends to seek their fortune. Their voyage by ship took them to New York and thence through the Isthmus of Panama.

When arriving in Calaveras County, CA, he filed a claim for land and spent three years in placer mining -- panning for gold in streams -- "with reasonable success," said the 1884 History. He then moved to San Joaquin County, CA, and earned a living in farming and milling until 1864.

The federal census enumeration of 1860 shows him to be making a home in Douglass, San Joaquin County, boarding in the household of miller C.C. Rymerson (?) and his wife Mary Ann. Also living under that roof were engineer H.H. Eddy, cook James Cleggato and 70-year-old Nancy Crocker. The census-taker that year spelled his surname "Dumbald."

History of Bedford, Somerset  and Fulton Counties, 1884

He then removed to San Joaquin county, and until 1864 engaged in farming and milling. In the spring of this year he, in common with thousands of others, decided to try his luck in Idaho, and the journey there was made up the coast to Portland, Oregon; up the Columbia river to the Dalles, and from there by means of Indian ponies to the mines on Moore's creek, where he met with gratifying success -- placer mining -- until fall, when he returned to San Joaquin county, and engaged in farming until the fall of 1869, when he returned home via the Union Pacific railroad, which was this year completed, after and absence of fifteen years.

The following spring he returned to California, and located in Merced county, where he took up government land and became among the first farmers, thus demonstrating the fertility of the soil, which had, prior to this time, been doubted. He also engaged in teaming with sixteen mules, which were attached to three and sometimes four wagons fastened together. This was in the mountainous counties of Inyo and Kern, along narrow defiles where the least misstep would have precipitated them down thousands of feet into a yawning abyss below. 

When the United States Census again was taken in 1870, George's post office was Snelling, Merced County, as a boarder in the house of M.D. Abuater. His 21-year-old brother Peter was living there at the same time, with both generating income as farm laborers. Among the other boarders at that time were P.R. Tarr, Peter Holm, Isaac Place, W. Henderson, Joseph Bassett and A. Murphy.

Continued the History: 

He was present when the first church, which was free for all denominations, was dedicated in the Yosemite Valley by Rev. J.H. Vincent, well known among sabbath-school workers. Among the celebrities present were Joseph Cook, of Boston, and Rev. Thomas Gard. In 1880 Mr. Dumbauld decided to return to the land of his fathers, from which he had been absent, except for one brief visit, twenty-six years, and the journey home was via the Southern Pacific railroad.

Upon his return to Somerset County, the longtime bachelor George entered into marriage Mary "Ellen" Faidley (July 6, 1877-1973), daughter of Simon and Nancy (Swarner) Faidley. Ellen was 43 years younger than her husband. (In a twist, George's cousin Jesse F. Ream wed Ellen's sister Anna "Annie" Faidley.) 

They were longtime farmers and produced a family of four children -- Jonathan Beecher Dumbauld II, Ada Savannah Bungard, Olive F. Hall and DeElda Dumbauld.

The family initially resided on a 340-acre farm in Milford Township, which George purchased from Jacob Walker in 1882, two years after his arrival home. The farm operations focused on stock raising and dairying and became such an attractive spread that it was sketched as an illustration for the 1884 History book.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1900, the Dumbaulds were living on a farm in Upper Turkeyfoot Township. In addition to their two children, their newlywed brother-in-law Ross King and his wife Ada resided in the household.

The 1910 U.S. Census shows the family remaining in Upper Turkeyfoot, with all four children under their roof.

Clockwise from upper left: Ada, Jonathan,  Olive, Ellen, DeElda and George Dumbauld

In 1920, the census indicates that the 85-year-old George and 42-year-old Ella were residing with their married son Jonathan and his wife Amelia in Upper Turkeyfoot.

Tragedy shook the family when 13-year-old daughter DeElde (March 10, 1907-1920) died from the effects of "albuminuria," where the urine contains an abormally high amount of protein and leads to heart disease. Her tender remains were lowered into the sleep of ages in the local Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery. 

Also circa 1920, the Dumbaulds' longtime church was renovated, including a two-story addition and a vestibule with a bell tower. New stained glass windows were installed, and George appears to have made a donation to dedicate one of the windows in memory and honor of his family.

In 1924, Ellen and her siblings each received a bequest of $150 from the estate of their late father, as well as an equal share of the remainder of the estate.

George was afflicted during his later years with heart valve problems as well as senility. He died at the age of 94 years, five months and 13 days on July 10, 1928. Following a funeral service preached by Rev. S.A. Miller, burial was in the Kingwood Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Ellen survived him by 45 years.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1930, she resided in the farming household of her son Jonathan and family in Upper Turkeyfoot. She remained with her son during the decade of the 1930s and into 1940, as shown by census records.

Ellen is known to have been active in church volunteerism, including the Willing Workers Sunday School Class. In October 1935, she and others attended the annual session of the West Pennsylvania Eldership of the churches of God. She also was a delegate to the Eldership meeting in late September 1944. She made a financial donation to the American Red Cross fundraising campaign in April 1948. At Mother's Day 1952, she received a special acknowledgement in church as the "oldest mother" in attendance, receiving a pot of African violets.  

George with grandchildren Courtesy Ryan and Michele Sechler

In April 1962, Ellen attended a dinner at the Scullton Rod and Gun Club building for her granddaughter and husband Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brown and sons Kenneth and Roger, visiting from Santa Clara, CA. Reported the Daily American, "There were 40 present for the occasion. Also five generations of Mrs. Ellen Dumbauld were represented. They were Mrs. Dumbauld, Mrs. W.L. Bungard, Mrs. Winfield King, Mrs. Eldon Sechler and Mark Sechler."

Sadly, Ellen endured the heartache of the death of her son Jonathan Beecher Dumbauld II in 1970. At her 95th birthday, in July 1972, she was featured in a story in the Somerset Daily American. The article said that "In good health, she makes her home with her daughter-in-law Mrs. Amelia Dumbauld. With her nineth-fifth birthday comes the distinction of being the oldest member of the Kingwood Church of God."

Then at a church event featuring a sermon by Rev. Paul White, of the Somerset Church of the Brethren, a display of her antique clothing was made by her great-granddaughter, Loretta Sechler.

She passed into eternity on Nov. 8, 1973 at the age of 96, in Amelia's residence. Ellen's obituary in the Daily American repeated the fact that she was the "oldest living member of the Kingwood Church of God" and said she was survived by 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Interment of the remains was in the Dumbauld family plot at the IOOF Cemetery in Kingwood.  

~ Son Jonathan Beecher Dumbauld ~

Son Jonathan Beecher "J.B." Dumbauld II (1896-1970) was born in 1896 in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County and was named after his father's brother.

He spent his entire life in Upper Turkeyfoot.

Jonathan married Amelia E. Schmuck (1901-1980).

They produced one son, Quentin Othello Dumbauld.

Jonathan named on this stone, Kingwood Church of God

Jonathan was described by local newspapers as a prominent dairy farmer and sheep raiser in the region.

The family were longtime members of the Kingwood Church of God, and attended one or more annual sessions of the Churches of God West Pennsylvania Eldership in the mid-1930s. In 1934, when the church building burned to the ground, Jonathan agreed to serve on a Building Committee to reconstruct the structure, along with Younkin cousins Matthew McKinley Younkin and Peter Albert Kreger as well as local banker and contractor David Francis Shultz. In recognition of their services to the congregation, Jonathan's name is inscribed today on a cornerstone type marker embedded on the church exterior brickwork.

Active in other ways in the community, Jonathan belonged to the Farmers Union Mutual Association and Fire Insurance Company and the Kingwood Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the summer of 1955, he was elected vice president of the Somerset County Milking Shorthorn Association. The Dumbaulds endured the senseless death of their 35-year-old married son Quentin in 1955. The family made its home in the outskirts of Rockwood circa 1970.

At the age of 73, Jonathan passed away in Somerset Community Hospital on July 18, 1970. Burial was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Rockwood, with the funeral co-officiated by Rev. Stanley Darrah and Rev. J.I. Kalp.

Amelia survived her husband by a decade. She died in 1980, at age 89.

Son Quentin Othello Dumbauld ( ? -1955) was born on (?). Hew grew up working in the outdoors, especially timbering. He married a cousin, Mildred Kreger (Oct. 25, 1918-2009), daughter of Ross A. and Mentie Alice "Minta" (Younkin) Kreger of the family of Rev. Herman and Susanna (Faidley) Younkin. Upon their marrirage, Mildred's parents held a bridal shower at their home in Kingwood, with a related news story printed in the Somerset Daily American. They were the parents of one son, Gerald Dumbauld. Mildred was a graduate of California (PA) State University and was a longtime teacher in the Rockwood School District, with assignments in the Mount Union School in 1946 and Kingwood circa 1949. The Dumbaulds were active in the Kingwood Church of God, with Quentin elected as a deacon in July 1953 along with Merle Pletcher, Blair Kreger and Wilbur Johnson. He was elected inspector of elections in Upper Turkeyfoot Township in November 1953, garnering 147 votes against 80 for his opponent, Pauline Brougher. The couple also were members of the Kingwood Grange. In April 1955, tragedy descended upon the family when he died in a senseless accident while working. Self employed, he had been in the woods, felling trees, when dead a limb unexpectedly fell and struck his forehead, fracturing his skull and killing him instantly. The widowed Mildred survived by several decades and remained in the Markleton area. She liked to cook and read in her spare time. As a patient in Somerset Hospital at the age of 91, Mildred died on New Year's Eve 2009. An obituary was printed in the Daily American. Rev. James Monticue and Rev. Paul Tobias co-led the funeral service, with burial in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Kingwood.

• Grandson Gerald D. Dumbauld ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). He was a self-employed farmer. On May 27, 1967, he married Joyce Louise Romesburg ( ? - ? ), daughter of Howard G. Romesburg of Garrett, Somerset County. The ceremony was led by Rev. Hillis G. Berkey in the parsonage of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Rockwood. Reported the Somerset Daily American, "The bride was presented in marriage by her father, wearing an Empire bodice of embroidered lace over chiffon with bell sleeves over a satin full-length skirt with detachable train. A three-tier bouffant veil was attached to an organza rose accented with seed pearls. She carried a colonial bouquet of white carnations with lilly-of-the-valley." A year before marriage, Joyce had graduated from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Cumberland, MD and then at the time of marriage as a nurse at Somerset State Hospital. The couple produced a son, Richard Dumbauld. The Dumbaulds lived on an old 191-acre farm originally purchased by Gerald's great-great grandfather, Henry Kreger, in 1857. The farm had been handed down to Christian Kreger, Christian's sons Ross and James Kreger, with Ross and Minta later buying out James' share. The farm then was passed to Ross and Minta's daughters Mildred Dumbauld and Elizabeth Kreger, with Gerald acquiring the tract from them in 1970.