painted by Prudence Vestelva (Jameson) Dangler
As I show these pictures I must include the fine writing of Bessie Elvira (Jameson) Wolcott.
The Jameson Family by Bessie Elvira (Jameson) Wolcott
...He (William Jameson) built his home in a beautiful valley amid the hills of southern Ohio where he with his family had moved. A long rambly house with a rustic fireplace. A sloping yard to a small pebbly stream that, in summer run clear. A lazy little creek winding in and out among the willows and tall corn and cat tails. But when spring or fall rains came it showed its might by swift running water that spread itself out over the bottom lands. The road winding away from the right where stood the Old Grove Church, where the Sears family worshipped, led down through a leafy woodland fringed with fern clinging to clumps of clay in the corners of the rail fence that bordered the road. Around the bend to the old covered bridge, that sheltered many travelers, and has been a landmark in that part of the country. Names carved by jack knives of young men, and older ones sometimes, still stand in memory of many who now sleep in the churchyard upon the hill. The view back of the house, a high hill where grandfather planted his orchard, where in springtime in the depths of the green hillside the peach and apple tree branches were covered with pink and white blooms on up to the top of the hill, a rail fence divided it from a beautiful wood of beech, maple and dogwood trees that in spring were white with bloom, but when the frost came nature changes their color to the rich red, yellow and brown of autumn. Out from the yard by the side of the hill was the spring that supplied the family with water. Water clear as crystal streaming from the hillside down over the stones to the pool hollowed out of rock, then through a stone trough of the log milk house where it cooled the crocks of milk, then on across the yard to the creek.In the yard stood grandfathers shop where he worked out many of his problems, and spent many hours making useful things. He made the wooden lock and key that locked the shop. The old home still has many interesting things that have been preserved down through the years. This home is near Knight or Young Hickory....
Also By Bessie Elvira (Jameson) Wolcott is regards to the Sears home:...The old Sears home still stands on what is known as the ridge road. A white farm house with a picket fence and down the path still stands the well with it's "old oaken bucket" and a cup that any that thirst my drink. Under the hill below the well was the old spring house and near by was the orchard with the big yellow sweet apple tree, and by the fence the persimmon tree a historic tree in the families. A big bank barn still stands which sheltered not only the work horses but those the family rode. Dr. Sears own horse which carried him to the bedside of many patients. The shop-shed for various things to be stored with grandmother's grapevines still clinging to them. And the peach orchard with those special peaches still stand as though reluctant to leave. The old home that held such dear associations of years gone by where childish romping children's shouts and laughter rang. And then to young man and womanhood. That home was filled with great ambition for useful lives under the very strict guidance of a Methodist christian home...
I hope all have been reading the comments at the end of the different blogs. On my February 15th posting, Oak Grove Methodist Church and Cemetery, Bristol Township, Morgan County, Ohio, Tom Jameson commented:
"Unfortunately the area of the homesteads of William and his son William have all been strip mined (the coal company was prevented from also moving the cemetery as they had wished). The site of the elder William's homestead is now a campground in the re-planted strip mine area. I think the Sears home is gone also..."
This is very sad news, (not new news, the mining started in the 1940's) but new news to me. The area is now known as Miner's Memorial Park. A couple links:
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