Comments on: About

By: johnandrachel46

johnandrachel46 — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:43:14 +0000

Wow! Just discovered you and your work. Have been researching Gray family in this area for years. Hope to learn even more. Thanks for your efforts. We can’t have too many history ‘buffs’ out there! Thanks!

By: Margaret P. Crowell

Margaret P. Crowell — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:52:28 +0000

I have done further research & found that I am the great-great-great granddaughter of John Watson (DOB 5/15/1830) who married (12/15/1852) Louisa Catherine Steiner (DOB 12/4/1831) daughter of John and Julia Ann (Levan) Steiner. John Watson & Louisa had the following children:Sarah, Harriet, Julia, Mary, Emma, Flora, Hugh Allen & Blanche Watson. In speaking with my grandmother (Frances C. Trick married to William Watson Trick, Sr) she states that we are related to the founding John Watson of Watsontown, PA.I am trying to find further information on John Watson and his relatives, as well as more information on the Trick side of my family. Anyone with information, photos, etc can reach me at margaret.crowell@yahoo.com. Thanks.

By: Michele Yoder

Michele Yoder — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:58:11 +0000

Another great resourse for finding family history information is Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com has a digital archive of the Williamsport Sun Gazette.

By: John Rife

John Rife — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:11:08 +0000

Hey Jim, awesome website!!! Thanks for all the hard work and giving the people of Watsontown a web page not only to be proud of but also a useful tool to share information and history.

Comment by James Robison: Thank you John ~ It’s a labor of love.

By: katy wech

katy wech — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:53:41 +0000

Can you tell me where the records for the Watsontown cemetery are located? I am looking for a date of death for David T. Albright who is buried there, his stone says 1932 but I can’t find a death certificate on the gentleman. Any help to obtaining a more accurate death date is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comment by James Robison: Katy ~ the only records of the Watsontown Cemetery would be located at the Borough Building, but unfortunately they don’t have much in the way of detailed records – you might be lucky but I think that they would only be able to tell you where David T. Albright is buried and the year – which you already know. Another possiblity which is labor intensive is to go to the Milton Public Library and look at the Milton Standard day by day for the year 1932 and maybe you will come across his obituary or look up Florence’s obituary in 1959 which might mention the date he died. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

By: Rick Wolfe

Rick Wolfe — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:26:57 +0000

Jim,
Any idea where J.D.Mayes had his marble and granite shop in Watsontown?

Comment by James Robison: Rick ~ According to the Silver Anniversary edition of the Record and Star dated 1907, J.D. Mayes’ marble and granite shop was originally located near the train depot in 1904 and within a year he purchased a lot on the corner of Main and Seventh Streets where he built a commodious workshop. I’m not sure if it was the ne, nw, se or sw corner.

By: Mary Grishaver

Mary Grishaver — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:34:33 +0000

I have written a book called “A Collector’s Guide to Wilson Walkies.” It gives a complete history of the dolls. I interviewed folks in Watsontown who made the dolls and have included some photos of the town. The book has over 60 pages of color photos of Walkies. It is a labor of love for me! I occasionally list the book for sale on eBay. If it isn’t there, you may contact me directly at mary.grishaver1@verizon.net.

Comment by James Robison: Thank you for the reference. Is there anyway that I could share some of your information with the general public who might be visiting this site? Something that would be documented and interesting that might lead them to purchasing your collector’s guide perhaps.

By: Don Rickert

Don Rickert — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:29:06 +0000

Hi! Kevin Johnson has a lot of info on the Walkies. He attends about every auction that has them on the sale bill. His e-mail address is djnova@windstream.net.
CUL8R,
Don

By: Rick Wolfe

Rick Wolfe — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:12:06 +0000

Jim- Mary Grishaver did an excellent book on Wilson Walkies. I stock them. $40

By: Jessica Stover

Jessica Stover — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:13:50 +0000

Hi Mr. Robison!
I hope you might remember me… 9th grade history! Because of you & that class I’ve been doing some amazing research on my family tree & have been able to trace one line back to ~1550 in Germany! Thank you for igniting a lifelong passion.
I am hoping that you or someone who visits this website could give any info/assistance re: history of the “Wilson Walkie” wooden toys which were at one time made in Watsontown & apparently quite a cottage industry! My mother is gradually collecting them (she has about 8 now I believe) & out searches online have turned up nothing of significance… Thank you in advance & thank you for this wonderful website & resource!
~Jessica

Comment by James Robison: Jessica ~ It is good to hear from you and yes, I remember you. I’m so glad that I was able to fan the flames of your genealogical passion. Congratulations and continued success. I have found some interesting things over the years on the wilson walkies, but there is no definitive history on them ~ mostly local tradition. I will see what I can do and put it up on the site so you can further your research. I have to tackle the industrial part of the history and am still tied up with the political, educational and census part. I’m sure you can appreciate the time and effort. Hope to hear back from you and that the material is useful.