Paul + Norma Maxine Houk. Norma was born in private. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Harry Nesbit Boots was born 31 August 1892, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and died 4 April 1949. He married 28 July 1915, Elizabeth Rebecca SMITH, who was born 20 August 1893, and died 14 September 1987. They are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It is to her that we are indebted for much information on this branch of the family. They had five children.
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A recollection by Chauncey Boots:

"My mother was Lizzie Smith. As a graduate of Slippery Rock Normal School (now Slippery Rock College) her first position as a teacher was in the Elementary School in Wurtemburg. There she also attended the Methodist Church where she met a young man, Harry Boots, who lived in a nearby farm. Mother's home was in West Liberty, where she lived in the summertime and where Harry would drive sixteen miles to visit. Harry's brother John had a spirited driving horse but he would use one of the work horses to drive the short distance to his girl's house in Wurtemburg and let Harry drive Dinah to West Liberty. Other times Henry and Ollie (Viola Boots) Fox would take Harry in his Model T and go to West Liberty to visit Lizzie. On occasion, when he prepared to return home driving Dinah as usual, he tied the lines about the whip socket and promptly went to sleep. The horse knew the way and as they rounded the corner in Portersville, young Harry awakened and checking his watch he thought...this is as fast as Henry Fox can do in his Model T Ford! Giving the horse a little encouragement with the whip, Harry reached home in record time."

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The Obituary of Harry N. Boots appeared in the Ellwood City Ledger, Monday, 4 April 1949: "
Harry N. Boots Claimed by Death

"Harry N. Boots, aged 56, well-known dairyman, passed away at 5 o'clock this morning at his home at Pleasant Hill, following a lingering illness.

"A son of the late John Wesley and Katherine Jane Boots, he died in the homestead where he was born August 31, 1892.

"He was a faithful member of the Wurtemburg Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee and was also an active member of the Pleasant Hill Grange.

"Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Boots; five sons, Albert and Jerry, at home; Lloyd, of Tacoma, Wash.; Paul in the army; and Chauncey, of Fombell; two sisters, Mrs. Viola Fox, of Wurtemburg, and Mrs. Levada Frye, of New Castle, and four grandchildren.

"Friends will be received at the residence after 8 o'clock tonight. Funeral arrangements will be announced tomorrow."
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Harry married Elizabeth Rebecca Smith on 28 Jul 1915. Elizabeth was born on 20 Aug 1893; died on 14 Sep 1987; was buried in North Sewickley Cemetery, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Wesley Boots was born 26 October 1837, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he died 8 January 1925. He married, 22 April 1875, Catherine Jane FOMBELLE, daughter of Theophilus Emusilach FOMBELLE and Elizabeth MAGAW, who was born 18 March 1851, in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and died 12 July 1914. They are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They had eight children.

The Obituary of Catherine Jane Boots appeared in the Ellwood Citizen, Thursday, 16 July 1914:

" Mrs. Cath. Jane Boots

"Mrs. Catherine Jane Boots, a well known resident, died at her home near Portersville on Sunday afternoon last, aged 64 years. Her funeral was held Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Heazelton. Interment at North Sewickley. She is survived by her husband and eight children. Also by ten brothers and sisters, one of whom is Mrs. S. A. Stamm of this city."

The Obituary of John Wesley Boots appeared in the Ellwood City Ledger, Friday 9 January 1925:

" John W. Boots of Pleasant Hill Dies

"John W. Boots, for many years a resident of Pleasant Hill, died at his home there yesterday, following a long illness. He was 88 years old.

"Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o;clock, with burial in North Sewickley Cemetery. One brother, Warren Boots, of this city, survives him."

The descendants of John Wesley Boots and Catherine Jane Fombelle have held an annual reunion at Thanksgiving every year since 1931. Minutes have been kept of each reunion, detailing events of the day, and more importantly, listing births, marriages, and deaths for the preceding year. These minutes have been carefully preserved, and are in the possession of the current Secretary of the group, Susan (Mrs. Frank) Boots, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. An outline of this family was prepared from the information contained in these minutes, which was furnished to the author by Elizabeth R. (Mrs. H. N.) Boots, in 1978

John married Catherine Jane Fombelle on 22 Apr 1875. Catherine (daughter of Theophilus Emusilach Fombelle and Elizabeth Magaw) was born on 18 Mar 1851 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; died on 12 Jul 1914 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; was buried in North Sewickley Cemetery, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]