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Chapter 3 Home Sweet Home ( Under construction )
The Home coming was long anticipated and much welcomed . There would be some time with loved ones but since the spring high water was with us, the rest out of necessity, would be a short one. Hopefully some short local trips on the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers . It Would be pleasant to be home every night or at least every second night . There would still be the the trips on the Rivers below but for the moment all thoughts were of home . The arrival at the McKeesport docks was in high spirits and the welcome was joyously unrestrained. There was one rather sad note to our home coming , on the trip home we heard roomers of an Assassination attempt on President Lincoln . We just couldn't belive what we were hearing .I suppose had we stopped in any town with a telegraph we'd of heard it all . Instead what we heard was in the form of questions shouted from a passing steamer " Have you heard about Lincoln , is he going to live ? " Sure enough though all was confirmed upon our arrival . Lincoln was shot dead at Ford's Theatre , my what's this world coming to ! Vice President Andrew Johnson succeeded to the presidency. McKeesport ,lies at the junction of the Monongahela and the Youghiogheny Rivers . Yes those are quite the names , so we just call these rivers the Yough and the Mon . There is a system of dams and locks in place, making it safe to travel year round , except maybe when there is a freeze . So even when conditions aren't right to tow down the Ohio we can still pick up some tows on our local rivers. Pay's not half as good but were home a lot more. When the winter and low water does come , well a lot more than the rivers are affected . Money gets to being real scarce , credit hard to come by and well you can just feel the tension all over town . But soon as the river rises the money flows and all are in good spirits . I guess this is because most folks here make their livings , one way or the other from the Rivers . The old timers say it was a lot worse before the dams . Still it's a fair nice town , lots better than most below , and there is always Pittsburgh just a few short miles down stream , should a fellow and his lady need a bit of the big city entertainment , though McKeesport is not completely lacking in that area . Still it wasn't long before we were headed down , barges loaded . Victor Wilson the name sake of our steamer was still selling the coal we brought down . This bit of commerce was about all he and his family had left . The Mississippi coal Co. it was called . Victor had a string of bad luck during the war , to say the least . Victor lost one steamer then, scraped together the insurance money and a bit of family money and buy's an old steamer used in the Allegheny river oil trade the Venago, and darned if a bunch of J-hawkers don't set fire to it just off Pilcher Point, LA on December 31, 1864. I guess he was just lucky to escape with his life . Seems those fellows didn't much like the fact that he chartered his boat to the Yankees . But truth is a fellow didn't have that much choice , when the quartermaster came knocking you either sat down and negotiated a fee or you didn't dare show yourself on the rivers below . Victor was after all a first generation immigrant from Ireland though he had family here, well I guess he just thought he was neutral and didn't have to take sides . That should be enough for any man to endure ! But it wasn't over, since Victor's family was in the cotton business and moving that cotton to market was difficult , he began buying up cotton , he added it to his already substantial stock pile of family grown cotton , but dammed if the Yankees didn't confiscate it all ! Over $125,000.00 worth , an absolute fortune in those days. The court case to recover this amount dragged on for years and when finally settled he was awarded the full amount minus the cost of shipping that the army claimed was $ 25,000.00 . Seems a might bit high ? they did not settle until nearly 1880 long after Victor's death and near as I can tell never paid a dime of interest . Victor had also been a slave owner , & well he would just have to get used to that loss.... So it was down to Vicksburg . The south had been hit hard during the war and most cities not hit as hard as Vicksburg .The well dressed and well fed folks we were accustomed to mingling with before the war , had little time to mingle and less to be polite . We wasted no time returning . Dropping down to Natchez to pick up a few empties belonging to O'Neil Coal Co. who also shipped coal south to Mississippi and passing right by on the return . Most trips we could return with Cotton and Sugar or molasses but not this time , not much left in the south and besides just to early in the year. Perhaps this harvest would bring a change in fortunes in the south . That was it seemed , the hope that kept most of the south toiling day after day in the face of the worst disaster they had ever seen . Seemed to me it would be years before the south recovered but I sure didn't have the hart to mention that to anyone . We made several trips that spring and summer season , then in late summer laid about the Pools , (the water behind the Monongahela dams) we even spent three full weeks as lay abouts at home ! Really though the woman folk made sure we didn't lay about too much . Mend the porch , mend the fence , a bit of paint here and there , you know .... There were some welcomed occasions to visit with friends and family , we did some real catching up. Asking each other about their time on the river or at home during the war . Then there were the homecoming soldiers McKeesport had sent more then her share of young men off . We had buried or share as well , but when ever one of their names were mentioned the reaction from those who were there was to lower their heads ,mumble a "well enough said" , or a sorry for you loss and quickly the subject was changed . This just made me boil inside , though I had reacted the same myself . It wasn't for a few years yet but finally a monument with their names was erected, not in the center of town but in a place of prominence at the local grave yard still there were veterans groups springing up every where you turned and the young ones still couldn't get enough of the war stories , even if the woman folk would shush you with a " Don't you be filling their heads with such " or "leave your father rest don't you think he's had enough of that stuff " . It was at about this time that Daniel and William Dunshee bought the McKeesport docks and with a little improvement turned out to be real convenient . Daniel could walk home when moored there . It was at about this time that Norval Daniel's son began to learn the trade his father had followed all his adult life . Norval was 18 years old that year and time he had some direction . He was by Daniel's side as much as possible . Norval was of coarse no stranger to the V.F. Wilson , he had helped out many times in the summer as she was hulled out , re-caulked and painted . But now he was being sent to assist in every task performed aboard the Wilson . There was a real method and purpose to the tasks he was being assigned . To his credit Norval performed his tasks without complaining , though his dislike for shoveling coal and loading other cargos could not have been any different than that of the rest of the crew . He did seem to like the task of painting and did a real bang up job , especially on his fathers cabin . Daniel made a point of bragging about his cabin to anyone who'd listen for several weeks to come . For the next few years the Wilson with Daniel as master continued to take advantage of any cargo she could secure, though with some small investments in coal mines and the Mississippi coal Co. at Vicksburg , coal was still the most common commodity . Still a future on the rivers was more in question now than ever before . Since the War the railroads were carrying more and more of the cargoes that traditional belonged to the river . They were not subject to the rivers rise and fall and as such could be relied on for timely deliveries . Still for now the railroads were concentrating on the most profitable runs and this was still mostly in the east . The mines away from the rivers were first to hail the railroads in our area . Plenty of coal , coke and iron still moved back and forth along the Pools and from Homestead to McKeesport there were new steel and iron industries sprouting up all the time . This was to be the beginnings of Pittsburgh's Robber Baron era , Mr. Carnegie , Mr. Melon and a hundred others like them . Family life was good in 1866 Daniel and Kate were blessed with another daughter Mary Cox Pollard , a healthy rambunctious child . Then in 1867 the marriage of Daniel's eldest daughter Martha to Richard Wilson . Soon after came his first grand child Nannie Wilson in 1868 . Things were shaping up more work in the pools now less time away from home and Norval at 20 taking command of the Wilson for short trips in the local vicinity . Finally Daniel must have felt like he had a life . But sadly it was about then as was always the case with Daniel tragedy was not far off . On Sept 8th ,1869, Daniel suffered a hart attack though it was not immediately fatal , he was advised to get his affairs in order quickly . Kate on Daniel's behalf called to his bead side an old friend , Mr. William Harrison who contacted his brother a lawyer and Daniel's will was drawn up at his bedside . Norval and Mr. Harrison were named as executors and the end came 2 days later at his home in McKeesport . Daniel's obituary ran in the Pittsburgh Gazette and was very brief . Telling only of his death and the time of service to be held at his residence . ********Died******** POLLARD - On Friday, September 10th, at 2:30 A.M., Captain Daniel Pollard, in the 50th year of his age. The funeral will take place from his late residence , in McKeesport, on Sunday,12th, Inst., at 2 O'clock P.M. ****** Daniel's Will however was rather lengthy and so I will reproduce it here . As I previously stated Daniel's friend William E. Harrison and his son Norval Pollard were listed as co executors . A bit of advice seems appropriate at this point ,don't let a friend be your executor , if you value their friendship . The reason for this advice will become evident as the following parts of this story are told . Yes I am going to tell it all . But for now here is Daniel's Will below : ************************* Last Will and Testament of Daniel Pollard In the name of God, Amen, I, Daniel Pollard of the Borough of McKeesport, County of Allegheny and state of Pennsylvania, in view of bodily infirmity and the uncertainty of life, and being of sound of mind and memory do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament. And First, I will and direct that my Executors here in after named, shall pay my funeral expenses and all my just debts out of any means of any estate most available, as soon as practicable after my decease. Second, For my beloved wife Catherine Pollard, I give and devise my house and lot on 5th Street in McKeesport, where we now live, with all it’s appurtenances, and also all my household goods and furniture, for a home for herself and the children during her natural lifetime. Third; To my beloved and dutiful son Norval Pollard I give and bequeath the one third part of all my Steam Boat Stock, and also the one third part of all my barges and coal and my coal interests whatsoever. Also to him I give and bequeath the one third part of all my right title and interest in the lot of ground and the marine ways thereon erected on the Monongahela River. And the fixtures and appurtenances thereunto belonging. Fourth, I will and direct that the remaining two thirds of my Steam Boat Stock, and my barges and coal, and coal interests whatsoever be disposed of by my said Executors for the best price that can be gotten for the same and the proceeds thereof applied to the maintenance of my widow, and the maintenance and education of my two children, Ella Moraldi Pollard and Mary Cox Pollard, and I also order and direct that the other two thirds of my right and interest in the lot of ground and marine ways thereon and fixtures and appurtenances thereof, I leave in the hands of my said Executors to be managed, conducted or sold by them as they shall deem best for the interest and benefit of my widow and two children Ella Moraldi and Mary Cox. Fifth, After the death of my said beloved wife Catherine, I will and direct that all my estate of whatever kind real, personal or mixed their remaining, shall be disposed of so that it or the value of it shall be equally divided among all my children after paying these out the sum of one hundred dollars to my grand child Nannie Wilson to be paid to her on the day she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. Sixth, And finally I do nominate and appoint my beloved son Norval Pollard, and my esteemed friend Wm E. Harrison to be Executors of this my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I the said testator, Daniel Pollard have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this ninth day of September A.D., one thousand eight hundred and Sixty nine.
Daniel Pollard X (his mark) **************************** The grief and sense of loss must have been great for Kate , left alone now with two small children . It is known that it took some time to dispose of Daniel's holdings . Norval now was now full partner with Mr. William Dunshee in the Steamer and much of the other holdings were left for Mr. Harrison and Norval to dispose of for Kate . These holdings however were not so great that Kate had no worries . From the court documents it is plane that the Money just trickled in and that Mr. Harrison actually advanced Kate more money then she actually had coming from the estate . So it was no doubt out of necessity that Kate took a job with the railroad and her brother George moved in to the home to further assist her . Kate however it seemed ,did not trust Norval and Mr. Harrison and soon (1871 ) partitioned the court for a full accounting of Daniel's holdings and the dispersal of same . Unsatisfied with the results and she again Sued Mr. Harrison in 1875 . I mention this now not to pose any question of Mr. Harrison's character but rather to clear him from any family gossip . It does appear from close examination of all the court documents , that while Kate was perhaps desperate for cash flow Mr. Harrison did forward to her all funds from the sale of goods and property in excess of what he received . However , I do suspect that it is because of these law suites that when Mr. William Harrison was given the task of overseeing the writing of the McKeesport history book , "McKeesport , The First 100 Years" Daniel was deliberately left out of this writing . A prejudices not held by the author of the History Of Allegheny Co. who lists Daniel as being among the first from McKeesport to engage in the floating of coat to the lower markets . Or perhaps it was because Daniel and William Dunshee bounced Mr. Harrison's father John out of a coal mine he had improper title to and made a good profit in mining the same . Were any of Kate's suspicions founded ? or was it just coincidence that William Harrison's income sky rocketed after Daniel's death compared to that declared on the 1865 Civil War** tax. None of this means that Mr. Harrison did not give Kate all she was due . It is however ,enough to raise suspicion and I suppose that is just what it did . ( **Civil War income and Special Tax, imposed to help pay for the war, was not repealed until 1872 as the fulfillment of General Grant's campaign promise . The records for district 22 , still survive and are available at the National archive .) For the year 1865 Here: Then there was Norval , now to the best of my knowledge Kate never sued him , but our own family used to talk of him , saying he had been a drunk who would through money away at the Cock fights and the gambling tables , until it nearly broke his family . As is always the case the truth is probably somewhere between that story and the dutiful son , Daniel spoke of on his death bed . So I guess this ugly little chapter in our family's history is best summed up as reactions to grief and to greed as often occurs in life , And so life goes on . The shame , the accusations and all that comes with this sort of behavior seems to have driven this family and these friends apart . As tough as it might have been, Kate and the girls did survive , with the help of friends and family . The Girls both attended public school at McKeesport . Ella went into the work force and Mary married well , to William Woods O'Neil Jr. of O'Neil Coal . Ella died young in 1899 ,age 38 unmarried the funeral service was held at her aunt's home Mrs. Hannah Hammitt wife of Ike Hammitt . Mary and her new husband moved to Benua Vista a suburb of Pittsburgh . A few years before her death Ella and Kate moved in with Mary and William . Ella continued to work and assist in the care of her ageing mother . They were not in the worst of situations as the 1900 census even lists a man servant as part of the household . He was a Mr. Goss and was likely engaged after the death of Ella to aid in the care of Kate . . Mary and William did have but one son , Dale Pollard O'Neil who died as an infant . born 1891 died 1892 . Kate passed away in 1903 ( age 74 ) just prior to Mary's husband William . Mary lived into the 20th century the latest , she passed away in the home of her mothers sister Mrs. Swanger in 1937 . age 71 . Norval was however blessed with several sons to carry on our Pollard line.There were 6 boys in all , Daniel , William D. , Bentley , Norval Jr. , Harry & Herbert Spencer . and one daughter Martha Jane . Their Story I will attempt to tell Next.
Norval, Daniel's only son through his inheritance now became the Captain of the Wilson . How successful he was at this is not known , but the Wilson continued to ply the rivers , so it is safe to say there was some measure of profit , making it possible for the steamer to continue . Norval probably became acquainted with his future wife , Martha in a more or less casual manner , the story of how they met does not however survive in our family . Her mother had given birth to her as Anna L. DeWalt , though her mothers name is given on her head stone as Martha J. Douthitt Wolfe , in the absence of records to clarify this point I can only assume her father died and her mother remarried . Norval & Martha were married on oct.12 1870 at Martha's mothers home and soon were to have a family of their own .Norval was 23 years old and Anna a young lady of olny 17 . Norval seemed to be prospering as a newlywed , with a prosperous , if declining occupation , and a few small real estate investments .He had even joined the Free Masons under the wing of his fathers friend William E. Harrison .It seems though that through the generations , though we Pollard's plan , and work towards that end. It is only to have the good lord tell us , he has a different plan !. So it was with Norval , on Feb. 18 / 1873 About three o'clock in the morning the V. F. Wilson was struck by a loaded coal barge that had ben loosed from its mooring by an ice gorge . The impact was so grate that the Wilson went down in minutes trapping one deck hand aboard . Henry Smith , the deck hand , who lived at Neville Island , was drowned on board the steamer V. F. Wilson . According to the account of this incident carried in the Pittsburgh Daily Gazette on that date listed several other boats sunk and damaged , but this was of little consequence to the families affected by the loss of the Wilson and a member of her crew. This account sums up the fate of the Wilson by stating " The deck of the Wilson now rests between the towboats Leopard and Hercules , at the Monongahela Wharf " .
The Wilson was valued at $15,000.00 but only insured for ten so I assume that William Dunshee and Norval , the remaining partners in her each received $5,000.00 . Weather there was any insurance for the poor family that had lost their son and possibly husband , I have no way of determining as no records survive . Suffice it to say theirs was indeed the greatest loss . Should this accident occur today the owners of the coal barge moored to the Smithfield street suspension bridge would have no doubt been named in as many law suites as the owners of the Wilson . To place this loss in perspective it is fair to say that in that day you could purchase a fine new house with modern amenities for the sum of $2,500.00 . This considered , the loss of the Wilson was like having six new houses go up in smoke .
So a new career for Norval was now greatly needed . The days of the river seamed numbered , Norval had spent many days in his youth painting on the Wilson as he learned the river . So it was but a small step to Painter & Paper Hanger , serving the community of McKeesport PA. The earnings were not as great and it lacked the status of a River Boat Captain , but there was nothing else to be done . The decline in status may have troubled Norval as he was young still and it is perhaps then that he earned his taste for strong drink and a little gambling , or perhaps it was simply a left over from his carefree youth . For what ever the reason his reputation is one of the few things that survives in our family today , though I suspect it has gained some stature from it's telling and retelling . He did raise a large family , own a home and business and work well into his 70's .
Anna , Norval's wife is said to have suffered from his bad habits but there does seem to be some evedence of a loving relationship. By late 1872 she had given birth to their first child . William DeWalt Pollard , perhaps the namesake of Anna's father . His identy does not survive in our family's history. William is known to have survived to 1880 but does not show up after that . their next child was not long in coming he was Bentley Clark Pollard born July 16, 1873 , to be followed by Daniel Pollard in 1874 and in 1875 it was Norval M. Pollard . Though the pace of birth seem to slow there were still more children to come . Martha Jane Pollard ,December 1877, Harry M. Pollard on March 25, 1884 and Herbert Spencer Pollard on December 11, 1893 . For some reason Martha Jane does not show up in their household for the 1880 census . But the census points out that nearby their home was Norval's father's old partner the Dunshee family a mere 7 or 8 houses away . The only names that are not a part of family tradition are Bentley Clark , Herbert Spencer . So I went searching for someone in that area that they might be named after Bentley Clark seems to be named for a well known Steamboat Captain , from Beaver Co. PA . . Herbert Spencer , well that's easy somebody took a liking to the writings of the well known British philosopher and sociologist by that name . Martha Jane , named for Anna's mother , Harry well who knows ? It is fair to say that these Pollard boy's were in part the sprit of the neighborhood , and through their love of baseball , responsible for more than on broken window . It is evident by the lack of repair that they were the products of a somewhat dysfunctional family with more than their share of sibling rivalry . Bentley , was simply nicknamed Ben , and Daniel , Dan but Norval was called Dick , Harry for the time being was still Harry and Herbert , Herb. Martha Jane was called Jeanie .
The older boys were very fond of baseball , and it was while engaged in this childhood pursuit that Daniel was struck in the chest and Killed . The McKeesport papers ran the following articles . (From McKeesport Daily News on Saturday September 5, 1891, Page 1) A FATAL MISHAP DANIEL POLLARD KILLED THIS AFTERNOON WITH A BASEBALL BAT Daniel Pollard, the nine-year-old son of Norval Pollard, of Fifth avenue, was struck by a baseball bat which flew from the hands of Thomas Sherlock while practicing ball on the distillery grounds about 2 o'clock this afternoon. The bat struck young Pollard directly across the heart, and he died from the effects of the blow in ten minutes. (From McKeesport Daily News on apparently the following Tuesday, September 8, 1891,) THE INQUEST ON DAN POLLARD An Inquest on the remains of Dan Pollard was held yesterday at Coursin's undertaking room and a verdict of accidental death was rendered, and Thomas Sherlock, from whose hand the bat slipped, was released. Both the family of Mr. Pollard and Mr. Sherlock have much sympathy in the sad affair. The funeral was conducted yesterday afternoon. The surviving boys never lost their love for the game , Ben in latter life went on to play semi - pro for several teams and even pitched for the Mud Hens a few games in 1896 .Harry & Norval ( Dick ) both played for local amateur teams and in latter life coached little league ball . The only negative thing I ever herd regarding this subject was that Bentley could have easily gone on to play pro ball had he just been willing to give up smoking and drinking . Seems the jest of the comments were that the apple didn't fall far from the tree and Ben had decided to carry on some of his fathers bad habits . Sour grapes ? . Herbert the youngest of the boys was not even born at the time of this incident but when he did come along in late 1893 his mother was already 40 years of age . Today we would refer to this as a change of life child and his arrival no doubt had an effect on the already established status of siblings in this family structure . Though I can not say I am qulified to write about it's effects , I am certin they were apperant to all involved . A new millennium 1900 , and our Pollard's are modestly prospering Kate had taken up residence with Mary and her husband W. W. O'Neil Jr. at Monitor street in Ben Avon a newly developing suburb of Pittsburgh . Her health was fragile but so it was with old age , Mary and William were able to afford a man servant to assist in her care so it could have been worse I suppose . The exact cause is not known but on April 10 , 1903 Kate passed away. Her obituary ran in the Pittsburgh papers for the next two days . Pittsburgh Gazette April 11'& 12 , 1903 Mrs. Rachel K. Pollard Mrs. Rachel K. Pollard , 74 years old , died suddenly yesterday afternoon at the home of her son in-law Capt. W. W. O'Neil , Jr. , in Monitor avenue , Ben Avon . Mrs. Pollard was born at Limetown , near Mononahela City , and had resided in this section all her life . She was a daughter of Capt. Enoch Cox , a Pioneer coal operator on the local rivers . Mrs. Pollard was the Widow of Capt. Daniel Pollard , who was captain of General Grant's flagship before Vicksburg . Capt. Pollard was well known as a river Captain between Pittsburgh and New Orleans , and it was while south that his service and that of his steamer , the V. F. Wilson , were pressed into the service of the Federal government . Shortly after the close of the Civil War Capt. Pollard died . Two of his steamers the Ploughman and the Gravelrooter , were among the best known boats on the upper and lower Rivers before the War . Mrs. Pollard was one of 13 children , three of whom still survive . They are : Mrs. Emaline Swanger , 85 years old , and Mrs. William Trax , 70 years old' both of Uniontown , and a sister living in Ottawa, ILL. Mrs. Pollard is survived by two children , Mrs. W. W. O'Neil Jr. with whom she has made her home for the past 12 years in Ben Avon, and Norval Pollard , a resident of McKeesport ,and four grandchildren . Mrs. Pollard was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The previous year Mary & William had suffered another loss when her father in-law also passed this life . Latter that same year ( 1903 ) William Woods Jr. also passed away . This poor young lady , seems to have drawn a tragic lot in life . The reason is unknown to me but Mary turned in her grief not to her Pollard or O'Neil relatives who were numerous , but rather to her mothers Cox family relatives an aunt Mrs. Swanger and later with her children . The most likely reason is that they , Kate & Mary felt betrayed by Norval over the settling of Daniel's Will and a riff developed over that money that could not be repaired . Kate & W.W. Jr. were laid to rest at the same family plot in McKeesport .
When Herbert , the youngest of Norval and Anna's children was a mere thirteen years old Anna died suddenly of a stroke . No doubt hart broken and angry , he was sent to live after a short time with his older brother Norval ( Dick ) and that same year Martha gave birth to a daughter who she named after her mother , Anna . The story goes that Norval Sr. was in no position , nor did he posses the disposition to care for a young teenage boy and after several confrontations , Herb was sent to live with Martha and then latter due to her growing number of children to live with Dick . Norval Sr. of corse continued to pay for his support , but when a few months latter Herb showed up at Martha's in ragged cloths and holes in his shoes Martha insisted he remain there instead . So it was there at 3417 Auburn street , McKeesport , the home of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Cornell ( Martha ) that Herb spent his final childhood years . There he found some more receptive siblings in the form of his own nieces and nephews, though they were close enough to his own age that they probably seemed more like younger siblings . It was in the year of Anna's death 1907 , that Norval abandoned his business of painting and paper hanging and began work in the shipping department of the tube works at McKeesport . Ironically the land that now housed the Tube works had once belonged to his father & William Dunshee . Bentley had married Eliza Jane Trich ( Jeanie ) and also in the year of his mothers death named a child after her , Anna DeWalt Pollard .Bentley also took a job with the Tube Works . Martha as stated married Harry C. Cornell . Harry Pollard later joined the Tube works and Dick went to work in Pittsburgh for the Watson-Standard Paint Co. and married a young lady named Susanna , though Susan died young and Dick remarried Julia Star . No children ever came of these last two unions . Harry never married , but at the hands of his ever increasing number of nieces and nephews was renamed Unk , short for uncle . Herb was sent to Latrobe PA. to a prep school there named St. Vincent's , a boarding school that at least served to lighten Martha's load slightly . By the year 1910 poor Martha Jane , had not just Herbert living with her but , Norval Sr. , Harry ( her brother ) and a sister in law Alice Cornell . This was not a large house but it sure was a large household . This is about the time a riff of sorts developed between Bentley and Martha , with that large a household she was clearly in need of assistance . When that help was not forthcoming a resentment began to build . Bentley and Eliza Jane who had a house of similar size just a few short blocks away and only 3 children could not even offer to help . While Martha with 5 children took in 2 brothers , a father and a sister in-law . It is little wonder why all in the family spoke well of Martha and have little to say for Bentley or Dick to this day . By 1917 both Martha and Bentley had given Norval five grandchildren each , with more yet to come Herb was finished school and had worked for a while training to be a machinist , this was however interrupted in 1918 when he was drafted into the army . After basic training he was attached to a engineer battalion and sent to a camp in the north. At about this time his father moved in with Martha and Harry Cornell . Herbert wrote home frequently , these cards and letters where saved and upon his fathers death , many of them returned to him . These old cards speak mostly of contracting the influenza at Camp Devens , I belive , most are dated 1918 but due to censorship tell little of the details . One card that struck me hard was sent to Dorthy Cornell telling her not to be afraid and to attend school regardless . Poor Dorthy must have been terrified as this Spanish influenza had killed many times more than the great war had , but was not confined to the battlefield . The influenza or Spanish Flu as they where calling it arrived in Pittsburgh in October 1918 , just as the new school year was geting started . Dorthy was not alone in her fear , places where people usually congregate where closed or abandoned . They included Churches , saloons , theaters baseball & football games and more . Notices where printed in the press and closures declared temporarily . As fear spread and the death toll rose these closures seemed more voluntary than imposed . Fear of contracting this often fatal flue had proven more effective than all the government closures . It was the working man aside from those in the deplorable conditions of trench warfare , who's families where most at risk . Faced with loss of employment or starvation the working class didn't have the option of avoiding contact with those that might be carriers . Do not imagine that this epidemic struck only the old and infirm , to the contrary it seemed to strike hardest the segments of society thought to be the strongest and least likely to be victimized by the normal varieties of illness . Upon the strong it unleashed a terrible toll often killing within hours of visible symptoms .Was this fear unfounded , almost 200,000 deaths were recorded in the month of October 1918 alone, in the United States . How would we react today ? Herbert was not immune and soon contracted the influenza himself . He survived and placed a brave face on it even as he wrote about contracting this flue and recovering from it . An Historical note : 1918 October 5th, saw the first reported cases , starting at the Cantonment Hospital in Point Breeze, victimized 23,268 Pittsburgh residents. Of the total, 1374 died of lobar pneumonia and 678 of bronchopneumonia . The official cause of death was seldom the Spanish Flue , due to the waring nations censorship . Pittsburgh's Population at this time is just a little over three hundred thousand . A link to a doctors letter regarding conditions at Camp Devens
In the service he remained but had been transferred to Fort Dix and from the 4th Engineers to the 2nd Engineers , the 212 Engineers, then the 153rd , until on the 7th of February 1919 he was given a Honorable discharge at Camp Dix NJ. Having never seen a battle his discharge lists , Marksmanship; none , Horsemanship; none , Battles and engagements ; none . On his date of discharge he received $ 48.17 . He may have avoided the horror of France but they were dyeing much faster from the influenza so I would guess the real difference was that of comfort and length of suffering . His listed occupation was machinist , he had blue eyes , brown hair , light completion and stood 5 feet , 4 and one half inches tall . I don't know where he learned the trade of Machinist , but a good guess would be from his brother Harry who was also a machinist and worked for the National Tube Works at McKeesport . He would drift away from this trade in latter years . After his discharge he returned to McKeesport and inside of a few years met the daughter of a German immigrant taylor , Clara Regensburger . She was but 18 years old when they married on October 27, 1922 at Wellsbury, West Virginia . She was a Catholic and this sat ,not real well with his Methodist family but he had been exposed to the Catholic religion at St. Vincent's and soon made the conversion himself . I'll just bet that made him and her quite popular ! This was a full 50 years before there was even one Catholic President in the White House . No matter they simply moved to Pittsburgh where the larger city afforded them more privacy , and the only one he was destined to keep close track of and connections with was his sister Martha Jane , who had taken him in and in some ways became a mother to him . Herb and Clara began their family in their new surrondings with the birth of Helen Louise Pollard , November 23, 1923 . For 5 years she was their only child .
Just a few years latter in 1925 Herbert's father Norval passed away and was placed to rest alongside his wife , sister , father and mother at the family burial plot in McKeesport PA.
It is assumed that Herb continued to try diferant jobs and work as a machinest during the 20's though it is said he exsperanced periods of unemployment . He was after all still a young man hopeing to make his mark . Clara on the other hand .............
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