From: Katie Young
Sent: Oct 2, 2018
To: Chuck Felton
Subject: Family Tree ( well sort of!)
The Gailey family
is quite extensive and has highly deep roots to the Cresson area. I am a seventh generation American!
The family really starts in America
with John Gailey, Jr.
He was the father of William. William Married Rachel
Rhoda Clossin or Closson ( I have found it spelled both ways!) William was born August 8, 1877 in Blair County, PA. William
died in Gallitzin, PA, on September 12, 1957. William and Rachel married on or around December 12, 1899. Rachel and William
were married young, William being 22 and Rachel being only 17. In the 1920's census records (which is the earliest that
I can find as of right now), listed William as a coal miner, ironically employed at the same mine where his son, David was
killed at the age of 25. In 1920 William was 43 years old. Just ten years later, in 1930, at the age of 53, William and Rachel
were living on the San grounds tending to the pig farm. They lived and work at the San until 1953, when the pig farm was shut
down. William and Rachel had many children. From what I can find out it is somewhere between 15 and 17 children, only 9 of
which living to adulthood, and one, the oldest, David dying at the coal mine in Bennington, PA. Bennington is a town that
is no longer really in exsistance (still waiting for a good day to walk the 1..5 mile up the mountain to see whats left).
It used to lie on the line of Cambria and Blair Counties. All that is supposedly left is a cemetary, but some of the Gailey's
are buried there. William and Rachel's second oldest child was James. James often helped his father run the pig farm and
later on worked in the power house of the San.
James and Zella Marie Connacher- Gailey
James and Zella,
were married with children when in 1943, they leased the Lemon House that is not too far away from the San. The Lemon House
was the grounds for milk production for the San. They had several cows, and when James was 12 he began working there to help
supply milk to the patients and staff of the san. Zella and James lived in the Lemon House for quite some time. My great grandmother
Mary was one of there children. She was married there and gave birth to atleast 3 of her children while living there. James
and Zella moved from the Lemon House in 1961. I am trying to find out more information on James and Zella. I have to talk
to my great grand mother Mary to see if she has any stories or pictures. This is part of my family that I do not get to see
too often. So as soon as more information becomes available to me I will get it to you. Mary is the little girl in the picture
that Cliff gave you and that is on your web page. She must have spent some time at the san. when she was little because William
and Rachel were her grandparents. I am going to try to get together with her soon, but right now she is dealing with some
health issues that demand her attention at this time.
Thank you for all the information I have found out about my family on your page. I have always liked to read about
Sans, even ones far away from where I live. It is really cool to me to see that my paternal family actually has a connection
to the san. I would love to find out how to get back there and try to take pics to show you how much the property has change
since the state prison has closed, but I do not know who to contact, so if you have any ideas of who I could get a hold of
to try and see, even if I have to stay in my car, I wouldn't mind just going back. I have a pretty good idea of where
the Gailey property used to be so I would just love to see it!
Sincerely,
