Children of David & Mary Truby - Jane and Belle

As you know, Ula's father, John Calvin Truby, was the oldest child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  Over the years, I was able to learn a lot about John's siblings and have even met some of their descendants.  Over time, the families have spread out all over the country.  We even have a kinship that involves Lucille Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame.  (Whenever I can, I will show their cause of death so that we can all try to be more cognizant of the health issues which run in our family.)  I hope you will enjoy getting to know John's sisters and their families.

Harriet Jane Truby
born:  22 Jul 1851 - Pennsylvania
died:  15 Apr 1874 - Venango County, Pennsylvania

Sarah Isabelle "Belle" Truby
born:  4 Apr 1854 - Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  10 Nov 1925 - Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

Harriet Jane Truby married Jacob Gates Downing on Dec 24, 1868 in Oil City. He was born Apr 28, 1843 in Cranberry Twp, Venango County and died July 14, 1922 in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania.   He was the son of Robert and Jane Downing and had been a private in Co F of the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry from November, 1862 to Dec 31, 1864.  Jacob was a prosperous farmer and oilman in Butler County.  

 

Jane and Jacob were the parents of:
 

1.  Mary Jane "Minnie" Downing (Oct 17, 1869-1951 Stark Co OH) who was married to Robert James McGinnis on June 20, 1889 in Butler County, Pennsylvania.  They were the parents of Mabel Elizabeth (Mar 14, 1897-Jan 23, 1989 Stark Co OH).  Mabel was married to Lawrence O'Haren on Aug 14, 1918 in Schuykill County, Pennsylvania.  

     Robert died on May 31, 1898 and Jane then married Duncan McDonald on Mar 1, 1904 in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.  They were the parents of Walter who was born about 1910.  

     Duncan died on Apr 28, 1912 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania and Mary Jane then married Adam Applegate on Apr 21, 1914.  He passed away on Oct 31, 1945 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio.  
 

2.  Robert Epley Downing (Apr 6, 1871-July 29, 1943, Tulsa OK) who married Edith E Ganoe.  They were the parents of:  Grace (abt 1897-OH), Robert E (b 1899-WV), Mary E (b 1901-WV), Isabel (abt 1903-WV), Elmer James (abt 1905-OH), Hilda V (abt 1910-OH), Philip (abt 1914-OK) and William (abt 1915-OK).
 

 



Robert Epley Downing - about 1936

 nephew of John C Truby

 

 

3.  Anna Isabelle Downing (Aug 7, 1872-Dec 4, 1953) was married to Amos Edward Miller on Jan 8, 1895 in Mahoning County, Ohio.  They were the parents of: 

     Mary (b Feb 1895)

     Edward (b Aug 1897)

     Helen (b Jan 1900)  

     Albert Gates (July 9, 1902-Jan 6, 1977)

     Margaret (abt 1905)

     Edith (abt 1908)

     Martha (abt 1911)

     Frederick D (abt 1914)

     William L (abt 1916).



 

 

 

After Jane's death on Apr 15, 1874, Jacob married her sister, Belle, on Oct 29, 1874. At that time in history, men typically weren’t involved in caring for small children and it was not at all unusual for a man (or a woman, for that matter) to marry a sibling of their deceased spouse. 

Sarah Isabelle "Belle" Truby and Jacob Gates Downing

sister and brother-in-law of John C Truby

 

Belle and Jacob were the parents of nine children:
 

1.  Dora Ellen Downing (Nov 10, 1876-May 18, 1948) married William Wesley Wise in 1894.  Dora died from acute myocarditis secondary to chronic myocarditis and myocardial degeneration.  (see photo below)  They were the parents of:
 

     Frank Walter (Aug 11, 1895-Sept 22, 1927) married Edith Barbara Harper in 1918.  They were the parents of Harold Wesley, Dorothy and Doris.  He "dropped dead in the plant of the Herman Pneumatic Co from heart failure" according to his obituary.
 

     Ella May (June 19, 1897-Nov 18, 1951) married Edward Knauss.  Her cause of death was coronary thrombosis secondary to chronic rheumatic heart disease, congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus.
 

     Clair Wesley (Jan 31, 1899-Oct 31, 1970) married Gladys A Brown.  They were the parents of Clair Wesley Jr.
 

     Nora Irene (Oct 8, 1900-Aug 1985) married William George Yohn
 

     Grace Eldred (Feb 21, 1902-Oct 22, 1963) married Floyd B Kennedy.  She had been "found dead in her bed" but had been "previously treated for vasospastic disease" as stated on her death certificate.
 

     Pearl Elizabeth (Feb 4, 1904-Dec 11, 1993) married Norman Clair Ross.  After Norman's death in 1964, Pearl married Elias Goehring.  Norman and Pearl had a daughter, Eleanor Jeanne Ross (b 1933), who is still living.  Jeanne married Raymond Stutz and they were the parents of Sandra, Michael and Daniel as well as Carol Ann (Dec 18, 1955-May 24, 2016).  Carol was married to George Nazaruk and they had two adopted children.   (see photo below)
 

William Wesley Wise and Dora Ellen Downing with two of their children

Dora - niece of John C Truby 

 

Carol Stutz Nazaruk, Michael Stutz, Eleanor Jeanne Ross Stutz, Sandra Stutz and Daniel Stutz
 

"Jeanne" is the 2nd great-niece of John C Truby.  Her children are John's 3rd great nieces and nephews.  I was fortunate enough to meet and have lunch with Jeanne and Carol on a 2004 visit to PA.  The very first thing I noticed was Jeanne's "Truby white" hair.  I was greatly saddened by Carol's passing this past year as we had corresponded for many years.  She was a very nice lady and she is the one who provided the photo of Belle and Jacob.

 

2.  Della Mae Downing (Aug 1880-July 13, 1965) married William George Hicks in 1897.  After his death she married Harry Kettler.  Will and Della were the parents of 13 children:
 

     Herbert Theodore (Feb 25, 1897-Dec 1979) married Ethel F.
 

     Anna Belle (Apr 1899-1977) married Richard O'Grady.  They were the parents of Richard D and Roy W.
 

     Katie (b May 1900-bef 1910)
 

     Mary Ellen (May 17, 1900-Aug 30, 1982) married Earl Henry Young.  They were the parents of Helen G (Domenick Verner), Thelma Marie (Joseph McCabe), Janet Wilda (Paul Peters), Genevieve W "Jean" (Donald Ripper) and Henry Earl.   (see photo below) 
 

     William George (1902-Jan 27, 1969) married Edna E Walker.  They were the parents of George E (Betty Fehl), Doris (Bauder) and Janet (Thomas Maxwell).
 

     Albert G (abt 1905)
 

     Joseph Leroy (Feb 15, 1906-Mar 15, 1906) pneumonia
 

     Emma Cleola (Nov 28, 1908-Mar 28, 1971) married Albert Blair Walker.  They were the parents of Grace Lucille (Cornell), Harry Blair and William George.
 

     Della M (Mar 8, 1909-Apr 23, 1991) married Walter Domhoff.  They were the parents of Clifford Eugene.
 

     Mildred (abt 1914-after 1982) married Earl Hodge.  They were the parents of Ruth O and Allan.
 

     Robert (abt 1916-after 1982)
 

     Laura Belle "Susie" (Jan 22, 1918-Oct 11, 1998) married Cyril Welsh
 

Mary Ellen Downing and Earl Henry Young

Mary is the great-niece of John C Truby.  She looks a great deal like my grandmother, Henrietta Truby Gray

 

3.  Mabel Clara (May 5, 1882-Oct 28, 1953) married to Henry J Kline in 1901.  Her cause of death was post coronary thrombosis due to arteriosclerosis, hypertension and myocarditis.  They were the parents of Frank.

 

4.  Elizabeth Foster (Aug 19, 1884-Jan 16, 1944) married Thomas Sylvester Piper in 1903.  She died from organic heart disease and dropsy.  They were the parents of 10 children:  Goldie (Emil Daniel), Pearl, Beulah, Hiram S "Harry" (Mae), Thomas S, James R, Frank J, Isabel S, Elizabeth Foster (Floyd Henry Reinhart) and an unknown infant.  I have several Piper related DNA matches.

 

5.  John Albert (June 23, 1886-Oct 27, 1964) married Mabel F Flinner.

 

6.  Lucian Merritt (Apr 13, 1888-1961) married Sara Morris.  Lucian's cause of death was pulmonary edema brought on by arterio-sclerotic heart disease, sub-total gastrectomy, diabetes mellitus, duodenal ulcer and massive duodenal hemorrhage.  They were the parents of Wilbur M, Lucian F and Merritt.

 

7.  Alice Atwilda (b Jan 7, 1891) married Frank Hauber

 

8.  Edith Eldred (Sept 8, 1892-May 31, 1969) married Clyde O Miller.  They were the parents of Clara Mae (William List), Mary Lou (Jack C Stockard) and Thelma Menchyk.
 

Edith Eldred Downing Miller - niece of John C Truby

 

9  Mildred (July 5, 1901-July 6, 1976) married Ralph L Isenberg.
 

 



 Death Certificate of Sarah Isabelle Truby Downing

cause of death is some sort of "heart exhaustion" due to mitral insufficiency
 





 

obituaries of Sarah Isabelle Truby Downing

 



News-Herald - Wednesday, Nov 11, 1925