William Nace's Will

First, some background about William Nace, who had been the overseer of the iron mill at Mount Joy Plantation in Buchanan, Virginia:

William Nace, my great great great grandfather, was the father of John Christian Nace(1828-1928). According to Rootsweb's Fringer Family site, William was born on 6 February 1797 in Lancaster County, Maryland. He was the son of John Christian Nace (born 1760 in Maryland, died 1852) and Catherine Filston (b. 28 June 1764 in Maryland, d. 1 August 1855 and buried in the Noffsinger family cemetery in Botetourt County, Virginia).

William's father—the first John Christian Nace—was the son of George Nace and Mary [?] of Maryland. Pat Nace of Canada once sent me info indicating that George Nace was of the plantation called "Nace's Tavern" in Maryland. In July 2000, she posted on GenForum about Nace's Tavern: "It was acquired by George Nace on a Land Warrent after serving in the Rev.War. He had one daughter Mary who married Eurasmus Uhler and lived in Baltimore. A son George who died prior to 1812. A son John who moved to Botetourt Co. VA. (This is my line) and a son William who took over the family farm."

On GenForum, she posted this in 2007: "George Nace Sr. . . . died in 1808. George's land was called 'Nace's Tavern'. George fought in the Rev war on the penn line and was recorded in Count Pulanski's [Pulaski's] regiment for one. rec'd a land grant in 17 something for 100 acres in Maryland. I have all offical docs at home."

John C. Nace and Catherine had the following children:

• Polly Nace b. 23 April 1790
• William Nace b. 6 February 1797 in Lancaster Co., Maryland
• Peter F. Nace b. abt. 1798 in Maryland
• Margaret Nace b. abt. 1799
• Elizabeth Nace b. abt. 1802
• Robert F. Nace b. 25 December 1802 in Botetourt Co., Virginia

On 28 December 1823,  William married Hester C. (Hetty) Fringer, who was born about 1801 and died 14 October 1854. She was the mother of William's children. Her father was Christopher Fringer (who died in 1810 in Botetourt county) and her mother was Susanna Zirkle.

After Hetty's death, William Nace married twice more—to Sarah Noffsinger and then to Martha Lackland, a widow. Martha outlived him.

Years ago, Pat Nace of Canada sent me a transcript of documents relating to the will of William Nace.

William Nace
Last Will and Testament

In the name of God Amen.

I William Nace of the County of Botetourt and State of Virginia being of sound mind and wright reason, knowing the certainty of death and and the uncertainty of life and being anxious to make a disposition of my worldly effects, make this last Will and Testament thereby revoking any other Will made by me.

1st—I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Ann Nace all the property personal and real which she had or had any interest in before we were married, also a Bay Mare and Bay horse now in possession of John C. Nace. Four head of cattle, nine sheep, one sow and eight shoats now at John C. Nace,  My two horse wagon & harness, my buggy and harness, my negro man Lawson, all of my household & kitchen furniture, all of my outstanding Bonds and Accts. and one third of my wheat crop growing on my farm.

2nd— I will and bequeath to my son John C. Nace my farm, Known as part of the Milton Farm and more fully know as Hall's Bottom Adjoining the lands of G.C. Thrasher, Waskey and Moore and the lands of the Lacklands' Heirs to have as his own in full simple also the balance of my flock of sheep more or less.

3rd—I will and bequeath to my sons Mathew H. Nace, William M. Nace and Robert M. Nace the sum of ten dollars each to be paid to either of them by my son John C. Nace without interest there on, be it further understood that they are to make personal application for the above sum. 

4th—I will and bequeath to my Grandson William Nace, son of John C. Nace my watch now in Lynchburg in care of J.B. Allen.

5th—I will and bequeath to my stepson Luther C. Lackland my shotgun.

In conclusion I appoint my son John C. Nace my executor and hereunto let my hand and affix my seal the 31 day of March 1863.

William Nace

Tested

Sam Young, William J. Noffsinger, John B. Allen

Apparently William was in poor health and feared his end was near. By May 1863, he had died:

At Botetourt May Court 1863

This instrument of writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of William Nace dec'd was this day exhibited in court and fully proven by Oaths of Sam Young, William J. Noffsinger & John B. Allen subscribing thereto, and thereupon ___ instrument of writing is ordered to be recorded as the True Last Will & Testament of the said William Nace dec'd.

His son, John Christian Nace, settled the estate.

At Botetourt October Court 1866, John C. Nace the executor affixed to the original of this Will a stamp to the amount of one dollar & fifty cents, being for the probat of said Will, see order book, page 51, 5.

Wm. Lackland Cert.

I'll post the inventory of his estate at another time.

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Five Generations

Sometime in 1927, this article about John C. Nace and his descendants appeared in the paper. I don't know if it was the Roanoke paper or the Fincastle paper, but—from the way the women are dressed—it must have been during fairly warm weather. 

This is what the article says:

One is not often permitted, especially in this twentieth century, this rapid age in which we spin through the world in automobiles and aeroplanes, to behold his great great granddaughter, but this picture presents such a case.

The elder gentleman is John C. Nace, aged ninety-nine years. He was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, near Lithia.

When the War Between the States came on, Mr. Nace volunteered his service, left his wife and small children and served throughout the four years.

At the conclusion of the war he came back to his home and settled down to farming and continued to follow that vocation until after the death of his wife some years ago, after which he sold his farm and has lived with his youngest daughter and child, Mrs. Will Delong, who resides in Lithia.

Until about two years ago, it was a common sight to see him mounted on horse and riding to Fincastle, the county seat, ten miles away.

Mr. Nace enlisted in the service of his Master at the ripe age of eighty-four.

The other man in the picture is William R. Nace, his son who was also born and reared near Lithia, and who for years devoted himself to farming but later has been working with road construction since.

Mrs. Charles Mays, daughter of William R. Nace, represents the third generation. Since her marriage, she has lived at Big Island, Va., and for the past few years, in Richmond.

Mrs. Hazel Parks, daughter of Mrs. Mays, is the fourth generation and her home is also in Richmond. 

Baby Pearl Parks, about two years of age, standing between her great grandfather and great great grandfather, represents the fifth generation. She looks very knowing and wise, as if she felt she knew all about generations. 

Here's a closer look at the picture:

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Cora Virginia Nace Hunt

Six daughters of the Nace family of Lithia survived past infancy. In this 1902 picture, Ossie Belle Nace (1894-1987) stands beside her mother. The youngest, Zora William (1903-1988), wasn't yet born. In the back row, from left to right are Pearl (1890-1911), Blanche (1886-1983), Lucy (1885-197?), and Cora (1888-1945).

The W.R. Nace family of Lithia, VA

Cora Virginia Nace married Thomas Orren Hunt (1877-1965)—my mother always called him Uncle T.O.—and I think they lived in Boones Mill for a while—at least they did in 1908. Later, they moved to Botetourt County, where Cora was again close to her family. In the photo below, Cora is right;  her sister Blanche is left. T.O. is in front.

Blanche Ruble, Cora Hunt, T.O. Hunt

They had the following children:  

• Claude Nace Hunt 1907-1984 (m. Elizabeth Hurt)
• William Orren Hunt 1909-1968 (m. Lillian Gertrude Whorley)
• Pearl Dodd Hunt 1912-1995 (m. Boyd Conrad Whorley)
• Lucas Dennison Hunt 1905-1976 (m. Margaret Vaughan)
• Sulmana Elizabeth Hunt 1917-2011 (m. M. Carl Furman, Roy Hildebrand, Harry S. Woody)

Above are Cora's oldest boys, Claude and Bud (William), when they were little. Below are all five: Elizabeth, Den, Claude, Pearl, and Bud.

A later picture of Pearl and Elizabeth. . .

. . . and another of Elizabeth:

This picture of Elizabeth and her cousin Raymond Ruble was taken in 1927:

An older Claude:

Lawrence Ruble, Blanche's oldest son, lounges on the Ruble porch with his cousin Den Hunt (I now own the rocking chair that's behind them).

After Pearl was married to Boyd Whorley, she looked like this:

One source I found lists children of Pearl and Boyd Whorley as Doris (m. Dan Bailey), Kitty (m. Charles Mills), and Esther (m. John Steinmetz). However, on the back of this 1943 photo are written the names Tommy Whorley, Buddy Whorley, Cookie Whorley, Peggy Whorley, and Ginger Hunt. Are four of these children Pearl's? If not, what's the connection?

Children of Elizabeth and her third husband Harry S. Woody were Harriett P. Woody (b. 1937), Harry S. Woody Jr. (b. 1944), and Thomas L. Woody (b. 1947).

Aunt Cora died of stomach cancer on August 27, 1945—a few weeks before I was born. At least a year after her death, her husband placed this memorial in the Roanoke paper:

I can remember Uncle T.O. visiting my mother and sometimes writing her letters, which he always typed and which always began, "My dear good girl Alene." I don't remember ever meeting their children. 

According to Austin's Related Families of Botetourt County,  T.O. (the book has his middle name wrong) was from Richmond. Actually, he was from the Snow Creek area of Franklin County but lived in Norfolk later in life, probably with one of his sons.  Claude and Bud lived in Norfolk, and Den lived in Richmond. Uncle T.O. died in Richmond in January 1965, nine days after he'd fallen down a flight of stairs and suffered a head and neck injury. He was probably visiting Den when his accident occurred. He is buried beside Cora in Lithia Baptist Church.

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Blanche Ruble: Home and Children

All three of Blanche Nace Ruble's children—Howard Lawrence, Sulmana Alene, and William Raymond—went by their middle names. When the children were growing up, they lived in four different houses in the Rugby section of northwest Roanoke: 1105 Melrose Avenue (where Alene and Raymnd were born), 1005 Hanover Avenue, Staunton Avenue, and 1201 Watts Avenue. I don't know which was their first house—the one on Hanover or the one on Staunton.

I'm guessing the house in the first two pictures below was on Hanover.

Blanche with Lawrence, Alene, & baby Raymond

Blanche with toddler Raymond and Lawrence

Raymond on Hanover Avenue

Here's a photo of where they lived on Staunton Avenue. . .

. . . and here's the house on Watts Avenue that Grandaddy—Howard R. Ruble—had built sometime in the 1920s.

Below is the view from the back yard in 1931. I can remember looking out Grandma's kitchen window and seeing the Watts farm and Round Top (now called Round Hill) in the distance. The house pictured here belonged to a Mr. and Mrs. Bishop; trees blocked the view of the Bishop house by the time I looked out the window. When I was little, development hadn't yet started on Round Hill. Now it's covered with houses and I-581 runs thorough what used to be the Watts farm. Valley View Mall would now be visible, too.

I'm pretty sure the 1927 photo below was taken at the Watts Avenue home. (The fence was long gone by the time I was born.) My mother (Alene) would have been 14 and Lawrence would have been 17.

July 3, 1927

Grandma always had flowers at the side of the house on Watts Avenue. I remember seeing her water them with her leftover wash water in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

September 1930

She kept chickens below the house.

She also grew a large garden and did a lot of canning. This is her corn patch in 1932. She always wore a straw hat when she worked in her garden.

Grandma rode the bus to the city market a couple of times a week to buy meat and fresh produce (when it wasn't available from her large garden). In the 1948 photo below, she was on her way to the market. She always wore a hat and white gloves when she went to town.

Blanche Ruble: 1948 on Campbell Avenue, Roanoke

In the mid-1950s, my grandparents moved to a house on an acre lot in the Mount Pleasant section of Roanoke County. By the 1960s, they were back in Roanoke in a small house on Palm Avenue.

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The Ruble Connection

Despite having a lot of beaux, my grandmother married Howard R. Ruble. He was a railroad man and, her parents reasoned, could thus provide for her. Here's his picture:

He came from a large family. His parents, George William Ruble (known as William) and Margie Odell Caldwell, were likely kin, since William's mother was a Caldwell. Here's the page from the Ruble family bible:

The parents are listed first. Here's what it says:

• George William Ruble Born June 17, 1861
• Margie Odell Ruble Born February 25, 1866

G. William & Margie Ruble

Then their children are listed:

• Howard Rufus Ruble Born August 29, 1885
• Clara Edith Ruble Born February 25, 1887
• Leona Francis Ruble Born March 17, 1889
• Harry Leffel Ruble Born April 23, 1891
• Ruth Gladys Ruble Born March 10, 1896
• Taylor Everette Ruble Born October 15, 1893
• Rossie Faye Ruble Born April 9, 1899
• George Kenneth Ruble Born February 27, 1901
• Bertranse Ryland Ruble Born April 1, 1905
• Stuart Webster Ruble Born June 1, 1906
• Eugene Barber Ruble Born February 1, 1909

In pencil at the bottom of the page: "G.W. Ruble was married October 14, 1884."

A picture of Clara Edith Ruble Cronk, the oldest daughter:

Here's a picture of George William Ruble:

And here's a three generation picture taken of Howard and Blanche Ruble, their youngest child Raymond (William Raymond Ruble), and William and Margie Ruble. They're on the front porch of the house that Howard had built at 1201 Watts Avenue in Roanoke. The house was built in the 1920s and it looks fairly new here.

Sometimes Howard and his siblings got together. I'm not sure when or where this picture was taken. I think Howard is at the lower right:

I'm pretty sure this picture was taken at Aunt Leona's house in New Castle in August 1954. I know Aunt Leona had a small brick house with a picture window. Leona is in the center; Howard is at the right:

When I was little, Aunt Leona wrote down as much about our ancestors as she could remember and noted their relationship to me. Turns out my great-grandma (Margie Caldwell Ruble) was a  twin. I think she has a wrong date for Alexander Caldwell's birth; if he died in 1900 at 78, he'd have been born in 1822, not 1882:

UPDATES: It is likely that Caroline Surber was an aunt rather than a grandmother. Marcellus's father Henry Surber was married to a Margaret. However, a Caroline Surber lived near Henry Surber. In the 1850 census, Henry and Margaret are at household #33 and Caroline is listed as household #23. In 1860, Henry is #291 and Caroline is #297 in Craig County.

Alexander Caldwell would indeed have been born in 1822, not 1882, if he died in 1900 at 78. Alexander is buried in the Looney cemetery in Craig County. Marcella/Marcellus is buried in the Crawford Family Cemetery in New Castle. 

I don't know who "Aunt Mary Sue" is.

UPDATE: George William Ruble and his wife (called "Margaret Odella Caldwell" here) are buried in the Ruble Cemetery on Route 311 in Craig County, as are his parents James Ruble and Lavesta Caldwell Ruble. GPS coordinates are GPS: 37.565ºN, 80.224ºW. The list of Rubles and others buried there can be found here: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/craig/cemeteries/ruble02.txt.

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Blanche's Beaux

Here's how my grandmother, Blanche Nace Ruble, looked when she was 19.

Growing up in Lithia, she had plenty of beaux. Many of them gave her pictures of themselves. She kept those pictures all her life. When she was in her mid-90s and bedridden, she'd look at those pictures. Here they are:

Will Haymaker

Mike Fain

Edgar Booze

Alvin Lester

Sheron Walker

Some gave her more than one, such as Walton Dooley:

Peyton Waskey also gave her two. Doesn't he look like a distinguished gentleman?

She must have counted the Peake brothers among her favorite suitors. At least she has a lot of pictures of them, both separately and together. This picture of JA Peake is dated 1903:

Here's one of Arthur Peake:

And here are John and Arthur Peake together, though Arthur now has a moustache:

Then there's Eli Peake:

The three Peakes together:

Some of the photos were actually postcards, such as this one that has no name or message but was dated 1907:

This one is from Ronnie M, who did write a message on the back:

The postcard below, mailed in 1907 from Nola, WV, didn't have a picture or a signature. "YKW" must mean "you know who." At least the unidentified guy had a nice time at the box supper. But what is the "immediate anr" (immediate answer?) he's looking for? I wonder if he ever got it.

Some things will remain a mystery, I suppose.

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