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Jessie "Gertrude" (Conn) Firestone was born on July 1, 1894 in Jersey Hollow near Confluence, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Alexander Wilson and Susannah (Harbaugh) Conn.

When she was 18 years of age, Gertrude eloped to marry 23-year-old Samuel Melchi Firestone (June 7, 1888-1948), the son of Ross and Jane (Hartzell) Firestone of Lower Turkeyfoot Township. They were wed in November 1911 in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD, where there was no waiting period for couples between receiving their marriage license and marrying. News of congratulation was published in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

The couple's union was one of many between Minerd and Younkin descendants in the years before World War II.

They produced a family of four known children -- Marion "Ray" Firestone, Virginia "Ruth" Anderson, Reba Garnet Peters Rush and Iva "Leora" Gertrude Firestone.

Samuel was only a boy when his father died. As an adult he was of medium height and build, and had blue eyes and dark hair.

Over the years, Samuel earned a living as a coal miner (1917, 1920, 1937), farmer (1930) and janitor (1940-1945). He was required to register for the military draft in June 1917 during World War I, and disclosed at that time that his employer was Laurel Coal Mining Company of Confluence.

Sadly, on March 27, 1915, about a month shy of her third birthday, daughter Iva Leora Gertrude succumbed to purpura (chicken pox), a sickness easily treatable today. Her remains were laid to rest in the historic cemetery of the Jersey Baptist Church near Ursina. Her official Pennsylvania death certificate gives her name as "Gertrude," while a notice in the Meyersdale Republican named her as "Leora" and said that her parents were "mourning the death."

Bird's eye view of Confluence

Gertrude over the years. Right: courtesy Sylvester Everhart Jr.

The United States Census of 1920 shows that the family was in Confluence with three children ages six and under. Samuel's occupation was recorded by the census-taker as a miner.

The Firestones enjoyed visiting with relatives and sight-seeing. A story in the Republican in August 1922 reported that they, in company with Gertrude's sister Iva Henry and family had, "comprised a motoring party to Johnstown Sunday. They stopped off at Ideal Park to view the sights and also to partake of a bountiful repast provided by the ladies."

Circa 1930, when the federal census enumeration was made, the Firestones had relocated into Fayette County, where Samuel labored as a farmer. Eventually, by 1937, they returned to Confluence, and are shown in the town in the records of the 1940 U.S. Census.

Gertrude and Samuel were longtime members of the Turkeyfoot Valley Baptist Church. She also belonged to the Church Missionary Ladies, the WBA Lodge and the Confluence Firemen's Ladies organization.

Two of the Firestones' children served in World War II -- son Marion "Ray" and son in law Earl Jackson Peters (who married their daughter Reba). Their world was shattered at the tail end of the war when they learned that their son in law Earl had gone down with the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in an attack by Japanese submarine torpedoes.

Gertrude and Samuel at right with her adult siblings. L-R: Edward and Iva Henry Sr., Jesse and Zelda (Snyder) Conn, Harvey "Clinton" and Melda (Hostetter) Conn, and Allen Sylvester and Nora Snyder. Courtesy Sylvester Everhart Jr.

Gertrude with her mother  at a Harbaugh Reunion

Samuel was burdened in his final years with chronic kidney and heart disease. He was stricken by a heart attack and died at the age of 60 on July 22, 1948. An obituary in the Republican reported that Rev. George Meadow and Rev. Jerome V. Guss had co-officiated the funeral service, with burial following at the Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery near Confluence.

Gertrude survived her husband by almost four decades.

Confluence remained as her dwelling-place in 1950, living alone, as indicated by the census. One of her next-door neighbors was the family of her cousins, Galen and Erma (Ream) Younkin. 

One July in the late '40s or early '50s, in a letter to a relative, Gertrude's mother wrote: "Gertrude and Iva has not bin here for some time. They don't get home often as they both work." In an October 1955 letter from Gertrude's mother to a relative, she wrote this update on family visits:

... yesterday Clint and his wife and family was here for dinner. Iva still lives at Kingwood and Gertrude still lives at Confluence and Lester still at bible school and Jess still at McKeesport... One of Nora's boys and his little girls was here the other Sunday to see us. Well we was glad to see them come.

At some point, Gertrude moved in to take care of her aging mother. She took Susie to the Harbaugh Reunion in 1956 at the Kingwood Picnic Grove, and the two women are seen here. Note Susie's cane, and how fragile she looks.

Jersey Church Cemetery

In August 1957, Gertrude was busy tending to her bedfast, dying mother. They received a visit from cousin Harry and Amanda (Burkett) Miner, and afterward Amanda wrote a letter about the visit to a relative:

   We was to see Aunt Susan Saturday afternoon. I was in the room where she lays but she is about the same. You ask if she knows things by times (no) but when people go in and talk she gets so worked up. She just has Gertrude help her up and down all night. They all should consider Gertrude's side of it and walk in and not be talking till they go out of the room... Aunt Susan could last a year yet or could go at anytime. She don't eat enough to keep a bird alive.
   Gertrude said she hasn't had much time to write to no one. She does canning fruit and vegetables besides caring for her mother. She canned 50 some qts. last week, 2 [bushels] peaches, pickles and beans. If she keeps that up she will be gone before her mother yet. 

Gertrude lived a long life despite or thanks to all of her hard work. 

She periodically attended the annual Harbaugh Reunions, and in 1970 received the "Oldest Woman Present" award.

She passed away on Oct. 9, 1987, at the age of 93. She is buried beside her husband at the Jersey Church Cemetery. Her obituary, printed in the Somerset Daily American, noted that she was survived by five granddaughters, 14 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

A year after her death, in 1988, her family made a $500 donation in her memory to help defray costs of materials to repair the crumbling plaster ceiling of the historic Jersey Baptist Church in Ursina.

Their grave marker, seen here, was photographed by the founder of this website during a visit to Ursina in April 1993.

~ Son Marion "Ray" Firestone ~

Son Marion "Ray" Firestone (1913-1981) was born on Nov. 2, 1913. 

During the Great Depression, he is known to have joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and underwent conditioning training at Fort Hoyle, MD before being deployed to a project site.

He is known to have served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. His name also adorns the war memorial in Confluence . 

Following the close of the war, he returned home to Confluence and obtained work as a laborer. 

Ray was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. When the federal census enumeration was made in 1950, the pair resided in McKeesport near Pittsburgh, with him working as a freight loader and shipper.

He was a member of the Turkeyfoot Fish and Game Association and the Confluence Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Caroline's fate is not known.

Sadly, he died on April 2, 1981, with burial in the Jersey Church Cemetery. His obituary was published in the Meyersdale Republic but does not mention his wife.

~ Daughter Virginia "Ruth" (Firestone) Anderson ~

Ruth and James Anderson Courtesy Sylvester Everhart Jr.

Daughter Virginia "Ruth" Firestone (1916-2005) was born on June 25, 1916 in Confluence.

On Sept. 20, 1933, at the age of 17, she tied the marital cord with James Ralph Anderson (1913-2006), son of Enos "Scott" and Susan Hannan (Nickelson) Anderson of Confluence. Their wedding was held in St. Paul Methodist Church of Oakland, MD, officiated by Rev. Winfield Patterson.

They resided in Windber, Somerset County and raised two daughters -- Barbara Durst and Karen Suhr.

James was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific theatre. He was employed by the A&P grocery store chain and Acme Markets and retired on the first day of April 1975. He was a member of the American Legion, Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Confluence and local fire department. 

Ruth was elected the initial president of the Windber Area High School Band Parents, and was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Windber.

Their address in the late 1970s and early 1980s was 906 Somerset Avenue, Windber. The couple marked their golden wedding anniversary in September 1983 with a surprise party held in their honor at the Windber American Legion.

In their final years they resided in the Church of the Brethren Home in Windber. In February 2005, they endured the untimely death of their son in law Thomas Walter Suhr in Florida.

Virginia passed away in the Brethren Home at age 88 on April 18, 2005. An obituary in the Daily American noted that she was "the last surviving member of her immediate family." A memorial service was held in her home church in Windber.

James died at the age of 93, in the Church of the Brethren Home in Windber, on June 3, 2006. A memorial service was held at the First Lutheran Church of Windber, led by Rev. Eleanor Abarno. An obituary was published in the Somerset Daily American.

Daughter Barbara D. Anderson (1935-2018) was born on March 29, 2018 in Confluence. She was an alumna of Windber Area High School. Barbara entered into marriage with Donald R. Durst (June 20, 1933-2022), a resident of Windber, PA and the son of Robert and Marian (Keyser) Durst and stepson of Blaine Koontz. They stayed together over the thick and thin of an extraordinary 65 years.Their four known children were James R. Durst, Jeri Linn Gallucci, J.W. Durst and Jason M. Durst.  Donald was an alumnus of the Windber Area High School and then the Highway Construction School. He went on to a 35-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Circa 1978, the family lived in Windber at the address of 1809 Cambria Avenue and in 2018 in Paint Township. Donald spent many years in community and volunteer service and in time was named to the Windber Area Hall of Fame. Among his activities was with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Windber Community Building, Windber Centennial Parade and Habitat for Humanity, where he helped build the first Habitat house in town. Said an obituary, "His service to others was a vital part of who he was, and his support of Windber's youth was evident as he served as Little League Manager, Mentor and Player Agent for 23 years. Don was an active member of his church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, traveling, watching Westerns, Steeler and Penn State Football, and spending time with his friends and family." Sadly, Barbara died at the age of 82, on March 29, 2018 as a patient in Baptist Health Center of Madisonville, KY. Her obituary said that "She attended Scalp Level Trinity United Methodist Church, Windber and was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Windber, where she was active in the Methodist Women and Tea Time. Barb enjoyed visiting family, socializing with friends, (special friends the Friday night gang), knitting, crocheting, and reading. She had a wonderful sense of humor and made each of her children feel like they were the favorite." Donald's final years were spent in or near Carmel, IN. At the age of 89, he surrendered to the angel of death on Sept. 20, 2022. The headcount of his survivors was eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In a Johnstown Tribune-Democrat obituary, the family asked that any memorial gifts be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

• Grandson James R. Durst ( ? - ? ) was joined in wedlock with Leslie Scherch ( ? - ? ), daughter of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Richard O. Scherch of Paramus, NJ. The Dursts made a home in the late 1970s in Romney, WV. They were the parents of James Donald Durst and perhaps others. At the birth of their son in 1978, in Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, MD, the Somerset Daily American reported that the child "was born into a family of 12 grandparents and great-grandparents." The story even named his great-great grandmother, Gertrude Firestone, subject of this biographical page. In time they migrated to Carmel, IN and were there in 2006. Strong evidence suggests that in 2020, James served as superintendent of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, while Leslie also has been employed there as director of the Indiana educational resource center. He retired on Sept. 30, 2024, and she on Oct. 1, 2024, with her career having spanned 48 years of working with students who have vision loss, including 33 years at the ISBVI.

  Great-grandson James Donald Durst (1978- ? ) was born in 1978 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, MD.

• Granddaughter Jeri Linn Durst ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). She was a 1973 graduate of Windber Area High School and later that year was voted Pennsylvania Maple Queen, displaying her abilities as a ventriloquist. During her year as Queen, she made more than 100 public appearances and threw out a first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. Jeri wnt on to study at the Greater Johnstown Area Vocational-Technical School of Nursing. She was united in matrimony with Frank A. Gallucci (June 7, 1948-2014), a Somerset native and the son of Frank R. and Josephine (Vigliotti) Gallucci of Johnstown. Their union held firm over their 37 years together. Their trio of offspring includes Aubree L. Gallucci, Frank A. Gallucci Jr. and Nicole Gallucci-Miller. During the Vietnam War, Frank served in the U.S. Navy and in June 1970 was a member of the crew that commissioned the USS Schenectady . He went on to employment as an investment accountant with the Public School Employees' Retirement System. Jeri and Frank made a dwelling in Johnstown, PA in 1983 and eventually moved to Camp Hill, PA. They belonged to the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Mechanicsburg. Said an obituary in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Frank "was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, loved all types of music, and enjoyed traveling to the beach. Frank possessed great wit and an extraordinary sense of humor that many friends and relatives had the privilege of sharing with him. He was a wonderful, caring and well respected man who touched the lives of many." The family was plunged into grief at Frank's passing on May 24, 2014. His mass of Christian burial was conducted in the family church, followed by interment in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Jeri Linn went on to marry Michael Navitsky ( ? - ? ).

Great-granddaughter Aubree L. Gallucci was in Mechanicsburg, PA in 2014.

Great-grandson Frank A. Gallucci Jr. married Diana. They are the parents of Sophia Rosemarie Gallucci. The family has put down roots in Levittown, PA.

Great-granddaughter Nicole Gallucci tied the knot with Jeremy Miller. Circa 2014, their dwelling-place was in Mechanicsburg, PA.

• Grandson J.W. Durst (1962-living) was born in 1962. He grew up in Windber and is an alumnus of Windber Area High School. He then received additional education at Baylor University. J.W. entered into marriage with Rita ( ? - ? ), daughter of Leona Telek of Johnstown. They settled in Madisonville, KY. One known daughter of the pair is Jordan Elizabeth Durst, born in 2002. J.W. has been employed as director of Trover Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Active in the community, he has served on the Hopkins County Board of Education until 2022. In January 2025, he was named to the Hopkins County Joint Planning Commission and has been a board director of the Christian Food Bank of Hopkins County. In her own right, starting in about 1994, Rita has been a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Regional Medical Center.

• Grandson Jason M. Durst spent his youth in Windber. He served in the U.S. Air Force circa 1985, taking his training at Lackland Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base, both in Texas. As of 1986, his role was as a strategic aircraft maintenance specialist, assigned to the 42nd Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Loring Air Force Base in Maine. He was joined in wedlock with Diane ( ? - ? ). Circa 2005, they were in Burkburnett, TX.

Daughter Karen S. Anderson ( ? - ? ). She wed Milwaukee native Thomas Walter Suhr (Jan. 18, 1940-2005). They rogether bore one daughter, Heather K. Suhr. Thomas in his youth had attended St. Francis Minor Seminary in Milwaukee and Father Judge Mission Seminary Holy Trinity in Alabama and eventually received a degree from the University of Maryland. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, enlisting in 1961 and attaining the rank of lieutenant. They relocated to Pensacola, FL in 1979, with his apparently taking a transfer to the local Naval Air Station, and he eventually retired with 20 years of service. The Suhrs remained in Pensacola for good, moving in 1978 to Bay Cliff Estates. Over the years, Thomas took satisfaction in writing letters to the editor of the Pensacola News Journal. Sadness blanketed the family when he died at the age of 65 on Feb. 28, 2005. A funeral mass was held at Our Savior Catholic Church. His cremains were placed into eternal sleep in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola. In an obituary in the News Journal, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the Northwest Florida Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Karen outlived her spouse by many years and became a companion of Col. James George Cary.

• Granddaughter Heather Kaleen Suhr (1975- ? ) was born in about 1975. She has been a longtime resident of Pensacola, FL. Circa 2006, she was profiled in the Pensacola News Journal for her passion for fashioning hula hoops as an exercise tool. In 2018, she opened Emerald Coast Critter Care, a "pet sitting" business.

~ Daughter Reba (Firestone) Peters Rush ~

Daughter Reba Garnet Firestone (1919-2000) was born on Jan. 26, 1919. 

Her first husband was Earl Jackson Peters (1910-1945), son of William Harrison and Laura Florence (Moon) Peters of the family of Andrew Jackson "Andy" and Harriet V. (Younkin) Moon. They were married in Casselman, Somerset County on Oct. 9, 1937, when she was age 18 and he 27. Rev. L.S. Mulhollen officiated.

At the time of marriage, Earl worked as a "bridgeman" and lived in Markleton.

They produced two children, Bernice Snyder and Garnet Dennis.

Heartache rocked the family just as the war was ending -- when Earl was killed in action in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. His ship was torpedoed and went down in the South Pacific.  The disaster was made famous in the movie "Jaws" -- the vessel was on a top-secret mission to deliver the A-bomb; having completed its mission, it was torpedoed during its return; because of the high level of secrecy, help did not arrive for days. 

Of the 900 crewmembers who survived the sinking and went into the water, close to two-thirds were devoured by sharks. A granite memorial honoring the crew stands today in Indianapolis, IN. Earl also is named on the "Tablets of the Missing" at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines and on a monument (seen here) in his hometown of Confluence, PA. He also is featured on a special page on the website of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Also see an enlargement of his portrait as our June 2006 "Photo of the Month."

Later, after Jack's wartime death, and enduring a time as a widow, she wed her second husband, Thomas Courtney Rush (1919-1975). 

He also was a veteran of World War II, serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was a longtime member of the Turkeyfoot Fish and Game Commission and Confluence Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Earl Jackson Peters' ill-fated ship, the USS Indianapolis, and the 2001 book about the tragedy authored by Doug Stanton

Thomas passed away suddenly at home on May 14, 1975, at the age of 55. Burial was in Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery near Ursina, Somerset County. An obituary was printed in the Meyersdale Republic.

Reba outlived her second husband by a quarter of a century. 

She died on Nov. 4, 2000, and rests beside Thomas for eternity at the Jersey Church.

Daughter Bernice Peters ( ? -living) wed Jan Buell Snyder (1934-2002), son of Armour and Eleanor (McClintock) Snyder. They were married in about 1956. They lived in Confluence and had four children -- Vance Snyder, Chris Ann Wilson, Rhonda Riesco and Tara Blankenship. Active in the community, Jan "especially enjoyed music and photography and spending time with his family at the beach," reported the Somerset Daily American. "He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a life member of Confluence VFW Post 7250. A member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Addison. A board member of Addison Cemetery Association, Confluence Borough Council and Meyersdale Lodge [of the Masons]. He was a ... sales representative for the Accident Garage in Accident, Md. for 18 years and a former salesman for Nace Chevrolet of Confluence and Henry's of New Centerville." At the age of 68, Jan passed away on Dec. 5, 2002. Burial was in Addison Cemetery. Bernice has outlived her husband by many years.

Daughter Garnet Peters wed Dean Dennis. Their home in 1987 was in Markleysburg.

Copyright © 2001-2002, 2005, 2007, 2013-2014, 2021-2023, 2025 Mark A. Miner