American Revolution

Christian Ardinger Chapter of the Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution will hold an organizational meeting at 6 p.m.. Monday, Aug. 4, at Washington County Free Library, 100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Members of Daughter of the American Revolution and prospective members of Sons of the American Revolution are invited. For information, e-mail James G. Ballard Jr. atchristian_ardinger@marylandsar.org.

Virginia Elizabeth "Ginny" Miller, 91, of Williamsport, Md., passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Golden Living Center in Hagerstown, Md. She was born Aug. 30, 1920, in Hagerstown to the late Samuel Kiefer Sr. and Anna Mae Postetter Eckis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ellsworth Miller, in 2004. She lived life for her family. She was a 1937 graduate of Williamsport High School. She attended Frostburg University. Ginny and her husband Charlie were the owners/operators of Busy Corner, Williamsport, until their retirement.

The week of Sept. 17 to 23 was designated as Constitution Week by Congress. To celebrate, members of the Antietam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, including Eileen Renwick, regent, Karen Shea, chaplain and Cora Dove, Constitution Week chairman, visited with children at Sharpsburg Public Library. Betty Holtz, librarian, assisted, and Barb Twigg read to the children. The children waved American flags and rang bells in celebration and were served cupcakes and punch.

Myra Olivia Gosnell Avey, 100, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at Elmcroft of Martinsburg. The family will gather Sunday one hour prior to the service at Winchester Avenue Christian Church. The service will be Sunday at 2 p.m.  at the church, with the Rev. Curtis Wheeler officiating. Prior to the service, there will be memorial services held by Golden Rule Chapter No. 69 of the Order of Eastern Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery.

At the recent 102nd Conference of the Daughters of the American Revolution, North Hagerstown High School senior Matthew Amalfitano was selected by the Maryland DAR as its Maryland State Good Citizen. Matt had competed with candidated selected by the other 47 chapters in Maryland. He is now eligible to compete for the DAR regional and National Good Citizen Contest. A special awards luncheon was held March 30 at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. Matt was presented a $500 award by State Good Citizen Chairman Janet Colburn.

Revolutionary War Major Gen. Adam Stephen, Martinsburg's founder, was a rival of George Washington's in Virginia politics before he was removed from his post in the Army, his biographer said Tuesday. Stephen's dismissal after the battle of Germantown in 1777 and his subsequent return to what was then “back country” in the Shenandoah Valley are possible reasons why a portrait might not exist, University of Richmond emeritus professor Harry M. Ward said in a telephone interview.

At first glance, the pile of rubble that once was the Justice William Smith House in Mercersburg might seem like a lost cause, but don't tell that to 12-year-old Bailey Orange. The Fayetteville, Pa., girl is spearheading efforts to breathe new life into the historic structure that was dismantled in February by the Mercersburg Montgomery Peters and Warren Volunteer Fire Co. for expansion. "I always loved history, so what we're doing is trying to restore this house so future generations can see it," Bailey said.

JULY 25, 1921-MAY 6, 2011 Margaret Edna Campbell, 89, a resident of Golden Living Center, Hagerstown, Md., and formerly of Falling Waters, W.Va., passed away on Friday, May 6, 2011, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born July 25, 1921, in Eaton, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Albert Stanley and Edna Royer Schlingman. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Allen P. Partlow Sr., in 1949, and her second husband, Earl C. Campbell, in 1976.

-JULY 21, 2011 Judith Boggs Mackert, 73, of The Villages, Fla., died Thursday, July 21, 2011, at Cornerstone Hospice. Mrs. Mackert was born in Belle, W.Va., the daughter of James A. Boggs and Ressie Snyder Boggs. She spent most of her childhood in Gassaway, W.Va., where she graduated from high school in 1955. She moved to The Villages in 2007 from The Woods Resort in Hedgesville, W.Va. She is a former member of Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown, Md. She is a graduate of Richmond Professional Institute with a degree in fashion design.

Wednesday is the Fourth of July, our nation's 236th birthday. July Fourth or Independence Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. In June, 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 4, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

Revolutionary War Major Gen. Adam Stephen, Martinsburg's founder, was a rival of George Washington's in Virginia politics before he was removed from his post in the Army, his biographer said Tuesday. Stephen's dismissal after the battle of Germantown in 1777 and his subsequent return to what was then “back country” in the Shenandoah Valley are possible reasons why a portrait might not exist, University of Richmond emeritus professor Harry M. Ward said in a telephone interview.

Martha Elizabeth (Deeter) Brown, 92, of Providence Place, Chambersburg, Pa., and formerly of Greencastle, Pa., died Friday morning Jan. 25, 2013, at Providence Place. She was the wife of the late Bruce B. Brown, her husband of 55 years who died Jan. 14, 2002. Born Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1920, in Goodtown, Somerset County, Pa., she was the fourth of 14 children of the late Milton Henry and Martha Elizabeth (Saylor) Deeter. She was raised from the age of 8 by her paternal uncle, Simon Elmer Deeter and his wife, Mabel (Reininger)

Wednesday is the Fourth of July, our nation's 236th birthday. July Fourth or Independence Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. In June, 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 4, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

Kathleen Virginia (Smith) Newcomer, 96, of Benevola, Md., passed peacefully from this life, Sunday, June 17, 2012, at Somerford House Assisted Living in Hagerstown. Born June 12, 1916, in Mapleville, Md., she was the daughter of the late Harry Mumma Smith and Sadie Estelle Cline, and stepdaughter of J. William Stine. Kathleen was a 1935 graduate of Boonsboro High School, where she worked as a secretary for three years after graduation. On Nov. 23, 1938, she was married to Richard H. Newcomer, and they lived on and farmed the Newcomer family farm at Benevola.

Betty Lorraine Zeigler Stottlemyer, 83, formerly of Buford Drive, Williamsport, Md., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pa. Born May 12, 1928, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pa., she was the daughter of the late George Frederick and Thelma Mae Eshelman Zeigler Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Robert N. Stottlemyer, on Feb. 12, 1998. She was employed with the City of Hagerstown for 22 years, 17 in the Water Department and five years as secretary to the mayor and city administrator.

Virginia Elizabeth "Ginny" Miller, 91, of Williamsport, Md., passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Golden Living Center in Hagerstown, Md. She was born Aug. 30, 1920, in Hagerstown to the late Samuel Kiefer Sr. and Anna Mae Postetter Eckis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ellsworth Miller, in 2004. She lived life for her family. She was a 1937 graduate of Williamsport High School. She attended Frostburg University. Ginny and her husband Charlie were the owners/operators of Busy Corner, Williamsport, until their retirement.

Myra Olivia Gosnell Avey, 100, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at Elmcroft of Martinsburg. The family will gather Sunday one hour prior to the service at Winchester Avenue Christian Church. The service will be Sunday at 2 p.m.  at the church, with the Rev. Curtis Wheeler officiating. Prior to the service, there will be memorial services held by Golden Rule Chapter No. 69 of the Order of Eastern Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery.

Martha Gall Breakall, age 81, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at her home while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle. Born Sept. 28, 1930, in Belington, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Orion Hoyt and Carrie Edna Summers Gall. She was a member of Trinity-Asbury United Methodist Church in Berkeley Springs. She was a 1948 graduate of Moundsville High School and earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in 1952. She came to Morgan County right out of college to work for the Potomac Edison Power Co. as a home demonstrator.

Alexander Hamilton has probably had as much influence on the development of our nation as any of the founders who met in Philadelphia. Yet he is relatively obscure compared to James Madison, Benjamin Franklin or George Washington. When he is remembered, it is likely that he comes to mind because of his death as a result of the duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. Forest McDonald, in "Alexander Hamilton," gives ample reasons to rank Hamilton as a first-rate mind and an indispensable force in achieving the creation of a strong central government and a thriving industrial sector.

-JULY 21, 2011 Judith Boggs Mackert, 73, of The Villages, Fla., died Thursday, July 21, 2011, at Cornerstone Hospice. Mrs. Mackert was born in Belle, W.Va., the daughter of James A. Boggs and Ressie Snyder Boggs. She spent most of her childhood in Gassaway, W.Va., where she graduated from high school in 1955. She moved to The Villages in 2007 from The Woods Resort in Hedgesville, W.Va. She is a former member of Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown, Md. She is a graduate of Richmond Professional Institute with a degree in fashion design.