Family History Books



If you have a family history book that you would like to see listed here, please email me





Kurt Spence
Genealogical History of the Spence Family of Western PA, 1997 is a history of James Spence, born in Ireland ca. 1760, and his many descendants, mostly from the counties of Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Clarion, Mercer and surrounding areas. Some of the surnames include Agnew, Brandon, Black, Brown, Calhoun, Campbell, Fairman, Fleming, Gibson, Humphrey, Johnston, Kinter, Kriebel, Maze, Mumford, North, Palmer, Pfeiffer, Smith, Spence, Swan, Wetzel and many more. This well-written 199 page history includes stories, photos, bibliography and an every-name index. Laminated soft-cover. 8½ x 11 comb-binding. Cost of the book, only $20 which includes shipping. To order, please e-mail J. Kurt Spence at cirkus@aol.com.

Adrianne Hopkins
PERSI records for Indiana PA. You can order 6 records at a time for about $7 plus 20 cents per copy. There are many titles available. Please email me for more information.

Alice J. Gayley
My new book "The 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers: The Story of Company I" is now available from Mechling Associates. In addition to Company I, which was recruited in Jefferson County (my home county), I also included a section on Company E which was recruited in both Indiana and Jefferson Counties. The book contains muster rolls for both companies which contain date and place of enlistment, casualties, battle in which injured (if it was available), and date mustered out. The book also contains some pictures from the original regimental history, such as the Law Brothers of Company E.

The book is an outgrowth of my search to find the burial site of my g-g-uncle, James J. Gayley, who was captured by the Confederates at Reams Station and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, VA. After he became ill, he was sent to Camp Parole, MD, where he died. After searching for many years, I learned that he was buried in the Annapolis Natinal Cemetery. Anyway from there, I grew more interested in the 148th, especially Company I, and their role in the Civil War.

It's available from Mechling Associates, Inc. for $14.95 plus shipping and handling. 203 Pine Track Road, Butler, PA 16001, 1-800-941-3735.

Anna Mae Schmoyer
"Schmeyer Descendants In America" Vol. 2 which includes the descendants of Hans Michael Schmeyer who immigrated in 1749 is now available. Many descendants of Daniel and Anna Berringer Smeyres of Big Run, Jefferson Co. are included.Some of these families lived in Indiana Co. The book is softcover, approximately 6 by 8 1/2 inches and was printed in Germany to the same format as Han's previous books, "The Schmeyer family from the High Forest" and Schmeyer Descendants Vol. 1, Johann Philipp." Vol. 2 is 193 pages and includes the descendants as known of Hans Michael and Johannes Smyre of North Carolina. Birth and death dates, Cemetery information and some information on Occupations and other interesting facts are included. The price is $20.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling and can be purchased by contacting me at 8707 Spinnerstown Rd. Coopersburg, Pa. 18036.

Ed Hlusko or Ed Hlusko
The 7th edition of the History of the Allison Family, 1750-1998 is now available.  This is 350 pages of the family outline and 140 pages of alphabetical index with known birth, death, and marriage dates. Cost:  $15.00 for zerox copy or $3.00 for a Word Perfect 5.1 diskette.  Write to Ed Hlusko, 5312 Marlington Dr., Va. Beach, Va. 23462.

Patricia Murphy Hemphill
I have a limited number of copies of my new family history on the ALLISONS OF INDIANA CO. PA, 1997.  It traces the history of Robert ALISON and his wife Rebecca BEARD, the original 1750 immigrants, through their youngest son Robert ALLISON, Jr.and his first wife Ann RAMSEY. The hardcover, indexed volume has genealogical lines up to the present generation and includes genealogical sources, post Civil War photographs, diary excerpts, biographies. There is extensive information on other Indiana Co. families who "married in" to this Allison line  -- for example, KIRKPATRICK, BROWN, EDWARDS, EDMISTON, GIBSON, MIKESELL. I do not plan a second printing, so when these are gone, that's it.  I have donated a copy to the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County. Cost for the book, only $29 plus $4 mailing/handling. To order, please email.

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