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Written by Craig B. Adams
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Jun 18, 2006 at 07:39 PM |
Nettie Pearl (Griffith) Varner (1883 - 1971)
Nettie Pearl Griffith was born on October 16, 1883 in Ryot (Oak Shade), St. Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Richard Sylvester and Rachel (Corle) Griffith. Nettie was the third of seven children. Her sister Jesse died in infancy. Emma grew up in Ryot where her father was the local blacksmith.
On March 6, 1907 Nettie gave birth to a daughter out of wedlock named Eva Viola. Viola's father may have been a Harbaugh. Nettie was 23 and unmarried. She remained at home with her parents who helped her raise Viola. Her sister Austie gave birth to a daughter out of wedlock the following year named Carrie. Their parents household was now rather crowded; however in 1910 both Nettie and Austie married.
On January 27, 1910 Nettie gave birth to a second daughter out of wedlock named Rachel Varner. On July 4th of that year she married her daughter's father, Richard Varner at her home. Richard was born about 1883, the son of Daniel and Susannah Varner.
On August 12, 1914 Nettie gave birth to another daughter, Hazel. Sadly, Hazel died 13 days later.
Nettie's father Richard died in 1917 at the age of 63. Her mother Rachel remarried to George McFarland, an aged widower in 1921, but he died the following year. She remarried again to another widower, John Wesley Callihan, but their marriage ended in an unhappy divorce. Her mother died in Ryot in 1934 at age 76.
In 1920 Nettie and Richard resided in Johnstown, Cambria County.
About 1923 Nettie gave birth to a son, George Edward Varner.
By 1927 Nettie, Richard, and George had removed to Windber, Somerset County.
Richard died sometime between 1927 and 1930.
In 1930 Nettie resided in Windber with her daugher Viola Griffith, 27, who was a nurse, her niece Carrie Griffith, 21, also a nurse, and son George, 6.
In 1934 Nettie resided in Barnesboro, Cambria County, PA.
Nettie's daughter Viola married Floyd Potts. He was born December 8, 1903 in Schellsburg, Bedford County, the son of Espy and Elizabeth (Dull) Potts. At age 43 Viola gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Ruth Louise Potts. Ruth was severely disabled; the nature of her disability, however, is not known. Viola and Floyd resided in Bedford County where they cared for their daughter.
At about the age of 17, Rachel married Cletus L. Beaner. He was born November 19, 1906. They had six children: George Leroy Beaner, Anna Mae (Beaner) Kinsey, Barbara (Beaner) Wissinger, Doris (Beaner) Meyers, Harry Beaner, and David Beaner. Rachel and Cletus were divorced. Rachel raised her children in Bedford County.
George moved away. He may have resided in Chicago for a time. He did not keep in touch with his family, and his fate is unknown.
Nettie's older sisters Emma and Savannah both died from breast cancer, Emma at 49 and Savannah at 63. Nettie, Carrie, Austie, and Sewel, however, all lived long lives.
Nettie was a very private person and not especially close with her family. When a local woman approached her about her Griffith ancestry sometime in the 1960s, Nettie reluctantly spoke with her. She was appalled when she learned that the woman, Mary Wilson, knew her birth date.
In 1970 Nettie resided in Manns Choice, Bedford County. She died on April 2, 1971 at Shroyers Rest Home in New Paris, Bedford County. She was 87.
In 2004, her grandson George Beaner, informed Craig B. Adams, that his mother's family was not close. He did know when his grandfather, Richard Varner died, he did not have any pictures of his grandparents, and he did not know the fate os his uncle George Varner.
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Last Updated ( Jun 24, 2006 at 08:53 PM )
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Griffith 
