By Charles Teter
Circleville
Tragedy occurred on May 11, 1891, in the North Fork Mountain area of Pendleton County. On the morning of May 11, Ada and her brother went barefoot with their father to pick rocks in a field. Sometime in the forenoon Ada became tired and wanted to go home, but her brother wanted to stay. Ada started home by herself.
When the rest of the people came home for dinner, Ada was not there. She was missing. Neighbors showed up to look for Ada. News spread through the hills that Ada was lost, or an animal had killed her and carried her off. Two hunters, about one and a half years later, discovered her bones and clothing. Her mother identified the remains by the clothing.
If one would walk the North Fork Mountain Trail, starting at the top of North Mountain where Rt. 33 crosses the mountain, one will come across a white cross about a mile and a half north. This cross marks the area where Ada was found. Her remains were buried at the Huffman Cemetery in the North Fork.
Information for the article was obtained from a story made possible by Gail and Elise Warner and Ruth Hammer Smith.