Penned by Frances (Warner) Morgan, great-granddaughter
The descendants of Noah and Rebecca (Teter) Warner held their annual family reunion July 7 at the Clinton Hedrick Community Building in Riverton.
Who was Noah Warner? Noah was a son of Solomon and Priscilla (Smith) Warner. He was born Dec. 26, 1843, in Pendleton County, Virginia. In September 1862, at the young age of 18 years, he enlisted in the Confederate Army of the War Between the States. This was a year before West Virginia became a separate state from Virginia. Private Warner lived to see West Virginia become a state.
Much could be said about Noah’s Civil War experiences, but a brief synopsis is Warner was wounded in action in Winchester, Virginia, by a mini-ball passing through the knee; he was later captured by Sheridan’s Troops in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and sent to Point Lookout POW Camp in Maryland, and later sent to U.S.A. General Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was in the Prisoner Exchange and released Oct. 30, 1864, at Atkins Landing. He was claimed by the “Georgia Battery” and returned to his command Feb. 1, 1865, just before General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
Warner was engaged in many battles during the Civil War, and in several states, which included Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as Virginia, and later West Virginia (after becoming a state). One of his assignments was guarding the supply train in Cashtown, Pennsylvania.
Warner was an educator and a farmer. On Jan. 1, 1866, he married Rebecca Teter, daughter of Phillip and Sidney (Bland) Teter. In the book of Genesis, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. I believe Noah and Rebecca did not disappoint. They brought 13 children into this world, two of which did not survive infancy, and it is believed there may have been several others that did not survive birth. (I do believe this poor woman should have faked more headaches!) Rebecca lived to be nearly 94 years, passing Aug. 26, 1937. Her obituary states at the time of her death, she left 72 grandchildren, and 153 great-grandchildren. At this time, I wouldn’t even venture a guess on how many thousands there are of us. Yes, replenish the earth! Many of the citizens of Pendleton County, and elsewhere, have descended from this incredible couple. Noah and Rebecca’s son, John William Warner, was still fathering children at age 77. Quite the man. Go for it! (Just think of all the envious men out there reading this text!)
However, this story is intended to be more about the incredible fact that a Civil War veteran, who was born almost 181 years ago, still has grandchildren living today. I can think of seven. At this reunion, we were blessed to have three of those with us, so this story is dedicated to them.
First, given special recognition at this reunion, was granddaughter Jessie Elizabeth (Warner) Sponaugle. Jessie is approaching 100 years of age. She is the daughter of Amby Warner and Surrilda (Waybright) Warner. If it wasn’t for her twin sister, Bessie, Jessie would have the distinction of being their youngest child of seven. Imagine Surrilda’s surprise when there was not one child, but two. In those days, no ultra sounds. Apparently, Jessie was the most eager.
Jessie was a home-birth, born Dec. 2, 1924, on the Hunting Ground. For those of you that may not know, Hunting Ground is located in the shadows of Spruce Knob, which is the highest point in West Virginia. Speaking from experience, I can tell you at that time of year up there, temperatures are very frigid, and most likely in 1924 there was lots of snow — not to mention wind!
We think times are hard now; we don’t know anything. Times were very hard back then. There was no electricity or modern conveniences, no phones, no inside running water and no indoor plumbing — imagine that. In winter, one tried to get the business in the out-house completed very quickly. A Sears and Roebuck catalog was placed by the seat, and when one heard the “rip” of paper, if anyone was waiting in line, they knew the “wait” was about over. In winter, the britches were being pulled up and buttoned, as one was rushing to get back inside the house to warm the bottom by the cozy wood fire. Nearly all the food was homegrown; one didn’t rush out to the store to purchase canned food off the store shelf. Transportation was by horse and wagon — or by sled in winter — or by foot, when travel was necessary.
Jessie was born prior to the Great Depression. Now that was really hard times. The children pitched in to help with everything. Older ones tended to the younger ones while mother was giving birth to more. Aunt Jessie told me she helped in the garden, helped can the food to be stored in the cellar, milked cows, placed the buckets of milk in a cream separator, turned a crank to separate the cream from the milk, which they churned into butter, carried water from the spring or well, kept the wood boxes filled with split wood for the wood cook stove and the heating stove, washed clothes on a “worsh” board and hung them outdoors on a clothes line, helped make the hay, and much more. Farming was done with work horses. She told me she stood on a chair to reach the dishpan on the wood cook stove to wash the dishes. They walked to and from Hunting Ground School each day — in the cold, rain, snow, sleet, wind, ice, and I am betting school never got called off. Teachers were dedicated to teaching readin, writin, and rithmetic, regardless!
Jessie was just a little over two years of age when her grandfather, Noah, passed, but she remembers her grandmother, Rebecca, and remembers being at her funeral, which was held at her homeplace. Jessie, at age 99, is the last surviving member of her family.
Next to be recognized was Idelta Rebecca (Sponaugle) Lambert, age 98. Her life experiences were very much like Jessie’s, so just turn the page back. Idelta was the daughter of the late Etta Bryan (Warner) Sponaugle and Harman Sponaugle. She is one of 15 children, of which two did not survive infancy. She was born in a log house Nov. 1, 1925, on the outskirts of Circleville. Her childhood log home in Circleville burned to the ground, when the shingle roof ignited from a spark from the chimney. Her mother salvaged some things by throwing them out the window, which Idelta still owns some of those today. Some of the boys from Circleville High School rushed to the scene, throwing water from buckets on the roof of the adjoining structure, preventing it from burning as well. Idelta was also born before the Great Depression. Her family did not own a vehicle during those early years. Once her father was able to acquire a vehicle, when the family traveled, they would all sing songs together, wherever they went.
Idelta and her siblings walked to Circleville for both elementary and high school from their home, except when there was snow a friend of the family would haul them to school on a horse-drawn sled. I don’t know if there were sleigh bells, but I imagine they were laughin all the way. That mode of transportation must have been lots of fun for kids, and probably the envy of a lot of others. I should know.
Idelta also remembers her grandmother, Rebecca, and bears her middle name. Idelta is the youngest of her many siblings and is the last surviving member of her amazing family.
Priscilla (Warner) Mullenax is the “baby” of these three granddaughters of Noah and Rebecca, since she is only 90 years of age. I think of Priscilla as being the social butterfly of our family. In addition to having a broad knowledge of the descendants of the Noah Warner family, she also knows most of the people of Pendleton County. Priscilla never meets a stranger. If she does not know someone, she will approach them and ask. During the years as I have attempted to trace our family, when I became stumped, I would place a call to Priscilla.
Like Jessie before her, Priscilla was also born on the Hunting Ground. She was the ninth of 10 children born to Charlie and Mary (Wimer) Warner. Midwives assisting with her birth were her two aunts. Like Jessie and Idelta, her young life was pretty much the same. She remembers she, and her brother, Paul, would sit on their father’s lap. He would read to them as long as they didn’t “carry on.”
Priscilla has been nearly a life-long resident of the Hunting Ground, except for a couple short stints living away after she married. She also remembers her grandmother, Rebecca! Priscilla and her younger brother, Paul, are the last surviving members of the Charlie and Mary Warner family.
As one can imagine, these three cousins have seen many changes in their lifetime, having lived for almost a century. What stories they could tell, if only there was space to do so. Most notably perhaps was when Neil Armstrong successfully stepped foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Jessie and Idelta have lived through the presidency of 17 different presidents!
I feel blessed to be a part of this amazing family.
