Excerpted from an e-mail message to Billie McNamara from Mimi Reed, February, 1998.
In searching one line of my husband's family, I learned how many Catholics lived in Clarion County. They settled in the southern part of the county -- when it was Armstrong, of course. Most of these families were old German families that settled in Berks Co. in the early part of the 18th Century. They were quiet about their faith and followed their priest, Father Helbron, west to Westmoreland County, where they fanned out north into what is now Clarion.
Now, I know that I am not telling you anything that you do not already know, but I am astonished that nothing of the history of these people shows up on the Clarion County homepage. This is not your fault. I did not know about the influence of these people until I went to Clarion to do some research and found that a book had been written about this community by people who live there. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shannon's book, The Aarons of Crates, is a history of this community in Clarion County. The book has copies of the church records from St. Nicholas -- for more inclusive than what is available in the little history of the church that is quoted as a source.
I could go on and on. I am not an expert on this; I only wish someone in the Catholic community in Clarion County would be more "promoting" of their history. I guess you have to rely on the people who are on-line. I do know that Barbara Songer, a volunteer at the Clarion County Historical Society, was the person who put me in touch with the Shannons. From them, I found a marriage and the baptism of several children. The Shannons have the church records, or at least copies of them, and they are far more complete than what is in the St. Nicholas centennial booklet.
I don't know how many contacts you have in Clarion. I know that you live "away." I live about two hours from Clarion and would be willing to go ask some questions as to why some of this info is not on the hompage. Would that be interfering on your "turf," or do you know someone on-line in Clarion who could remedy this situation?
My husband's Greenawalt ancestors gave up their faith, probably because of anti-Catholicism in the area and probably because of isolation. The county histories never mention these people, other than in passing.
Reply from Billie:
I don't have any ancestral ties to the Catholic settlers of Clarion County, so it is not a topic I have researched. Because there was (and still is) a significant Catholic contingent in the county, I would love to have more of their history on-line here. If anyone can help with this request, please contact us.