Bessie Viola (Elizabeth) Garlitz

Family/Spouse: Christopher Columbus Miller. Christopher died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Avilton, Garrett Co., Maryland.

Francis + Elizabeth Hetz. Elizabeth was born on 23 Jul 1866; died in 1899. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Avilton, Garrett Co., Maryland.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Israel J. Garlitz

Notes:

"Israel Garlitz was baptized at St. Mary's up at Blooming Rose. At that time it was the only Catholic Church west of the Alleghenies. It was a small log church near where they call Deep Creek Lake today. He was baptized by Rev. Bishop 'Flaget and his sponsor was Fr. Marshall. Israel was very proud of the circumstances of his entrance into the Catholic church and was fond of speaking of Bishop Fla-gitte as Israel called him. Not many souls are this fortunate. It made a deep and lasting impression on him. I suppose his brothers and sister was probably taken to church here too, or any place they were lucky enough to get to. (St. Ann Mission would have been visited infrequently by a priest.) In later years he was a very good man of the community. Israel was also confirmed here at this log church St. Mary's of Blooming Rose in the Glades. It was the first time the sacrament of confirmation was administered in what is now called Garrett County. This small church built from hand hewed logs was built in 1828 and stood till 1850 when another was built in Hoye, Maryland. It was very beautiful at this small church, with the lovely wild flowers and the natural beauty God furnished. There was about a dozen Indian converts here. Meschack Browning, the famous hunter, and his wife became Catholic here. This Blooming Rose settlement was the oldest on in what is now Garret County. In 1799, when some of these settlers wanted to be baptized, they were ministered to by Rev. Fr. Demetrius Gallitzin, (Russian Prince) the first circuit priest in the United States to minister to settlers west of the Alleghenies. Thus the Catholic faith stems from the baptisms of this priest. ..." Garlitz and Hetz History by Madeline McKenzie Maust. 1981 Tom Garlitz website

He was buried in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Avilton, Garrett Co., Maryland.

Israel married Ellen M. Robeson on 31 Mar 1842. Ellen (daughter of John William Robeson and Eva Margaret Winters) was born in 1828 in Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland; died on 14 Feb 1905 in Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Garlitz and Hetz History by Madeline Maust records Ellen Robeson as the daughter of William Robeson and Ellen Margaret (Preston) Robeson who was born in 1798 and sometime after the birth of Ellen was widowed. She then married Lightfoot Durst, a widower, in 1835 or 36. Maust writes, "With their combined families, they had eleven children. Lightfoot only lived until 1840 and then Ellen Margaret made her home with Morgan Robeson, her son. She was still living during the Civil War, but died then or soon after, and was buried in the old cemetery, just south of St. Ann's at Avilton, MD. She was thirty years younger than her second husband Lightfoot Durst. Enoch and Herman Robeson families are descendants of her son J. William Robeson, Jr. While Lightfoot was still living he had a mill called "Little Thunders" which was built in 1830. He is buried in the old cemetery on the hill above Salisbury, PA."

A posting on a genealogy site offered the following query: "I found an orphan's court record for Ellen Robeson as a ward of an O'Brian, also in a separate item a Morgan Robeson as a ward of the same O'Brian. Later Ellen evidently married Israel Garlitz as he takes over and manages her property. In one such record Ellen is said to be the heir of a William Robeson/Robboson, etc. Is there a connection to the O'Brian family and the Robeson?" No answers were offered.

In a further note, it was decided that Mr. Maust had confused the Preston and Winters names and that what I have as record is correct. January 24, 2011



She died on 10 Feb 1905 at the age of 78 in Avilton, Garrett Co., Maryland.
Frostburg, February 14 - The funeral of Mrs. Ellen Garlitz, whose death took place Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. B. McKenzie, near Avilton, Md., a few miles west of this place, after a lingering illness of several days, from old age and general debility, took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. McKenzie, interment being made at that place, the Methodist minister officiating. The deceased was the widow of the late Israel Garlitz and was well known and highly respected by everybody who knew her. Mrs. Garlitz was formerly a Miss Robeson and was born near this place in 1828, residing in this vicinity for seventy-seven years. She is survived by several children who reside about here. The deceased lost her husband several years ago. Mrs. Garlitz was a remarkable woman for her age, being very active, and was an interesting and entertaining talker for one so advanced in age. The Evening Times, Cumberland, February 14, 1905

She was buried on 12 Feb 1905 in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Avilton, Garrett Co., Maryland.

Notes:

He died in 1873 at the age of 76 in Maryland. Here is part of the article that I found in Brown's Miscellaneous Writings
1880 - 1895
By Jacob Brown, Cumberland, MD 7-23-1896
On Page 42 -
Avilton, Garrett County.There has been a decided improvement in this community not only in the people, but in every way, in the past few years. Beautiful new residences greet your eyes in many places, such as HON. GEORGE BLOCHER and his brother HENRY, who has just finished a handsome residence upon the old BLOCHER-MUSSELLMAN seat, and MR. PATRICK DORSEY, who is comforted in one of the very finest dwellings in the country. We were guests of the widow HANSON BROWN. She and her son JOHN H. BROWN run the best farm on the ridge. Their energy and prudence have been rewarded this season with full crops of all kinds for "man and beast." Her home is one of great hospitality and generosity to the many comers and goers, and of course, she is much liked and respected. She is a reader and a subscriber of the REPUBLICAN, and wonders why her bill does not put in appearance for payment, as it is her only known debt. A healthy financial condition truly. We met another patron, the spouse of a moderate Democrat, and a close reader of the REPUBLICAN - a lady of sense and considerable information. The writer was modestly questioned as to the authorship of certain articles heretofore published in the paper named of a historic character. She seemed to take pleasure in admitting she had read them with pleasure and interest, but she begged to say there was one error, in stating WILLIAM CONRAD was the last survivor of the jury that convicted GEORGE SWEARENGEN IN 1829. She averted her ancestor JACOB WINTERS, one of that panel, died a year or two later than CONRAD. No doubt she is right. A bright woman is hard to beat on matter of fact. There can be no impropriety in saying the lady referred to is MRS. ANDREW LANCASTER. Just here let it be remarked city people greatly mistake and underate the intelligence and general information of the country people. Many of them are careful readers, and make good practical use of what they read and observe. It was not difficult to persuade us to make a visit to our old friend P. DORSEY. Here one finds genuine hospitality and pure civility. His much respected wife died several years ago. His household is handsomely presided over by his trained daughters who make it pleasant for you whether it be a short or long stay. DORSEY is doing a large and prosperous business in the manufacture of lumber and shingles; for the latter there is more demand now than for some years, at good prices. This industry is now the only one of the kind in this part of the country. The pioneer settler in this neighborhood was CHRISTIAN GARLITZ, at least 70 years ago. He built a cabin near where the Catholic church now stands in the dense woods, mostly pine. Tradition has it that in clearing a spot of ground around the house a perverse, tree was felled upon it with the young wife inside. The anxious cry was "SALLY, are you dead." She was unhurt, but strange to say, more than fifty years after, good old CHRISTY was killed in the woods by the fall of a tree. The men here of three score or more, are ELI WHITZELL, CHRISTIAN BLOCHER, ANDREW BLOCHER, LEO McKENZIE, ISRAEL GARLITZ and P. DORSEY, all respectable and good citizens. The two oldest died with the last year -- JESSE W. CHANEY and JEREMIZH McKENZIE. October 16th, 1888.

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Having been drawn to this place on business, with a few days of social pleasures added, it has been thought fit to furnish the public with suggestion of a local and personal nature, that may not be unacceptable to the reader. The old name of this neighborhood is "BLUE LICK:, latter caller "PEA RIDGE." the post office established here, about a year ago is called "AVILTON," has a tri-weekly mail supplied from LONACONING, with rapidly increasing reading matter. Mr R E GARLITZ is the attentive postmaster. He also runs a country variety store and drive a thrifty business. The ubiquitous drummer has found him, though far in the interior. At convenient distances are two churches -- Catholic and Dunkard, but no school-house range. The frequent remark here is "Why don't the double headed School Board quit wasting the people's money in factious lawsuits?" The OLD ROBINSON MANSION is now being dismantled to be use for school purposes for the coming term. Attended Dunkard church last Sunday. This was their annual meeting and the most important one of the year, being the occasion of the Love Feast, which was celebrated the night before. The ceremony consist of the communion, partaking of the lamb soup and feet-washing. The REV. J. HOOVER, from Salisbury, Pa., was the minister. He is a bright, intelligent man, and preached a very respectable sermon; one worthy of attention. He looks like any other respectable minister, and is orthodox in his opinions and teachings, but not oppressively so. His subject was the covering and uncovering of the head, which was clearly handled. Evidently he was dealing with the hat and bonnet question now vexing that sect. the church here is (PAGE 43) said to be in prosperous condition. But their spacious, plain edifice, now fifteen years old, needs a coat of white paint. They are able, but not willing, for such an enterprise. This whole neighborhood was once densely covered with white pine and spruce, but it has in years past been cut and made into lumber in its various forms. In the places of once pine forests, of pine trees are now many farms under good cultivation, with excellent crops this season and a ready market for all surplus products in the GEORGE'S CREEK VALLEY. The continuous rains for many weeks have delayed and somewhat damaged the crops, but still the yield will be more than an average, even though some buckwheat and corn should be spoiled. Besides the ceriels and provender, there is an immense chestnut crop, now nearing its close. Plenty of sleek pigs in the woods.

Christian married Sarah McKenzie about 1815. Sarah (daughter of Samuel McKenzie and Unknown) was born about 1788 in Mt. Savage, Maryland; died before 1854 in Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Several children of Sarah died during an epidemic of scarlet fever. Samuel and Israel lived at Avilton on adjoining farms. John moved to Laurel Hill in Pennsylvania. Henry bought the home farm, but sold it in 1859 to Leo and Jeremiah McKenzie. One of Israel's sons was Isadore, who married Matilda Elizabeth McKenzie; she inherited the old Garlitz farm from her father Jeremiah. Thus the old Garlitz homestead returned to Garlitz hands.

John + Eva Margaret Winters. Eva died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]