Pepper Family and Thomas Shawcross - Honora Alice Pepper

We've been going through Thomas Shawcross' notes on his branch of the Pepper family. We're now looking at Honora Alice Pepper...beautiful name.

"Known as Nora, she became my (Thomas Shawcross) great-grandmother after marrying Joseph Shawcross. Nora appears to have placed a strong value on education, religion and the temperance movement. Almost all of the pictures of her in her later years show her reading a Bible. She died of breast cancer at the age of 63."

I'll include a bit of her obituary found in the Williamsport Pioneer, August 17, 1923,here..."daughter of Jacob and Naomi Pepper, was born in Vermillion County Illinois, March 1, 1860 and died at her home in Indianapolis, Ind., August 11, 1923, aged 63 years...

She was married June 26, 1880 to Joseph Shawcross, son of John and Margaret Shawcross, with whom she lived in happy contented life 43 years. To this union were born four sons, an infant and Raymond C. who preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her sad departure her husband, two sons, Joseph Wilbur and Orry LeRoy...

She was a good wife and a devoted mother whose love for her children was undying...Funeral services were held from the M.E. Church at Rainsville...Burial was in the Rainsville Cemetery."

Thomas Shawcross encludes some interesting Pepper letters. He also lists other descndants of the Peppers.

"I suspect the Pepper(s) family was German but I don't know this other from speculation on the...history of Frederick County, MD. Long before there were any settlements in Frederick County, parties of Germans passed through it from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to seek homes in Virginia. The principal route was over a pack horse or Indian road that crossed the present Pennsylvania counties of York and Adams to the Monocacy where it passed into Maryland. Once in Maryland the road passed through Campton's Gap and crossed the Potomac at several fords. The first German settlement in Frederick County was as early as 1729 in the village of Monocacy (Creagerstown), which was the first village beyond the lower part of MOntgomery County in Western Maryland. Here around 1732 the first German church, which was known as the Log Church, was built in Maryland. "

Thomas gives information on the Irish in Frederick County, maryland and the French and Indian War. Very interesting reading.

"As the tide of German immigrants increased, a more direct route to Western Maryland was established. The immigrants landed at Annapolis and later some at Baltimore. From there they traveled over the bad roads of that time to their destinatins in the valley of Monocacy. The Maryland officials early appreciated the value of the German settlers to the province and did all they could to encourage the movement, as the Germans were looked upon as a thrifty, industrious and God-fearing poeple who were a benefit to the community."

I've enjoyed Thomas Shawcross' letter and works. He has my total respect and I hope to continue our relationship of letters.