For this post, we have a guest author - Ghon!
Since Kim has been after me about documenting the farm, I have a moment to lay out a time line. So if this doesn't bore you to tears here we go.....
October 2012: Ghon and Kimberly Eckley purchased the home and acreage from Charles Caswell
July 2010/October 2012: Property is split by the estate of Betty Ann Eckley (Caswell). Ghon inherits 9 acres of land, stepbrother Charles Caswell inherits the home and remaining acreage.
March 2010: Betty Ann Eckley assumed possession from the estate of Thomas Ghon Eckley
September 11, 1985: Thomas and Katie Eckley purchased the farm from Cleveland and Mary Smedley
September 11, 1961: Cleveland Smedley purchased farm from Leola Mae Crabill
April 3, 1954: Leola Crabill purchased farm from Asa and Ada Smoke
February 24, 1954: Asa and Ada smoke purchased farm from 8 separate Smokes. (Obviously estate settlement)
December 4, 1926: A.L and J.W Smoke purchased farm from Trustee M.M. Lynch
March 1, 1922: Jacob I Crabill purchased farm from Cora B. and P.F. Snapp
December 15, 1882: George W. Crabill purchased farm from Sheriff C.B. Hancock at auction on the court house steps in Winchester Virginia
It appears that there was a heated dispute over the property between interested parties in an Estate settlement.
Interesting fact about our boy George W. Crabill. George Crabill was born January 28th 1839 and died April 18 1905. Enlisted into the Confederate Army June 18 1861 where he was in Company B of the 33rd Virginia Infantry. The 33rd Virginia was the core of the famous Stonewall Brigade. The 33rd Virginia fought in every major engagement from 1st Bull Run in July 1861 to Spotsylvania courthouse where on May 12th 1864 the 33rd Virginia was capture almost in it entirety.
Mr Crabill was held in a Delaware POW camp until June 19th 1865.
The lineage of the home before this is very blurred. But this is purely speculation with a hint of fact and a little evidence. General Issac Zane, a Quaker (I know, a Quaker General) from Philadelphia Pennsylvania was looking for property in the Shenandoah Valley. All along the western mountains of the valley are healthy deposits of iron ore. I found a deed from 1767 that describes a tract of land that from every indication had a small home and shared some of the same neighbors as our little home. Also several people in the deed are buried in the cemetery across the street from the house at the church. A little to coincidental if you ask me. So if I get anymore information of course I will up date. This is my raw attempt. I'm sure my wife will "color it up a bit."
You did good, babe. Minor editing and I left your "rawness." Thanks for writing a post!
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