Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

My Sister Kathleen and Her Family
 
My sister Kathleen and her family continued to live on Dry Run (Monroe Township). All of her children were born there. I was there for her oldest daughter Louise’s birth on August 28, 1948. I may have been there when Margie was born on January 16, 1950 though I don’t remember any of their births after Louise. I was probably too wrapped up in my own teenage life. Steve was born on September 20, 1952 and Kenneth on October 10, 1953. 
 
While they lived on Dry Run, Kathleen and family came into town on Friday evenings and we continued to go there on Sundays. The Rigsby family was often there as well. In 1954, the family moved into the north end of Williamsport because it was too far for oldest daughter Louise to walk to catch the school bus. Louise said, “I remember she (Mom) would put Steve and Kenny in the play pen. It had a hole in it, so she told Margie to sit in front of it to keep them in until she came back. But Margie let them out, so I walked by myself after that.” I don’t know about you but I can picture that. : )  
 
Lon worked for the Dunlap Company. He later worked at the Orient Correctional Institute. They moved to the south end of town where they spent the rest of their days. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 19, 1997. 
 
In the late seventies Kathleen introduced our family to genealogy research. She went to a Rigsby Reunion in Kentucky and met Skaggs descendants who were intertwined with the Rigsby family. She brought home a publication by Lucille Sparks-Edwards Ball called the “Big Sandy Skaggs”. That contribution to our family was the beginning of all of our genealogy research and is immeasurable.
 
Lon passed away on June 7, 2007 and Kathleen on May 16, 2013. They are buried side by side in Springlawn Cemetery.

©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2021
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck