The Shadow
On Tuesday, February 13th, the Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society held a meeting where they discussed regular business and honored six of their members with certificates. According to secretary Linda Boggs, the purpose of the certificates are “just to give recognition to the family or the member for researching their family tree. It’s not real easy; it’s not real hard, but it’s not real easy, but you need birth certificates and death certificates and marriage licenses if you can find them.”
“It’s kind of like the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution),” Donna Dressler-Miller added. Donna is not only a member alongside her daughter, Kathy Downey, but is also their historian and archivist. “You have to qualify,” Donna explained. “The reason why these particular people did what they did; they actually verified it. There are actual documents to prove that they are the descendants of these people who settled Alleghany County. They can’t just come in and say, ‘Hey! I’m kin to Peter Wright.’ Well, ok. You gotta prove it and that takes a little bit of effort to prove it.”
Those who received certificates were: Nancy Wolfe for her connection to George Sively; Nancy also received a certificate on behalf of her daughter, Taralee Wolfe. Taralee was not present at the meeting, but had been scheduled to receive a certificate for her connection to John Wolfe. Patsy Sampson received a certificate for her connection to Jacob Persinger, Alan Smith Sr. received one for his connections to Peter Wright and William Smith, and Donna Dressler-Miller received one for her connection to Peter Wright.
Peter Wright, alongside Joseph Carpenter, were the first two settlers of Alleghany County, initially making homes in the land where Covington Middle School now stands.
Wright’s last name is now recognized just outside the doors where the Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society is located. Plastered on that old yellow brick wall is a big tree seemingly made of construction paper —akin to a family tree— covered in colorful paper leaves. On each leaf is the last name of all the documented and original “Pioneer Families” of Alleghany County. Those last names include, but are not limited to: Wright, Smith, Mann, Fudge, Rose, Jordan, Richardson, Matheny, Pitzer, Peyton, Shaver, Carpenter, Davis, Lee, Wolfe, Young, Callaghan, Haynes, etc. Those with any of the above last names or who have ancestors with those names might be interested in paying a visit to what Donna Dressler-Miller calls, “The best-kept secret in Alleghany County, even though it shouldn’t be a secret.”
One member shared that a recent visitor was aghast at how organized the Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society was and how much information they had to offer. After taking a tour through their archives, witnessing their collection of photographs dated decades back, and flipping through a few of their self-published books, I must say that I agree with that visitor. According to Donna, they have one of the largest collections of photographs in the country!
The Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society is located at the old Jeter-Watson school —now called the Jeter-Watson Center— in Suite 101 on 515 East Pine Street in Covington. Former students of the school may remember it as their old band room.
They have a couple of upcoming events, including their participation in the 250th Anniversary of the Commonwealth of Virginia but details are limited at this time. The Virginian Review will have more on that as plans are finalized.
Perhaps one of the most fascinating things I learned in my short time at the meeting was how easy it is to genetically connect to the person sitting right next to you. As members joked about that fact and shared their names, I quickly realized I was related —by marriage— to Donna’s daughter, prompting me to begin my own research into my family tree.
The cost to do research is 100% free and any one of the members of the Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society are always eager to help out. They publish a quarterly newsletter and are open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. They are always accepting new members, with the cost of membership being just $17 a year per member, $22 for a husband and wife, or $25 for a business/organization. They can be reached by web at http://www.ahgscov.org or email at ahgs.cov.va@gmail.com.
