Announcements & News
3rd Party DNA Results can now be Uploaded to FamilyTree DNA with their new Third Party Services
Posted on 14. Dec, 2011 by AmyFamily Tree DNA now allows individuals who have tested with 3rd parties such as Ancestry.com, GeneTree, and Sorenson's SMGF, to upload their DNA results to FamilyTree's extensive database for comparison. Visit THIS LINK for more information.
John D. Schwenker (Dec 18, 1920 - Jul 24, 2011)
Posted on 26. Jul, 2011 by Amy |
John D. "Jack" Schwenker, 90, of Sarasota, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, passed quietly into the arms of Our Lord on July 24, 2011.
Born December 18, 1920, to the late Charles and Cora Schwenker, Jack graduated from East High School and received his undergraduate and Juris Doctorate degrees from the Ohio State University. He proudly served our country as a Captain during WWII. Jack was devoted to his family and a loyal friend. He was a true gentleman and lived life to the fullest. Predeceased by half siblings Charles V. Schwenker and Mary McGrath. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Patricia A. (Patti) Schwenker: and children, Suzi (Mike) Widner of Grove City, OH, John (Jaynee) Schwenker Jr. of Hilliard, OH, Ginny White of Sarasota, FL, Dan (Heather) Schwenker of Upper Arlington, OH, and Steve Schwenker of Sarasota; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grand-children. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, August 6, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Jack's honor to the National Multiple Sclerosis Association, 706 Haeddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 or via the internet at http://support.msassociation.org/goto/schwenker. Jack has chosen MSAA to recive donations in lieu of flowers because his yougest son Steve, has the advanced stages of MS. John Schwenker is my grandfather on my mother's side. |
Happy Birthday Roy Ervin!
Posted on 05. Nov, 2010 by AmyPlease join me in wishing Roy Eugene Ervin a very Happy Birthday tomorrow! Without Roy, our research would not be where it is today.
Thanks Roy! We hope you have a special day!
Love,
All your ERVIN cousins
Robert Donald "Bob" Ervin, Sr. (1942-2010)
Posted on 17. Oct, 2010 by pdpatrick in Obituary| Robert Donald "Bob" Ervin, Sr. | |||
Robert Donald "Bob" Ervin, Sr., age 68, of Wellston, Ohio, went to be with the Lord on Friday, October 15, 2010, at his residence, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born January 21, 1942 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Ansel and Susanna Samuel Ervin. Bob was a 1959 graduate of Wellston High School and was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served during the Vietnam War. He retired, as a quality control manager, from Buckeye Automatic in McArthur where he was employed for 30 years. Bob was a member of the Faith Baptist Church in Rodney, a member of the American Legion Post 371 of Wellston, and a member of A.S.Q.C. for over 40 years. He was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed listening to bluegrass music. Bob is survived by his wife, Debbie Kelly Ervin; four children, JR Ervin of Wellston, Rhonda Duncan of Mechanicsburg, Oh., Stephanie (Russell) Manring of McArthur, and Kelly (Lee) Taylor of Cable, Oh.; two step-children, Kenny (Angie) Kelly of Wellston and Kim (Rick) Kuhn of Wellston; eight grandchildren, Brooke (Brian) Steffy, Ben Ervin, Alyx and Tori Manring, Bobby and Steven Taylor, Michael (Ashley) Patterson, and Paige Patterson; brothers and sisters, Alice (Kenny)Brooks of Columbus, Ruth (Loren) Jolly of Wheelersburg, Louie Ervin of Columbus, and Barbara House of Wellston; sisters-in-law, Lillian Ervin of Circleville and Marjorie Ervin of Jackson, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra Reed Ervin in 1996 and brothers and sisters, Paul Ervin, Roger Ervin and Joann Cross. Calling hours will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston. Funeral services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Lusher officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Post 372 of Wellston. |
James Russell Ervin (1919 - 2010)
Posted on 26. Sep, 2010 by Amy
James Russell ERVIN, 91, of Millersport, was called home to the Lord peacefully on Friday, September 24, 2010.
Born on January 19, 1919, James was the 12th child born out of 17 children to the late Maurice Alfred ERVIN and Sarah S. SPURBECK of McCuneville, Ohio located in Vinton County.
James is survived by his sons, Maurice Ervin of Newark, and Chester (Suzy) Ervin of Millersport; daughter, Linda Ervin of Millersport; grandchildren, Kevin Foster, Kim Cremeans, Monty Ervin, Tracy Ervin, Clint Ervin, Molly Henderson, Chad Ervin, Brian White, and Brett White; 14 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his wife Lula Mae (Faught) Ervin, his son James M. Ervin, and all of his siblings.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson-Smith Funeral Home, Baltimore with Pastor Doug Lynn officiating. Friends may visit 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Caring Cremation will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to FairHoPe Hospice, 282 Sells Rd, Lancaster, OH 43130, in James' memory.
Sponsors looking for DNA Test Participants
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by AmyTwo sponsors have stepped forward in hopes of finding willing individuals to participate in the Clan Irwin DNA study.
Beth Mansfield is looking for a documented descendant of Col. Arthur Erwin (b-1726 Ireland, d-1791 Luzerne, PA) who came to Bucks County, PA in 1768, and founded Erwinna in Pennsylvania, and later the town of Erwin in New York. She is interested in sponsoring a 67-marker test. For more information please see this post.
Bob Ervin is looking for a documented descendant of the late Senator Sam Ervin. He is willing to sponsor a 37-marker test.
To learn more about either of these two opportunites, please contact amy@leavesonbranches.com.
Betty Jean (Curnutte) ERVIN, 80, went home to the Lord March 31, 2010
Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by AmyBetty Jean ERVIN, 80, went home to be with her Lord March 31, 2010, surrounded by her loving granddaughters. Born in Charleston, West Virginia on July 13, 1929 to the late Ed Price and Clara Curnutte, she was a long time resident of Upper Arlington and retired from Riverside Methodist Hospital. Preceded in death by her husband Frederick M. Ervin, son Frederick M. Ervin III, siblings Mynard Allen Murphy, Carlos Ray (Jo Anne) Murphy, Frederick (Louise) Murphy, and Barbara Allen (Charles) Hackney. Survived by her brothers Richard J. Murphy (AL), Charles (Phyllis) Murphy (TN), and William (Vicky) Murphy (Columbus), daughter Mary K. Butler (CA), grandchildren Frederick (Tonya) M. Ervin IV, Laura (Doug) K. Boyce, and Amy (John) L. Smithson, Jaclyn P. (Adam) Baugess, all of Columbus, OH, Marci (Darren) Marin of Sacramento, CA., very dear companion of many years Kenny Nienkirchen of Delaware, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service will be held Tues., April 6, 2010 at 7:30pm @ the Maeder Quint Tiberi Funeral Home, 1068 S. High St., Columbus, OH. (614)444-1185, with a private family burial service at Shawnee Cemetery in Perry County, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society, 3015 Scioto-Darby Executive Court, Hilliard, OH 43026.
A Summary of our Genealogical Research
Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by AmyCan you believe that Leavesonbranches.com has been online now for 6 years? Time really does fly when you're having fun! To celebrate, I thought I'd summarize some of the top findings our members have discovered and/or confirmed through our collaborative efforts on research and DNA testing.
Samuel Ervin Jr. (b-1804 PA) IS related to Samuel Ervin (b-1777 PA/MD)
In March of 2008, James Leroy Ervin joined the ClanIrwin DNA Study and when his 37-marker test was compared to the results of Frederick M. Ervin III, they showed a genetic distance of only -2. According to FamilyTreeDNA, this indicates the following:
I must note here, however, that I've seen instances where two brothers share a genetic difference of -2, so the possibility also exists that the MRCA between them is more recent than that generally accepted by FTDNA.
Alexander Brandon Ervin (b-1811 VA) and Samuel Ervin (b-1777 PA/MD) are NOT related
Circumstantial evidence leaned in favor of a genetic relation between these two individuals. Alexander and Samuel's family resided in the same counties, some even living next door to one another, and they even intermarried into the same families. A DNA test was all it would take to confirm it. In June of 2008, Thomas Edward Ervin of Jackson County, Ohio agreed to join the ClanIrwin DNA Study. In July, his 37-marker test results came back and shocked us all. The genetic distance between Frederick M Ervin III (descendant of Samuel Ervin) and Thomas was greater than -19, eliminating any possibility of a genetic relation.
Samuel Ervin (b-1777 PA/MD) is the father of John Ervin (b-1805 KY)
In August of 2008, Roy Eugene Ervin, a descendant of John Ervin, agreed to DNA testing through FamilyTreeDNA. His results showed a genetic difference of -2 compared to those of Frederick M. Ervin III (Samuel's confirmed descendant). This was yet another example of brothers having a genetic distance of -2. A few months later in January of 2009, John's obituary was found in Meigs County, which confirmed Samuel was indeed John's father.
Samuel Ervin and John Ervin are both buried at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Pomeroy, Ohio
After DNA validated a genetic relationship between John and Samuel, research efforts were concentrated in Meigs County. A trip to Mt. Herman cemetery was in order, as this was where John was known to have been buried. Much to our surprise, Samuel's broken tombstone was discovered in thick underbrush near the center of the cemetery, even though it was not listed in the US GenWeb Transcription records for the cemetery. It took several hours and different methods in order for Sharon Siens Peery and I to be able to make out the inscription that read "One of the first settlers of Meigs Co. Ohio".
Samuel Ervin (b-1777 PA/MD) really is the father of Owen Ervin (b-1815 OH)
In November of 2008, an indenture was found in Meigs County, Ohio that substantiated what we believed but had been unable to prove for years.
Descendant of Francis Erwin (b-1795 VA) and descendant of James Erwin (b bet 1811-1820 VA) joins ClanIrwin DNA Study
Hoping to establish a common ancestor between Edward Erwin of Augusta County, VA and Robert and Barbara Nickell Erwin of Mason County, VA, Steve Erwin and Paul Curtis Erwin agreed to 37-marker DNA testing after some persuasion by Laten Bechtel. Unfortunately, however, their results yielded a genetic distance of -9. We are hoping to gain individuals in the future to help Steve and Paul find some family connections.
Isaac Ervin (1781-1868 Tuscarawas County, OH) is NOT related to Alexander Brandon Ervin (b-1811 VA)
When comparing DNA results from both Dennis William Ervin, descendant of Alexander Brandon Ervin, and two individuals tested with FamilyTreeDNA that both descend from Isaac Ervin, we discovered that these two lines are also not related. The genetic distance between them is -19, disproving any theory of Isaac being the father of Alexander Brandon Ervin or Robert Ervin (b-1804 VA). To view DNA results for any of our members, please Login. We've even added a handy comparison tool to view DNA results side by side, allowing you to analyze genetic differences on your own.
Wanted: DNA Study Participants
Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by AmyCalling all ears - If anyone has any contacts that they've made over the years and those individuals might be willing to come forward and have their DNA tested by FamilyTreeDNA, we need you!
Descendants from the following individuals would be most helpful:
Leavesonbranches.com will sponsor the tests and have the test kits sent to the individual. All the person would have to do is swab the inside of their cheek and mail the test kit back in.
Please let us know if you will be attempting to make contact with anyone from the list above and of course if anyone would like to donate for this specific cause, we would appreciate it.
Amy Ervin-Smithson
DNA Tests Link Francis Erwin (b-1795 VA) of Gallia County to Robert and Alexander Brandon Ervin Family of Jackson County?
Posted on 31. Oct, 2008 by AmyFirst, a BIG Thank You goes out to Susan Dew and Laten Bechtel for helping to sponsor Steve Erwin’s DNA test. And of course we thank Steve for going through with it!
The 12-marker tests are in and early indications show that Steve Erwin, descendant of Francis Erwin (b-1795 VA) could match that of Thomas Ervin who descends from Alexander Brandon Ervin(b-1811 VA). These two families occupied different areas of southeastern Ohio. Francis Erwin’s family in Gallia County and Alexander Brandon Ervin’s family in Jackson County, Ohio.
We expect both the 25-marker and 37-marker test results to arrive sometime within the next week, at which point more details will be available.
Descendant of Francis Erwin from Gallia Co OH joins DNA Study
Posted on 15. Aug, 2008 by AmyThanks to Steve Erwin who has agreed to join the FTDNA ClanIrwin Study. More information will be available when the testing is complete in about 6 to 8 weeks!