Born in Grampian, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Frances Grey, the 5th of the 6 children of James and Charlotte (Litz) Merritt. In 1897, at age 11, her Mother would pass on. The rather rapid re-marriage of her Father and the subsequent break-up of the family unit would hasten her maturation.
This stunning young lady would catch the eye of one William Espie Schoening. He swooned, gave her flowers and wrote Love Letters for Frances. Saving an entire weeks wages, Espie would buy her a fancy new pair of shoes. His efforts worked, as She gave her hand in marriage to him, on Chirstmas Day 1902 (She was age 16). Six children would bless their life, starting with James Franklin and then Athaila Margaret, Audrey Beth, William Espie Jr., Benjamin Franklin and then Charles Arthur.
1920 would be a devastating year for the Schoening's. William Espie Jr. died in late March and about six weeks later James Franklin would die of apparent heart break from the loss of his brother. The grief would weigh heavy on the family, but Frances dug deep from within and was the glue that kept her family unit together.
During the 1920's Frances would follow in the footsteps of her Grand Uncle Burton Merritt (the famed entepurnur of Clearfield) and start a business. While low on capital, She used her bathtub as her main asset. Frank and Charles were in charge of packaging and shipping and William Espie, then working for the Sheriff's Department, was in charge of delivery. The business flourished, but came to a rapid close with the end of "PROHIBITION".
The family would endure three house fire's, with the first in Bradford, the second in Little Ireland and the third in Salamanca NY. Each time Frances would run back into the burning house a grab family photo's off the walls. Some of the picture's that we have still bear the singe marks from the fires. Needless to say many were lost.
Subsequent to William Espie's death, Frances would tell the story that in the final hour of his life He got up off his bed and Waltzed Her around the room and then layed back down and passed on. While some felt this was her immagination, those who knew Espie, would have not put it past him.
Frances was a great cook, but her diabeties would cause a ravenous appetite, especially for sweet's. This would lead to her Full Slim Figure. To those who descend from Frances, please be aware of this and make Your Children and Grandchildren aware. Her Heart was larger than Her and all Loved Her. Her passing was especially hard on son Charles. He would well up and start to weep at just mention of Her name.
Frances was preceeded in death by brothers William Arthur and Elijah. Sister Effie and brothers James Franklin and Charles Merritt passed later.
She is interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery with William Espie Sr., William Espie Jr., James Franklin and Audrey Beth. There are no monuments or gravestones, A large group of Honeysuckle Bushes adorn their graves.
This stunning young lady would catch the eye of one William Espie Schoening. He swooned, gave her flowers and wrote Love Letters for Frances. Saving an entire weeks wages, Espie would buy her a fancy new pair of shoes. His efforts worked, as She gave her hand in marriage to him, on Chirstmas Day 1902 (She was age 16). Six children would bless their life, starting with James Franklin and then Athaila Margaret, Audrey Beth, William Espie Jr., Benjamin Franklin and then Charles Arthur.
1920 would be a devastating year for the Schoening's. William Espie Jr. died in late March and about six weeks later James Franklin would die of apparent heart break from the loss of his brother. The grief would weigh heavy on the family, but Frances dug deep from within and was the glue that kept her family unit together.
During the 1920's Frances would follow in the footsteps of her Grand Uncle Burton Merritt (the famed entepurnur of Clearfield) and start a business. While low on capital, She used her bathtub as her main asset. Frank and Charles were in charge of packaging and shipping and William Espie, then working for the Sheriff's Department, was in charge of delivery. The business flourished, but came to a rapid close with the end of "PROHIBITION".
The family would endure three house fire's, with the first in Bradford, the second in Little Ireland and the third in Salamanca NY. Each time Frances would run back into the burning house a grab family photo's off the walls. Some of the picture's that we have still bear the singe marks from the fires. Needless to say many were lost.
Subsequent to William Espie's death, Frances would tell the story that in the final hour of his life He got up off his bed and Waltzed Her around the room and then layed back down and passed on. While some felt this was her immagination, those who knew Espie, would have not put it past him.
Frances was a great cook, but her diabeties would cause a ravenous appetite, especially for sweet's. This would lead to her Full Slim Figure. To those who descend from Frances, please be aware of this and make Your Children and Grandchildren aware. Her Heart was larger than Her and all Loved Her. Her passing was especially hard on son Charles. He would well up and start to weep at just mention of Her name.
Frances was preceeded in death by brothers William Arthur and Elijah. Sister Effie and brothers James Franklin and Charles Merritt passed later.
She is interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery with William Espie Sr., William Espie Jr., James Franklin and Audrey Beth. There are no monuments or gravestones, A large group of Honeysuckle Bushes adorn their graves.
Born in Grampian, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Frances Grey, the 5th of the 6 children of James and Charlotte (Litz) Merritt. In 1897, at age 11, her Mother would pass on. The rather rapid re-marriage of her Father and the subsequent break-up of the family unit would hasten her maturation.
This stunning young lady would catch the eye of one William Espie Schoening. He swooned, gave her flowers and wrote Love Letters for Frances. Saving an entire weeks wages, Espie would buy her a fancy new pair of shoes. His efforts worked, as She gave her hand in marriage to him, on Chirstmas Day 1902 (She was age 16). Six children would bless their life, starting with James Franklin and then Athaila Margaret, Audrey Beth, William Espie Jr., Benjamin Franklin and then Charles Arthur.
1920 would be a devastating year for the Schoening's. William Espie Jr. died in late March and about six weeks later James Franklin would die of apparent heart break from the loss of his brother. The grief would weigh heavy on the family, but Frances dug deep from within and was the glue that kept her family unit together.
During the 1920's Frances would follow in the footsteps of her Grand Uncle Burton Merritt (the famed entepurnur of Clearfield) and start a business. While low on capital, She used her bathtub as her main asset. Frank and Charles were in charge of packaging and shipping and William Espie, then working for the Sheriff's Department, was in charge of delivery. The business flourished, but came to a rapid close with the end of "PROHIBITION".
The family would endure three house fire's, with the first in Bradford, the second in Little Ireland and the third in Salamanca NY. Each time Frances would run back into the burning house a grab family photo's off the walls. Some of the picture's that we have still bear the singe marks from the fires. Needless to say many were lost.
Subsequent to William Espie's death, Frances would tell the story that in the final hour of his life He got up off his bed and Waltzed Her around the room and then layed back down and passed on. While some felt this was her immagination, those who knew Espie, would have not put it past him.
Frances was a great cook, but her diabeties would cause a ravenous appetite, especially for sweet's. This would lead to her Full Slim Figure. To those who descend from Frances, please be aware of this and make Your Children and Grandchildren aware. Her Heart was larger than Her and all Loved Her. Her passing was especially hard on son Charles. He would well up and start to weep at just mention of Her name.
Frances was preceeded in death by brothers William Arthur and Elijah. Sister Effie and brothers James Franklin and Charles Merritt passed later.
She is interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery with William Espie Sr., William Espie Jr., James Franklin and Audrey Beth. There are no monuments or gravestones, A large group of Honeysuckle Bushes adorn their graves.
This stunning young lady would catch the eye of one William Espie Schoening. He swooned, gave her flowers and wrote Love Letters for Frances. Saving an entire weeks wages, Espie would buy her a fancy new pair of shoes. His efforts worked, as She gave her hand in marriage to him, on Chirstmas Day 1902 (She was age 16). Six children would bless their life, starting with James Franklin and then Athaila Margaret, Audrey Beth, William Espie Jr., Benjamin Franklin and then Charles Arthur.
1920 would be a devastating year for the Schoening's. William Espie Jr. died in late March and about six weeks later James Franklin would die of apparent heart break from the loss of his brother. The grief would weigh heavy on the family, but Frances dug deep from within and was the glue that kept her family unit together.
During the 1920's Frances would follow in the footsteps of her Grand Uncle Burton Merritt (the famed entepurnur of Clearfield) and start a business. While low on capital, She used her bathtub as her main asset. Frank and Charles were in charge of packaging and shipping and William Espie, then working for the Sheriff's Department, was in charge of delivery. The business flourished, but came to a rapid close with the end of "PROHIBITION".
The family would endure three house fire's, with the first in Bradford, the second in Little Ireland and the third in Salamanca NY. Each time Frances would run back into the burning house a grab family photo's off the walls. Some of the picture's that we have still bear the singe marks from the fires. Needless to say many were lost.
Subsequent to William Espie's death, Frances would tell the story that in the final hour of his life He got up off his bed and Waltzed Her around the room and then layed back down and passed on. While some felt this was her immagination, those who knew Espie, would have not put it past him.
Frances was a great cook, but her diabeties would cause a ravenous appetite, especially for sweet's. This would lead to her Full Slim Figure. To those who descend from Frances, please be aware of this and make Your Children and Grandchildren aware. Her Heart was larger than Her and all Loved Her. Her passing was especially hard on son Charles. He would well up and start to weep at just mention of Her name.
Frances was preceeded in death by brothers William Arthur and Elijah. Sister Effie and brothers James Franklin and Charles Merritt passed later.
She is interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery with William Espie Sr., William Espie Jr., James Franklin and Audrey Beth. There are no monuments or gravestones, A large group of Honeysuckle Bushes adorn their graves.
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