BESIDE THE STILLWATER REVIEW

Last Updated
Aug 2009

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The book, Beside the Stillwater, was published in 1973 by Dora Class Brentlinger, a retired teacher of the Butler Township, Montgomery County Ohio school system.

During research for Anderson's in Ohio, this book was found to be a reference for information found on a number of web sites. I was determined to review this source. During early January 2002, I contacted the Hancock County Indiana library in Greenfield, were I participate in the genealogy society meetings, and arranged an inter-library loan of this book with the Dayton & Montgomery County Public Library (215 East Third Street, Dayton Ohio 45402-2103, 937-227-9530)

The Brintlinger book, (997.172 B839BAP under the Dewey Decimal System) was found to be lacking in some areas, giving generalities instead of specifics. An earlier person had marked on the title page:
"This book may be historically inaccurate. No references are cited, possibly for good reason. It may all be heresay." " Agreed"

Edit Littler Gray wrote the forward of the book, praising the work performed by the writer and that "all of us of the 'now' as well as the future gererations who will avail ourselves of the vast amount of gleanings from the research and subsequent recordings contained in these pages, owe Dora Brentlinger a debt of gratitude.

I differ on this mark. The Waymire family geneolgy consist of 4.25 pages of information. The Macy family geneology 3.5 pages. Other families such as Mast, Quillen, Hoover, Sinks, Younts, Newmans, Furnas and Martindales all have anywhere from 2 to 7 pages dedicated. Yet the Anderson's, Ediths own line in the Buter County area, has but approximately one page, the bottom and top of two pages. With the family history mentioning only few of the known Anderson line.

It is a fact that the Andersons in Ohio knew of and visited the Anderson's in Indiana as late as the 1920's and 1930's. Frank R Anderson had given an Ohio Anderson a hand written copy of his genology notes comprising of many hundres of pages in the 1930's. Yet Edith failed to even research her own family line, and Dora failed to as well. Very little research would of yeilded much information.

POINT 1
Paragraph one, sentence one on page 185 under THE ANDERON subtitle states:

James Anderson (1765- 1837) and wife, Mary (1773-1840) and their son, John (1793-1866) abd gus wife Margaret (Carmony) from Virginia (1806-1885) with htier two daughters, Sinthey Ann (married Randall Walser) and Elizabeth (married John Teague) of Pleasant Hill, all migrated from Washington County Pa to southern Montgomery County.

The fact that Mary A Anderson, aunt to Sinthey Ann and Elizabeth, was born Jan 20 1805 in Warren County would make the case strong for Sinthey Ann born1826 and Elizabeth born 1828 to have been born in Ohio not Washington County Pennsylvania since the family had already migrated approximately 1803-1804.


POINT 2
Paragraph three, sentence one on page 185 under THE ANDERON subtitle states:

Seven of ten Anderson children are buried onthe family lot at Polk.

This is not correct. To be correct it would be:

Two of James and Mary (Schorf) thirteen children are buried at Polk. four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

See the Anderson Stones

Children

1. John S
2. William Pearson

Grandchildren

1. Joseph N
2. Isaac James
3. Henry S
4. Elizabeth Ann

Great grandchildren

1. Ethel
2. Oren
3. Fowler
4. Margaret E

POINT 3
Page 229 Chapter IV list the Graduates of Old Butler Township High School. Those of interest listed under 1903 are Lee Anderson, 1904 Mayme Waggoner Anderson, and 1920 list Edith Littler Gray.

Edith Littler did not marry Elwood Gray until May 15 1943. Edith's name in 1920 was Littler or Fair. Edith divorced Charles William Fair Feb 26 1940. On an Insurance Policy issued 1933 Edith's name is listed as Fair.

Conclusion:
This book has poor reproductions of images.
Information is incorrect and no sources are cites.
This document can NOT be used as reference.


I theorize that since Edith Littler Gray and Dora Brintlinger were both teachers, they collaborated to some degree on the research for this book. Edith was a member of the Butler Township Historical Society, and as such would have had an in depth knowledge of the area. Dora Brintlinger was in the Old Butler Township High School on 1916. Therefore she had a number of available elderly individuals who had first hand knowledge of the pioneer life in the region the book discusses.

While this spoken history is sometimes incorrect due to recollections varying of specific events, the base knowledge is normally close to being correct. This may be the reason there are no references cited most of the information was gathered from interviewing the elderly family members.