Fayette City is a small town located along the Monongahela River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this area was part of the booming industrial and coal-mining region of southwestern Pennsylvania. Here’s what life would have been like during that time:

The coal and steel industries heavily influenced Fayette City and the surrounding areas. Southwestern Pennsylvania was rich in coal, and mines in the region supplied fuel for steel mills in cities like Pittsburgh. Many residents, including children, worked in coal mines or industries supporting mining operations.

Labor was tough and dangerous. Coal miners often worked long hours in hazardous conditions for low pay. The rise of organized labor in the early 1900s, including unions like the United Mine Workers of America, began to advocate for better wages and working conditions.

Outside of industrial work, some families in Fayette City likely engaged in small-scale farming or ran local businesses to support the town’s economy. Rural areas like Fayette County were home to tight-knit communities where neighbors often relied on one another for support.

• By 1900, electricity was starting to reach some towns, though rural areas like Fayette City may not have had it yet. Gas lighting and wood-burning stoves were still common in homes.
• Railroads were a critical part of life. Fayette City was connected to regional markets by rail, which facilitated the transport of coal, goods, and people.
• Medical care was rudimentary. Doctors made house calls, and many treatments relied on home remedies. Diseases like typhoid, cholera, and tuberculosis were common as public sanitation systems were still developing.

Robert Thomas Hoag married Emma Marie Assel on May 20, 1924, in Monessen, PA.

Together, they had four children, only three of which who lived: Minni Marie Hoag, Elsie Jane Hoag, and Robert Thomas Hoag Junior.

Here is a death certificate issued for a stillborn child born on October 23, 1931. This means the child would have been younger than Elsie and older than Robert Thomas.

He died on November 13, 1961. we know this because we have a copy of his death certificate.

This document also confirms for us that his father’s name is Walter Hoag. When Robert Thomas Hoag died he was living at 1614 Maple Avenue, in Monessen, PA. It’s a small 2-bedroom house that is still around to this day. (Directions)

His death certificate also tells us that he died of pancreatic cancer, something of which he was diagnosed with just two months before his death.

His father, originally from North Carolina, had moved to Tennesse during his time in the American Civil War. He was in Unit 9 Tennessee Cavalry Company E.

After the war was often he married William’s mother and they began having babies, 6 in all, which is nothing compared to William who would eventually have 10 of his own children.

A few years after William Alexander was born the entire family picked up and moved to Wise, Texas which is where William would spend the rest of his life.

William Alexander Richardson married Ada Mae Sheppard on October 11, 1896, in Wise County, Texas. Together they had at least 10 children who lived.

1. Rubin Nemon Richardson 1898–1960
2. Roy Lee Richardson 1900–1977
3. Bertha Mae Richardson 1902–1991
4. Henry E Richardson 1904–
5. Etta Lorene Richardson 1904–1954
6. Evelyn Nancy Richardson 1906–1954
7. George Elton Richardson 1908–1976
8. Sue Odett Richardson 1911–1987
9. William Dalton Richardson 1913–1971
10. Lawrence Durk Richardson 1916–1995

In 1918 he was 44 years old and he registered for the draft for WWI. That seemed rather old for me so I decided to do some research on why someone of his age would be required to register for the draft.

The US entered WWI on April 6, 1917. On May 18, 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act authorizing the draft. At first, it was just males from 21 to 30 that were required to register for military service. However later at the request of the War Department, Congress amended the law in August of 1918 to expand the age range to include all men from 18 to 45.

So basically that meant William Alexander fell within the age range for the draft of WWI, albeit just barely.

I don’t seem to find any records to show that he was actually drafted to fight in the war though.

William Alexander Richardson, a retired farmer, passed away on October 25, 1971. His death certificate from that time indicates that he was a retired farmer, and it was during this process that mortuary fridge installation took place.

You might also notice that on his death certificate it lists his name as William Alex instead of his full name of William Alexander. During his life, he has been known as William Richardson, William Alexander, William Alex,  W.A. Richardson, William A. Richardson, Alexander Richardson, Williams A. Richardson, and A.R. Richardson.

His WW1 voter registration card lists him as William Alexander Richardson, while his death certificate lists him as William Alex. The social security administration lists him as William A. (460-86-8458)

Obituary for William Alexander Richardson

Final rites were held Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Chapel at Hawkins Funeral home for Mr. W.A. Richardson. Mr. Richardson was born Jan. 12, 1874, died Oct 25, 1971. Mr. Joe Dukin, Church of Christ Minister from Allison, Texas, officiated. Mr. Richardson is survived by four sons and two daughters. L. D. Richardson, Paradise, Texas, Pete Richardson, Paradise Texas, George Richardson, Bridgeport, W. D. Richardson, Waurika, Okla., Sue Bollinger, Burbank, California, Bertha Davidson, Brownsville, Texas, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the survivors. Interment was in West Side Cemetery, Bridgeport.

Frederick Wegley married Tillie Blanch Edwards on February 4, 1920, when he was 32 years old. They married in Huntington, West Virginia.

Together, they had at least six children, including my grandfather,  Raymond Wegley.

• John Wesley (1923-1982)
• Betty Ann (1924-2010)
• Raymond Edward (1925-1992)
• Ruth Minerva (1928-?)
• Dora Mae (1930-1970)
• Gretta Laura (1935-?)

Frederick Wegley, along with his sons John Wesley and Raymond Edward, served in World War I and World War II.

Here is a blurry copy of his WW1 draft registration card, which tells us that he is of medium height, slender build, with light brown hair and light grey eyes.

It also says he was employed as a laborer doing woodworking for a manufacturing company. It also reveals he was in the national guard in the infantry division for 1 year prior to this form being filled out (June 5, 1917), at which time he was 29 years old.

At 54 years old, he filled out another draft card to join the fight during WWII. Notice on the document, he lied and said he was 52, born in 1889, not his actual year of birth of 1887.

These two documents tell us a little more about the man. He was 5 feet 7 1/2. Again, we learn that he has brown hair and grey eyes, and his complexion is described as “ruddy,” as opposed to “shallow,” “light,” “dark,” “light brown,” etc.

This was signed on April 27, 1942. Fred’s eldest son, John Wesley, would join the war on February 19, 1943, almost a year later.  Then his youngest son, Raymond, would join on November 29, 1943, at 17.

So the father lied and said he was younger so he could join the war and fight for his country, and his son lied and said he was older to do the same.

Fred died in 1950 and was buried in a grave in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where his youngest son was living at the time.

His wife, Tillie, would die in 1984 and would be buried nearby.

Now here is something interesting … notice his gravestone said his year of birth was 1889. But we know from countless census records that he was actually born two years earlier. Well, actually, now that I examine the records more closely, I don’t know for sure.

• The 1900 census shows he was 12 years old at the time, born in August of 1887. 1900-12 actually puts him born in about 1888
• In the 1910 census, he was 21 and listed as born “about 1889”.
• The 1920 census shows he was 30 at the time, which means he was born about 1890. During this census he was still living with his parents and was a box maker and a window and glass factory.
• In the 1930 census, it tells us he was 39 years old and that he was born in about 1881.
• The 1940 census shows he was 50 years old and born in 1890.

I am told that it wasn’t uncommon to estimate things back then when you knew for sure. But every time, it is different, so I’m not sure what to say about it.

The 1900 census and the WW1 draft registration card says August 1887. So for now we’ll keep it at that.