Name/Title
Francis Lazear [1800-1872] and Mary (Crow) Lazear [1802-1869] family donation to Greene County Historical Society (Newspaper clipping)Entry/Object ID
2011.2.839Scope and Content
Newspaper clipping (circa 1969-1974) regarding the donation of a framed charcoal enlargement portraying Francis Lazear [1800-1872] and his wife, Mary (Crow) Lazear [1802-1869], along with Francis's crutch, Mary's wedding dress, and other family heirlooms to the Greene County Historical Society. The donation was provided by Alice Lazear (McCracken) Strosnider [1890-1974].
See the charcoal enlargement at item # GCHS-AN026-0116A.
Transcribed by Candice Buchanan, 2022.
"Historical Society Given Pioneer Family Heirlooms
An interesting collection of family heirlooms was recently donated to the Greene-County historical Society by Mrs. Alice McCracken Strosnider, of Smithfield, a descendent of three of the outstanding pioneer families which settled in the western part of Greene County.
Included in the collection are a large number of household articles, some of which were in use by the family as long as 150 years ago. These items, including an early sausage press, a flour barrel made from home-made staves, and other items, will be on permanent display at the museum.
Perhaps the highlight of the collection is a handsomely-framed charcoal portrait of the Honorable and Mrs. Francis Lazear, [great-]grandparents of Mrs. Strosnider. The portrait was done by their [grand]daughter, Mary Lazear McCracken, who was Mrs. Strosnider's mother.
The likeness of the father is especially well done. He is shown with a home-made crutch, which he used for many years, and Mrs. Strosnider sent the original crutch to display with the portrait.
Also included in the collection is the wedding suit of the same Mr. Lazear, which is made from homespun wool dyed black.
Mr. Lazear was president of the Farmers and Drovers Bank. One story about him centers around the "great freeze" of 1859, which ruined the wheat crop after it was well started.
Being confident of a good crop, farmers had had their reserve seed wheat ground into flour and faced disaster. In an effort to provide food to compensate for loss of the wheat crop, Mr. Lazear sent for a carload of buckwheat which could be planted in the same fields. It was placed in grain bags and stored in the banking rooms. Those who were able to do so paid for it. Others were given the grain outright, or on a loan.
Mrs. Lazear, the woman in the portrait, was the daughter of Mary [sic Michael] Crow. The story of the massacre of the crow family is well known in early county history.
These three families - the Crows, the Lazears and the McCrackens - were among the earliest settlers in Western Greene County, and in many cases their descendants still are on the original homesteads and are leaders in community affairs.
Mrs. Strosnider plans to give the society three generations of wedding dresses - that of Mary (Polly) Crow Lazear, the woman in the portrait, that of Mary Lazear McCracken, who painted the portrait, and her own. Mrs. Strosnider was married early during World War I, and on September 26, 1918, her husband Floyd S. Strosnider, was killed in action in France.
There are three generations of physicians in the McCracken family. One of them, Dr. Jesse William Lazear, sacrificed his life in 1900 in the effort by the U.S. Army to find the cause of yellow fever in order that the Panama Canal could be built.
At Quermados, near Havana, Cuba, Dr. Lazear and a Dr. Carroll, together with some others, allowed the yellow fever carrying mosquito to bite them. Dr. Carroll recovered, but Dr. Lazear died. Dr. Walter Reed was one of the doctors working on the same project.
Serving at present on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Historical Society is Raymond McCracken, a descendent of one of these early families. Until only a few months ago, Mr. McCracken had lived in the immediate community where his ancestors settled.
In commenting on her gift, Mrs. Strosnider said "the giving of these treasured possessions was done in the knowledge that they will be preserved for the enjoyment of generations to come."
Officials of the Historical Society said the library located in the former county home is now open, and the museum will soon be open to the public. They also said that members of other early county families are donating similar objects for preservation and display, and that still others are being sought. The Museum telephone number is 627-3204."Collection
Greene County Historical Society CollectionLexicon
Search Terms
Crow family, Lazear family, McCracken family, Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.), Strosnider familyOther Names and Numbers
Other Number
GCHS-AN026-0116BRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Crow, Mary [1802-1869]Person or Organization
Lazear, Francis [1800-1872]Person or Organization
Lazear, Mary Nancy [1858-1946]Person or Organization
McCracken, Alice Lazear [1890-1974]Person or Organization
Strosnider, Floyd Spragg [1891-1918]Provenance
Provenance Detail
People Series - Greene County Historical Society CollectionNotes
Archived at the Greene County Historical Society (918 Rolling Meadows Road, P.O. Box 127; Waynesburg, Pennsylvania 15370). Researched and digitized for the Greene Connections: Greene County, Pennsylvania Archives Project, between 2005 and 2011.
Source Citation: Newspaper clipping (circa 1969-1974) regarding the donation of a framed charcoal enlargement portraying Francis Lazear [1800-1872] and his wife, Mary (Crow) Lazear [1802-1869], along with other family heirlooms to the Greene County Historical Society; item no. GCHS-AN026-0116B; Greene County Historical Society Collection, Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).