Newsletter - Rasnick Family Genealogy

Rasnick Family
Newsletter
The voice of the descendants of Jacob Rasnick - Hessian Soldier, and his wife Mary "Mollie" Counts, parents
of the RASNICK - RASNAKE - RASNIC Family -of-South west Virginia.
Jacob Rasnick
No. 7
Hessian Soldier
Summer
ofthe
American Revolutionary
War
2004
Jacob and Mollie's Home - Glade Hollow
Dear Cousin,
Well, most of the boxes are unpacked and my husband and I have happily
settled into our new home in the mountains of North Georgia. We are still
hard at work "homesteading" and it is so nice, at the end of a hard day, to
relax on the back porch and enjoy the wildlife, listen to the noisy creek below
and smell the wild roses that are blooming everywhere. We have a major
construction project underway, and if that weren't enough, we're preparing
for several waves of company that will start anyday now, so I expect to be
very busy for some time to come.
Reunion time will be here before you know it, and I have posted dates for
several Rasnick-Rasnake-Rasnic Family Reunions on the back cover of this
Newsletter. Also, please note my new postal and e-mail addresses there.
Inside, you'll find the continuation of the Cemetery Project that was started
last time.. As many of you are aware, our family has unfortunately been hit
particularly hard with a large number of deaths in recent months, and you'll
no doubt notice the extensive list of obituaries also.
On a lighter note, I hope you'll enjoy the other articles
and sketches inside, such as Dolores Ramsey Ham's
story about her grandmother, Bonnie B. Rasnic
Louthan; a reprint of the article "The Rasnick Family
Back to the Hessians' which originally appeared in the
Appalachian News-Express in 1994; and photos honor­
ing our family's children and young people.
Ada Rasnake Childress
Research: The first phase of our research in Germany is
now complete and I have received a report from the
researcher there. Although to date she has been unable
to locate documents placing our Ruehrschneck family
in the vicinity of Watzendorf, we do have some promis­
ing clues that she feels fairly confident may lead us
closer to Jacob's family, and so I have authorized her to
continue her search there.
Videotaping Project: Last Thanksgiving I was fortunate
enough to be able to take a quick (24-hour) trip to
Virginia for the purpose of videotaping interviews with
four of our older family members. My first stop was to
visit Ada Rasnake Childress and her family at her
daughter Judy Owens' home in Lebanon. Next, I traveled
to see Campbell Rasnake in Claypool Hill, where his
daughter Connie Lester met us after the interview. The
following morning I drove to the home of Mabel Rasnake
in Abingdon, where her son Clifford joined us. And after
that I went to Bristol where Leon Rasnake took me to his
mother Pearl Rasnake's home for a chat before I had to
head back home. I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who
welcomed me so warmly into their homes and shared
with me their Rasnake memories, stories, photos and
items that had special meaning to them. Thanks also to
those cousins who set up the visits and made these
interviews possible. It was truly a wonderful experience
and I hope to get back again soon to tape more inter­
views in order to preserve a portion of their lives and
our family history for the future.
Campbell Rasnake
Mabel Rasnake
Well, that's all for now. Hope all of you and yours are
well and have a happy and safe summer. 'Til next time,
f'"
II
Pearl Rasnake
~ ~~
2
III
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BONNIE B. RASNIC LOUTHAN
by Dolores Ramsey Ham
Bonnie Bess Rasnic was born 16 June
1892, the daughter of Elizabeth "Lizzie"
Gordon and William Lee Rasnic. Although
many of the Rasnics moved to KY, MO. KS,
etc., Will and Lizzie remained in the Mul­
berry Community of Hancock County, TN
where Bonnie was born and grew to young
womanhood. They were married 04 July
1908. Bonnie was barely 16 at the time and
before her 17th birthday the first of their
eleven children were born.
Bonnie's childhood may have been
carefree, but certainly after her marriage
her life became a very busy one. Her
daughter, Irene Elizabeth Louthan Ramsey,
remembers "Grandma" staying up late at
night to complete a garment for one of the
children to wear the next day. Her son,
John Lee Louthan, once described his
Bonnie Rasnic Louthan
mother as an "artist" with food. I'm sure
there was a lot of "stretching" and "impro­
circa 1916
vising" with that many mouths to feed.
Grandma and Grandpa always had a
bountiful garden, and Grandma canned,
dried, froze (in later years) and otherwise preserved much of the food
needed by their large family. Bonnie was always ahead of her time, serving
well balanced and nutritious meals when little was known of the importance
of doing so.
Grandma was a capable seamstress, using her treadle machine, of
course. I am sure she sewed much of the clothing worn by the family, as
well as mended, patched, and altered hand-me-downs as the children grew.
I loved to see Grandma's quilts. I can remember when she was still piecing
quilts, especially when her mother was still alive and staying with her.
Grandma cared for her mother, Lizzie Rasnic, during the last days of her life.
As Grandma became older, she allowed some of her daughters and grand­
daughters to sew for her. I was one of those granddaughters. I enjoyed
sewing for Grandma because she always let me know that she appreciated
it.
III
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III
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I loved to go shopping with Grandma. Since Grandpa or Grandma
didn't drive, she sometimes went shopping with my Mother and me. We
always checked out the fabric department of the stores. Grandma shared my
love of beautiful fabrics. She loved finding a bargain and having nice things
for herself and her home and family.
As a child I loved going to Grandma's house. There was always plenty
to read. I can remember reading National Geographic and Reader's Digest,
among other magazines. You could count on getting something special to
eat at Grandma's. When she shopped she found all the little goodies that
made her home cooking extra special.
Grandma belonged to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Mulberry
Gap after its organization about 1950-5 1. She was there most every Sunday
if the weather and her health permitted.
Every Fourth of July starting with July 4, 1958 (Bonnie and John
Louthan's Golden Wedding Anniversary), and even before, the Louthan
offspring, their children, grandchildren, in-laws, assorted relatives, cousins
and friends came from Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Florida to pay their
respects to Grandma and Grandpa Louthan. Grandma always cooked
especially for the occasion and was busy most of the time seeing that
everyone had food and a place to
sleep. Sometimes that meant tents
in the backyard, extra sheets to
find, sofas turning into beds,
digging more potatoes, gathering
the beans, etc. Grandma seemed to
have a special talent at making the
menfolk of the family feel pam­
pered. It was hard for her daughters
and daughters-in-law to come up to
her standards. I guess you could
say that Grandma was very good at
putting others first in her life. What
an example for us to follow!
Bonnie B. Rasnic Louthan
died on the 17th of Septmember
1971 . She was laid to rest beside
her husband, John Elijah Louthan,
in the cemetery above their home
on the farm they purchased from
her mother, Lizzie Rasnic, in the
Bonnie Rasnic Louthan
early 1940's.
circa 1940's
III
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4
I I
J arras Camp
by L. R. Counts
Note: This article was discovered in the files of Effie P. Rasnick with no indication as to when it was
written or where she may have gotten it. I have been unsuccessful in my search to locate the author
or a family representative in order to obtain permission to print it, and in fact do not know if L. R.
Counts is alive or dead. I am taking the liberty ofprinting the story of ''Jonas Camp" here in hopes
that he or she would not mind my sharing with you this very important part of our Rasnick family
history. - Marie Rasnick Fetzer ­
Jonas Rasnick was the youngest child of Jacob and Mary Counts Rasnick, the first
generation of our Rasnick ancestry in this country. Jonas was born August 13, 1803 in
Russell County, Virginia, some 28 years after the legendary Daniel Boone had trod a
few miles south on his way through the Cumberlands.
Daniel had organized the Western Forts along the Clinch River under the direction of
William Russell only a few years before Jacob and Mary Rasnick settled in Glade
Hollow, Russell County from East Virginia. This action undoubtedly had an effect on
the protection of Jonas and his older brothers and sisters from the marauding bands of
Shawnee that came from the North and the Cherokee from the South. These tribes
fought many fierce battles over the right to hunt the "Bush" as it was called many
years earlier by the Longhunters. Evidence of their movement in this area was recorded
as late as 1828.
The first Longhunters would not venture into the rugged mountains because of its
terrain and the ferocity of the beasts that dwelled there, for this was a time when
slightly over three million people (excluding Indians) called the North American
Continent home.
Jonas was shown his way into Sandy Basin by others possibly as early as 1820,
because his relatives Dick Colley and Crissa Counts Colley settled at Sandlick in 1814
becoming Dickenson County's first permanent settlers.
5
Jonas established a hunting camp some five miles from Sandlick at the confluence
of the left fork of Lick Creek and a tributary branch later called Bone Branch,
obviously from the successes of his hunts and others like him who used it. It is said
that many years later bones from animals could be seen in abundance at the site.
The practice of camp hunting was not new to Jonas. Longhunters had used this
method for years and the strategic location of this camp is obvious once one
understands the logic of its location in relation to its easy access to the nearby
mountains and abundant water supply.
Jonas was noted for his prowess as a hunter and many family stories survive today
about his exploits in and around the "Middle of the World" country. Perhaps he
inherited his abilities from his father who possibly was a Chasseur (hunter) in the
King's Army during the American Revolution. These were elite hunters whose job
was to keep meat for the Army as it progressed in the field. This practice goes back
in German and European History for many centuries.
Jonas married Rachel LaForce in Russell County and moved from his father's farm
to the mouth of Tilda Anderson Branch (as it was called many years later) near
Sandlick in 1831 where their first four children were born. In 1838 he moved back
to South Clinchfield and lived out the remainder of his life which ended on Febru­
ary 13, 1879.
The western crush of people by 1856 apparently made him uneasy about ownership
of the land he had hunted over for twenty-five or so years, because on April 18,
1856 a land treasury warrant number 23,457 dated January 10, 1856 was surveyed
for Jonas and duly recorded in Russell County Land Surveyors Book No.1, and
said to contain 990 acres on the headwaters of Lick Creek in Russell County. This
was 24 years before Dickenson County was formed in 1880.
Twentieth Century methods of surveying would measure much more land than what
the deed calls for. The site of Jonas Camp marks the beginning of this deed and
should be one of the prominent landmarks of the Rasnick Family history in Virginia
because from this rugged individual, five generations of Rasnicks have had their
humble beginnings at Jonas Camp .
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If yo u think the Rasnick name is hard to spell today, think of
how it was spelled in 1770. Over in Hesse-Cassel, the
progenitor of our local Rasnicks was "Jacob Rarsnich ".
. the
Pauline Rasnick, who last week gave us the Jenny Wiley
story told me parts of the Rasnick story, and Bobbie Rasnick
assisted Pauline is the widow ofJohn Rasnick, and Bobbie is
the widow of his brother Arthur Blake "Shorty" Rasnick.
Edith Thornbury's diligently kept records and scrapbooks on
Henry Scalf and Dorcas Hobbs contained the history. With
their help, I present the fo llowing story.
bacK to the
That proud, young Jacob Rarschnich, was threshing
wheat with great strength in the family field, when
agents of the Hessian prince halted the process and
forced him into the army. "The mother", according
to Henry Scalf, "found that her tears were
ineffective. She gave her son a Bible as he was
marched away. The family used every means they
knew to secure his release, but to no avail." It was
all that be would ever have to remember his
family. "The book was said to become a priceless
heirloom to his descendants." What heirlooms
would have been his if he had stayed in Hesse­
Cassel?
Jfessians..
What would you think .or do if our American Army
came to your home and took away your son? Think
of your son's distress. It was the time when beads
of several small German states bad signed
agreements with Great Britain to furnish soldiers to
fight Colonists in return for favors. Therefore, they
made it legal to seize their youths to "sell" them
whenever they chose. You might remember tbat the
Hager story was very similar.
Appalachian News Express
Monday, November 14, 1994
The men were briefly trained, and shipped off to
America to fight in the English army. Since the
Revolutionary War was not their calling, young
soldiers often surrendered to the Colonial Troops
as soon as they had any opportunity. Such was the
by June Johnson
Reprinted with express p ermission by Dena Potter,
editor.
9
case of Jacob, who, at Sarasota (sic) in 1777, at last
was captured by the Colonists with little or no
resistance.
Nine children were known to be born to the couple.
Several of these children went farther West. Some to
Lee County, Va. and others to Eastern Kentucky.
"Jacob was sent with his comrades to the hinterland of
Virginia, the Shenandoah, where he was held as a
prisoner or war," was the way Scalf put it. It was also
easy to escape. There Jacob escaped and found other
German families. One was John Countz or Counts.
Jacob immediately found a sweetheart in John's
daughter, Mary "Molly". They were married and
remained in Shenandoah County until 1787. According
to Dorcas Hobbs, Jacob temporarily took the name of
his father-in-law. He was still afraid of repercussions
from the military.
Progeny of Jacob Rasnick continued to move over the
Cumberlands. Several made permanent homes in Pike
County. One was James H., son of Alex and Mary
Harris Rasnick. James H. married consecutively Laura
Hyatt, Elizabeth Lewis and Angeline Thacker. Pauline
said "James H. and Laura lived for a while in the cabin
formerly located just below Johnson Memorial Park on
South Mayo Trail near Pikeville. I am not sure if John
Rasnick, Sr. was born there,"
John Rasnick, Sr. married Molly Coleman. Their
children were: Willie, Allen, James E., Frank, John R.
Rasnick, Jr., Mary Evelyn (Cole) , Arthur Blake
"Shorty" Rasnick and Ada Coleman.
After the war, General Washington offered each
Hessian an American citizenship, or a return to Europe.
At this stage, great and bountiful lands, free for
homesteading, seemed to be calling their names.
Almost all of the men wanted to ride in a free country.
They would become the star-studded background
progenitors for millions of today's American offspring.
John, Sr. was a Pike County School Board member in
the 1930's. Alva Potter took his place.
Pauline Preston Rasnick met John Il when she came up
to Marrowbone to visit Mabel and Earl Meeks with
Marie Branham, a friend from Paintsville. Marie's
brother was Doyle Branham. Doyle's wife was a
Meeks related to Earl. Earl was a depot agent. "John
came over to visit the Meeks while I was there," she
said. "On Sunday night he invited me to go to the
show at Pikeville. We went with Gertrude Ratliff and a
Coleman to the old Liberty Theatre. I don't remember
what was playing. We also went to the ball park at
Elkhorn before I went back home to Paintsville."
Jacob signed the document of choice - "Jacob
Rasnick".
The Germans often stayed together until the new
language was integrated. In 1787 Jacob and Counts
journeyed to Russell County, which was harsh,
unbroken Indian wilderness. There he used the name
"Raresnich" with an extra "e". Why? Maybe his wife
or in-laws signed it for him . Was Jacob too busy
cutting trees and clearing the forest to go in and sign
the legal papers? It was most confusing. Later,
documents would return the Rasnick spelling.
John had fallen in love. Not long after, he came to
Paintsville to see her. Soon she came to meet his
parents, and they were married in April of 1937. "We
moved to Marrowbone where Nick Nichols had
prepared for us a little three room house," Pauline said.
"John taught at Vinters, Kentucky for two years, then
he went to work for the Power Company. Frances, our
daughter was born, then in 1944, our son Walter Blake
came along . We had moved to Pikeville and lived 17
When John Counts settled in Glade Hollow near the
present Lebanon, Va., Jacob Rasnick built a cabin
nearby . Rasnick died there in late 1826 or early 1827.
Both he and Molly were buried on the farm, where
their graves might be found today.
10
years where the Huffman houses were located south of
town. John did a lot of things for the Power Company.
He read meters, worked in the office, was a salesman
and demonstrated food, among other things. After that,
he went to work for Maytag. He was in charge of 21
counties. He traveled from Cincinnati to Nashville. I
often went with him. It was a nice change for me."
Thanksgiving, 1975. Their children are Jolm, Linda Ratliff, David
Rasnick and Peggy Justice. Grandchildren are Kate, Joseph and
Will, children of Johnny. Linda's children are Isaac and Stephanie
Ratliff and David's children are Rachel and Matthew.
The Rasnicks still seem to be busily threshing their harvest.
Summit Engineering, Inc. on the Pikeville By-Pass at Chloe Creek
is partly the creation of John, and David is part owner/operator.
Both are engineers. John Michael Johnson, Frances' son, is also
involved with engineering.
Frances married Bill Harvey Johnson and they had
children, John Michael and Joseph Francis Johnson .
John Michael is married to Janet Haley (daughter of
the later Dr. Haley and Mrs. Haley, formerly of
Pikeville.) They have two children, Gabriel Malcolm
and Madeline Page Johnson. Joey is married to Bridget
Thompson Rasnick. Frances married second, Don
Ratliff, and they had children, Donna, deceased, and
Jerry Ratliff. Frances is currently married to Charles
Clevinger and lives in Johnson City.
This good Pike County stock from Jacob Rasnick of Hesse-Cassel
is in many descendants who carry other surnames, such as the late
Dr. Campbell, former president of Prestonburg Community
College. You'd be surprised at how many others carry the genes
through the female sides!
********
Pauline's son Walter Blake had sons Todd (whose
mother is May Ann West Rasnick) and Blake Rasnick
(whose mother is Sherry Sifers Rasnick Mullins). Todd
and wife Terena Bartley have a son, Kyler Dalton
Rasnick.
John Jr. died at Christmas in 1985.
Bobbie Goff Rasnick (See Goff story, March 18,
1991), Pauline's sister-in-law, said "Shorty (Arthur
Blake) joined the National Guard before Pearl Harbor
was attacked. Inducted into service, he was stationed in
the South Pacific. After the war, he worked for
Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, where his brothers worked.
Then he came back and ran a store for Denver Stewart.
"Shorty had been around the world when I met him. I
was still in high school. School kids had to catch the
bus at Marrowbone, and we often went inside his store
to keep warm while waiting for the bus. Later we were
married. When Johnny came along and was one year
old, we moved to Jenkins. Shorty drove the Greyhound
bus for three or four years. He then worked for Betsy
Ross Bakery until 1956." For many years Bobbie and
Shorty ran the Sherwin Williams Paint Store, located
on Main Street in Pikeville. Shorty died in his sleep on
11
*Note: Since this article was written, new research leads us
to believe that Jacob Rasnick was not from the area of
Hesse-Cassel as stated here, but rather from the tiny village
of Watzendorf, whose soldiers would have belonged to the
Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiments. This being the case, Jacob
would not have been captured at Saratoga (mistakenly
referred to in the article as "Sarasota"), but would have been
captured during Cornwallis ' surrender at Yorktown. From
there, prisoners were marched to different locations for
housing and in some cases, for work release, and we believe
that Jacob probably escaped during one of these marches
sometime prior to his unit boarding ships for the return home
to Germany. The article also mentions the often told story of
the elusive family Bible, (of which we are still seeking),
given to Jacob by his mother as he was kidnapped by
soldiers while working in the wheat field. It also seems to
indicate that Jacob signed an "oath of allegiance" after the
war in order to stay in America and to obtain a land grant.
This may have happened had he been taken prisoner, but
probably not if he had deserted. In either case, diligent
searches at the Library of Virginia have not been able to
uncover any evidence of the existence of these documents.
The reference to Jacob being concerned about being
recaptured after the war, and thus taking on his father­
in-law's last name could very well be true. Records indicate a
Jacob Counts living in John Counts ' household while they
were still living in Shenandoah County. The age old
question as to "why" the different spellings of Jacob's
surname has been discussed at length many times before
both in the Rasnick Family Newsletter and also on the
website, and I won't go into that discussion again here.
Lastly, regarding Jacob Rasnick and John Counts relocation
to Russell County, it is now known that Jacob settled in
Glade Hollow first, with his father-in-law settling there
shortly thereafter.-Marie Rasnick Fetzer
~DJIf
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JlfAMIL'Y
8W VIReINIA.
This is the second installment of our Cemetery
Project which is attempting to list as many
cemeteries as possible that are known final resting
places of our RASNICK-RASNAKE-RASNIC family
members.
The information contained here has been
compiled from various sources, but is mostly the
work of a few dedicated cousins who have taken it
upon themselves to collect and record this
important data and make it available to all those
interested in researching our and other Southwest
Virginia families.
This type of documentation can
be difficult or confusing and so you will find a
star (*) noted by any unclear, questionable or
incomplete data.
Please contact me with any
errors or additions to this
information that you may
have.
12
Temple Hill Memorial Park
This file su bmitted by Frieda Patrick Davison.
Chris Rasnake
15 Jul 1947­
Christine Rasnick*
1930 ­
Clinton B. Rasnake
28 Mar 1919 - 25 Feb 1996
Georgia Virginia Custis Counts Rasnick
18 Jan 1907 - 17 Mar 1978
Frances L. Rasnake*
1922 ­
Gloria Patrick Rasnick*
6 Jul 1949 ­
Gary D. Rasnake*
1948
Grover Couch Rasnick, Sr.
28 Oct 1906 - 11 Dec 1989
Golda Ball Rasnake
1901 - 1991
Hazen C. Rasnick
1903 - 1940
John Ezra Rasnake
1897 - 1982
Herbert J. Rasnick
6 Jun 1911 - 17 Apr 1994
Lewis C. Rasnake
1918 - 1990
Joseph S. Rasnick
1877 - 1950
Linda G. Rasnake*
1947 -
Lillie Owens Rasnick*
10 Dec 1882 ­
Lona B. Rasnake
1919 - 1984
Margie E. Rasnick
5 Sep 1908 - 15 Jan 1965
Vernard Rasnake*
5 Apr 1939 ­
James Morgan Rasnick
14 Mar 1879 - 22 Sep 1942
Betty M. Rasnick*
1935 ­
N. K. Rasnick
1923 - 1994
Beulah Rasnick*
Noah Thomas Rasnick
21 Dec 1947 - 25 Jul 1988
Carrol Rasnick*
1934 ­
13
Temple Hill Memorial Park Cemetery - continued
Philip E. Rasnick
1948 - 1995
Virginia Jane Mullins Rasnick
24 Mar 1881 - 7 Mar 1912
Rosa Rasnick*
1927 ­
William "Bill" Rasnick*
1925 ­
Ruby M. Rasnick
11 Sep 1916 - 4 Sep 1975
Woodrow W. Rasnick
27 May 1918 - 1 Feb 1978
S. Diane Rasnick*
1950 ­
*Indicates
incomplete data.
Rasnake-Vance Cemetery
Location: (Sink Holes) Ivy Ridge, Cleveland, Virginia.
This file submitted by Frieda Patrick Davison.
Emma R. Austin
1911 - 1927
Winie C. Rasnake Campbell
20 May 1879 - 3 Jan 1904
L. Dean Vance Cassell
14 Apr 1925 ­
*­
Ralph Samuel Cassell
5 Jan 1926 - 22 Apr 1995
J. Maurice Long
11 Dec 1895 - 6 Jun 1970
14
Rasnake-Vance Cemetery - continued
Gladys Marie Powers
28 Jan 1921 - 25 Nov 1978
Claude M. "Mossie" Rasnake
29 Mar ]908 - 23 Jan ]988
Vernard Glenn Powers
26 May 1923 - 23 Apr 1981
Hattie K. Rasnake
11 Jun 1911 - 1 Jul 1958
Adron A. Rasnake
19 Jun ] 932 11 Apr ]978
Alta M. Rasnake
10 Aug ]887 - 6 Jan ]964
Burl William Rasnake
5 Feb ]9]2 - 8 Apr 1982
James A. Rasnake
8 Apr 195] - 3 Apr ]957
James H. Rasnake
20 Aug ]884 - 27 Jan 1957
15
Rasnake-Vance Cemetery - continued
Emmett Rasnick
1870 - 1952
Mary J. Artrip Rasnick
6 Jan 1846 - 5 Feb 1925
Mattie Kiser Rasnick
12 Mar 1867 - 24 Mar
1951
Rosa K. Rasnake Rasnick
1875 - 1934
William R. "Will"
Rasnick
1895 - 1945
Larry Douglas Rasnake
30 Jul 1954 - 30 Jul 1974
William Rasnick
6 May 1843 - 25 Dec 1924
Paul E. Rasnake
25 Apr 1910 - 8 Oct 1997
Alden Smith
3 Mar 1881 - 31 Dec 1902
Sophia J. Rasnake
1905 - 1973
Alvin Rasnick
12 Jun 1871 - 3 Feb 1951
•
16
Rasnake-Vance Cemetery - continued
Alma Jean Sutherland Vance
1936 - 1981
Bud Vance
1897 - 1970
Donnie G. Rasnake Vance
9 Jun 1900 - 6 May 1980
Landon E. "Tip" Vance :i:
1933 ­
Lester L. Vance
1920 - 1926
Buddy Lee Warren
14 Jan 1963 - 1 JuI2000
*indicates incomplete data.
17
Lee Memorial Gardens
Location: Woodway, Virginia.
This file submitted by Betty Barnett Livingston.
Robert Jackson Rasnic*
Cordelia Robinette Rasnic*
*indicates
incomplete data.
Cook Cemetery
Location: Huff Creek, Cyclone, West Virginia.
This file submitted by Jerry Nan Rasnake.
Ezra Rasnake*
Pauline Thomas Browning Rasnake*
* indicates incomplete data.
Presley Cemetery
Location: Dickenson County, Virginia.
This file was obtained via USGenWeb contributed by Zen Sutherland.
Clifford C. Rasnick
2 Aug 1917 - 26 Apr 1998
America M. Rasnick*
26 Apr 1920 ­
* indicates incomplete data.
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Resthaven Memorial Cemetery
Location: Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia.
This file submitted by Jim Rasnake.
Auty Rasnake
18 Dec 1891 - 27 Aug 1951
Frances Wheeler Rasnake
4 Nov 1918 - 10 Jun 1988
Hattie Smith Rasnake
25 Feb 1895 - 20 Feb 1972
James Barnard Rasnake
19 Mar 1917 - 30 Apr 1976
Charles Edward Rasnake
27 Jan 1924 - 19 Feb 1986
Dorothy Lee Rasnake
25 Mar 1919 - still living
t
Sherwood Cemetery
Location: Near Roanoke and Salem, Virginia.
This file submitted by Jim Rasnake.
Albert B. Rasnake
9 Jan 1867 - 25 Jan 1939
Margaret Smith Rasnake*
13 Mar 1871 ­
Worley B. Rasnake*
Also one unidentifiable headstone. These stones were damaged and hard to read.
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James Rasnake Cemetery
Location: Route 622, Drill Mountain at the head of Hess Creek, about 1/2 mile further
out the road from the Haywood Wilson and Perkins Cemeteries. It is fenced and well
cared for.
This file was obtained from Russell County Cemetery listings via Rootsweb.
File submitted by Vernon Miller.
James Rasnake
25 Mar 1898 - 27 Sep 1969
Lawrence Isaac Ray
22 May 1927 - 2 Apr 1986
Laura Rasnake
4 Jan 1904 - 18 Sep 1969
Cora Faye Ray
20 Jul 1925 - 2 Feb 1994
Ralph D. Rasnake
20 Nov 1928 - 4 Oct 1996
Gerald D. Rasnake
26 Aug 1951 - 26 Aug 1951
Betty R. Dye Rasnake*
2 Dec 1929 ­
James Earl Rasnake
31 Dec 1926 - 21 Dec 2000
Kenneth Wayne Rasnake
19 Mar 1958 - 16 Jun 1994
Lue Ella Rasnake*
22 Mar 1928 ­
Lawrence Isaac Ray
22 May 1927 - 2 Apr 1986
Doris Gay Rasnake
30 Sep 1957 - 20 Jan 1960
* Indicates
incomplete data.
Blevins Cemetery
Location: Iaeger, West Virginia.
This file submitted by Rodney Lehtinen.
William "Doc" Rasnick*
Margaret Olive Manders Rasnick*
John Bray Rasnick*
*indicates incomplete data.
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Counts Chapel Memorial Cemetery #2
Location: On the left hillside from Counts Chapel Church, Rt. 652, Nealy Ridge
Section, Clinchco , Virginia.
This file was found on the Internet. Contributors listed only as JSM and MSM.
Elmer Rasnick
1924 - 2000
t
Unknown Cemetery*
Location: Holt County, Missouri.
This information is included in the book "Gone Home" and was contributed by
Ralph Rasnic.
William Patrick Rasnic, Jr.*
*indicates incomplete data.
Cremations
Location: The following cousins have been cremated. Their ashes are in the possession
of Earl and Ruby Rasnick 's daughter Betty. This family was from New York.
This file submitted by Rodney Lehtinen.
Earl Marvin Rasnick
23 Nov 1931 - 7 May 1983
Ruby Thelma Dorton Rasnick
27 Oct 1927 - 27 Nov 2002
Hal Kenneth Rasnick
17 Nov 1959-2001
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23
DO you have a business
with the RASNICK-RASNAKE­
RASNIC family name
. It.
. ???
In
. . If SOu ....
24
family
please note my new mailing address and
email address on the
back cover!
25
Ar-thur nShort:yn Blake Rasnick
u. S . National Guard
Veteran, South Pacific
Billy Ralph Rasnake
u. S. Army Veteran
Korean Conflict
Former member of
VFVV Post 10164 Interlachen, FL.
Greg Barrett Pa-trick
Richmond Army Reserve, then
transferred to active duty
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, NC
Office of the Chief of' Staff 0
u. S. Army, Pentagon
~ -
Roy A. Rasnake
Army Medical Corps
1954-1956 CA
1960-1961 France
"'\IVilliaIll Clarence Rasnic
u. S. Army Veteran
VVorld VVar II
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During past months/ sad/~ we have suffered the loss of many of our family members and you will
notice a much larger than usual obituary section in this issue of the Rasnick Family Newsletter.
Although most of these obituaries are recent several occured in 2003. I have only become aware of
them recently and am including them here for historical purposes-Marie Rasnick Fetzer
-2003­
Lucille Grace Rasnick
86, died Thursday, May 1, 2003 in Escondido, Califor­
nia. Lucille was born February 18, 1917 in Bluefield, West Virginia and lived in
Temecula for two years. She was an administrative assistant for Cal State Fullerton
for eight years. She was a longtime member of the Fullerton Garden Club. She was a
volunteer for the American Red Cross during World War II. Mrs. Rasnick is survived
by her sons and daughter-in-law, John Wayland, Chris and Marge Wayland; a
daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Michael Deshler; a sister and brother-in-law,
Bobbie and Richard Thomas; and grandchildren Michelle and Randy Klaus and Sean
Deshler. A memorial service was held on May 10, 2003 at the United Methodist
Church in Temecula. A private cremation and interment was planned.
William Clarence Rasnick, Sr.
81, of Elizabethton, Tennessee died Thurs­
day, July 10,2003 at his residence. A native of Carter County, he was the son of the
late Thomas and Viola O'Quinn Rasnick. He was a former employee of North
American Rayon Corp. where he worked in Unit I Spinning. He was a U.S. Army
Veteran having served in World War II. He was preceded in death by six brothers
and sisters. Survivors include his wife, Hazel Rasnick, six sons, Thomas wayne
Rasnick, Rondal Rasnick, William Clarence "W.C." Rasnick, Jr., Bobby Rasnick,
David Rasnick, John Turner, all of Elizabethton, two daughters, Elizabeth Miller,
Elizabethton, Alice Odom, Johnson City, one sister, Alice Largent, Elizabethton, two
brothers, Earl Rasnick, Watauga, Lawrence Rasnick, Elizabethton, twenty grandchil­
dren, twenty-eight great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, and a special
friend, Paul Budgen, Elizabethton also survive. The funeral service was conducted
at the Tetrick Funeral Home Chapel of Peace with Rev. Jim Murray and Rev. Jackie
Cole officiating. The graveside service and interment was conducted at Happy
Valley Memorial Park.
27
Blanche Virginia Rasnake 83,
passed away
Sunday, July 27,2003, in a Richlands hospital
following a brief illness. A life-long resident of
Tazewell County, Virginia, she was the daughter of
the late Henry and Mary Quesenberry Burress. In
addition to her parents, seven brothers and sisters
preceded her in death. Blanche is survived by her
husband of 60 years, Campbell Rasnake; four
daughters, Lucille Beavers, Ruth Beavers and
Connie Lester of Cedar Bluff, and Terry Newberry
of Richlands; two sons, Roy of Essington, pennsyl­
vania and Buddy of Centerville, Virginia; one sister,
Mrs. Gray Broughman of Naples, Florida; 15
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great­
great granddaughter; and several nieces and
nephews also survive. Funeral services were
conducted in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff. Burial followed in the
Greenhills Memory Garden Cemetery at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Zoola Gay Rasnick Richardson
of Chesterfield, died August 29, 2003. She
was born January 16, 1921, in Wise County, Virginia to the late Grady Ezekiel and
Esther May Rasnick. She was preceded in death by her husband Alfonso C. Richard­
son; her parents; four sisters Avis, Norma and Janice Rasnick, and Imogene R. Owens;
five brothers Elmer, Ralph, Joseph, Jimmy and Cecil Rasnick. Zoola was a graduate of
Haysi High School and Madison College (JMU). She was a dedicated Virginia school
teacher for approximately 40 years and along with her husband Alfonso, taught many
years at Sandlick Elementary and Haysi High Schools. Survivors include her son,
Ronald A . Richardson and his wife Laurie; her daughter Sandra R. Goodman and her
husband William; several grandchildren; and brother, Robert L. Rasnick of Lebanon.
Funeral services were held at Bailey Funeral Home in Richmond, and burial followed at
Dale Memorial Park in Chesterfield.
Theddy Mae Turbyfill Rasnick 75,
of Watauga, Tennessee, went home to be
with the Lord September 24, 2003 following an extended illness. A native of McClure,
Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Lillie Stansbury Turbyfill, Sr. She
was a homemaker and faithful member of Fairview Baptist Church where she was a
member of the Dorcas Sunday School Class. Survivors include her husband, Earl
Rasnick; seven daughters and six sons-in-law; four sons and daughters-in-law; two
sisters; one brother; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and neph­
ews. Funeral was conducted in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home.
Graveside services and interment were conducted in the Rasnick Family Cemetery.
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- 2004­
Faye Counts Strickland 75, died January 7, 2004 at Lee Regional Medical
Center, Pennington Gap, Virginia. Faye was born in Honaker, was a resident of Lee
County, Virginia most of her life and a member of the First United Methodist
Church. She was a teacher retired from Lee County Public Schools. She was
preceded in death by her parents, William Letcher and Coosie Rasnick Counts; two
sisters, Mildred Counts and Vera Counts Barosin; and two brothers, Bill and Oren
R. Counts. Surviving are two sons, Glen Strickland of Manassas, Virginia, and
Robert Strickland of Singapore; three grandchildren; and two sisters, Madge Counts
Maxfield of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Janice Counts Webb of Johnson City. Prov­
ince Funeral Home of Pennington Gap was in charge of arrangements and grave­
side services and burial were held at Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood.
Vera Kurotschka Rasnake of North Carolina,
died February 28, 2004. Vera was born in the
Ukraine January 15, 1929 and married Warner
Samuel Rasnake in Landshut, Germany in March
1948. Warner was a son of Roby K. Rasnake and
Zona Estella White. Survivors include her sons
Sandy, Marty and Luke Rasnake. Funeral services
were held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in
Charlotte where she was active in her Sunday
School Class there for many years. Vera was then
returned to Honaker, Virginia and buried beside her
husband Warner in the White Cemetery on Roman
Ridge.
Greg Barrett Patrick 41 , formerly of Richmond,
Kentucky, passed away
suddenly on March 20, 2004 at his home in San Antonio, Texas. Born January 29,
1963 in Farmville, Virginia, he was a son of Dr. Alfred and Peggy Barrett Patrick of
Richmond. He was a graduate of Model Laboratory School and was a member of
Parkhills Baptist Church in San Antonio. He entered the military service with the
Richmond Army Reserve unit, transferred to active duty, and served 15 years in
several prestigious assignments, including the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, and Office of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Pentagon. He was
medically retired in 1998, spending his last six years as the proud home dad to his
two youngest daughters. He was passionate about life. One of his greatest accom­
plishments was climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington last summer. In addition to his
29
parents, survivors include his wife, Dr. (Major, U.S.
Army) Marsha Brenno Patrick; one son, Matthew
Gregory of Houston; three daughters, Marina Jade of
Houston, and Amanda Morgan and Aubrie Anna of the
home; one sister, Pamela Meskimen of Lakeland,
Florida ; grandmother Beulah Rasnake Patrick of
Honaker; two aunts, Patricia VanDyke and Frieda
Davison; an uncle, aunts, cousins, nieces and neph­
ews. Memorial services were held at First Baptist
Church in Richmond and also at Parkhills Baptist
Church in San Antonio. Graveside services and
emtombment were conducted at the Ketron Memorial
Gardens Mausoleum, Lebanon, Virginia. Military
graveside honors were conducted by the VFW Post
9864 of Lebanon.
Beulah Marie Rasnake Patrick passed away Sunday, March 28,
2004 in
the Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon, Virginia. Beulah was born August 17,
1917, a daughter of Roby Kernan and Zona Estella (White) Rasnake. She was the
wife of the late Clyde Anderson Patrick. She was preceded in death by her parents;
brothers Kyle, Ambrose and Warner; sister Zola; husband Clyde; and grandson
Greg Barrett Patrick. She was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church of Big A
Mountain, the Countiss Rebekah Lodge of Honaker and the Swords Creek Senior
Citizen's Center. She is survived by sons: Alfred Lloyd and Peggy Ann (Barrett)
Patrick of Richmond, Ky., Michael James and Pamela (Johnson) Jackson; daugh­
ters: Patricia Elane (John David) VanDyke of
Williamsburg, va., Frieda Marie (David Deamus)
Davison of Spartanburg, S.C.; Shirley Ann
(RaYmond) Belcher of Honaker and Joyce
(Eugene) Salyers of Pound, va.: sisters, Eva Irene
(James) Smith of Noblesville, Ind., and Mary
Nadyne (Carl) White of Max Meadows, va.:
brothers RaYmond Kemper (Maggie) Rasnake of
Honaker and Carl Efford (Juanita) of Chesapeake,
va., sister-in-law, Alice (Ambrose) Rasnake of
Black Mountain, N.C .; grandchildren: David
Patrick (Ruth) VanDyke; Pamela Dawn (Dale)
Meskimen, Michelle LYnette Jackson Shaw,
Melanie Dawn Jackson Gehring, Jason Raymond
Belcher, Erica Ashley Hicks, Megan Corinne
Hicks Brown, Hilliary Erin Hicks, Richard Arnold
30
Anderson Hicks and Noah Anthony Hicks; great grandchildren: Matthew Gregory
Barrett Patrick, Marina Jade Patrick, Amanda Morgan Patrick, Aubrie Anna Patrick,
Brittany Dawn Meskimen, Heather Ann Meskimen, Kyle John VanDyke and Theresa
Elaina VanDyke; special caretakers Martha Martin, Sue Fogleman and Norma
Meadows, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services were
conducted at the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel and entombment followed at the
Ketron Memorial Mausoleum, Lebanon, Virginia.
Billy R. Rasnake 72,
of Hollister, Florida, formerly of Bee, Virginia, passed
away Saturday, May 1,2004. Born in Dickenson County, Virginia, he was a son of
the late Floyd and Lura Arrington Rasnake. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the
Korean conflict, a member of VFW Post 10164 of Interlachen, Florida,and was of
the Primitive Baptist faith. Billy started his career as a trucker hauling logs and later
worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation, where he retired after 17
years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and camping.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Freddie Rasnake; and a
granddaughter, Ashely Rasnake. Survivors include the mother of his children, Jean
Rasnake of Hollister; three sons, Franklin and Johnny of Hollister, and Ralph of
Interlachen; one stepdaughter, Rita Powers of Bee; two sisters, Patsy O'Quinn of
Birchleaf, Virginia and Nellie Jessee of Lebanon; six grandchildren; and one
great-granddaughter. Funeral services were conducted at Haysi Funeral Home with
burial following in the O'Quinn Cemetery, Bee, Virginia. VFW Post 8979 of Clint­
wood conducted military graveside rites.
31
f
BliSNI€ C R
REUNIONS
;JOO41:
(aifr
year lllfflf({])!rmtaltll((])lfflooooo
Check out the following weh­
sites:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
-jvoyles/
1. Stllldtl'/J Mtlr 30
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/-duncanrw/
llM R/tSNA/(f. R.E.UNION
http://www.rootsweb.com/-varussel/
2, Stlttlrdtl'/J lttlle 26
http://www.sutherlandbooks.com/index.html
TOM &< SAR/tH R/tSNA/(f.
R.E.UNION
NOTICE:
Please note change of
address below!!
3, Stllldtl'/J Jtllr 4
RUTH R/tSNICK &<JOHN MCCOr
TAMIL r R.E.UNION
4, Stllldtl'/J Atlgtlst 1
The Rasnick Family
Newsletter
TAMIL r OTJONAS &< MARr
pR.f.SILr R/tSNA/(f. R.E.UNION
5. Stllldtl'/J Atlgtlst 1
Edited and Published twice a year by :
TAMIL r OTSUSIE R/tSNA/(f.
(jIBSON ST/?.il.T R.E.UNION
Marie Rasnick Fetzer
57 Overland Trail
Mineral Bluff, Ga. 30559
6. Stllfdtl'/J Atlgtlst 1
IDli5CENDANTS OTJACOB &<
MOLLIE R/tSNICK R.E.UNION ­
Leptillolt VtI,
email: mariefetzer@tds.net
($10 subscription per year)
32