The Nace Girls of Lithia, Virginia

To save (and share) a bit of family history and genealogy, I include here the ancestors of my grandmother and her sisters:

Peter Nafzger (Nofsker/Noffsinger), born between 1700 and 1710 in the Palatinate and died 1783, married Sophronia Wise, born ? and died 1808. Peter came to America aboard the Phoenix and settled in Berwick Township, PA.

Peter and Sophronia’s son Samuel Noffsinger (1770-1839) married Mary Hyner (Hiner) (1770-1850). They lived in Botetourt County, Virginia

Samuel and Mary’s son Abraham Noffsinger (1797-1859) married Elizabeth Ferrill (1802-1877).

Abraham and Elizabeth’s daughter Mary Anne Noffsinger (1828-1898) married John Christian Nace (1828-1928). He was the son of William Nace, overseer of Mount Joy Plantation in Buchanan (Botetourt County), and his first wife Hester Fringer.

John and Mary Anne’s son William Robert Nace (one source says 1860; another 1854-1935) married Sulmana (also spelled Sulmenia and Sulmena in various documents) (1864-1944). Here is how she looked in 1927:



Their daughters (who survived past infancy):

• Mary Lucy Nace (1885-1979) who married Charles Franklin Mays
• Mattie Blanche Nace (1886-1983) who married Howard Rufus Ruble
• Cora Virginia Nace (1888-1945) who married Thomas Owen Hunt (1877-1965)
• Annie Pearl Nace (1890-1911)
• Ossie Bell Nace (1894-1987) who married George Lewis Goode (1888-1985)
• Zora William Nace (1903-1988) who married James C. Gross, Jr. (1898-1978)

Here are pictures of the three eldest Nace girls:

Lucy

Blanche


Pearl

Four of the sisters scattered across Virginia: Lucy to Richmond, Blanche to Roanoke, Cora to Bonnes Mill, Zora to Newport News. Ossie stayed in Lithia; Pearl is buried in Lithia.

Eventually, I'll move these family posts to a separate blog. For the time being, they'll reside here.