Filling Farm History

What follows is information I have gathered from a variety of sources, mostly from Walter Filling's submission to the Cameron County History book, page 187. I will try to cite additional sources.

On August 2, 2007 Michael and Robin Kuleck purchased the 34 acre farm from Emily Filling, widow of Walter Filling. The farm had been in Walter's family for several generations and I am interested in learning more abut the place and local history.

1861 John Filling served in the Union Army in the Civil War, enlisting on April, 3 and discharged on August 7 of that year. He servedin Company B, 15th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry.

1865 John Filling re-enlisted with the Pennsylvania Volunteers on March 9 and was discharged on August 25.

1869 John Filling (1827-1899) born in Prussia married Elizabeth Herr (1839-1913) born in Baden in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

1870 Census shows they lived in Lehigh Tannery, Kidden Township, Carbon County and son William was 2 years old.

1872 - purchased the 34 acres near Truman and Howard.

1880 - property owned by John Filling - birthplace Germany aged 53,
Elizabeth Filling- birthplace Germany aged 43 William Filling aged 12, birthplace Pennsylvania. (source: US Census through Cameron County Geneology Website)

1890 Special Schedule of the Surviving Soldiers, Marines and Widows of the war of the rebellion. - John Filling, Private Company B, 15th Regiment Infantry enlisted March 1861discharged July 15, 1861 after just 3 months and 15 days of service. Re-enlisted on March 9, 1865 as Private to Company J, 104 Pennsylvania Infantry and discharged on August 25, 1865 after 6 months and 15 days of service. (source: 1890 Special Schedule of the Surviving Soldiers, Marines and Widows of the war of the rebellion)

1890 - William Filling married Alice Curtis on March 18, 1890 and they had 7 sons - Eddie - Freddie - Ralph - Walter - William - John and George Samuel.

1898 - Tragic illness, possibly Typhoid fever, took lives of father and mother William and Alice and 5 of the sons, with only William John (3/6/1893) and George Samuel (6/7/1896) surviving. They were taken in and raised by their maternal grandparents - Cilena and George Curtis.

1890 John Filling dies. Elizabeth is left destitute and lived in the Elk County Home where she died in 1913.

I couldn't find "Filling" in the census data again until 1920 and have concluded that this is because the family fell on hard times. Will try to see if the boys show up with the Curtis's and where they lived.

1916 William John Filling married Flossie Lucella Watson (Nov. 7, 1897) of Borie, Potter County.

1917 Walter Filling born on Moore Hill October 14, 1917.

1920 US Census
George Filling aged 24
Anna Filling aged 31
Flossy Filling aged 22
William Filling aged 27
Walter Filling aged 2

George S. Filling and Patrick Geelen (Photo courtesy of Walter Filling)source: scanned from Reflections of Cameron County Pennsylvania, copyright 1994-Curtis Media.

George Samuel (1986 - 1948) married Anna Bates and their daughter Alice Amelia was born on November 27, 1920. She married Urban Ginther in St. Marys in October of 1944 and they had 4 children.

Flossie Filling and son Walter J. about 1921. (Photo courtesy of Walter Filling) source: scanned from Reflections of Cameron County Pennsylvania, copyright 1994-Curtis Media.

1930 Census shows:

Alice A Filling Daughter aged 9
Anna Filling Wife aged 42
George S. Filling Head aged 33

William J. Filling Head aged 36 Age 23 at first marriage, apparently did not own a radio at the time of the census. worked on the Railroad. (source: Cameron County Birth records)report BD as March 6, 1893.
Flossie L Filling Wife aged 31, age 18 at first marriage
Walter J Filling Son aged 12

Walter Filling holding wildcat his father killed in the chicken house. (Phtot courtesy of W. Filling) source: scanned from Reflections of Cameron County Pennsylvania, copyright 1994-Curtis Media.

Walter Filling and mother, Flossie Fillin on new road between Truman and St. Marys. Their car is a 1931 Chevrolet "4-90". (Photo courtesy of Walter Filling) source: scanned from Reflections of Cameron County Pennsylvania, copyright 1994-Curtis Media.

1934 - Present Barn and Farmhouse built (source: Cameron County Assessment Office) Only original building on the property is the blacksmith shop. Original barn and house burned at separate times. The barn burned as a result of a grass fire from a railroad spark.

1946 - Walter John Filling married Katharine Ruth Andrus on June 1, 1946 at the Emporium United Methodist Church. (source: Cameron County Marriage Licenses)

1952 - Flossie Filling dies after 36 years of marriage.

1954 - William John Filling married Jessie Reed on June 11, 1954 at the Emporium United Methodist Church (source: Cameron County Marriage Licenses. Jessie was from Moore's Run, Prouty, Potter County.

1973 January 13 Kay dies from cancer survived by three chidren.
Linda Lee 7/3/1947 married William Banie Robertson, Menlo Park CA - two sons, David-1980 and Brian-1986
Dennis Walter 10/4/1949 unmarried lives in FLA
Darlene Sue 12/2/1957 married David Frederick Guido April of 1988-son Nicholas 1989

1972 William and Jessie move to Prouty to be nearer to her daughter Rolla Lowery. (Robin's maternal grandfather often spoke of visiting with a Rolla - this is the same lady she now lives in Westfield PA. Ronald Blauvelt is 89 years old [year 2008]and attended elementary school with her.)

Walter returned to the farm

1978 2/3 of new apple orchard planted

1980 William Filling died on October 4. (Robin cared for Bill, when he was a patient in the Guy and Mary Felt Manor and I worked as a nurse's aide between my Sophomore and Junior years at Villa Maria College.)

1983 addition built on house on foundation of original farmhouse. Two car garage built. Walter married Emily Higuchi on May 26.

Emily and Walter Filling on their wedding day, May 26, 1983.source: scanned from Reflections of Cameron County Pennsylvania, copyright 1994-Curtis Media.

1988 Jessie Filling die on December 17 and is buried in Moore Run Cemetary, Potter Co