Joseph M. Flora was born about 12 Sep 1810 in Pennsylvania
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4,5,6 He was probably the male age 20 to 30 listed in the household of his father,
George Flora, in the 1840 Federal Census of Air Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
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11 Joseph appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Ayr Twp., Fulton Co., Pennsylvania
G, enumerated 8 Aug 1850, in the household of George McCullough, a farmer, and his family. He and another man, John Glen, are shown as laborers presumably working on the farm.
12 Joseph married
Naomi Catherine Shilling, daughter of David Shilling and Nancy Siderstick.
7,8 Joseph was named executor and an heir in the will of George Flora, his father, dated 19 Jan 1858, to receive, after the death of their mother, an equal share with his brother
Elias of the proceeds from the sale of all their father's property.
13 Joseph moved across the state line to Maryland by 1860, presumably some time before as it appears he married there.
Joseph and Naomi appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Funkstown, Washington Co., Maryland
G, enumerated 23 Jun 1860, reporting real estate valued at $600 and personal estate of $200.
14 Joseph and Naomi appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Funkstown, Washington Co., Maryland
G, enumerated 25 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $1,900 and personal estate of $350.
15 Joseph and Naomi sold to his brother Elias his interest in the property inherited from their father in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania
G, on 27 Feb 1873. The property included four lots of one-quarter acre each at Market and 3rd Sts., as well as any personal property belonging to the estate. Joseph also released his claim against the estate for "a large sum of money" for debts he had paid. He received $400 from his brother in payment.
16 He was a laborer, sometimes working on a farm, and unable to sign his name. Nevertheless he managed to accumulate significant assets for the time.
17,18,19,20 Joseph left a will dated 29 May 1877, in which he appointed his friend Victor H. Newcomer as executor. After payment of his debts, he directed that all the rents and profits from his estate, and some of the principal if needed, be paid to his wife Naomi for her life or widowhood. At her death or marriage he gave to his brother
George all his real property in Funkstown, consisting of a brick house on a half lot, and a full lot with a log house. He left $50 to the Lutheren Church in McConnelsburg, Pennsylvania, and the same to the Methodist Church in Funkstown. All the rest of his property that remained after the death or re-marriage of his wife was to be shared equally by his sisters Catherine and
Margaret.
21 Joseph died on 1 Jun 1877 at age ~66.
9 He was buried on 3 Jun 1877 in Funkstown, Maryland
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10 His estate was probated on 17 Jul 1877 in Washington Co., Maryland
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22 An inventory of his estate was authorized by the court on 24 Jul 1877 and filed by the appraisers on 28 Aug 1877. The total value was set at $155.57 consisting of household furnishings, kitchen equipment, and garden tools.
23 His executor filed his accounting of the estate with the court on 30 Apr 1878. He reported collecting over $2,000 for notes due Joseph from six individuals. They included one for $250 from his brother George and $400 from his brother Elias. He had paid out $723, including $85 for the coffin, $120 for the tombstone, $201 for his own fee, and $136 in interest paid to the widow since her husband's death. This left $1,362 in cash and the value of the household goods in the estate.
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