For those with an interest in genealogy:

My father’s known ancestors in the US were surnamed “Croke” and “Dunleavy” (paternal grandmother was Margaret Dunleavy).  All of those immigrated from Ireland in the late 1800s.  We believe we are related to the Croke of Croke Park in Dublin.  On my mother’s side, my paternal grandfather was Silas Daniel Gochnour, of Conemaugh, PA, near Johnstown.  I believe there has been genealogical work done on the Gochnour side of my family, but I have not had access to it.  If any reader knows about that, please contact me.  I am interested.

My maternal grandmother’s family is easier to trace as a result of a genealogical masterpiece published in the 1930s, titled the Eash Family Record and History, descendants of Jacob Eash. Jacob Eash was the grandfather of my great grandfather, or, I guess, my great great great grandfather. Jacob Eash born 1774 in Dauphin County, PA of German immigrants and was the first Amish bishop in Somerset County, PA. For those with a copy of the “Eash Book” as we call it, my late mother is listed in her mother’s listing as Dorothy Gochnour at number 813. People of note also known to be descendents of Bishop Eash include the late Bowman Foster Ashe, founding president of University of Miami; David Noon, contemporary composer http://www.msmnyc.edu/catalog/facbio.asp?fid=1008173163; Van Dyke Parks, musician, composer, and actor, possibly best known recently as lyricist for Brian Wilson http://www.vandykeparks.com/; the late C. Carson Parks, (brother of Van Dyke), composer of the Frank and Nancy Sinatra hit “Somethin’ Stupid” http://www.ccarsonparks.com/; and Carson’s son, screenwriter Rick Parks.

Tom Croke, November 2007