While at the dedication of the Thomas Hughes House, I donated to the Hughes House Library a copy of our book, "Early African American Life in Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania". The book tells of Daniel Ferrell, Thomas Hughes' slave, and the other Greene County Slave-owners! From our book: "In 1782, Thomas Hughes of Jefferson registered two slaves: Jaan aged 39 and Sam aged 6 years; however, he also at some point, acquired a slave named Daniel Ferrell. Daniel was given his freedom in Hughes' will along with "Jane" in the following manner: "...I also will and direct that JANE the black woman be maintained on the premises during her natural life--I also will and direct that Danl Ferrel (a man of colour) be manajed at the discretion of my Wife Elizabeth and the Executors of this my last Will." Also in the book: "While a slave, Daniel Ferrell was said to have dug 5000 bushels of coal to obtain his freedom. Sometime afterwards, Daniel married Mary Stewart. Together they had at least 11 children. Several were named after Thomas Hughes' children." The mysteries of the Ferrell/Hughes relationship are many! I will add another in the form of a Deed, between Charles Rex & Wife to Daniel Ferrel in trust for his wife and children. This document is dated the 24th day of June, 1852. In consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, it was arranged that Daniel Ferrell purchase a house and lot of ground in the Borough of Jefferson, Pa.. The same Jefferson, Pa. that was and is the home of the Thomas Hughes House/Library. As the GGG Grandson of Daniel Ferrell, I want to know the special relationship between Daniel and Thomas Hughes for the above is much more than a slave/slave-owner relationship! Yes, the book was donated but after not receiving a letter of acknowledgement, I wrote to the Greene County Library System and received word that the book and the Greene County Cemetery Map I also donated were "misplaced", but, that both had been found and will be available for the visiting public to see. Let me add this: Wal-Mart is coming to Waynesburg. The rear access road for Wal-Mart will lead back to Old Rt. 21. Along Old Rt 21 is the County Home Cemetery and an old family graveyard located somewhere on the hillside beside the new county home and visible from the front porch of the Greene County Museum, once the old county home. The County Home Cemetery contains two tombstones, with part of the cemetery being cared for, grass cut and such; while the other part of the cemetery lays untouched, in a wooded area, depressions in the ground, visible, overgrown with dead trees across some graves. Unkempt is a fitting word to describe it's condition. I have led the charge to have the cemetery maintained and to have it properly marked and to honor the Civil War soldier buried somewhere within the cemetery. Seems there is no listing of whom is buried there nor the location of their graves. I have created a list, from research, of about 70 known burials and 30 maybes, so far! I received word not long ago that County will maintain the cemetery, which is on Greene County Jail property! However, there remains the family grave yard. I wrote a letter to Wal-Mart explaining everything and that if they could send me the plans for their access road, it would give me a place to start looking for the graveyard. This access road may not touch it but future development might. Now, the word is out about a family grave yard. Yesterday I received a phone message from and later I spoke with that representative from the Corporation responsible for construction of the Wal-Mart. I should be getting the access road plans in the mail next week. I will have time to search for the grave yard, and will be able to meet with the man to whom I spoke, on site, and will be able to show him the County Home Cemetery and, if I can find it, the family graveyard. My feelings? $.37 cents invested in postage brought about a chance to save a family cemetery. A lot of ground to cover, but I shall do my best to find it! The power of the pen...with lots of help from above!