Lost children of the Alleghenies

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Lost children of the Alleghenies

by Don Dibert
(Pittsburgh, PA)

First of all, The monument is In Pavia PA. Second, you say nothing of how the children were found at your website. Truly, a disappointment! The children were found by Jacob Dibert after having dreams of there whereabouts!!!

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Lost children of the Alleghenies

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A Doubter
by: Anonymous

I accidentally came upon the monument recently while camping at Blue Knob State Park. I found it very moving, but I can't believe that no one has ever investigated this further. If this happened today, Dibert and Whysong would be considered suspects and be thoroughly investigated. Was this ever done at the time? What do we know about the condition of the bodies when they were found? Were they decomposed? Isn't it strange that animals had not consumed parts of them? Did Mr. Whysong move out of the area because he was being accused of sorcery or because being there reminded him of a terrible deed? Why are these men unquestionably regarded as heroes? Am I the only one who feels this way? I hope I haven't offended any descendants, but we all have relatives we that we would rather forget. It doesn't reflect on you. If anyone can shed any light on this case, please e-mail me at cakightl@ncsu.edu.

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ROAD
by: Anonymous

THE ROAD TO THE MONUMENT, ALTHOUGH NARROW IS PAVED AND ACCESSIBLE BY CAR.

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re: Don Dibert II
by: Laura (Dibert) Dean

Hi Patricia.

My name is Laura (maiden name Dibert) Dean. Jacob was my great, great grandfather. Dr. Lawrence Dibert of Williamsburg, PA. was my grandfather.

Don Dibert II is my nephew (I have two brothers) and is Jacob's great, great, great grandson.

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Some Errors in Your Facts
by: Myra Dibert Whysong-Krentz

The Lost Children's Monument does not stand in Spruce Hollow. Spruce Hollow is near Lovely PA and was the home of the lost boys, George and Joseph Cox, ages 7 and 5. They were lost when they followed their father into the woods on April 24, 1856. The Monument is in the woods in the midst of Blue Knob State Park, about 3 miles from the village of Pavia PA. I am the great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Dibert, the man who had the dreams that located the boys.
What makes this story significant is that Jacob and his wife Sarah Whysong lived near Claysburg PA, Jacob was not at all familiar with the wilderness around what is now Pavia. He dreamed his dream 3 nights in succession. After the third night he traveled to the top of Blue Knob where his wife Sarah's family lived, there he enlisted the help of his brother-in-law Harrison Whysong. He described the deep ravine that he had seen in his dream to Harrison who knew of such a place near the foot of the mountain. They found the children beneath a birch tree with a broken top, beside the creek, exactly as Jacob had dreamed.
Allison Kraus' song is based on the story. She learned of the story through a relative of mine who is a singer and songwriter who works with Allison periodically.
Jacob and Harrison never had peace after the event. Jacob Dibert enlisted in the Civil War and died of dysentary while in VA. His body is buried there. Harrison Whysong left the area to escape the accusations of sorcery, etc and died in 1876. Sarah remarried and moved her three sons to Pavia where I and many of the family still live.
There are two pamplet-style books that have been published on the story. The Lost Children of the Alleghenies by Ned Frear and The Miracle at Blue Knob by Wendell Allen. My father worked with both men to get the facts for their books. These books are the best sources for information. Contact the Bedford County Historical Society in Bedford PA for copies of these books.
The dirt road to the Monument is very remote and excellent for a bike ride (terrain is hilly, so you need to be in good shape- 3 miles each way). You will also need to hike into the woods on a trail to view the Monument.

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Submitted by: Myra Dibert Whysong-Krentz

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The Lost Children's Monument does not stand in Spruce Hollow. Spruce Hollow is near Lovely PA and was the home of the lost boys, George and Joseph Cox, ages 7 and 5. They were lost when they followed their father into the woods on April 24, 1856. The Monument is in the woods in the midst of Blue Knob State Park, about 3 miles from the village of Pavia PA. I am the great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Dibert, the man who had the dreams that located the boys. What makes this story significant is that Jacob and his wife Sarah Whysong lived near Claysburg PA, Jacob was not at all familiar with the wilderness around what is now Pavia. He dreamed his dream 3 nights in succession. After the third night he traveled to the top of Blue Knob where his wife Sarah's family lived, there he enlisted the help of his brother-in-law Harrison Whysong. He described the deep ravine that he had seen in his dream to Harrison who knew of such a place near the foot of the mountain. They found the children beneath a birch tree with a broken top, beside the creek, exactly as Jacob had dreamed. Allison Kraus' song is based on the story. She learned of the story through a relative of mine who is a singer and songwriter who works with Allison periodically. Jacob and Harrison never had peace after the event. Jacob Dibert enlisted in the Civil War and died of dysentary while in VA. His body is buried there. Harrison Whysong left the area to escape the accusations of sorcery, etc and died in 1876. Sarah remarried and moved her three sons to Pavia where I and many of the family still live. There are two pamplet-style books that have been published on the story. The Lost Children of the Alleghenies by Ned Frear and The Miracle at Blue Knob by Wendell Allen. My father worked with both men to get the facts for their books. These books are the best sources for information. Contact the Bedford County Historical Society in Bedford PA for copies of these books. The dirt road to the Monument is very remote and excellent for a bike ride (terrain is hilly, so you need to be in good shape- 3 miles each way). You will also need to hike into the woods on a trail to view the Monument.

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My Feeling
by: kimberly and nick

The first I've heard of this tradgedy, I waz in my 6th grade class room and my teacher had told me about the lost children of the alleghenies and I started to cry right. My teacher had played this song for us and I imagined what they were going through. Those children had done nothing wrong. They will stay in my heart forever.

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Tragedy
by: Anonymous

I know that this story is a tragedy but the fact of the matter is that it is very interesting about how the boys wandered away how I came about the story is from listening to Alison Krauss's song about the story I love the song and anytime I hear it, it brings me to tears thankyou for putting this picture up I truley appreciate it.

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nice dad
by: Donald B Dibert II

its nice to see a great thing on the internet such as that the lost children is a great story if you don't know it find out about it its just to good but its true and i happen to find this in the most crazy way and if you did not have this story on this site your a joke

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LOST BOYS
by: Anonymous

I LOVE YOUR SONG HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUND THE KID HOW OLD WERE THE CHILDREN??????????

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Thank You!
by: Olivia Dibert

Hi Patricia,

We've connected before. Thank you for putting the link to the song on your site. Truely a great addition. Though I'm married into the Dibert family. I love showing my kids your site of their great great great great Grandfather. My daughter is doing a report on the Cox tragedy, and we couldn't find the song. I just happened to revisit your site, and found the link. So cool!

Warmly,
Olivia Dibert

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How sad!!
by: Renee

This story is so sad! Thank you for making these details available. It is important to know the small history of our nation.

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Lost Children of the Alleghenies
by: Patricia

Hello Don,

I don't think you've taken the time to look at my website very close. I have a full page about the "Lost Children of the Alleghenies" and about Jacob's dream about finding them. I even have a link to Allison Krauss's new song, "Jacob's Dream". This is one of my popular pages.

You can find it if you click on the link to the left titled Museums/Memorials. You'll see "The Lost Children of the Alleghenies" listed there. Just click on the link and you can read the page.

I noticed your last name is Dibert, are you a relative?

Thank you for submitting the photo, I hope you take the time to read the page,

Patricia

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Lost children of the Alleghenies

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