Highland County Historical Society celebrates 50th anniversary, Part XV
By Pamela Nickell
H.C. Historical Society
Jerusha Jane is the Queen of the nursery. She reigns in the Children’s Room of the Highland House. Her subjects are several other beautiful dolls of her era. She was donated in 1966, the 155th accession of the newly formed museum.
The exquisite German China doll has a pink tint on her very white face, a closed mouth and black molded hair.
Dolls of this type were made in Germany between 1850 and 1870. When donating the doll, Miss Teter described it as a doll of 1870 wearing its original dress. She also is wearing tiny kid shoes original to her.
As perhaps in yours, two questions come to mind: From where might the name Jerusha have come? Who were Miss Teter and Mrs. Pfister? Nearly an hour in the Museum Library yielded very little other than that Miss Teter was listed frequently in the social news of the Hillsboro newspaper. So, what next? Who ya’ gonna call? Why, Jean Wallis, of course!
Disturbed on a Sunday afternoon, Jean was, as always, willing to share from her instant memory and quickly provided some interesting connections. Miss Teter was a tall, thin, elegant lady who worked at the library when it was located in the Scott House, which is now owned by the Historical Society. She and her father lived in the Highland House in what is now the Dining Room and West Parlor when it was a rooming house.
Jerusha Jane had belonged to Miss Teter’s aunt, Mrs. Mary Teter Pfister of Leesburg. Jerusha is a true long-time Highland County lady.
In addition, Jean mentioned that Miss Teter was a friend of Dr. N. James Bodenhamer and Robert Yacubian, who donated several dolls themselves, incidentally, at the same time Jerusha Jane came to live here.
They are all prominently displayed in the Children’s Room, continuing to honor the friendship and the faith that the Society will always protect their possessions.
Interestingly, in “Highland County, Ohio - A Pictorial History,” Miss Teter, Dr. Bodenhamer and Mr. Yacubian were all three listed in attendance at the May 20, 1965 organizational meeting of the Highland County Historical Society, where Mrs. Dorothy Hodson was acting secretary.
And the origin of the name, Jersusha? It is Hebrew. Jerusha is the mother of king Jotham of Judah, the wife of king Uzziah and the daughter of Zadok.
Jerusha is mentioned twice in Scriptures: Once in 2 Kings 15:33 and once in 2 Chronicles 27:1. The name means “inheritance” (abarin-publications.com).
According to thinkbabynames.com, it is a very little-used name for babies in the United States, so if you are looking for an unusual name...