Never Say Goodbye
I dedicate this book to my son Rob who between 1993 and 2002 fought for his
life and beat A.L.L, by having a bone marrow transplant. This confirmed to me
that there really is a God and I have seen him perform a miracle. Life cannot get
any better than this.
Acknowledgments
To Edna Cumming, Joe McClure, Ellwyn Worley and George Honts for being
friends, helping me with the research and prodding me on.
To Wayne Carlisle who taught me to finish what I start.
To Vera Rae Dahlke thank you for getting me interested and for all the research
and hard work you did before me.
To my mom and dad for bringing me into an uncertain world in 1944 and
making life magnificent. For teaching me about the value of family, and giving
me the passion to care.
To my wife Bonnie and my Daughter Jennifer, for helping and putting up with
me during the research and writing of this book.
To my son Brian, who worked by my side week after week cleaning up Lebanon
Cemetery. The many hundreds of miles walking cemeteries near and far in the
rain, snow and heat, the many trips to libraries and court houses, in search of
answers, all this when he could have been playing with his friends. I am truly
grateful for the help, love and companionship. It was during this period that
Brian went from being a child to being a man. This was an amazing time for me
to be part of and I will cherish it forever.
To the many people who helped steer me in the right direction and contributed
to this work, I could never remember you all, Thank You.
You are about to take a journey into the past lets just say on my magic carpet.
You are going to meet quite a few people during your trip. They are the pioneers
of Grant and Boone County Kentucky, the ones that were willing to take a
chance. They chose to take the gamble to go to a new place to live a new life, all
in a time when moving meant that you probably never would see or hear from
your parents, family and friends again. A time when going a hundred miles
would sometimes take a month or more. A time when friends and neighbors,
might make the difference between life and death, a time when community
meant survival, a time when church and God, meant hope and faith.
We will visit Lebanon church cemetery where a number of the occupants are in
graves marked only by a field stone, names that were carved into the rocks long
since have disappeared, leaving the person buried only a memory and in most
cases a memory for only a short while as family members moved or died, but
each stone must be treated with dignity and respect because they too walked the
earth as do you and I.
As I worked on the cemetery what was once strange and foreign to me became
familiar, as the brush disappeared and the scrub trees came down the sun was
able to cover ground it had'nt in years. I got to the point of looking forward to
the drive there and walking through a uncluttered cemetery. It was almost like
the cemetery was becoming friendly; it seemed to take on a individuality of its
own.
I begin to learn where each of the tombstones was and as I researched for this
book, they started to have significance and sort of took on the personality of the
person it memorialized. The one section of the cemetery that disturbed me was
the area where almost all the graves are marked with fieldstone's, where the
headstone is a few feet from a fieldstone marking the foot of the grave. These
were children, who we will never know, how old they were was apparent by the
distance between the two stones.
In the early eighteen hundreds money was sparse and when a small child died,
the parents would take the body to the cemetery and bury it themselves. They
would use field stones to mark the grave sometimes scratching the child’s name
or initials on its surface. How hard this must have been especially for the
mother who had nurtured and cared for the baby through out her pregnancy. I
have raised six children and I cannot imagine how life would be without even
one of them.
Here in Lebanon there are families that lost twins who died just a day apart and
others who lost whole families to different epidemics that ravaged the area.
Whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, pneumonia, and polio, Diseases that
today we rarely hear about made their sweep of the county like a macabre cloud.
Doctors were few and far apart; medicines were mediocre compared to the ones
used today. Most children were treated at home without the benefit of a doctor
or medications. The families did the best they could with what they had. As you
look through the list of people buried in Lebanon in the appendices of this book
look at the death dates in some of the families and it’s easy to see when there
was an epidemic. Another fact that becomes apparent is the number of children
and their mothers dying at or soon after childbirth.
The Lebanon Church building still stands today, defiant of its season. The
beautiful hand hued beams that the church members so carefully labored over,
with love and devotion one hundred and seventy five years ago are sagging;
neglect is taking its toll on the structures soul. Now only a solitary dog stands
protector of the front door preserving its present master’s belongings. By-gone
are the wooden pews and its pulpit. The windows are boarded up and its
beautiful wooden siding long ago relinquished its proud white coat. By-gone
are the voices of the preachers their voices raised high in sermon and prayer,
Gone are the voices of it’s congregation praising god and singing hymns, gone
are the members who joyfully declared their wedding vows in the holy hall, gone
are the social events that were played out under the giant spreading oaks, the
laughter, the friendship and love stories untold. But when the wind blows
through the loosened siding and voids, and the towering oaks join in, it sings a
hymn loud and clear, a hymn that only the pioneers of Lebanon Cemetery hear.
As I sat there and wondered, a plane went overhead one of the older noisy ones,
you think are never going to go away. I then realized that the pioneers of
Lebanon had never seen a plane or for that matter a car, or light bulb, or some
small things that we take for granted. They came over the mountains in wagons,
loaded with all their worldly belongings, they had to force their way to their
destination, sometimes making only a few miles as day, They couldn't’t jump on
an interstate highway and get there in a few minutes. The plane started to fade
in the clear October skies leaving a vapor trail that was rapidly dissipating and
I realized what had just been a very moving moment for me was of no concern to
the passengers on the plane. The world didn't stop, or even pause, nor would
these courageous pioneers have wanted it to.
I vowed that day that I would get Lebanon back to its original condition, so that
if someone like me happened by they could visit their ancestor with pride and
most important the cemetery wouldn't’t disappear as it almost had. My hope is
that it will go on perpetually to remind us of the sacrifices these people made
for all of us. There is a poem its author is unknown but it is very fitting for
Lebanon it’s called Dear Ancestor.
“Dear Ancestor Your tombstone stands among the rest; neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone. It reaches out to
all who care; it is too late to morn. You did not know that I exist you died and I
was born. Yet each of us is cells of you, in flesh and blood and bone. Our heart
contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own. Dear Ancestor, the place you
filled more than one hundred years ago, spreads out among the ones you left,
who would have loved you so. I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you
knew that someday I would find this spot, and come and visit you”.
(NOTE: In the winter of 2003 a heavy wet snow finally brought an end to the
Lebanon Presbyterian Church collapsing the roof and the rest of the building.
I'm glad it was able to research and see it as it stood, sitting in the church in
silence and hearing all the sounds if founders heard, I have tried to pass this
passion on to you to enjoy too, for our links to the past are evaporating rapidly )
Memories
This all started about twenty years ago, 1n 1983, at the Webb family reunion,
Vera Rae Webb Dahlke handed me a large brown envelope, which contained the
research she had labored over for many years. It contained information about
our ancestors. She told me, “Try to finish this”. I looked at all the pages; put it
back in the envelope, and put away to do later.
Later came in fourteen years, when my daughter Jennifer arrived home and
exclaimed, “I have to do a family tree, it’s for a school project, I only have two
weeks”. I sat there smugly for about a week, knowing that the envelope was here
this would be easy. I’ll just pull out the envelope, we’we've got it made, and on
the other hand, where was the envelope, as the great brown envelope expedition
began. We only moved once it ought to be right in this box. Now were in trouble
it is not here, well I am sure it is in the desk. No, it is not there either as alarm
started to set in. Finally, my wife came waving the missing envelope and I
started to inhale in again, although I think my hair was grayer.
The next mistake, I mean undertaking was to open the envelope and pull the
worksheets; out they kept coming there must have been a hundred of them. They
were all neatly hand written and thankfully numbered. “Who were all these
people” I call out, little did I know I was getting ready for the adventure of a
lifetime. It would take me to Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Germany, Ireland and
Scotland and span three hundred years, without ever leaving my home.
Vera Rae was a first cousin to my mom. Her father Alive Webb was my
grandmother’s brother. One of the things I remember about him was he would
take an old wood saw and a violin bow and make the most beautiful music.
Uncle Alive and my Aunt Wanda lived in Paulding Ohio. They had a huge back
yard and a big creek that flowed near the back yard. What a wonderful place for
a six year old to visit in the summer. I would barely get out of the car and I was
skipping rocks on the water, and looking for that big old bullfrog that always
slipped off a sunny rock and out of my grasp. It was like he waited on me to
every year to see if I was faster than the year before. Yes, I always managed to
fall in, since Mom hated mud and dirt, and it took a lot of planning on my part
to make sure it was an accident. I might as well tell you now how mom hated
dirt, since we will cover this topic later on. Mom loved to putter with flowers,
my dad and I would wait to see how she was dressed when she came out of the
house. Her casual was most peoples formal.
Vera Rae had a sister Virginia who was married to Leonard Shields they also
lived in Paulding where Leonard owned the local ESSO Gas station. Their son
Jimmy was my best friend, even though I lived in Knoxville, Tennessee 400
miles away. Each summer Mom would make the rounds of her family. Most
lived in Van Wert, Paulding and Bowling Green Ohio.
I would get to stay with Jimmy for a week. I always thought he was lucky to be
living in a small Midwest farm town. There you got to walk everywhere. If you
were thirsty, the Esso station was only two blocks away on US 127. Ice cream
cones were at the drug store in the center of the town square. They had this
long marble counter with stools that you could really spin fast on. If we got hot
we could sit under one of the giant Elm trees that lined every street or head for
the swimming hole at the creek. Everybody knew each other and most
significantly, they were friends, they were a community. Life could not get any
better than this.
Jimmy and I grew apart he got married first and had two children. He was
divorced a few years later and contact was rare, he died in 2001 from heart
problems at the age of fifty-seven. He had been living in Arizona and returned to
Fort Wayne Indiana, to be near his family. I wish now I had called him instead
of putting it off to do later. We had planned many things in our childhood for
our adult years that we will never get to do
Vera Rae was a teacher in Cincinnati. She was always our first stop on the
summer journey north. She and mom would always sit and talk about the
family; they often made notes as they chatted. Little did I know that in latter
years I would receive the notes in a big brown envelope.
The other place I got to stay for a few days was at the Mohr’s; they lived on a big
farm between Van Wert and Paulding. Dorothy Webb Mohr’s dad was George
Nathaniel Webb my grandmother’s brother. He married Ina Reed in 1910,
Dorothy Lucille Webb was born September 22 1911. Mom and Dorothy were
very close as long as I can remember. They were constantly together through
out their childhoods. Dorothy married Carl Mohr in 1929; she and Carl had
seven children.
1. Byron in 1930
2. Joan in 1933
3. Gloria in 1935
4. Janice in 1937
5. Gary in 1941
6. Beverly in 1943
7. David in 1946
Carl always had sheep dogs they might have been Border collie’s I do not
remember, I was always amazed at the ability of these dogs to work stock, I
would sit on a big old tub in the farm yard and he would have them roundup the
ducks or chickens and put them right in their coop’s. Occasionally a duck would
get brave and run off to the side of the flock. Then like an idiot he would quack
as if to say hey guys look at me, only to turn around and find a dog looking at
him. I have many fond memories of my visits to the Mohr’s,
Gary and I were the closest in age although he has always been older than me. (I
had to say that) He, David, Beverly and I would go to the creek and swim or go
fishing; I do not think there were ever any fish in this creek but we had fun just
being together. There were always so many neat things to do on a farm,
Dorothy would always tell me you can get real dirty your mom’s not here. I
remember being in the fields with Carl and the boys but I do not remember what
we were doing. There were many times when I wished I lived closer to the
family, which was so important to us, instead of in Tennessee where there weren’
t any relatives. I wonder how much richer my life would have been.
I loved the summer trips especially the one to Chief Lake in the UP of Michigan
with The McDowell's and the family reunions in Van Wert, the earliest reunion I
can remember was at the Van Wert County Fair grounds in a little white
building. Here I would get to see the people I knew and loved in a big group.
Then there was also the bonus everybody brought food, and my family could
cook. I always ate pie first and if there was any room left I would dig in to the
real food as Mom called it, almost everything present came from the farm or the
gardens of the family. It just tasted better than store bought stuff.
I was born in1944 which was late in my parent’s life. Mom was thirty-seven my
dad was thirty-nine. She had a real hard time at my birth and almost died. I
never knew mom’s mother Leotia Faye she died when she was twenty-nine in
1917. Mom went to live with my great grandmother Rosella and her son Paul
Webb on the family farm in Union Township Van Wert County Ohio.
My great grand father Henry Morgan Webb built the new farm but never lived
there, he died in 1866 before they moved in. Mom lived there until she was
sixteen, Rosella taught mom to be a lady, to be moral and to love God, lessons
she remembered until her death in 1997. With the death of Rosella mom went to
live with Rosella’s daughter Cloe who had married Daryl Prior, they had a large
farm and family south of Van Wert near Ohio City, It was located on US-127.
When we were driving there from the south I would wait to cross the second set
of railroad tracks after we passed their church, I knew we were there. When
Mom turned eighteen she went to live with her Uncle Paul, who had married
and was living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was here fate intervened and she met my
dad.
Dad came from the big city, Cincinnati Ohio his dad Conrad John was a
machinist with Allis Chalmers, and My Grandmother Alice came from the Bossie
clan. She worked at Procter & Gambles Ivorydale plant on the Ivory Soap line.
Dad like me was an only child. His family background was as different from my
mom’s as night and day. Do not take this wrong he had a great childhood; he
just grew up in industrial Cincinnati. There had been a disagreement between
Conrad John and his brothers and they did not speak. Dad knew his Uncles but
never associated with them.
Conrad John died from cancer before I was born, Grandmother Alice died in
1976 at the age of 83, she loved my grandfather so much that she never re-
married. Her sister Laura who was never married lived with her after Conrad’s
death March 30 1927 at the age of 36.
Dad loved Moms family, he loved to get out of the city and share the
companionship of a tight knit family, Something both he and I missed as youth.
He would help with the farm work and at harvesting time you could find him in
the fields with the other family members cutting the ears of corn off the stalks
and pitching them into a wagon. He was so close to Paul Webb that when Paul
died in 1967 it was worse on him than his own dad’s death.
As a child I knew everybody was there you do not exactly know how he or she is
related but you know you belong, there is a feeling that you have that is hard to
describe when you were with them. I guess warm and fuzzy is the best I can do, I
still get that feeling today when I look back on my childhood and see everybody’
s faces and smiles.
I think as you progress in age these things are still important, but not as much
as when you were a child. For me I discovered football, basketball, swimming
and baseball and of course girls. Amazing how much of your concentration the
latter can take. When you start a family of your own, you are a little insecure,
but you can draw from what you learned about family valves as a child. Then for
the first time in your life you try to remember what your parents told you. Gosh
maybe they did know something after all. As you get older you return to the
farm so your children can have the experiences you had, in my case by getting a
late start, most of the farms were gone. My older children were fortunate
enough to get in on some of it. My two younger ones did not, it’s hard to relay
warm and fuzzy to a child. Nobody can replace a grandmother or grandfather,
Aunt or Uncle’s hug you just cannot duplicate that ancestors love.
I did not have any favorites I liked each one for a different reason, although
Uncle Daryl would let me drive the tractor and milk the cows, I even got to drive
the team of horses pulling the hay wagon through the field before he got his
first tractor. I remember the first time I got to milk the cows, Uncle Daryl
would sit on this little wooden stool and squeeze two tits and milk would
flow. I on the other hand at age five could almost stand under the cow and
squeeze like crazy; nothing would happen. Daryl would laugh and show me how
to pull, squeeze, and slide and all of a sudden, the milk would come out, it was
magic. I was really disappointed when he bought milking machines. The magic
was gone.
Now you think mom was a little zealous about just plain dirt you should have
been there for this act. She would stand outside the barnyard, with a bucket of
cold well water, a bar of Aunt Cleo’s homemade lye soap and a pile of clean
clothes. Uncle Daryl would stand there and say “Erma its only cow manure”
Then he would start chuckling. Dad told me sometime later that Daryl knew
how to push Moms buttons. Sometimes I wished he would not push the
overdrive button because the scrub brush would go faster and harder. What the
heck I could grow new skin. Yep life could not be any better than this.
When Vera Rae retired she started tracing the family, this was in the days
before computers and the information highway. She made trips to Virginia,
England, Scotland and Ireland. She was a meticulous researcher always backing
up her findings with fact. If it looked like a duck it had better quack. The sheets
she had done were up to her standards.
The first thing we did was to buy a family tree program, and load it in the
computer. Now all we will do, is type all this data in the little boxes, how hard
can that be? Name after name date after date family after family you can surely
tell they did not have television, in the seventeen hundreds. They had kids’ one
right after another. Then the kids grew up, and yep you guessed it, still no
television. One ancestor married three times, He had twenty-five children, and
he was still having them when he was sixty. It is no wonder he had three wives.
There were McClure’s, Weis’s, Webb’s Smith’s, and then they got married, and
we had a new set of names. Lesson number one do not buy a Genealogy program
based on how cheap it is. I suddenly realized I am not getting anywhere, by the
end of the first day I only had six pages entered in the computer. I got on the
internet and researched the different programs and what they offered. Most
made a big task of inputting data. The one I decided on this time was Family
Tree Maker. So far it has been a great program.
How I Fit In
My last name is Weis,
My mom’s maiden last name was Smith,
Her mom my grandmother was a Webb.
My Grandmother’s mom was a McClure. She was born April 8, 1861 in Van
Wert County Ohio. Rosella Arabella McClure, her father was Nathaniel A.
McClure who was born Jan 29, 1820 at Champaign Co. Ohio. Her mother was
Mary Ann McClain she was born March 2, 1822 in Fairfield Co. Ohio. They were
married March 24, 1844 in Allen County Ohio.
,
Rosella had nine brothers and sisters
1. Margaret,
2. John M.,
3. Mary Jane,
4. Samuel A,
5. Minerva,
6. Sarah Elizabeth,
7. Nathaniel,
8. William,
9. Mary F, and
10.Thomas Major Moore McClure.
This was a very substantial group to turn loose on rural Ohio. Nevertheless,
this group only had sixteen offspring among them. Their children had twenty-
eight offspring so at least we probably have a radio by then.
Rosella’s grandparents were Samuel McClure b. November 7, 1793 in Harrison
County Kentucky and Margaret Watt who was also born in Kentucky July 6,
1800. They were married in Champaign County Ohio August 14, 1817. There
has not been a lot learned about Margaret Watt’s parents. Her father was
Thomas Watt and her mother’s name was Mary. She and Samuel had 12
Children. Margaret died September 21.1844. She was forty-four years old.
Samuel remarried in September 30 1845 to Elizabeth Patterson. She gives birth
to eleven more children, before his death in 1875 at the age of eighty-two
Samuels Parents were Moses McClure b.1760 Virginia and Sarah “Sally”
McCorkle she was born in Virginia. They had nine children, and Samuel. They
were
1. Alexander,
2. Nathaniel,
3. John,
4. Moses,
5. Thomas,
6. Mary “Polly,”
7. James
8. Jane
Moses parents were Nathaniel McClure b. 1712 Raphoe Parish, Donegal,
Ireland, and Mary who were born about 1716, we believe in England. We know
nothing else about her or her parents. She and Nathaniel had ten children before
her death in 1767 in Virginia. Nathaniel lived until 1761 and died in Augusta
Co., Virginia.
1. Halbert,
2. James,
3. Hannah,
4. Dorothy,
5. Mary,
6. Nathaniel,
7. Alexander,
8. Thomas,
9. Margaret,
10. Moses,
The parents of Nathaniel were Harbert McClure born 1684 and Agnes born
about 1690 both in Raphoe Parish, Donegal Ireland. Halberts father was James
Andrew McClure born about 1660. Halbert and Agnes had six Children.
1. Samuel,
2. Moses,
3. Nathaniel,
4. Alexander,
5. Hannah,
6. John.
Now if I had been smart, I would have been happy with this information and
stopped right here. But no I wanted to see more. If you have been following
closely, you have probably noticed that the McClure’s were not very creative in
the name department. In the McClure lineage of my branch of family there are
twenty-eight William’s, sixty-five, Mary’s, twenty-one Nathaniel’s, thirty three
Samuel’s, sixteen Moses’ and seventy two John’s, to mention a few. I quickly
learned that birth and death dates, along with middle initials are very
important, especially if you wanted to retain any perceptive at all. The delete
button on the keyboard got a real work out for the first few days. Finally the
project was done, I got an A, I mean Jenny got an A from the teacher. Well that
was fun, a lot of hard work but fun. Now I could put the sheets back in the
envelope, make a backup of the data on the computer, and we were finished,
“maybe” or did I want more.
The Restoration of Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery
During the time, I was entering the data I kept noticing one group of McClure’s
showing up that lived in the northern portion of Kentucky, and although they
were not my direct ancestors, they were my first cousins six times removed or
something like that, most importantly they were family. This really intrigued
me since I lived only a short distance away in Boone County Kentucky.
This was my downfall, I mean the start of my second great adventure; there was
not much about them in Donegal to Botetourt the book I was reading. (The
history of the McClure’s in Virginia and elsewhere has been acquired from the
Book “Following the McClure’s Donegal to Botetourt written by Joseph W.
McClure- George E. Honts III and Ellwyn Worley. A must book for anyone
researching the McClure heritage) but what was there was more than enough to
get me thoroughly intrigued. There seemed to be a common thread that bound
all the families together a church called Lebanon Presbyterian. I contacted Joe
McClure and ask him if he ever found Lebanon since there was not a church
with that name in the phone book. He had but since he lived in Virginia he had
only been there once, and could not give me directions just a general area.
I then would make my third and biggest mistake, I got in my truck and went
looking for the places these McClure’s had lived. Who knew I might find one of
their descendants, then maybe they would know some family history, the things
that are handed down, generation to generation. This would be wonderful
history, as we all know anything handed down from one generation to the next
is always exact with nothing added or left out to help improve the story, “never”.
I found the Lebanon church and cemetery on my first day; it had fallen into a
state of elevated neglect and had not been maintained probably since the church
closed in 1968. The building was now a garage .The cemetery was overgrown
with brush and briars so intense that you could not see the tombstones. I
checked with some neighbors about who owned Lebanon now and found out that
the church had deeded it to the Grant County Preservation Board. I was
directed to Edna Cummings who at the time was the owner of the B&E
restaurant in Crittenden Kentucky about 5 miles east from the church.
My first encounter with Edna was the same day I found the cemetery. She was
in the kitchen industriously cooking for numerous customers and we talked as
she worked. I had to be careful about where I was in the kitchen because I felt
that I would surely be running the dishwasher or clearing tables in a few
seconds. What I wanted to be was the pie tester; I found out the enjoyable way,
That Edna can bake some awesome pies. Edna explained that they had started
renovation of Lebanon a couple years ago, they had made good progress in the
upper section, but Lloyd Franks who was helping her had died and the
restaurant was really keeping her busy. Edna also told me that people did not
seem to care about the old cemeteries and getting help was very hard. Then my
biggest mistake, I asked if I could help clean it up. The big grin on Edna’s face
told me I might be lucky. She did not blink, just grinned and said have at it.
This was September of 1998, and the weather was pleasantly warm. I recruited
my wife Bonnie and my children Brian 10, and Jennifer 11 to help me. We spent
the first weekend trying to figure out where the cemetery actually was and the
woods started. We took bright orange survey flags and struggled through the
overgrowth placing one at each head or footstone we found. The only problem
with this was you could not see the flags after we got them in. There could not
be another place on earth with briars; they all grew here around each headstone.
You would think this could not get any better than this but to my surprise, it
did.
The next weekend we really plunged in chainsaw blazing, weed eaters
devouring brush and briars and trees falling to the grasp of the kids, who were
trying to see if they could get the biggest brush fire in Grant County history. I
used a heavy duty Stihl Weed eater with a brush blade for the brush and a Stil
chainsaw with a sixteen-inch bar for the saplings and small trees. By the
conclusion of the day, we had cleared an area that was about twenty feet by
thirty feet. We could see the pattern of rows where the flags were, and even
read some tombstones McClure, Gibson, Points, Ellis, Barker, Hogsett, and
Securest were some. Who were all these people? What did they do? Where did
they live? Where did they come from? I should have never asked those questions.
In this book you are reading the answers.
There were tombstones with birth dates in the middle seventeen hundreds, these
people came to what is now Kentucky while it was still Virginia, and they lived
through the legendary creation of a Commonwealth. The pioneers who rest in
this unkempt cemetery, where were their descendants? Did they not care that
the people, who came before them, cleared the land, built the roads and started
to transform the area that would become Grant County, into a community,
rested in this dilapidated place? The stones we could read gave us an
individuality of the inhabitants of this site. There were the people entombed
with just a fieldstone? Someone had carefully inscribed a name or initials by
hand with love and heartache on them. Then there were the ones that time has
eradicated all vestiges of the person’s existence, the people who are now only
known to God.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months we continued clearing inch by inch.
Brian was following with a probe finding more stones some buried as deep as
three feet. The rush you get when you hit a stone with the probe is beyond
description. You wonder who it is going to be. Do you think it is so and so we
have been looking for? Carefully we dig around the sides and uncover it with
our hands, and stand it back up. The stone looks new; you wonder how long it
was buried? This one belonged to Ann Anderson who was born and died in 1851
She was the daughter of Joseph and America Anderson. Lebanon Cemetery got
larger and larger an inventory taken by the LDS in the mid 60’s had counted
232 graves we were now up to 266 including fieldstones. We still had one third
of the plot to go. One thing that we noticed as we cleaned an area and moved on
was the growth that would return. This was especially true when we got some
rain.
The solution we came up with was to use the chemical “Roundup” after a flush
of growth. “Roundup” is a non-selective herbicide that will kill every Green
thing it touches. It is deadly to undergrowth but neutralizes when it hits dirt,
which we liked. There was not any chance of it damaging the environment by
washing like some other chemicals. The next chemical we found out about was a
chemical called “Sahara.” This chemical needs to be applied by a professional.
Like its name it sterilizes the soil and prohibits growth for up to two years.
Sahara will only advance six inches through the soil with rain, the advantage is
the time it keeps the ground sterile. This is enough time for millions of seeds to
decay or become unfertile. We applied it with the last application of Roundup
after the clearing and cleanup was complete.
During the cleanup, we placed a red survey tag (small red or orange flag on a
wire which we bought at Home Depot) at each place we found a tombstone or
thought there was a grave. We found out that as we probed for stones that we
could find graves also. The probe will not sink in easily if it is virgin ground,
but the ground will never pack back as hard once dug for a grave, so the probe
will go in easier. Later it became clear that there was some organization to the
burials. The rows became very discernible. To help us catalog the graves we
identified the rows with a stake at each side and one in the middle placing the
row number on it. The next task was to figure out how many graves were in a
row. This can be tricky, especially on a steep hillside.
The upper section of the site was not as wide as the bottom section. Each
cemetery is a little different but it was finally determined there was a grave
every seven foot on center. The soil in Lebanon wasn’t very stable and the grave
diggers left about two foot of virgin soil between graves. We then stretched
bright orange nylon string from left to right and attached it to the row number
stakes. We were then able to probe along each side of the string working from
one side to the other. This worked well and was a sure way to find the buried
stones. The recovered tombstones were cleaned and reset as we found them
We used epoxy on the stones that were broken using two kinds of product, but
the best and cheapest is what plumbers call a tootsie roll. We found it in most
home improvement centers in the plumbing section. (Note: do not ask the
salesman for Plumbers Tootsie Roll It is Plumbers Epoxy, which comes in a
tube,) The instruction on the tube will call for four to eight hours but they are
not holding the weight of some stones. The epoxy was also used to set larger
monuments and has worked effectively.
To use it take it out of the tube and work it like clay. Be sure the break in the
stone is dry and clean work the epoxy into each piece and clamp the pieces
together with furniture clamps. Most clamps are four foot long and of course
most of the old stones are of course five to six feet. Get the clamps that fit on
half of three quarter pipe. Then buy some rigid conduit and cut to the length
you need. I also have two pieces of two inch by two inch steel tubing and some 3
inch strips of carpet. This makes a great straight edge table to lay the stone on
while working on it.
Tombstones that were badly broken or had pieces missing were displayed using
the following method. We made a slip form that was three feet wide and four
foot long. This was made out of pressure treated two by tens. We cut the two
four foot pieces on a angle ten inches at one end to eight inches at the other end.
The form was placed at the gravesite in an excavation that was dug out to
accommodate its size. Rebar fifteen inches long was then driven in the ground
leaving five inches exposed in the form. Two pieces of Rebar were wired between
the two upright pieces. The broken pieces of the stone were carefully drilled on
the back and lag screws placed in them with some epoxy. We then poured
concrete in the form and finish it. As it cured and became firm, we start placing
the pieces on it carefully working the epoxyed lags into the concrete. When
cured (about twenty days) seal the top and sides of the stone to the concrete
with Silicone. Do not seal the bottom. This seal will prevent rain and snow from
getting between the concrete and stone and freezing. The open bottom will let
the area between the concrete and stone breathe.
The Families of Lebanon Height's
Nathaniel and Jane Porter McClure
The first McClure that I started with was Nathaniel McClure. He, was born
February 4th1774, either on the waters of the Susquehanna, or in Botetourt
County, Virginia. When his father John McClure Sr., emigrated from Ireland, he
spent his younger years there. Nathaniel’s true love was Jane Porter. Her
parents were against them getting married, they didn’t want Jane traipsing off
into the wilderness... Nathaniel left Virginia with a small caravan consisting of
his brother Moses the Andersons, Carlisle’s, Kennedy’s, McPherson’s and the
McCulloch’s; at the end of the first day’s of travel Nathaniel was heart sick
about leaving Jane. He decided to return and try and talk her into going with
him. Nathaniel arrived at the Porter house after dark and tapped on her
window. Jane climbed out the window. They eloped, got married in Lexington
Virginia the next morning, then caught up with the caravan and continued to
Kentucky, through the Cumberland Canebrake.
Research and descriptions of Nathaniel, Jane, and company’s trip have made
myself and other authors conclude that the Cumberland Canebrake is now called
the Cumberland Gap. Daniel Boone marked this road with a company of men
hired by Richard Henderson and his Transylvania Company in 1775. Boone and
his men marked the path that would come to be known as The Wilderness Road.
The road started at present day Gate City Virginia and passed near Jonesville,
then northward to the foot of the Cumberland Mountains. It then followed the
mountains southwest past present day Rose Hill Virginia. The road then turned
northwest through the Cumberland Gap. It then passed near now Middlesboro
Kentucky, followed the west side of Yellow Creek, then the east side of the
Cumberland River north of Pineville, and just north of Barbourville to Modrel’s
Station near present day London Kentucky area. It then meandered north in the
general area of present day US 25 to Crab Orchard.
There settlers could leave the road and take country roads to Louisville to the
Northwest or continue north on The Wilderness Road to the safety of Fort
Boonsboro on the Kentucky River. Estimates I found state that nearly three
hundred thousand pioneers used this road from 1796 until 1820 on their trek
to the wilderness. The Kentucky Gazette published a story on October15, 1796
that stated: “The Wilderness Road from Cumberland Gap to the settlements in
Kentucky is now completed. Wagons with a ton weight may pass with ease, with
four good horses.”
George Honts III co-author of the book Donegal to Botetourt made these
comments about their research of Nathaniel and Jane’s trip. “Bob I think you
will find that the cane break is on the Kentucky side of the Cumberland Gap. I’m
sure you have been through there. We went through the Gap a couple of years
ago and studied the terrain on the west side, and frankly, until you break out
into Blue Grass Country, had I been a pioneer, I think I’d have turned around
and come back. The Cumberland River still has lots of cane breaks along it.
Tough country to get around in and dangerous since those breaks made great
hiding places.”
In another letter George had this comment, “There were two prudent routes
west from Virginia, up into the New River Valley, down the Powell Valley (one
of the most beautiful spots I’ve ever seen) and through the Cumberland Gap.
That was Boone’s route. The other which has been ignored considerably, was up
and across the New River Valley, down through the highlands of Virginia thru
present day Abingdon and Bristol and down the Holston River and then back up
the Cumberland and/or Tennessee Rivers. Directly west from here, or Augusta
County I guess could be done, but the front range of the Appalachians would
have been a tremendous challenge. Once over the mountain you would be in the
Greenbrier Valley, take the Greenbrier down to the New River at Hinton, and
then down through the New River Gorge (about 50 miles long), pass the Gauley
and on to the Kanawhat (which the New River becomes when the Gauley meets
it) to Point Pleasant. Two big problems with that route the Front Range and the
New River Gorge, it’s still the best white water east of the Mississippi. My
guess, and Joe’s, (Joseph McClure) is that the Cumberland Gap route was taken”.
Nathaniel and Jane must have broken off from the group and settled near
Versailles in what is now Woodford County long enough to have their first two
children, Mary Polly McClure 1796 and John Allen McClure 1797 The rest of
the party continued on north and settled in present day Grant, Boone and
Kenton Counties Kentucky. Records found show Carlisle’s settling in Piner in
Kenton County around 1795, Mc Coullch’s 1795 in Campbell County which
would later become Grant in the area they settled in, Andersons, McPherson’s
and Kennedy’s in Boone County 1796.Soon after the birth of John Allen,
Nathaniel packed up and started for the rich farmland of northwest Ohio. This
is where Cousin Samuel McClure the one born in Harrison County Kentucky,
would eventually end up living near Lima. This was my Samuel; of course, he
was five generations before me.
There are various opinions about where Nathaniel was going. My research
makes me think the reason Nathaniel stopped in Boone County, Ky. was to visit
his sister Rebecca Anderson and her husband Thomas. He then heard about an
epidemic in Ohio from people passing through the area. Nathaniel was quoted
in an interview with John D. Shane in later years. “He intended to go to Ohio,
but the sickness was so bad over on the Mill Creek, that there aren’t enough
people to take care of them all.” The Mill Creek extends from the northern
portion of Hamilton County, Ohio near the city of Sharonville, and flows
generally south. It empties into the Ohio River near downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
Today Interstate 75 follows the Mill Creek Valley through Hamilton County. Its
predecessors were the rails of the interurban railways and trolley lines.
Nathaniel was among the earliest settlers in Boone County, Ky. Boone County
records show him here in 1798 at the age of twenty-four. He settled at Lebanon
Hills which was on Bullock Pen Creek, about three miles west of the small
settlement of Crittenden, and near where Alexander McClure his cousin would
settle some ten years later on a two hundred-acre farm on Lebanon Road now
known as now the Simpson Farm. There was some controversy, over where
Nathaniel built his cabin. Records for his children and some early court
documents such as marriages, listing his children as residents, were found in
Boone County. Nathaniel’s tombstone also say’s, “lived in Boone County.” In
1868, Grant County expanded in size, by swapping some land with Boone
County. This moved the county line from across the road, from the Lebanon
Church site to Bullock Pen Creek. This would place Nathaniel’s farm in Grant
County.
Life In 1795 was not an easy existence.
Nathaniel’s first concern after they arrived in Boone County would have been a
home to shelter his young family. Nathaniel obtained two hundred acres from
John Gay, which he financed. The probate of John Gays Estate in 1824 shows
that Gay held notes, on Nathaniel and Alexander. He also held notes on thirty-
six other families. Gay had a grant for 4500 acres in the area that he surveyed
and parceled out to the new settlers moving in. Nathaniel’s brother Moses,
brother-in law Thomas Anderson and neighbors Joseph Meyers who was a
carpenter and Alexander McPherson started to cut trees and fashion them into
logs and lumber to build the cabin, this was not an easy task in 1798,
everything had to be done by hand with axes and saws. The building of a cabin
or a barn in these times was usually a community function, neighbors helped
neighbor, and communities were an extension of the family. When a newcomer
arrived, the settler’s living near them would come and help. The men would do
the construction; the women and children would keep them supplied with food
and water.
Most pioneer homes were usually one large room. Some had partitions to
subdivide the cabin for privacy. These usually came after the family moved in.
The main centerpiece was a large fireplace, which served as the only source for
heat, a place where they cooked all their food, and heated their water for
washing. The food was cooked over the open fire in large cast iron pots using
awkward fireplace appliances, such as a pivoting crane, which swung the pots
in and out of the fire. They called one such cooking device a Dutch oven, which
was a large cast iron kettle with a close-fitting lid; this was used for baking or
roasting. The Introduction of wood burning stoves was not until the 1820’s and
this was largely to the rich in large cities. They would not filter down to rural
areas until early in the eighteen forty’s.
Most cabins started with dirt floors, since it was not considered a necessity;
usually later, a floor of wood (called Puncheon) or stone was installed. They
usually furnished the cabin with a crudely made table and stools. Beds
consisted of straw stuffed into a large bag. Their light was furnished by lantern
or by candles made by the housewife.
Some excellent examples of pioneer living in this period are the living exhibits
at Conner Prairie just north of Indianapolis Indiana, the Museum of Appalachia
in Norris Tennessee and Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountain National
Park near Townsend Tennessee. Each of these exhibits is quite educational.
Pictures of farm buildings and gardens in this book were taken at The Museum
of Appalachia] The farm would start to take shape, as the land was cleared and
a garden planted, usually with vegetable seeds that the pioneers brought with
them. The garden was very important to the survival of the family, and was
their main food source; they took great care of the planting and fostering of it.
This was the mother and children’s responsibility
Preserving food was of the up most importance. There were several methods
used. Vegetables and fruits were sliced thin, threaded on strings, and hung to
dry in a cool place. Cooking in water brought back the preserved food to the
proper moisture and consistency. Some vegetables such as squash and potatoes,
kept well in the root cellar with no preservation needed. Simply submerging
them in well or spring water might preserve other foods such as butter. Most
food was stored in a root cellar, which was dug into a hillside. Its floor and
walls consisted of fieldstones with a wooden roof. They then recovered the entire
structure with dirt, leaving only a small door exposed.
The ultimate root cellar was a springhouse; it was always near or on a spring.
The cool water running through the cellar helped keep the temperatures cool.
The water then was channeled to a pond or well to be used in daily life on the
farm. Nathaniel’s cabin was near a large spring that still exists today.
The life of the pioneer wife was a demanding existence. Truly a woman’s work
was never done, here without modern appliances, she did all of her chores by
hand, the wash, the preserving, the cooking the cleaning, the sewing. Imagine
making all of your family’s clothes by hand. Other chores included tending to
the garden, helping in the fields, all while being pregnant most of the time. The
most important thing she did was to tend to and educate her children.
Look at the time span of most of these rugged women having children from the
age of eighteen until they were well in their forties was common. In 1800, a
married couple had an average of slightly more than seven children. By 1850,
the number dropped to five and a half. By 1880, it dropped again to about four
and a quarter children per family. As these numbers testify, precious few
contraceptive choices existed before the mid 1800’s. This was one of the reasons
for the heavy mortality rate among the women. “They were just worn out.” An
example is the ages of the women in Lebanon Cemetery. The average age of
their death is forty-six.
Nathaniel kept busy clearing his land and getting it ready for planting. This
was no easy task in these times stumps had to be removed by hand, with some
help from the horses, and neighbors. Usually an acre or two was all that could
be cleared in a year. For each stump that he removed, he had to haul dirt to fill
the hole the stump left.
Every farmer grew corn, which was nutritious to both man and beast and it was
easy to grow. Corn had a harvest rate of bushels to acres that far out distanced
wheat. Not much of the plant went unused. They saved most of the foliage for
food for the livestock in the winter. The cobs would be used for handles on tools
and of course the corncob pipe. The harvested corn was stored in a crib, until it
was needed; the kernels were removed from the cob. The pioneer then ground
and stored it to be used in making various items such as cornbread and feed for
the animals. After they harvested the corn, the farmer would plow up his field
and plant his wheat seeds these would sprout in the early spring. The wheat
was harvested in time to plant the corn again.
The first grinding mill to be near enough for Nathaniel to get too was the
Stephenson Mill it was built on what would later be called Mt. Zion - Verona
road. The mill would use Ten Mile Creek for its power. It is not clear when the
mill was built but it was probably around 1805. The Stephenson’s son would
later buy a mill in Crittenden that had horses on a treadmill for its power. Hay
was another crop of up most importance on the farm then as it is now. The Hay
was harvested by hand with scyes and tied in bundles to dry. Then it was taken
to the barn and stored. Sometimes a large pole was erected in the farmyard and
the hay stacked around it, the animals would eat from this
Boone County was rich in wild game, black bear, deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel,
and rabbits. They reported that fish in Bullock Pen creek were so plentiful that
you could easily catch them with your hands. Nathaniel said in his interview
with Shane “Pea vines grew in the heads of the hollows so thick you could track
a turkey and run on its trail”
Almost every settler planted an apple orchard near the house, not only was the
apple nutritious but also made fine cider, apple butter and applesauce, which
were preserved. The family would transplant wild black and raspberry bushes
close to the home and replanted as a food source. They also used bushes as a
security screen, not many living things liked to cross through them.
The early settlers to Grant County raised, cows, hogs, goats, sheep and chickens
for their food and clothing value. Fall not only brought harvest time for the
crops but it was butchering time, which was usually a community event. They
would start early in the morning building large fires and boiling water. The
community drove the animals to this area and slaughtered them. Each family
had a different task. One family would make bacon slabs another would get the
large intestine and clean it. They would then pack it with ground pork for
sausage. They would assign others the cutting and preserving of hams and
roasts. When the job was finished, everything got divided up equally among the
families. They would have a large meal and a dance under the harvest moon.
This was the last many of these families would see of each other until spring.
Salting or smoking accomplished preserving of meat or sometimes both were
necessary. One widely used technique was to pack pieces of meat in a barrel
filled with brine solution. The brine had to be strong enough to float an egg; the
barrel was stored in the root cellar. Although the meat could be kept for great
lengths of time this way, exhaustive rinsing and soaking were necessary to
make the meat eatable. They called an alternative to this corning the meat,
although it did not keep the meat as long.
Winter was the time when repairs were made to the farm and equipment, as the
weather permitted fences were fixed or constructed, tack was repaired,
implements were worked over and made ready for spring. This was the best
time to cut trees. If the ground was not frozen they removed stumps. Logs were
cut and drug on the snow to an area where they cut them up for lumber; split for
fences and cut for firewood they wasted nothing. Livestock still had to be fed
and protected from the harsh elements of winter. The cows had to be milked
every day. Eggs collected, water and firewood still had to be brought to the
house. Ice was cut with saws from the creeks and stored in an ice house, this
was a small log building usually covered with dirt for insulation, The Ice was
brought to the ice house in large cakes, It was then covered with sawdust,
leaves, or straw. The ice lasted until the next winter. Iceboxes were introduced
in 1820 and were in wide spread use by the mid eighteen thirties.
Nathaniel’s cabin still stands almost two hundred years after he built it,
although it has been sided and remodeled. Now it’s on the Grant County side of
Bullock Pen Lake, which was developed as a water supply, for the northern
sections of Grant County in the sixties. Bullock Pen derives its name from
Nathaniel Bullock who settled there around the same time as Nathaniel. He
built livestock pens near the creek.
Nathaniel died on January 18, 1848 at the age of seventy-four, Jane became
reclusive and sickly. Some reports indicate that Jane’s children moved her from
home to home on her bed in a wagon. The court documents we found at the
Boone County Courthouse indicate a different story. John Allen McClure her son
went to court and got supervision over Nathaniel’s Estate. The purpose was to
keep the estate for his mother during her old age and infirmities, and not to
give up rights, title, and interest with the understanding that at Jane’s death,
their rights as heirs were not to be impeached. John Allen whom the Boone
County Court had approved in 1849 never got the papers signed or the title to
the farm. Jane who became malcontent would not sign, give up title, leave her
home or abide by the court ruling. Her kids did not want to push her, so they
stopped the proceedings. This went on for most of 1849-56. Jane’s children or
their spouses who signed the court papers were Robert Gibson, John W
Stevenson, David Barker, Nancy A. Barker, Hanna Henderson, Jane Barker and
Nathaniel Jr.
On Sept 28, 1850 John Allen died. The surviving heir’s then named Eliza K.
Fish, the administrator of the estate. He ultimately got the papers signed in
1856. They divided the estate, after Jane’s death on January 19 1859 in the
orthodox settings of her home, which she refused to relinquish or leave. Jane’s
children decided that since some of Nathaniel’s children were deceased, that
their children would receive the parent’s portion of the estate.
The Founding Of Lebanon Presbyterian Church
Nathaniel’s family grew and religion that had been a staple in Virginia was
hard to come by in frontier Kentucky. Churches in Grant County in 1795-1798
were scarce. The first Church in today’s Grant County was probably the Baptist
Church on the Dry Ridge it was organized sometime in 1791. This would have
been a long journey for Nathaniel and Jane in 1798. Nathaniel and Jane taught
their children what they had learned in a more colonized situation they had in
Virginia.
The settlers in the area known as Lebanon Height’s which is one of the oldest
community’s in Grant County (Pendleton County at the time) ask the
Presbyterian Church in Virginia to commission a church in Lebanon. The
Lebanon Presbyterian Church had its inception in the living rooms of some of
the founders, until they built a small log church somewhere near the Lebanon
Road (Ky. 491) and Bullock Pen Creek confluence. Shawnee Indian’s burnt this
building after they obliterated the Brann family a short distance up the creek in
1805.There is a historical Marker on Ky. 491 it reads
“Three miles west, reputedly one of the last massacres in Ky. McClure’s and
Kennedy’s lived on hills above Bullock Penn Creek and the Brann family
occupied a cabin on the creek at the foot of hills. Around 1805, a party of
Indians burned the Brann home after scalping parents and children. All died
except the mother who crawled to the Kennedy house. She eventually recovered.”
Nathaniel, Alexander, and Moses McClure along with Andrew Kincaid,
Alexander McPherson, Joseph Canady and Alex Meyers rebuild the log church
building and a log schoolhouse in 1806 where the present Lebanon cemetery is.
This building also burned in 1822 and rebuilt by some of its members in its
present location 1824. The burials in Lebanon corroborate this, there are no
burials before 1829 in the upper segment, and earlier burials are on the sloping
hillside to the west of the old toll road that would have been the west side of the
log structure.
Alexander McClure and Joseph Meyers gave the land to the church on a deed
dated 10 August 1824 here are the contents of the deed:Joseph Meyers and
Alexander McClure both of Grant County to Alexander McPherson Sr. and
Nathaniel McClure, both of Boone County, Ky. Who were appointed trustees of
the Presbyterian Congregation called Lebanon Congregation, for $ 1.00 -a said
tract of land part of which is a meeting house, built by said congregation said
tract bordering on Joseph Myer’s field consisting of one acre. 7 June 1824
Witness: Robert B Vickers, Joseph Kennedy, and Jacob Meyers. ack. 22 August
1822 by Joseph Meyers and on 10 Aug. 1824 by Alexander McClure. Book A
Page 255 Grant County Ky.
The map in Thomas H. Hutzelman’s Atlas of Grant County Kentucky shows how
Alexander McClure’s and Joseph Meyers land met at the church site with the
toll road between them. The toll road is still seen today in the Lebanon Cemetery.
The members of Lebanon in 1828 were Nathaniel and Jane McClure, Jane
Preston, Rev.J.C.Harrison (Pastor), Jos. , Joseph.Jr, Wm. and Anne Canady,
Alexander McPherson, Rebecca McPherson, Alexander McPherson Jr., John
Canady, Joseph Meyers, Nancy Meyers, Alexander McClure, Jane McClure,
Hannah McClure, Betsy McClure, Patsy Meyers, Kitty McClure, Jane McClure,
Moses McClure, John McClure Jr., Rebecca McClure, Hannah Finley, Patsy
Stevenson, Betsy Gibson, Lewis Rose, Patsy Rose, Lewis Licker, Eunice
McClure, Ellen Berkshire, Polly Ratcliff, Thomas Williams, Isabella Williams,
Alex Mann, Elizabeth McClure, Mary Brown, Jane Ratcliff, Catherine
Percival, Smith McGinnis, M.J. McGinnes, Margaret Marrow, John Gibson,
Polly Gibson, Sophia Rice Harrison, Elisha Ratcliff, Robert B. Vackers,
Melissa Waller, John McClure, William McClure, Betsy McClure, Polly
Campbell, Alex, Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell, Alex. Campbell Jr., M.
Coleman, Sally Locker, John Campbell, Rugh Hamilton, Jane McPherson,
Phoebe Ballard, Isabell Carr, Patsy Hudson, Joysey Leonard, Nancy Ann
McClure, Sallie Kanady, Jane McClure, Elisha Hudson, James Canady, James
Gibson, Margaret Sayers, Judith Collins, Cynthia Hudson, Sarah Lacker,
Sally Anderson, Nancy Wharton, Betsy McClure, Halbert McClure, Martha
Myers, Elizabeth Gibson, Jonah Harrison and Nathaniel McClure Jr.
In 1828 Nathaniel McClure was the Clerk of Sessions of the church. He held
this position until October 2, 1842 when he and several of his children and
friends withdrew and organized a new church at Crittenden. In 1833-1834
Reverend Joseph C. Harrison served the church. Its membership in 1883 was
reported as fifty-six, in 1834 as seventy. From 1843-1864 Reverend George B.
Armstrong was the pastor, and the pastor of the Crittenden Church. He died in
1865 and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery along with his wife and two of his
infant children.
The Church membership grew and by 1879 was reported as one hundred ten.
The last minister was Reverend Robert Mc Callester; Lebanon Presbyterian
church was evidently the oldest or second oldest church in the county, probably
predating the county itself by nearly ten years. Lebanon closed its doors in 1968
the remaining members going to nearby churches in Crittenden and Verona in
Grant and Boone County’s.
Nathaniel and Jane’s Children and their Families
The William Griffin and Mary Polly McClure Family
Nathaniel and Jane’s daughter Mary Polly married William Griffith, October 29,
1812 at the age of sixteen in Boone County Kentucky. She had two children
Jane H. Griffith abt. 1813 and John Griffith abt. 1815. She died in 1817 at the
early age of twenty-one. In the book Clasping Hands with Generations Past it
is noted that after Mary Polly’s death William left the area and was never heard
from again. I believe this is a true statement. Searches of many sources have
never turned up a documented clue of his or the children’s whereabouts. I did
find a William, Jane and John Griffith in Marion County Indiana abt 1828. I
was not able to substantiate them as being the accurate Griffith’s.
The John Allen McClure and Sarah Hinds Family
John Allen McClure, was born 28 Sept 1797, and died suddenly on 28 Dec.
1850.He was a successful farmer 1847 Grant Co. Tax list show’s John Allen as
owning 200 Acres Eagle Creek, 500 Acres Eagle Creek, 44 Acres Eagle Creek,
225 Acres Eagle Creek, 140 Acres, Eagle Creek, also has a carriage and large
herds of cattle. He lived near the community of Mt Zion. He was a magistrate
under the old constitution, for many years. Grant county court records show
him involved in the following proceedings.
July of1829: Samuel Gossett and John A McClure are appointed surveyors of the
proposed road from the Boone County Line to the fork of Ten Mile Creek.
Sept 1829: Appointment of John McClure, William McClure, William Franks,
and Phillip McBee as commissioners to view a new road from William McClure’s
to Fredericksburg road near John Merrill’s on the Boone County Line.( This
road would later be known as Mt .Zion Verona Rd.)
June of 1830: John Allen was appointed as commissioner along with John
Franks, William Montgomery, and Allan Waller to view a new road from John
Franks to Fords Mill
14 Mar 1831: John Allen is appointed commissioner along with William C. .
Johnson Jacob Meyers and William, Massey to view an alteration in the Two
Ranks road.
Testimony of John Allen McClure along with Addison Beach and William Beach
proves that Daniel Cowgill, late a Revolutionary pensioner, from the state of
Ohio died 14 June 1843 at his residence in Grant County Ky.
In March 13 1848: John Allen and W Skirvin are appointed as a committee to go
see Amos Evans to determine whether he is fit subject to become a pauper of this
county.
John Allen’s first wife was Sarah “Sallie” Hind’s she was born November 21,
1798 in Boone County Kentucky. They married sometime around 1818. She and
John Allen conceived two children, they were
1) William E. McClure who was born March 25, 1823. William died at home at
the age of seventeen the result of an accident with a horse and wagon on the
family farm, January 20, 1840.
2)Hulda J. she was born January 14,1825 and died at the age of two years ten
months October 18, 1828. Sarah “Sallie” died just seven months after Hulda’s
birth. Sarah and Hulda are buried next to each other William a few graves away,
in Lebanon Cemetery.
The John Allen McClure and Eunice Keeler Fish Family
Eunice Keeler Fish McClure was John Allen’s second wife. She was a daughter of
William Fish, who emigrated from New York to Pendleton County, Ky. She was
born October 24, 1808 in New York State. She and John Allen were married
April 7, 1830 in Grant County. After John Allen’s death Eunice relinquished
administration of his estate, which they then granted to Ezra K. Fish in June of
1851 John Allen and Eunice’ son’s John Thomas McClure and Ezra Keeler
McClure who were older than fourteen, could designate their mother guardian.
The court then appointed Eunice their mother and their Uncle Ezra K. Fish,
guardians to her other children Laura Ann McClure, Nancy Hannah McClure,
Mary Jane McClure, Sarah Francis McClure, William Henry McClure, Eunice
Alice McClure and Margaret Thompson McClure. John Stevens, William
McClure, Thomas Thompson and Nathaniel McClure Jr signed the security.
Eunice and her brother Ezra K. Fish made the first required statement, on the
condition of the estate to the court in June of 1853. Eunice stated “the farm
known as the Johnson farm, was virtually unusable because the fields were over
grazed, and exhausted, and would not be much use until they could revitalize
them”
The Farm known as the Elam Riddle farm was essentially the same, they had
rented these farms to Thomas Thompson and S. Osborn. The monies taken in
for the rentals on all the properties amounted to $3456.23 in 1852. $ 3672.90
in 1853. They reported the accountings of slaves that belonged to the estate to
the court as follows “they hired out Jefferson to Johnson Wood for 1852-1853,
Ned was working around the homestead. They hired out Andy to Benjamin
Northcutt. They hired out Betty to Thomas S. Fish. Mary had died the previous
October, Ann had also died last November from some burns she received in the
kitchen.”
The report to the court for 1855 -1857 on John Allen’s Estate stated that they
rented, the Stone tract of land to William Cunningham. They now rented the
Johnson Tract of land, to Harrison Skirvin. They rented the Levi Webster tract
and the Elam Ridge tract of land to John Carnes. The accounting of the slaves
that belonged to the estate, they rented the Negro boy Jefferson to John Wood,
and on February 10, 1856. Andy ran away as did Press and neither boy had
been seen nor heard from since. They then sent Jefferson to Lexington to be
sold. The young woman Bet had been sick and had accumulated many doctor
bills, she had a son aged about three months. Ned had been working for Ezra K.
Fish. Harriet, Martha, and Ellen aged 10-12 were living with Ezra and his wife.
John Allen McClure at the time of his death held in his possession a title bond
executed by James O’Hara for a tract of land known as the Johnson farm. After
his death they learned that the wife of Edward Ely, living in Virginia, had an
interest for that land also, Mr. O’Hara had not received title; a law suit in Grant
county Chancery Court resulted
Eunice passed away on September 4, 1885. She was 76 years of age. Eunice
rests in Lebanon Cemetery between son John T. and Grandson Dickerson the
children of Eunice and John Allen were:
Nathaniel Fish McClure b. January 18, 1831 he died November 22,1850 at the
age of nineteen, they buried him in Lebanon Cemetery
Mary Jane Porter McClure b. October 24, 1832 died March 7, 1838 at the age of
five and is buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery near her father
.
John Thomas McClure b. Sept 20, 1834 lived on the farm his father left the
children after he purchased their shares. It was just north of the village of
Mount Zion on Mount Zion and Zion Station Turnpike Road. A fine farm of 320
acres laying on both sides of the Turnpike Road and in the midst there of a
beautiful residence,? fine barns and fine stock. The Williamstown Courier ran
a biography of John Thomas on its front page March 5th 1891 here are the
content’s
The Honorable John T. McClure
A Good Farmer and Safe Legislator.
“There is no man more popular than John T. McClure. He was born at his
present residence in Grant County near Mt Zion September 1834, making him
fifty seven years old this near September. Would it not be for his gray mustache
and frost in his hair. You would think him twenty years younger. Third child in
a family of eleven born to John Allen and Eunice Fish McClure. He is the Grand
Son of Nathaniel and Jane Porter McClure, some of earliest settlers to Grant
County and a founder of Lebanon Presbyterian Church. Of the children born to
his parents, nine are still living John Thomas, Ezra Keeler, Dr. W.H., Mrs. J.W.
Mount, Mrs. J.T. Simon, Mrs. Dr. J.F. Hendy, Mrs. F.T. Hendy, and Mrs. Fannie
Hudson.
The subject of this sketch has always been a Democrat, his faith in democracy
always being as strong as his faith in Calvinism, For half a century he has lived
among the people of Grant County, His worth as a man attested to by many a
friend. Quietly he has passed his years at the old homestead preferring to be a
bachelor than risk the cares of marriage. More than once his party has honored
him with positions of trust and responsibility. In 1871 he was elected sheriff
and served two years, and served four more years being elected in 1881 and
1883. Two years ago they nominated and elected him to represent this County
in the State Legislature and made an excellent representative No Better Man
could be elected “.
John T finished out his years by selling the farm and moving to Crittenden
where he took a job in 1893 at the age of sixty-nine as the first head cashier at
the newly formed Tobacco Growers Bank in Crittenden he worked for the next
ten years without missing a day of work. He took a vacation for one week on the
start of the eleventh year, he died a few months later his salary was one
thousand dollars a year. The Williamstown Courier announced his death in
1904 with bold headlines.
“The news of the passing startled and saddened the town of the Honorable John
Thomas McClure September 13, 1904 at his Crittenden home, where he moved a
few years ago after selling the family farm. He was Sheriff, Representative, a
farmer and a cashier in Tobacco Growers Deposit Bank at Crittenden he was
seventy. They laid John Thomas to rest at the Presbyterian Cemetery at
Lebanon, He was a Mason, and they named the McClure Chapter at
Williamstown for him. ”The newspaper stated that they buried him in the family
plot at Linden Grove in Covington but this was an inaccuracy and we changed
the text to reflect his true final resting place. He is in Lebanon Cemetery in
grave 32 row 17 next to his mother Eunice.
The Ezra Keeler McClure and Nancy Dickerson Family
Ezra K. McClure was born in Grant County, Ky. August 24, 1836, is the second
son born to John Allen and Eunice Fish McClure, Ezra K. McClure was reared
on his father’s farm and educated at the Crittenden Union College. In 1863 he
volunteered in Gen. Churchill’s Arkansas Brigade, remained one year, and left
as second lieutenant. He then returned to Grant County and engaged in the
manufacture of plug tobacco until 1870, when he commenced farming and
buying tobacco, he left the farming to his son Jack in 1872, devoting his entire
attention to buying and selling tobacco. He sold the tobacco at Cincinnati and
handled from 160,000 to 400,000 pounds. The tobacco factory was a frame
building 100 x 40 feet with an L 40 x 25 feet. I have been fortunate enough to
obtain some documents of E. K’s business form Edna Cummins of Crittenden.
She rescued his checkbook from a trunk a few years ago. He is a listing of some
of the checks he wrote.
· Check # 2 J.Jackson Tobacco No Date $ 20.70
· Check # 3 E.J. Green llot Tobacco No Date $131.95
· Check #4 E.J. Green Tobacco 22Jan1894 $471.58
· Check# 23 W.L. Kennady Tobacco 27Jun1894 $ 31.42
· Check# 32 Wm. Rouse Tobacco 5 Jul 1894 $392.98
· Check# 49 Self Wages 16Ma 1895 $ 20.00
The check book continues on until 23 Dec1896 when its use is discontinued
there are still over one hundred checks that were never used.
Grant county court documents state that some of E.K. Neighbors Took E.K. to
court for operating a public nuisance seems he decided to raise hogs in a pen
next to the warehouse, to the dissatisfaction of the townspeople”.
Ezra was a stockholder and founding board member of the new Tobacco
Growers Deposit Bank in Crittenden in 1893. On July 26, 1859, Mr. McClure
married Miss Nancy Dickerson, a native of Bourbon County, Ky. Nancy known
as Nanny owned a boarding house and school for young women in Crittenden.
Mr. McClure was a Royal Arch Mason.
They had five children:
1) Conn McClure was born September 11, 1860 and died at the age of one in
May 17,1862 they have buried him in Lebanon Church Cemetery.
2) Ezra K. (Jack) Jr, born November 25, 1862, Married Callie Horton. He
worked with his father on the farm’s and in the family tobacco business, he died
July 13,1936 and is buried in Crittenden Cemetery alongside Callie.
3) Nathaniel F. McClure, born July 21, 1865, graduated in June 1887 from the
United States Military Academy at West Point, NY; twenty-third in a class of
sixty-five, and was second lieutenant with the Fourth United States Cavalry at
Fort McDowell, Arizona Territory. He married Mamie Chapin in Woodford
County Kentucky. They had one child a son who died at an early age Nathaniel
reached the rank of Brigadier General during World War One, after fighting in
France in 1918 between the Argonne Forest and the Muse River.
This is the text of Nathaniel’s obituary sent to me by Dr. Steven B. Gore USMA
Historian at West Point. This appeared in the Alumni Journal
“Nathaniel Fish McClure No.3196 West Point Class of 1887. Died June 26,
1942 at Walter Reed Hospital Washington. D.C. He was born July 21, 1865 at
Crittenden, Kentucky. His Great-grandfather for who he is named migrated to
Kentucky from Virginia in 1795, and settled near Crittenden. A son John Allen
McClure married Eunice Fish an immigrant from Canandaigua, New York.
Their second son Ezra Koehler McClure married Nancy Dickerson. Five sons
were born of this marriage; Nat McClure was the last survivor.
Local school’s provided such education as Mac had prior to West Point.
Through personal correspondence with Rep. John G Carlisle of Kentucky (twice
speaker of the house and later secretary of the treasury) ,he secured an
appointment to the Military Academy, entered as a “sep” in 1883 and graduated
in 1887, above the middle of his class. He was a sergeant in his first class year, a
Lieutenant in his second.
Mac was assigned to the Calvary his first assignment being to the 4th at Fort
McDowell Arizona. Most of his service was in that regiment and the 5th in the
southwest. In the world war he organized the 22nd cavalry then transformed it
into the 80th Field Artillery thirty days later. Sometime after the war he
commanded the 111th cavalry at Monterey California. His home service was in a
third of the states; his foreign service was in Puerto Rico, the Philippines,
Hawaii, Mexico, England and France.
Mac was a distinguished Graduate Of
· Army School Of The Line 1909
· Army Staff College 1910
· Instructor Dept of Military Army Service School’s 1913-1916
· Army War College 1917.
He Sailed for France November 2, 1917, where he was successively Chief of
Staff, of line commutations,
· Commander of Debarkation Camp 1 at Saint Nazarie.
· Commander Base section No-5 at Brest.
His commission as Brigadier General, National Army, was confirmed by the U.
S. Senate on February 2 1918, the day he arrived at Briest. There he remained
until the latter part of May. He was prouder of his service there than any other
in his career From a rather wretched base with a capacity of 14,000 men he
built up a base with a capacity of 100,000 with a complete new water system,
barracks and storage facilities, and a lighter system whose capacity was 3800
men per trip.
Mac wanted and sought combat duty and on Memorial Day 1918, he took over
command of the 69th Infantry brigade at Abbeville. The division was slated for
duty with the British but this was changed and by June 12th it was in a quiet
sector in the Vosges. In eastern France. There by seniority he commanded the
division for five weeks, during which part of the division was in the front line
all of the time, and all of it for three weeks. The division was in Army Reserve in
the St Mihiel operation (under a permanent commander) and was moved to the
Argonne and given a front line position for the attack on September 26. McClure
had completed placing his brigade in position for the attack when the order
came relieving him and Brigade General Charles I. Martin whose brigade was in
reserve of duty. In the combat zone there is little time for investigations
McClure took this blow with fortitude of the good solider he was. Among duties
performed after thee war were General Staff, Assistant Commandant,
Disciplinary Barracks; Colonel,11th Cavalry; Signal Corps; He retired because
of age July 21,1929, and was promoted to Brigadier General, Ret., June 21,
1930.
McClure married Mamie Chapin Crovat July 14, 1890 in Lexington Ky. A son
was born to this union buy died at the age of two years. His step-daughter, Ella
Crovat Koch, did outstanding work in the Red Cross during the World War and
when she died October 24, 1918 was accorded a full military funeral.
Socially Mac and his wife were outstanding exemplars of the “old Army” now
largely traditional. Their home in city or post, tropical jungle or frontier desert,
was always open house to friend or wayfarer.
Mac was a lover of the great outdoors, a seeker in pages of nature. The Sierra
Club of California recognized his attainments by making him an Honorary Life
Member. His fondness for mountaineering nearly led to his death when he was a
member of the Pershing Expedition into Mexico in 1916 to capture bandit
Pancho Villa. From the Mexican plain where the horses were grazed daily, a
tiny speck of green was visible high on a mountain. That meant water, and one
day he set out to climb it. He reached his objective, which proved to be a small
spring, and stopped to get a drink. His 45-calibre revolver fell from the holster,
was discharged, and the bullet after passing twice through the upper leg,
lodged in his body near the base of the spine. He managed to drag himself nearly
to camp when he was found. Then came a two hundred mile ride in a truck over
terrible roads to a hospital. Only Mac’s splendid physique saved him.
Tennis was his favorite game and he played a strong game well up into his
sixties. Until a year of so before his death few days passed without his taking a
long walk, and his pace was worthy of a younger man. In all his studies and
they were many he showed remarkable persistence, following the subject
through to a logical conclusion. Regardless of difficulties. Perhaps this is best
shown in his last work, a history of the West Point class of 1887. At its fiftieth
reunion he suggested that such a work should be undertaken and quite
naturally, found himself elected a committee of one to write it. He started with
the idea that it should comprise a biography of every man who had ever been a
member. From the Adjutant General he got the names and home addresses given
in 1883, and by letters to the home towns eventually got a biography of ever
man. The last just the day before the book went to press! Mac had had no office,
no clerk at call, those hundreds of letters and the text were typed by him. The
book is an excellent biography, is probably the only one of the sort covering
every individual and represents two years of untiring labor. For a man in the
seventies it is monumental.
Mac was a member of the American Legion, the Military Order of the World
War, the Union League of Chicago, the Military order of the Carabao and vice-
president of the Associates of Graduates, the Army and Navy Club of
Washington, D.C., the Sierra Club of California.
His many friends will never forget his sweet smile, his bright blue eyes, his
kindly warmth, his unfailing loyalty. To many, as to this writer, his passing
marked the end of an epoch.
Mac was one of the kindliest of souls- if he had a fault it was his acceptance of
all people as imbued with his own virtues of generosity and good will. He was
sentimental, particularly as to the State of his birth. Shortly before his death,
listing to a band in the hospital grounds, he made his last request, which that
tune should be played at his funeral it was “My Old Kentucky Home”.
General McClure has always been one of the most loyal supporters of West
Point. His great courage, inspiration, and love of the Academy are guiding light
to all those who have been fortunate enough to know him directly or indirectly.
In his death the Military Academy and his many West Point associates have
suffered a distinct loss
Brig. General E.D. Scott
4) Dickerson McClure who was born in 1867, he died in 1869 at age two from
pneumonia and is buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery.
5) Lucien Dickerson McClure born October 31, 1870 and died at age 30 in 1900
from a ruptured appendix at the Navy hospital in Norfolk Virginia; E.K. was at
his son’s side when he died. He brought Lucien home by train where they buried
him at Lebanon Church Cemetery. Before going to Norfolk Lucien taught school
in the new Dry Ridge District Two School and in several adjoining counties.
Ezra and Nancy are buried in Crittenden Cemetery near their son Ezra Jack and
his wife.
John Allen and Eunice’s fifth child was Laura Ann McClure born May 1, 1838.
She married William S. Rankin November 16, 1859 at the age of twenty-one.
They had three children a son John Rankin and a set of twins. William was a
successful attorney in Grant County and apparently died before 1900. In July of
1901 Laura held a party for Niece Miss Hendy, She then traveled to Washington
D.C. to visit son John where he worked for the US Government. Laura at 66 in
1904 was not in very good health. Son John came to visit her August 11th. He
returns to move her to Washington to live with him November 17 1904 Laura
Ann died in Atlantic City N.J. sometime after 1907.
John Allen’s next child was Nancy Hanna McClure she was born December 4,
1839 and married Reverend John Fenton Hendy December 1865 at Emporia
Kansas. He was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in 1841
and became a naturalized American. He became an official of the Presbyterian
Church, they had three children
1) Rankin Hendy,
2) Martha Hendy who was born at Vincennes, Indian and later would marry
George S. Sweezy in Oct. 1895 at Oswego Kansas.
3) Edwin Hendy. He married Dora P. who was born in Tennessee about 1873. In
1900 they were living with John and Nancy and had one child John F. Hendy
Edwin was a veterinarian. The 1910 Mo. Census shows Edwin M Hendy owns
veterinarian supply they own their home, and have two children John F 11 and
Dora 8 they now have a servant Ida Coffelt who was 30. By the 1920 census they
are still in Jefferson City John, and Pattie Dora, and now a daughter Nancy
Hendy who is four. The official manual of the State of Missouri shows E.M.
Hendy of Jefferson City as the Missouri deputy state veterinarian from 1917 to
1928. He graduated from Ontario Veterinarian College in 1895
Nancy Hanna died May 26, 1904 at Jefferson City Mo., after a replase of a heart
ailment and a short illness. Her husband, children and Brother Dr.W.H.
McClure were at her side. Reverend Hendy does not appear in the Missouri
census after 1900 so I must assume he died between 1900 and 1910 or moved
after Nancy Hanna died.
Mary Jane Fish McClure was born November 5, 1841 to John Allen and Eunice.
She married Jacob W. Mount 4 Nov. 1862 at almost the age of twenty-one and
had two children that we know, they are
1) Eunice “Nonie” Mount
2) John Mount.
They moved to San Diego California sometime after 1868. Her husband Jacob
committed suicide on July 30 1905. He had been suffering from stomach cancer.
Here is the account from the Williamstown Courier
“A San Diego, Ca. Paper reported that Jacob [Jake] W. Mount, a former
prosperous merchant of Williamstown, Ky, committed suicide at his home July
30 1905, by shooting himself with a revolver in the abdomen [while his wife
Mary was at church] He had come to California for his health and was suffering
from an attack of indigestion; He left a note and he had gone through his
papers, drawing checks payable to his wife”.
Mary Jane’s brother Dr. William H. McClure of Williamstown went to California
to be with her and returned with the body to Covington Ky. Jacob was buried in
Linden Grove Cemetery. Mary Jane’s date of death or her burial place has not
been found. I assume that since her children were in California she remained
there and is buried there.
John Allen and Eunice then had Sarah Francis McClure was born July 24, 1845
she married Marshall J Hudson Jr May 11, 1865. They had five children
1. James “Jim” Hudson I,
2.
Marshall J. Hudson and both of his wives, Sarah McClure and Eva Stephens, are
buried at Highland. Young son Marshall J. Hudson, his sister and his mother
Eva are buried in a different section there. Howard and his wife also at
Highland. I believe Cynthia and husband also at Highland (memory fails me just
now). I have no information on the 2 boys named James. Marshall J. Hudson
is not buried with either wife. He is buried on the HOMER HUDSON lot at
Highland. This is his half brother.
Kentucky Post microfilm at the Kenton County Library, Covington:
1. Deputy Sheriff Dead
Kentucky Post
16 Dec 1912
Hudson, William Mclean "Wink" ( name given as McLean)
p. 7
2. Column 8, Death
Ky. Post
16 Dec 1912
Hudson, William McLean "Wink"
p . 6
3. "Wink" Hudson Death Following Two Operations, Brief Biography
Ky. Post
17 Dec 1912
Hudson, William McLean "Wink"
p. 3
4. Court Adjourns During Funeral of Wink Hudson
Ky. Post
18 Dec 1912
Hudson, William McLean "Wink"
p. 2
3. John Thomas Hudson, who married Elizabeth Crawford in 1909,
4. Cynthia M. Hudson who married Thomas Powers in 1917 and
5. James “ Jamie” Hudson
Marshall’s father Marshall James Hudson Sr. ran the other Crittenden tan-yard
found where the present day fair grounds and the Welfare House are. He sold it
to Hannah Henderson in 1853, who in-turn sold it to her daughter and her
husband Nancy Henderson and Thomas Rouse.
Dr. William Henry McClure was the next child born to John Allen and Eunice he
was born December 5, 1846. He married Annie Bryson at the age of thirty two
October 15, 1878 at Covington Kentucky. They had a daughter Mary McClure.
W.H became a distinguished doctor with an office in Dry Ridge. His home in Dry
Ridge still stands although they moved it to its present location, at 28
Broadway for a highway reconstruction project.
His wife Annie was very active in church and civic affairs and was a member of
the Williamstown Woman’s Club, in 1872 she was elected the state treasurer of
the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) She traveled with her
daughter Mary to Somerset Ky. where Carry Moore Gloyd installed her in office,
she and Carrie would become good friends over the next few years.
Carrie was born in 1846 in Garrard County Kentucky, her father George was a
planter and livestock dealer, her mother Mary, who was mentally Ill, was often
under the delusion that she was, Queen Victoria. Between 1851 and 1865 the
family lived in Boyle and Woodford Counties in Kentucky, Grayson County
Texas; and Belton Missouri. Ill health during her childhood curtailed Carry’s
formal education.
Carrie Moore married Dr. Charles Gloyd, a Missouri physician in 1867. She left
Gloyd, an alcoholic, several months later and returned to her parent’s home.
Now back in Kentucky, she gave birth to a daughter, Carline. Carrie taught
school having earned a teaching certificate from the Normal Institute in
Warrensburg, Missouri; she also became very involved in WCTU activities.
In 1877 she married David Nation, lawyer, journalist, and minister. In the early
1890’s the Nations moved to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where he practiced law
and she campaigned with a religious fervor against drinking. After her second
marriage ended in divorce, Carrie Nation developed a branch of the WCTU to rid
Kansas of saloons. Kansas had outlawed alcohol, but many establishments sold
liquor there.
In June 1900 Nation used bricks to wreck a saloon in Kiowa, Kansas, and a
hatchet later became her weapon in traveling throughout the United States to
destroy drinking places. Nations lectured extensively in the United States and
abroad. She was concerned with equal rights for women, the plight of the
homeless, sex education, and the evils of tobacco.
In July of 1904 an irate bar owner in Elizabethtown Kentucky attacked her,
after a temperance lecture she had delivered. The police who saw the incident
failed to arrest the assailant. Nation last wrecked a bar, Mrs. Malloy’s Dance
Hall and Cafe, in Butte, Montana, on January 26, 1910. She retired to a farm in
Boone County Arkansas, and died in Leaven worth, Kansas on June 9 1911, at
the age of 65, they buried her in a family cemetery in Belton, Missouri.
Annie her daughter Mary and a twin sister Hattie Andrews and another sister
Angelina Andrews who both lived in Covington Ky., often traveled great
distances to hear Carrie speak. Carrie was a frequent visitor to the McClure
household often staying a couple of weeks to rest. Speculation was that her
childhood afflictions were still with her as an adult and Doctor McClure was
treating them.
During 1896 the Grant County Court appointed W. H. guardian of the children
of Mrs. Bell T. Clark, widow. W. H. filed several suits and in October of 1897
received a check, from an insurance company, for six thousand dollars. He
presented it to the widow and her children. In January of 1898 they again made
him a guardian this time of Ida and William C. Jackson
In October 1898 cards went out announcing the upcoming wedding of W. H and
Annie’s only child Mary Mount to Charles Edward O’Hara which would take
place at the Williamstown Methodist Church November 3rd at noon. The
wedding must have been an extravaganza with the Rev. Simpson performing the
service. Bride’s maids included Miss Cynthia Hudson a cousin, Miss Mary B.
Bryson, maid of honor, and a large group of guests for breakfast.
They printed this Biography in the Williamstown Courier a couple years after
Charles and Mary were married.
A young Lawyer with much promise for the future is Charles E. O’Hara. There
is no better-equipped young man in Grant County for the practice of law and its
kindred pursuits than Charles. He is the son of D.R. R.H. O’Hara and Mrs.
Mattie (Johnson) O’Hara and was born in Williamstown on the 20th day of
January 1870. The young attorney to be attended the common and High
Schools at Williamstown and spent a short time in college at Old Centre in
Danville. He studied law in the office of his uncle Judge James O’Hara and was
admitted to the bar some four years ago. Mr. O’Hara is of a literary turn of
mind, and is one of the best-posted literary connoisseurs in the county. In law,
in history and fiction, he has read the best written by the ablest authors in all
countries.
Two years ago he was united in marriage to Miss Mary McClure, the
accomplished and beautiful daughter of Dr. W.H. McClure the young folks
make their home with Mr. O’Hara’s father. ‘Ed’ as they often call him, besides
the practice of his profession, helps his father in his many business enterprises,
and is deputy master Commissioner. Mr. O’Hara is no doubt the handsomest
lawyer practicing the profession in Northern Kentucky, but personally cares
little for beauty or dress. He can advocate and has much of the Irish fire and
eloquence that has made other members of his family famous.
Not much more is known about Edward except he was a skilled attorney and
Williamstown School Superintendent and Mary was a highly skilled teacher.
They lived in Dry Ridge then Williamstown. I have not found records of any
children. Edward died August 18 1924 and is buried in Williamstown Cemetery
Grant County Kentucky. Mary died in Kenton County Kentucky April 23, 1936
she is not buried with Edward.
In September of 1900 W. H’s sister Mrs. J.W. Mount (Mary Jane Fish McClure)
who had been living in San Diego for seven years came to visit him for a few
weeks.
October of 1902 W.H. and his wife went to the bedside of his sister. Mrs. Frank
Hendy (nee: Eunice Alice McClure) in Cynthiana in Harrison Co. Ky, who had
pneumonia.
He was at the bedside of a sister Mrs. J.F. Hendy (Nancy Hannah) in Jefferson
County Mo. In May of 1904 after she suffered a relapse from complications of a
heart ailment. May 26, 1904 he was at her bedside when she died.
In August of 1905 he was on the road again this time to aid his grieving sister
Mary Jane Mount in San Diego California where her husband J.W. had just
committed suicide after a long bought with cancer. They brought his remains
home to Kentucky and buried him in his family’s plot in Covington.William
Henry died at his home in his sleep at eighty-one years of age in Williamstown
Kentucky on January 30th 1927 they published The Following obituary in the
Williamstown Courier
“D.R. William Henry McClure Dead at eighty-one years old, He was a practicing
physician in Grant County for more than forty years, formerly practicing in Dry
Ridge. He moved to Williamstown twenty five years ago, during the past
quarter of a century he devoted his time to selling insurance, he probably wrote
more policies than another in this part of the county. The past several years
failing health has prevented him from any business activities. We have all lost a
good friend and a great doctor. Internment in Independence Cemetery”
Independence Cemetery records show him being buried there but the grave he is
suppose to be in is someone else’s Their records were not well kept, but do show
him buried next to Hattie Andrews his sister-in law. Annie W.H.’s wife was alive
when he died she gave the information for the death certificate. I have not been
able to locate anything about her death or burial records, Daughter Mary O’
Hara is not buried in Williamstown or Independence Cemeteries I know she died
in Kenton County but cannot find a burial place.
Eunice Alice McClure was the tenth child of John Allen and Eunice she was born
September 4, 1848. She married Francis (Frank) Thomas Hendy Sr. September
17, 1872 at her parent’s home in Mt Zion, Kentucky John T McClure and J.W.
Mounts witnessed the wedding.
She and Francis had ten children
1) Eunice Hendy,
2) Francis Hendy Jr,
3) Fenton Hendy,
4) Laura Hendy,
5) Martha Eleanor Hendy,
6) Mary Hendy,
7) Hayden Hendy, and
8) John Allen Hendy.
9) Margaret S. Hendy
10)John Allen McClure Hendy
Their daughter, Mary Hendy married Charles M Carpenter in September of
1902. Here are the contents of an article that appeared in the Williamstown
newspaper.
“No Social event of the season has, in any degree surpassed the wedding of
Charles M. Carpenter to Miss Mary Hendy last Tuesday at the Cynthiana
Presbyterian church by Rev. Dr. McElroy. The bride is a niece of Mrs. Laura
Rankin, Crittenden and Dr. and Mrs. W.H. McClure of Williamstown, where she
spent many summers in Crittenden and Dry Ridge. The engagement was a
surprise to the entire family. The bride’s maids were a favorite cousin, Miss
Dolin of New Orleans, and Miss Martha Hendy another and younger sister. The
best man was Dr. Marshall Mc Dowell, and the ushers were Messrs. Frisby and
Hayden Hendy.
The couple will make their home in Pittsburgh Pa. Where Mr. Carpenter works
for the great Carnegie Steel Works, he is a Harvard graduate and a native of
New York. He is a gentleman of genuine culture and fine intellect. The bride is
the eldest daughter of Captain Frank T. Hendy, prominent Harrison County
citizen. The bride is cultivated, beautiful, well-traveled. They have educated her
at the best colleges, has charming manners and is unusually accomplished and
enjoys instant popularity wherever she is known.”
Eunice died in Harrison County Ky. May 16, 1919 at the age of 70, Francis T
died in Harrison County Mar 25, 1915 at the age of 73 John Allen died April
14, 1965 at the age of 78, and Hayden died in Harrison County at the age of 36.
More Information about the Francis Hendy Family
By Mary Bishop”
Sergeant Francis T. Hendy served in the 113th Ohio Infantry, Volunteers, Under
Lt. Haynes, he enlisted 11 October 1862 in Cincinnati, to serve three years, he
was 20 years old. He was wounded severely on September 1st 1864, at the
Battle of Jonesboro Georgia. He became incapable of performing his duties as a
soldier due to having his left arm amputated slightly below his elbow. He had
had two previous wounds of the legs one at the Battle Of Kennesaw, GA. Peach
Tree Creek, and at the Siege of Knoxville, Rocky Face Ridge, he was discharged
with a 3/4 disability 17th February 1865 at a hospital in Cincinnati, [This
information supplied his military record.]
Francis Thomas Hendy was the son of Francis Thomas Hendy, Sr. and his wife
Martha Molyneux. he was born on 20 March 1842 in Bottinglas, Ireland. He
married on 17 September 1872, to Eunice Alice McClure in Grant County.
Eunice was the daughter of John Allen McClure and Eunice Keeler Fish,
Daughter of William Merris Fish and Mary Keeler. He died about March 1915,
[death date not known but was buried on March 30th, 1915] and was buried at
the Battle Grove Cemetery, Harrison County.
Before his marriage to Eunice he was Tax accessor for the City of Covington
Kentucky. He was granted the job for his service and the disability of loosing his
arm. Before entering service he was a Jewelry maker in Covington. Eunice Alice
McClure b 4 Sept. 1848, and died 20 May 1919
Mary Hendy married a Dr, Carpenter and had two children
I. Alice Carpenter married Robert Dillon, in Albuquerque, N. Mexico. Their
Children
1) Pat Dillon N. Mexico
2) Jack Dillon died in his 20’s
3) Jean Dillon California
4) Hayden Dillon
2. Dr. Alvin Carpenter Lived in New, York
Eunice McClure Hendy, b. 1863, Harrison County Kentucky, on 14 January
1897 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Palace Hotel she married the son of Dr. John
Jackson Adair, and Sallie Ewalt of Bourbon County, Kentucky, Charles Tarr
Adair, who was born in 1861 in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Eunice and Charles
had ten children before Charles died on January 7, 1938 from a fall down the
stairs in Fayette County, KY He is buried in the Hill Crest Cemetery Lexington,
Kentucky. Eunice Alice died 8 August 1956, Fayette County, Kentucky, she is
buried Hill Crest Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky.
Children of Eunice and Charles Tarr Adair
1) Mabel Adair, b. 30 October 1897, d. 9 September 1933 in a automobile
accident, and was never married. She is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery
Lexington Kentucky.
2) William Bryan Adair. b. 25 May 1899, d. 24 August 1982, Michigan, Buried
in Mich. Married 1st: Lula Sallee, b. 17 July 1911, d. 24 August 1987,
(Divorced25 April 1942) Cincinnati ,Ohio Second marriage Pearl Adkins
3) Margaret Miller Adair, b. 25 January 1901 married Peter Edward
Wolfinbarger 1 May 1924 in Richmond Kentucky. She died 23 September 1989,
in Georgia She is buried Hillcrest Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky. Peter is
buried in Irvine, Kentucky. Their Children are :
1. Edford Adair Wolfinbarger, b. 25 October 1924,Ivine,Kentucky married
Katma Joy McIntosh, b. 2 November 1927 in Irving Kentucky
2. Herman Ricky Wolfinbarger, b. 19 December 1929, Fayette County,
Kentucky Married Sue
3. Margaret McClure Wolfinbarger Married Robert Married 2nd—
Mason
4. John Jacob Adair, b. 28 January 1902, Harrison Co, d. 3 September 1982,
Michigan Never Married
5. Charles Turner Adair b. 2 October 1903, d. Michigan married: Gladys no
children
6. Jessie Endicott Adair, b. 23 April 1905, d. 26 May 1971, Toledo , Ohio,
Buried there Married : 13 April 1958 Katherine Hayward d.30 November
1992, Toledo , Ohio
4) Richard M. Adair, b. 7 June 1906, d. January 1978 Oakland , Michigan
Married 1st Dorothy, — Married 2nd Gladys b. - 19, 1903, d. June 1978
Oakland Mich.
5) Anna Belle Adair, b. 25 January 1908, d. Feb.1998, Buried in Hillcrest
Cemetery Lexington Kentucky. Married Francis Furtaw, b, 15 June 1931,
Algonac, Michigan. Married 2nd Eddie Benson
6) Mary Eunice Adair, b. 8 March 1910, Harrison Co, d, 3 May 1995, Florida,
Married Ray Perry d.1982, New York, N. Y.
7) Alice Francis Adair, b. 11 August 1911, Harrison Co, KY d. June 9 2001,
Fayette County., Kentucky Married 1st in18 September 1930 Scott County
Kentucky Walter Thomas Perkins b. 25 August 1909 , , d. 11 April 1962 Scott
County Kentucky. Both are buried in the Georgetown Cemetery. Married 2nd
Harold Covington Married 3rd: 25 May 1974, Bedford, Kentucky Wilmer
James Wright, b. 17 August 1918, d. 9 January 1997, Buried in the
Georgetown Cemetery Walter was the son of William Foster Perkins and Edna
Earle Rankin
Francis William Hendy, JR. 25 January 1875, d. Buried in the Sunrise
Cemetery he married Carrie Humphrey McCandless daughter of Enoch
Humphrey, of Harrison County, her first husband was John McCandless of
Harrison Co
Fenton Hendy, b. 21 March 1876, d. 9 September 1962 Covington, KY Married
Dora Nickels
.1 Thomas Hendy Married Virginia Smith 2nd Lillian Dance
.2 Janice Hendy
.3 Laura Hendy, b. 12 June 1879, d. 5 July 1957 Glendale, California
Never married:
Hayden H Hendy b 14 August 1884, D. 14 November 1920, Married: July 1913
Alice Howe, b July 1889, d. June 1957 Their Children were
1 Hayden Hendy Jr.
2 Alice Hendy
3 Mattie Laura Hendy
4 Allen Hendy
Martha Eleanor Hendy, b. 12 November 1880., d. July 19 Married: William
Hunter.
John Allen McClure Hendy, b. Sept. 7 Married: Julia Jameson
Margaret S. Hendy, b. 14 January 1883 died early
1870 Kenton County Census
Francis Hendy 88 No Occupation Born Ireland
Martha 61 Keeps House Born Ireland
Francis Hendy 28 U.S. Assistant Assessor
Next Household
Mary H. Ward 35 Merchant Ireland
1860 Kenton County Census
Francis Hendy 75 Ireland
Martha Hendy 50 Ireland
John Hendy 22 Ireland
Francis Hendy 18 Ireland
William Hendy 13 Ireland
Next House Hold
Ellen Hayden, 28 Ireland
Mary Ward 22 Ireland
Eliza Ward 5 Ohio
Martha Hayden 5 Texas
OBITS
William Hayden, 73 a pioneer resident of Covington died Tuesday at his home,
1520 Wheeler Street, Buried at Spring Grove cemetery, Cincinnati ,Ohio
Paper dated Kentucky Post 1900
William was the husband of Ellen Hendy (Sister to Francis Hendy, JR.)
Ellen Hendy Hayden a life long resident of Covington died at her home at 1520
Wheeler St age 74, Buried at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cin (wife of William
Hayden age 74)
Newport news
1-17-1874 FRANCIS Hendy, an old Irish citizen died yesterday at the residence
of his son-in-law William Hayden, aged 96 years.
John and Eunice’s last child was Margaret Thompson “Maggie” McClure she
was born November 4, 1850. She married W.S. Rankin an influential attorney
who died before 1870. She then married Jacob Theophilus Simon September 17,
1872 at her mother’s home in Mt. Zion. Below is a published biography of Simon
published in the Williamstown Courier Newspaper.
Jacob Theophilus Simon, Lawyer, was born September 9, 1846 in Grant County,
KY His father, Francis Simon, is a native of Normandy, in the north of France;
has through life followed agricultural pursuits; emigrated to the Island of
Martinique, in the Lesser Antilles, about the year 1823, where he resided until
1834, when he came to the United States and settled in Grant County, Ky. He is
now a thrifty farmer of that county.
Eliza Musselman Simon, the mother of the subject of this brief sketch, is a native
of Grant County and daughter of Jacob Musselman, one of the pioneers of that
county and a soldier of the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch spent his
boyhood on the farm, and was mainly educated in the private schools of the
country. His nineteenth year he spent in Commercial College at Covington, and,
in 1866, began reading law at Owenton, under the supervision of Hon. H. P.
Montgomery. In 1868, he was admitted to the bar and at once began the
practice of his profession at Williamstown. In the following year he located at
Falmouth, Pendleton County, where he has since resided, actively engaged in a
large, growing and reputable practice.
In 1874, he was elected County Attorney; In 1875 he was elected City Attorney,
and reelected in 1876. In politics, he is a Democrat. Religiously, he is
associated with the Methodist Church. He is a man of fine personal habits, of
exceptional business and professional ability; is greatly devoted to his
profession, in which he is remarkably successful; and, altogether, is one of the
most able and worthy self-made men in his section of the State. Mr. Simon was
married, September 17, 1872, to the beautiful and accomplished Miss Maggie T.
McClure, a lady of great intellectual and moral worth, a sister of John T
McClure, Ex-Sheriff of Grant County, and the widow of the late Hon. W. S.
Rankin, one of the most distinguished lawyers of Northern Kentucky, and
daughter of John A. McClure, one of the oldest, most worthy, and successful
farmers of Grant County.
Biographical Encyclopedia of Kentucky, J. M. Armstrong & Co., 1878,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Reverend Thomas Henderson and Hannah McClure Family
Nathaniel and Jane’s family grew rapidly, with the addition of Hannah
McClure, born June10, 1799 in Boone County. She would marry the most
Reverend Thomas Henderson when she was twenty-eight on January 16, 1827.
This was Thomas’s second marriage. His first wife Nancy M Terrill died 10
August 1826 leaving him with seven children. The youngest of them
1) Lucy Jane Henderson was seven.
2) Charles Henderson,
3) Robert Henderson,
4) John Henderson,
5) Margaret Henderson,
6) Nimrod Mason Henderson
7) Lucy Henderson.
The earliest records of him in the northern Kentucky area were when he
obtained a license to perform marriages in Kentucky at the Boone County
courthouse in Burlington Kentucky in 1808. According to Emma Rouse Lloyd
in Clasping Hands with Generations Past, He moved to Great Crossings in Scott
County near Georgetown Kentucky. On the 20th of February 1822 Thomas
Henderson of Scott County bought 341 acres of land, being in the county of
Grant on both sides of the Lexington Pike (US25) including the house and farm
on which James Theobald lived for two thousand dollars cash. Thomas and
Hannah would spend the first years of their marriage living on the grounds of
the Chahta Academy near Georgetown where he was superintendent and
teacher. Here their children with the exception of Hannah were born.
Thomas must have moved Hannah and the children to the farm in Grant County
around 1835. He remained at the Academy until 1841, when he came home to
Hannah and the children in Grant County. The Henderson’s lived in a
community called the Wells near the tollhouse just south of Crittenden on what
is now U.S. 25. Thomas’s purchase in 1822 included a large, six room log
tavern, which Joseph Meyers had constructed in 1815. The tavern survived the
Wells by a Century. This Grant County Landmark stood nearly two centuries
and met its doom in 1989. The tavern was extremely large for it’s time, and
included three rooms on the first floor and three rooms on the second floor. All
the rooms were approximately twenty square feet. The center room on the first
floor was a large reception room, where visitors could hang their luggage,
saddles and personal items on wooden pegs.
The south room of the tavern was where they served liquor. Stone fireplaces
heated this large room and contained a writing desk for customer convenience,
tables and chairs, and a bar along the west wall. They sold whiskey, brandy,
peach brandy and hard cider from four and a half cent to eighteen cents a drink.
The north room was the tavern dining room. A door led from the dining room,
to the two brick kitchens out back. Over the years many things of historical
importance took place in the tavern.
[I suggest that the reader obtain a copy of John Conrad’s book The History of
Grant County where they cover the tavern and surrounding Wells area
extensively on pages 210-214. The books are available from the Grant County
Historical Society.]
When Thomas purchased the tavern he had Colonel Littleton Robinson run the
tavern until 1832 when he was discharged and sued by Reverend Henderson for
failure to relinquish two hundred dollars in proceeds from the sale of a slave
belonging to Henderson. Henderson’s brother James became the third
proprietor until a dispute in 1841 led to James’ operating a tollgate house on
the Lexington Pike eleven miles south of Crittenden.
Reverend Henderson and his family personified a degree of culture, refinement
and education rarely found on the frontier. Ordained a Baptist minister in
Virginia, he had been appointed the superintendent of the Choctaw Indian
Academy situated on the farm of Colonel Richard Johnson at Great Crossings
near Georgetown Ky. The Academy was the only school under the auspices of
the U.S. War Department excepting West Point.
When he purchased the Kye’s land in 1838, he got a residence and the tollhouse.
The Henderson’s moved into the house in 1838. The same year he purchased an
English Piano in Philadelphia and brought it over the mountains in a wagon.
This was the first piano in Grant County and one of the first in Kentucky.
Besides teaching, Reverend Henderson also operated the tavern and his farm.
Against the advice of his physician, he organized and pastored the Center Ridge
Baptist Church of Christ, which met at the Key’s house on alternate Sundays.
Reverend Henderson invited the newly organized Crittenden Presbyterian
Church to worship there the remaining Sundays. The Organization of this
church led to members leaving Lebanon Presbyterian Church. They were mostly
Henderson’s wife Hannah’s sisters Jane Barker, Nancy Barker, Elizabeth
Gibson, Hannah Henderson, Moses McClure, Jane McClure, Mrs. Jane McClure,
William McClure, Eunice McClure, and Rebecca Stephenson.
Reverend Henderson decided to consolidate his operations by moving the Keys
house to the back of the tavern. This wasn’t easy. The house was a five-room
two-story structure with a two-story porch. They skidded it to it’s new location
behind the tavern using large teams of oxen and draft horses. For years there
was not a door from the tavern to the house, so he could separate that from his
family life.
Tavern owner and operator, farmer, schoolmaster, Baptist Minister all these
took a toll on his health. He died quietly at his home on April 26, 1846 at the
age of sixty-five. Without his leadership, they disbanded the school and the
Baptist Church.
During the Civil War the Union Eighteenth Michigan Regiment camped across
from the tavern. When they broke camp, they destroyed all unused provisions,
threw the kitchen windless in the well and destroyed all the crops, and did
many other things to annoy the family.
After the war Hannah McClure Henderson called all the servants into the back
yard. Standing on the porch, she told them “ they were free to go that they were
their own masters.” Hannah ran the operations of the farm and tavern with the
help of her oldest son, Thomas Porter until it closed sometime in the eighteen
seventy’s It then became the family residence.
Thomas and Hannah’s Children
1) Thomas and Hannah had an additional six children beside the six from his
first marriage,
2) Thomas Porter Henderson b. 1827, and
3) Elizabeth Jane Henderson b. 1829.
4) Nathaniel H. Henderson b 1830,
5) Rebecca Louise Henderson b. April 1832.
6) Nancy Ann Henderson b. 1834 who would in 1871 marriey Thomas Rouse in
1856.
7) Hannah Henderson b. 1838.\
Hannah and her children owned the property that listed four hundred acres of
land and the tavern on the 1847 tax list, until her death in 1881 when they
divided it among her heirs, which included her daughter, Nancy Henderson
Rouse. She was the grandmother of Emma Rouse who became the wife of John
Uri Lloyd. 1880. Emma Rouse Lloyd would write the book, Clasping Hands
with Generation Past which is one of the books, I used in researching the
McClure’s.
John Uri Lloyd who would become Emma Reuse’s husband had an
adventuresome life and I would be remiss if I left it out. The text is from
various sources but mainly from The Kentucky Encyclopedia which was edited
by John E. Kleber.
“John Uri Lloyd was born on April 19, 1849 in West Bloomfield Township, New
York, he was the oldest of Nelson Lloyd and Sophia Lloyd. His mother was a
descendant of Connecticut Gov. John Webster. John’s parents moved to
Petersburg in Boone County Kentucky, where his father was a surveyor and
both parents were schoolteachers. Lloyd was educated at local private schools in
Petersburg, Burlington and Florence. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed
in Cincinnati Ohio to William J.M. Gordon a pharmacist, and at sixteen George
Eger employed him. This would be the beginning of his lifelong career as a
scientist and pharmacist.
In 1871 he became the manager of the laboratory of H.M. Merrell and Company,
which he and his brother’s Curtis and Nelson took over in 1885 as Lloyd
Brothers Pharmacists, Inc.
John and brother Curtis donated to the city of Cincinnati the Lloyd Scientific
Library containing 35,000 volumes on chemistry, pharmacy, and medicine.
Lloyd promoted eclectic medicine and he has been called the father of colloidal
chemistry. In collaboration with his brother, he was the author of eight
scientific books, including Chemistry of medicine and Drugs and Medicines of
North America.
John Uri was also a well-known author novelist. His most famous novel is
perhaps Stringtown on the pike, which is about Florence Kentucky. He wrote a
total of eight novels. In 1876 Lloyd married Adelaide Meader, who died ten days
later; he then became withdrawn and immersed himself in work. In 1878 he
met Emma Rouse at an event in her hometown of Crittenden in Grant County
Kentucky and a romance blossomed. They were married in 1880 and lived in
and around Norwood Ohio for some time. They would have three children
1) Annie,
2) John Thomas, and
3) Dorothy Lloyd.
John Uri died in Van Nuys Calif. On April 9, 1936; his ashes were buried in
Hopeful Road Cemetery in Florence Ky.”
Emma would eventually gain control over the four hundred acre Henderson
farm and the land where the roadhouse stood and gave it to her brother in-law
Curtis. It is now part of the 324-acre Lloyd Library Botanical Park in
Crittenden. (Excerpts from the history of Grant County by John Conrad.)
Hannah Henderson died November 12,1881 at the age of eighty-two, and was
laid to rest next to Thomas. He had died thirty-five years earlier in 1846. Son
Nathaniel had died in 1851 just five years after his father. They would bury Son
Thomas Porter next to his mother in 1902. Nancy Anne [Mrs. Thomas Rouse]
would be buried there after she died suddenly in Philadelphia of a “Burst artery
in the brain” September 30th 1908.
They rest within the view of the site of the old tavern, in Henderson Rouse
Cemetery, a quiet, well kept, tree lined private family cemetery, about three
quarters of a mile south of Crittenden Kentucky.
Will Of Thomas Henderson -Page 17 c
In the name of God Amen. I, Thomas Henderson of the County of Grant and
State of Kentucky being in perfect good health and of a sound and disposing
mind, but knowing the uncertainty of all things, I do make this my last will and
testament,:
First, it is my wish that at my decease that all my just debts shall be paid to
effect which, if there should be as much owing to me as will satisfy all just
demands against me, then and in that case I wish such of my property sold as
can best be spared on a credit of twelve months for the purpose of raising money
to pay all just claims against me, unless other means can be devised to make
payment.
Second, I then give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Hannah Henderson, all my
estate, personal, perishable and real, consisting of all my lands, Negroes” stock”
household and kitchen furniture” together with all monies due me, either b)!
bond, note” open or book account as well as every article of every description of
property that 1 may own ..It my death for her use and benefit during her
natural life that she may be able to raise and educate our little children,” except
what shall hereafter be mentioned.
Thirdly” it is my wish that ;It the death of my wife aforesaid that all the estate
aforesaid shall be sold after sufficiently advertising the same on a credit of
twelve months, except the land which may be sold at six” twelve and eighteen
months credit securing all the payments by good security and the money when
collected to be equally divided among all my children that may at that time be
living” giving to the children of my daughter, Margaret Johnson” deceased” the
share of one child. But, in the event of the death of my wife” Hannah Henderson”
before my youngest child shall become of age, then and in that case it is my will
that the land shall be rented, the Negroes hired out on the best terms and all the
balance of my property sold on a credit of twelve months and the money, when
collected” put safely at interest until the youngest child shall become of age or
marries and then be equally divided as aforesaid,
Fourthly, I give or return to my son, Robert. T. Henderson, my gold watch with
the special injunction that when he ceases to live it, he shall give it to some one
of the family with the same injunction, never to let it go out of the family.
Fifthly, having the most implicit confidence in my wife, Hannah Henderson, I
herewith appoint her my sole executive and guardian of my children and the
court is hereby instructed to permit her to administer without requiring her to
give security.
Sixthly, it is my sincere wish that no one will attempt to interrupt my keeping
dust by trying to change the above regulations and disposition of my scanty and
hard earned effects. Signed with my own hand and sealed with my own seal this
second day of March in the year of our Lord” eighteen hundred and forty. Thos.
Henderson.
Commonwealth of Kentucky Grant County Court May Term 1846.
I, Wm. Smith, clerk of the county court for said county certify’ that this last will
and testament of Thomas Henderson, deceased, was produced to court at the
above term, proven by the oaths of Samuel Edgar, and recorded which is
accordingly done. given under my hand this 2nd day of June 1846. Wm. Smith”
Clerk, by, James H. Parker” Deputy Clerk,
Archibald McKee and Lilly McClure Family
Nathaniel and Jane’s next child would be Lilly McClure b 1801.She married
Archibald McKee in 1820. Lilly and Archibald moved to Greensburg, Indiana
around 1825. They owned a farm and. Archibald was half owner of a hardware
store in Greensburg. Lilly and Archibald had seven children.
1) John David McKee was born November 12, 1821 in Harrison County
Ky. He married Elizabeth Andreson February 1,1844 in Decatur County
Indiana. Elizabeth gave birth to William Porter McKee in November of 1844.
Elizabeth became ill and died about 1846. John David married Susan Gagley
February 13 1849 also in Decatur County. Susan was a widow and had one
child, a daughter. She and David had eleven children between 1850 and 1870.
When Archibald died David was names executor of his fathers estate. In 1854
he asked the court to relive him of this duty so he could move to Imogene in
Fremont county Iowa.
Robert Gibson and Elizabeth Betsy McClure Family
Nathaniel and Jane then had Elizabeth “Betsy” McClure b. July 9, 1803, she
married Robert Gibson February 16, 1828 in Grant County. They lived on a
farm with 96 acres in the small community of Sherman, which was on Grassy
Creek. Robert who was a farmer also was half owner of a tan yard found just
north of Sherman in the community called The Wells.
Robert and Elizabeth would raise seven children,
1) Martha Gibson, b: 19 Jul 1832 who would marry John Wood who was a
physician after they were married they lived in Williamstown long enough to
have daughter Mary Wood They then moved to Boone County near Verona for a
while and had four more children, Robert Wood, Alice Wood, Louis Wood, and
Elizabeth Wood. Later they moved to Covington. John died 21 Apr 1867 Martha
would live until 17 Dec 1889. Both are buried in Linden Grove Cemetery
Covington Ky.
2) Mary Hannah Gibson b.1830 would marry Benjamin Northcutt in 1846.. She
had two daughters Bettie Jane Northcutt in 1848 who married James Henry
Callahan in 1868 They lived in Boone county long enough to have Elizabeth
Callahan then moved back to Sherman in Grant County where they had twins
3) Addie Callahan and Eddie Callahan in Sept of 1868.
Addie would marry Robert Lee Edmondson in 1888 and have four children
they lived in Louisville Ky. Bettie Jane and James would then have Mary
Callahan in July of 1871 she would marry James Levi and have two children
Mary Hannah and Benjamin’s next child was
4) Nancy Northcutt who was born and died in 1850 Mary Hannah died in
Kenton County Kentucky in 1855 at the age of 25 years six months, seven days,
She is buried next to daughter Nancy in the Northcutt family Cemetery near
Walton Ky in Kenton County Ky. Benjamin remarried and had four more
children. He died at age 89 December 12 1904. This appeared in the
Williamstown Courier. “B.J. Northcutt in his 89th year. And one of the most
universally respected men who ever resided among us, died Monday Dec 12,
1904 in Williamstown. He was familiar in business circles many years. He was
active, upright, and honorable. Benjamin was at his son Hade’s home when he
died. His surviving children are: Hayden of Williamstown, Homer J. and James
of Covington, Mrs J.W. Bennett of Dry Ridge and Mrs Bettie Callahan of Verona.
He was buried at the old family burying ground near Bracht Station Tuesday.”
5) Thomas H Gibson b 1831. Married Margaret Norton and had six Children .
The 1860 census of Grant county shows Thomas 28Margaret 19 Mary A 1
Nathaniel Barker 21 farm laborer He was the Son of Jane Porter McClure and
Orville Barker. Thomas died in 1866 at the age of 34
6) Rebecca Ann Gibson was born next she died in 1836 age two y. 8 m. 23 d.
7) William P. Gibson b. abt. 1838 and married Harriet Hoperton they had two
children. Nancy E. Gibson b. abt. 1844. Who married John Wilson they had one
child that we know of Nancy Elizabeth their whereabouts’ and deaths remain a
mystery. They lived near Independence in Kenton County for a while.
8) Adline Gibson b.1834 married Louis Asbury. They moved to Missouri. We do
know that she died 8 Nov.1858 at the age of 22-yr.10 m. just seven months after
the birth of her only child Elizabeth H. Asbury who would die the next month on
22 Dec 1858. Both are buried in Lebanon Cemetery. Records of Louis have not
been found it is assumed that he returned to the farm they bought in Knox
County Missouri but searches of the census do not find him.
Following Robert Gibson’s death in 1854, Elizabeth relinquished her
administration of his estate in May of 1854 to R.A. Dickerson a prominent
attorney. On May 16, 1854 Dickerson turned in an inventory of the estate to the
court. December 1854 Adline, and William P. Gibson being over the age of
fourteen, chose Elizabeth as their guardian.
In July of 1855 the court ordered a division of Robert’s estate, to Elizabeth his
widow, John and Martha Wood, Benjamin and Mary H. Northcut, Thomas H
Gibson, Adline D. Gibson, William P Gibson, and Nancy E. Gibson. On March
3, 1857 more than three years after Roberts’s death they settled the estate. The
record shows that Adline D is now an Asberry.
Robert, Elizabeth, Rebecca Ann, William P. and Adline and her daughter
Elizabeth E. are buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery.
The William Porter McClure and Elizabeth Wilson Family
William Porter McClure Jr. was Nathaniel and Jane’s fourth Child. William was
born November 11, 1806 in Boone County Kentucky. He married Elizabeth
Wilson at the age of seventeen in 1827. Their first child was Melvina born in
1828 in Grant County she would marry Reuben Stevenson and they would have
one child William Stephenson. Melvina would remarry after Rubens death in
later years to William Irwin and move to Oregon before her death in 1881.She
wrote notes about life on the Oregon Trail. I have not been able to find copies of
them. William sent Melvina home to be buried with family in Lebanon Cemetery.
The next child of William and Elizabeth was Lilly McKee McClure (not to be
confused with Lilly McKee Nathaniel’s Daughter) Lilly was born October 4,
1829 also in Grant County. She married Andrew Jackson Kendall at the age of
seventeen with William Porter’s consent. She and Andrew moved to Covington
early in their marriage. Lilly McClure Kendall, Husband Andrew J. Kendall and
their daughter’s Nancy Elizabeth, Mary Hanna “Mollie” and Lillie. Son’s John
and Robert are buried in Lebanon.
1) David Barker Kendall 1847. David would marry Louise Ann Burns and they
had four children.
2) James Stern Kendall was born next in 1849, he would marry Harriet Burns
in 1871 and they would have nine children.
3) William Porter Kendall, in 1881, he married Lucinda Stevenson and they
had two children Arthur Kendall and Edward W Kendall.
4) Robert Kendall b. May 5, 1854 d. April 7, 1879
5) Nancy Elizabeth Kendall was next born 1856 and died 1933,
6) Mary Hannah “Mollie” Kendall arrived 1861 she died 1935
7) John Reese Kendall was born 1863 he married Elizabeth Horton.
8) Lilly Kendall; she was born 1870 and died one year later 1871.
Nancy Eunice McClure and James Anderson Family
William Porter’s next child would be Nancy Eunice born July 4, 1831 in Grant
County Nancy would be married twice, first to James Anderson at the age of
nineteen, he was twenty-one year’s her senior and was born about 1810.
They would have one child, Elizabeth Margaret who was born September 28,
1850 and married Robert M. Gatewood in 1869, who was born 1842. They had
twelve children,
1) Nanny Barker Gatewood 1870-1914 married C.D. Whitson and they lived in
Covington, Kentucky, and had 2 sons. Nanny and C.D are buried in Lebanon
Cemetery
2) Francis Elizabeth Gatewood 1871-1929,
3) James William Gatewood b. 1873,
4) Robert Kirtley Gatewood, 1875-1895,
5) Ruth Winfry Gatewood 1878-1894,
6) Edward Lee Gatewood 1879-1884,
7) Infant Gatewood 1881-1881,
8) Ida. D Gatewood, 1883-1884,
9) Addie B. Gatewood 1887,
10) Urial and Ceba Gatewood 1889-1889 who were twins.
11) David Monroe Gatewood b.1891
Elizabeth Margaret, and Robert their children Edward Lee and Infant along
with Ida D, Edward Lee, Addie, and Nannie are buried in Lebanon Cemetery.
It is suspected that Urial & Ceba are in Lebanon in a common grave marked
with fieldstone since they died near birth. Ida D and Edward Lee who died the
same day share a single tombstone. Descendents of Elizabeth Margaret and
Robert are still in Grant County Today
Will Of James Anderson
James Anderson -Page 359
I, James Anderson considering the uncertainty of the mortal life and being of
sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in
manner and form following, that is to say,
First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Nancy Eunice, all of my land
being in Boone Count).,Kentucky. I furthermore give and bequeath to my
daughter, Elizabeth Margaret, all of my land being in Gallatin County,
Kentucky. I furthermore give and bequeath to my beloved wife and daughter
aforesaid a certain Black boy named Fredrick, which is now in the possession of
Esther, Holbert or Hanna Anderson of Boone County,Kentucky. I furthermore
give and bequeath to my beloved wife and her- heirs all of my property of every
description after my just debts are all settled.I furthermore appoint my beloved
wife, Nancy Eunice, sole executor of this my last will and testament,
hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of “April 1851. James Anderson.
The above instrument consisting of one sheet was subscribed by James Anderson
the tester” in the Presence of each of us and was at the same time declared by
him to be his last will and testament and at his bequest sign our names
hereunto as attesting witnesses. Joseph Anderson, Thos. Thompson.
State of Kentucky Grant County Court June Term 1851.
This last will and testament of James Anderson” dec’d, was produced in open
court at the term above stated and proved by the oaths of. Joseph Anderson and
Thos. Thompson the subscribing witnesses thereto which, was ordered to be
recorded, ‘v hereupon the same is duly admitted to record in my office. Given
under my hand this Ist day of July 1851. H. Woodyard, Clerk.
The Nancy Eunice McClure Anderson and William Barker Family
Following the death of James Anderson in 1851, Eunice married William
Barker on March 15, 1855 at the age of twenty-four and they had five children.
1) David R. Barker 1856-1925, bought his father’s farm and lived there for
many years
2) Lillie Barker 1857-1862,
3) Nancy Jane Barker 1862-1880,
4) Adelaide Barker b.1863,
5) William Hasey Barker 1865-1932, Known in Grant County as W.H. was
noted as one of the best and most popular young men in the county. In 1901, he
was the Democratic nominee for Sheriff and was strongly endorsed by the
Williamstown Courier. This excerpt is a short biography run in the paper.
“W.H. Barker He is the son of W.L. and Nancy E(McClure) Barker and was born
near Mount Zion, September 24th 1865. He was raised on his father’s farm and
educated at common schools of the neighborhood, where he began his life as a
farmer. All of his life he has been a Democratic in politics, and has been through
many a hard-fought fight for his party. When Sheriff G.S. Webb was elected
Sheriff of Grant County they appointed a deputy, and for three years served him
with credit to himself and the county. September 24th 1890 he was united in
marriage to Miss Arabella Webster, daughter of Nick Webster, and to this union
has been born two children one boy and one girl. “Hase” is a member of the Red
Men’s Lodge of Dry Ridge, and is a all around good fellow. He is sure to be
elected the sheriff of the county and will, we predict make one of the best sheriff’
we have ever had in the county in history”.
W.H Barker was elected Sheriff and served several terms, He and Arabella had
another child a boy who was born in 1907 and died in 1911. Their other
children Robert Monroe and Rowena Mae gave W.H. something to do with 12
grandchildren.
W.L. Barker died Friday, July 10, 1903 at the home of his daughter in
Crittenden next are the contents of his obituary in the Williamstown Courier.
“Saying goodbye to one of the best and truest men this editor has ever known,
born in Huron County Ohio August 4, 1829 he came to Grant County in early
life and married Mrs. Nancy McClure Anderson Daughter of W.P. McClure and
settled on the farm near Mt Zion, where he lived for about forty-seven years.
About four years ago he sold the farm to son David and moved to live with his
only daughter Mrs. Addie Crutcher, wife of S.H. Crutcher, a Crittenden
merchant Mr. Barker was a widower with three children, the two mentioned
plus W.H. Barker the ever popular Grant County Sheriff, faithfully Presbyterian,
buried Williamstown Cemetery Sunday.
William Porter and Elizabeth then had Robert Gibson McClure in 1833 he died
in 1860
Elizabeth McClure was their next child she was born in 1833 and married
William Ellis in 1879 he was fifty-nine and had been married twice previously.
Elizabeth at the age of forty-six.Was her first marriage. She would become the
stepmother to William’s two surviving daughters Francis Ellis and Mary J.
Ellis. William had been a farmer all his life and the postmaster at Glencoe
Kentucky from 1856 to 1863 when he retired and undertook merchandising.
They lived on Williams’s one hundred fifty acre farm in Gallatin County near
Glencoe.
William’s father James Adam Ellis moved to Gallatin County in 1818 after
serving in the war of 1812, He was a native of Henrico County Virginia. William
was the seventh of eight children and was a third cousin of ex-president John
Adams. Elizabeth died in 1920 and they buried her in Lebanon Church next to
her sister Hannah H McClure 1841-1924, who was never married, both share
the same headstone. William has not been found but it’s suspected that he is
buried with his two sons who preceded him in death.
William Porter and Elizabeth then had James William McClure Sept. 26, 1839
James married Zerelda Vawters February 26, 1862 she was born 1847. James
William was a farmer his whole life working more than two hundred acres near
Mt Zion Ky.
Their first child was
1) William P. McClure 1863-1948. Next was
2) James T. McClure born 1864, he would marry Mary Sturgeon 19 Sept 1888
at her parent’s home in Mt Zion. James T and Mary would have ten children
3) John Newton McClure 1867
4) Cordelia McClure 15 Jan 1871-19 Mar 1871 and
5) Clarence McClure in 1878.
They buried Zerelda, William P, James T., and Clarence in Mt Zion Community
Cemetery. James William and Cordelia are buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery
William Porter and Elizabeth’s next Child was Nathaniel John b. May 13,1844.
Ione Potter was his bride they were married In Mount Zion, and moved to
Grundy County Mo. where they farmed a rather large farm. Sometime between
1880 and 1900 Nathaniel and Ione got a divorce. The 1900 Mo. census shows
Ione B McClure divorced, she had the children and they lived on a free farm.
Nathaniel J. died there in 1927. Ione died Mar 22, 1932 in Spickard, Grundy
County Mo.
Their children were
1) Ella Mae McClure b: 13 Apr. 1868 in Mercer County Mo. Ella McClure
married Lawrence Nichols and lived in Lincoln Township in Grundy. County in
1900 the census shows them living in a rented home and Lawrence is a day
laborer, Their Children are Eula Nicholes born in 1891, Robert Nicholes born in
1893 Ola Nicholes born in 1897, Ona Nicholes b.1899
2) Eva Dell McClure b: 22 Jul. 1872 in Mo.; Eva Dell McClure married George
M Stanturf. The 1910, census of Trenton Township Grundy Co., Mo., Family
180 George M Stanturf, 48 farmer, rent farm; Eva D. wife 38, Children Ralph L,
20 laborer at home; George F., 6 [sic] McClure mother-in 65
3) Frank Bird McClure b: 20 Sept 1875 in Grundy Co., Mo.
William Porter and Elizabeth had another child Reuben McClure he was born
1846 and died at the age of eight. When William Porter died in 1893 at the age
of eighty-eight, he had been an invalid for years and never recovered from the
death of Elizabeth his wife in 1871. He divided his farm at Mt Zion among his
children long before his death. Daughters Lilly Kendall and & Elizabeth Ellis
were at his side when he died. Ruben along with his father and mother, sisters
Lilly Nancy and Elizabeth, are buried in Lebanon Church Cemetery Elizabeth B.
1871, William Porter in 1893, Lilly McKee in 1913, Elizabeth 1920, and
Hannah in 1924
The Jane Porter McClure and Orville Barker Family
Nathaniel and James next child was Jane Porter she was born May 1, 1809.
Jane P. married Orville Barker Sr. They lived in Crittenden where Orville was a
merchant in dry goods. Orville died 1849, Jane Porter McClure 1875, they are
buried in Lebanon they had five children
1) Orville Barker Jr.
2) Nathaniel Barker,
3) Flora Barker,
4) Nancy Barker
5) Rebecca Barker. Married James G. Hemingway who apparently ran Orville’s
business after his death
The Rebecca McClure and John Stephenson Family
Rebecca McClure was born two years after her sister Jane Porter in 1811 she
married John Stephenson on March 28,1834 and moved to Pendleton County,
Kentucky. They had seven children
1) James Stephenson,
2) Betsy Stephenson,
3) Thomas Stephenson,
4) Nathaniel Stephenson,
5) Lilly Stephenson,
6) John Stephenson Jr
7) Jane Stephenson
Nathaniel taught school at the Crittenden Seminary, James bought the Boyer’s
gristmill on Sayers St. in Crittenden about 1864; horses on a treadmill powered
this mill.
The Nathaniel McClure Jr. And Louisa Childers Family
Nathaniel McClure Jr. was born in 1813 and married Louisa Childers in 1836.
He owned a farm in the Mount Zion community of Grant County for a while.
There is not much in record about him. They had eight children
1) Sarah Jane McClure Jan.1837- Dec.1837,
2) Luthera McClure 1838-1906 married Jacob Stark,
3) John David McClure 1842-1851,
4) Steven Porter McClure 1844-1875,
5) Samuel Lynn McClure 1848-1895, he married Laura Payne in 1869 they
had two children Clifford McClure and Louisa McClure,
6) Lousia Jane McClure 1850-1873,
7) Nathaniel Thomas McClure 1853 he married Lizzy L. McCoy and had one
child.
8) William Rice McClure was Nathaniel Jr.’s last child he was born 1856-1924
he married R. Mary Romback in 1879.
The Nancy Ann McClure and David Barker Family
Nathaniel and Jane then had Nancy Ann McClure who was born two years after
Nathaniel Jr. in 1815 She married David Barker in 1835. He was born in Mass.,
in 1806. Their children were
1) Jane Porter Barker 1836-1854 she married John T. Conner 1852,
2) Nathaniel E. Barker 1838-1839
3) Hannah Barker 1840-1840,
4) Rebecca Barker 1841-1915 She married Jerry Poor in1857 and had four
children. Rebecca and Jerry lived near Verona for a while then sold their house
to Rebecca’s mother and moved for a short time to Kenton County Kentucky,
They then started for Missouri, I couldn’t find any records that show them
living there.
Margaret McClure and Thomas Thompson Family
Margaret McClure was Nathaniel and Jane’s Last Child was born 1818-1883
and Married Thomas Thompson. 1836 they had four children
1) Elizabeth Jane Thompson 1837-1867,
2) Nathaniel McClure Thompson 1839—1913,
3) Orville Barker Thompson 1841-1920
4) David M.Thompson 1844-1849
Nathaniel’s Brother Moses and his Family
“Our search for exact information about vital dates for Moses McClure and his
wife, Eleanor McPherson, leaves much uncertainty. Records are scarce and often
accounts and remembrances handed down through the family are the only
information available.
We can be more certain of vital dates for Moses than for Eleanor, based upon his
tombstone inscription and information gathered from his will, including the
date it was written and the date it was probated. Eleanor, on the other hand,
left her imprint on few records. Her tombstone gives her year of death as 1832,
when she was 46 years old. If correct, then she died 9years before Moses’ death..
Moses, in his will, names his children: John, Charles, Moses, Amelia, Mary and
Jenny. Other records found verify that Moses, Jr., Mary, Amelia and Jenny and
their families descend from Moses.
Other writers have listed among Moses’ children, Mark, Amos and Halbert.
These children are not named in his will, nor are they buried in the family plot
at Verona or at Lebanon Church. There remains the possibility none of them
survived for long and that they are buried in unmarked graves. But the total
lack of evidence of them being his children leads me to believe, that they were
not and the listing of them as such is error
Will of Moses McClure Sr
June 3 1844
I Moses McClure (sen.) Being of sound and disposing mind, but in feeble health,
with greatful acknowledgments, to the giver of all good for the multiplier
favours confines during a long life, do make this to be, after commanding my
soul to god who gave it and my body to the dust from which it was taken, my
last will and testament.
1 I give my farm, on which I now reside to Charles and Moses McClure (my
sons) and they are to support my three daughters, Mary, Jane and Amelia in so
long as they (the girls) remain unmarried and are willing to live together on the
farm.
2 I give to my son John a deed for that parcel of land that he has been given to
him and on which he now lives.
3 I wish my executor hereafter named to sell in any way that he may think
proper, all my stock, house hold property, farming utensils and divide the
proceeds equally between all my children after my lawful and just debts are paid.
Lastly I appoint Wm Anderson my executor to carry into effect all which I have
specified above.
I hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of May 1843 Moses McClure
(seal)
Acknowledges in the presents of George Armstrong (sig) Thos Williams (sig)
Commonwealth of Kentucky Boone County to ???? Boone County Court.
June 10th 1844
This document purporting to be the last will and testament of Moses McClure
(sr.) Deceased was produced court and xxxxxxxxx the oaths of George B
Armstrong and Thomas Williams two subscribing witness=s hereto and ordered
to be recorded
T.G. Hamilton
What is known and documented Moses McClure was born in Botetourt County
VA. He was the son of John McClure Sr, and was the full brother of Nathaniel.
Nathaniel and Moses started from Boteurtart Co. about 1785 or 1786 for Ohio
but ended up in Woodford County Kentucky. Moses must have lived with
Nathaniel and Jane and their two young children while there. They decided to
move to Ohio and stopped probably to visit their sister, who moved to Boone
County Kentucky with her husband Thomas Anderson Sr. a few years earlier in
1796
Moses met Rebecca McPherson who was the daughter of Alexander McPherson
possibly on the trip from Virginia to Kentucky since there was a McPherson
family who traveled with them. They married about 1804, after Nathaniel and
Moses moved to Grant County.
Moses and Rebecca lived near her parent’s on their twenty four hundred acre
farm near Verona Boone County Kentucky. Today Interstate 71 slices through
the center of the farm. Alexander had divided the 2400 acres into seven equal
farm’s giving one parcel to each of his seven children.
Rebecca’s father Alexander McPherson was a farmer and was involved in
politics in Boone County where he was a commissioner on the Boone County
Court. Many articles and court documents list his involvement in the planning
and implementation of laws, and improvements to the county such as new roads.
The exact location of Moses home has been identified with the reference to it in
the records of the Boone County Court. February 20 1809 lists “an Order that
Rodger Wiggins, Banner Gains, a lot to John Points, Thomas Anderson, Moses
McClure, Noble Jenkins, Caleb Summers, William Daniel, Hanker son Utter
back, Presley Peak Samuel Core, Samuel Tharp, and all other surveyors of the
road south of Gun Powder the hands to assist them severally as surveyors in
keeping their roads in repair”. There was other court business and the court
was adjourned until court in course. Alexander McPherson signed the minutes
of the session.
In November 1806 on the motion of Augustine Smith ordered “Thomas
Anderson, Nathaniel McClure, Joseph Kennedy, and John Points or any three of
them being first sworn do view an alteration in the Dryridge Road beginning at
the county line near Silas Torbridges, thence to intersect the old way at the
corner of Moses McClure’s plantation and make report thereof to the court”
The February 16 1807 Session states’ A report of a view of an alteration in the
road from near Silas Torbridges to the corner of Moses McClure’s Plantation
was returned which is in the words and figures following, to wit Feb. 14th 1807
We do certify that after being sworn we have viewed an alteration in the Dry
Ridge Road. Beginning at the county line near Silas Torbridges who has
conveyed said land to John Kilgore thence through said Kilgores land and
thence through Moses McClure’s land to intersect the old way at the corner of
said McClure’s fence and we do consider it to be at least the one third or more
the nearest and much the best ground except one small place that we expect to
have to be bridged or rather causeway made at the distance of ten or twelve feet
wide”. Signed by Nathaniel McClure, Joseph Kennedy and John Points. It was
then ordered that a summons for Moses McClure and John Kilgore appear at the
next session of the court to shew cause why the said alteration should be
confirmed and establish agreeable to the said report.
Another Session In June of 1807 States “A road is established from the county
line near Silas Torbridges to the old way near the corner of Moses McClure’s
Plantation agreeable to a report returned, and Moses McClure Surveyor to open
and keep in repair same road.”
Moses and Rebecca’s Children
1) John McClure b. July 6, 1805 was given a portion of Moses’ farm. Married an
Elizabeth. died February 7, 1846 Buried in the McClure Family Cemetery on
the farm
2) Mary McClure b. abt 1813 She Never Married, Lived on the family farm at
Moses death. Bought a house in Verona from Rebecca Gibson in 1846, four years
after Moses death.
3) Jenny McClure b. abt 1819 Lived at home until Moses death. Bought home in
Verona with Mary.
4) Amelia F. McClure b 1821 Married James Northcutt March 4 1851 in Verona
Boone County Kentucky, They moved to a town called Santa Fe in Ralls County
Mo. James was a farmer and blacksmith. Santa Fe had a general Store, Tailor,
Methodists church, Grist Mill and now a Blacksmith. The town was founded in
1837 and was a farming hub. The South Fork of the Salt River ran through the
town.
James and Amelia had four children all girls. They were
1) Alice Northcutt b.1852 Ralls County Mo. d. abt 1898 Ralls County Mo.
2) Anna Northcutt b.1854 Ralls County Mo. d. abt 1898 Ralls County
3) Mary J. Northcutt b. 1858 Ralls County Mo. d. abt 1898 Ralls County Mo.
4) Julia Cordelia Northcutt b. March 4, 1865 died January 13, 1903
Williamstown, Kentucky She’s buried in Williamstown Cemetery Grant County
Kentucky.
Tragedy struck this family James, Amelia, Alice, Anna and Mary J. all died
around the year of 1898. The cause is unknown. Julia survived and moved back
to Kentucky to live with Uncle Moses McClure Jr. in Williamstown Kentucky.
She joined Moses church and became very active in it. Julia died at Moses home
five years later at the age of 38.
Moses McClure Jr. b. March 16, 1827 near Verona Boone County Kentucky. d.
April 2 1906 Williamstown Grant Co. Kentucky. Moses married Mary Harmon
McDowell abt 1844 they had two children.
1) William McDowell McClure b. abt 1845 Boone County Kentucky He married
Mary Rice in Marysville, Perry County Pa. Mary died in 1918 and William died
1887 they had two children
Jeanie McClure b.1883 who married James Suydrum Donald William McDowell
McClure Jr. b .May 28, 1885 Donald Jr. married Sarah Conklin and they had
three children Jean McClure b. April 15 1911 Chien Mai Siam. Ruth Gwendolyn
McClure b. January 4, 1913 Niagara Falls New York and Malcolm Conklin
McClure b. April 25 1916 Coldwater Branch County Michigan
2) Mary Catherine McClure b. February 28 1856 Catherine died in 1861 at the
age 5y5m8d and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery Grant County Kentucky.
Mary Harmon died unexpectedly at the age of thirty one. She was laid to rest
under a large oak tree in Lebanon Cemetery in Grant County Kentucky. In 1873
Moses married Elizabeth Jane Cunningham in Bath County Kentucky, Elizabeth
was born December 20, 1842. She was thirty-one Moses was forty-six.
They had two children.
1) Effie McClure b. September 7,1874 She married Enoch Humphrey they had
two Children Morris Wayne and Ellwood McClure Humphrey. Morris married
and had two children Letha and Leah.
2) Ellwood married Margaret Dorothy b. July 16, 1915 on October 3, 1940 in
Washington D.C. Ellwood and Margaret had two children Dr. David McClure
Humphrey in 1943 and Tormay McClure Humphrey. They lived in Jeffersonville
Kentucky
Effie died February 9 1960 in Kenton County Kentucky and is buried in
Williamstown Cemetery Grant County Kentucky. Moses died April 2, 1906 He’s
buried next to Effie in Williamstown Cemetery.
Rebecca McClure and Thomas Anderson
Thomas Anderson was born abt 1763 in Augusta, Virginia. Thomas was the son
of Joseph and Margaret Shields. He was the sixth child born to this couple. To
make this simple I need to list his siblings. The reader will understand later.
1) Elizabeth Betsy Anderson b. abt 1757
2) William Anderson b. 1758
3) Rachel Anderson b. 1759
4) Mattie Anderson b. 1780
5) John Anderson Sr. 1762
6) Thomas Anderson Sr. b.1763
Thomas married Rebekah McClure Nathaniel and Moses’ sister. They were
married February 25, 1784 in Botetourt County Virginia; Thomas farmed in
Virginia for a few years. Then the pioneering spirit hit him and the started west
with his brother John Anderson Sr. Who had just recently married Ann McClure
who was a first cousin to Nathaniel, Rebekah and Moses.
Records show they moved as far as present day Lexington Kentucky by 1787.
There Peggy Anderson was born abt 1788 Soon after was the birth of twins Jane
and John Anderson abt. 1790. During the same time John Anderson Sr. and Ann
were busy too. They had Mary Polly Anderson abt 1791.
Sometime about 1791 both families packed up and moved north, their planned
destination was probably what is now northern Ohio, where the McClure’s were
gathering. There is not a record of what changed their mind. It could have been
the same reason; Nathaniel stopped, the epidemics in Ohio. Another reason
might have been getting across the Ohio River that was flooding around this
time.
The Families ended up in present day southern Boone County Kentucky near
what is now known as Verona. We must remember that this area was still part
of the Commonwealth of Virginia at this time.
Land Grants were available and they took advantage of them. Each received two
hundred acres of land about 3 miles west of Verona. The homesteads were
situated along what is now Kentucky 16. This is where we found the Anderson
Cemetery buried in brush and forgotten. Due to the privacy requested by the
landowner I can’t identify the exact location. We were allowed to cleanup the
Cemetery and photograph it.
Thomas and Rebekah settled in and started having children thirteen in all. (See
what I mean about no TV or Radio for entertainment.) Their children their birth
and death dates and any history about them will be chronicled now. Most of the
children of Thomas and Rebekah stayed in the Verona area.
I. Peggy Anderson b.1798 near Lexington Ky. She married John Walker
November 14, 1813 In Boone County Kentucky at the age of 15 Thomas
consented to the marriage. They moved to Decatur County Indiana soon after,
II. John Anderson b. abt. 1780 in Fayette County Kentucky d. 1798 at the age
of eighteen Verona Kentucky Buried Anderson Family Cemetery
III. Jane Anderson b. abt 1780 in Fayette County Kentucky Twin to John
Anderson. She married David Lee April 18, 1813 at the age of 14.Rebecca
Anderson b. abt.1792 Married James Henderson in Boone County Kentucky
lived in Boone County until 1821 Moved To Rush County Indiana Moved To
Decatur County Indiana in 1830 Moved To Clay County Illinois 1840
Children are Archibald Henderson b. 1820 Gallatin County Kentucky Martha
Jane Henderson b.1822 Decatur County Indiana, Justis F. Henderson b.1824
Decatur County Indiana, Mary E. Henderson b. Decatur County Indiana,
Rebecca A. Henderson b.1837 Boone County Kentucky, John Henderson b. 1841
Clay County Illinois James’s sister Patsy married John Anderson Sr, Son
Joseph.
IV. Hanna Anderson b. May 15, 1793 never married lived in Thomas’s home
after his death. Died along with Sister Alice when Homestead burned May 13,
1872 Hanna and Alice were Thomas and Rebecca’s second set of twins.
V. Ann Anderson b. May 15, 1793 never married (see Hanna) Alice and Hanna
are buried in a common grave sharing one tombstone.
VI. Joseph Anderson b. June 5, 1795 Boone County Kentucky. Joseph
married America who was born in 1807. They had Margaret Anderson b. August
21, 1840 Rebecca M. Anderson b.1842 died August 7, 1863 at the age of 21y.
5m.27d. She is buried in Lebanon Cemetery. Joseph and Americas last child was
Ann Anderson b. August 10, 1851 and Died August 2,1851soon after Ann’s birth
America died on September 28, 1851 Daughter Margaret died August 22, 1851.
Joseph died in 1875 all are buried in Lebanon Cemetery
VII. William Anderson b. September 1795 He married Patsy abt 1825 they
lived in a home located at the west side of the Anderson homestead where
William farmed and was a wagon maker and blacksmith. William and Patsy had
two children that we could find they were. Martha b. April 12, 1817 and died at
the age of 19y.8m.6d. And Jerusha was born July 9, 1826 and died at the age of
1y.3m.1d. William died in 1877 and patsy died in 1880 the family are all
buried in the Anderson Cemetery.
VIII. Thomas Anderson Jr. b. November 9, 1802 in Boone County and married
Sarah Meyers in 1827 not much is known about Thomas although all
indications are he was a farmer and blacksmith. Thomas and Sarah had two
children Elizabeth Anderson who married Cousin Joseph Anderson on February
2, 1847 and James Madison Anderson b. July 15, 1829. James married
Elizabeth Carter Spicer in Franklin County Kentucky. In 1856 they lived in
Boone County until 1871 then moved to Grant County.
They had three children Sarvella Anderson b. 1857 Thomas Albert Anderson b.
1858 and Margaret Jane Anderson 1859. Thomas would marry Eva Campbell in
Corpus Christi Texas and Margaret Jane married Louis Pursifull February
26,1878 in Boone County They lived near Verona most of their lives Louis died
in 1932 and Margaret died in 1941 both are buried in New Bethel Cemetery in
Verona. I found no records for Sarvella. James Madison died December 27,
1895 Elizabeth died in 1909 both are buried in Lebanon Cemetery.
IX. Holbert Anderson was born July 11, 1808 in Verona Kentucky and
married Mary sometime around 1870 they had two children
X. Rebecca Anderson who was born and died April 11.1871
XI. Thomas G. Anderson, died at the age of seven months in 1873.
Holbert was a farmer living near the old homestead. Their brother James estate
sued him and Sister Hanna after his death for not returning property belonging
to the estate, which got a judgment against them in 1854. Holbert died
February 5, 1883 Mary died July 25, 1899 both are buried in the Anderson
Cemetery.
Thomas and Rebekah’s eleventh child was
James Anderson he was born 1810 in Boone County Kentucky. He married
Nancy Eunice McClure William and Elizabeth McClure’s daughter, when he was
forty years of age, James and Nancy had one child Elizabeth Margaret
Anderson., Born September 28, 1850. James was a farmer owning two large
farms one in Boone County and One in Gallatin County Kentucky. James also
owned a home in Crittenden and received a Tavern License for it in 1838 and
1846. R.S. Robinson ran the tavern.
James died suddenly on May 1.1851 on the Gallatin County Farm. In his will he
gave Nancy Eunice the Boone County Farm and one year old daughter got the
Gallatin County Farm, which was held in trust until her eighteenth birthday.
The will also mentioned certain properties of the estate including slaves in the
possession of James sister Hanna, his brother Holbert and a neighbor Lewis
Tucker. The estate was finally settled in 1857. The administrator of the estate
William Points obtained judgments against Hanna, Holbert and Lewis Tucker.
The Tavern was sold on a note to R.S. Robinson and the proceeds were put in
trust for Elizabeth.
During this six-year period Nancy Eunice married W.L. Barker of Crittenden in
1855. They were made guardians of Margaret Elizabeth that same year.
Margaret Elizabeth Married Robert Gatewood in 1869 and they raised their
family on the farm her father had left her. (See page (49)
The Other Andersons
John Anderson Sr. was Thomas Anderson’s brother; he was born 1765 in
Augusta County Virginia. In 1791 John married the daughter of John and Mary
Malcolm McClure Ann. They were married December 1 in Botetourt County
Virginia. Ann was born in Augusta County Virginia in 1756. Sometime around
1795 the family, which now consisted of three children, Joseph, Margaret, Mary
(Polly) started toward western Virginia, which is now Kentucky. If you
Followed Thomas Anderson then you know they traveled together.
Once he arrived in Boone County, John lived on the farm west of Thomas.
Around 1820 he packed up and moved his family to Spring Hill Indiana, which
is in Decatur County north of Greenville. He died March 18, 1838 and was
buried in Springhill Cemetery near his home. Ann had died two years earlier
December 5, 1835. John was laid to rest next to Ann. John and Ann had nine
children
I. Joseph Anderson b. June 5, 1792 in Rockbridge County Virginia married
Patsy Henderson sister Of James Henderson who married Thomas Anderson’s
daughter Rebecca.
II. Patsy was born 10 July 1790 She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth
Henderson. Joseph and Patsy had seven children.
III. Thomas Anderson 1815 Grant County Ky,
IV. Joseph Anderson Jr. b.1 September 1819 Grant County Kentucky he
married Elizabeth Anderson Thomas Anderson and Sarah Meyers daughter 2
February 1847 in Boone County Kentucky.
V. John J. Anderson b.1821 Grant County Kentucky,
VI. William Anderson b.23 December 1823 Decatur County Ky,
VII. Rebecca Anderson b.12 April 1829 Decatur County Indiana,
VIII. George Anderson b.1832 Decatur County Indiana and
IX. David Anderson b.1834 Decatur County Indiana.
Sometime around 1854 Joseph and Patsy headed west to Clay county Illinois
accompanied by only four of their children. Joseph received a land grant of 200
acres, which he farmed. Joseph died in Clay County Illinois 29 May 1879. Patsy
died eight months later 17Jan1880 both were laid to rest in Salem Baptist
Church Clay County
q Margaret Anderson b. 1792 Married a Nathaniel McClure June 6 1811 in
Boone County Kentucky. Their tracks have not been uncovered yet.
q Mary “Polly” Anderson b. January 12, 1793 she married John Griffith 9
October 1812 in Boone County Kentucky. She and John had one child a
daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth married George Hill 20 Dec 1832. John Griffith
probably died sometime between 1832 and 1860 or he and Mary parted ways.
Mary moved to Springhill to live with some of her family. She died in Springhill
Indiana October 31, 1875 Buried near her parents in Springhill Cemetery She is
buried as an Anderson.
q Samuel McClure Anderson b. Woodford County Kentucky 1797 He married
Mary “Dolly” Meek 13 February 1823. Mary was born in Kentucky in 1800.
Samuel and Mary seven Children all born in Decatur County Indiana. Martha
Ann b. 1825 She married John Martin in Springhill in 1850, John Calvin was
born 1827 he married Catharine Martin in 1850 in Decatur County. Thomas
Meek Anderson born 1830, James Adam in 1833. Next was Mary Jane in 1835,
followed by Sophia Elizabeth in 1838 and finally Samuel David in 1840. Dolly
died 19 December 1857 and is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery next to Samuel
who died eighteen years later on 31 October 1875.
q Peggy Anderson b.1798 married John Walker 1813 in Boone County
Kentucky
q Ann Anderson b.1799 in Boone County Kentucky married William Kennedy
1822
q Jennet Anderson b.1801 Boone County Kentucky Married John Holman 30
September 1823 in Decatur County Indiana. John was from neighboring Rush
County Indiana. In 1837 they also moved to Clay County Illinois .John H and
Jennet had seven children,
1. James 1825,
2. Robert 1829,
3. Samuel 1833,
4. Mary J., 1836,
5. Margaret 1838,
6. Rachel C. 1839,
7. Sarah E. 1846
William Anderson b. 1792 in Rockbridge County Va.
Mary Meek February 15, 1823 Died October 31, 1875 Springhill Indiana
1) Jennet Anderson b. 1801
2) Martha Anderson b.1803
William Anderson b. abt 1760 was another brother to Thomas Sr. Not much is
known about him. He is buried in the Anderson Family Cemetery A hand written
fieldstone is his marker. The stone is inscribed William Sr, 1838. If he is a
senior he must have been married at sometime and probably had a son.
Alexander McClure and His Family
For years it was thought that Alexander McClure was a half brother of
Nathaniel, Moses, and Rebecca. Recent research by Joseph McClure, Geo Honts ,
Ellwyn Worley and myself has found the Alexander that we thought was this
one actually settled in Union County Kentucky. I will include the research
findings here to try and make the relationships clearer. Grant County Alexander
was a first cousin to Rebecca,(McClure) Anderson, Nathaniel & Moses McClure.
The story continues after this study
THE ALEXANDER MCCLURE QUANDARY
3 Jan 2005
BACKGROUND: Lily Fenton of Columbia Missouri, in the spring of 2002,
questioned whether or not Alexander McClure, who married Martha Elliott and
Jane Gibson, was the son of Moses McClure and Isabella Steele. A cursory review
found that her doubts were well founded and deserved a more thorough
research to determine the parentage of the various Alexander McClures
involved, as any lineage deviation would of necessity have a domino effect.
PROBLEM: To determine if Alexander McClure (1774-1843), husband of
Martha Elliot and later Jane Gibson, was the son of Moses McClure (c.1710-
1778) and Isabella Steele (c1726-c1797) and, if so, what effect would this have
on other relationships.
FACTS
:
James Alexander McClure states in his The McClure Family that Alexander H.
McClure was probably the youngest child of Moses McClure and Isabella Steele,
born on October 31, 1774; that he married first, Martha Elliot of Rockbridge
County on October 2, 1795 and that he married second, Jane Gibson on
September 20, 1810 and soon after emigrated to Grant County, Kentucky.1
The above has been perpetuated in Following McCluer Ancestors by Leon
McCluer, in The McClure Story by Jerry Duane Duncan2 and in Following the
McClures---Donegal to Botetourt by McClure-Honts-Worley3 .
There are two other Alexander McClures, both first cousins to the Alexander H.
described above, who were born either in Rockbridge County or in that part of
Augusta County that later became Botetourt County and then Rockbridge
County. The first is Alexander McClure who was born in 1749 and the second is
Alexander McClure who was born about 1760. All three are first cousins.
Succeeding facts that are associated with the stated problem are hereafter
clustered according to source. The sources are Rockbridge County records
unless otherwise noted.
Date of Birth-
The Rev. John Craig christened Alexander McClure on 10 March 1749 and his
father was identified as being Nathaniel McClure. Nathaniel McClure’s wife was
Mary.4
1774. Alexander McClure, who married Martha Elliot and then Jane Gibson,
was born on 31 Oct 1774.5
1760. Alexander McClure was born about 1760 according to JAM, Duncan and
Donegal.
Will Books-
1761. Will of Nathaniel McClure (wife Mary) published 5 Feb 1761. Children
named: Halbert (eldest), James, Nathaniel, Mary, Alexander, Hannah, Thomas
and Margaret. Executors named are Alexander and Moses McClure and
Archibald Alexander. Will probated 1761.6
1767. Will of Mary (husband Nathaniel) probated. Leaves money to children
Thomas, Moses, Margaret and James for their education.
7 1787. Will of Alexander McClure (wife Martha Moore) published 14 mar 1787,
devised Kentucky lands to his sons, Alexander, Samuel and John when they
become of age. Virginia lands go to sons Halbert, James and Nathaniel. Two
daughters are named, Susanna and Martha. His nephew, Alexander, and his
wife, Martha, are named executors. Will was probated Feb 1790.
8 1778. Moses McClure (wife Isabella Steele) deceased, intestate, 3 Nov 1778.
Isabella and David McClure, eldest son of Moses, are named as administrators.
9 McClure vs. McClure--O. S. 149; N. S. 51--David McClure in Rockbridge
complains that his father died intestate in 1778. David is eldest son. Moses died
suddenly. He left children, viz: David, Moses, Alexander, Halbert and Betsey,
Susannah (since dead), Agnes, Isabelle, Rosanna.
10 1797. The sale of Isabella‘s (wife of Moses) estate was reported. Sale held on
15 Nov 1797. Among the purchasers were Moses, David, Nancy and Alexander
McClure.
11 1808. The estate of Alexander McClure was appraised on 15 Oct 1808.
12 1829. On 11 Nov 1829 dower is laid off to Agnes McClure (husband
Alexander). She received 245 acres near the junction of North and South Rivers,
208 acres on the east side of North River and 229 acres on the west side of
North River.
13 Deed Books-
1802. On 7 Sep 1802 Thomas Love and Rosanna, his wife, sold to Halbert
McClure, Moses McClure and Alexander McClure of Rockbridge County, VA 361
acres in Rockbridge County, VA.
1804. Alexander McClure of Pendleton County, KY grantee for 100 acres
acquired on 11 Jun 1804, abutting the Lebanon Presbyterian Church.
1807. Halbert, Moses and Alexander sell Iron Works to Carter Beverly for £
10,000 (> $1,500,000 today). In remarks it is noted that Moses and Alexander
wish to migrate.
1832. Alexander and Jane, his wife, of Union County, Kentucky sold Virginia
land, located in Rockbridge County, to Moses McClure of Rockbridge County.
Muary River Atlas-The iron industry of Rockbridge County dates from 1760
when Grant’s Furnace became the first furnace to be built west of the Blue Ridge
Mountains in what became known as the “Iron Valley”. The valley extends from
the vicinity of Glasgow in the west to forges and furnaces built along the James,
Muary and South Rivers in the east. 1778-
1820. These are the estimated dates that the McClure Forge operated near the
eastern county border on the South River.
1800-1820. These are the estimated dates that the Halbert & Moses McClure’s
Furnace and Foundry operated near the western part of South River.
14 Marriage Records-
1795 It was reported by the Rev. Jno Brown that he married Alexander McClure
and Martha Elliot on 29 Oct 1795. The name of his parents was not given.
15 1779. There was entered a notation that a marriage license was issued for
the marriage of Alexander McClure to Agnes McClure. There was no minister’s
return to indicate that the marriage ever took place.
16 1810. Alexander McClure married Jane Gibson on 20 Sep 1810.
17 1820. Jane Parrack and Daniel Melton were married in the year 1820. The
minister returns failed to give a specific date.
18 1794. Martha McClure gave consent for Susanna McClure to marry Joseph
Stephenson on 19 Aug 1794.
19 1801. Martha McClure gave consent for John McClure to Marry Ann McFall
on 9 Apr 1801.
20 Biography-
George Washington McClure was born in Union County…..on 07 Apr 1883, and
was the only child of Alexander McClure of Rockbridge County, Virginia, a
comer to Kentucky in 1812.…in January 1859, Mr. McClure was married to
Miss Mary H. Dixon, daughter of Captain Henry Dixon…on I Jan 1870 he
removed with his family to Henderson County…in the town of Corydon.21
Census Records-
1830 Union County, KY-Alexander McClure: 1 m 40-49, 1 m 50-59, 1 f 5-19 and
1 f 30-39.
1850 Union County, KY-Jane McClure, 52, $7500, NC: James Parrish, 64, $600,
NC.
1850 Grant County, KY-Jane McClure, 60, $2000, Pennsylvania; Susan, 52,
Kentucky, Margaret, 48, Kentucky.
1860 Union County, KY, Morganfield P.O.-Jane McClure, 60, NC.
1870 Henderson County, KY, Corydon Precinct-Henry Dixon, 64, retired farmer
$8000 $2000, NC…Geo W. McClure, 36, $25000 $15000, KY; Mary, 31,
KY…James Parish, 84, NC…
1880 Henderson County, Kentucky, Corydon…G. W. McClure, 47...Mary
McClure, 41...Henry McClure, 20, son...Annie McClure, 17, dau…Ella McClure,
11, dau…
DISCUSSION:
The Alexander who was the son of Moses McClure and Isabella Steel is the one
Alexander of the three that can be readily traced because the links to his family,
land transactions, migration from Virginia to Kentucky and his establishment
there are extensively recorded. Also, he is the only Alexander having brothers
named Halbert and Moses where the parents are not identified by either parish
or marriage records.
From the 1830 Union County, Kentucky census data we know that he was born
between 1771 and 1780. His sister, Elizabeth, was estimated to have been born
in 1770.
Alexander’s father, Moses, acquired 380 acres from Benjamin Borden in 1749
that was located in the future “Iron Valley” part of Rockbridge County. It was
probably Moses and his older sons, Halbert and Moses, who founded and
operated the McClure Forge that was established in 1787, the same year that
Moses died unexpectedly. It cannot be determined how long the forge was in
operation, but certainly long enough for Halbert and Moses to gain enough
expertise to strike out on their own when in 1802 they and their brother,
Alexander, bought 361 acres from Thomas Love and Rosanna, his wife. This
tract was known as the Love Plantation and became the site of the Halbert &
Moses McClure’s Furnace and Foundry. Alexander, as the younger brother, was
apparently a junior partner in the venture. The furnace was an obvious success
for the three brothers sold it to Carter Beverly in 1807 for £ 10,000, a princely
sum at the time. A remark was made on the deed to the effect that Moses and
Alexander desired to migrate.
Alexander arrived in Union County, Kentucky in the year 1812, but there is no
evidence that Moses was with him. Judging from the 1830 census of Union
County, Alexander married after his arrival as his household consisted of one
male 50-59, which was Alexander; one male 40-49, not otherwise identified; one
female 30-39, presumably his wife and one female 5-19. The female was
probably the only child of Jane Parrack and Daniel Melton. She would have been
about nine years of age in accordance with prevailing reproduction statistics of
that era. Similar logic would place the death of Daniel Melton in the 1821-22
range, since there was only one child accounted for in the census data.
Alexander’s wife’s was identified as Jane in 1832 when they sold Virginia land
they owned in Rockbridge County to Alexander’s brother, Moses, in Rockbridge
County. Moses either never left the county or returned prior to the date of the
sale.
Alexander and Jane had a son, George Washington McClure, who was born in
Union County 7 Apr 1833. George attended a private school in Indian and then
in Kentucky where he graduated from Centre College. A few years later, in Jan
1859, he married Mary H. Dixon, daughter of Captain Henry Dixon. They later
moved to abutting Henderson County where George became a very successful
businessman.
Alexander died sometime before the 1850 census as Jane McClure, age 60, is
identified as the head of household in Union County. Living with her is a male
identified as James Parrish, age 64. Both indicate they were born in North
Carolina. Jane’s son, George, would have been attending school in Indiana.
Jane appeared in the 1860 census and died sometime thereafter. She is buried in
the McClure Cemetery located near Morganfield, which is the county seat for
Union County. Her tombstone reads: “Jane McClure, 30 Dec 1797-28 Apr 186-,
Wife of Alexander. Several undocumented sources give her date of death as
1863. Also buried in the same plot is James Parrack who died in 1871. He was
living in the household of George McClure, Alexander’s and Jane’s son,
according to the Henderson County 1870 census. Parrack is not a common name
and for that reason James Parrack was variously referred to as Parish and
Parrish in census data. Since both James and Jane were born in North Carolina
a search was conducted that concentrated on that area. There the family of
James Parrack (1755-1814) was found. James was born in Virginia, married
Mary there, moved to Rutherford, NC where they had a family of nine that
included a daughter, Jane, and a son, James, that are not otherwise accounted
for. Findings for this family are not documented.
The ruins of a tombstone are located near the grave of Jane in the McClure
Cemetery.Of the two remaining Alexander McClures, the parents of only one
needs to be identified since Alexander McClure who was christened on 10 Mar
1749 was the son of Nathaniel McClure, as reflected in parish records. That
leaves Alexander McClure who was born on 31 Oct 1774 and by process of
elimination is the son of Alexander McClure and Martha Moore. Alexander
married Martha Elliot on 2 Oct 1795 in Rockbridge County, Virginia and
departed soon thereafter for Kentucky because Susan, their fourth child, who
was born in 1800, gave her state of birth as being Kentucky in the Grant County
1850 census when she was residing with her widowed mother-in-law, Jane
McClure.
Susan’s mother, Martha Elliot, died during, or shortly after, the birth of her
seventh child, Hannah, in 1807. Alexander then married second, Jane Gibson, in
Pendleton County on 20 Sep 1810. Pendleton abuts Grant County, which was
formed from Pendleton County in Feb 1820, and Alexander acquired land in
Pendleton County in 1804. He parted with a small portion of that ground when
he and Joseph Meyers donated to the Lebanon Presbyterian Church
Congregation a tract of land consisting of one acre for the consideration of
$1.00 on 7 Jun 1824.
Alexander was then living in Grant County. He died there on 8 May 1843. The
site of his burial has not been determined; however, there are two unmarked
gravesites besides the one of Alexander, the son of Alexander and Jane, in
Lebanon Cemetery and it is believed that Alexander and Jane are buried there.
The remaining Alexander McClure, son of Nathaniel, was supposed to have been
married to Martha according to JAM, Duncan and Donegal. However, there are
no records to substantiate that. The probable reason that Martha is recognized
as the wife of Alexander can be found in Lyman Chalkleys Chronicles of the
Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia wherein his extract of Alexander McClure’s
(1717-1790) will names executors as “my nephew, Alexander McClure and his
wife, Martha”.
Since Alexander McClure, previously identified as being the son of Alexander
McClure and Martha Moore, did not marry Agnes McClure then it is reasoned
that Alexander McClure, son of Nathaniel and Mary, did so in 1779. Also, the
other two Alexander’s were much too young. One would have been five years of
age in 1779 and the other one could not have been more than eight years old.
JAM gives the approximate date of death for Alexander McClure, who married
Agnes as being 1810. Duncan and Donegal have given the date of Alexander’s
death as 1765. However, there are no records to substantiate that. It is more
probable that he died in 1808 when his estate was settled and before the dower
for his wife, Agnes, was laid off on 11 Nov 1829. The delay in dower settlement
cannot be determined.
While researching the Alexander McClure dilemma it was noted that there are
several discrepancies in spouse identification and the ages of the children for
the family headed by Alexander McClure (1717-1790). For instance, on 18 Feb
1750 James Moore and his wife, Jean, sold to Alex. McClure 163 acres on the
North Branch of the James. On 11 Nov 1756 Alex. McClure and Susanna sold
163 acres on the North Branch of the James to Thomas Dredin. This means that
Alexander was probably married first to Susanna and second to Martha. That
would explain the birth gap existing between 1760 and 1774. It would also
explain the monumental biological obstacles that Martha did not have to
triumph over to be the mother of all of Alexander’s children, as previously
believed. It makes sense that Alexander married Susanna about 1753 and gave
birth to James, Halbert, Nathaniel and Samuel. Samuel was of age when he
married Rosanna Steele in January of 1782; therefore, he was probably born
about 1760 and the date of birth of his brothers that came before him can
realistically be established as occurring between 1754 and 1758. After Samuel
there were no more children until Alexander arrived in 1774, an interval of
some 14 years. This means that Alexander married Martha around 1773 instead
of the early 1750s. After Alexander was born in 1774 we can closely predict the
arrival date of his three siblings.
Susanna was born around 1776 since she was not of age when she was married
in 1794, as Martha had to give her consent. Next was Martha “Patsy” who was
born around 1779 since she was of age when she married in 1800. Next was
John who was born about 1781. He was not of age when he was married in
1801, as Martha had to give her consent.
It was also noted that the family of Nathaniel McClure (1712-1761) has one
obvious error in reference to the date of birth of his son, Moses. Moses was not
mentioned in Nathaniel’s will when it was published in February 1761.
However, when Mary, Nathanial’s widow, published her will in 1767 she named
Moses a beneficiary.
CONCLUSIONS:
The first Alexander McClure discussed above was born about 1771; he was the
son of Moses McClure and Isabella Steel; he operated an iron works with his
brothers in Rockbridge County; he sold his interest, as did his brothers, in the
iron works to Carter Beverly in 1807; he settled in Kentucky by 1812; he
married Jane Parrack prior to 1830; he and Jane had one child, George
Washington McClure, who was born 7 Apr 1833 in Union County, Kentucky;
Alexander died some time between 1833 and 1850 and is buried in the McClure
Cemetery beside his wife, Jane. Alexander’s wife, Jane, was the sister of James
Parrack who lived with Alexander and Jane, then lived with Jane after
Alexander died and finally with George McClure, his nephew, after Jane died.
The second Alexander McClure was born on 31 Oct 1774 and does not have the
middle initial H.; he is the son of Alexander McClure and Martha Moore; he
married Martha Elliot on 9 Sep 1995 and removed to Kentucky thereafter; when
Martha died about 1807 he married Jane Gibson on 20 Sep 1810 in Pendleton
County, Kentucky; he bought land in Pendleton County, Kentucky in 1804; he
donated a portion of it to the Grant County based Lebanon Congregation in
1822 and he died in Grant County on 9 May 1843.
The last Alexander McClure discussed is the son of Nathaniel and Mary; he was
born in 1749 and christened on 10 Mar 1749 by the Rev. John Craig; he married
Agnes McClure, daughter of Moses McClure and Isabella Steele, in 1779 in
Rockbridge County, Virginia and he died there about 1809 before the dower for
his widow, Agnes, was laid out on 11 Nov 1829.
Alexander McClure (1717-1790) was first married to Susanna who gave birth to
James in 1754, Halbert in 1756 and Nathaniel in 1758. Susanna died after
1758 and Alexander married Martha about 1773 and she gave birth to
Alexander in 1774, Samuel 1775, Susanna in 1776, Martha “Patsy” in 1779 and
John in 1781.
Moses McClure, son of Nathaniel and Mary, was born in the year 1761.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the McClure Family database be changed to agree with
the above conclusions. (See Enclosure 1)
Enclosure 1:
Descendants of Moses McClure
Generation No. 1
1. MOSES3 MCCLURE (HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1) was born Abt. 1710 in
Raphoe Parish, County Donegal, Ireland, and died 01 Dec 1778 in Lexington,
Rockbridge Co, VA. He married ISABELLA STEELE 1745 in Augusta Co, VA,
daughter of DAVID STEELE and JANET. She was born Abt. 1726 in Ireland,
and died Abt. 1797 in Lexington, Rockbridge Co, VA.
Children of MOSES MCCLURE and ISABELLA STEELE are:
2. i. LTC David4 McClure, Sr., b. 1747, Augusta Co, VA.
3. ii. Halbert McClure, b. Abt. 1750, Augusta Co, VA; d. 10 May 1829,
Rockbridge Co, VA.
iii. Moses McClure, b. Abt. 1754, Rockbridge Co, VA.
4. iv. Agnes McClure, b. 1759, Rockbridge Co, VA; d. Aft. 1829.
5. v. Rosanna McClure, b. 1762, Rockbridge Co, VA.
vi. Susanna McClure, b. Abt. 1765, Rockbridge Co, VA.
6. vii. Isabella McClure, b. Abt. 1768, Rockbridge Co, VA.
viii. Elizabeth McClure, b. Abt. 1770, Rockbridge Co, VA.
7. ix. Alexander McClure, b. Abt. 1771, Augusta County, VA; d. 1840, Union
County, KY.
Generation No. 2
7. ALEXANDER4 MCCLURE (MOSES3, HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1) was
born Abt. 1771 in Augusta County, VA, and died 1840 in Union County, KY1. He
married JANE PARRACK 18 Mar 1830 in Union County, KY, daughter of
JAMES PARRACK and MARY. She was born 30 Dec 1797 in Rutherford County,
NC2, and died 28 Apr 1863 in Union County, KY.
Notes for ALEXANDER MCCLURE:
Estate appraised Dec 1840.
More About JANE PARRACK:
Burial: McClure Cemetery, Union County, KY
Child of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and JANE PARRACK is:
i. George Washington5 McClure, b. 07 Apr 1833, Union County, KY; d. 25 Aug
1890, Henderson County, KY; m. Mary Dixon, 19 Jan 1859, Henderson County,
KY; b. 1839, North Carolina; d. 16 May 1897, Henderson County, KY.
More About George Washington McClure:
Burial: Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson County, KY
More About Mary Dixon:
Burial: Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson County, KY
Endnotes
1. Union County, KY WB B, 153.
2. McClure Cemetery Tombstone.
Descendants of Alexander McClure
Generation No. 1
1. ALEXANDER3 MCCLURE (HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1) was born Abt.
1717 in Raphoe Parish, County Donegal, Ireland, and died 1790 in Lexington,
Rockbridge County, VA. He married (1) SUSANNA Abt. 1753 in Augusta
County, VA. She died Aft. 1760 in Augusta County, VA. He married (2) MARTHA
Abt. 1773 in Augusta County, VA.
Children of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and SUSANNA are:
i. James4 McClure, b. Abt. 1754, Augusta County, VA.
ii. Halbert McClure, b. Abt. 1756, Augusta County, VA.
2. iii . Samuel McClure, b. Abt. 1760, Augusta County, VA.
Children of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and MARTHA are:
3. v. Alexander4 McClure, b. 31 Oct 1774, Rockbridge Co, VA; d. 09 May 1843,
Grant Co, KY.
vi. Susanna McClure, b. Abt. 1776, Augusta County, VA; m. Joseph Stephenson,
19 Aug 1794, Rockbridge County, VA.
vii. Martha McClure, b. Abt. 1779, Rockbridge County, VA; m. John Jamison, 27
Feb 1800, Rockbridge County, VA; b. Abt. 1770, Augusta County, VA.
viii. John McClure, b. Abt. 1781, Rockbridge County, VA; m. Ann McFall, 09 Apr
1801, Rockbridge County, VA.
Generation No. 2
3. ALEXANDER4 MCCLURE (ALEXANDER3, HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1)
was born 31 Oct 1774 in Rockbridge Co, VA, and died 09 May 1843 in Grant Co,
KY. He married (1) MARTHA ELLIOTT 04 Sep 1795 in Rockbridge Co, VA,
daughter of JAMES ELLIOTT and MARTHA. She was born 27 Jul 1779 in
Rockbridge Co, VA, and died Aft. 1807 in Kentucky. He married (2) JANE
GIBSON 20 Sep 1810 in Pendleton County, KY1, daughter of THOMAS
GIBSON. She was born 1790 in Pennsylvania2, and died Dec 1861 in Grant
County, KY.
Notes for ALEXANDER MCCLURE:
Alexander and Joseph Meyers donated a tract of land to the Lebanon
Congregation on 7 June 1824 on which the Lebanon Church was built in Grant
County, KY. The land was donated to Nathaniel McClure and Alexander
McPherson both trustees for the Presbyterian Congregation called the Lebanon
Congregation.
More About ALEXANDER MCCLURE:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant Co., KY
Children of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and MARTHA ELLIOTT are:
i. Polly5 McClure, b. Abt. 1796; m. Pigot.
ii. Martha McClure, b. 1797, Kentucky2; m. Jacob Myers, 26 Dec 1816, Boone
County, KY; b. 1788.
iii. James McClure, b. Abt. 1798, Kentucky.
iv. Susan McClure, b. 1800, Kentucky2.
v. Margaret McClure, b. Abt. 1802, Kentucky.
vi. Jane McClure, b. 22 Sep 1804, Kentucky; d. 13 Mar 1884, Grant Co, KY; m.
(1) John McClure; b. 19 May 1807, Rockbridge County, VA; d. 24 Jun 1843,
Grant Co, KY; m. (2) James E McClure, Aft. 1843; b. 24 Nov 1802, Kentucky; d.
08 Mar 1878, Grant Co, KY.
More About Jane McClure:
Fact 2: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant Co, KY
More About John McClure:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant Co., KY
More About James E McClure:
Fact 2: Lebanon Cemetery, Crittenden, Grant Co, KY
vii. Hannah McClure, b. 1807, Kentucky3.
Children of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and JANE GIBSON are:
viii. Thomas Gibson5 McClure, b. 14 Oct 1811, Pendleton Co, KY; d. 10 May
1887; m. Mary Ann Coons, 06 Jul 1837, Ruddels Mills, Bourbon Co, KY; b. 17
Apr 1822; d. 24 Sep 1880.
ix. Elizabeth McClure, b. 02 Nov 1812, Pendleton County, KY; d. 19 Feb 1891,
Grant County, KY; m. Harvey Brown, 03 Sep 1834, Grant Co, KY; b. 29 Dec
1808; d. 25 Sep 1892, Grant County, KY.
More About Elizabeth McClure:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant County, KY
More About Harvey Brown:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant County, KY
x. Christinna McClure, b. 1814, Pendleton Co, KY4; d. Abt. 1846.
xi. Alexander McClure, b. 12 Dec 1817, Pendleton Co, KY; d. 10 May 1889,
Grant Co, KY.
More About Alexander McClure:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant County, Kentucky
xii. Nancy Ann McClure, b. Abt. 1818, Pendleton Co, KY; m. Holbert S. McClure,
01 Apr 1844, Grant County, KY; b. , Ohio5.
Notes for Nancy Ann McClure:
Married a McClure from Ohio (Benefiel Papers).
xiii. John McClure, b. 20 Sep 1820, Grant Co, KY; d. 05 Nov 1871, Grant Co,
KY; m. Ann Barthena Larvell.
More About John McClure:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Grant County, Kentucky
xiv. William Harvey McClure, b. 24 Jan 1825, Grant County, KY; d. 10 Sep
1888, Grant County, KY; m. Lucinda D Brown; b. 15 Jan 1828; d. 09 May 1900,
Grant County, KY.
More About William Harvey McClure:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Crittenden, Grant Co, KY
More About Lucinda D Brown:
Burial: Lebanon Cemetery, Crittenden, Grant Co, KY
Endnotes
1. Pendelton Co Marriage Register.
2. 1850 Kentucky Census.
3. 1860 Kentucky Census.
4. 1850 Kentucky Cenus.
5. Benefield Papers.
Descendants of Nathaniel McClure
Generation No. 1
1. NATHANIEL3 MCCLURE (HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1) was born Abt.
1712 in Raphoe Parish, County Donegal, Ireland, and died Abt. May 1761 in
Augusta Co, VA. He married MARY. She was born Abt. 1716, and died Abt. Nov
1767 in Augusta County, VA.
Children of NATHANIEL MCCLURE and MARY are:
2. i. Halbert4 McClure, b. Abt. 1738, Augusta Co., VA; d. Abt. 1772, Rockbridge
Co, VA.
ii. James McClure, b. Abt. 1740, Augusta County, VA.
3. iii. Hannah McClure, b. Abt. 1743, Augusta County, VA.
4. iv. Dorothy McClure, b. Abt. 1744, Augusta County, VA.
v. Mary McClure, b. Abt. 1746, Augusta County, VA; m. Joseph Reed; d. Abt.
1798.
5. vi. Rev Nathaniel McClure, b. 1747, Augusta Co., VA; d. 1791, Washington
County, VA.
6. vii. Alexander McClure, b. 1749, Augusta County, VA; d. 1808, Rockbridge
County, VA.
7. viii. Thomas McClure, b. 1753, Augusta County, VA; d. 10 Nov 1818, Scott
County, KY.
ix. Margaret McClure, b. 1757, Augusta County, VA; m. Lee.
8. x. Moses McClure, b. 1760, Augusta County, VA; d. 30 Jun 1810, Harrison
County, KY.
Generation No. 2
6. ALEXANDER4 MCCLURE (NATHANIEL3, HALBERT2, JAMES ANDREW1)
was born 1749 in Augusta County, VA, and died 1808 in Rockbridge County,
VA. He married AGNES MCCLURE 28 Dec 1779 in Rockbridge Co, VA,
daughter of MOSES MCCLURE and ISABELLA STEELE. She was born 1759 in
Rockbridge Co, VA, and died Aft. 1829.
More About ALEXANDER MCCLURE:
Christening: 10 Mar 1749, Augusta County, VA
Notes for AGNES MCCLURE:
Isabella gave conscent for marriage.
Children of ALEXANDER MCCLURE and AGNES MCCLURE are:
i. John5 McClure, b. Abt. 1780; d. 1817.
ii. Thomas McClure, b. Abt. 1782.
iii. Moses McClure, b. Abt. 1784.
iv. Isabella McClure, b. Abt. 1786; m. Andrew Hall, Jr.; b. 1771.
v. Catherine McClure, b. Abt. 1788, Rockbridge Co, VA; m. James Taylor, 11 Feb
1808, Rockbridge Co, VA; b. 1778; d. 1858, Rockbridge Co, VA.
Endnotes
1. Gordon Aronhime Papers.
2. 1850 Smyth County, VA Census.
3. 18 Grayson County Census.
4. Washington County Minister Returns.
5. 1850 Grayson County Census.
6. Rev War Decleration.
7. Rev War Decleration, 27 Dec 1838.
8. LDS.
9. 1880 Harrison County, KY Census.
10. 1850 Allen County, OH Census.
We have not found Alexander and Jane’s burial place. We believe they are in two
unmarked graves near son Alexander in Lebanon but have no proof. Alexander
McClure was born in Rockbridge County Virginia October 31 1774 he married
Martha Elliott September 4 1795, In Rockbridge County Virginia. Alexander
and Martha had seven children.
1) Hanna McClure b.1795 Rockbridge County Virginia
2) Polly McClure b. 1796 Rockbridge County Virginia
3) Martha Patsy McClure b. 1797 Rockbridge County Virginia
4) James McClure b. 1798 Rockbridge County Virginia
5) Margaret Peggy McClure b. 1798 Rockbridge County Virginia
6) Susannah McClure b. 1806 Rockbridge County Virginia
7) Jane McClure b. 1807 Rockbridge County Virginia
Martha died around 1808. Soon after Jane was born, Alexander then packed up
and left for Kentucky. Children Martha Patsy, James, Susannah and Jane
accompanied him. He met and married Jane Gibson, September 20, 1810 in
Harrison County Kentucky. It is unclear if he knew her before or not Jane was
from Rockbridge County Virginia born there in 1778. She moved with her father
to Harrison County Kentucky about 1799 Alexander and Jane moved to Grant
County Kentucky before son Thomas Gibson McClure was born. Alexander and
Jane would have six more children by 1825.
2) Thomas Gibson McClure b. October 14, 1811
3) Elizabeth McClure b. November 2, 1812
4) Alexander McClure b. December 12, 1817
5) Nancy McClure b.1818
6) John McClure b. September 20,1820
7) Christian McClure b. 1825
8) William Harvey McClure b. January 24, 1825
Alexander and Jane setup housekeeping on the Lebanon Road on two hundred
acres, which is now known as the Simpson Farm. He was only about one half of
a mile from cousin’s Nathaniel and Moses. The children grew and starting
leaving for their own lives. First to go was Martha Patsy in 1816 when she
married Jacob Meyers. They had one child Alexander Meyers in 1923.
The next to leave was Jane when she married John McClure in 1837 they had
five children
1) William Halbert McClure
2) Thomas McClure
3) Alexander McClure
4) Martha J. McClure
5) John James McClure.
John McClure died in 1843 at the age of thirty six. He was buried in Lebanon
Cemetery. Jane remarried sometime after 1845. To James E. McClure who was
the son of James and Hannah McClure of nearby Scott County. She was thirty-
eight, He was forty three I couldn’t find of records of children from this
marriage but records of births during this period are scarce and scattered at
best. Jane lived until 1884 and James until 1878 both are buried in Lebanon
Cemetery Grant County Kentucky.
q Thomas Gibson McClure was the next to leave home when he married Mary
Ann Coons July 6 1837 in Ruddles Mill Bourbon County Kentucky. They lived in
Bourbon County for a while, and then must have moved back to Grant County.
The 1860 Grant County Census shows Thomas and Mary Ann living in Grant
County. Thomas G McClure 48, Mary A. 38, Margaret J. 21,Nancy S. 18,
Elizabeth W. 17, James A. 14, Martha C. 13, Catharine M. 7, Laura,.4, William
H. 2.
Actually there were fifteen Children by this union.
1) Mary Jane McClure b. August 18, 1838 d. October 25,1855
2) Margaret J. McClure b. December 4, 1839 d. November 1906
3) Nancy Susan McClure b. October 18, 1841 d. December 12, 1866
4) Elizabeth W. McClure b. May 1, 1843 d. 1899 Glencoe Cemetery Gallatin
County Kentucky. Elizabeth married William Grubbs who was thirty-six years
her senior this was his third marriage her first. She became an instant mother
to Grubbs Children.
5) James Alexander McClure b. January 31, 1845 Married Lucy Jane she was b.
1838 Children unknown Lucy Jane died 1918 and is Buried in Lebanon
Cemetery Grant County Kentucky. James died 1934 at the Old Mason Home in
Shelbyville Kentucky at the age of eighty-eight. He was brought and laid to rest
next to Lucy Jane in Lebanon Cemetery Grant County Kentucky.
6) Martha C. McClure b. November 2,1846 d. January 2,1910
7) Louisa T. McClure b. July 27, 1848 d. July 7, 1851
8) Minerva A. McClure b. November 14, 1849 d. July 16, 1851
9) Olivia E. McClure b. June 4, 1851 d. February 16, 1852
10) Catharine M. McClure b. April 21, 1853 married Lonnie Alexander
11) William H. McClure b. February 14, 1858 d. married Fannie Barnes
December 27, 1883 in Crittenden Kentucky. She was b. August 17 1858 in
Missouri. They had two children.
1) James Ross McClure b. September 22, 1885 Crittenden Kentucky d. January
12, 1887 Crittenden Kentucky. and
2) Ida Lula McClure b. April 16, 1890 Crittenden, Kentucky d. March 17, 1950
Hillsdale, Michigan Buried Reading Cemetery Hillsdale Michigan.
On December 24, 1891 William was on patrol as constable of Northern Grant
County. James Alexander approached him in Crittenden, an argument ensued
and W.H. was shot at close range in the abdomen. Alexander escaped by running
into some woods while witnesses came to the aid of W.H. He was rushed to the
local doctor’s office. The Doctor worked all night on him. The next morning he
was transported home in grave condition. W.H. died in his bed of the wound
December 28, 1891. He was buried two days later in Lebanon Cemetery.
James Alexander was arrested the following week while trying to sneak back
home. He was tried, convicted and sent to prison. His father who was a friend of
then Governor Brown got him pardoned two years later. James returned to
Grant County where the citizens angered over the murder and his pardon made
life miserable for him. In 1898 an ad appeared in the Williamstown Courier
stating “having decided to go west I offer for sale all my property” James
Alexander. No one ever heard from him again.
In 1907 Ida L. married Clyde Burton Stevens at the Crittenden Baptist Church.
Fannie had apparently remarried her last name was Lucas. Fannie died January
26, 1941. She was living with daughter Ida Lula Stevens in Coldwater Branch
Michigan.
Before I return to the remaining children of Thomas Gibson McClure and Mary
Ann I’ll finish with the family of his son WH McClure. I have already touched on
Ida L. marrying Clyde Burton Stevens. Clyde was a Farmer working a farm in
Kenton County near Crittenden for a few years. During this time
Natilean Stevens was born on April 14, 1911 in Crittenden.
Wayne Athel Stevens on September 30 1912 in Crittenden
Juanita Erma Stevens 1914 in Crittenden.
Mildred Wilma Stevens arrived on November 28, 1915 in Piner Kenton County
Kentucky.
Clyde and Ida moved between 1916 and 1920 to the rich farmland of northern
Ohio
Francis Stevens was born in 1920 on November 6 in Bono Lucas County Ohio
and died the same day.
Lula Mae Stevens arrived March 15, 1923 At Graytown Ottawa County
Ohio. The family stayed in Graytown for the six years. During this time
Lucy Jean Stevens was born on December 28, 1924
Vessy Ethyl Stevens July 10, 1929.
1930 found the family on the road again this time settling in Quincy, Branck
County Michigan. On March 3, 1932
Betty Carol Stevens arrived on March 3, 1932.
This is Clyde and Ida’s last child. Clyde passed away January 15, 1963 in Albion
Calhoun Michigan He was seventy six years old He was buried in Independence
Cemetery Kenton County Kentucky. Ida Lula died March 17, 1950 Hillsdale
County Michigan She was buried next to her mother in Reading Cemetery
Hillsdale, Michigan.
Lula Mae McClure Stevens and Clyde Barton’s children distributed throughout
the country like the wind scattering seed.
Natilean Stevens died in Grant County December 29, 1911
Wayne Athel Stevens married Carmen F. Spangler He died June 7, 1991 in
Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio
Juanita Erma Stevens married Earl B. Foreman in Wood County Ohio 1933.
Mildred Wilma Stevens married Orian A. Reed in 1934; She died in Battle Creek
Michigan 1987.
Francis Stevens lived one day
Lula Mae Stevens married Dale Smith 1943 and then Vernon Pool
after 1948
Lucy Jean Stevens Oliver Kushto Jr. then William C Bailey She died in Los
Angeles California in 1982
Vessie Ethyl Stevens married Henry H. Benefiel in Philadelphia Pa. In 1952
Betty Carol Stevens married Oren Abner Jr. She died in Kalamazoo Michigan
in 1982
The rest of Thomas Gibson’s Children
Sally B. McClure b. August 19, 1860 died at age four in 1864
John E. McClure b. November 7, 1861 married Luara died 1907
Charles F. McClure b. 1866 died June 1 1869
Alexander and Jane’s next Child to leave was Elizabeth who was born in1812
when she married E.Harry Brown September 3, 1834.
Their Children were
I. James W. Brown b.1836 d.1891 Buried Lebanon Cemetery Grant County
Kentucky
II. Martha Brown b.1841 d.1864 at the age of 22y.11m. She is Buried in
Lebanon Cemetery Grant County Kentucky
.
III. Thomas G. Brown b.1844 d. 1910 Buried in Lebanon Cemetery Grant
County Kentucky.
IV. Electra Brown b.1846 d.1847 Buried in Lebanon Cemetery Grant County
Kentucky
V. Fannie Brown b.1851 d.1877 Buried in Lebanon Cemetery Grant County
Kentucky
Will Of Alexander McClure
Alexander McClure -Page 38 T
In the name of God, Amen. I Alexander McClure of the County of Grant and
State of Kentucky, being weak of body but of sound mind and memory
considering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death do make and
publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former “,ills.
First, it is my wish and desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall
be paid by my executors out of my personal effects so soon after my decease as
may be convenient.
Second, it is my wish that my landed property, stock, household property ,
grain may be on the premises and all other personal effects (except hereafter
provided for) shall remain in the possession and
use of my beloved wife, Jane, for her comfortable support during her natural life
as likewise to entible her to provide and maintain her family and make it a
comfortable home for her and them.
Third, it is my wish and desire that my two sons. Alexander and William
Harvey, shall remain on the farm with their mother and that the family
cultivate the farm and take care of the farm and other property subject to the
discretion and control of my said beloved wife
Fourth., 1 desire and direct that after the decease of my said beloved wife, Jane,
my landed property , stock and ~1l1 the personal effects on the premises shall
descend and belong to my said sons, Alexander and William Harvey, forever to
be equally divided between them.
Fifth, to make a suitable provision for my daughters that are living at home,
namely., Susan, Margaret, Christian and Nancy (no punctuation) it is my wish
and request that my wife and said sons at their discretion may provide for them
out of my said effects when they may marry and leave home as my other
daughters may have been provided for.
Sixth, as my children that are married or living from home, namely, Polly Pigot,
~Martha Meyers, Jane McClure, Betsy Brown, .James Thomas Gibson, Hannah
and John have had assistance and been ill some way provided for, it is my desire
never the less that each and everyone of them shall receive out of my estate one
dollar .
Lastly, it is my desire that my property as above named shall remain together
without appraisement sale or distribution during tile life of my said wife and I
hereby appoint and desire my said beloved wife, Jane, and my son, Alexander
McClure, as executors to carry out the provisions of this my last will and
testament into effect,
In testimony hereof I have set my and affixed by seal this 26th of February
1842, Alexander (X) McClure. Signed and sealed in the presence A.R.Walker,
James Gibson.
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Grant County Court, August 14, 1843.
The foregoing last ,will and testament of Alexander McClure, deceased, ‘’’as
produced in court at the August term and on the day aforesaid and having been
proven by the oaths of A. R Walker and James Gibson, the subscribing
witnesses, thereto was ordered to be recorded which is duly done. Attest: \Wm.
Smith Clerk.
The Other Pioneers in Lebanon Cemetery
Benson :
Jimmy Benson was the son of William Grant and his second wife Elizabeth. He
was born November 17, 1870 and died January 16, 1872
W.H. Dickerson
Not much can be found on the Dickerson’s W.H. was born in 1853 his wife
Nebraska was born in 1854. They had three children I can find. Elmer Floyd
born 1883 died 1937 and in 1880 a set of twins Berte and Ethyl. W.H.,
Nebraska and Elmer are buried in Lebanon.
Gibson’s
This Family is covered in other parts of this Book. They intertwine throughout
Lebanon’s History. I felt it would be good to include it .To tie up loose ends.
Thanks To Robert Gibson for sharing this
Gibson Family of Grant Co.
Among the oldest families of northern Grant Co. are the Gibson’s. They descend
from Thomas Gibson who was born <1765, most likely in Virginia, and died
November 1, 1822. Thomas came to Kentucky in 1790 from Pennsylvania,
settling in Fayette Co. where he appears on the Tax Lists for 1793 to 1797. He
next appears in Fleming, Nicholas, and Harrison Counties of the Licking Valley
through 1806, arriving on Grassy Creek in 1807. There, he would live on
various tracts of land until purchasing land about one mile west of Sherman in
1820. It is believed Thomas and family were involved in logging and clearing
the land.
Thomas= first wife is unknown, dying sometime after the birth of Robert in
1795. Their children were Elizabeth, William, Jane, James, Mary, and Robert.
All but Elizabeth and William attended Lebanon Presbyterian Church. In 1798,
Thomas married Nancy Paget (sic), a widow with ten children. Divorce papers,
filed in Pendleton Co. in 1813 describe them as Poor, with no land.@ Divorce
proceedings were dropped in 1814. There is no official record of this marriage
having taken place.
Elizabeth Gibson was born c1786 and died before 1822. She married Joseph
Cunningham in Harrison Co. in 1806 and died without issue.
William Gibson b.1788 and died prior to January 1844. William came to the
area with his father, but returned to Harrison Co. in 1811. While there, he
married Dorothy Martin in June 1812, and returned to the Crittenden area in
1813. Their family adopted the Methodist faith of Dorothy=s family. William
owned two tracts of land just east of the Lloyd Wildlife Preserve, giving the
name, Gibson’s Fork, to the north fork of the middle fork of Grassy Creek.
William and Dorothy had seven sons and three daughters and are the ancestors
of most of the modern-day family in Grant Co. logged. Sons John and James
never married. Thomas, Edward, and William migrated to Cynthiana, Indiana
where they operated a boot-making business, a trade most likely learned from
their Uncle Robert. Daughters Catherine Ann, and Freelove also went to
Indiana. Mary died c1851 and her family left the area, leaving sons Phillip W.
and Robert Wesley in the area. More on them below.
Jane Gibson was born 1787 to 1789 in Pennsylvania and died in 1861. She
married Alexander McClure, a widower, in 1810 and together they had four
sons and three daughters. Alexander and Jane lived on the modern-day John
Simpson farm and donated the land for Lebanon Presbyterian Church. Although
no marker has been found, they are buried there.
James Gibson was born in 1790 in Kentucky and died on November 21, 1851.
James served in Michael Gleaves= Company of the 1st Kentucky Regiment in
the War of 1812. He was wounded and taken as a Prisoner of War at the Battle
of the River Raisin. James lived with Thomas, then purchased land northwest of
Lebanon Church in Boone Co. Grant Co. annexed this area in 1870. James was
married to Elizabeth Moss in 1813 and they had sons Thomas and John James.
James remarried in 1821 to Elizabeth McPherson, and they had two sons and
four daughters. Most of James= family was gone from the area by 1880, having
migrated to Gallatin and Owen Co., Indiana and Missouri.
James= grandson, William T. Gibson, was profiled in Perrin=s A History of
Johnson Co., Missouri@, as a highly successful farmer, as was his son-in-law
Alfred Records in the A History of Posey Co., Indiana.@
Mary Gibson was born March 1, 1792 and died Mar 14, 1870. She married
Elisha Ratcliff in 1814 and they lived about a mile east of Lebanon Church.
They had four sons and six daughters, of which only five produced children of
their own.
Robert Gibson was born on February 5, 1795 and died April 12, 1854. He
married Elizabeth McClure in 1828 and they lived east of Sherman, off the
Sherman-Newtown Road. Robert operated a tannery at The Wells@, near
Crittenden. He was appointed a Commissioner of the County Tax@ in 1828, and
is the only known slaveholder among the family. Robert and Betsy had three
sons and four daughters, of which five had children.
Philip Wiggins Gibson was born February 20, 1818 and died December 21,
1895, and was described by a grandson as a >big, redheaded man. He married
Nancy Mileham in 1841, and together they raised six sons and three daughters,
born between 1843 and 1863. Upon the death of his father, Philip and the other
heirs sold William=s land and purchased a tract of 83 acres on the southeast
corner of the wildlife preserve. He would cut timber and farm this land,
eventually buying out his siblings in 1852. He would sell this land in 1854 and
move to Heathen Ridge, in eastern Grant Co., where he would amass 387 acres
at the time of his death in 1895. A strong Union man, Philip nevertheless lost
the entire contents of his corn crib without compensation to the Michigan
Cavalry unit that was stationed here during the War Between the States. Philip
and Nancy attended Carter=s Chapel Methodist Church, and are buried there.
Their children were:
I. Dorothy Ann married Richard Mann
II. Ebenezer married Mary Catherine Mann
III. William Thomas married Louisa Bailey
IV. James married Amanda A.Ollie@ Barker
V. Mary married Addison Bailey
VI. Nancy Elizabeth married George Brown
VII. Samuel married Nancy Tomlin
VIII. Philip M. married Minnie Barker
IX. Robert B. married Lora Thomas
Robert Wesley Gibson, commonly known as >Wesley=, was born September 12
1819 and died July 16, 1884. He married Harriet Rich in 1847. Wesley was a
carpenter and farmed in the Flingsville area, living at various times in Kenton,
Grant and Pendleton Cos. He and Harriet attended Carter=s Chapel, and are
buried there. They had three children born between 1848 and 1853. Margaret
apparently died young. William S. married Lucy Fletcher, and Wellington
married Betty Brown.
S.E. Hogsett
S.E Hogsett was a merchant in Crittenden with partner they ran Hoggsett and
Ratcliff, they were merchants in dry goods. S.E. was married to Nannie (Marr)
They had several chidren three of which are buried in Lebanon Nancy who died
in 1862, Gordon b. 1878 died 1879 and Infant Son who died at birth. Clarence
Hoggset was born in 1877 went to schools in Crittenden and graduated from
Centre College. Clarence worked for his father in the dry goods store and is a
confidential bookeeping clerk. He is also in his third term as Police Judge for
Crittenden.
William McDowell
William McDowell was born 1779 He was a veteran of the war of 1812, He had
two daughters that I could find.
Elizabeth SR McDowell
b.???? She married B.F. Lemmon Feb 23, 1854. She died 1871 and is buried in
Lebanon Cemetery. Her first child was Elizabeth Emily born November 22,
1854. A male was born September 19, 1856, Bettie Elizabeth was born February
21, 1856, and Lilly was born April 29, 1859. After her death B.F. Lemmon
married Elizabeth Davis March 13, 1873. Daughter Bettie Elizabeth died
February 21 1856 She is buried next to her mother in Lebanon Cemetery.
Williams’s second daughter was Mary Harmon McDowell She Married Moses
McClure and is covered in his family in this book she is buried next to her father
in Lebanon.
Luke and Mary Points
By Janet Pease
Luke Points was born sometime around 1774-1784 according to the census
records, probably in Pennsylvania. Although a biographical sketch of his son,
William says he was born in Virginia. His tombstone in the Lebanon Church
Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky incorrectly gives his dates as April 1770-
November 1804, aged 70 years. Luke may have been killed by lightning while
visiting Pendleton County. Several Grant County circuit court cases However,
indicate that he died in the “summer of 1829.” He was the son of John Points
who died in Boone County, Kentucky in 1818. His name first appears on the
1799 Pendleton County, Kentucky tax list with John Points, probably his
father. He was married on February 24,1801 in Pendleton County, Kentucky to
Mary Hutchison, born 1774; died May 21,1866, aged 92 years, buried Lebanon
Church Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky. Luke appears on Boone County,
Kentucky tax lists but in 1817, he purchased land from his parents, John and
Jane Points of Boone County, consisting of 55 acres on Eagle Creek. From 1821-
1827, Luke is on Boone County, Kentucky tax lists be he appears in various
Grant County records in mid 1820s. Known children (based on his estate
papers).
1. John Points was born circa 1803. He married Sarah H. Moore on November
4,1824 in Grant County, Kentucky. He was living in Crittenden, Grant County,
Kentucky in 1880, and then reportedly removed to Beloit, Mitchell County,
Kansas where he is buried.
2. Robert H. Points born circa 1804. His marriage bond to Jane Elizabeth
Chapman was dated September 17,1826 in Boone County, Kentucky. The family
removed to Schuyler County, Illinois where Robert died April 21, 1840.
3.Jane Points born circa 1810. She may have been the Jane Points who married
Thomas G. Leonard on February 17, 1827 in Grant County, Kentucky but her
father’s estate pagers (Grant County, Kentucky Circuit Court Box #14) call her
“ Jane Points” and a daughter “Mary Leonard” is named in those same papers
in 1833. The Thomas G. Leonard family removed to Schuyler County, Illinois
and the, wife (Jane? Mary?) was deceased by 1840 when Thomas married again.
4. A female appears born 1800-1810 on the 1810 census but does not appear on
the 1820 census listing. See Mary Points below.
5. William Thomas Points was born March 12,1811 in Boone County, Kentucky
and married Margaret Franks on October 8, 1838 in Grant County, Kentucky.
He served in the Kentucky State Legislature and left many descendants from his
sixteen children in the Grant County vicinity. He died March 5,1902 and is
buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky.
6. Sarah Points was born circa 1813 and died January 22,1858, “aged 44 years,
6 months, 10 days”. She is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Grant County,
Kentucky.
7. Mary Points is listed as an unmarried daughter in Luke Points’ heirs in 1829
and again in 1833. She may be the Mary Points who married Elisha Beard, bond
dated November 23,1836, bondsman William Points. If so, Mary (points) Beard
was deceased by May 11,1841 when Elisha married again. This family
eventually removed to Appanosse County, Iowa.
Researched by Janet Pease 10310 W. 62 nd Place, #202 Arvada, Colorado
80004. Used, with permission.
Stern Kendall
From the Files of Mable Conrad Walden
Sterne Kendall was born June 24. 1766 in Orange Stafford or Culpeper
Counties, Virginia. He ran away from home at age 17, following a sister and
husband to Kentucky. In 1808, he married Elizabeth Owen near Baltimore,
Maryland she was the daughter of Richard Owen. She died November 23. 1831,
and was mother of sixteen Children. Sterne farmed extensively, and served as
constable and later magistrate in Grant County for many Years. Early in his
career. Indians stole his mothers and her neighbor’s horses. Overtaking them
near Covington, a fight ensued and the horses were recaptured. Sterne was
injured, remaining a cripple all his life. He died December 17. 1852 and was
buried in the Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Stern and Elizabeth’s Children:
1. James Madison was born 1809 married a Miss Ingram.
2. Bailey Washington, born 1810, married Elizabeth Lassiter in 1829. He
married her sister; Bailey had eight children by Elizabeth. He was a farmer,
carpenter, mechanic, Baptist and teacher of singing school. He resided in Scott
County and lived over sixty years.
3.Dicey, born July 4, 1811. Married William Cunningham. She is buried at
Lebanon Church.
4.Joseph Anthony (1813-1893) He married Mary Blackburn who died in 1894.
In Switzerland County. Indiana They raised a family of eight children, including
a son who died of disease in the Union Army; another son killed in action in the
Union Army. Joseph Anthony endowed DePauw University with a scholarship.
5. Susanna, born 1813, married David Hayes of Pendleton County. They moved
to Crowley, Texas and raised a family of five.
6. Catherine (1815-1851), married Ferdinand Reid.
7. George (1816-1904). wounded while serving in the Confederate Army. George
probably never married.
8. Andrew Jackson (1818-1900) married Lilly McClure (1829-1913). (see Lilly
McClure in McClure section of this book) They raised a family of twelve children
in Grant County, and they are buried at Lebanon Church.
9. Guildford Owen (1819-1887) married Mary Mickell.
10. Thomas Calhoun (1821-1848) served as an aide to General Taylor in the
Mexican War. He is not known to have married.
11. Elizabeth (1923-1903) married William Gardner of Gardnersville, Pendleton
County. They raised a family of six children.
12. Lucy (1823-1909) married Richard Oldhom of Pendleton. They had five
heirs. She died in Owen County.
13. Francis (1828-1901) She married Washington Jacobs. They moved to
LaGrange. Missouri. They had one son a doctor.
14. Malinda (1828-1858), not know to have married.
15. Charles Berry (1830-1919) married Elizabeth Tippett who died in 1884. He
is buried at Spring Branch, south of Williamstown. He had a family of four
children.
16. Richard Mann (1831-1911) He married Martha Lambert who was born in
1844. They moved near Princeton, Missouri. They had three children including
a son. David, who was born 1871, David served in the Missouri Legislature.
Will Of Sterne Kendall:
Stearn Kendall- Page 494
I, Stearn Kendall of the County of Grant and State of Kentucky being weak of
body, but sound in mind do make and ordain this writing as my last will and
testament.
First, I give and bequeath to my son, Charles Kendall, the farm on which I now
reside containing fifty acres
Second, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Melinda, my big bay horse, John,
together with one bridle and
Saddle and the balance of my personal property I direct shall be divided equally
between my son, Charles, and my daughter, Melinda.
Lastly, I appoint my son, Charles, executor of this will and request the court to
require no security of him.
Given und{‘r my hand this 30th day of December 1851. Stearn Kendall. Attest:
J. R. Hallam, Larkin Webster.
Grant County Court January Term 1854.
The foregoing Will of Stearn Kendall was returned at the term above, stated and
proven by the oath of
Larkin Webster, one of the subscribing witnesses, and he proving the signature
of J. R. Hallarn, another subscribing witness, which was received and ordered to
be recorded and admitted to record this 31 January 1854.
H. Woodyard, Clerk by J. B. Woodyard, Deputy Clerk.
Mary Jane Judy
Mary Jane was born McKinsey she married J.A. Judy his third wife on March
23, 1892 She is buried in Lebanon amongst the McKinseys.
Souvenir Edition, The Williamstown Courier, Williamstown, Ky, May 30, 1901,
reprinted September 19, 1981 by the Grant County KY Historical Society.
John A. JUDY was born in Mercer County, Ky., October 6, 1844, and is a son of
Peter Lyall and Martha (Hedger) JUDY. When he was a small boy his father
removed to Grant County, and in a short time started for the West, but while
making the voyage up the Missouri River died, and John returned home to
battle with the world. He received a fair common school education and began to
work for his living as a farmer and trader. He was a good farmer, a good
trader, and a better manager, and as the years passed by his income
accumulated until he was in possession of considerable property. He followed
farming and trading until the early nineties, when he opened a drug store at
Dry Ridge, one of the first in the town. A little later he formed a partnership
with George W. Miller, and later still, sold out his interest to Mr. Miller. In
1898 he again began business in the drug line at Dry Ridge, and again sold out
to Mr. Miller in about a year.
In 1899 he bought the Dry Ridge Roller Mill, which is said to be one of the best
mills in northern Kentucky, and has continued to run it with much satisfaction
to his customers and profit to himself ever since. The output of the mill is about
thirty barrels of high grade flour per day of twelve hours, and there is scarcely a
day when it does not run that long at least, and a great deal of the time runs
night and day. Its product is the finest made in the county, and customers from
all parts of the county patronize it, while a ready demand is found for the flour
produced by this mill in large towns outside of the county, though not a great
deal is shipped away, as it takes pretty near all it can produce to supply the
wants of customers within the county limits.
While Mr. JUDY is making money out of the mill, and running it with entire
satisfaction to his customers and to himself, yet he is willing to sell, as his
health has not been so good as it might be of late, and he thinks the seclusion of
a farm life would be better for him than the milling business. Should any one
desire to engage in the mill business no better place can be found than here.
In the field of matrimony Mr. JUDY has been eminently successful, and
evidently believes in the scriptural injunction, “It is not good for man to live
alone” for he has been married three times. He was married the first time to
Miss May Green, in 1872. She departed this life some few years later, and he
was remarried two years after to Miss Sallie Conner. His second wife lived a
number of years, and a year after herdeath he was again married, to Miss Jane
McKensey, who still survives.No children have been born to any of these
marriages.
In politics Mr. JUDY is a Democrat. During the thirty-five years in which he has
been a voter he has never voted any other ticket, and has never missed an
election. He has been a candidate for county office on one or two occasions. He
is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a man who lives up to the
principles of the church in which he holds membership. He is a member of
Oswego Tribe of Red Men, Dry Ridge, and a regular attendant at all their
meetings.
William C. Kennedy
The Kennedy’s are buried in Lebanon, William’s first wife Catherine who was
born in 1817 died in 1850 and William married Margaret Brown in 1853. The
article below is about his father but includes statement about William. The
members of his family buried in Lebanon are
William C. Kennedy b-10 April 1815 died 20 November 1870 Tombstone reads
“Killed By Railroad Cars”
Catherine Kennedy b.12 April 1817 died 22 May 1850
Margaret Kennedy b.1820 died 1899
Lucy J. Kennedy b. 14 April 1849 died: 23 September 1849
William Dorman Kennedy b. 19 May 1864 died 13 Sept 1865
Susan G. Kennedy b. 27 August died 12 December 1876
Taken From Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed.,
1887, Gallatin Co.
JAMES W. KENNEDY
He was born in Gallatin County, Ky., December 13, 1840, and is a son of William
and Catherine (Campbell) Kennedy. William Kennedy was born in Boone County
April 10, 1816; he followed farming all his life. His wife, Catherine Campbell,
was born in Boone County, near Burlington, April 12, 1818. They were married
about 1838, and had six Children—three daughters and three sons—viz: Mary
H., James W., John G., Edward, Sallie and Lucy. Only three of whom are now
living: John G., James W. and Sallie. William Kennedy was killed by the cars on
the Short Line Railroad, near Verona, in Boone County, in 1870. His wife died
about 1850, and in 1853 he married Margaret Brown, daughter of Robert
Brown, of Gallatin County, Ky. James W. Kennedy was brought up on the farm,
and received a common-school education. He has all his life done some farming,
but since about 1864 has been engaged in the mercantile business. He moved to
Normansville in 1867, and has also dealt largely in tobacco for the past fifteen
years. On march 31,
1863, he married Lizzie Dorman, a daughter of Peter and Lucy (Kemper)
Dorman, of Gallatin County. To this union have been born four children—three
daughters and one son: Dorman, Katie, Lucy and Sallie B. Dorman died in
infancy. James W. Kennedy owns about eighty acres of land in Boone County; he
is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Maria Leonard
1828 Membership records Of Lebanon Presbyterian Church show Josie Leonard
who is probably Maria’s mother and Maria’s elder sister Judith Collins are
members. Maria who was born 12 June 1812 and died at the age of fifty-eight in
1871 was probably never married. She is probably not listed as a member of the
church because she was only sixteen in 1828. Buried next to Maria is Willie
Collins who was Maria’s sister Judith Collins Son.
The 1820-1829 Tax list shows Michael owning land in the Crittenden area.
1828-1829 shows son Thomas with land nearby. The 1870 Census shows Maria
living in Crittenden and Polly living in Williamstown.
WILL of MICHAEL LEONARD
Grant County 1838Book B - Page 203
By Beulah Franks
In the name of God Amen. I, Michael Leonard of the County of Grant and State
of Kentucky, being weak of body but of sound mind knowing the uncertainly of
life and the certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last will and
testament..
First it is my wish and desire that my funeral expenses shall be paid out of any
effects that may be in my possession at the time of my decease.
Secondly, that all my just debts shall be paid out of any of my personal property
or monies that may be coming to me as soon as they can be conveniently done
after my death.
Thirdly, as for my children, Judith Collins, Peter Leonard, Thomas Leonard,
Katherine Hickey and Maria Leonard have been some time from my family and
having been provided agreeably to my ability and design, I make no Provisions
for them out of any property or effects I have at present in possession except one
dollar to be divided among them.
Fourthly, as my youngest daughter, Elizabeth Leonard, is at present living with
me and has the care of my family concerns, I give and bequeath to her the land
and appurtenances on which I now live and having executed her a deed for the
same; it is my wish and desire that the land deed be recorded and remain valid
to her and her heirs, and after the payment of my funeral expenses and just
debts all my personal property and dues? I give and bequeath to her, the said
Elizabeth Leonard, to have and hold without sale or distribution; all my
children being of mature age.
Fifthly, as my daughter Polly Ann Leonard who lives with me is in ill health and
greatly impaired in body and mind and could with no property hold, it is my
wish and desire that she should remain with said daughter Elizabeth and enjoy
a comfortable home so long as circumstances admit.
Sixthly, should any property or effects hereafter accrue to me or my heirs out of
my wife’s estate it is my wish and desire that the whole of such property and
effects should be equally divided among all my children as her heirs.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this5th of March
1838.
Michael (X) Leonard
Test: Adam R. Walker Wm Points William Sechrest
State of Kentucky, Grant County
I, H. B. Smith, Clerk of the Court for the County aforesaid do certify that this
Will of Michael Leonard, dec’d, was produced to Court at the August Term 1838,
And proven by the oaths of W. Points and W. Sechrest, two of the subscribing
Witnesses and ordered to be recorded, attest, H. B. Smith.
The last will and testament of Michael Leonard, deceased, was produced in
Court of the August Term 1838, and proven by the oaths of William Points
and William Sechrest, the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered
to be recorded and is as follows, to wit:
Ransom Stewart
Ransom was married to Arabelle It is believed they lived in Boone County
Kentucky near Lebanon and was a Farmer
Emanuel Webster Family
Contributed by Beulah Franks
Emanuel Webster was born in Fayette County Kentucky October 14, 1809 He
married Lucinda Collins August 2, 1840 in Grant County Kentucky. Emanuel
was a farmer and at the time of his death in 1895, his estate amounted to two
hundred acres south of Crittenden on the Covington Turnpike and Mt. Zion-
Sherman Road. Lucinda died October 17, 1890 both are buried at Lebanon
Cemetery.
Emanuel and Lucinda’s children were:
1 Sarah Jane Webster b.June 6, 1841 in Grant County. She married Francis
George Kelly.
2. James Mafrie Webster b. October 10, 1842 He married Eliza Jane Canfield.
James died February 10, 1913 and is buried in Crittenden Cemetery. There isn’t
any mention of Elizabeth’s death or burial place.
3. Marion F. Webster born March 15 1844 died July 22,1851 buried in
Lebanon Cemetery.
4. Cyrus Yancy Webster married Elizabeth Alexander
5. Willis Collins Webster married Sarah Jane Alexander
6. Rebecca Marion Webster born February 5, 1854 died September 2, 1863.
Buried in Lebanon Cemetery.
Mary Webster was born December 12, 1785 in Virginia, and was married to
Wiley Webster May 14, 1807 They were Emanuel’s parents. Mary was buried in
Lebanon Cemetery July 14, 1867
It’s Never Time To Say Goodbye
Robert L Weis Sr. c. 1999
Foreword
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