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
Dedicated To My Son Robbie
Foreword
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