Pioneer and Sub-Pioneer families ~ McAvoy ~ McQuain

A complete record of the pioneers of a county should cover these facts : the name of each pioneer, the full maiden name of his wife, the national origin of both man and wife, and the country, state, county, or town that the couple moved from; the full names of their descendants, generation by generation, and the names of the persons they married; dates of birth, marriage and death; facts as to residence, occupation, civil and military services, and other matters of interest.

But where a county has been settled more than a century and a half, where no systematic genealogical records have been kept and preserved, and where no newspaper has existed for more than a small fraction of the time, no such degree of completeness can be reached, even with an unlimited amount of time at the disposal of the local historian. Abbreviations used on page.

McAvoy. John (Eliza ____) b. 1820. d. 1858-ch-1. Edgar W. (Mary S. Helmick)-Roaring Cr, 2, Joseph (Margaret Simmons)-Roaring Cr, 3, John (Grant)* Ch. of Edgar W.-Minnie, Eston, Austin, Gustava, Mollie, Mason.
    Ch. of Joseph: Joseph H., Simon, inf. (dy).

McClung. 2 sons of William (Rachel V, Gwin) of Clover Cr. settled in Pendleton: 1. Daniel G. (Sarah A. Maupin) b. Feb 16. 1824. d. Mar. 3, 1901, 2. Silas B. (Nancy J. Lemon) b. 1832-U. T.
Br. of Daniel G. 1. Tyree M. (Roberta Maupin) Ind. 2. William W. (Emma E, Littell)-editor-Salem. 3. Marshall G. (Elizabeth S. Simmons Koiner)-attorney-Salem. 4. John L.-Tenn. 5. Maude B. (Benjamin H. Hiner).
    Br. of Silas B. L Rachel V, (P____ A. Switzer) Phil'a. 2. Warren C. 3. Clarence R. 4. Josie L.-teacher. 5. Henry P. (Sarah J. Bond). 6. Edgar N.
    Daniel G. was a merchant more than 40 years. During the civil war he conducted a mercantile house at Richmond, supplying the Confederate army with uniforms. He then returned and organized the Farmer's Bank, of which he was president. Tyree M. and John L, are Presbyterian ministers, Henry P. and Edgar N. are salesmen in the city of New York.

McClure. John (Elizabeth McCoy)-b. 1777, d. 1858-ch. -1. John (Sidney Judy)-b. Dec. 5, d. Mar. 19, 1888. 2. Elizabeth-d.
    Br. of John: 1. Elizabeth (Amby Harper) b. 1829. 2. Catharine J. (Jacob Harper) b. 1833. 3. John (Rebecca J. Skidmore)-merchant and stock dealer-Fin. 4. William b. 1846, k. 1864.
   Unp. Michael (Mary ____)-d. 1804.-Fin. Ch-Catharine (Thomas Wood) m. 1800.

McCoy. John (Sarah Oliver, d. 1807)*-ch.-1. Robert- b. 1761, d. 1850-Ind. 2. Elizabeth (John McClure) b. 1763, d. 1842. 3. Oliver (Margaret Johnson) b. 1765, d. 1828. 4. Jane (William Gamble) m. 1792-Ind. 5. William (Elizabeth Harrison)-b. Sept. 20, 1768, d. Aug. 19, 1835. 6. John (Catharine Williams) b. 1770. d. 1811. 7. Benjamin (Margaret Jones, Hid) * b. 1772. 8. Sarah (Jacob Hiner) b. 1774, m. 1799. 9. Joseph (Margaret Harvey b. 1776, d. 1850-Mo. 10. Jemima (Harmon Hiner) b. 1779, d. 1860. 11. James (Elizabeth ____, O.)* b. 1782, d. 1858 O.
    Line of Oliver: 1. Martha b. 1802, d. 1859. 2. Jefferson (Jennie Ruddle) 3. Sarah A. (James B. Kee). 4. Mortimer (Virginia Stillings, G'brier) b. 1811.
    Line of William: 1. Matilda (____ Cunningham, Hdy)* b. July 4, 1801, d. July 21. 1843. 2. John-b. 1803, d. July 21, 1823. 3. Caroline (William McCoy)-b. April 22, 1804, d. Mar. 7, 1830.
    Line of Benjamin: 1. John (Lydia Eagle) m. 1824. 2. Oliver-S. 3. Henry (____ ____)-Hld. 4. William (Caroline McCoy, Mary J. Moomau) b. Feb. 1800, d. Jan. 28, 1886.
    Br. of William: 1. William-b. 1830, d. 1861-S. By 2nd m.-2. Margaret C. 3. Caroline H. (William H. Boggs). 4. Mary V. (William A. Campbell). 5. John (Martha Price). 6. Benjamin. 7. Pendleton (Catharine McMechen-Moorefield. 8. Lucy (Franklin Anderson). 9. Alice V. (Charles Chamberlain) -W.
    Ch. of John: Catharine P. (Byron Boggs), William, Geo. P., Richard C, Courtland, John, Mary (dy), Alice V.
    William, father of the pioneer, came from Scotland. His other son, James went to North Carolina. There were several daughters, whose names we do not possess. Sarah Oliver was a daughter of Aaron, an immigrant from Holland, who married a daughter of Col. Harrison of Rockingham. John settled at Doe Hill. He commanded a company in the French and Indian war. His son Robert marched on foot to join the army of Greene in North Carolina. He took part in the battle of Guilford in 1781 and returned in safety. John, Jr., was slain at Tippecanoe in 1811. The only sons to locate in Pendleton were Oliver and William, the former settling on the South Branch near Byrd's mill. He there built a brick house which is still occupied. He was a justice and otherwise prominent in the early annals of the county. General William McCoy became a merchant at Franklin and was a large landholder in both Pendleton and Highland. He purchased the Peninger and the Ulrich Conrad selections at and below the mouth of the Thorn, and gave much of his care and attention to this well-stocked farm. His prominence as a public man in his own county caused him to be elected to Congress in 1811, and to be returned for eleven consecutive terms. When he went to Washington the national capital was a far remove from the fine city it has recently become. The straggling town of only 9000 people was threaded by unpaved and muddy streets. The long period of 22 years of service was not only a compliment to the ability of General McCoy, but it was also a compliment to his county, Pendleton being the most remote in his district and the least populous and wealthy. In Congress he was a man of influence. He was a trusted friend of President Jackson, and for many years he held the important post of chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1829. His Congressional career was brought to a close by a stroke of paralysis. In person he was tall and spare with a commanding figure. His wife was a kinswoman to President William H. Harrison and also to Professor Gessner Harrison of the University of Virginia.
William, son of Benjamin, was born at Doe Hill, and came to Franklin as a youth to assist in his uncle's business. Later, as an attorney, he represented the extensive land interests of Joseph and Benjamin Chambers. He was able and efficient and of uncompromising honor and integrity. He was a justice and deputy sheriff and served his county in the legislature. He could have succeeded his uncle in congress, but preferred a private life. For many years he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. His oldest son, Captain William, was also a lawyer, and he lost his life in the Confederate service. John, a younger son, succeeded to the occupancy of the family estate and has several times been chosen to the legislature of West Virginia. His oldest son, William, has also served in the legislature and is at present Prosecuting Attorney. His oldest sister, Margaret C, is an artist in landscape and portrait painting and has studied and worked in the city of New York.

McDonald. Anthony (Harriet Stonebraker) b. 1817, d. 1874-ch-1. Peter (Elizabeth Hedrick)-W. 2. Ann M. (Jacob Phares)-b. 1839. 3. Valentine M. (Elizabeth Harper). 4. Mary R. 5. Susan (Jacob Harper). 6. Bronson (Arissa Hinkle) b. 1846. 7. Hortensia (Jacob Hinkle). 8. Seymour (Mary J. Nelson). 9. Sarah J.-dy. 10. Hider (Catharine Lantz)-Keyser. 11. Caroline (Abraham Harman). 12. James-dy. 13. Elmira (John Cooper, Rph)*. 14. Henrietta (Robert Phares). 15. Getta L. (Asa Cooper, Rph)-b. 1864.
    Unp. Archibald (Elizabeth____)-1803.

McQuain. Alexander (Mary Bodkin)-ch.-1. Duncan (Martha Rymer, Catharine Fox) b. 1783, d. 1862. 2. John (Cynthia Vint, Sarah Schrader)-homestead. 3. William - dy. 4. Alexander-W. 5. John-Rph. 6. Hugh-Gilmer. 7. Elizabeth (William Vint). 8. Thomas (Margaret Vint) b. 1791. 10. Jane (Daniel Hevener). 11. Esther (John Hartman)-Ill. 12. Isabella (James Smith)-m. 1811-Hid.
    Line of Duncan: 1. George (Aug)*. 2. Nancy (Henry Propst). 3. Alexander (Nellie Rexroad)-Lewis. 4. Thomas (Sarah Stone). By 2nd m.-5. Elizabeth-d. 6. Jane (Aug.) *. 7. Catharine d. 1862. 8. Mary (John Vint)-Ill. 9. Martha (Aug.)*. 10. Margaret d. 1883. 11. Amanda (Duncan Wees). 12. William F. 13. John M. (Ida Masters, Hid.) -B.-T.
    Br. of John M.-Robert W., Margaret (John Pitsenbarger), Samuel, John, Charles, Kate (Pleasant Propst), Nancy, Ida M., Jane, Elizabeth, inf (dy).
    Line of Thomas: 1. Martha (John Propst) b. 1839. 2. Malinda (____ Keister, Peter Hyer) b. 1842. 3. Mahulda (David Rader). 4. Minerva (John Rader) b. 1846. 5. Una (John Wagoner, Hid). 6. Morgan (W)*.
    Duncan received a land grant for his services in the war of 1812. Mary Bodkin was not of the Bodkin family of Highland. Thomas, son of Alexander, was murdered on his way to the Shenandoah to purchase land. William F. is a veteran teacher.

Pendleton County West Virginia AHGP

Source: History Of Pendleton County West Virginia By Oren F. Morton, Franklin, West Virginia Published By The Author, 1910.