Virginia

Biographical Sketch of William Kerr

The father of William Kerr, whose name was Thomas, died when he was six years of age. They were originally of Virginia, but at the time of Mr. Kerr’s death they were living in Mercer County, Ky. William was bound out by his mother, who did not feel able to raise him; and in 1827 he came to Montgomery County. Here he married and had James H. H., George W., Elizabeth, William A., John T., Melissa C., Benjamin, Sophia, William, Douglass M., and Milton. Two of the children are dead, and all the others, except one, who resides in Lincoln … Read more

Biography of Adam Hance

Adam Hance was born in Coblin, a French province of Alsace, and, as usual with the people of that country, spoke both German and English. He came to America and settled near Germantown, Pa., in 1722, where he married a German lady, and raised a large family. His younger son, also named Adam, married a Miss Stoebuck, of Pennsylvania, in 1768, and settled in Montgomery County, Va. When the revolutionary war began, fired by the prevailing patriotic feelings of the day, he joined the American army under Washington, and served during the entire war. He was in the battles of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Loyd

William Loyd, of Wales, emigrated to America, and at the commencement of the revolution he sided with the Americans and enlisted in their army. He settled and lived in Virginia. His son William married Mary Hill, and they had Kirtley, Richard, William, Willis, Robert, James, Anna, Mary, Sarah, and Margaret. Kirtley lived in Virginia until 1860, when he removed to Missouri. Richard married Martha Ellis, and settled in Montgomery County in 1838. William married the widow Davault, whose maiden name was Virginia Maughs. Robert married the widow Brown, whose maiden name was Cynthia A. Bush. James, Sarah, and Margaret lived … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph McFarland

Joseph McFarland, of Ireland, came to America before the revolution, and settled at Norfolk, Va. He joined the American army when the war broke out, and was killed in battle. He left a widow and one son, Robert, who settled in Madison Co., Ky., where he married Rhoda Quick, and they had Sarah, Joseph, and Rachel. Mr. McFarland’s first wife died, and he subsequently married Eva Farmer, of Virginia, by whom he had-Eleanor, Lucinda, Elizabeth, Permelia, Eliza, and Robert. Joseph McFarland settled in Montgomery County in 1825. He married. Polly Cundiff. Lucinda married James McGarvin, of Montgomery County. Eliza married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin A. Clements

Benjamin A. Clements was a soldier of the revolution. He married his cousin, Susan Clements, and they had nine children six sons and three daughters. Two of the sons, Robert and David, settled in Missouri. Robert was born in Fluvanna Co., Va., January 19, 1783, and is still living in Montgomery Co., Mo., in his 94th year, being the oldest man in the County. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and settled in Montgomery County in 1842. He married Elizabeth Thomas in 1809, and they had eleven children, six sons and five daughters.

Biography of Victor Craig

Victor Craig, of England, came to America in 1760, and settled in Maryland. He had four sons, William, James, Robert, and Samuel. William and James lived in Albemarle County Va. Samuel was drowned in the Susquehanna River. Robert was a soldier of the revolutionary war. He was married first to Susan Carter, of Virginia, who was afterward killed by the Indians. She lived nine days after having been scalped. Mr. Craig was married the second time to Sarah Ellington, of New Jersey, by whom he had-John, David, Victor, Jonathan, Jacob, Cynthia, Nancy, and Sally. Mr. Craig settled in Montgomery County … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Crane

George W. Crane was born in 1792, in King and Queen County, Virginia, was married in 1818 to Nancy Gresham, of Franklin County, Kentucky, and settled in Montgomery County, Missouri, in 1824. He was Assessor of Montgomery County four years, and Sheriff eight years. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and the first clerk of New Providence Church on Loutre. His children were C. C., Thomas J., Joseph G., George W., C. D., Mildred A., Martha E., and Mary.

Biographical Sketch of James Barnes

James Barnes, of Virginia, settled in Kentucky at an early date. He had three sons James, Jr., Noble, and John. The two latter settled in Illinois, where they lived and died. James, Jr., settled in Missouri. He married Sarah Callaway, daughter of Flanders Callaway, and they had twenty-two children, sixteen of whom lived to be grown, viz: James, John, Larkin, William, Callaway F., Flanders C., Lilborn, Volney, Andrew, Rhoda, Jemima, Minerva, Margaret, Hulda, Cynthia, and Elizabeth. Flanders C. married Obedience Grigg, and lives in Montgomery County. He has in his possession a knee-buckle and silk stocking that belonged to his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edwin Beard

Edwin Beard and his wife, Mary Bell, of Ireland, came to America and settled in Augusta Co., Va. They had William, John, David, Charles, and Samuel. The latter was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. He married Sarah Craig, of Staunton, Va., and settled first in Pennsylvania, from whence he removed to Kentucky in 1792, and to Missouri in 1827. His children were John, William, David, Samuel, Absalom, James, Mary B., Sarah L., and Elizabeth. William was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison. He married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Berger

Jacob Berger, of Germany, came to America and settled first in Pennsylvania, but subsequently removed and settled in Pittsylvania Co., Va. His sons were William, Jacob, George, and John; and he had several daughters whose names we could not obtain. William was killed in the war of 1812, having volunteered to serve in place of his brother George, who had been drafted, and who, being a married man, could not leave his family. George married Mary Boatright, of Virginia, by whom he had Thomas A., Jacob, Louisa J., Lucy A., William J., Appalana F., Polly, David, Elizabeth, and Marialmnel. Jacob … Read more

Biography of Gideon Bowles

Gideon Bowles and wife, of Dublin, Ireland, were members of the St. James Colony that settled in Goochland Co., Va. Anderson Bowles, their son, married Jane Thomas, and settled in Cumberland Co., Va. Their children were Caleb, Sarah, James, Gideon, Ann, Anderson, Jr., Virginia, Elizabeth, Augusta, and David. Ann and Gideon died in Virginia. The rest of the children came with their parents to Madison Co., Ky., in 1806, and in 1811 they all settled in St. Louis Co., Mo., where Mr. Bowles died the following year. His widow lived until 1834. Caleb the eldest son was Judge of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Baker

David Baker, son of Robert Baker, of England, married Mary Anderson, in November, 1756, and settled in Norfolk, Va. They had Elizabeth, Mary, Benjamin, David, Robert, Sarah, Dempsey, Thomas, and James. David was born in November, 1763. He married Judith Johnson, and they had-Sylvester, Thomas J., and John. Sylvester, who was born in 1791, married the widow of John Johnson, whose maiden name was Elsey Ward, and settled in Montgomery Co., Mo., in 1820. His children were-Judith, David W., Sylvester, Jr., William M., and John F. Capt. John Baker was born in 1795. He married Lizzie Johnson, and settled in … Read more

Biography of Colonel Edward J. Steptoe

Colonel Edward J. Steptoe

The available records of the Steptoe family go back to the year 1697, when Anthony and John Steptoe, brothers, located in Lancaster County, Virginia. From one of these was descended Colonel James Steptoe of “Hominy Hall,” on the Lower Potomac. Colonel James Steptoe arose in military rank from the militia of his colony, and his career in the profession of arms began with his appointment as captain of “a company of horse” in 1734, from which position he was promoted to the office of colonel. He was twice married, and there were born to him six children. One of his … Read more

Letter from Col. Robert Love to William Love – Family

Letter from Col Robert Love to his brother, William Love, of Virginia. Near———–on Harpeth, 25th, of Nov. 1814 Dear Brother: I embrace this opportunity of writing a few lines by cousin Stephenson Bell, who will hand you this. It is with heartfelt emotion that I have heard of you still being in the land of the living, and enjoying reasonable share of health-having had it reported to me that you had gone to Orleans and died. My family, I left three weeks ago in a good state of health-thanks be to the Giver of all Good for His protection! Four … Read more

Letter from John Crosby, Deputy Clerk, to Franklin D. Love

Staunton, Virginia, May 13th, 1903. Mr. F.D. Love, Georgetown, Texas. Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of the 14th, of April, last, addressed to the Clerk, which has been handed to me by him for reply. Our records run back to 1745, the records show the names of Robert, Samuel, Ephriam and Joseph Love, who came to this county from Pennsylvania about 1747, but as these old records are poorly indexed and some of them not indexed at all, it is quite a laborious task to look up matters of this character, and I could not undertake … Read more

Col. Robert Love – Revolutionary War Record

Revolutionary War Record of Col. Robert Love. (Some Data) Lieutenant Robert Love, in the year 1776 was stationed at Ft. Robertson, which was located at the head of the Clinch and Sandy rivers in what was then Montgomery County, Virginia, and served as Sergeant in Captain John Stephens company against the Shawnee Indians from April to October. 1780 he served about six months against the Tories as Lieutenant under Col. William Campbell. This service was rendered on Tom’s Creek at the Moravian Old Town in North Carolina, and on an excursion up to and near the Shallow Ford of the … Read more

Biography of William Henry McClung

William Henry McClung, son of Charles and Mary McClung, was born in what is now Jamesport township, this county, February 20, 1842. When he was five years old his parents removed to Greenbrier county, Virginia, where young McClung was reared a farmer, and attended the schools held an the log school houses prevalent in that portion of the country. The learning he thus acquired was meager, attending only one year, but he has by observation and study, since obtained a good business education. When he left home it was to become a soldier in the Confederate army, enlisting in the … Read more

Biography of David F. Hanna, M. D.

The subject of this sketch was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, August 18, 1851. His father, John W. Hanna, is also a native of Virginia. His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Deitz, died at the birth of our subject, and he was reared by his grandmother, a most estimable and cultured lady who carefully trained the mind of her young, charge in those channels calculated to make him a pure minded, honest and honorable man and a respected and useful citizen. He was educated at Louisburg Academy and grew to manhood in his native county. After leaving school … Read more

Joseph Bell

In the name of God. Amen! I, Joseph Bell, of the County of Augusta, and state of Virginia, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make my last Will and Testament in manner following, towit: I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it, and my body to the Earth, all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid first, etc. Impremises, I give, demise and bequeath to my Brother, William Bell’s two oldest children, James Bell and Elizabeth Bell, two hundred acres of land on both sides of the South River adjoining the line that … Read more

Biography of John Cravens

John Cravens, son of Dr. Joseph and Mary Cravens, was born in Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, Virginia, October 28, 1797, where he was reared and educated. He began the study of medicine under his father,, when in his nineteenth year, and began practice some six years later. After practicing with his father two years, he removed to Hardy county, Virginia now West Virginia, and began practice at Petersburg, but only remained one year, when he removed to Pendleton county, opened an office in Franklin, the county seat, and was an active practitioner in that county for ten years. In 1837 he … Read more