Stephen McWethy

Notes:

The information below was all compiled by Ken Harvey:

Stephen McWethy's family is understood to have moved from New York to Ohio in the early 1800s. Presumably Stephen would have been an infant at the time of his parent's migration westward to Ohio.

There were only three McWethy families recorded in the entire New York State in 1790. They were [three brothers?]; Isaac McWithey (with wife and young daughter), Silas McWithy (with wife, three boys and two girls) and Rubin McWithy (with wife, two grown sons, a boy and two daughters) - all living in Granville Town in Washington Co., New York State. The probability is very high indeed that Stephen McWethy of Darke Co. was one of these unnamed young men, or boys, sons.

An Isaac McWethy was born 26 Oct. 1745 and d p. 1784. He was a Private in the New York [Militia?] during the Revolutionary War. There are no other McWethys listed in this source. Could Isaac have been the father of the three McWethy [brothers?] living in Granville? Alternatively he would have been forty-five, if alive, in 1790. Perhaps Isaac was the father of both Silas and Rubin.

1829, 14th Aug. - James Wight and Sarah (Sarey) [his] wife [both] of Darke Co. [sell] to Stephen McQuithy of Darke Co.; [for] $100; 78.88 acres [that is] all [of] East half, South-East Quarter of Section 10, Township 13, Range 2.

1830 - In 1830 Stephen McWethy (aged between 30 and 40-he was actually 37) was recorded as living alone in Richland Township, Darke Co., Ohio, with one white female in the same age category (she was actually 39), presumably Margaret Alexander. Later on the childless couple adopted John, the infant son of a person understood to be a [Miss?] Graham. Miss Graham was presumably from somewhere within the general area. We find in 1830 the birth of a John Graham (no parents listed) recorded in Butler [Co.?], Ohio, about sixty miles from Darke Co. It seems highly likely that this is the same John McWethy and it is of course possible that his father rather than his mother was a Graham.

After the adoption of John, biological children were understood to have been born to the McWethy couple, but all knowledge about them was lost by John's sons as their father apparently did not keep contact. They understood from John that their father had a good relationship with his siblings by his adoption. Given Margaret's age it is at least possible that further children were adopted rather than born.

The only McWethy head of household recorded in the census of Ohio in 1850 was a Moses M. B. McWethy of Franklin Township, Clermont Co.; ninety-five miles south of Stephen's location. Microfilm page 381.

This suggests that Stephen, who we know died eighteen years later, and his wife, had probably left Ohio. Alternatively Moses could have been a son and as head of household, sheltered his parents, who are unrecorded in the index.

We know however that the McWethy's were almost certainly still in Darke Co. as their grandson (by adoption), William Meade McWethy, understood from his father that they were buried there, near Dallas.

On July 28, 2009, Robin Zeller emailed:

Stephen McWethy and his wife Margaret are buried in the Hoschover Cemetery in Brown Twp., Darke Co., OH. To drive there, take 118 N out of Ansonia (Dallas), OH to Brock Cosmos Rd. Turn right. There will be an electrical sub station on the corner that is owned by DP&L. The Cemetery is back off the road about an 1/8th of a mile. One of the McWethy stones is still standing.

I was a Hoschouer and this was our family cemetery. I am in the process of getting the Twp. Trustees to do something about the Cemetary. I have a copy of a book that Anita Short and Ruth Bowers did in 1965.

There is also listed a wife Margaret who was 65y, 2m, 23d and died on 7 Dec 1856
Stephen McWethy was a veteran of War of 1812 and died on 18 Mar 1858 at 74y, 10m, 23d.

There are also some children of John McWethy in the same cemtery. They are.....
Stephen W. McWethy
Son of J.& E. McWethy
d. on 27 Nov 1855 at 2y,4m,25d

Elba A. McWethy
dau of J. & E. McWethy
d. on 24 Aug 1866 at 7m,21d

Robin Zeller
?u?robinzeller@yahoo.com ?/u?

Stephen married Margaret Alexander on 9 Apr 1820 in Warren County, Ohio. Margaret was born on 13 Sep 1791; died on 7 Dec 1856 in Darke County, Ohio; was buried in Hoschover Cemetery, Rossburg, Darke County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The information below was all compiled by Ken Harvey:

Stephen McWethy and his wife Margaret Alexander adopted John, the infant son of a Graham. John was thought to have been born in Dallas, Darke Co. This recollected place of birth was probably incorrect.

The 1830 birth of a John Graham (significantly no parents are listed) is recorded in Butler [Co.], Ohio.

There is no suitable (or otherwise) unmarried Miss Graham, recorded in the Ohio census of 1830, who could have been the mother.

It now appears that John McWethy was probably the legitimate son of John J. Graham and his wife the former Mary Graham. He would appear to have been born twenty-nine months after their marriage and for some reason he was given up for adoption almost immediately.

It is possible that Mary, or John, died -or that the couple simply could not provide for the infant.

Other possibilities:

1830 - Hezekiah Graham (ca. 35) of Reily Township, Butler Co., Ohio and his wife Sarah Smith (ca. 29) had five children, all under ten years of age. They had married 5th Mar. 1820 in Butler Co. Clearly Hezekiah could have been John McWethy's father but he was probably a happily married man, at least when it came to procreation.

1830 - Thomas Graham (ca. 45) and his wife (ca. 45) of Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio, had one boy of about eight years of age. Also a possiblity.

Later John McWethy was a volunteer in the Union Army and served during the Civil War in Company C-187 in the Ohio Infantry Volunteer's Regiment. He was under Capt. John Manuel. This regiment was used in the mopping-up campaign in Georgia following General Sherman's march to the sea. He was discharged on 20th January 1866 at Macon, Georgia at the age of 37.

The John McWethy and Elizabeth Strait family moved from Darke County, Ohio, to Avilla, Jasper County, Missouri and later Duenweg, Missouri. This relocation occurred between 1867 and 1877

A grand-daughter of John McWethy, Miss Faye McWethy, ordered on 15 Aug. 1962 a "blue grey granite" tombstone to be inscribed - John McWethy Sept. 7. 1829 Nov. 14. 1913 and to be delivered to the Osage Cemetery, Oklahoma. The size was 1-8 X 0-8 X 0-6. Presumably this was feet and inches. Total purchase price was $61.80.

A photograph of John McWethy is in the possession of Judith Keeth (1997).

John married Elizabeth Strait on 23 Sep 1852 in Ohio. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Strait and Rachael Jennings) was born on 12 Dec 1832 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; died on 25 Aug 1877 in Nebraska; was buried in Avilla, Jasper County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died young.

Margaret married George Washington Brown before 1880. George was born on 22 Feb 1853 in Ohio; was buried in Camp Russell Cemetery, Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Linnie Norton. Linnie was born after 1857; was buried in Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The 1900 census showed that Belle had been married for 22 years, and was the mother of 7 children, six of whom were still living.

Elizabell married Lafayette Abrams before 1880. Lafayette was born on 19 Aug 1856 in Ohio; died on 28 Aug 1931; was buried in Camp Russell Cemetery, Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died young.

Notes:

William Mead McWethy was born in Dark County, Ohio, near Dallas, after his father returned from the Civil War.

Following his mothers death the three younger children and their father lived among the three elder children's homes. William remembered living with his older sister "Aunt Mag," in Joplin, Missouri. He attended school here but never completed the third grade.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Oklahoma, Lincoln County, Osage Twp
Enumerated 15 Jun 1900
SD 219 (lined through) ED 125 Sheet 9B
170-174
McWethy, William Head W M Feb 1867 33 M 3 Ohio Ohio Ohio Farmer
McWethy, Ethal Wf W F May 1874 26 M 3 1/1 Kansas Ind Iowa
McWethy, Faye Dtr W F Aug 1898 1 S Ok Ohio Kansas

William married Ethel Arretha Phenis on 29 Sep 1897. Ethel (daughter of William Riley Phenis and Flora Jane Norton) was born on 11 May 1874 in Madison, Greenwood County, Kansas; died on 3 Dec 1965 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery, Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A scan of her obituary is posted on her FindAGrave Memorial page:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=35858280

Susan married James Wiley McKnight about 1886. James was born on 29 Oct 1857 in Missouri; died on 12 Feb 1943 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; was buried in Osage Cemetery, Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Known as Frank.

Early married life was spent on a 160 acre claim in Beaver County, Oklahoma. Later he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad Company.

John married Maggie Kelly on 11 Jan 1905. Maggie was born before 1887; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He appears to have died young, as the 1900 census shows Belle was the mother of seven children, six of whom were still living.

Notes:

This APPEARS to be the same individual listed on the SSDI, based on middle initial and month and year of birth:

CECIL F ABRAMS 28 Dec 1898 21 Feb 1981 (VA) (none specified) 709-14-7566 Long-time or retired railroad workers

Notes:

Faye was born northeast of Guthrie, Oklahoma. She died at the Westhaven Nursing Home.

Notes:

Mead was also born northeast of Guthrie.

Franklin married Velma Lucile Richards on 8 Mar 1925 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. Velma (daughter of Walter Scott Richards and Emma Katherine Knauss) was born on 30 Mar 1903 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; died on 15 Aug 1976 in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas; was buried on 18 Aug 1976 in Memorial Park Cemetery, Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Moved to Wichita to live with daughter Judith in December, 1990.

Marie married Jesse Roe Keeth on 28 Jun 1925 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. Jesse was born on 24 Mar 1903 in Herndon, Saline County, Missouri; died on 28 Nov 1963 in Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma; was buried in Greenhill Cemetery, Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

April 23, 1947 Mrs. Lewis Adair Payne and daughters, Robin Adair and Penny, and Mrs. Payne's mother, Mrs. W.M. McWethy, Stillwater, are visiting Mrs. and Mrs. Marvin Payne, 1106 Oak [Duncan, Oklahoma]. Mrs. Payne is the daughter-in-law of the Marvin Paynes.

Lunora married Lewis Adair Payne on 8 May 1943 in Pawnee, Pawnee County, Oklahoma. Lewis (son of Marvin Walter Payne and Grace Ellen Gentry) was born on 15 Mar 1914 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 18 Aug 1998 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

J. W. Macy (informant) gave Pearl M. Macy's place of birth as Claremore, OK and last residence as 1206 East 2nd Street, Cushing, Oklahoma, on her Certificate of Death. She died from lung cancer.

Family/Spouse: Joseph William Macy. Joseph was born on 18 Jun 1886 in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas; died on 7 May 1969 in Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma; was buried in Osage Cemetery, Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Chester Arthur Hart. Chester was born on 15 Oct 1884; died on 27 Mar 1967; was buried in Osage Cemetery, Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William H. "Bill" Simring. William was born on 15 Mar 1885; died about 1961; was buried in Osage Cemetery, Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

6913 N.W. 25th. Street, Bethany, OK 73008