Letters and Notes of W. J. McKemie,Thornston, Georgia, circa 1902

Contributed here by Marje Watts. [NOT 010]

This is a rather lengthy packet of materials that was accumulated by Augustus K. McKEMIE and sent to Eldon McKEMY in Montgomery, Alabama in 1968. Augustus died in 1969, and is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama. It is also noted that he was first Principal of Lanier High School in Montgomery.

"Notes of W.J. McKEMIE of Thomaston, GA, ca 1902, (father of Prof. A.K. McKEMIE.)

The nineteenth Centery is past, and this is the 9th day of Jan 1901. Wonderful have been the achievements of the centuuy just passed in .....

I, William Johnstone McKemie was born the 12th of September, 1828 and at this writing I am in my 72 year. I was born in Fairfield District, South Carolina. My father, William McKemie , was born December 17, 1799, and died in Troup County, Georgia, Oct. 31, 1872. My grandfather, Johnstone McKemie , died in 1824 and his dust is in the family burying ground of Gen. John Pearson , his father-in-law, in Fairfield District, South Carolina. John McKemie , father of the said Johnstone McKemie , was Presbyterian Minister on the dividing line of North Carolina and South Carolina. The McKemie family as first known, lived in Donigal County, Ireland. They were Scotch and all were Presbyterians from 1650 A.D. to 1830 A.D. at which date my father's family united with Methodist Episcopal Church. Reve. Francis McKemie in the year 1683 came as a Missionary to Maryland and Eastern Shore of Virginia. For his record, see Days of McKemie. He had two brothers who subsequently came over and settled in Southeastern Pennsylvania and in the roll of years their decsendants came down into Virgina, thence migrated west to Tennessee and Kentucky. Some south in to North Carolina and South Carolina, and west through Georgia, Alabama and Texas."

Next is a letter written about "The Old Brick Church" by the Rev. C.E. McDonald, ca 1900, in which he requests of the editor that as it was the centennial year of this church, would they please publishe articles about its history, and indicates that they were planning to publish this history in book form before the year was out, etc. I will only quote her that part that would be of interest to McKemie descendants.

" Alexander Kincaid gave the land upon which the church is erected, and James Kincand and others of the congregation gave the brick and material out of which the church was built. Those men were large planters, and were officers in the Revolutionary War. The names of the other families who were members of the church prior to 1791 were Hawthorne, Turnipseed, Montgomery, Cameron, Hutchison and McKEMIE . Adam and John Hawthorne were elders in the church prior to this time, and James, John and Robert McKEMIE were members."

It continues on to give the history of the church during the "the war of secession" and the damage done to it, as it was occupied by Union Troops affiliated with Sherman's March.

The next part is intitled "The McKEMIE Family in the Atlantic and Gulf States as I understand them from personal knowledge and tradition" It is scattered with hand written notes, correcting some of the information written, presumably by A.K. McKemie.

" 1st. Rev. John McKemie , a Presbyerian minister, born I know not where, but at the birth of Andrew Jackson , with his family, was living on south line of North Carolina. Jackson was born in his home in 1767, March 15. (Corrections written in - Rev. John McKemie WILSON and that Jackson was born in the George McKEMEY home. He sub noted that this birth took place in the Waxhaw Settlement, Union Co. now, Mecklenburg Co. then. "The Rev. John McKEMIE (WILSON) must have been at least 27 years of age. If so, he was born in 1740. We infer then he was the grandson of John or Robert McKEMIE (brothers of the Rev. Francis McKemie who came over some years later and settled in Chester County Pensylvania." He then listed the children of John McKemie and the date 1734 as birth of latter. " Children: James. Francis, John, Johnstone, William and Robert and one sister (evidently intended to say daughter), who m. a Mr. FONDLY .

He lists the children as: a) James died without issue. ( I know nothing about his wife.); b) John had one son and two daughters. (His wife was a Grigsby ); c) Francis , of his family I know nothing; d) Johnstone had five sons and two daughters. (His wife was Mary Pearson ); e) William had one son named John who moved to Russel County Alabama and died there in 1864. His family still lives there.: f) Robert had one daughter and two sons. He moved in 1830 to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and died there. Ages not known, Dorie , his daughter, married a Mr. Fenley . I know nothing of her history.

Notes: The above constitute the family of the Rev. John (I) McKemie . I will now trace their families as I know and have learned.

John McKemie (III) son of John II , son of John 1 , lived and married in Jasper County, Georgia, to whom there were three sons born. Sylvannus was the oldest. The names of the other two I cannot recall. In 1838 he moved to Troup County Georgia. In 1839 his wife died. In 1840 he married Margaret McKemie his full cousin (daughter of Robert McKemie of Tuscaloosa Alabama,) She was a very beautiful and cultured woman. Whether she bore children, I cannot say. The Doctor practiced medicine in West Point, Georgia from 1840 to 1848, then moved to Shreveport, La. and died there in 1877 or 1878. His boys still reside there." Then we find indication that the next page of this dissertation is missing, and it picks up with ...."who had six children. In 1850 he moved to Claborne Parish Louisiana. During the fifties his second wife died. Before 1860 moved up into Arkansas. During this decade, the most of his sons and daughters, when the Civil War begn in 1861, nine of his sons and sons-in-law entered the service, and he being old and a widower went with them. On the retreat from Fort Danldson, he was overtaken by some Union Cavalry, and refusing to surrender, he was killed. He was a local Methodist preacher, a man of great physical courage and strength, also of strong will power. Children: Mary Ann m. a Mr. Mitchell , had one son. She is a widow as far as I know.; John , married a Miss Barksdale . No issue, both dead.: Joseph , unmarried, living so far as I know.: Jane , m. a Mr. Proctor . Know nothing more. Elizabeth, Isaac, James, William, Martha and Coolie . Of these I know nothing.

Philip McKemie, born 1794 in Fairfield District, South Carolina, m. a Miss Lynum . Moved to Troup County Georgia in 1832, settled adjoining lands to his brother John . Died in 1840 age 54. Children: Thomas b. 1832, m. a Miss Carlisle of Alabama died in Monroe County Alabama 1857, and is buried by his parents on the old homestead in Troup County Georgia. Nancy born 1836, m. Mr. John Rutledge in 1849. She is now a widow living two miles west of Columbus, GA. Two sons, married, living in Loe County Alabama, and one daughter, married, living on lot adjacent to her mother, no children.

Francis McKemie : Of him I know nothing.

William McKemie : Born Jan 1, 1800. Married Elizabeth Hawthorn in 1821. In 1832 moved from Fairfield District South Carlina to settle in Troup County Georgia. Died Oct 26, 1872. His wife died February 21, 1885. Their children:

Caroline b. April 26, 1828, m. Shelton MOORE who has been dead many years. Caroline had one daughter, Margaret , a widow, with a son and daughter. They are living together in Roanoke, Randolph Co., Alabma. W.J. McKemie born Sept 12. 1828, m. Lucy E. Harris June 16 1856. Children: William Bennett born May 7, 1857 died Sept 1859; a babe, a boy lived one week; Carolyn Elizabeth born July 23 1860. ( Mrs. Inslee now living in New York City at time of this copy in 1938). John , born Nov. 1862, lived two months. William Shepard born March 9, 1844, married Lucy Hurt McTyeire , April 19, 1893. James Courtney born April 26, 1866, married Mary Bradford Oct 25, 1892. Florence born Sept 11, 1868. Robert Wilton born Sept 2 1874, married Edna Shealy Nov 4, 1896. Robert died of asphyxiation April 20, 1905. Two children are with his wife Edna , names Carolyn and William .

************* In 1936 Miss Florence McKemie , d/0 Mr. W.J. McKemie , states that only three of her family now living. They are herself, her sister Mrs. Inslee living in New York City, without issue; her brother A.K. McKemie living in Cincinnati, Ohio. A.K. McKemie m. louis Marks of Montgomery, Alabama, and he has one daughter. Florence , at this writing about twenty years old, who was just recently married to Mr. Theodore Gunger Glass , in fact on July 11, 1938, at Cincinnati. He was a Montgomery, Alabama boy and at the present time they are living in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Francis McKemie , son of James McKemie , and his wife (a first cousin, daughter of John McKemie who died in Twiggs County Georgia) Jane . Francis McKemie's father, lovingly called "Uncle Jimmie", died in Clay County Georgia near Fort Gaines (Wesley Chapel). James McKemie , brother of the above John , reared Jane McKemie after her father ( John McKemie ) died. He, James McKemie , died in Jasper County Georgia. Francis McKemie's sister Mrs. Rachel G. Owens was living near Fort Gaines, Georgia, Dec 5, 1901. Another sister Susan , lived in Phoenix City, Ala., and a brother Robert , lived in Alabama. The three alive at the above date." There is additional material siting materials found in at least two books on the Rev. Francis . He also includes additional information on the folks who are found in Clay Co., GA and also Robert McKemie who moved to Tuscaloosa, AL, not listing sons and daughters.

Legend

Letters and Notes of W. J. McKemie,Thornston, Georgia, circa 1902