David McFall Born and Reared in Augusta, Virginia

Today I’d like to write about 3^rd Great Grandfather David McFall. He was born about 1819 in Augusta Co., Virginia, a son of Thomas McFall and Nancy Hall. He married Catherine Todd July 28, 1842, and they became the parents of Margaret Jane, Hamilton B., James Addison, Stuart B., and David Chambers McFall. David McFall died March 20, 1854, 35 years old.

Thanks to the Augusta Historical Society and Anne E. Kidd’s obituary excerpts, I learned David was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows at Mt. Solon, Augusta Co., Virginia.

     Mr. David McFall, a worthy member of Mt. Solon Lodge, I. O. O. F. died at his residence in Mt. Solon on Thursday last. (29 March 1854)

     Tributes of Respect. Mt. Solon Lodge No. 110 I. O. O. F. Mt. Sidney Lodge No. 119 (12 April 1854)

     David McFall died in the village of Mt. Solon, in this county . . . the 22^nd of March, leaving a fond wife and five infant children . . . his parentage was poor but respectable . . . born and reared in Augusta. (10 May 1854)

     The funeral of Capt. David McFall will be preached on the second Sabbath in August . . . at the Methodist Church in Mt. Solon, by Rev. R. D. Chambers. (26 July 1854)

                        [Augusta Historical Bulletin, Vol. 17, Fall 1981, No. 2

                         Obituaries, Staunton Newspapers, by Anne C. Kidd]

Earlier in the week, I explored Google Books looking for my 3^rd Great Grandfather’s association with the group. The search led me to page 673 of “Proceedings Grand Lodge of Virginia, 1837-1859, I. O. O. F.” published in Richmond, Virginia by Macfarlane & Fergusson:

 

You’ll find Grandfather among the Mt. Solon brothers petitioning a lodge for their community.

Anne C. Kidd’s notes referred to Great Grandfather as Capt. David McFall. How did he come by that rank? After changing my search parameters at Google Books, I found a 4 line snippet telling how Capt. McFall read the Declaration of Independence in front of a holiday crowd. The title of the book “Life Under Four Flags in North River Basin of Virginia” mentions the North River which runs along Mt. Solon.

The author of the work, C. E. May, published his book in 1903. McClure Press out of Verona, Virginia reprinted Clarence Edward May’s edition in 1976.

Librarians have always been good to me. I’d like to express my gratitude to Doug from the Augusta County Library in Fishersville, Virginia and thank him for sending me the pages I needed from C. E.  May’s book. What a genealogical treat to read how Great Grandfather celebrated July 4^th in 1849. Mr. May captured the essence of the day when he wrote:

            “Mt. Solon demonstrated its importance as a community center in 1849 by staging a July 4^th celebration which featured a military review, a parade, addresses and a banquet followed by toasts. First, the Mt. Solon Artillery, commanded by Captain David McFall and escorted by the Mt. Crawford Band, marched a short distance from town where they were met by the Mt. Solon Cavalry. Artillery Captain McFall welcomed the cavalry in an address, and Cavalry Captain J. N. Erwin responded appropriately. The cavalry was then escorted into town.

            A procession of the military and citizens was then formed under the direction of Captain Joseph F. Hottle, marshal of the day. This procession proceeded to a grove near the town. Arriving in the grove, Dr. C. Rush Harris, president of the day, called the holiday crowd to order; whereupon, Captain McFall read the Declaration of Independence. Then Chapman Johnson, Esquire, of Staunton delivered an address remembered more for its length than its content. It was an hour and a half long.

            After Mr. Johnson’s address, the procession reformed and marched to the house of Reuben Bryan, Esquire, where a sumptuous meal was spread for all. Following the meal, many toasts were drunk, all of which lauded the heroes of the Revolution, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the framers of the constitution, the union of states, the army and navy, the early heroes of the Republic, an unfettered press and the ladies—“God bless ‘em!” This celebration ended late in the afternoon; and the participants went home replete with rich food, strong whiskey and fervid oratory. Besides Dr. Rush, the organizers of the celebration were David Griffith, Daniel M. Harden and J. Howell Blakemore.”

                        [Source: Life Under Four Flags in North River Basin of Virginia, 2^nd edition 1976, Clarence Edward May; McClure Press; pages 331-332]

Page 333 let me know Great Grandfather belonged to the Mt. Solon Methodist Episcopal Church joining in 1854.

More details emerged about his I. O. O. F. membership on page 335, and I quote the author:

            “IOOF Lodge, number 110, was organized in Mt. Solon about the same time as the Masonic Lodge or earlier. Captain David McFall was noble grand of the Lodge in 1854, the year in which he died. Funeral services for him were conducted in the Mt. Solon Methodist Episcopal Church by the Reverend R. D. Chambers the second Sunday in August. His personal property, including a storehouse, was sold August 23, 1854, by John Erwin and Preston Todd, his executors. The second floor of the storehouse was the Mt. Solon IOOF meeting hall.”

                        [Source: Life Under Four Flags in North River Basin of Virginia, 2^nd edition 1976, Clarence Edward May; McClure Press; page 335]

Do you have a McFall connection? Let me hear from you.

Henry Harman, Cooper, Augusta Co., VA 1806-1865

When I blogged last, I discussed my 3^rd Great Grandfather Henry Harman’s plea to the Confederate President Jefferson Davis to let his sons John and George return home to help the Augusta County, Virginia farmers. Grandfather Henry, John, and George were coopers, and the farmers needed them to produce barrels for their flour in August of 1861. See Bookmarked: The Papers of Jefferson Davis, 1861.

Henry Harman suffered from liver disease and died July 24, 1865, twenty-six days after the War ended between the North and South.

Grandfather must have known his death was near as he composed a will July 2, 1865. He willed his house and lot to wife Eliza Jane as well as another lot bought from James T. Clarke. Four single Harman daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret Rachel, Susan Catherine, and Radie Maria, would be provided for in their mother’s home.

Son George Harman inherited Henry’s shop, a lot, and coopering tools. A mountain lot Grandfather purchased from John Craun went to George too.

Once 3^rd Great Grandmother Eliza Jane passed, Henry wanted his property sold and divided equally among his living children or their heirs. A daughter, Mary Jane, and son, John Irvine Harman, predeceased their father.

Ten days later on July 12, 1865, Grandfather Henry altered his will and prepared a codicil stating he wished his wife and four unmarried daughters to benefit from one-half of the Craun tract. Before the codicil, George would have received the entire mountain lot. His father’s change of mind instructed George to buy the Harman women’s share.

Although not mentioned, married daughter Sarah Ann (Harman) Oder was living when her father wrote his will. (Sarah Ann married Dr. George B. Oder before the Civil War.)

Augusta County, VA Will Book 40, pages 277-278

Transcription

     Know all men by these presents, that I Henry Harman of the County of Augusta and state of Virginia, being mindful of my mortality, of sound mind and disposing memory, and desirous of making some disposition of my worldly effects do this 2^nd day of July one thousand eight hundred and sixty five make this my last will and testament in the following manner following to wit:  I desire that my executor herein after named shall pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as convenient. I desire and bequeath unto my wife Eliza Jane Harman during her lifetime the house and lot where I reside including the lot bought of James T. Clarke as Trustee & c  and all the appertenances thereto belonging including the personal property that may remain on the premises at my decease. I provide also that my four single daughters shall remain with their mother during their single life & receive with her their support. For the support and comfort of my wife and said daughters I desire that my Executor shall pay over to my wife from time to time (while there remains anything in his hands) whatever may be necessary for their comfortable support. At the death of my wife I desire said property to be sold & together with any other effects that may remain, and be divided equally among my surviving children or their heirs or representatives. I further will & desire that my executor pay together with my other debts the balances due Dr. C. R. Harris, and the estate of John Craun dec’d on property bought of them & get deeds for same. To my son George Harman I will & bequeath my shop and shop lot, together with all my coopering tools, and my mountain land bought of John Craun dec’d And I nominate and appoint D. A. Van Lear as my Executor.

 In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the day and year afore written

                                                                                    Henry Harman

We the undersigned witnessed the above signature

of the testator ~ This 2^nd day July 1865

    Waller Oder

    Abraham Andrew

 

  I Henry Harman yet of sound mind and disposing memory do desire to make this codicil to my will this twelfth day July 1865 (Wednesday) to wit, I wish that the family consisting of my wife and four unmarried daughters to have the benefit of half of the Craun tract of land, to be theirs in fee simple, and that the other half shall be paid for by George and the conveyance be made to him for the same – I also wish Dr. C. R. Harris to make the conveyance for the shop lot to my son George

                                                                                    Witness my hand and seal

                                                                                    Henry Harman

Witnessed by us this 12 of July 1865

                        J. M. McCue

                        Absalom Michael

In the County Court of Augusta September the 25^th 1865

This last will and testament of Henry Harman dec’d with a codicil thereto annexed was presented in Court and said will proved by the oaths of Waller Oder and Abraham Andrew the subscribing witnesses thereto and said will to be recorded without the codicil. And on the motion of D. Newton Van Lear the Executor therein named, who made oath according to law and together with Joseph D. Craig his security (who justified as to his sufficiency) entered into bond the sum of Two thousand dollars payable and with condition as required by law which bond was acknowledged in Open Court by the obligor thereto was ordered to be recorded   Certificate is granted the said D. Newton Van Lear for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.

                                                                                    Teste

                                                                                    William A. Burnett  Clk

In the County of Augusta    November the 27^th 1865

This last will and testament of Henry Harman dec’d with a codicil [sheets affixed] was again presented in Court and said Codicil proved by the oaths of J. M. McCue and Absalom Michael the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

                                                                                    Teste

                                                                                    William A. Burnett   Clk

Augusta County, VA Will Book 40, page 277

Augusta County, VA Will Book 40, page 278

(see 1^st paragraph)