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ANDREW
JACKSON McDANIEL Sr. of
RANKINTOWN
This is a modified
version
of an article by Carol Ann Claffey Mounts, published October
1995 in
"The Keyhole", quarterly publication of the
Genealogical Society of
Southwestern
PA.
Andrew
Jackson McDaniel Sr. was born March 13, 1809. He lived most of his life in Rankintown,
Washington County, Pennsylvania, now West
Washington.
He died of pneumonia
10/01/1890.
He was
a tavern keeper, blacksmith
and farmer. He purchased
the 'RANKINTOWN TAVERN' in 1845, for $2,200
(see accompanying
article). As in most genealogical research, there
are discrepancies in
information
found.
This is also true of our subject because his name on earlier
documents
was listed as Andrew McDonald. He
explains this dilemma for us
by way
of an official document when he deeds over land
to the National Road.
Excerpts from Washington
County, Pa
deed -- "Volume 156, pp. 663, 664.
Andrew McDaniel et ux (and wife) to Cumberland Road. Whereas on
the 19th day of April 1843, Richard
Mounts
of Canton township Washington County Pa.
... delivered to Andrew
McDonald of the same township
a deed for a tract
of land ... in ... said township of Canton, .. "Book C Volume 3 page 225 Recorder's
office"
Washington Pa
... having received the
deed of Richard Mounts... above named Andrew
McDonald before the
year
1850 ...
delivered to Joseph Doak commissioner of that part
of the Cumberland Road in
Washington
county .. a deed
for the tract of land conveyed
to him by ... Richard
Mounts. And whereas this deed cannot
now be found is desirous to
have
... evidence placed upon record to show that Andrew McDonald's estate
...
is the said tract ... conveyed as above set forth.
Therefore ... to confirm
the
deed of himself and wife ... the said Andrew
McDonald whose name
should
have
been written Andrew McDanel ... do release and quit claim
unto
the said Cumberland Road all the
estate right and
title ... be held by the
...
Cumberland Roads and assigns forever. Witness ...
Andrew McDanel and
Elizabeth
McDanel his wife this 2nd day of June.A. D. 1890.
Andrew
McDanel seal "X"
Attest: D. M.
Donehoo
Elizabeth McDanel seal " X"
Andrew
Jackson
McDaniel Sr. is buried beside his first wife Eliza Mounts, just inside the
Washington
Cemetery
gates, directly across from the Administration
Building.
His
tombstone is an eight foot spire of red
granite engraved at the top with
the
emblem of anvil and hammer, denoting a blacksmith,
along with
his
name,
birth and death dates.
Andrew
married
twice. His first wife was Eliza (Elizabeth) Mounts, b.08/13/1806, died
07/04/1875
on
their 40th anniversary. She was the mother of his 10 children and
is
buried
beside him
(Washington Cemetery, Washington,
Pa. Sec. B,
Lot
35, Site # 8). Eliza Mounts McDaniel was the
daughter of Richard
Mounts Sr.
and Mary Kelly.
Eliza's
mother
Mary Kelly was born on the Atlantic Ocean, (Beers p 1430), birth date unknown, to
William
Kelly and Martha McCourtney Kelly (Beers p 631). Mary Kelly Mounts
died
in 1841 and was probably buried in the 'Old Hoge Cemetery.'
Records
show that Mary's husband Richard Mounts Sr., who died 1864,
aged 92
years,
and mother, Martha (McCourtney) Kelly who died
in 1827 aged 70
years
were
both buried there.
Eliza's
paternal grandparents were John Mounts and (Elizabeth Rentzel?) who
came to Pennsylvania
from
Maryland around 1780 (Beers p 647).
Two
years after Eliza Mounts McDaniel's death in 1875, Andrew married
again. His second wife
was
(Sara)
Elizabeth Davis b. 1821 in Belmont Co. Ohio d.
10/31/1897. She had
previously
been married to a
Mr. Perkins. Her obituary states that she lived
alone
in the 'old stage house ... mostly dilapidated'
(by 1897) that once caught
fire from
a passing train destroying much of her household
property along with
her
marriage license. Her only son, Thomas Perkins,
had preceded her in
death
leaving two sons as her only descendants. She
is buried in Washington
Cemetery
Sec B, lot 55, a short distance from the McDaniel
family plot.
[Last will
and
testament
of Andrew McDaniel Sr. (Will Book # 13 page 272, 273,
274, 275) states that his
wife
had agreed (Deed book G, volume 5, page 200) to
relinquish all claim
to any
part of his estate, but was (1)
to have "the right to use and occupy ...
the
Mansion
House" (the old Rankintown Tavern) ... for as
long as she lives"
provided
she does not remarry. (2) to receive for the same
period, the rent of the
most
easterly of the
seven houses (These seven known as the Claffey
property
are
deeded to his son Robert L. McDaniel).
(3) to receive the interest from
$2400.00
held by his executor. This money was later to
be divided between
several
of his children.]
We can ascertain
some
measure of the man by the official documents that he left for us. He appears to
have
had a very strong sense of responsibility as evidenced
by the above
clarification
of a deed. He also left a lengthy and detailed
last will and
testament,
which determines the division of his estate while
trying to hold it
together as
long as he could control events. Excerpted portions
of his will are
captioned
below in brackets.
[Will of AJM] as they pertain to each
recipient. You
will observe that the estate seems quite large with
several detailed instructions for it's final determination.
Children of Andrew Jackson McDaniel Sr. and Eliza Mounts:
1. William McDaniel,
born 1832,
m. Malissa Lindley, b. 1834, children:
Andrew
Jackson, b. ____, Mary J., b 1861, Frank F., b. 04/01/1862, d.
01/05/1942,
m. Elizabeth Lutes, b. 6/11/1868, d.11/06/1961
[Will of AJM -- (1) Five hundred dollars in addition to advancements
already made,
(2)
$1000.00, part of which to be paid after death of 2nd wife].
2. Matilda McDaniel, b.
1836
(m. June 1858) Enoch Prigg, b. 1821, d.
08/26/1901
[Will of AJM -- (1) one dollar in addition to advancements already made
(2) 1/4 of house hold furniture except few personal possessions of
2nd wife.]
3. Sarah J. McDaniel, b.
1837,
d. ____ m.____ Montgomery. One child Andrew J.
[Will of AJM -- (1) $1700.00 and (2) 1/4 of household furniture except
few named personal
possessions of present wife]
4. Joseph McDaniel, born
1838
m. Hester ______, b. 1845
[Will of AJM -- (1) 1/2 acre lot in Franklin Twp. at Pittsburgh and
Baltimore railroad crossing,
(2) lot partly in Washington Borough and partly
in Franklin Twp. near Chartiers Valley railroad
property and on his decease to be given to
children of Joseph. (3) $1000.00 part of which
to
be paid at death of 2nd wife]. (4) 25 acres in FraklinTwp.
5. Andrew Jackson
McDaniel
Jr.,
b. 06/21/1841, d. 04/11/1912 m. Mary Ophile, b.
1845, d. 1917.
Andrew Jr was a
blacksmith like his father.
Children:
Emma, b. 1872, m. Donald Hart, Lida, b. 1878, m. Frank Sprowls,
Mary, b. May 1880, Ester b. 1882, m. Martin Yoders, Matilda, b.
06/30/1884, d. 03/21/1949
[Will of AJM -- (1) Andrew Jr. was named Executor of his father's will
and
was to act under the advice of Andrew Sr.'s friend and neighbor John
Aiken. After all conditions of will were met, Andrew Jr.
inherite
d the
remainder of the estate]
6. Francis (Frank)
McDaniel,
b. 1846, no further information.
*
7. Mary Mounts McDaniel, b.
04/07/1847
d. 07/30/1948, lived to 101 years
(my
great grand mother) married William Claffey Sr. b. 07/06/1836, d. 3/05/1901.
Children: William
Jr.,
Wilse, Andrew (Jack), Matilda, Robert L (Doc), and Harry.
William and Mary were married
on February 28, 1868, three years after
his
return from
four years of Civil War Service in the 100th Reg., Pa. Volunteers.
(Roundheads)
To Read More about this couple GOTO
[Will of AJM--
(1) Held
by
executor,
$1700.00, Mary only to receive the interest
annually and when she died,
money was to be divided equally among
her children]. Perhaps due to her husband's
deteriorating mental state
by 1890.
(2) 1/4 of
household furniture except personal property
of 2nd
wife.]
8. Robert L. McDaniel b.
1850
m. Mary _____, b. 1855, d. 05/14/1909
Robert
L was a fireman & engineer for B & O Railroad, children are
2 daughters Ona? b. 1874,
Susan, b. 1877.
[Will
of AJM --
(1) a certain
tract of
land in Franklin Twp. containing about one acre
and known as the Claffey
property upon which there are
seven dwelling houses.
(2)seven
Brady lot with
blacksmith shop and
(3) all
the
tools in the
blacksmith shop
(4)
$1000.00 part of which to be paid at death of 2nd wife.]
9. Susan, b. 1853 m. Asa
Wood,
b. 1848 later m. R. H Short. One son Robert.
[Will
of AJM
-- (1)House and lot on Jefferson Ave. (2) 1/4 of household furniture except personal
possessions of present wife (3) $1000.00, paid after
death of 2nd wife.]
Another young
person, John
Duvall
McDaniel born 01/14/1867, died 01/20/1877
aged 10 years
is
recorded as a three year old in Andrew J McDaniel
Sr. home in 1870 Fed Census.
Must be a
grandson. Parents not known.
[Two
other items in Will of AJM,
(a.) the
sum of $50.00 left to
each
of three grandchildren Andrew Claffey, Eliza
McDaniel,
and
Andrew J. Montgomery.
(b) if
any recipient
challenged his
will, that person was automatcally to receive one
dollar only.]
<>Personal Note:
My
great
great
grandfather, Andrew J. McDaniel Sr. was a prominent citizen, a prosperous West
Washington
tavern owner and a substantial land holder. He
was also patriarch
of a
large and well-known
West Washington family.
The research that is done to complete a biographical
sketch, gives one a 'sense of the man.' He
appears
to
have been a very private person. No evidence
can be found that he
ever
held public office nor do writings
about him
appear in the Washington
County
histories by authors of his day such as Beers,
Crumrine,
McFarland,
Horn,
etc. He appears to have been just concerned
about the
responsibilities
of running an estate
and holding a family together. A good man to know.
Sources:
'Mounts- Claffey Obituaries',
1994
Glenn W. and Carol Ann Mounts
'Washington County,
Pennsylvania'
1893 Beers
Washington County Federal
Census,
1840, 1850, 1860, 1870 1880, 1900
Washington County Courthouse
Records,
Washington Pa. (Deeds and Wills)
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