McCandlish-Black Family History Compiled by ELIZABETH BLACK Worthington, Ohio -1- Copyright 1935 By ELIZABETH BLACK -2- Dedicated to the M emorg of ROBERT JoHN BLACK and MARGARET McC.1NDLISH ( ALEXA!t.;"'DER) BLACK -3- "A good heritage. from upright ancestry, is more to be dr.sir{.d than all the titles, honors and wealth that the world can bestow upon you. ··-Luther Burbank. Honor to the memory of our fathers! May the turf lie gently on their sacred graves: But let us not in words only. but in deeds also. testify our own reverence for their names. Let us imitate what in them was lofty, pure and good. Let us from them learn to bear hardship and priva­ tion. Let us, who now reap in strength, what they sowed in weakness, study to enhance the inheritance we have received. July 4, 1845. CHARLES SuM:NER. -4- PREFACE The main purpose of this book is to record the genealogical history of WILLIAM MCCANDLISH, of County Ayr, Scotland, and his descend­ ants, and also, the genealogical history of WILLIAM BLACK, of Ballymon­ ey, County Antrim, Ireland, and his descendants. The history of the two famlies is written is one book, because of the inter-marrying of the family of Wiilliarn and Agnes (Smith) Mc­ (:andlish, with the family of William and Mary (Wiley) Black. These marriages occurring in M'iffiin County, Pennsylvania. Anthony M 1cCandlish married Nancy Black. Robert McCandlish married Mary Black. Mary Ann McCandlish married Samuel Black. The data for this history has been .gathered from family Bibles, from thl! author's own work in public libraries in Ohio and Pennsylvania. and m the Congressional Library, in Washington D. C., court records, from inscriptions on monuments in cemeteries, and by word of mouth, from those descendants acquainted with the facts regarding their own branch of the family. The lack of complete records in the latter part of the 18th Century is regrettable, but not surprising. T·he McCandlishes came to America at the beginning of the War of the Revolution, and the Blacks, shortly after the close of this war. T·here must have been little time or opportunity in those strenuous days, for careful records of current events or .gene .. alogical history. Nor was accuracy always observed in_ the records that were kept. That there will be some omissions and imperfections in this history, is inevitable, but we venture to give the facts as we know them, trusting that they may serve some useful purpose in every family among us, and be an incentive to future generations, to keep a full and accurate record of such incidents, events and dates, as shall aid any future family historian. We offer no apology for treating some families more fully than others, equally worthy of attention. This is due to the material furnished us by some member of that branch, or to our own personal knowledge, while in other cases, the lack of these compelled us to be brief. We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance given us by re-latives, without whose help these records might not have been published aTld preserved in pennanent form, for future generations. We especially wish to thank that gallant, young-old lady-Mrs. Emma Chatfield, of Wellston, Ohio, and Mrs. Nettie Kagay Gravett, of Palo Alto, California. An index of names, including those persons who married into the McCandlish or Black families, or are descendants of a McCandlish or a Black, is appended. In closing this labor of filial love and devotion. which has involved much research work of a oleasant nature, and listening to the stories of those aged ones, who are hastening to join those whose memory we seek to perpetuate. we lay down the pleasant task, in hope that in some de­ gree we have served faithfully, and to the best of our ability, the cause in which we are greatly interested. ivorthinglon, Ohio. ELIZABETH BLACK, -5- THE McCANDLISHES !The McCandlishes are Scotch. The prefix "Mc.. means "son of," and "can" means "clear and fair." By nature, they are firm in their convictions, though not contentious. and are dignified, though not aloof. they were staunch Presbyterians, as a great many of their descendants are today. ,They are honest, industrious, and thrifty; also, a kindly and peace-loving people. They gave to their children a religious fervor, which lasts through the generations of their descendants. They were among the hardy pioneers of Pennsylvania. May the memory of such forbears live in the minds of their descendants, and inspire them with a desire to emulate their virtues. ( 1) \VTuLIAM McCANDLISH and his descendants are numbered in this history along the left hand ··margin, <\r,cording to their plc'.ce of mention. and a number followin~ the name is for identification. William McCandlish married Agnes Smith. They lived in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, some time between 1790 and 1800. Tradition relates that they came to the United States from Wigtown, County Avr. Scotland. Probably both were born there, and were married there, but owing to a "gap in the records." the marriaP-"e date can not be found. He was a carpenter. by tr~de. Records show that he bought lots No. ]37, April 11!-h. 179~~. and No. 65, January ~1st, 1797 in Lewistown, Mifflin County. Penn~ylv~nia. The dP!llcenr.hnts recrived money from the estates of the brothers of Agnes Smith, at Wi~town. Scotland. William McCandlish and Agnes Smith had six chi!dren: 2. Jane McCandlish. ,. ~- Robert McCandii~h. • 4. Margaret McCandlish:· fi. Anthonv McCandlish. R. ~'illia~ McCandlish. 7. Mary Ann l\1'cCandlish. JANE M<"CANDL/SH (2) Married Ale:v:ander RPed. of Reedsville. Mifflin County, Pennsyl­ vania. Both are buried in the Presbyterian cemetery, near Reedsville. on the Reedsville-Milroy road. No dates are ~iven for birth or death of Jane Mc:Candlish Reed. Her husband, Alexand~r Reed, born 176fi, died 1 ~1:i and was a brother of William Reed. (See No. 3 Black family history). ROBERT McCANDLISH (3) Born 1776, died Octoher 9th. 1851 He was a farmer. and bought land, 1837, in Rushcreek Township, Fairfield County, later owned by David Yost. He married Mary Black ( 5). ( See Black family history), born 1786, near Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland, daughter of William nnd Mary W'iley Black. They were married in Mifflin County, Pennsy!- - 6 - vania. and came to Ohio on horseback. They were members of the Bethel Presbyterian church, and later, of the Rushville Presbyterian church. Mary Black McCandlish died at her home near Rushville, Ohio, in 1856. Robert McCandlish also died there in 1851. Robert and Mary and seven of their eleven children are buried in the West Rushville cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio. CFiILDREN OF ROBERT .AND l\1ARY BLACK McwNDLISH 7. William McCandlish. 8. Jane McCandlish. 9. George Patton McCandlish. 10. Nancy McCandlish. 11. Mary Ann M<Candlish. Born 1820. died 1851. 12. Smith McCandlish. Born 1821, died 1861. 13. Sarah McCandlish. Born 1824. 14. Margaret McCandlish. Born 1826, died 1837. 15. Elizabeth McCandlish. Born 1824, died 1851. 16. Martha McCandJish. Born 1828. ( Married 1858, Selah Sammis), died 1859. 17. Emily MicCand1ish. Born 18~5. died 1853. WILLIAM McCANDLISH (7) Borr in 1812, near Rushville, Ohio, (or in M,ifflin County, Penn~ 5y}vania), and died in 1868. William McCandlish married Catherine Shields, of Hocking County, Ohio. She died in 1903. and both are buried at West Rushville, Ohio. They lived near West Rushville, and later. at Upper Sandusky. Ohio, where he was Post-master. There are no living descendants. One infant son is buried near them, in West Rush­ ville Cemetery. JANE McCANDLISH (8) Date of death and birth unknown. She is buried m Emerald Green cemetery, near Streator, Illinois. She never married. GEORGE PATTON McCANDLISH (9) Born near Rushville, Ohio, January 1st, 1816. died August 12th 1875, in LaSalle County, Illinois. On June 17th, 1847, he married Catherine Deenis, in Fairfield County, Ohio. Catherine Deenis, born 1826, died October 2nd, 1889, near Streator, Illinois and is buried in Emerald Green cemetery, near Streator, Illinois. She was a member of the United Brethren church. In ] 856, they removed from Fairfield County, Ohio, to Illinois. to make their home. They came by covered wagon, locating first. near Ottawa, in La Salle County, Illinois. Very soon they purchased a farm -7- sixteen miles south of their first location, but in the same county, and near the town of Streator, Illinois. They lived on this farm until the death of the husband and father, George Patton McCandlish. He was one of the volunteers from Illinois, who served his country during part of the Civil War. He was a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, Company F. When he was no longer able to fight, he was transferred to the hospital work, and con­ tinued this work until the close of the war-a corporal. H~ died, August 12th, 1875, in La Salle county, Illinois. CHILDREN: 18. Mary Margaret 1\/lcCandlish. 19. Sarah Jane McCandlish. 20. Emily F. McCandlish. Born October, 1856, in La Salle County, Ill., and died April 9th, 1863, in La Salle county, Ill. .1\fARY MARGARET McCANDLISH (18) Born on a farm, near Rushville, Ohio, May 1st, 1848. She removed with her parents, by prairie schooner, to Illinois, when she was eight years of age. Shortly came the Civil War, and the father enlisted, leav­ ing the f:imily to care for the farm. Mary Margaret, 13 years of age, the oldest of the three daughters, assumed many of the father's duties, and worked steadily in the fields. To · CJhtain coal for the family.