Edmond McGinnis and "Polly" Mary Elizabeth Hougland

Husband  Edmond McGinnis   (Rev) 


       Born: 25 Nov 1798 - , Hampshire Co, VA
       Died: 9 Jun 1865 - Fayette, Fayette Co., TX
       Buried:  - Fayette, Fayette Co., TX

    Married: 9 Jun 1821 - , Wash Co, OH

Wife "Polly" Mary Elizabeth Hougland 


       Born: 14 Jun 1797 - Williamsport, Wood Co., VA
       Died: 6 Jul 1876 - Fayette Co, TX
       Buried:  - Fayette Co, TX


     Father: Cornelius Hougland (1773-1818)
     Mother: Anna Stalcup (1776-1824)

Children

1 M David Allen McGinnis  (Rev) 

       Born: 12 Oct 1822 - Now Mole Hill, Ritchie, WV
       Died: 17 May 1896 - Of  Mole Hill, Ritchie, WV
       Buried:  - Mole Hill Cem, Ritchie, WV
Spouse: Sarah Jane Marsh ( - ) Marr: 8 Oct 1849 - Ritchie Co., Ritchie Co., WV Spouse: Nancy E. Hammett ( - )

2 M Melville Louis McGinnis 

       Born: 7 Dec 1823 - Of Cabell Co. WV
       Died: 3 Jun 1903
       Buried:  - Tackington, Prairie Cem, Liberty Co, TX
Spouse: Elizabeth Green Gould (1830-1888) Marr: 10 Apr 1849

3 F Melcina McGinnis 


       Born: 28 Nov 1828 - , Washington, OH
 Christened:
       Died: 25 Mar 1860 - Fayetteville, Fayette, TX
     Buried:
Spouse: Hon. Frederick G. L. Beuhring ( -1859) Marr: Bef 1850

4 M Oliver Asbury McGinnis 


       Born: 13 Aug 1825 - Of Cabell Co. WV
 Christened:
       Died: 23 Jul 1904
     Buried:
Spouse: Helen Record (1833-1914) Marr: 12 Dec 1849

5 M Fletcher McGinnis 


       Born: 8 Oct 1837 - Of Cabell, VA
       Died: 10 Jul 1913 - Liberty Co, TX
 

Spouse: Matilda Frances Hagar (1838-1927)
       Marr: 27 Dec 1857 - Cabell Co, WV

6 F Mary McGinnis 

       Born:  - Of Cabell, VA
       Died:  - Of Huntington, WV
       Buried:  - Huntington, WV?
Spouse: William Johnston ( - ) Marr: Abt 1849

7 F Julia McGinnis 

       Born:  - Of Cabell, VA
       Died: Deceased

8 F Eliza McGinnis 


       Born:  - Of Cabell, VA
       Died: Deceased

Spouse: Henry Paine (          -          )

Husband's General Notes

Notes for Edmond McGinnis

                                revised  Nov 2002.  C.Minson.

 

Name: Edmund MCGINNIS

Birth: 25 NOV 1798 in Virginia

Death: 9 JUN 1865 in Texas 

Occupation: Methodist Preacher

 

1798 Nov 25:  Edmund McGinnis was born in Hampshire Co, VA, s/o Samuel McGinnis. (from Joan Vernon, 2305 Delaware Drive, Cleveland Heights, OH  44106.

 She's a  desc of this family thru child #6-Melcena McGinnis.)

 

1811:  Moved west with parents to Guyandotte, Cabell Co, VA (Joan Vernon)

1821  June 9: Rev. Edmund McGinnis of Meigs Co OH, md Polly Hougland of Washington Co, OH.--- Court Records.  Mg by Abel Robinson, Min. ME Ch.

1822: Edmund was Licensed to exhort.

1827 Aug 11:  Licensed to preach at ME  meeting (five years after son David born.)

1830: Census of Cabell Co, VA  p. 021

1834: -- took oath of allegiance to VA, gave bond to perform marriages.

1838:  "He bought Lot 13 in Guyandotte for $600 in 1838,

1840:  and sold it for $1050 in 1840.

1840:  Census of Cabell Co, VA p. 34

1850:  Census of Cabell Co,  lists Edmond 55, Polly 55 and Fletcher 12, all b VA. p. 53

1856:  But by1854, they had divested themselves of even the property they had inherited from John Hoagland, and owned no more land in Virginia

         < http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm>

1856 Apr 29:  Edmund and Polly McGinnis family left WV for Texas,

1856 May 19: They arrived at their destination.

1856 Aug 30-Sep 2:  Two letters from Edmund & Polly in Fayette Co, TX  to son David  in WV.

1860:  Census of  Fayette Co Texas  pg. 271 for Edmund & Polly McGinnis..

1865 Jun 9:  Edmond McGinnis died in Fayette Co. Texas.  "After Edmund's death, Polly and her sons moved to Liberty Co, TX  where she lived next door to Fletcher."

                                          < http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm>

                                               Oliver, Fletcher and Melville all went to TX

 

--------------------------------

 

1850 Sep 10: Census of 10th Dist, Cabell Co, VA.

Edmond McGinnis 55, farmer 2000, VA

Polly McGinnis      55  VA

Fletcher McGinnis 12  VA

           next door is

Oliver A McGinnis 25  Sheriff  1050

Helen L (S?) McGinnis 17.

          and one page over is

Allen McGinnis 53 farmer, wife Eliza 53 and 5 children.  (brother to Edmond?)

 

1860 Jun 13:  Census of Fayetteville, Fayette Co, Texas  p 271:  (Joan Vernon)

Edmond McGinnis 61   $8,802    VA

Polly                      63    VA

Nevah Baunring      10 f   VA   (Beuhring)

Cosena N.             10  f  VA

Ella E                      9  f  VA

Fanny M                 7  f   VA

Millard F.               5  m  PA   (this is likely VA)

John Bowlen         20  m  PA

 

MM (Melville) McGinnis ---  and FM (Fletcher) McGinnis & families are close by..

"Beuhring children born at Maple Grove, WV.  After Hon Frederick died they went with their mother (Melcena) to her parents in TX.  Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis are not buried in the same cemetery.  Mrs. (Melcena)  Beuhring lies where Mr. McGinnis does."  (JoAnn Vernon, Feb 2001.)  Melcena died in 1860 in Fayette Co, TX.

 

-----------------------------

 

HISTORY OF RITCHIE CO., WVA, by Minnie Kendall Lowther,   pub Wheeling News, Litho Co, Wheeling WV, 1911. (Reprinted by Ritchie Co. Historical Society.

See Ritchie Co, WV- Wheeling WV by Minnie Kendall Lowther p.153 

"parents of 10 children, all of whom have crossed the tide--six preceded him.  Among these were David A. McGinnis, lived and died at Mole Hill; Oliver A., Melvillle, and Fletcher, and Mrs. Melcena Beuhring, who all went to Texas; and Mrs. Mary Johnson, who sleeps at Huntington."

 

=============================================================

PATHWAY: A FAMILY HISTORY.   See                                                        http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm

 

The Rev. Edmund McGinnis (32), the father of Rev. David Allen McGinnis and a circuit rider in his own right, was born on November 25, 1798 and moved to Texas nine years before his death in 1865. He said that he was first convicted of sin when he was about six years old. He moved west with his parents to Guyandotte in 1811, when he was 13. He was converted four years later at a camp meeting on the Guyandotte River. Tradition says he met his wife while doing religious work in Ohio and they were married in 1821. Twice a day he prayed with his family, besides having private prayer alone.

 

Edmund was licensed to exhort in 1822, and licensed to preach at a quarterly Methodist Episcopal meeting at Adam Black's on August 11, 1827, five years after his son David was born. He began riding and preaching on the Logan circuit in 1828, the first of seven circuits he would travel during his lifetime. It was hard work. Edmund preached the first Methodist sermons in the West Virginia counties of Logan, Raleigh, Fayette, Wayne and Braxton, where his circuits were located, and in many other places. In 1834 he gave bond to celebrate the rites of matrimony, taking an Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

An earlier West Virginia Methodist preacher covered 3,000 miles in one year, visited 400 churches and was paid $12.10.

Edmund was a farmer and storekeeper too, and after about 1840 his son David Allen McGinnis filled up the rest of his father's ledger book with his own journal. Cousin Herbert McGinnis repeatedly made the odd claim that Rev. Edmund McGinnis once owned 9,000 acres where Huntington, WV now stands (it may have been his uncle Edmund, the legislator) and that along with the Beuhring family he gave part of it for the campus of Marshall College. Edmund received a 144 acre land grant west of "Guyandotte Source." He bought Lot 13 in Guyandotte for $600 in 1838, and sold it for $1050 in 1840. But by 1854, they had divested themselves of even the property they had inherited from John Hoagland, and owned no more land in Virginia. They moved to Texas in 1856. The 1850 and 1860 Censuses list him as a farmer even in his fifties and sixties.

 

Except for his eldest son David Allen McGinnis, who resisted all pleas to join him, all of Edmund's surviving children came to Texas in the 1850's, including Oliver, Melville, Fletcher and Melcena. After Edmund had arrived in Texas in 1856, he wrote a letter to his son David Allen McGinnis,"We left Virginia on 29 April 1856, with an eight day layover in New Orleans which made the trip 20 days 8+12=20 We came by water by (via) New Orleans & thinse acrofs the Gulf to Galveston on board of a ship from there we took a steamer up the Buffalow Bayou to Harris Burgh there we took the steam car for Richmond a distance of 30 miles then stage 60 miles which brought us in 6 miles of Olivers.... cost $40 each = $120." Edmund was pleased with his decision to relocate to Texas. He described his property, "...800 acres at $1750... back 20 acres fenced... peach trees... good well..."

 

"The land I have here is rich and good enough for me..."

 

Edmund McGinnis, 1856

Edmund told his son David that he had many opportunities for ministry: "I had 4 sabbaths appointments 2 in a town and 2 in the Country. I can go from home to any one of them and return the same day My camp meeting is to embrase the first sabbath in Oct we have among the pretyest camps grounds up on the Globe in the senter and before the stand a frame shed in which 1500 people could be seated I am trying to serve god in good earnest and find I have lost mutch the Last 2 or 3 years of my stay in Virginia here I have many friends and no enemies save the devel & the pilage of my own heart My love to Sarah and the littel ones pray for us and write soon."

 

On March 5, 1865, Edmund became ill while preaching his last sermon five miles from home, and the sickness lingered for months until he died on June 9, 1865. At the last, he told his family that he was dying happy, gave his hand to everyone present, and told them, "Be good and serve God and meet me in heaven." In his will, he left his theological books to his son David. His wife Polly died eleven years later. His gravesite is unknown, but it is probably in Fayette County since his wife and sons apparently didn't move north to Polk and Liberty counties until after his death. Descendants of his children Melcena, Fletcher and Melville still live in Texas, including Pat Marburger, Pearl Brack, Sandra Vega and Peggy Pike Gordon, among others.

 

Look for the above at     http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm

 

Narratives are taken from Pathway: A Family History, ® 2002, Michael McGinnis and may be freely distributed for non-commercial purposes. To order your own copy (available for the first time in paperback), more than 200 pages plus photos, email pathway@biographiks.com or send $20 per copy, plus $5 shipping and handling per order, to Michael McGinnis, P.O. Box 73, Waring TX 78074.

 

 

Last Will & Testament - Rev. Edmund McGinnis, (1798-1865) of Cabell County, WV and Fayette County, TX

 

Last Will filed 12th Aug 1866

- In the name of God amen, I Edmund McGinnis of the county of Fayette and State of Texas do make and ordain this my last will and Testament

- Item 1st - After having paid all my just debts, I will to my wife Polly McGinnis all of my real and personal Estate to have during her lifetime to use and dispose of in any way as I would if living, I recommend that my lands be sold as soon as practicable and the proceeds be vested in a more suitable family residence so as to obviate the Scarcity of Timber and the inconvenience of church and School facilites

-- Item 2nd -- Should the lands not be sold nor my debts paid entire at the death of my wife then I will to my son Fletcher McGinnis, to my adopted son John Bolin and my grandson Millard Filmore Beuhring the lands to be equally devided among them after the payment of my debts and what other effects that may be on hand to go to my Son Fletcher to aid him in raising and educating my grancchildren viz the Beuhring children. My grandson Millard being a minor is not to be any hindrance to my son Fletcher Selling or Making a title to the lands, and Fletcher is to act as the guardian of Millard and to give him his portion of land whenever a purchase may be made. Fletcher is to have my buildings and will over and above the

other two legatees above named that he may be the better able to afford a home for my grandchildren intrusted to his case. My son Melville is to have access to a hole of water above my house and is to have all the claims that I hold against him given up and also the claims against Fletcher are to be given up

-- Item 3rd I appoint my wife Polly McGinnis Executrix and my son Fletcher jointly with her Executor without having to give any security to the probate court and that the probate court have nothing to do with the will only to prove it

-- Item 4 -- I will to my son Oliver my black horse for the benefit of his son Bertrand

-- Item 5-- I will to my son David A. McGinnis my theological library This the 29th day of May 1865.

 

Edmund McGinnis

- In presence of Jasper Fullur and William Mungler 

Fayette Co TX - Probate Records Vol F, p. 493    (from Truax-Ancestry.com.)-----------

 

Wife's General Notes

NOTES FOR POLLY HOUGLAND.
                        revised by Carol Minson- November 2002
 
1797 Jun 14:  "Polly" Mary Elizabeth Hougland was born, d/o Cornelius and Anna (Stalcop) Hougland. Strong indication that her  birth place was Williamstown, Wood Co, WV.  ( Two different records of Cornelius's journey indicate a different  place name  for Polly's birth in 1797. See those two records and  analysis at end of these notes.)
 
1801:  Cornelius lived (at Hougland's Run) until the spring of 1801, when he moved to Barlow and settled on a lot 1/2 mile west of Barlow Village, Washington Co, OH.
 
1818 March:  Cornelius was mortally wounded by a falling tree.  "His daughter Polly
went to the woods. . .took him by the arm and assisted him to the house."
 
"Before marrying Edmund McGinnis at age 24, Polly taught school."
 
1821 June 9:  Polly Hougland of Washington Co, OH md Rev. Edmond McGinnis of Meigs Co, OH.   Marriage performed by Abel Robinson, Min. M. E. Ch.  Page 119 of Wash Co. Court Records.
 
1821: "Polly" Mary Elizabeth (Hougland) McGinnis lived in Guyandotte, Cabell Co. VA. from 1821-until aft 1850 census. She had 8 children 1822-1838.
1830: Census of  Cabell Co VA.  pg 21.
1840: Census of  Cabell Co VA   pg 34.
1846  May 17: Letter to 16 yr old Ansina Smith, who has gone to Guyandotte, VA, Cabell Co,  presumably to her "Aunt Polly's." (Ansina Smith is compiler's g g grandmother.)
1848: Polly's bro. John Hougland and fam come to Guyandotte, Cabell Co,VA, and are in the 1850 census there also.
1850:  Census of Cabell Co, VA. lists Edmond 55, Polly 55 and Fletcher 12,  all b VA. p.53.
1856 Apr 29:  Edmund and Polly McGinnis family left for Texas,
1856 May 19: They arrived at their destination.
1856 Aug 30-Sep 2:  Two letters from Edmund & Polly in Fayette Co,TX  to son David  in WV.
1860:  Census of  Fayette Co Texas  pg. 271 for Edmund & Polly McGinnis, with 5 children 10 and under.
1865 Jun 9:  Edmond McGinnis died in Fayette Co. Texas.  "After Edmund's death, Polly and her sons moved to Liberty Co, TX  where she lived next door to Fletcher."
                                          < http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm>
1871 Mar 9:  Another letter from Polly age 73 in Polk Co, Texas,  to David and Sarah.
1871 July 16: Letter written by  Polly-(apparently with son David/Sarah) to dau Samantha.
1876 Jul 6:  Polly died in Fayette Co, Texas.  (?)
 
===============================================
(#1 LETTER:).
1856: After moving to Texas, this is the first letter written by  Polly and Edmond McGinnis to their son David Allen McGinnis in West Virginia.
 
Fayette County Texas August the 30, 1856   (from Polly)
Dear David and Sarah, We received your kind letter daited June the 21 It found us well though some of the family sick. We was no littel glad to hear you was well and doing well and that you had namd your second daughter We arrived here May the 19 and have had one littel sprinkle of rain since so we have raised nothing. Fletcher has kild 15 deer Since we came so we have plenty of venison to eate and this I like well we have our bread and coffee to buy and littel money to buy with yet we trust the Lord will provide. The neighbours has bin verry good to Melville yet thay do not like Texas the climent I like and some things I like some I do not like but thay are of the fewest number Thare is a grate many peaches raised here and some wheat and is said to be a good country for wheat the weavil is bad in the corn yet
we have some good corn bread four miles to mill and four to church a tolerable good meeting house and good preaching and good clafs father, Elizabeth and my selfe have joind the Clafs and are trying to make our way to heaven pray for us that we faint not by the way. we live at Olivers it is quite a retired and good place and good neighbours. no loaths a bout. but are we settle for life is uncertain
for we are as the rowling stone that gathers littel moss yet we hope in the end to reape and faint not. I think that people may live easier here than in Virginia and I think this country would a gree with you yet I know not how to advise you to do but hope to be in time -- my heath has bin better since I left Virgnnia than before I enjoyed travling by water well and I think it was some help to me. but the thought ov leaving you all behind how painful to tell but hope to meet again in life or in blest eternity where parting is no more -- we received a letter last evening from the Behring stateing thay was well and that Mary Johnstone had a nother daughter and was doing well. David and Sarah write soon.
-----------
My Dear littel Parmenas I must write a few lines to you hoping you have not forgoten your Dear old gran Mother I often think of you and your littel Brother and sisters how dose Mother get a long with so many babes-- are they well and good --you mus be good and mind her and help her to worke-- learn your book and be wise and may god blefs you all
 
Polly McGinnis
------------
Parmenas McGinnis
 
Sarah I have just thought of one thing that is verry pleasant here we have verry few flies no musketoes and a pleasant breese most all the time. David give your Selfe no uneasiness a bout what you owe us but be contented and work not to hard lay up treasure in heaven farewell my dear Children           Polly Mc
-----------------------------------
(#2 LETTER:)
Fayette County Texas 30 Aug 1856
David dear son  (this is from Edmond)
I ought to have wrote to you Long before this and still would not at this time only your Mother has not fild up her Letter and urges me to write some with her and al though I have consented I have not time to enter in to particulars as I could wish But I will give you a short sketch you will see from your Mothers  Letter we got hear 19 May We left Virginia on 29 April 1856 which made our trip 20 days our but 8 of them were Laid by so you see that the trip was made in 12 days our expense was about 40$ Each making $120 we came by water by (via) New Orleans & thinse acrofs the Gulf to Galveston on Board of a ship from there we took a steamer up the Buffalow Bayou to Harris Burgh there took the steam car for Richmond a distance of 30 miles then stage 60 miles which brought us in 6 miles of Olivers
----------------
1 Sept 1856
I firs bought Olivers home plas 300 Acres at $7. per acre makeing #2100. Then thinking that
arrangment mite not suit Oliver I let him have one half back and took a tract of 700 Acres farther North at $1 pr A which makes me 800 A amting to $1750, we have hous Room enough for both when we get another kitcheon---- we have a good well of water about 20 Acres fensed and the most of it Broke--- some peach treas planted and Building &ce-- as to health. as to my self my heath has imp proved since I left Va and I think your mothers has also neather of us has bin any sick. John had a little brush partly from his own
fault   But all are well at this time the land I have here is Rich & good enough for me the 700 A tract I have not seen as yet.
 
I am a bout as well pleased as I expected to be with this part of Texas but am not as well prepared to advise you as to cuming as I expected to be I think there is a better portion of Texas North west of this Land cheaper & better for stock wheat & Apples and Lefs weavel I intend to take a look at it      . E Mc
------
Sept 2, 1856   I come back here to finish my letter I started   I had 4 sabaths appointments 2 in a town and 2 in the Country. I can go from home to any one of them & return the same day my camp meting is to embrase the first sabath in Oct we have among the pretyest camps grounds up on the Globe in the senter and before the stand a frame shed in which 1500 people could be seated I am try ing to serve God in good earnest and find I have lost mutch the Last 2 or 3 years of my stay in Virginia here I have many friends and no enemies save the devel & the pilage of my own heart My love to Sarah and the littele ones pray for us write soon
 
E McGinnis
-----------------------------
(#3  LETTER:)
(Letters written in the 1870's by Polly McGinnis in TEXAS  to and from her daughter-in-law Sarah Jane Marsh McGinnis in West Virginia ). 
 
"Polk County, Texas,
March 9 1871   (Polly is almost 73 yrs old.)
"Dear David and Sara
"I am abel to work and write a little though I feel quite feeble and often cough verry hard and suffer much yet the hope of heaven bears me up and I hope to live a while longer and want to groe better, You want to know if Melvills oldest son is living he is not he died the first day of December last three years agoe and his secon son twenty one days after they walked out together a few days before Arden death and picked place where they wished to be buried. Arden profest religion four hours before he died and talked to all present and bid them farewell and died praising the lord so we are all fast passing away.
John Bolen movd here in december last and he died the fifteenth of January last. Corena his widdow has one child a daughter one year old and they are with me pray for us that the widow and fatherless may be provided for
May we met in heaven
 
Polly McGinnis"
------------------------
"Asbury, I recived your picture and think you must be a fine looking man perhaps a bisshop yet be faithful in the good lives. Mary and Samantha, Adorn the profeshion you have made and walk in the footsteps of the righteous and write when you can and pray often"
Polly"
------------------------
"My dear little grandson I was glad to hear from you be kind to all and fear and love God with all your heart and write again and tell Parmenias to write to me
Polly Mc
 
Enoch M McGinnis" (apparently the grandson she's referring to)
----------------------------
(#4 LETTER:)
 
"Mole Hill, Ritchie Co., West Va.
June 10, 1876
Mr. Coplin and Samantha.  (from Sarah J. McGinnis)
 Sarah got your letter of June 4th. I was glad to hear from you, and of your good luck and
hope Samantha will get along well. I am going to tell Samantha how to treat herself. You should not eat any thing more than milk warm--- if you eat your victuals hot you will take cold easy--- do not keep covered warmer than is comfortable and do not bear your weight on your feet for 9 days and not then unless your very stout.   You must not do your work for
3 weeks and not then unless you are stout--- if it is rainy weather you should have fresh air when the air is dry--- If you go to work too soon you will bring on weakning diseases and you will lose more than it will cost to hire a girl. If you have fever you live on a very light diet-- drink balm tea luke warm and do not take one bit of whiskey.   Dr. Devore says
whiskey should not be used in fever You do not belong to a very rugged family but I think if you take care of yourself  you will be stout.  I have been wanting to come and see you ever since Melcina was out but it appeared I could not get of-- I may come in one or two weeks and bring your things--- Mary is taking medicine The Dr. says it will take 2 or 3
months to cure her he says her disease has become cronic the children say call the babe Centenial.
 
Sarah J. Mc"
----------------------
"July 16th   (This letter by Polly probably sent  to Samantha with the letter above written by Sarah McGinnis.)
 
Samantha,   we got our horses last saturday morning to go to see you as the horses were very tired and I did not feel well we concluded to not go untill this morning as I took sick night before last and am confined to my bed we could not come I do not know when we will come I want to bring your things when I come--- I feel a little better this--- I had high
fever and my flesh was very sore-- I took a sweat last night--- Sarah is sick this morning. I heard that Mac talked of going to see you soon--- If  he goes I can hear from him how you are if he does not go write immediately and tell me how you are---
I wrote to last Saturday thinking I could get Mac to go and see you and take it I gave you some directions how to take care of yourself,     MOTHER
 
"I send you a piece of Mary's dress. She bought her a white straw hat $2.75 cts. I will insure you if you do not take care of yourself for 3 or 4 weeks you will pay dearly for it-- do not lift anything heavy."
------------------------------------
Letters quoted from "William D. and Matilda Davis Young: Their Ancestors and Descendants, Including Brief Reports on the Bear, Cline, Davis, Groff, Hanger, Hottel, Houghland, Marsh, and McGinnis Families" 1994, from a diskette owned by Bruce C. Young Jr.
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       McGINNIS STORIES  on   < http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm>
 
Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Hoagland (33) was born in 1797 in Williamsport, WV and began to seek God's favor at an early age. As a 14-year-old student at Marietta Academy (now Marietta College) on the Ohio River, she boarded with a Presbyterian family. One Sunday she wanted to attend the Methodist meeting and asked where they met for worship, but the family refused to tell her. She said she would follow the sound of the church bell then, but they told her the Methodists had no bell. "Then," she said, "I will go and stand in the street and wait till someone comes along who looks like a Methodist, and I will follow that one to the house of God." Some women came by, dressed plainly and wearing very plain bonnets. "These," she said to herself, "are Methodist; I will follow them." They led her to a prayer meeting in a kitchen, where she gave her heart to God.
When Polly returned home for school vacation, she asked her father Cornelius Hoagland if they could have family prayer. Receiving his approval, she prayed with them regularly for some time. Finally her father told her he thought she should "better not pray any more in the house," so she began to pray in the garden after nightfall, sometimes until she fell to the ground exhausted. Her worried parents would search for her, and after several occurrences, her father told her to go back inside to pray. As a result, most of her family came to know God.
When a Methodist preacher was asked to speak at a neighbor's housewarming, he invited Polly to pray after the sermon. According to the story, "she commenced in a low, feeble tone of voice, but soon her prayer began to go up and up until it reached the throne of God, and power from on high came down upon the people; sinners fell to the floor and cried for mercy, and many found peace with God," including the owner of the house, who gave up whisky and declared that he was "going to start for heaven this very night."
Once at a camp meeting, Polly fell to the ground under the powerful blessing of God and lay there as if she were dead. A skeptic at the meeting thought she was pretending, since her eyes were still wide open. But when a fly landed on her eyeball without causing it to move, the unbeliever declared, "This is no hypocrisy." He was converted and later traveled as a Methodist preacher.
Polly taught school before marrying Edmund McGinnis at age 24. When her father Cornelius was fatally struck by the tree, she was the one who took him by the arm and helped him into the house. With Edmund, she made her home in Cabell County, WV, giving birth to ten children, though only her four sons survived her. Her husband and four children relocated to Texas when she was 59. In her first letter home in 1856, she describes her new surroundings: "4 miles to church a tolerable good meeting house and good preaching and good class... Father, Elizabeth [her daughter-in-law] and myself have joined the class and are trying to make our way to heaven pray for us that we faint not by the way... are we settle for life is uncertain for we are as the rowling stone that gathers little moss Yet we hope in the end to reap and faint not... Leaving you all behind how painful to tell but hope to meet again in life or in blest eternity where parting is no more." Original letter
After Edmund's death, Polly and her sons moved to Liberty County, where she lived next door to Fletcher. On March 9, 1871, 73-year-old Polly wrote a letter to her son David Allen McGinnis and to some of her grandchildren that, "I am abel to work and write a little though I feel quite feeble and often cough verry hard and suffer much yet the hope of heaven bears me up and I hope to live a while longer and want to groe better... Arden [another grandson] profest religion four hours before he died and talked to all present and bid them farewell and died praising the lord so we are all fast passing away... Mary and Samantha, Adorn the profeshion you have made and walk in the footsteps of the righteous and write when you can and pray often." She concludes with a note to 13-year-old Enoch Marsh McGinnis, saying, "My dear little grandson I was glad to hear from you be kind to all and fear and love God with all your heart and write again and tell Parmenias to write to me." Polly McGinnis died July 6, 1876, apparently of tuberculosis.
MAPS
Marietta OH/Williamstown, WV
Guyandotte/Huntington, Cabell County, WV
Boggy Branch, Fayette County, TX
McGinnis Cemetery, Tarkington Prairie, Liberty County, TX
Next... Chapter 4: West Virginia Home
   All this and more McGINNIS on   < http://biographiks.com/pleasant/mctexas.htm>
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MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES:
 
THE HOUGLAND FAMILY HISTORY unpublished manuscript copy  in my
possession.  pg 2.       There are 16 handwritten pages of data on the
descendants of Polly Hougland and Edmund McGinnis.
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Mrs. Patricia Heffron Marburger, 3702 Gardendale, Houston, TX 77902 is a descendant
of Polly  and Edmond McGinnis.  (Daveda Bundy did researchfor her. 1987?)
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See Ritchie Co, WV- Wheeling WV by Minnie Kendall Lowther p.153  (10 children).
McGinnis -"parents of 10 children, all of whom have crossed the tide--six preceded him.  Among these were David A. McGinnis, lived and died at Mole Hill; Oliver A., Melvillle, and Fletcher, and Mrs. Melcena Beurhing, who all went to Texas; and Mrs. Mary Johnson, who sleeps at Huntington."
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2001 Jan 18:  I am researching the ancestry of my Gr-Gr-grandmother Polly Houghland.
Her daughter Samantha McGinnis was my great-grandmother.   Dearman Coplan.   dearman122@cs.com
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PALMER TWP HISTORY, 1888, unpub
In March of 1818, at the age of 44,
Cornelius was mortally wounded by a falling tree.  "His daughter Polly
went to the woods. . .took him by the arm and assisted him to the house.
He suffered 24 hours, then ceased to live.
"Polly was, at an early age, (14) religiously impressed, and resolved to
seek the favor of God.  She was sent to Marietta, OH to attend school. She
boarded with a Presbyterian family."  She  was a staunch Methodist.
 
 Polly Hougland's parents "left Hampshire Co. VA in fall of
1796, came to Williamstown, Wood Co VA by way of Clarksburg with one
horse and 30 head of cattle. . .Cornelius selected a location on a small
stream, below Valley Mills, Wood Co, West Va which still bears the name
of HOUGLANDS RUN where he built a camp or cabin and managed to winter
the cattle on pea vine brouse and corn that he got from Mr. Blennerhasst
below Parkersburg and of Isaac Williams and Tomlinsons of
Williamstown.
180l:  Cornelius lived here till spring of 1801 when he moved to Barlow
and settled on lot 1/2 mile west of Barlow Village.
1821 June 9:  Polly md Rev. Edmond McGinnis of Guyandotte, Cabell Co.
VA where they resided til 1851 or 2.
 The family moved to Texas, Polk Co. where she died in 1866." Source:
PALMER TWP HISTORY, 1888, unpub.
1876 June 11:  Polly died in Polk Co. Texas.   (?)
 
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#1.)  BIRTH PLACE:  Polly,  was born in Williamsport, according to the Polly
McGinnis biography found in THE FAMILY OF MAGENNIS,  p 212.  This  3
page biography has many things to say about POLLY.  "Her father,
Cornelius Hougland, left Hampshire Co. VA  in 1796. . .He lived in or near
Williamsport, VA (now WV) from 1796 till 1801 when he moved to OH
and settled in Washington Co."  
 
(There is a Williamsport in Hardy Co, which is next to Hampshire Co.  However it is doubtful that Cornelius Hougland stayed there from 1796 to 1801.)
 
#2.)  BIRTH PLACE:  Polly Hougland's parents "left Hampshire Co. VA in fall of
1796, came to Williamstown, Wood Co VA by way of Clarksburg with one
horse and 30 head of cattle. . .Cornelius selected a location on a small
stream, below Valley Mills, Wood Co, West VA which still bears the name
of HOUGLANDS RUN where he built a camp or cabin and managed to winter
the cattle on pea vine brouse and corn that he got from Mr. Blennerhasst
below Parkersburg and of Isaac Williams and Tomlinsons of
Williamstown.
180l:  Cornelius lived here till spring of 1801 when he moved to Barlow
and settled on lot 1/2 mile west of Barlow Village."
PALMER TWP HISTORY, 1888, unpub.
 
(Both records indicate Cornelius left Hampshire Co.1796  and lived someplace--- it sounds like "one place"---  from 1796 to 1801.
 1797,1798,& 1799: Cornelius, father of Polly,  is listed as tithed in Wood County according to HISTORY OF WOOD CO. WV by Don F. Black, 1975, Vol.1. This is strong indication  that Polly was born in Williamstown, Wood Co, VA.  Apparently the name Williamstown and Williamsport have been interchanged carelessly.  I have done it myself.  CM.)

Last Modified: 19 Nov 2002

Hougland-McGinnis web pages by Michael David McGinnis.
http://www.my-ged.com/db/page/mcginnis/2008
includes stories, letters and prayers of Polly   click here

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