| Birth: | 23 Jun 1797 in Williamsport, Hardy Co., VA |
| Death: | 6 Jul 1876 in Polk Co? |
| Sex: | F |
| Father: | Cornelius Houghland b. 23 Dec 1776 in VA |
| Mother: | Anna Stalcop b. 2 Jun 1776 in Virginia |
| Spouses & Children |
| Edmund McGinnis (Husband) b. 25 Nov 1798 in Hampshire Co., VA | |
| Marriage: | 12 Jun 1821 in Washington Co., OH |
| Children: | |
| |
| Notes |
from Barlow, OH
attended Marietta Seminary, now College
aka Polly Hoagland
real name may be Mary Elizabeth Houghland
from Barlow, OH
attended Marietta Seminary, now College
aka Polly Hoagland
real name may be Mary Elizabeth Houghland
!BIRTH: Irma McGinnis Dotson, Our McGinnis Family, 2nd edition, 1994
!DEATH: wrote from there in year of death.
!MARRIAGE:LDS International Genealogical Index - says June 9. Washington
County is across the Ohio River from West Virginia (near Guyandotte)The first letter written by Rev. Edmund and Polly McGinnis to their son David Allen McGinnis in West Virginia after moving to
Texas in 1856.
Fayette County Texas August the 30, 1856
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
Fayette County Texas 30 Aug 1856
David dear son
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 an
other 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 stated 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