Setting the Records Straight: Henry Clay McGaughy and Family

"The Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughy/ey" by Polly Rachel McGaughey Sutton is often considered "the source" for information on the McGaughy/McGaughey surnames. The book had the following to say about my great great grandfather, Henry Clay McGaughy:

Henry Clay McGaughy, b. 10 June 1846, d. 24 Jan. 18__, connected with the State Militia, died at Boling Green, Ky. Married Minnie Walden in 1880. Came with his father to Texas in 1869 and owned a mercantile store in Spanish Fort, Tex.
Issue:

1. Roxie Walden McGaughy, married William Beall
2. Beall McGaughy
3. Henry McGaughy
4. Bernice McGaughy

This information is pretty bad. To be fair, the author of the book admits in her forward that the book will have errors and that's just how things are, but I wanted to set the record straight on the youngest of my ancestors to appear in the book.

Click for full size image

His tombstone agrees with who he married. It even lists his children: Roxie, Beall, Henry, and Bernice. This information seems OK.

However, The McGaughy book gets it wrong on both counts as far as when he died and when he was born,. His tombstone states he was born 11 June 1848 and died 10 July 1924. I have not been able to verify where he died just yet, but I find the McGaughy book's claim of him passing on in Kentucky highly dubious.


For the rest of his biography, I will have to cross reference another book. "History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas" volume 2, by BB Paddock. Pages 439-441 state the following about HC:

HENRY C. McGAUGHY, a pioneer settler of Montague county, who is meeting with prosperity in his well conducted farming interests in the Red River valley, was born in Lee county, Mississippi, on the 11th of June, 1848. He war [was] reared to farm life with the advantages afforded by the common schools. His parents were William L. and Mary (Harris) McGaughy, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, in which state they were married. Soon afterward, however, they removed to Mississippi. The paternal grandfather was G. W. McGaughy, of Georgia, who eventually became a well known and leading planter of Mississippi, where he owned a large number of slaves and conducted extensive agricultural interests. He prospered in his undertakings, lived an honorable upright life and was a devoted and loyal member of the Presbyterian church. His residence in Mississippi continued up to the time of his demise. In his family were the following named: William L.; Carroll and Lee, who came to Texas; Jack, who is living in the Indian Territory; Benton, also of Texas; and Sally, the wife of John Nicholson.

William L. McGaughy, father of our subject, took up his abode in Mississippi soon after his marriage, there purchased land and engaged in farming, becoming a prominent planter and slave owner of his locality. For many years he successfully conducted his business interests there and he remained upon the old homestead in Mississippi during the period of the Civil war and until after the re-construction. His farm lay in the path of the contending armies, who foraged on his place and largely reduced the value of his estate. His slaves were freed, his property devastated and, desiring then to abandon farming, Mr. McGaughy in 1869 turned over the plantation to two of his sons and with the remainder of his family came to Texas, settling first in Grayson county, where he remained for a year. He then removed to Dallas county, where he spent two years, and in 1872 he came to Montague county, locating in the Red River valley, where his son, Henry C., now resides. He had made a prospecting tour in the spring of the same year and had purchased five hundred acres of valley land, whereon he finally took up his abode, giving his attention to its development and improvement. His remaining days were devoted to agricultural interests here and he remained upon the homestead farm until his life’s labors were ended by death in 1874, when he was seventy years of age. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Politically he was a Whig in ante-bellum days, but at the time of the Civil war he became a stanch Democrat, favored secession and remained an advocate of the party throughout his remaining days. He was too old for active service in the army but he furnished eight sons to the Confederacy. In his business interests he manifested an intelligent understanding of all that he undertook, close application and untiring purpose, and his prosperity resulted from honorable and active effort. His wife survived him and died February 20, 1874, at the age of sixty-nine years. She was a daughter of George Harris, a leading planter of Mississippi, who died in that state at a ripe old age. There were three children in his family: George and Glenn, who served in the Confederate army; and Mrs. Mary McGaughy.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. William L. McGaughy were born ten children: Marion P., who was killed in the Civil war and left a wife and three children; G. W. D., who was also in the army and is now living in Collinsville, Texas; Nehemiah R., who was an army surgeon and died in the service in the Civil war; James F., who was also in the army and is now a farmer of Dallas county, Texas; W. H., who was a soldier and died at his home in Mississippi; John, who also wore the grey uniform and is now living in Mississippi; Benjamin, who espoused the cause of the Confederacy and died in the service; Henry C., of this review, who was connected with the state militia; Sally, became the wife of J. M. Buchanan and died in Mississippi, leaving four children; and Mary J., who became the wife of Mr. Walton, who died in the army, leaving two children. Later she married Mr. Van Arsdale and had three children. Mr. and Mrs. William L. McGaughy were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and were people of the highest respectability, enjoying the friendship and regard of all with whom they came in contact.

Henry C. McGaughy was reared in Mississippi and remained upon the old home plantation until after the war. He came to Texas with his father and the family in 1869, and accompanied his parents on their removal from Grayson to Dallas county and to his present home in Montague county in the spring of 1872. He made this selection and in company with a brother-in-law, Mr. Buchanan, bought five hundred acres of land. His brother and brother-in-law, however, returned to Mississippi, but Mr. McGaughy remained and improved the farm and cared for his parents throughout their remaining days. He yet remains upon the old homestead, where he has resided continuously for a third of a century. He made a wise selection of land, his farm being a level tract of country, very fertile and productive. Farming at that time was an experiment in Texas, for previously the land had been used simply as a cattle range and it was not known whether crops could be raised profitably or not. The grass however, was abundant and the range was free and the settlers devoted their energies to raising cattle. The country was sparsely settled but little actual farming was done. Mr. McGaughy, however, secured his claim, which he began to open up and cultivate and he also gave a part of his time to the cattle and stock business, in which he continued as long as there was free pasture. He was succeeding well when the country and pastures were taken up and fenced, so he disposed of his herd and has since kept stock only for the support of the farm. He raises both cattle and hogs. Farming is no longer an experiment here but a very profitable industry, and Mr. McGaughy is among those who have demonstrated the value of this work in Texas. He has never failed to raise good crops save on one occasion. He now largely gives his attention to corn and cotton. He is pleased with the country and its possibilities and his labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He has done much to improve his farm and his land border on the Red River, so that here is a good supply of water. He has erected a commodious frame residence, good barns and out-buildings and his home stands upon a natural elevated building site, commanding an excellent view of the farm and surrounding country. It is a fine home tastefully furnished and the entire place is equipped with modern improvements and conveniences. In 1887 Mr. McGaughy also embarked in the mercantile business, taking charge of a stock of general goods at Spanish Fort, which he conducted for twelve years. He has since, however, abandoned that line of activity and give his entire attention at present to his farming interests.

In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McGaughy to Miss Minnie Walden, who was born in Virginia in 1862 and is a daughter of C. M. and Henrietta (Purcell) Walden, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her father was a mechanic, plasterer and bricklayer and followed those pursuits in the Old Dominion in his younger days. He served throughout the war of the rebellion with the Confederate army in Virginia and in 1876 he came to Texas, locating first in Grayson county, where he rented land and engaged in farming, but in 1878 he removed to Montague county, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits. He also gave some attention to the stock business in the Indian Territory. His wife died September 13, 1904, and he has since broken up housekeeping and make his home with Mrs. McGaughy. He followed his trade until he came to the west and has lived the life of a plain honest mechanic and farmer. Although he rendered active service to the Confederacy during the Civil war he was never wounded nor taken prisoner. He is a man of genuine personal worth, faithful to honorable principles and is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife was a member of the Methodist church. They had three children: Lillie, who became the wife of J. Damron and both she and her husband are now deceased; Minnie, now Mrs. McGaughy; and R. E., who follows farming in the territory.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born a daughter and two sons: Mary R., at home; William B., born December 26, 1894; and Henry W., born August 13, 1896. Mrs. McGaughy is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. McGaughy gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party and is unflattering in his advocacy of its principles, but has never sought or desired public office. In public life he is progressive but without aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Those who know him, and his acquaintance is wide, esteem him for his genuine worth and throughout his residence in Montague county he has made for himself an honorable name and a record that any business man might envy.

The above biography agrees with the McGaughy book in that Henry came to Texas in 1869, and that he married Minnie Walden in 1880. It even agrees that he had a mercantile store, but by the time of Paddock's writing it seems he had abandoned that enterprise. However, Paddock's writing disagrees with the McGaughy book and instead sides with the tombstone concerning Henry Clay's birth date, not with the McGaughy book. This is probably because BB Paddock most likely actually met our subject.  I believe that Paddock's account is more likely to be true as a result.  Now it is time to take issue with Henry Clay's... Issue. Concerning his children, there are a couple census records.  By 1900, Bernice was the only child that hadn't been born. In the 1900 census, Henry C. McGaughy's family shows up with children Roxie, age 19, Beall, age 5, and Henry W., age 3.

Click Image for full size census form

By 1910, Roxie had moved out and Bernice was 5 years old. Henry W. shows up again, aged 13. Beall shows up again, this time rather illegibly. It looks like W (scribble) B., but he is aged 15 in 1910 which would make him the right age to be Beall from the 1900 census.

Click Image for full size census form

These 2 census forms somewhat agree with the McGaughy book. There really isn't enough information at this point to form much of a disagreement. Additional sources are needed to decide one way or the other, but it appears from the information in the 1910 census that Beall was the middle name of Henry Clay's 2nd child, not the first..

I have managed to find death certificates for all four children of H.C. Beginning with Roxie's:

Click for full size death certificate

This certificate shows a Mary Roxie Tucker, b. 24 November 1880, d. 18 May 1975. Her parents were Henry Clay McGaughy and Minnie Walden, which proves the McGaughy book wrong on her name. It was not Roxie Walden McGaughy, but Mary Roxie. Since her married name appears as Tucker, she should show up as Mary or Roxie Tucker in the U.S. Census somewhere. She does, as Roxie M. Tucker married to Charles R. Tucker in 1920:

Click image for full size census form

The McGaughy book is wrong again. She did not marry William Beall (wouldn't that would be weird?!), she married Charles R Tucker. They appear to have no issue by 1920, and are 39 and 43, respectively. It is likely they had no children. The next child of our subject to consider is my great grandfather, William Beall McGaughy. Below is his death certificate:

Click image for full size Death Certificate

His parents are listed as H.C. McGaughy and Minnie Walden. His full name is William Beall McGaughy. He was born 26 December 1894 and died on 16 October 1966. Beall was just what everyone seems to have called him. I have several photos of him and his wife labeled as Beall and Delia, so I am assuming he went by Beall. I have plenty of vital records of his marriage and children, but I intend to write more on him later. Be assured that he married Delia Ann Gill in 1916 and had five children: Evelyn (Svajda), Lorraine "Rushie" (Andersen), Dexter Eugene (my grandfather), William Baxter "Tince", and David Thomas.

 Back to Henry Clay's issue, though. Next in line is Henry Walden's death certificate:

Click image for full size death certificate

This lists his father as Henry Clay McGaughy and his mother as Minnie Walden. It also lists his full name as Henry Walden McGaughy. He was born 13 August 1896 and died 26 October 1968. Looks like the McGaughy book put the middle name Walden on the wrong person. He shows up in the 1940 census with a wife, Alice (I believe to be Alice Wade, but have no proof at the time of this writing), and two children, Henry Clay McGaughy and James Wade McGaughy. They are at the end of a page on the census and had to be continued on the next. Here are the two pages:

Click for full size census form part 2

Click for full size census form part 1

The last child of Henry Clay to get straightened out is Bernice. I have her death certificate:

Click for full size death certificate

Her parents are listed as Henry Clay and Minnie Walden. Her full name is listed as Bernice Ruth Gill. This is of particular interest because it means that William Beall's children and her children are double cousins. She shows up in the 1930 Census as being married to a Thomas J. Gill, and again in 1940 as being married to a Judd Gill. I believe her husband's name was Thomas Judson Gill, based on their gravestone and these census forms. In the 1940 census, they have a child, either Jane or June N. Gill. It also appears that they took care of Minnie Walden in her old age.

Click image for full size census form.

Click for full size image

Click Image for full size census form

Now that we have solved the issue of Henry Clay's biography and issue, we can lay the problems with the McGaughy book to rest. I am sure I will revisit this family at a later date, but can definitely conclude that the McGaughy book had plenty of erroneous information regarding the family of my Great Great Grandfather, Henry Clay McGaughy.




I only have one photo of him from a book I found. This is it:

Photo taken from page 11 of "Images of America: Nocona" by Shannon Gillette

Edit: Ran across another photo of Henry Clay:

Photo taken from page 122 of "Images of America: Bowie and Montague County" by Shannon Castle Gillette