My Genealogy Hound

HENRY J. MAGINNIS is a wide-awake Irish-American farmer living in the town of Ripley, where he has made his home since 1848. Henry J. Maginnis is a son of John and Mary (Henry) Maginnis, and was born in County Down, Ireland, April 12, 1847. The grandparents on both sides were born, bred and died on the Emerald Isle and lived there when she was suffering the affliction of the world-renowned famine. John Maginnis was born in County Down, where he married Mary Henry, but soon after left her a widow, and having been a farmer there was not much left for the family. In 1848 she came to America, bringing with her six children, four sons and two daughters, and went at once to Ripley. Soon after she met Alexander McHenry and married him (for extended notice see below).

Henry J. Maginnis was educated in the common schools of this town, and as soon as he could hold a hoe was taught to work. Tilling the soil being congenial to his disposition he has followed it and now has ninety-two acres of land.

On March 1, 1876, he married Ella Woodruff, a daughter of Herman Woodruff, of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Maginnis have three children: Alexander, Herbert and Lottie.

In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a good business man and an intelligent farmer who knows how to handle his fields to the best advantage.

Alexander McHenry, who was the step-father of Henry J. Maginnis, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., in 1796. His father, Edward McHenry, with Col. McMahan were the acknowledged first settlers in Chautauqua county. They located on adjoining tracts within the present limits of Westfield. They began to subdue the forests in 1802, near where the village of Westfield now stands. Edward McHenry built a house in which he kept an inn for the accommodation of emigrants going to the settlements in Ohio. A few months after this his son John was born, the first white child to see the light in Chautauqua county. After Col. McMahan and Edward McHenry made their settlement others flocked rapidly in and before this child was ten years old Westfield town and Chautauqua county had a considerable population. Mrs. McHenry died October 21, 1864.