My Genealogy Hound

J. C. McCONNAUGHEY, farmer; P. O. Brandt; is a son of David and Anna (Grimes) McConnaughey; she is a native of Virginia, born Jan. 1, 1787, and he of Pennsylvania, born Nov. 13, 1779; in 1803 or 1804, he came to Dayton, Ohio, and engaged to work in a distillery for Col. Newcome, who entered 160 acres of land in Bethel Township, Miami Co., for him, he paying for it by his work; in the spring of 1812, he settled on his land and began converting the dense forest into a home; this was no small task, for the country was heavily timbered; before he could raise anything on his own land, the first summer, he farmed a small piece of corn on his mother-in-law’s place, about four miles distant; to his further embarrassment, in the following year he was drafted, but was in the service only a short time till he got his brother as a substitute, while he returned to battle with the oaks and elms; besides clearing up his farm, he purchased another quarter-section, and did considerable toward its improvement; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom eleven grew to the age of maturity. David McConnaughey departed this life Feb. 14, 1847, and his wife April 11, 1863, on the old farm, where their son, J. C, now resides; this is also the farm on which he was born, July 3, 1823; his occupation has always been tilling the soil; he is an enterprising farmer and one of the prominent men of the township; has been a member of the Board of Education for nearly twenty years, Township Trustee several terms, and is Land Appraiser at the present time. His marriage with Elizabeth Keplinger was solemnized April 1, 1852; she was a resident of Montgomery Co., born Sept, 11, 1833; by this union they have had thirteen children, eleven of whom are living— Harriet Roselia, Mary Alice, Phila Irene, John Walter, David Franklin, Berton K., Christian K., Lillia E., Anna B., Edward L. and Viola M.