GEORGE MCELRAVY (1811 - 1891) Biographical Summary
George McElravy was born in Ireland in 1811 or 1812, based on ages listed in census records and in his obituary.
A John McElrevy owning 57 acres of land in Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, is in the tax lists for several years beginning in 1817/1818. I speculate that this John was the father of the subject George McElravy.
In the 1830 census for Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, a John MacElerevey family is listed, comprised as follows:
John MacElerevey (1)
Males: 1 15-20; 1 50-60
Females: 1 20-30
The male aged 15-20 in the above census record was probably George.
In the 1840 census for Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, there are listings for the William McElravey, John McElravey, and George McElravy families. The 1840 census listing for George was as follows:
George McElravey
Males: 1 <5; 1 20-30
Females: 1 20-30
The male <5 in this listing, the oldest son of George and Maria McElravey, was most probably Daniel Webster McElravy (1838-1912).
To-date, we haven't found a marriage record in Washington Co. PA for George and Maria. However, the death certificate for their son Daniel Webster McElravy lists her name as Maria Johnston..
In the August, 1840, term of the Washington County Common Pleas Court, George McIlravy, a native of Ireland, filed his declaration of intent to become a United States Citizen.
The 1850 census listing for the family in North Strabane Township, Washington County, as of Aug. 23, 1850, was as follows:
| George McIlravy |
38 |
M |
Ireland |
farmer |
| Mariah |
31 |
F |
PA |
|
| Daniel |
12 |
M |
PA |
|
| Nancy |
10 |
F |
PA |
|
| Elizabeth |
6 |
F |
PA |
|
By 1860, the family was in Cadiz Township, Harrison County, OH. The 1860 census listing was as follows:
| George McIlravy |
48 |
M |
Ireland |
farmer |
| Maria |
39 |
F |
PA |
|
| Daniel |
22 |
M |
PA |
|
| Elizabeth |
15 |
F |
PA |
|
Nancy McIlravy had married Isaiah McMannis in Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 29, 1860, before the above census.
Daniel W. McIlravey married Lydia A. Mercer 11 Nov. 1862 in Harrison County.
Elizabeth McIlravy married Robert A. Miller 14 Feb. 1865 in Harrison County.
Maria J. McIlravy, wife of George, died April 28, 1869 at the age of 49y 9m 6d and is buried in the Dickerson Cemetery, Cadiz Township, Harrison County.
In the 1870 census George McIlravy, age 60, was living in Cadiz Township in the home of John Sharp - and was listed as a farm laborer. In the same census, the family of Elizabeth and Robert Miller was listed as follows:
| Jane McElravy |
83 |
F |
Ireland |
|
| Robert Miller |
39 |
M |
PA |
|
| Elizabeth |
25 |
F |
PA |
|
| George T. |
4 |
M |
OH |
|
| Samuel W. |
1 |
M |
OH |
|
Note: Jane McElravy was identified in her death notice in 1874 as a sister of George.
Also, in the 1870 census, for Cadiz Township, the family of Isaiah McMannis was listed as follows:
| I. McMannis |
34 |
M |
VA |
Farm Laborer |
| Nancy V. |
28 |
F |
OH |
|
| O. W. |
9 |
M |
OH |
|
| Nancy J. |
3 |
F |
OH |
|
Also, in the 1870 census, the family of D. W. McElravey was listed in Green Township, Harrison County as follows:
| D. W. McIlravey |
31 |
M |
PA |
wagon maker |
| Lydia |
26 |
F |
OH |
|
| G. W. |
6 |
M |
OH |
|
| Charles |
3 |
M |
OH |
|
| John |
2 |
M |
OH |
|
| Frank |
1 |
M |
OH |
|
By 1880, George had remarried. The 1880 census for Cadiz Township lists the family as follows:
| George McElravy |
67 |
M |
Ireland |
farmer |
| Lizzie J. McElravy, wife |
49 |
F |
PA |
|
| Bell Nelson, S.Dau |
19 |
F |
PA |
|
| Mod McElravy, niece |
2 |
F |
OH |
|
| Artie McElravy, niece |
8 mo. |
F |
OH |
|
The two young girls listed as nieces are unidentified.
George died August 4, 1891. His obituary appears in the August 13, 1891 issue of The Cadiz Sentinel:
"George McIlravy died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Isaiah McMannis, on the 4th, aged 79 years. He had been a member of the Methodist church for thirty nine years, and was highly respected. His remains were interred in the Cadiz cemetery on the 5th."
There are additional records for Daniel W. McElravy, Nancy (McMannis) and Elizabeth (Miller) as well as obituaries for Daniel Webster McElravy and Nancy McMannis.
The 1880 census records for the Robert Miller, Isaiah McMannis, and D.W. McElravy families in Cadiz Township, Harrison County, OH; Rumley Township, Harrison County, OH; and Center Township, Carroll County, OH, respectively were as follows:
| Robert A. Miller |
50 |
M |
PA |
carpenter |
| Elizabeth |
35 |
F |
PA |
|
| George L. |
14 |
M |
OH |
|
| Sara M. |
8 |
F |
OH |
|
| Robert E. |
7 |
M |
OH |
|
| Cora A. |
1 |
F |
OH |
|
| Isaiah McMannis |
45 |
M |
VA |
Farmer |
| Nancy |
37 |
F |
PA |
Keeping House |
| Oliver W. |
19 |
M |
OH |
|
| Nannie |
13 |
F |
OH |
|
| Lucy May |
8 |
F |
OH |
|
| Charles E. |
5 |
M |
OH |
|
| Mary |
1 |
F |
OH |
|
| D. W. McElravey |
41 |
M |
PA |
carpenter |
| Liddia A. |
30 |
F |
OH |
|
| George M. |
15 |
M |
OH |
|
| Charles |
14 |
M |
OH |
|
| John |
12 |
M |
OH |
|
| Frank |
10 |
M |
OH |
|
| Lillie M. |
9 |
F |
OH |
|
| Robert |
1 |
M |
OH |
|
In the 1910 census, Daniel W. and Lydia McElravy were residents in the household of Robert McElravy in Chester, Hancock County, West Virginia. Their daughter, Lillian was also a member of that household - along with Robert, his wife Hattie, and their daughter Paulina. Also living in Chester, W.Va in 1910 was the George McElravy family including his wife Mae and 5 children (Hazel, Robert, Herbert, Alice, and Florence).
The Massillon, Ohio Independent issue of March 7, 1895, reports: "Marriage licenses have been issued to Charles McElravy and Mary M. Werner of Osnaberg."
The 1910 census, for Canton, Stark County, Ohio, lists Charles McElravy (31), wife Mary (35), and one daughter Laura (4). In the 1830 census, Charles (64) was living with his daughter Laura and son-in-law Forrest E. Willis in Carroll County, Ohio.
A probate record, will, and obituary for Daniel Webster McElravy from Carroll County, Ohio, indicate that he wrote a will in December, 1911, while living in Chester, W.VA; that he returned to Carroll County - where he and Lydia lived briefly before his death; that he died late in 1912; and that the will was probated in January 1913. The undated obituary states that:
"Daniel Webster McEIravy passed away in death Saturday afternoon and his
body was buried Monday afternoon at Grandview.
The minister referred to the fact that this was the third funeral that he
had attended with that family in recent years. Two sons having preceded
the father in death. [Note: John (1867-1907) and Frank (1869-1907) are buried at Grandview Cemetery.]
Over two years ago deceased moved to Chester, W. Va., to be near his
sons and daughter. Then when he became enabled with disease he longed to
return to Carrollton to die among his old friends. His death followed his
return within ten days. There he lived nearly all his life, near his
family, died and was buried. Peace to his ashes.
Deceased was born in Washington County, Pa., 1838. and was married to
Lydia Ann Mercer in 1862. In 1872 moved to Carrollton from
Unionvale, Harrison county, and lived here almost to the time of his
death. By trade he was a carpenter and wagon maker and was regarded as a
skillful workman. He was a pleasant man and enjoyed his friends. His
widow survives, also the following children: Miss Lillian, George
William, and Robert of Chester, W.Va; Edward of East Liverpool and
Charles of Minerva."
Also, the May 1, 1930, issue of The Free Press Standard, Carroll County, OH, included an obituary for Lydia Anne McElravy, 86, who died April 26, 1930.
The death certificate for Daniel Webster McElravy lists his birthdate as November 14, 1838, his death date as May 11, 1912, and his parents as George McElravy, born in Ireland and Maria Johnston, born Pennsylvania.
A biography of Robert J. McElravy, son of D.W. McElravy, was published in the History of Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1926.
There are also additional census records regarding Nancy McIlravy McMannis, daughter of George McIlravy.
In 1900 the family of Isaiah and Nancy McMannis was living in the town of Jewett, in Rumley Twp., Harrison Co., Ohio.
Isaiah McMannis, born Dec. 1835 in Virginia, age 65, schoolmaster
Nancy, born April 1840 in Ohio(?), age 60. Father born in Ireland, Mother born in Ohio. Nancy had a total of 9 children, only 4 were living in 1900.
Lou M., daughter, born Dec. 1871, age 28, single, dressmaker
Mary M., daughter, born Feb. 1879, age 21, single, schoolteacher
In 1910 Nancy McMannis was living in Rumley Township, Harrison County, Ohio.
Nancy, age 69, widow, born PA.
Lou M., daughter, seamstress
In 1930 Nancy and Lucy M. were still living in Jewett, Harrison County, Ohio.
Nancy was 90 and her daughter Lucy M. was 58 and still a seamstress.
Nancy's birthplace is listed as PA, her father was born in Ireland, and her mother in Scotland.
From the Ohio Death Certificate Index:
MCMANNIS, NANCY
County Name: HARRISON Date of Death: 10/3/1931
Harrison County Probate Court death record Index book: Isaiah McMannis died April 19, 1904
Nancy and Isaiah and three children are buried in the Cadiz Union Cemetery. There are no markers for any of them except Charles.
Burial Records: Cadiz Union Cemetery, Lot 9, Section 5
McMannis, Charles E....age-73...Interred April 21, 1948
Co. F, 7 Ohio Infantry, Spanish-American War
McMannis, Lucy M....age 85...Interred Nov. 22, 1957
McMannis, Oliver.......Interred Dec 24, 1905
An obituary for Nancy McMannis appeared in the October 8, 1931 issue of The Cadiz Republican:
"Mrs. Nan McMannis
Mrs. Nan Mcmannis, who was one of the oldest residents of Jewett, died at her home on Main street at that place on Saturday, October 3, 1931, aged 92 years. "Grandma," as she was familiarly affectionately known by her many friends, was a woman of a quiet and retiring manner. Her cheerful and kindly hospitality in her home made it a pleasant place to linger. For the past four years she had been practically an invalid, but her cheery spirit never failed. She was the mother of Mrs. Charles Beetham of Cadiz. Funeral services were held at her home at 3:30 on Monday afternoon with interment in the Cadiz cemetery."
Note: Thanks to Sue Sohn and Sarah Sall for the above information on the McMannis family.