IADECATU-L Archives

From: Steffani Kennedy <>
Subject: McDaniel Ancestors
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 12:26:03 -0500

This is an update on my MCDANIELS. According to the Decatur County
History, FIRST SETTLEMENTS -"Perhaps the first record of early
settlement in the County of Decatur proclaims that the very earliest
settlements were made in the southern part of the county in or about the
year l840. Among the men who came to this territory at this time and
threw up their rude habitations were: William Hamilton, James and Reuben
Hatfield, Alfred Stanley,JOHN MCDANIEL, John E. Logan and Allen Scott.
It is said that some of these pioneers came even as early as l838,
carrying the impression that they were settling in the State of
Missouri."

It is interesting to note that prior to the settlement of the so-called
boundary question a number of slaves were held in the southern part of
the county. Among the early records is the following:

"I, JOHN MCDANIEL, of the County of Decatur and the State of Iowa, do
hereby release, give up, and set at liberty as a free man, George, a
black, a colored man, who has resided in my family since boyhood. Said
man is about forty-five years old at this time, about five feet eleven
inches high. Witness my hand and seal this 25th day of February, A.D.,
l852." "JOHN MCDANIEL"

This same Goerge died in the southern part of the county, evidently
preferring to spend the rest of his days in the vicinity of his former
master's home. MCDANIEL afterward moved to the State of Oregon.

My notes: The l850 Decatur County, Burrell Township Census shows -
JOHN MCDANIEL, age 53; Rachel, age 48 (wife); Larkin, age 26; Isaac, age
l9; Eliza, age l7; John, age l5; Lewis, age l2; Mahala, age 9. Julia
(MCDANIEL)Weldon, age 24 with husband Thurman Weldon, age 27; and son
Harrison, age l.

By l860, (as the Decatur County History says,) JOHN MCDANIEL, LARKIN
MCDANIEL AND LEWIS MCDANIEL show up on the Jackson County, Oregon;
Jacksonville, Butte Creek Census.

On the l880 Jackson County, Oregon; Little Butte Census, (young) JOHN
MCDANIEL is married to Percilla and has 4 children - Polley, Julia,
William and Laney. Also on the same Census, LARKIN and LEWIS MCDANIEL
are farming together and are both bachelors.

I know that LARKIN MCDANIEL came back to Decatur County by l900 and is
shown living with his sister, JULIA (MCDANIEL) WELDON and her family.
JULIA died in l908 at the age of 83, having been a widow and landowner
since l852. LARKIN died in l9l5, at the age of 92 -- a bachelor. The
Census lists him as a Capitalist (man of his own wealth).

I had a post from Barbara Hegne, Eagle Point Historical Society, Eagle
Point, Oregon (Jackson County) on Tuesday, Feb. 8th saying: "I am
related to the MCDANIEL family by marriage. My relative married JOHN
MCDANIEL (younger John). I have a lot of information on the family
here. I wrote a booklet on the murder of LEWIS MCDANIEL."

This is an absolute "serendipity" for me and I can hardly wait to
receive the information she is sending... I will share it with you all!!

I am wondering who, from Decatur County, went to Oregon with JOHN
MCDANIEL FAMILY..Did they follow the Oregon Trail? I have Land Deeds
from Jackson County, Oregon that I have ordered that show Eli Riddle;
Jeremiah Hanrahan; Burch; John and Nancy Eades; Nichols and Chitwood as
parties selling land to the MCDANIELS. Also they received land from the
United States (which was probably the reason for going there).

I know from some research that the MCDANIELS came from Virginia and
probably knew the HATFIELDS of Russell County, VA. and the WELDONS of
Lincoln County, KY. Many of the first Decatur County Settlers came from
the Kentucky/Virginia area. I believe they went to Missouri and then to
Decatur County, Iowa.

I know this is quite long, but I hope someone out there will have a
family connection to the Oregon Migration from Decatur County, Iowa.

I'd love to hear from anyone and will share what I have..

Nancee at (an Iowa native, living in Indiana)

This thread:

• McDaniel Ancestors by Steffani Kennedy <>