Obituary of George Gregg

Obituary of Nancy (Sale) McGuire

Mrs. J. E. McGuire, of Darlington, who reached the 91st milestone in the journey of life, last Wednesday, has spent most of that time a citizen of this county, and should feel very much at home here by this time, as she has been continually a resident here since March 15, 1841. Mrs. McGuire has one brother and sister living here yet who came to this county at the same time she did. They are B.F. Sale and Mrs. Lavina Kier, of Stanberry. Mrs. McGuire has been a woman of extra good health and has always taken an active part in the work at home until her eyesight failed a few years back and now no one could more cheerfully do their part in knitting for the soldier boys than she would if her eye sight was good enough.

Mrs. McGuire was born near Fort Wayne, Indiana, January 16, 1827 and when she was two years of age the family moved near Niles, Michigan. Her father died there, and the mother, thinking the opportunities were better in this country than in Michigan, started with her nine children and worldly possessions in two prairie schooners, each one drawn by four oxen, and leading four milk cows. They spent the winter near where Plattsburg, MO now is, and came here in the spring and as all the early settlers following them did, settled where there was plenty of timber. The only two settlers here where they settled, seven miles west of where Albany now stands, were Dave Buckridge and a man by the name of Chenoweth. Mrs. McGuire talks interestingly of her early life here. There was no land entered (?) when she came. The plowing was done by ox teams, and the nearest trading place was Robidoux Landing where St. Joseph now stands, and the products that were not bartered among the neighbors, were taken there and exchanged for goods. The trip took three or four days in the best weather, and as the pioneers were scarce of money, only absolute necessities were brought home. Living in this very productive and well improved country, we can hardly realize the great privation and inconveniences which the early settlers suffered. As soon as a plot of ground could be cleared it was planted, and the products raised, together with the wild fruits, which were dried and stored away for winter use and the game which abounded in the forests, were the bill of fare. There were a good many Indians living in their primitive state and occupied wigwams, but they were friendly to the white settlers. Neighborhoods were miles apart in those days. Mrs. McGuire remembers very distinctly of her brothers helping Uncle Alex Greenwell break the sod on the land where he now lives and taking a cow in payment for their work. Mrs. McGuire can talk by the hour of the early life spent here and thinks people enjoyed life then as well, and perhaps better than they do at the swift pace they go now. The house raising and corn huskings were well attended and enjoyed by the older people, and as in the case in most new countries, dating was the greatest pleasure for the young. She remembers attending many dances where Uncle Alex Greenwell attended. About the first settlers that came here next was a man by the name of Huggins, who settled where Mart Baker now lives. The first wedding Mrs. McGuire remembers after she came here was her Sister Sarah to Samuel Gunter, in January 1842, and also remembers the night was cold. Mr. Gunter's eyes were frosted shut when he reached the home. Mrs. Gunter died about three years ago at Hartford, KS, at the advanced age of 93 years. As Mrs. McGuire's family were moving from Plattsburg they camped near the home of James Patton and she remembers the nice talk Mr. Patton gave the mother and her orphan children. A little later Mr. Patton and family came and settled in what is now the Mt. Zion neighborhood.

Revolutionary War Record of Martin Rourke

Source -- Mass S. & S. of Rev. Vol. 13 Page 611-612

The Will of Cornelius Sale

'I give and bequeath unto my Grandson William Sale of my Tract of land where on my son William lived, which tract I purchased of Augustine Smith, the other half to my Daughter in Law Hannah (Jones) Sale Blackbourne during her Natural Life and after her decease I give the said land to my aforesaid Grandson William Sale and his heirs forever the said Hannah to have (halve=divide) the Plantation into two parts.

'Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Anthony Sale five pounds to be paid at my wife's death.

'Item. I give and bequeath unto my son John Sale all the lands I bought of Major Robert Brooke with all that part of the tract whereon I now live which lyeth in the west side of the main road that leads from Garnetts Mill to the range, to my said son John Sale his heirs and assigns forever.

'Item. I give to my said son John Sale one Negro Boy named George. To my son Cornelius Sale all the lands I bought of James Pagit and Daniel Tucker and all of my other lands not before bequeathed, after my wife's death, but if he should depart this life without lawful issue, then to my son Thomas Sale, (and) if he should depart this life without lawful issue, then to my son John Sale. It is my will that my son Thomas Sale have the use of my dwelling Plantation with the lands I bought of Tucker for ten years after my wife's death if he should not be provided with other lands to live on before the expiration of the said ten years.

'Item. I give and bequeath unto my said (sic) son James Sale three Negroes Named, Jack, Kate and Amey with all their future increase, with five pounds after my wife's death. To my son Thomas Sale two Negroes named Jenny and George with their future increase. I give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah Sorrill one Negro woman name Doll and her future increase, and five pounds current money at my wife's death. To my daughter Elizabeth Farmer one Negro boy named Ralph with five pounds current money at my wife's death. To my grand daughter Mary Fisher five pounds current money to be paid when she come of age of marry.

Item. To prevent disputes about the property of my Negroes which I have already given and is at this time in the possessions of any of my children, all such I give to the present possessors of them. To my beloved wife during her natural life the plantation whereon I live with the use of all my Negroes not already delivered to my children and the use of all my person Estate: the Residue, at the death of my wife to be divided between my two sons John Sale and Thomas Sale, but Thomas is to have ten pounds more than half. Lastly I appoint my son John Sale and my son Thomas Sale my executors...Dated 3 August 1745.

'Witnesses: Hammett__________, John Loyde and Robert Smith
'Proved 17 March 1746/47 by the Executors, Witnesses and the heir at law appeared, no objections.'