Welcome To One of

 

McGuire or Myers
Mystery

April 2006
I have spent considerable time researching for the family of Elizabeth McGuire Whisennand, wife of Peter Whisennand(Whisenand) and brother George Whisennand(Whisenand). I have found no trace of her. Now comes Ron Weddle and Bert Thompson with an idea that just might be the reason why. I feel that they could be right. The McGuire name comes from my family history, with no documented proof. My family history was proved wrong at least one other time. See the DRISKELL page. But that was another side of the family that married into the Whisenand line through the Callaway line.

 

Peter and Elizabeth Myers Whisenand

This posting is an attempt by the researches Ron Weddle and Bert Thompson to correct information which has appeared in books and Web Sites which we believe to be erroneous. It concerns Elizabeth Myers of Monroe County, Indiana, who has often been mistakenly listed as Elizabeth McGuire.

The 1830 federal census of Monroe County lists one Margaret Myors or Myers as head of household. She was a native of Cumberland County (now Clinton Co.) Kentucky who arrived in Indiana circa 1827. She had four children: Jacob B. Myers, who married Martha "Patsy" Huff in 1828; Elizabeth Myers, who married Peter Whisenand in 1829; Henderson Allen Myers, who married Minerva S. Coatney in 1838, and Minerva C. Myers, who married William W. Duncan in 1835. It is believed that her first husband was Chrystopher Myers who stayed and remarried in Kentucky.

The maiden name of McGuire given for Peter Whisenand's wife, Elizabeth, first appears in the book, The Johnstown Story, written by Freda L. Misenheimer. In this book of reminiscences of Cumberland County, Illinois, she quotes a letter from Lou Whisenand Tate stating that Peter's wife was Elizabeth McGuire. We believe that this is a mistake made by Ms. Tate, who misinterpreted the similar sounding names of McGuire and Myers. Unfortunately, the mistake was also picked up in the publication of the Coles County Historical Society cemetery list, although the name McGuire does Not appear on the grave stone. In fact, in No official record of any kind, census or land or otherwise, does that name appear for Peter's wife.

While no record of the marriage of Peter and Elizabeth has been found in Indiana, other evidence indicates that Myers is the correct maiden name. In his book, John Duncan of Aberdeen, by Stuart C. Duncan, the author states that empirical evidence shows that Elizabeth Myers married Peter Whisenand. In the 1840 census of the county, the Whisenands are found living directly next door to Elizabeth's brother, Henderson A. Myers. Also, Peter and Elizabeth use the same Myers family names for their children, i. e. Christopher, Jacob, Henderson, Minerva, Margaret, and Sarah. In the book, The Johnstown Story, the author quotes that the Peter Whisenand family, now living in Cumberland County, Illinois, had visits from two cousins from Monroe County, Indiana, known as Ben and Lem. Documents show that William and Minerva Myers Duncan had sons Jacob Benjamin and Lemual Allen Duncan. These boys would have been cousins through their Myers mothers. Finally, searches of the Indiana census records show that No McGuire family was residing in Monroe County or Any of the surrounding counties during this time period. It is very unlikely that Peter married a woman named McGuire.

From the above information, it would seem that the name McGuire is entirely erroneous, and that the correct name is Myers. We hope that this will clarify a mistake made long ago, and that future publications will reflect our findings.

Ronald M. Weddle

Bert A. Thompson

If you can help solve this mystery please contact Ron or Bert or Me.  Be sure to put the Surname or Genealogy in the subject line.

Thank You, Shirl

P.S. In July of 2005, my daughter and I traveled to Monroe County, Indiana and Coles County, Illinois to do research. We found the wills of Margaret Myers Colder and her second husband William Colder. The wills name Peter, Elizabeth and their son Granville in them. Although it doesn't say they are Margaret's family.
 


  My other


 

My Thomas Field(s) Family Line Mystery
My Thomas Brothers Mystery (May be in Thomas Field line)
My husband's Howard Mystery
Angeline McClure Nicholson Mystery
My ancestor Stewart Line Mystery
My husband's first Stewart Line Mystery
My husband's second Stewart Line Mystery
My ancestor Peter Whisenand Mystery

 

 

 

To My Genealogy Library

  

                To My Genealogy Office                  

 
To My Vineyard of Surnames