Starting again. How about a few eagle pictures?

Just writing this to see if it still works.  I may have to start using the blog again to help keep my sanity.  Here are some photos I took at Emiquon National Wildlife Preserve near Havana, IL.

Coins From My Collection

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McVean, MacVean Ancestry in Upstate NY

Johnstown Public Library

Johnstown, NewYork

Last summer I made notes on my ancestors at the Johnstown library in Johnstown New York.

Here are the notes:

The cardfile of Fulton County family names is located on the 2^nd floor of the Public Library. It contains typewritten notes of baptisms, church memberships, obituaries, etc. that people have copied from newspapers, church records, cemetery records. Usually the source is given, but sometimes it is assumed. The records are on individual 3x5 cards sorted by surname. Sound-alike’s are stored together. Spellings of McVean, MacVean, McVane, McVain etc are all in the same bin.

While in Johnstown last summer I took the better part of a couple of days going through the cardfile. Following are my notes from that visit. I will type them exactly as I wrote them down.

McVane, Grace to Robinson March 1840 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVane, James m. Jane Robertson Oct 1839 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

James, Jr home for visit 1904 (Johnstown Republican)

McVane, James A (McVean for sure – my great grandfather)

Died Tues evening Feb 23, 1906 (Johnstown Republican)

Left Behind:

Sons:

Alva

Clarence

Percy

James (of Mt. Hermon, MA)

Brothers: Sister:

John Mrs Volney Hough

Charles

Edward

Duncan

McVane Janet m. Jacob Cromwell Oct 31, 1839 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVane, Margaret m. John Campbell Apr 30, 1840 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anne

Daughter of John & Janet

Born Dec 21, 1821 Bapt 1822

(Name of mother was first written as Margaret) (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Archibald

Son of Peter & Mary

Born Dec 21, 1802 Bapt Feb 20, 1803 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan witness to Marriage of John McEwen to Janet McVean Mar 8, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan (no mention of wife)

Children:

John b. Sep 8, 1800 bapt Oct 26, 1800

Janet b. Sep 5, 1814 bapt Sep 29, 1814

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anna w of John

Children:

Peter b. Oct 17, 1799

John b. Jan 20, 1800 (?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James Alexander (my great-grandfather)

Bapt Feb 22, 1840

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan

Children:

John Sep 8, 1800

Janet Sep 5, 1814 (appears to be same as record above but no baptism dates)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Peter McVean

Child

Catharine Aug 28, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Deaths – Sons of John and Ann Stewart McVean

McVean, Alexander 2 yrs

Peter

John

All died in fire (no source attributed – but confirmed by records of the Colonial Cemetery)

McVean, Alexander

Son of James and Jane

b. Jan 2, 1793

bapt Mar 10, 1793

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander husband of Isabel

Child

Janet Mary b May 11, 1830

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

Son of John and Anne

b. Jan 14, 1803

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

Son of Peter and Catharine

b. Mar 5, 1801

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Angus died 1827 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ann admitted to membership Sep 1802 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ann (Stewart)

Wife of John

Child

Jean b. Dec 25, 1804

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anna admitted to membership Sep 27, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anne d. 1809 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine admitted to membership May 12, 1798 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine

m. Duncan McNaughton Feb 22, 1807 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine wife of John D.

Children:

Charles Frazer b. Nov 17, 1844

Edward b. July 28, 1846

Duncan b. July 10, 1848

Millard Filmore b. July 10, 1851

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles E.

Son of James I. McVean of Mayfield

d. 22 Sep 1885 in New Orleans

(Fulton County Republican – Thursday 10 Oct 1885)

Peter and Catharine McVean

Children:

Alexander Mar 5, 1801

Catharine Aug 15, 1802

Charles May 1, 1806

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Duncan and Grace Fraser McVean (My GGGGrandfather and GGGGrandmother)

Child

Catharine 5 July 1807 (my GGGrandmother)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

James and Jane McVean

Child

Catharine Ann Feb 12, 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

John and Mary McVean

Child

Catharine Feb 20, 1792

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Peter McVean Sr

Child

Catharine Aug 28, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles

Son of Duncan and Grace b. Oct 24, 1802

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles Edward

Son of James and Jane b. July 3, 1850

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles

Son of Peter and Catharine

b. May 1, 1806

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian (Female)

Admitted to membership Sep 30, 1792

Married Archibald Ferguson Feb 18, 1802

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian

Wife of John

Children

James b. Mar 3, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian

Admitted to membership Sep 27, 1800

Died 1813 (in childbirth maybe?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Marriage

McVean, Christy to John McVean Jul 26, 1810

Children

Christy b. Jul 26, 1808

Peter b. Jul 24, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Died May 19, 1814 age 77

(Colonial Cemetery Record)

McVean, Daniel Jr.

Admitted to membership Feb 2, 1792

m. Jennet Cameron, Broadalbin May 8, 1821

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel P

Admitted to membership Sep 29, 1798

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Witness to marriage of Margaret McVean to John Blue Mar 10, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Admitted to membership Apr 1796

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Elder of Church, admitted to membership Feb 5, 1792 (My GGGgrandfather)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of James and Jean

b. May 11, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of John

Bapt Feb 9, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of Daniel and Jennet

b. Apr 30, 1795

bapt. June 21, 1795

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan husband of Grace (Fraser) (My GGGgrandfather and mother)

Children

Charles b. Oct 24, 1802

Duncan b. Mar 8, 1805

Catharine b. Jul 5, 1807 (My GGgrandmother)

Grace b. Jan 2, 1810

Edward b. June 25, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Elizabeth

Child

John bapt. Mar 11, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Jannet (my GGGgrandfather and mother)

Child

Daniel b. Apr 30, 1795

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

m. Katharine Carmichael Mar 1, 1821

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

m. Margaret McColl Jan 19, 1798

Children

Mary b. Oct 5, 1802

Hugh b. Jan 13, 1805

James b. May 3, 1807

John b. Feb 20, 1809

Removed from membership 1814 (moved west?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Mary

Child

John b. Mar 17, 1801

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward Obituary

McVean, Edward age 62 of Johnstown, a one time prominent farmer residing in the vicinity of Hale’s Hill but now retired, died at the Courte Hotel in New York Tues – the gas was turned on and the supposition is that he blew out the light. He was registered at the hotel as Edward McVean of Johnstown, NY. Born in Hale’s Mills – he lived a retired life with his brother John McVean of Hale’s Mills – surviving is another brother Charles J. McVean of Johnstown, a sister Mrs.Catherine Huff (Hough); nieces and nephews.

(The Johstown Daily Republican Wed 29 Sep 1909)

McVean, Edward Obituary (not the same as above)

McVean, Edward, age 82 died a week ago last Thursday at his home 3 miles west of Johnstown (where cousin Nancy lives now) – he was the last surviving child of the late Duncan McVean who emigrated from Scotland after the Revolutionary War, married Grace Fraser and settled west of Johnstown where he resided until his death. Of the 11 children born to then, Edward was the youngest and never married.

(The Johnstown Daily Republican Thurs 16 Jan 1896)

McVean, Edward 83 died yesterday at his home several miles west of the city (Jan 3, 1896). He was the lst surviving child of the late Duncan McVean who emigrated after the Revolutionary War and settled west of the city where he lived until his death. He (Edward) was a bachelor. He was the brogher of Charles J. McVean who was elected US Senator, but died at the beginning of his term. His brother James was a graduate of Princeton College, N.J. Heart Failure was the cause of death.

(Johstown Daily Republican) (James went on to teach Theology at Georgetown University – my note – not from the file)

McVean, Edward

Son of John D and Catharine

b. July 28, 1846 (my gg uncle)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Grace Ann

Admitted by Profession Jan 6, 1856

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Grace D.

Daughter of Duncan and Grace

b. Jan 2, 1810 (my GGG aunt)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Obituary

McVean, Grace A (Mrs) 60, widow of the late James McVean (my great Grandmother and Grandfather), died Mon a.m. at her home north of this village – death due to cancer – born in the town of Stratford – she was a member of the Northhampton Presbyterian Church – surviving are 4 sons, Clarence, Alvah, and Percy of Broadalbin and James D of Herman, Massachusetts; a sister Mrs D. D. McVean of York, Livingston County, a brother, Edward Robertson of Galway. She was buried in the local cemetery.

(Broadalbin News section of The Johnstown Daily Republican 19 Mar 1908)

McVean, Grace Ann

m. Daniel J. McLaughlin of Mohawk

(Fulton County Republican Oct 9, 1873)

McVean, Duncan

Son of Duncan and Grace (Old Farm west of Johnstown)

b. March 8, 1805

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan (my GG Uncle)

Son of John D and Catharine

b. Jul 10, 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward (obit above)

Son of Duncan and Grace (Old Farm west of Johnstown)

b. June 25, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward (mistaken – has to be James A.)

m. Grace A. Robertson Jan 3, 1877

(Fulton County Republican Jan 11, 1877 pg 3)

McVean, Elizabeth

Wife of Daniel

Child

John bapt Mar 11, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ellen Isabella

Daughter of James and Jane

b. Nov 23, 1852

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Hugh Mair

Son of James and Jane

Bapt Dec 11, 1858

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabel

Admitted to membership Sep 30, 1792

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabel

Wife of Alexander

Child

Janet Mary b. May 11, 1830

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabella

c. May 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Son of Daniel

b. Oct 23, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Son of Daniel and Margaret

b. May 3, 1807

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James Alexander (my Great Grandfather)

Son of John and Catharine

Bapt Feb 22, 1840

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James I of Mayfield

M. Martha, youngest daughter of Col L.P. Shaw in Providence, Saratoga County on

6 Aug 1868

(Gloversville Intelligencer Aug 12, 1868 pg 3)

McVean, James

Husband of Jane (daughter of John Robinson)

Children

John H. b. Sep 9, 1840

Sarah Christian b. March 19, 1842

Margaret Jane b. Feb 12, 1844

Catharine Ann b. Feb 12, 1848

Charles Edward b. July 3, 1850

Ellen Isabella b. Nov 23, 1852

Hugh Mair bapt Dec 11, 1858

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

d. Aug 23, 1822 age 29

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

James McVean

Witness to marriage of

Peter McVean to

Mary McVean on Jun 17, 1819

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Husband of Jean

Children

John b. Jan 12, 1802

Hugh b. Mar 26, 1806

Daniel b. May 11, 1810

Removed from membership 1812 (Moved west?)

McVean, Jane (nee McKay)

Wife of James

Child

Alexander b. Jan 2, 1793 d. Aug 23, 1822

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, James I

e. Nov 10, 1885

(Johnstown Cemetery Association)

McVean, James A

m. Grace A. Robertson (my great grandparents)

Jan 3, 1877

(Fulton County Republican Jan 11, 1877 pg 3)

McVean, James

Son of John and Christian

b. March 3, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Janet

Age 80 yrs

d. Sept 11, 1830 town of Amsterdam

(Montgomery County Republican 1830-31 pg 11)

Wife of Daniel McVean

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, Janet

m. John McEwen March 8, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

m. Jane McKay Mar 5, 1792

Child

Alexander b. Jan 2, 1793

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Jannet

Wife of Daniel (my GGG grandparents)

Child

Daniel b. Apr 30, 1795

Died (Jannet) Sep 11, 1830 age 80 years

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, Mrs John D (my gg grandmother)

d. Jan 1855

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

All of this information was taken from cards in the cardfile in the Johnstown Public Library. Much of the information from the 1^st Presbyterian Church is gleaned from partial records held by the church. The church records were lost to a fire and this information was salvaged and copied by hand to the cardfile. This had to be a monumental task as the information is still being updated by volunteers. Information in the McVean, MacVean file includes recent obituaries of many of my Aunts and Uncles and even my father Charles J. MacVean who died in 2008. All (or many) surnames from the county are in the cardfile, but not many have as many entries as the McVean section.

I am indebted to those volunteers that maintain this massive amount of information. Without their effort much of this information would just be lost forever.

John MacVean

Canton, IL

The Time Has Come to Post

I am sitting in a hotel room in Monee, IL., about 170 miles from home. My wife sent me an e-mail telling me to read my daughter's blog and my niece's blog. (http://www.khathryn.blogspot.com/ and http://www.expapmama.blogspot.com) They both write about the passing of my father, their grandfather.

Dad died on June 23rd. He was 96 years 1 month and 17 days old. I say old as it refers to chronological age only. It has only been the last 2 years that Dad seemed old. My mom is the youngest 91 year old I know. She is still sharp as a tack. Mom spends her time reading mystery novels. I am guessing she has read thousands over the years.

The folks have always been active. There was always someplace to go and something new to see. It kept them young. They were still driving the thousand miles out to visit us well into their eighties. Dad would drive and mom would navigate. Then when they left our house they would go on to Arkansas to visit my aunt Roselyn (Mom's brother's wife.) On the way home they would stop in Nunda, NY to visit with my aunt Martha and her family. During their visits I would usually take my kids and my dad to a ballgame. He was a big Yankees fan. Out here he had to settle for the Sox or the Cardinals (Wrigley field was too much hassle to get to - even though I'm a Cubs fan.).

We took the kids to Florida twice to visit them when they stayed in Cape Canaveral. They were still in their early 80's then and would wear the kids out walking on the beach or the jetty. We went back to Gloversville, NY to visit at least once a year the whole time the kids were growing up. Talk about culture shock. The kids would meet the never ending supply of aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. I have a hard time getting all my cousin's names correct (I have 31).
I can't imagine what the kids thought of all this.

The sad part is that the only time I get to see my cousins now is at the passing of one of my aunts or uncles or cousins. While my wife and I were there when dad was failing we attended the funeral of my cousin Mark. A few days later we were burying my father. Mark died way to young after finally straightening out a tragic early life. My father's death was sad, but he had led a full and prosperous life.

He taught in a one room schoolhouse with a teaching certificate, started the first training center for retarded and handicapped adults in the area, inspected electronic parts at GE, sold boats, motors, carpets, appliances, returned to college in his early 50's evenings and summers until he finally got his degree at the age of 56. He taught high school level retarded kids during the last years of his career. It seems that everyone knew him and loved him.

If my math is correct Mom and Dad were married for 67 years. For the last 34 or so years they have been retired. Never apart unless one was in the hospital, and there was very little of that. They always had something to look forward to and it kept them young. They flew to Spain in their eighties for my niece Kate's wedding, they flew to Illinois in their late eighties for my son Jeff's wedding. When they finally quit driving I would go get them and bring them back to Illinois for a few weeks, then my son would drive them home. With this large a family their was always another event coming, a wedding, or a reunion or a birthday - and they were there for all of them.

Dad's hearing and vision had rapidly deteriorated the last couple of years. Since he couldn't see well or hear well he would get confused, but he always seemed to have plenty of lucid moments, right up 'til the end. He worried when mom was away at the store, or gone for her treatments. He would pace the halls until she returned. Now he can rest.

Mom is doing well. I call her about everyday, my brother Jim lives nearby and visits often, as do a few aunts and uncles. They stop by and take her to lunch or dinner or just to visit. But it can't seem the same after 67 years of marriage to be alone. But in this family you are never really alone.

Dad we will miss you, but we will never forget you.

Blessing from God

My Aunt Grace died yesterday. Busy as ever, right up to the end.

I was in Broadalbin and Johnstown last week to visit my Mom and Dad. Usually I saw Aunt Grace, but not this trip. And now I'll never see her again. My wife and I flew up to see for ourselves that my Mom was ok. She has a circulation problem that is now going to be fixed we hope. We popped in for a quick day and a half visit which didn't allow us the time to see everybody.

Mom had to visit the doctor and get some tests a few days after our visit. Aunt Grace came over to check on Dad at lunch time that day not knowing how long Mom would be gone. Mom got home at lunch time and they all spent the afternoon talking.

Dad is the oldest of the kids at 94. Aunt Grace fell in the middle of the 13 children. Hazel, Harold, Clement, Percy and Robert have already passed. Charles, Marion, Clarence, Thelma, Arthur, Donald and Ruth are all still alive and mostly well. Aunt Martha (Percy) and Aunt Betty (Robert) are with us as well.


Mike and Helen
Peg and Charlie (Margaret and Charlie)
Tink (Percy) and Martha
Bob and Betty
Bob and Marion
Norm and Thel
Grace and John
Clarence and Thelma
Don and Eileen
Ross (Harold) and Ruth
Scotch (Arthur) and Arlene
Buck and Hazel
Bob and Ruthie

Aunt Grace's memorial service is Wedsnesday. I am sure she is in heaven, ballroom dancing with Uncle John.

Surrounded by family

July 4th will never seem the same again. My father-in-law passed away on Independence Day. He died of lung cancer. We believe he knew about it long before he told us. But he was like that. The last thing he wanted was for his children to worry about him. It was his job to support them - it didn't matter if they were two or sixty. He was the father that you went to when you had a problem. It caused him great pain to have to ask for help of any kind and in the last few months of his life he had to ask to often.

He was a decorated WWII veteran. He served in the Pacific campaign. He never talked about it. Once in a while he would mention an old army friend, but never about what he had to do during the war. I always had the impression that he was bothered by things he had done in the name of God and country. He had lots of bad memories and didn't care to rehash them.

What he was proud of and would talk about anytime were his kids and grandkids. Five kids to be exact, 2 boys, 3 girls. Now 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. All were his pride and joy. Except for his time in the army I don't think Ed got more than 100 miles away from home. Home was where the family was. He never made a lot of money, but the kids all had clothes and food and love. His wife Katy passed away 3 years ago on her oldest daughter's birthday. Ed spared my wife the same kind of joy/sorrow and died the day before her birthday.

Ed had been hanging on for days. His body had basically shut down. He hadn't eaten in days. He hadn't responded to anyone for almost 2 days. The kids had all been there to say their last goodbyes. Then as if he realized everyone was there he awoke. He looked at my wife and said "Can I have a cup of coffee?" For the next two hours it was like talking to the old healthy dad, not the one on the brink of death. It was a kind of last hurrah. He partied with his kids and grandkids, joking and laughing and talking. He ate pudding and ice cream. Then finally at about midnight he went to sleep. It was the last time he talked to anyone when they were sure he knew what was going on. From that point on it was a slow 5 day ride to the end. During that stretch in the hospital and finally the nursing home he got to see all of his kids and all of the grandkids except one. We all believe that is what he wanted. He wanted to see them all one more time.

He was surrounded by family when he died - surrounded by family in death as in life. Ed we will miss you!

Test of the email post.

This is just a test of the email posting option.  If you can read this it worked.