Washington County to 1980 "Washington County, Ohio to 1980 (a collection of topical and family sketches)", Washington County Historical Society, Inc., -1980.



C. F.  McMahan

When I married Charles Francis (Frank) McMahan on Dec. 24, 1936, I inherited a family history that goes back to the area's early beginning.

James McMahan, who came to Grandview Twp. in 1800, was no doubt the son of Major William McMahan. The major was killed at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, serving under Gen. Anthony Wayne (1794); his will (Ohio Co., Va.) lists wife Ann, sons Friend, Richard, John, Joseph, James, and daughters Polly, Susan, Agnes. (DAR records: wife, Ann Cox). They lived back of Wellsburg, Brooke Co., Va., where he received 200 acres of land in 1788 for services in the 4th Va. Regt., (1776) and 3rd Va. Regt., (1779).

James McMahan (1782-May 14, 1823) married ca. 1800 Sarah LaRue, (Dec. 6, 1780-March 24, 1856), daughter of Elizabeth LaRue, (1748-1815) and Peter LaRue (1745-1816). LaRues were early settlers on Middle Island, Pleasants Co., Va. in 1790.

James and Sarah McMahan were parents of Asa, 1802-, (children: Malinda, Mary, Alexander, George, James, Ruth, Martha); Mary, 1804-; Elizabeth Slegel, 1805- (children: William, Dennis, prehaps others); Sarah Bartlow, 1810-, (children: Daniel, Eliza, perhaps others); Rebecca, 1812-1898, single; Abraham, 1814-1898, m. Susan Edwards (children: Eliza, William H., Corwin, Jerome); Anna, 1816-1904; James, 1818-1843; and William Lambert, (July 22, 1822-April 4, 1860).

William L. McMahan married Terissa Dye, daughter of Daniel III and Nancy Sheets Dye, and they became parents of Marietta, 1852-1893; Charles Riley (March 1, 1855-Dec. 30, 1915); Laura, 1857-1937; George, 1859-1915.

Charles R. McMahan wed Isabella Marie, daughter of Francis Marion and Isabella Arnott Triplett, on Oct. 5, 1897, and they spent their married life on their Grandview Twp. farm near the Independence Twp. line. Mrs. McMahan was born March 24, 1869 at Willow Island, W. Va., and died April 23, 1955. Charles and Isabella had four children: Raymond,  July 25, 1898-May 25, 1962, M. Harriet Parker; Dorothy, Nov. 27, 1901-Oct. 28, 1963; Margaret, De.c 1, 1906-Jan. 19, 1972; Charles Francis (Frank) Nov. 3, 1913-May 1, 1974.

I'm the daughter of Frank S., 1885-, and Iva Louderback Deshler 1888-, and Frank McMahan and I were married Dec. 24, 1936 at Wellsburg, W. Va. We were blessed with five children: Charles Deshler, July 15, 1938; Richard Frank, Nov. 5, 1939; Linda Kay, Sept. 25, 1942; Stephen Wendell, Dec. 2, 1944; and Michael Triplett, Dec. 17, 1948.

Since our marriage in 1936, Frank was a pilot on the river, then spent two years in the U.S. Army in W.W.II. He was an employee of Monongahela Power Company, Willow Island Plane, since its inception until his death in 1974. All of our children are married and we have eight grandchilredn; I'm looking forward to the arrival of another grandchild by year's end. I reside near Reas Run, Independence Twp., in our home of 38 years.

Helen Deshler McMahan

Charles D. McMahan

About 1797, two brothers came to Grandview Township, Anthony and Martin Sheets, along with their Revolutionary War veteran father-in-law, James Riggs.

My husband is a direct descendant of Martin Sheets and his second wife, Sarah Collins; Anthony Sheets was my fourth great grandfather. The Sheets brothers have long been a mystery to genealogists, for no one can find from whence they came.

Martin Sheets' (1779-1845) first wife, Pricilla Riggs, was the first death in the new community; they had one daughter, Mary. His second marriage resulted in William, Nancy, Matthias, Pricilla, Anthony, Henry, Elizabeth, and John.

Nancy Sheets married Daniel Dye, and their daughter Terissa married William Lambert McMahan (see Independence Township). William and Terissa Dye McMahan's son, Charles Riley, married Isabella Triplett, and they werey m husband's grandparents. Charles Deshler McMahan was born July 15, 1938 at Leith, the son of Charles Francis and Helen Dreshler McMahan.

My line from the Sheetes begins with Anthony (159-1834), who had eight children: Nancy (Fort), Martin, Polly (Talbot), John, Henry, Malinda (Parr) and Axie (Wells). Martin married Nancy Love, daughter of James and Elizabeth McClure Love.

Martin and Nancy Sheets' children were William, Elizabeth (Childs), Emaxie (Calvert), Anthony and James, who married Elizabeth Burris, daughter of Stinson and Diana Ellis Burris. James was an emminent riverboat captain on the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Saskatchewan and Red Rivers, taking part iin the Riel Rebellion of 1885.

James and Elizabeth Sheets' children were Sally, Helen Diana, Annie, and Jesse. Helen (1857-1960), my great grandmother, died just short of her 103rd birthday, and she told vivid stories of long ago that made all the ancestors seem real.

Helen Sheets married Shelby Cochran (1850-1921) on Sept. 4, 1879. He was a son of Zachariah and Lucy Dye Cochran. Clyde Stinson, Maud, Ida (Valentine) and Donald Zachariah were their family. Clyde married Lelia Thorniley, daughter of Newton and Clara Kidd Thornily on Nov. 9, 1908, and their only child, Virginia, is my mother. She and my father, Harold Theodore Weeter, were married Aug. 27, 1934. He is the son of S. Edward and Gwendolyn Green Weeter.

...

Submitted by Diana W. McMahan

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Mike Henderson [email protected]