My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM RAMSEY McGINNISS, farmer, post office Stewart’s Station, was born in Wilkins township, in 1833, a grandson of Jasper McGinniss, who came from McShane Castle, Ireland, and was of Scotch descent. John, son of Jasper McGinniss, came to Pittsburgh when it contained only seven houses, and engaged in steam-boating between there and New Orleans. He was extensively interested in the tobacco trade, made money and bought a large farm on the Monongahela, which he sold in 1837, and then removed to Patton. Here he bought 700 acres of land from the Bank of Pittsburgh, and died in 1874, aged seventy-seven; his widow, Eleanor (Ramsey) McGinniss, is yet living, in her eightieth year. William R. McGinniss has passed most of his life in Patton township, and received his schooling in Wilkinsburg. He has engaged in stock dealing, in which he has been successful, and besides 297 acres of land here he has tracts in Ford and Champaign counties, Ill. In 1857 he married Mary Lang, a native of Patton, daughter of George and Eleanor (Roach) Lang, who were born in this county, of Scotch and Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. McGinniss have seven children: Eleanor Jane (wife of John Hoey, in Marysville), Willa Mary (wife of William C. Downing, in Mackey’s Ferry, N. C.), Nancy Agnes, John, Edward, William and George L., at home.