CHANCEY:
Hiram and Elvira Chancey, young husband and wife settled on Middle Fork of Reedy about the year 1820. Died, she about 1854, he 1858.
Where and when either was born we have not been told. From recollections of remarks made by their children, they came from New England or Pennsylvania, by way of Marietta and Ravenswood on the Ohio River.
He was a steadfast Wesleyan in religious notions and a preacher of that creed. They came with a title or at once acquired a title to a tract of three or four hundred acres of forest land adjoining Willis Burdette and William Roache's lands on the Middle Fork of Reedy; they visited and kept up acquaintance with people of Ravenswood and upper MiH Creek countries of Jackson County. He was a man of an education a little better than the average pioneer, and was influential there for forty years.
They reared a large family of children; of these we can give the following names:
James, Elvira, Calvary, Roswell R., Irene, Andrew B. and William Alexander. Marriages and families of these;
James married in Mill Creek country and made his home there and reared a family.
Elvira married a James Hartman; went West.
Calvary married a Miss Westfall, prior to formation of Roane County, and they made their home and reared a family on the Middle Fork of Reedy; they had one child, his name Andrew; this wife having died, Calvary married Rebecca Hall about the year 1850, and brought her to his home; their children's names are Samantha Jane, David H. Alexander, Alice, Millie Catherine, Clifton, Calvary Mede and Isaac.
Roswell R. Chancey, son of Hiram and Elvira, pioneers, married Miss Violetta Meadows, daughter of Rev. Meadows and sister of Andy Meadows, resident many years on Steer Creek Gilmer County, West Virginia.
They made their home on part of the ancestral lands on Middle Fork of Reedy. He "took to learning" and was prominent in his neighborhood and the county for a space of twenty years, 1855 to 1875. Was scrivner for his neighborhood, a justice of the peace of Reedy District one or more terms; member of the County Court of Roane County; active and liberal in contributions to his church, Methodist Episcopal.
They reared three sons and two daughters whose names in order of respective ages are, Jacob Tichnell, Rose (died), Samantha Bell, Hiram Irven and William Hannibal. Of these we write further;
Jacob Tichnell married Miss Sarah Alcinda Graham, on September 8, 1874; she a daughter of Joseph Graham. (See Graham.) They made their home near; and to Jacob T. and Sarah A., his wife, were born and reared Nina, wife of Elisha McCutchen, married August 28, 1802; Nevil Lakin and Joseph.
Nevil Lakin Chancey, son of J. T. and S. Alcinda, became a young school teacher; married Miss Roxie McClung of Reedy, May 29, 1897, ages 21 and 20; was elected and served two terms as county superintendent of schools of Roane County, 1902-1910. Has for several years last past been superintendent of schools in Mingo County, West Virginia.
Samantha Belle, daughter of Roswell R., married Lemuel H. Board, of Reedy. (See "Board.")
Hiram Irven, son of Roswell R. and Violetta, married Miss Mary Florence McGraw, December 23, 1887, his age 27, her age 17.
William Hannibal married Mary Delana, October 19, 1883, his age 23.
Turn back to Hiram, pioneer:
Irena, daughter of Hiram and Elvira, married George W. Fore. (See "Fore.")
Andrew B. Chancey, son of Hiram and Elvia, 'his wife, was born 1830; about 1850 married Mary Stewart, daughter of William, pioneer at Reedy. They made their large farm second one above "Three Forks" on Middle Fork. He was prominent in affairs of the county twenty years; deputy sheriff, stock man and good farmer. The children of Andrew B. and Mary (Stewart) his wife, were Minerva Jane (see Ayers), Harvey and Susan; Susan married William G. Ayers, November 9, 1884, her age 20, his age then 22; they made their home in Gallopolis, Ohio.
Wm. Alexander Chancey, son of Hiram and Elvira, pioneers, married Miss Sarah Ann Rhodes, October 6, 1856, she the daughter of Samuel and Parthena Rhodes of Middle Fork of Reedy; William A. was killed by accident at a "Barn Raising" at about middle life.
The children of Wm. A. and Sarah Ann Chancey, named in order of ages, are: Cora Lelia, Jane and Martha. Cora Lelia married Leroy M. Eagle, February 26, 1877.
Martha and Jane Chancey married, and went away.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 475-476
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
