CLEAVENGER: Of Reedy and Spencer.
Bailey Cleavenger and his wife Lydia (McDonald) with one or two of their first born children were the first of this family name here.
Bailey was born-maybe-in Barbour County, western Virginia, in the year 1821 ,son of a William Cleavenger, one of three brothers- William, Samuel and Edmond-who came to Barbour County from Pennsylvania; William having died in Barbour County leaving one daughter and this son Bailey. The daughter grew up there and married a Mr. Cole; the son, Bailey, was reared by his uncle, Samuel Cleavenger. He married Miss Lydia A. McDonald in Harrison County, she a daughter of the family McDonald, pioneers of Harrison County, a sister of Judson McDonald, long a well-known citizen of Lewis and Harrison Counties.
Bailey and Lydia A., his wife made their first home in Barbour County, and came to Reedy in the year 1853, acquired a large tract of land on the Ravenswood and Spencer turnpike four miles from Spencer toward "Three Forks"; spent their lives there, and reared their family there.
He was one of the first of Union soldiers, volunteers from these parts; was killed near his home the next year. See chapters of this book first above referred to.
The sons and daughters of Bailey and Lydia A. (McDonald) Cleaveager are the following, named in order of their respective births:
Moses, Sarah Jane, James M., Tahitha A., Charles C., John C., and William H. Their marriages and something further:
Moses Cleavenger, son of Bailey and Lydia A., his wife was twice married; first wife, Miss Mary Elizabeth McKinley, whom he married on Marc'h 11, 1875, she was born November 30, 1853, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Neal, of Wood County) McKinley, settlers on Bear Run Spring Creek, soon after this marriage.
Moses and Mary Elizabeth made their home on part of the family lands on Ravenswood and Spencer turnpike, lived out their live's spans there, changed many acres of heavy forest into fertile fields; maintained a substantial home and there reared their several children whose names are as follows: Ada, Catherine, Mida and Clyde C. Ada remains single, the others married. Catherine ("Kate") married Henry C. Taylor, of Roane, on September 6, 1917, her age 35, his age 35.
Mida married Rex Arnett, of Spencer, May 14, 1903; her age 19, his age 21.
Clyde C., became a resident of Spencer, while yet a young man, clerk of a bank; was elected and served a term as clerk of the circuit court, and re-elected to the same office for the term commencing 1923, and is yet serving; he united in marriage with Miss Faye Lawson, of Gandeeville, October 22, 1921; his age then given 31, her age 23.
The mother, Mary Elizabeth (McKinley) having died, Moses married Mrs. Verna ("Louverna") Riley (widow Sinnet), September 6, 1894, his age 47, her age 34; of this marriage came a daughter named Anna, who married a Mr. Chaney.
Sarah Jane, daughter of Bailey and Elizabeth Cleavenger, married Isaac M. Glaze. See Glaze.
Tabitha A. married Nicholas Simmons, December 1, 1875. See Chapter VII.
James M. Cleavenger, son of Bailey and Elizabeth A., his wife, was born in Barbour County, western Virginia, July 1, 1849; was accepted as a volunteer soldier in the Union service, Co. D, 7th W. Va. cavalry, not quite fifteen years of age at time of enlistment; served in the Virginian battle fields until the close of the war, escaped unscathed. He married in Barbour County, West Virginia, on November 18, 1874, Miss Elizabeth Dorcus Hamrick, born in Augusta County, Virginia, March 26, 1847, daughter of Dr. Graham and Margaret (Whitner) Hamrick, residents of Barbour at time of this marriage.
James M. and Elizabeth Dorcus, his wife, made their home in Spencer, where he, through his long years of activities carried on various busitiess and held public offices; here they brought up their family, and here this wife and mother died; James M. is yet a citizen often seen on the streets. The names of their children in order of births are: Estella, died not married; Elsie, yet single, and George Girty.
George Girty married a Miss Bessie Heck, on April 7, 1904, his age given 22, her's 22; she was born in Jackson County, West Virginia, a daughter of Henry Heck-third Henry of that family name, later and at this time a resident of Spencer. George Girty died a few years after this marriage, leaving one child, the daughter, Dorcus Cleavenger.
Charles C. Cleavenger. son of Bailey and Lydia A., his wife, was reared on Reedy; taught school, was elected by the people and served one term as clerk of the County Court of Roane County; his term is distinguished by the beauty and legibility of his pen-and-ink records. He united in marriage with Miss Nancy ("Nannie") C. MitcheU, of Spencer, November 29, 1876-ages not given then. (See family name "Mitchell.") They made their home in Spencer. After expiration of his office he became a large dealer and shipper of live stock; he died after birth of their sixth child; the names of these: Robert Charles, Mason, May, Bertha and Carrie "Dock" and Nell. These all married except Mason and Bertha, who are yet single; the others made their homes elsewhere.
John C. Cleavenger, son of Bailey and Elizabeth A., stuck to the farm on the turnpike; married on March 5, 1877, Miss Flora J. McKinley, of Reedy District then, born October 28, 1855. daughter of Thomas M. and Catherine M. (Neal) McKinley. John C. died in early middle life. Of the marriage of John C. and Flora J., were born and reared the following sons and daughters: Blanche, Bessie, Alma, Rosie, Winnie, Brice and Paul.
William H. Cleavenger, son of Bailey and Elizabeth A., was twice married: First to Savena Crislip, daughter of Asby Crislip of Reedy, on October 9, 1882, he then 21, she younger. Of this marriage a son was born, his name Ernest; went to Colorado. His second marriage was with Miss Maggie Miller of Spring Creek, on March 27, 1887, his age 26, her's 18; several children were born of this marriage. We have not their names. They all have chosen homes elsewhere.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927, William H. Bishop, Esq., p. 478-480
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
