John McKamie, Lafayette Co, AR

Dear Aunt Ludie,

I just encountered your column for the first time a few days ago.  What a
pleasure to find such interests in that area.  A few years ago I visited
the Lewisville Courthouse and Mars Hill, Falcon, and Shiloh cemeteries.  My
immediate interest is in that area of surnames of Waddill, McKemie/McKamie,
Olive, Wilson, Barksdale, Proctor, and some others that doesn’t come to
mind right now.

Do you know the story of the demise of John McKamie (1792-1862)? Yankees
shot him when he refused to surrender on the retreat from Ft. Donaldson.
John died in the arms of son Joseph who supplied the name of McKamie to
your area of Lafayette County.  I would like to locate early accounts of
this incident.  It is said that John followed nine of his sons and sons-in-
law into the Confederate service to become a chaplain.

The above John had twelve children.  I know very little about the
descendants of any except eldest son, John Pierce McKamie 1822-1880.  John
(father of John Pierce) came from Troup County Georgia to Claiborne Parish
about 1850.  Some of his children came to the Falcon area. Perhaps in the
1860’s or a little earlier.  Tombstones in Shiloh tell us that John
Pierce’s wife was Elizabeth Hartwell, daughter of William Barksdale.
Presumably the widow of a Hartwell, but I know nothing of the Hartwell and
little of Barksdales.

One of John Pierce’s sons, William Barkesdale McKemie 1850-1948 went to
Commanche County Texas about 1896.  His family was part of a group
including Wilson, Lightfoot and Nance.  Maybe Laudermilk, too.  William
Barkesdales wife was Frances Wilson 1861-1915, apparently a daughter of
Dick Wilson that I found in the 1870 Nevada County census and then nothing
more on them.

John McKamie was a ME minister and I believe John Pierce was also. Can you
point me toward additional resources?  Is the history of the Shiloh
Methodist Church recounted anywhere?

ONWARD THROUGH THE FOG!!!
Willie McKamie
http://austinfarm.org/homegrown

Dear WM,

What a wonderful letter and I am so happy you found my web site and have
been enjoying the Mars Hill cemetery census.  As I was reading your letter
and the spelling of the McKemie/McKamie name.  I know of the family outside
of Magnolia in Emerson that joins the Louisiana line and Claiborne Parish.
Mrs. Lucy McKemie Wyrick celebrated her 99th birthday this summer and I was
privileged to attend.  I believe she had told me her father had a twin
brother.  She is still a most attractive lady and lived alone with minimal
assistance until a few years ago.  I would certainly suggest if you make a
trip soon to visit with her, as she is very alert.

What I found surprising was the family resemblance of Mrs. Lucy and some of
the other McKamie members here in my county.  A very good friend of mine
just passed away and Mrs. Wyrick and Mrs. Aaron McKamie Vines had much
family resemblance.  I only hate I didn’t follow up with Mrs. Vines before
her demise. She really was a beautiful person inside and out. I still know
the McKamie family in the Falcon area and I will send you their names under
separate cover.

The only other source I can help you with is perhaps the Methodist
Episcopal  records that are maintained at Hendrix College in Conway. I
hope to find time to go up in the next few months a couple of other
researchers have Bibles to donate to the Museum there.  If your ancestor
were circuit-riding preachers the Methodist web site maybe could help you
out.  I haven’t had much success, as they want time frames and full names,
which the first names are eluding me.

I am including some data that may be redundant to you but might help
someone else on this line.

Columbia County Marriage
T.E. McKemie 26 to W.A. Howell 24  11/24/1885

B.C. Marshall  25 of Kingsland, Cleveland County Ar to S. Cattir McKemie

1880 Census Columbia County   twnship Magnolia

Dwelling 1

McKemmie, Julia  38  bp(MS) bpf(VA) bpm(MS)

Hattie M.  16  Arkansas—Mis—Miss

Parola      14   Arkansas  (Georgia) Miss
William     12   Ar        Georgia   Miss
Maud        10   AR        Georgia   Miss
John         8   Arkansas  Georgia   Miss
Prush        6   Arkansas  Georgia   Miss
Beulah       4   Arkansas  Georgia   Miss
Pearl        2   Arkansas  Georgia   Miss

If anyone can add to our request on more information on the McKamie line
please call or write in. Again thanks so much for sending your query and
enlightening us with more historical facts of our county.

Aunt Ludie