Berrien County GaArchives Biographies.....McCranie, Daniel "Bay Skunk" Jr. 1800 - 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Meadows lmeadows@surfsouth.com November 20, 2005, 12:23 pm Author: Linda Ward Meadows Daniel "Bay Skunk" McCranie, Jr. Daniel "Bay Skunk" McCranie, Jr. was born in North Carolina on 11 July 1800, the son of Daniel "Big Thumb" and Sarah McMillan McCranie. Most of his childhood was spent in Montgomery County, GA. He moved with his parents to Old Lowndes County and settled with them on land that was cut into Berrien County in 1856, and into Cook County when it began functioning in January 1919. It was here that Daniel, Jr. later married Winnie Lindsey, the daughter of Thomas Lindsey and Hester Clarke Lindsey. Winnie was born in Montgomery County in 1813. Her father was killed in skirmishes with Indians at Breakfast Creek Branch in Montgomery County. According to the 1820 Federal Census, the widow, Hester Clarke Lindsey, and her houshold were still in Montgomery County. By 1830, they were in Lowndes County on Land Lot # 225 near Brushy Creek. Winnie Lindsey and Daniel McCranie, Jr. married about 1838, according to descendant, Miss Minnie Shaw. This would be consistent with the birth of their first child in 1839. Winnie and Daniel were the parents of six children: Eliza Jane b. 1 May 1839 m. John Enoch Connell 15 Dec 1864 Cornelius b. 1842, died single in CSA Nancy b. 1845 m. Joseph B. Moore John Robert b. 8 Oct 1847 m. 1st. Sarah Golden 1 Feb 1872 ; 2nd. Lula M. McPhaul Winnie E. b. 1850 m. Robert James Griffin Emily Ann Susan b. 25 May 1852 m. Francis Marion Shaw, Jr. 5 Jan 1878, son of Martin Shaw, Jr. (Huxford, Pioneers of Wiregrass GA) Military service was a legacy bequeathed to Daniel, Jr. by his paternal grandfather, who was a Revolutionary Soldier from NC, and his father, who served in the local militia during the Battle of Brushy Creek. Both of these forebears were also named Daniel. Daniel "Bay Skunk" was a private in Capt. Hamilton W. Sharpe's company of militia volunteers in the Indian War of 1836. For his services during the Battle of Brushy Creek in July 1836, The Centennial Edition of the Adel News noted that Daniel, Jr. was due $35.50. Another $9.33 was owed him for forage that he furnished the militia volunteers during the year 1835. The pioneer log cabin that Daniel and Winnie McCranie later called home was built in 1826 near the present site of Brushy Creek Bridge. During the Battle of Brushy Creek of July 1836, this cabin served as a fort and safe gathering place for the McCranie family and friends in the community. Robert N. Parrish, who married Daniel, Jr's sister, Nancy McCranie, was a participant in the Battle of Brushy Creek. Robert N. noted in a sworn affidavit accompanying his pension application filed in Lowndes County, GA on 7 May 1845, that he moved his own family to the McCranie's for safety while he, too, fought in the Battle of Brushy Creek in 1836. If the walls of the old McCranie cabin could talk, those logs could tell stories that historians would pay to hear. The cabin has been restored by McCranie descendants, Jackson Connell and his wife, Becky Wiseman Connell, who moved it to its current location a few miles South of the original site on Brushy Creek. Several of Jackson's friends were included in this construction venture some years ago. Among his comrades were Charles Moore, Bennie Ensley, Kenneth Saunders, and Mac Ingram. According to Jackson, only one small log was lost as they reassembled a section of the porch that was attached to the cabin. Kenneth carried the venture one step further by painting a picture of the cabin. Jackson has this painting of his ancestors' old log home hanging in a place of honor on his office wall. Genealogists such as William Henry Griffin, Miss Minnie Shaw, and Judge Folks Huxford have all written of the sturdy pioneer stock from which members of the McCranie family descended. The large families of these pioneer settlers' children helped to populate old Lowndes, Berrien, and Cook Counties, providing the citizenry with a bedrock foundation of honesty and integrity in which descendants today can take great pride. The children of Daniel, Jr. and Winnie were quite remarkable. A close analysis shows that they did well for themselves given the circumstances which they faced in life. They made their community a better place because they lived there. Honor and civic responsibility were obviously important to this McCranie clan. These were also characteristics that McCranie daughters sought in their husbands. The stories of Daniel, Jr. and Winnie's two sons are so very different. One died young, before he had the chance to fulfill the promise of his youth. On the other hand, Daniel and Winnie's younger son lived a long life of honorable service to his community. Daniel and Winnie's older son Cornelius (Neil) never married. He enlisted in Co. K, 29th GA Volunteer Regiment during the War Between the States on 4 November 1861, at Sapelo Island, GA. Cornelius (Neil) enlisted under his nickname, which was the name by which he was always known. According to the writings of Judge Lace Elias Lastinger, Neil died in service during the summer of 1863 at Yazoo City, Mississippi. Co. K official records indicate that Neil died of disease on 7 June 1863, in Yazoo City. Neil's younger brother, John R. McCranie, who was born in 1847, married Sarah (Sallie) Golden, who was born 19 April 1855, a daughter of Joseph B. Golden and his wife Caroline Flowers. Caroline's father was Wright Flowers. Sarah died at 5:30 AM on 23 April 1899. According to The Tifton Gazette of Friday, 28 April 1899, Sallie had been a member of Brushy Creek Baptist Church for about six years at the time of her death. Sallie McCranie was, "Ever ready to help the distressed, loving her neighbors as herself….Thoughtless of self, she lived for others. Mrs. McCranie also possessed strong will and force of character, which she happily directed. She was indeed a pillar in her church and community." She left to mourn her passing a sorrowing husband, eight sons, and two daughters. Her cause of death was congestion of the brain, which led to a lengthy illness of eighty-five days. John Robert McCranie's second wife was Lula McPhaul. Lula was born in Worth County, GA 16 Dec 1867, daughter of Daniel Kelly McPhaul. The McPhaul family had relocated from Worth to Berrien County and were living near Sparks in the Brushy Creek vicinity. John Robert McCranie served as Justice of the Peace for District 1156 in Berrien County from 1873-1877, and was County Surveyor from 1879-1883. In addition, he served as Berrien County Sheriff for two terms, from 1885-1889. He was also Representative from his county for two terms, from 1896-97, and 1898- 99. John Robert died at his home on 21 Oct 1931. His second wife died 25 Nov 1949. He and his wives are buried at Brushy Creek Baptist Church. The children born to John Robert McCranie and his first wife were: Joseph (twin) b. 9 Feb 1873 m. Mattie America Rentz, daughter of Charles Daniel R. (twin) b. 9 Feb 1873 m. Eula Lindsey, daughter of Rev. John S. Luther E. b. 9 Jan 1876 m. Jennie Moore, daughter of John Jack J. Marcus b. 4 Dec 1878 m. Isabella Roberts, daughter of Leonard Caroline (Carrie) b. 5 July 1881 never married; died 11 March 1970 Ressie b. 21 March 1884 m. Alva Tison George Perry b. 17 Sept 1888 m. 1st. Sarah Bowen, daughter of Enoch P. 2nd. Martha Norman Thomas Northen b. 19 Nov 1890 never married; died after 1974 Frank G. b. 12 April 1895 m. Menona Lott James W. b. 12 March 1897 m. Guennie Morgan The children born to John Robert McCranie and his second wife were: Julian b. 20 April 1903 m. Mary Ellen Heston, daughter of Robert Fannie Lou b. 26 Nov 1904 m. Burke Floyd (Huxford,PWG) The daughters of Daniel McCranie, Jr. and his wife Winnie Lindsey McCranie included Eliza Jane, Nancy, Winnie E., and Emily Ann Susan. ( More information was available on some of these daughters than others as the compiler gathered data from several sources.) Eliza Jane McCranie, the oldest child of Daniel, Jr. and Winnie, married John Enoch Connell on 15 Dec 1864, in Berrien County, GA. Eliza Jane was born 1 May 1839 in Lowndes County and died 29 Jan 1933. John Enoch was the son of Samuel Connell and Mary Keen. He was born 26 August 1836, in Lowndes County and died 15 July 1900. John Enoch lost his left arm while serving with Co. I, 50th Regiment GA Volunteer Infantry during the War Between the States. He served as a Commissary Sergeant. The Connells are both buried in marked graves at Crossroads Church Cemetery in Cook County, GA. The children of Eiza Jane McCranie and her husband John Enoch Connell were: Thomas Neal b. 8 Dec 1865 m. Florence Ella Mathis James I. b. Feb 1868 m. 1st. Josey May; 2nd. Ardelia Roberts Daniel Samuel b. 23 June 1870 m. Emma Roberts John Money b. 7 Oct 1871 m. Emma Lucinda Rowan Mary Susie b. 23 Aug 1876 Died young Winnie Elizabeth b. 23 Dec 1878 m. Gilbert M. Mathis William Shelton b. 22 Apr 1881 m. 1st. Maybell Lovett; 2nd. Beulah Wainwright (Research done by Gail W.Hughes) Daniel, Jr. and Winnie's second daughter, Nancy McCranie, married Joseph B. Moore. Cassie Moore was their daughter. She married a Mathis. No other information was available to the compiler on the other two children of Nancy McCranie and her husband Joseph B. Moore. Nancy died about 1880. (Daniel Jr. had a sister, an aunt, and a daughter named Nancy.) According to the Berrien County Pioneer of 2 November 1888, Joseph B. Moore died at his residence, six miles north of Sparks at 11 P.M. on Thursday, 1 November 1888 of typho-malarial fever, aged about 37 years. His first wife, Nancy McCranie, had predeceased him by about eight years. His second wife, who had previously been a widow Mitchell, survived him. The Valdosta Times (Jottings From Jewett) of Saturday, 10 November 1888, noted that, "Mr. Moore was a good citizen, serving as Justice of the Peace of his district for several years, a kind husband and indulgent father." He had three children by Sarah, three by widow Mitchell, and was step-father to two of his 2nd wife's children by Mr. Mitchell. Winnie E. McCranie was the third daughter of Daniel, Jr. and his wife Winnie. This daughter married Robert James Griffin. The Griffins were a farm family living in District 1145 according to the 1880 Federal Census. Their known children were William, Della, Daniel Mack, Sims L., Lola Ann, and Mrs. Jim Buck Whiddon. Winnie McCranie Griffin was widowed in late November 1899, according to The Tifton Gazette of 1 Dec 1899. Robert James Griffin had died of typho-malarial fever. He was described as "esteemed friend." Robert's obituary also noted that, "He was a big-hearted, generous man, a firm friend and an upright nobleman." He was said to have left a wife and several children to mourn his loss. Winnie E. McCranie Griffin stated that she and Robert had been married 21 years in 1900, and had three of their six children still living at the time the 1900 Census was taken. (The Griffin Papers, William Henry Griffin; US Federal Census 1880 and 1900, Berrien County, GA) Emily Ann Susan McCranie was the youngest of Daniel, Jr. and Winnie Lindsey McCranie's six children. She was married on 5 Jan 1878, to Francis Marion Shaw, Jr., who was born in Lowndes County 11 May 1850, the eighth child of Martin Shaw, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Mathis Shaw. Emily Ann Susan and Francis were the parents of the following children: Emily Etna b. 27 Sept 1878 m. Marvin G. Patterson 21 July 1910 Irma Pamelia b. 26 Mar 1880 m. Augustus D. Wiseman 5 Oct 1905 Lorena Agnes b. 3 June 1882 died 11 Nov 1885 Della Pauline b. 1 Oct 1883 m. William F. Josey 27 Dec 1916 Frances Mineola "Minnie" b. 17 Mar 1889 never married; died 28 Sept 1980 James Robert b. 28 Mar 1894 died 8 Nov 1898 (Huxford, PWG) Francis Marion Shaw, Jr. owned large tracts of land east of Adel, much of which was later deeded to his children. He served in various civic positions, including that of Chairman of the Berrien County Board of Education, County Commissioner for several terms, and state Representative, the latter an office to which he was elected in 1894. Emily Ann Susan McCranie Shaw deeded land to Brushy Creek Baptist Church for use as a cemetery. Many McCranie graves were already in the cemetery that was referred to in some sources as the McCranie Cemetery. Along with land deeded by Roderick Morrison, this 19th century church was well endowed with land for a cemetery. (Berrien County deeds) Francis Marion Shaw, Jr. died 11 April 1922, and his wife, Emily Ann Susan died 20 July 1927. (The Griffin Papers, William Henry Griffin; Huxford, PWG). So, it was that Daniel "Bay Skunk" McCranie, Jr. and Winnie Lindsey McCranie reared their family during the days of the 19th century facing life's trials in a steadfast manner. Daniel, Jr. died 29 June 1882, at his home near the present town of Sparks, GA, in what was then Berrien, but now Cook County. Winnie died 19 August 1890. Both were buried at nearby Brushy Creek Baptist Church. (Huxford, PWG) Sources: Sources are cited herein, but gratitude is also expressed for the assistance given this compiler by Gail Whitehurst Hughes, Jackson Connell, Wayland Wiseman, and Dillard Ensley. Additional Comments: For additional copies of this information, or to add to or correct, please contact Linda Ward Meadows at 9088 Val-Del Road, Adel, GA 31620; Ph. (229) 896- 3591; lmeadows@surfsouth.com. Linda's husband, Russell F. Meadows's GGGG Grandmother, Nancy McCranie Malloy, was Daniel "Big Thumb" McCranie, Sr's sister and Daniel "Bay Skunk" McCranie, Jr.'s aunt. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/berrien/photos/bios/mccranie857gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/berrien/bios/mccranie857gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 14.7 Kb