Rhoda, I've been out of the loop for awhile. Did the group reach any consensus on whether this Josiah Marcum is the Josiah of Lee Co. and if he really is the Josiah McDonald from Ireland? Mike Markham St. Louis > From: Rhoda Dian Marcum <rdmarcum@rica.net> > Reply-To: rdmarcum@rica.net > Date: Wed, 03 May 2000 07:06:33 -0700 > To: MARKHAM-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Marcum-McDonald Mystery > Resent-From: MARKHAM-L@rootsweb.com > Resent-Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 06:45:58 -0700 (PDT) > > Dear Readers, > I just finished this and thought everyone would find it interesting. I > know some of you have heard us Wayne Co WV Marcums discussing a McDonald > -Marcum and trying to pinpoint who it was. This report just gives all > info I've ever been sent or found on the subject. It'll prove > interesting that so many different lines have it and some that were > removed from that group of Marcums for several generations have even > heard it. Like mine. > > McDonald-Marcum Mystery > Josiah's Father was the Original McDonald: > "My father, Luther F. Damron, said that the father of Josiah Silas > Marcum was Silas MacDonald who changed his name from MacDonald to > Marcum. This Silas MacDonald had lived with a family by the name of > Marcum, and adopted the Marcum name from possibly his step-father." > -From Harry Marcum, an interview by Luther F. Damron to Retta D. > Hatfield > -Vernia Brooks letters 5 & 8-Mary Ann Canterbury's summary of Josiah > Marcum > My comments: I don't really know where people have come up with > Josiah's middle name being Silas. I have looked at Deeds over in Wayne > Co WV and none mention even a middle initial for him. I do know of a > grandson named Josiah Cyrus Marcum. I am not sure if someone may have > mixed this person up with the older Josiah since their names are the > same. > > Eda McDonald Marcum was the Original McDonald: > Josiah married Eda McDonald @1778. > - Lineage Book DAR by Amy Cresswell Dunne-Genealogical History. Vol. > 134 p. 41. Pub. Washington D.C. 1917 or 1933. {Josiah Marcum m. Eada > McDonald}. From Richmond Va State Archives. (Mar 1992) > > In 1787, Montgomery Co VA, a common law case, book #531 (misc. record) > was entered into the courts. It was Henry McDonald vs. Josiah Markum. > -The East Kentuckian, Journal of Genealogy and History, June 1978, Vol. > XIV, No. 1, p.12 (this has a chronological record of sources for Josiah > Marcum throughout his life.) > My comments: I believe that the above Henry McDonald may have been > somehow attached to Eda McDonald. Since it was a common law case and > Josiah and Eda had been having children for about 7 years, a predicament > must have came to pass. Either Eda left her husband Henry McDonald and > took up with Josiah Marcum, and Henry wasn't happy about it; or this > could be Eda's father and he wasn't happy that the couple wasn't married > yet. Since Henry McDonald brought the case before the courts, he was > the wounded party. Of course, my comments are my own and not what > actually happened. Just figuring how the puzzle was laid out. > > Eda McDonald was believed to be the relative of Bryan McDonald who's > widow came in about 1804 to what is now Logan Co WV with six sons and > one daughter. Bryan McDonald was the son of Edward McDonald who had > settled in New Castle, Delaware. > -'Wayne Co Roots', article " Marcum Family Background" by June B. > Ashworth. (M KY 9) > > "I don't think we'll ever get that straight any farther back than > Jake. The Josiah and McDonald business is hard to unravel. I've always > heard she (Eda) was a McDonald or MacDonald and had 2 sons when she > married him. Those two sons are our Stonecoal line or so it > goes--handed down from generation to the next and no documents of proof > either way." > -Elena Chaffins letter to Ruth Kazee > > "But the speculation of many years as to the identity of Josiah Marcum > and his wives continue, I believe that the "McDonald" thing is a > complete fabrication, based on the fact that Josiah indeed did have 2 > wives and children by both. I do not know if Eadie died or was divorced > but probably died as many young women did in those hard times. The > "McDonald Marcums" came into being when they wanted to distinguish > themselves from the second family, (wanting to do this in respect of > their mother). > Thus Jacob, Mose, Stephen, and Joseph were McDonald Marcums and the > rest...were by Polly... William, John C., Randall, Thomas, Rebecca, and > Clara. > The second family produced some exceedingly outstanding men such as > your John C. whom I'm proud to find in my genealogy.... but I think the > old folks got their facts mixed up about the Marcums being McDonalds > from Ireland, etc...." > -email from Columbus C. Marcum on Eadie McDonald Marcum, on 18 June > 1998.- 1827 Lawrence Co Ky Court Document of Josiah's pension hearing. > From James Browning. (M Ky 9) (this source mentions a wife, Polly) > My comments: I don't know what happened to Eda McDonald Marcum. Not > much is found on her in records. The only true source that shows her > children are two births in Washington Co VA for the sons, Jacob and > Stephen. Researchers don't even know her birth or parents names. > I did find, as others have, a divorce petition in 1823 for Lydia > Sutherland Marcum against William Marcum in the book, Lawrence Co, > Kentucky Abstracts of Circuit Court Records 1821- 1873, p.20. An Eda > Marcum is mentioned here, but there were two Eda Marcums at that point > in time; Eda Bryant Marcum and Eda McDonald Marcum. The key clue in > this divorce that leads me to think its Eda McDonald is the Eda Marcum > who gave a deposition on June 21, 1824 along with Alex and Elizabeth > Sutherland, Lydia's parents, stated "they have known Lydia M. for 17 or > more years." Well, we know the parents knew her for the " or more > years", so this Eda Marcum knew her about 17 years. > Eda McDonald: Lydia stated in the divorce she married William Marcum in > 1809. Starting at the time of marriage and until the divorce, Eda > McDonald would have know Lydia about 16 years as her daughter in law. > Eda Bryant Marcum: married Moses in 1819 and would have only know Lydia > for 5 years if we consider it in a family relationship angle. > > Unknown Marcum of Josiah Marcums age was Original Marcum: > "An unknown Marcum came from Ireland, to America during the American > Revolutionary War in 1775-1776. We have been told, that a brother came > with him (this brothers name is not mentioned). They were Scotch-Irish > decent. The unknown Marcum had a son, John C. Marcum born 1798 in > Virginia." > -from Mary Marcum Smalley's book on her ancestors. This was told to her > by her grandfather, Randolph Marcum. > > "The first Marcum came to Jamestown. I've proof of where the Marcums > came from in England. > We think maybe some of the family Marcum-McDonalds came from Scotland > originally." > --Elena Chaffins letter to Ruth Kazee > My comments: I was always told that our Marcums were Irish. > > Josiah Marcum/Markham was the Original McDonald: > "Josiah McDonald come from Ireland and I gather he came alone when 14 > years old and he boarded with this old family named Marcum and he wanted > to join the Revolutionary War and wasn't old enough, so by taking the > old man Marcum's name and having him sign for him, he could join as a > drummer boy. This took place in what was then called Burks Garden, VA" > Ida went on to say, "The old Marcum that the McDonald-Marcum took the > name from, now they was known as the Bullet-head Marcums. Now Kelly > Marcum at Kermit, he was one of the Bullet-head Marcums. There's five > or six groups of them; one of them's the Quill-back, Bullet-head, > Big-Nose, Lick-Skillet, and the Witchy-Wylie Marcum's. That's all I > know. And we're the Big-Noses." > -The Mountain Call, March 1978, Vol. 1, No.5.Interview with Ida Belle > Marcum, by Michael Fanning.(M WV 13) > > "Josiah Marcum was a McDonald from Ireland. He came over here with a > Marcum family when he was just a boy and was raised by them." > -Fred Lambert Papers at Marshall University.(mentioned in a letter from > his grandchild that lived at Fort Gay) > > "Josiah Marcum was told by his parents that he was born 2 May 1759 in > Chesterfield Co VA along the James River but he had no written evidence > to prove the date." > -The Herald Dispatch, article "Soldier of the Revolution-Josiah Marcum > was Early Cabell Settler" (Sequi- Centennial Edition). The Advertiser, > 1959 Huntington, WV. (from Brooks Letter 3); {source: Pension > Application-Louisa, Lawrence Co Ky-age 73} (M WV 25) > > Josiah's parents were William Markham and Mary Walton/ Walthen. > -DAR Lineage Book {states pension 1832}. DAR Patriot Index by National > Society of the DAR. Pub.1966 Washington. Diamond Jubilee > Administration. From Virginia Beach Pub. Library. (Jul 91) > -Latter Day Saints church records, LDS Church, Waynesboro, VA, Rt. 250. > (Information to LDS was submitted by Carl E. Lowe, Ashland, KY) > > My comments: It seems that the theory that Josiah was the McDonald is > the strongest belief. What always puzzled me was that family folk lore > had him as a McDonald how was adopted by Marcums and the other, as > stated by himself in a pension application, he was born in 1759 in > Chesterfield Co VA. These two opinions seem to contradict each other. > > Kelly Marcum b. 1844 was the Original McDonald: > "Two family stories that I have always heard but have not been able to > confirm; that my grandfather, Albert Allen Marcum was part Indian, and > that his father, Kelly Marcum, was born McDonald-then changed his name > to Marcum for the man who raised him. I now know that some other marcum > researchers have heard the McDonald/Marcum story and it seems to go back > to Josiah." > -Vernia Brooks letter 1-9 Feb 1993 > > "It is interesting that you have heard the Marcum/McDonald story so > positively about your Grover Cleveland Marcum while I heard it about my > Kelly without a doubt. But I think it has been passed down for so long > that each generation thought it was their grandfather. Will we ever > know the whole truth?" > -Vernia Brooks letter 4 -16 Jun 1993 > > George Washington Marcum b. 1878 was the Original McDonald: > "I spent a lot of time when I was a child trying to learn the history. > But grandfather Marcum told me he wasn't really a Marcum. He said (but > he may have been pulling my leg, he was quite a joker) that his parents > had been killed on a wagon train by Indians and the Marcums had taken > him and raised him and he had taken their name. So I could go no > farther. Have you heard of anything like this? He said his name was > McDonald and his parents were McDonalds but I have no first names or > anything. Also he had a brother named Dee who lived in Logan. This > would be interesting to me." > -Email from Janelle Marcum to Betty Damron on 9 Feb 2000. > > Samuel Marcum b. 1875-1880 was the Original McDonald: > "My grandmother, Grace Marcum Heath, said her grandfather Samuel Marcum > came from somewhere in England. He worked on a ship to pay passage to > America. She believes his name was Sam McDonald. When he came to the > USA he worked on a farm for a Mr. Marcum, and eventually took on his > name. Sam Marcum then married Jeanette Kirk. They had a son, Ransom > Marcum. I think they lived in Kentucky. I'm not sure how many other > children they had. My grandmother said she remembers Ransom Marcum > having about (4) 1/2 brothers with the last name of Blevins." > -Tammy Harrington email on 30 Mar 1998. > > Grover Cleveland Marcum, Sr. b. 1888 was the Original McDonald: > My Aunt Irene Marcum Meister, daughter of Grover C. Marcum, Sr. had > always heard that her father was adopted. She said something must have > happened to his original parents, who were McDonalds, and so he was > taken in by William Marcum. > -Irene Marcum Meister-28Jun1991, 16 Dec 1994 > Grandma Rhoda Salmons Marcum, Cleve's wife, stayed with our family in > her old age. My mother, Anita, said Rhoda told her that Cleve was > adopted. Grandma Rhoda said that William Marcum couldn't have any > children and wanted to carry on the Marcum name, and so he adopted Cleve > from a McDonald family. > -Anita Marie Marcum-4 May 1993,4 Dec 1994 > > What interested me was that so many different Marcums in many different > locations heard this same story passed down. My line of Marcums came > out of Wayne Co, WV in the 1930's and stayed in Bath Co, WV, then Goshen > and finally settling in Augusta Co, VA. Our story was passed down that > my Grandfather, Grover Cleveland Marcum, was adopted from a McDonald. > It was said my great grandad couldn't have children so he adopted a son > to carry on the name. > Vernia Brooks had told me the same about her Granddad. Kelly Marcum. > It was also said that a Marcum son was needed to carry the name > forward. With all four men mentioned in the upper paragraphs, they are > 3 to 4 generations forward from Josiah Marcum. > It is coincidental that these two men, Grover C. and Kelly, both > descended from John C. Marcum. (Vernia Brooks believes that Kelly's > line comes from Stephen Marcum). But in reading the paragraph stated by > Mary Marcum Smalley far above about an "Unknown Marcum being the > original Marcum", kind of makes you wonder if all this mystery and > mystic surrounded John C. Marcum. And John C's father. > The only one that I have not found a connection to our Marcums back to > Josiah is Samuel Marcum who married Ginetta (Jeanette)Kirk. I found a > marriage for Ransom, Samuel's son, and it mentioned his father as Samuel > Marcum. I also have a Samuel that is in the right age bracket and he > had a brother Ransom, which is an uncommon name. If this is the right > connection for Samuel the he and George Washington Marcum have a close > connection, both coming through Jacob Marcum and then Josiah. > There is no telling where this will all lead or if we'll ever know the > truth. More information may come to pass in the future but for now this > will currently be a mystery for all those trying to trace the past to > find Josiah's true roots. > > There is a story about how we came by our names in the scheme of > things. I have been told this joke/story by several people over the > years and it is very cute. I may not tell it the way it should be told > but you'll get the idea: > "There was a line of people at the Pearly Gates waiting to receive > their names before descending to earth. All of the people had went > through and received a name except for the last man. The name giver > looked down at his book and looked up at the man and said, "I'm sorry > but I seem to have run out of names." Another that had received his > name said, "Just mark ‘em down , anyway. He can't go down without a > name." > > Compiled by Rhoda Marcum Burks, May 1, 2000 > email: rdmarcum@rica.net > Researcher of all lines of Marcums decending from Josiah Marcum in Wayne > Co WV. > > If anyone has anymore stories to add to this one of a McDonald Adoption, > please write to the list and tell us about it. > Rhoda Marcum Burks > > > ==== MARKHAM Mailing List ==== > A great site for genealogy research: > http://www.usgenweb.net/ >

I have heard this same story for years concerning Josiah so it's been passed down through our family which is through Josiah's son Willliam. I found all this really interesting - especially the part where Eda wasn't William's mother. Oh my... Karen Marcum ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael R. Markham" <mmarkham@swbell.net> To: <MARKHAM-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 6:44 PM Subject: Re: Marcum-McDonald Mystery > Rhoda, > I've been out of the loop for awhile. Did the group reach any consensus on > whether this Josiah Marcum is the Josiah of Lee Co. and if he really is the > Josiah McDonald from Ireland? > > Mike Markham > St. Louis > > > From: Rhoda Dian Marcum <rdmarcum@rica.net> > > Reply-To: rdmarcum@rica.net > > Date: Wed, 03 May 2000 07:06:33 -0700 > > To: MARKHAM-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Marcum-McDonald Mystery > > Resent-From: MARKHAM-L@rootsweb.com > > Resent-Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 06:45:58 -0700 (PDT) > > > > Dear Readers, > > I just finished this and thought everyone would find it interesting. I > > know some of you have heard us Wayne Co WV Marcums discussing a McDonald > > -Marcum and trying to pinpoint who it was. This report just gives all > > info I've ever been sent or found on the subject. It'll prove > > interesting that so many different lines have it and some that were > > removed from that group of Marcums for several generations have even > > heard it. Like mine. > > > > McDonald-Marcum Mystery > > Josiah's Father was the Original McDonald: > > "My father, Luther F. Damron, said that the father of Josiah Silas > > Marcum was Silas MacDonald who changed his name from MacDonald to > > Marcum. This Silas MacDonald had lived with a family by the name of > > Marcum, and adopted the Marcum name from possibly his step-father." > > -From Harry Marcum, an interview by Luther F. Damron to Retta D. > > Hatfield > > -Vernia Brooks letters 5 & 8-Mary Ann Canterbury's summary of Josiah > > Marcum > > My comments: I don't really know where people have come up with > > Josiah's middle name being Silas. I have looked at Deeds over in Wayne > > Co WV and none mention even a middle initial for him. I do know of a > > grandson named Josiah Cyrus Marcum. I am not sure if someone may have > > mixed this person up with the older Josiah since their names are the > > same. > > > > Eda McDonald Marcum was the Original McDonald: > > Josiah married Eda McDonald @1778. > > - Lineage Book DAR by Amy Cresswell Dunne-Genealogical History. Vol. > > 134 p. 41. Pub. Washington D.C. 1917 or 1933. {Josiah Marcum m. Eada > > McDonald}. From Richmond Va State Archives. (Mar 1992) > > > > In 1787, Montgomery Co VA, a common law case, book #531 (misc. record) > > was entered into the courts. It was Henry McDonald vs. Josiah Markum. > > -The East Kentuckian, Journal of Genealogy and History, June 1978, Vol. > > XIV, No. 1, p.12 (this has a chronological record of sources for Josiah > > Marcum throughout his life.) > > My comments: I believe that the above Henry McDonald may have been > > somehow attached to Eda McDonald. Since it was a common law case and > > Josiah and Eda had been having children for about 7 years, a predicament > > must have came to pass. Either Eda left her husband Henry McDonald and > > took up with Josiah Marcum, and Henry wasn't happy about it; or this > > could be Eda's father and he wasn't happy that the couple wasn't married > > yet. Since Henry McDonald brought the case before the courts, he was > > the wounded party. Of course, my comments are my own and not what > > actually happened. Just figuring how the puzzle was laid out. > > > > Eda McDonald was believed to be the relative of Bryan McDonald who's > > widow came in about 1804 to what is now Logan Co WV with six sons and > > one daughter. Bryan McDonald was the son of Edward McDonald who had > > settled in New Castle, Delaware. > > -'Wayne Co Roots', article " Marcum Family Background" by June B. > > Ashworth. (M KY 9) > > > > "I don't think we'll ever get that straight any farther back than > > Jake. The Josiah and McDonald business is hard to unravel. I've always > > heard she (Eda) was a McDonald or MacDonald and had 2 sons when she > > married him. Those two sons are our Stonecoal line or so it > > goes--handed down from generation to the next and no documents of proof > > either way." > > -Elena Chaffins letter to Ruth Kazee > > > > "But the speculation of many years as to the identity of Josiah Marcum > > and his wives continue, I believe that the "McDonald" thing is a > > complete fabrication, based on the fact that Josiah indeed did have 2 > > wives and children by both. I do not know if Eadie died or was divorced > > but probably died as many young women did in those hard times. The > > "McDonald Marcums" came into being when they wanted to distinguish > > themselves from the second family, (wanting to do this in respect of > > their mother). > > Thus Jacob, Mose, Stephen, and Joseph were McDonald Marcums and the > > rest...were by Polly... William, John C., Randall, Thomas, Rebecca, and > > Clara. > > The second family produced some exceedingly outstanding men such as > > your John C. whom I'm proud to find in my genealogy.... but I think the > > old folks got their facts mixed up about the Marcums being McDonalds > > from Ireland, etc...." > > -email from Columbus C. Marcum on Eadie McDonald Marcum, on 18 June > > 1998.- 1827 Lawrence Co Ky Court Document of Josiah's pension hearing. > > From James Browning. (M Ky 9) (this source mentions a wife, Polly) > > My comments: I don't know what happened to Eda McDonald Marcum. Not > > much is found on her in records. The only true source that shows her > > children are two births in Washington Co VA for the sons, Jacob and > > Stephen. Researchers don't even know her birth or parents names. > > I did find, as others have, a divorce petition in 1823 for Lydia > > Sutherland Marcum against William Marcum in the book, Lawrence Co, > > Kentucky Abstracts of Circuit Court Records 1821- 1873, p.20. An Eda > > Marcum is mentioned here, but there were two Eda Marcums at that point > > in time; Eda Bryant Marcum and Eda McDonald Marcum. The key clue in > > this divorce that leads me to think its Eda McDonald is the Eda Marcum > > who gave a deposition on June 21, 1824 along with Alex and Elizabeth > > Sutherland, Lydia's parents, stated "they have known Lydia M. for 17 or > > more years." Well, we know the parents knew her for the " or more > > years", so this Eda Marcum knew her about 17 years. > > Eda McDonald: Lydia stated in the divorce she married William Marcum in > > 1809. Starting at the time of marriage and until the divorce, Eda > > McDonald would have know Lydia about 16 years as her daughter in law. > > Eda Bryant Marcum: married Moses in 1819 and would have only know Lydia > > for 5 years if we consider it in a family relationship angle. > > > > Unknown Marcum of Josiah Marcums age was Original Marcum: > > "An unknown Marcum came from Ireland, to America during the American > > Revolutionary War in 1775-1776. We have been told, that a brother came > > with him (this brothers name is not mentioned). They were Scotch-Irish > > decent. The unknown Marcum had a son, John C. Marcum born 1798 in > > Virginia." > > -from Mary Marcum Smalley's book on her ancestors. This was told to her > > by her grandfather, Randolph Marcum. > > > > "The first Marcum came to Jamestown. I've proof of where the Marcums > > came from in England. > > We think maybe some of the family Marcum-McDonalds came from Scotland > > originally." > > --Elena Chaffins letter to Ruth Kazee > > My comments: I was always told that our Marcums were Irish. > > > > Josiah Marcum/Markham was the Original McDonald: > > "Josiah McDonald come from Ireland and I gather he came alone when 14 > > years old and he boarded with this old family named Marcum and he wanted > > to join the Revolutionary War and wasn't old enough, so by taking the > > old man Marcum's name and having him sign for him, he could join as a > > drummer boy. This took place in what was then called Burks Garden, VA" > > Ida went on to say, "The old Marcum that the McDonald-Marcum took the > > name from, now they was known as the Bullet-head Marcums. Now Kelly > > Marcum at Kermit, he was one of the Bullet-head Marcums. There's five > > or six groups of them; one of them's the Quill-back, Bullet-head, > > Big-Nose, Lick-Skillet, and the Witchy-Wylie Marcum's. That's all I > > know. And we're the Big-Noses." > > -The Mountain Call, March 1978, Vol. 1, No.5.Interview with Ida Belle > > Marcum, by Michael Fanning.(M WV 13) > > > > "Josiah Marcum was a McDonald from Ireland. He came over here with a > > Marcum family when he was just a boy and was raised by them." > > -Fred Lambert Papers at Marshall University.(mentioned in a letter from > > his grandchild that lived at Fort Gay) > > > > "Josiah Marcum was told by his parents that he was born 2 May 1759 in > > Chesterfield Co VA along the James River but he had no written evidence > > to prove the date." > > -The Herald Dispatch, article "Soldier of the Revolution-Josiah Marcum > > was Early Cabell Settler" (Sequi- Centennial Edition). The Advertiser, > > 1959 Huntington, WV. (from Brooks Letter 3); {source: Pension > > Application-Louisa, Lawrence Co Ky-age 73} (M WV 25) > > > > Josiah's parents were William Markham and Mary Walton/ Walthen. > > -DAR Lineage Book {states pension 1832}. DAR Patriot Index by National > > Society of the DAR. Pub.1966 Washington. Diamond Jubilee > > Administration. From Virginia Beach Pub. Library. (Jul 91) > > -Latter Day Saints church records, LDS Church, Waynesboro, VA, Rt. 250. > > (Information to LDS was submitted by Carl E. Lowe, Ashland, KY) > > > > My comments: It seems that the theory that Josiah was the McDonald is > > the strongest belief. What always puzzled me was that family folk lore > > had him as a McDonald how was adopted by Marcums and the other, as > > stated by himself in a pension application, he was born in 1759 in > > Chesterfield Co VA. These two opinions seem to contradict each other. > > > > Kelly Marcum b. 1844 was the Original McDonald: > > "Two family stories that I have always heard but have not been able to > > confirm; that my grandfather, Albert Allen Marcum was part Indian, and > > that his father, Kelly Marcum, was born McDonald-then changed his name > > to Marcum for the man who raised him. I now know that some other marcum > > researchers have heard the McDonald/Marcum story and it seems to go back > > to Josiah." > > -Vernia Brooks letter 1-9 Feb 1993 > > > > "It is interesting that you have heard the Marcum/McDonald story so > > positively about your Grover Cleveland Marcum while I heard it about my > > Kelly without a doubt. But I think it has been passed down for so long > > that each generation thought it was their grandfather. Will we ever > > know the whole truth?" > > -Vernia Brooks letter 4 -16 Jun 1993 > > > > George Washington Marcum b. 1878 was the Original McDonald: > > "I spent a lot of time when I was a child trying to learn the history. > > But grandfather Marcum told me he wasn't really a Marcum. He said (but > > he may have been pulling my leg, he was quite a joker) that his parents > > had been killed on a wagon train by Indians and the Marcums had taken > > him and raised him and he had taken their name. So I could go no > > farther. Have you heard of anything like this? He said his name was > > McDonald and his parents were McDonalds but I have no first names or > > anything. Also he had a brother named Dee who lived in Logan. This > > would be interesting to me." > > -Email from Janelle Marcum to Betty Damron on 9 Feb 2000. > > > > Samuel Marcum b. 1875-1880 was the Original McDonald: > > "My grandmother, Grace Marcum Heath, said her grandfather Samuel Marcum > > came from somewhere in England. He worked on a ship to pay passage to > > America. She believes his name was Sam McDonald. When he came to the > > USA he worked on a farm for a Mr. Marcum, and eventually took on his > > name. Sam Marcum then married Jeanette Kirk. They had a son, Ransom > > Marcum. I think they lived in Kentucky. I'm not sure how many other > > children they had. My grandmother said she remembers Ransom Marcum > > having about (4) 1/2 brothers with the last name of Blevins." > > -Tammy Harrington email on 30 Mar 1998. > > > > Grover Cleveland Marcum, Sr. b. 1888 was the Original McDonald: > > My Aunt Irene Marcum Meister, daughter of Grover C. Marcum, Sr. had > > always heard that her father was adopted. She said something must have > > happened to his original parents, who were McDonalds, and so he was > > taken in by William Marcum. > > -Irene Marcum Meister-28Jun1991, 16 Dec 1994 > > Grandma Rhoda Salmons Marcum, Cleve's wife, stayed with our family in > > her old age. My mother, Anita, said Rhoda told her that Cleve was > > adopted. Grandma Rhoda said that William Marcum couldn't have any > > children and wanted to carry on the Marcum name, and so he adopted Cleve > > from a McDonald family. > > -Anita Marie Marcum-4 May 1993,4 Dec 1994 > > > > What interested me was that so many different Marcums in many different > > locations heard this same story passed down. My line of Marcums came > > out of Wayne Co, WV in the 1930's and stayed in Bath Co, WV, then Goshen > > and finally settling in Augusta Co, VA. Our story was passed down that > > my Grandfather, Grover Cleveland Marcum, was adopted from a McDonald. > > It was said my great grandad couldn't have children so he adopted a son > > to carry on the name. > > Vernia Brooks had told me the same about her Granddad. Kelly Marcum. > > It was also said that a Marcum son was needed to carry the name > > forward. With all four men mentioned in the upper paragraphs, they are > > 3 to 4 generations forward from Josiah Marcum. > > It is coincidental that these two men, Grover C. and Kelly, both > > descended from John C. Marcum. (Vernia Brooks believes that Kelly's > > line comes from Stephen Marcum). But in reading the paragraph stated by > > Mary Marcum Smalley far above about an "Unknown Marcum being the > > original Marcum", kind of makes you wonder if all this mystery and > > mystic surrounded John C. Marcum. And John C's father. > > The only one that I have not found a connection to our Marcums back to > > Josiah is Samuel Marcum who married Ginetta (Jeanette)Kirk. I found a > > marriage for Ransom, Samuel's son, and it mentioned his father as Samuel > > Marcum. I also have a Samuel that is in the right age bracket and he > > had a brother Ransom, which is an uncommon name. If this is the right > > connection for Samuel the he and George Washington Marcum have a close > > connection, both coming through Jacob Marcum and then Josiah. > > There is no telling where this will all lead or if we'll ever know the > > truth. More information may come to pass in the future but for now this > > will currently be a mystery for all those trying to trace the past to > > find Josiah's true roots. > > > > There is a story about how we came by our names in the scheme of > > things. I have been told this joke/story by several people over the > > years and it is very cute. I may not tell it the way it should be told > > but you'll get the idea: > > "There was a line of people at the Pearly Gates waiting to receive > > their names before descending to earth. All of the people had went > > through and received a name except for the last man. The name giver > > looked down at his book and looked up at the man and said, "I'm sorry > > but I seem to have run out of names." Another that had received his > > name said, "Just mark 'em down , anyway. He can't go down without a > > name." > > > > Compiled by Rhoda Marcum Burks, May 1, 2000 > > email: rdmarcum@rica.net > > Researcher of all lines of Marcums decending from Josiah Marcum in Wayne > > Co WV. > > > > If anyone has anymore stories to add to this one of a McDonald Adoption, > > please write to the list and tell us about it. > > Rhoda Marcum Burks > > > > > > ==== MARKHAM Mailing List ==== > > A great site for genealogy research: > > http://www.usgenweb.net/ > > > > > ==== MARKHAM Mailing List ==== > Know a Markham/Marcum Researcher? > Please ask them to join us by contacting > BMarble@aol.com > >