William James Mollohan

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184605508/james-mollohan

Will & Family Story:

SaraMollohanHuffmanadded this on 22 May 2008

James Mollohan was about seventeen years of age when he moved with his family to Central West Virginia, Martha, the daughter of neighboring William and Rebecca Dodrill was about sixteen years of age at this time. In a few years the couple married and started their own home on a twenty five acre tract of land on the Back Fork of the Elk River above Webster Springs. Being the children of pioneers, they soon turned their faces to the wilderness again, moving to the Back Fork of the Holly River in Northern Webster County.

On this property which James had bought from his brother-in-law, Josiah Brown, there was an excellent millseat. Soon he constructed a log mill and dam on the site. This mill served the community until the entire structure was washed away in a flood during the 1850's. James was too old to consider rebuilding and the mill seat stood vacant at his death. In addition to being a miller, he was also a farmer and a shoemaker.

James and Mattie's home was on property known as the Old Mollohan Place. The house set in the bottom some 100 feet from where the public road enters or crosses what is known as Hamrick Hollow. In later years the base of the chimney was all that was left on the site. By now even that is probably gone.

In the 1860 census of Webster County James is listed as being 73 years of age, Martha is 71 and their son, Adam, is 34. James Mollohan's will was signed on June 11, 1861.

When he was old and ill, James asked his family to load him into the sled and take him for a drive through the field near his home. During that drive he pointed out the place where he wanted to be buried, on a bluff overlooking the waters of the Holly at a point where it makes a sharp bend toward the north on it's way to join the Elk River at Holly. A few weeks later James died. According to the family Bible he had been born on June 11, 1787.

Back at that time a coffin could not be purchased at a funeral home or even at a store. The family or the neighbors of the deceased were responsible for cutting timber. sawing the lumber and making the casket. They also washed and dressed the body, then placed it in the casket for burial. Usually there was some time to make these preparations, as a person might linger in illness a few days before dying. Such was the case with James. When he reached an advanced age he ordered the harvesting of trees from his property and had them sawed into enough lumber to make casket for himself and Martha. Many of their neighbors knew he had done this before his death.

After James died a man was killed on Brake Mountain above Old Lick Run by the soldiers during the Civil War and the community was in chaos. Someone went to Martha and asked if she would loan the bereaved family the lumber James put aside for her casket, promising to saw more lumber to replace it. She agreed and so in effect she loaned out her doffin. After the family of the murdered man had come to terms with their shock and grief, they sawed out more lumber and returned it to her.

According to the family Bible Martha was born October 1, 1789 in Greenbrier County. According to the notes collected by her grandson, Bernard Mollohan, she died on April 9, 1872.

This couple was revered by their children and grandchildren. Their great-grandchildren referred to them as "Grandad Jimmie" and "Grandma Mattie". In the 1980's, nearly 100 years after their deaths, my brother's in-laws came to Northern Webster County for a visit. They stopped along the highway to ask directions to his home. When they stopped to ask one elderly man directions to the home of James Mollohan, he replied with all seriousness, "I can tell you how to get there, but I must tell you, He's been dead for some years". The memory of the gentle folk lives long.

This copy of James Mollohan's will was founded among the papers of his grandson, Bernard Mollohan.

I, James Mollohan of the county of Webster and State of Virginia, being now old but of sound mind and reason do hereby make my last will and testament. 1st I will and bequiethe that after my death that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid. 2nd I will and bequeath to Charles Mollohan, my son, one dollar, to George D. Mollohan one dollar, to Arnold Mollohan one dollar, to Francena Lough my daughter, now the wife of James Lough one dollar, to Rebecca Hamrick my daughter, now the wife of Adam G. Hamrick one dollar, to William H. Mollohan one dollar. 3rd that after my death that all my personal property and real estate be sold on such credit as my executor or the court of my county may decree or think best, that bond with approved security be required of my said executor or administrator of that purchases of my personal and real estate and further that my said executor or adminitrator shall also reserve a lein on my said real estate for the purchase money. I further will that whatever amount of money may arise from the sale of my said property personal and real that is shall be put on interest by my executor or administrator taking bond with approved security for the same and that the interest be paid yearly and administered for the support of my wife and son, Adam Mollohan who is not capable of providing and taking care of himself. 5th and after the death of my wife the said yearly interest be paid for the maintenance of my son Adam Mollohan during his natural life. And I further will and direct that the said court do appoint a suitable person as guardian of my said so Adam Mollohan who will manifest a parent's care and watchfullness over him that he may be kindly treated and humanly cared for. 6th I further will and direct that the guardian of my son Adam Mollohan do get Arnold Mollohan my son to take the said Adam Mollohan and take care of him but if he fails to get the said Adam Mollohan

to take care of him then to get any other of my children to take care of him except William H. Mollohan my son, and thereby direct and warn the said guardian of my son Adam Mollohan against putting him with the said William H. Mollohan as I have my fears of his being kindly treated owing the high temper or passion of the said William H. Mollohan being the reason why I direct the said guardian not to put ir suffer my son Adam to be placed in his hands. 7th I further will and direct that after the death of the said Adam Mollohan, my said son, that the principal meaning the whole amount of money that may belong to my estate be paid over to whichever one of my children may keep the said Adam Mollohan or their heirs executors or administrators after the death of the said Adam Mollohan as above stated, and not until after his death, and that he shall have the right to the same free from any claim from any one of my other heirs whatsoever in witness whereof I herunto make my mark to my name here unto subscribed and affixed my seal having the same read to me and duly considered of it on this 19th day of June 1861.

James X Mollohan                       SEAL

Acknowledged and subscriber in the presents of Leonard J. Brake, Martha Jane Boggs, C. Mollohan, and George D. Mollohan.

State of West Virginia and Webster County-to wit, November 11th 1867. This day personally appeared before my Joseph G. Dodrill Recorder in and for said county, George D, Mollohan and Martha Jane Boggs whose names is signed to the foregoing will and made oathe that the said will was the said will they had witnessed and that ie was the will and testament of James Mollohan deceased to the best of their knowledge.

Test Joseph G. Dodrill

Recorder of Webster County W.Va.

Additional information about this story

Description Source is Grandson, Bernard Mollohan

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Family Story:

SaraMollohanHuffmanadded this on 22 May 2008

 According to James Harry Mollohan, Jr., after the marriage of James and Martha, they settled near her parent's place on Birch River, Kanawha County, Virginia. They later moved to Little Kanawha River and then moved to, what is now Webster County, WV., and finally settled on land they received via a land grant in 1819 near Caress, VA., (now Braxton Co., WV.) Here they remained, raising a family. Both are buried in a family plot, on the farm, near the orchard.

    However, according to B. M. Mollohan of Hacker Valley, WV. in her book, after the marriage of James and Martha, they starte their own home on a twenty acre tract of land on the Back Fork of the Elk River above Webster Springs. Being the children of pioneers, they soon turned their faces to the wilderness again, moving to the Back Fork of the Holly River in, what would become Northern Webster County.

    On this property which James had bought from his brother-in-law, Josiah (Joseph) Brown, there was an excellent mill seat. Soon he consructed a log mill and dam on the site. This mill served the community until the entire structure was washed away in a flood during the 1850's. James was too old to consider rebuilding and the mill seat stood vacant at his death. In addition to being a miller, he was also a farmer and a shoemaker.

    James and Mattie's home was on property known as the old Mollohan place. The house set in the bottom some 100 feet from where the public road enters or crosses what is known as Hamrick Hollow.

    When he was old and ill, James asked his family to load him into the sled and take him for a drive through the field near his home. During the drive, he pointed out the place where he wanted to be buried, on a bluff overlooking the waters of the Holly River at a point where it makes a sharp bend towards the north on it's way to join the Elk River at Holly. A few weeks later, James died.

James Mollohan BIRTH 11 Jan 1787 Virginia, USA DEATH unknown USA BURIAL Unknown

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184605508/james-mollohan

Children Photo Charles Mollohan 1810–1890

Photo George Dodrill Mollohan 1815–1895

Photo Adam Mollohan 1825–1879

Rebecca Mollohan Hamrick 1827–1862