Persis Hagans McGrew
When John P. Byrne is laid to rest, the pall on his
wooden coffin will be a 35 star American flag in honor of West Virginia
and his family’s contribution to it’s Statehood. All through the
Civil War, a 34 star American flag was used. Pres. Lincoln never
ordered the 13 Confederate stars removed. He also never had the newest
state, West Virginia’s star included on the American flag. However
he did sign the West Virginia statehood bill on December 31, 1862.
When John, his parents Samuel and Jauna Hagans Byrne
and his siblings came to Scotland County MO. in 1852, they left behind
family that was instrumental in the forming of the State of West Virginia.
Jauna’s father’s brother Harrison Hagans, his sons, daughter Persis and
her husband James McGrew were all deeply involved in this.
Harrison Hagans and his sons Lucian, Henry Clay, William,
and John Marshall played important roles in the formation of West Virginia.
Harrison and Henry Clay were representatives at the Reorganization Convention
held in Wheeling in 1861 and 1862. Lucian was elected to be the first
Secretary of the Commonwealth of the Reorganized State of Virginia (the
portion of Virginia that remained loyal to the Union). Henry Clay
and William also served in the Union Army. John Marshall, who became
the first Reporter of the State Supreme Court, wrote the first history
of WV. Harrison himself lobbied the United States Congress in 1862
on behalf of the admission of the State to the Union.
At great risk to their lives, James McGrew and 54
other Virginia representatives steadfastly voted against seceding from
the Union. McGrew went on to serve in the 1st and 2nd Legislatures
of the new State of West Virginia; then, later, from 1869-1871, he served
as a WV Congressman.
Mrs. Susan Hardesty from Kingwood, WV. is a historical
re-enactor for Persis Hagans McGrew. For the past four years she
has been associated with the McGrew Restoration Society, a group of community
members who has worked for 14 years to restore the home of James C. and
Persis Hagans McGrew. She has studied the Hagans-McGrew families
and their contribution to the creation of the State of West Virginia and
portrays Persis in programs and open houses. Her research has been
from a copy of the Memoir written by Mr. McGrew following Persis's death
and copies of personal letters that Persis wrote to her son George while
he was a missionary in India from 1875-1885.
Mrs. Hardesty has gained leave from her teaching of
high school honor students to travel here and present to us her program
during the Friday May 27, 2005 entertainment at the Scotland County Court
House steps in Memphis, MO.
Kingwood, WV. where Mrs. Hardesty lives is also the
town where John Peyton Byrne was born.
For more information on this line of John’s family
and the Statehood of WV., please check out the following web sites.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/statehood/images/mcgrewjames2.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/world/bios/mcgrew_james.htm
http://www.wvculture.org/history/statehoo.html
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~hughes11/statehood.htm
For more information and updates on the Funeral and
Burial of Corp. John Peyton Byrne please check out the web site http://www.duvcw.org
Return to:
http://www.duvcw.org/lastveteran