Benjamin MCGINNIS

                   Historical information in notes.

From the Magennis Family Book A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN MCGINNESS (author unknown)Benjamin McGinness was born on the 3rd of May 1803 in Colerain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His father was James McGinness and his mother was Ann Fordham. He married Sarah Johnston, who was born in May 1801 in Colerain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They were married, probably, in 1825 and had 11 children, 4 girls and 7 boys, being: John Franklin, Ann Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Samuel, William Harvey, Johnston, Joseph B., Benjamin B., Sarah Elizabeth, Lorenzo Snow, and Margaret Ann.Benjamin was brought up on a farm, and was a very hard-working and industrious man. He received such education as could be obtained at that time, in schools which were taught by the subscription plan.Soon after marriage, Benjamin and Sarah and small son, John Franklin, immigrated to Ohio. They stopped here for a short time with relatives, then proceeded on to Jonesville. They stopped in Jonesville for a short time, seeking a place to settle. They didn't like the country here, and soon started the return trip to Pennsylvania, without ever unloading their goods.They arrived back in Pennsylvania about 1830. After looking about for a short time, he rented a large farm lying in Bart Township, Lancaster County, and occupied it. The land was thin and much run down, requiring much hard work to make it productive. He started in with a will and was so encouraged that in 1838 he purchased the 200 acres on easy terms.Shortly after this, certain parties projected a public road to run from the mill of Slater Brown in Little Britain Township, to the wrehouse of William Noble, on the railroad, a few miles below what is now Christiana. The survey for the road ran diagonally through many farms, badly cutting up the improved fields. The road, which is still known as the Noble Road, seriously damaged the farm of McGinness.Benjamin took an active part in opposition to this thoroughfare, but failed to stop it from being run, diagonally across his best field. Brown, who had flour to deliver to Noble's warehouse, was an influential man, and with the assistance of Noble and others, succeeded in baffling all opposition to his pet scheme, and the road was ordered to be laid out. And to this day, people traveling over it notice how the fields and farms are disfigured.This experience was the turning point in the life of Benjamin McGinness. Disheartened and discouraged, he lost all ambition to make further improvements, and finally decided to sell out and leave the country.In May 1843, he started with his family and others in wagons overland for Illinois. They arrived at a point near Nauvoo, Hancock County, 23 July 1843. They halted there with the intention of purchasing land.Here misfortune again overtook him. He fell into the hand of land sharks who sold him land to which they could give no valid title. The real owners appeared in a short time and took steps to take it from him. He, with the majority of the settlers around Nauvoo were finally driven over the Mississippi River by a mob. They took their weary march across the prairies of Iowa for Council Bluffs. Here he and his family arrived in due time and remained two years. It was here that he took his second wife, Mercy Ann Mace (Brooks), a widow, sometime in 1848, and here that his wife, Sarah Johnston McGinness died in November of 1849. She was buried in a private lot which lay a quarter of a mile east of the Union Pacific railroad station at that place. John Franklin McGinness, Sarah's oldest son, hadn't liked the country around Hancock County and had decided to return to their home land in Pennsylvania. He was only 16 years old when he bade good-bye and started back. Seven years later she died. He said that his only regret was that he never saw the mother he loved so dearly again.Still impressed with the idea of moving west, he pushed on to Salt Lake city where he arrived in about 1855. He remained there a short time, then went on to California, finally settling in San Bernardino, about 1858. Here he 
found an arid country, but the climate was all that could be desired, so he settled there.In 1867 he started on a visit to his old home in Pennsylvania. He traveled by wagon until he met the Union Pacific railroad, near Cheyenne, Wyoming. From there he could go much faster. He spent the fall and winter among his friends and early in the spring of 1870, returned home.Broken down in health from the long journey and exposure on the plains, he never fully recovered. He died April 6, 1870 in San Bernardino, California. He was buried in the old cemetery there. It has been obliterated by the passing of time.Mercy Ann, who was also a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died in San Bernardino, California 17 April 1887.Information kindly shared with us by Kathy Womack