Rev. George W. McCaskey and Susanna Eckert Shaffer

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Husband Rev. George W. McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 20 Mar 1801 - Georgetown, Beaver Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 7 Apr 1853 - at sea 1
         Buried: 

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         Father: Daniel McCaskey (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Nancy Ann Sutherland (      -      ) 1

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       Marriage: 21 Jan 1835 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1

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Wife Susanna Eckert Shaffer ¹

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           Born: 28 Aug 1814 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Sep 1897 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Shaffer (1776-1863) 1
         Mother: Charlotte Slagle (1792-1846) 1

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Children

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1 F Anna Charlotte McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 28 Feb 1836 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 31 Aug 1873 - Fairfield, Jefferson Co, IA 1
         Buried: 

         Spouse: B. Frank Craile (      -      ) 1
           Marr: 26 Jun 1850 - Steubenville, Jefferson Co, OH 1

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2 F Mary Jane McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 10 Dec 1837 - Greensboro, Greene Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Scott (      -1891) 1
           Marr: 11 Dec 1862 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1

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3 F Adoliza Arter McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 19 Apr 1840 - New Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 21 Jun 1840 1
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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4 F Martha Ellen Slagle McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 31 Aug 1841 - Steubenville, Jefferson Co, OH 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 23 Jul 1866 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
         Buried: 

         Spouse: [Unk] Valentine (      -      ) 1
           Marr: Washington, Washington Co, PA

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5 F Elizabeth Holmes McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 20 May 1843 - Claysville, Donegal Twp, Washington Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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6 F Hannah Latimer McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 16 Feb 1846 - Pleasant Retreat, Allegheny Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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7 M George Erasmus McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 2 Mar 1848 - Freedom, Beaver Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Anna Bane Lacock (1852-      ) 1
           Marr: 28 Jul 1870 - Vanceville, Washington Co, PA 1

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8 F Amanda Melvina McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 10 Jul 1850 - Freedom, Beaver Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Aug 1851 - Freedom, Beaver Co, PA 1
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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9 M John Shaffer McCaskey ¹

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           Born: 31 Aug 1852 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Nov 1854 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 1
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - Rev. George W. McCaskey

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He was born at Georgetown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was one of sixteen children. He was educated in the village school and instructed by the ministers of the same. On reaching a suitable age he was ordained a Methodist minister and licensed to preach, becoming what was known as a "Circuit Rider," an occupation which involved hard work and was poorly paid. He often had to take farm produce instead of money for his salary. He went from place to place on horseback to perform the duties belonging to his work. There being few good roads then and often only bridle paths through the woods, he encountered many privations and dangers, sometimes getting lost and having to stay in the woods over night with the ground for his bed and his saddle for a pillow. In 1835 he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio, and remained there until 1836, when he returned to Washington, Pennsylvania. In 1837 he went to Cookstown and from there to Perryopolis; in 1838 he moved to Greensboro, Greene County, and in 1839 to New Lisbon, Ohio. In 1841 he changed to Richmond, Ohio, and from there to Steubenville, Ohio; in 1843 to Claysville and in 1844 he was stationed in Beallsville; in 1846 he was sent to Chartiers Valley and in 1848 to New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and from there to Freedom. From this last place he returned to Washington and on April 8th, 1852, thinking to better his financial condition, he left his family in Washington and started for the gold fields of California. After the many dangers, hardships and privations of an overland journey which lasted over four months, he arrived in Sacramento, California, in August, 1852. Whether his health failed or whether he became discouraged, is not known, but in March, 1853, he started to go back home by water on the steamer "Winfield Scott" to Navy Bay, where he took the steamer "Union." On April 2nd, 1853, Rev. Mr. McCaskey, on board the boat, was stricken with yellow fever, which proved fatal to him on the 7th of April, at twenty minutes past five o'clock in the afternoon, he died. Just before his death he sang in a clear voice, a stanza from
"Oh, how happy are they who their Saviour obey
And have laid up their treasures above"\emdash
when his voice failing, he calmly passed from this life into the presence of the God whom he reverenced and trusted. He was patient and hopeful to the end. He was buried at sea off the coast of Cuba.

1 Ella Campbell Slagle Nichols, Family Record (Pittsburgh, PA: Privately published, 1914).