Sarah Alice White McGonagle
1859-1948

Taken from a Newspaper Clipping, and Family Bible
Mrs. Sarah Alice McGonagle was born in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio, on the 5 April 1859, the daughter of Joseph and Mahala (Johnson) White and departed this life 14 Nov 1948, aged 89 years 7 months 11 days. She was the eldest of four children: Homer and Jesse, who preceded her in death and John of Cadiz.

She was married to Wilson E. McGonagle on 6 Sep 1887 at Rev. N. Cramblett’s; the Rev. N.W. Cramblett performed the wedding. Wilson E., her husband, preceded her in death and to this union three children were born, Jesse T. McGonagle of Powell, Wyo., who married Ada Birney on the 24th of Dec 1913 in Dawson County, Nebraska by Rev. Fowler; and Harry L. of Tippecanoe R. 1, who married Gladys Eslick on June 5, 1917 at Cadiz, Ohio by Rev. A.A. Sebastain; and Melvin of the home. Two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews together with a host of friends remain to mourn her loss.

She united with the Chapel Christian Church on Weavers Run when 13 years of age. Later she transferred her membership to the Christian Church at Tappan of which she remained a member.

She had been in poor health for the past 7 years. Even though she suffered great pain she was ever patient and kind to those who ministered to her needs.

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This information was given by Marie McGonagle Grant, her granddaughter.
Sarah Alice White McGonagle was called Allie. Allie was seventeen and living at home when her father died. She was very small with a very tiny waist. When Marie was nine years old, and she and her parents lived with Grandma Mc (Allie) for two months. Marie was taller than Allie at that time.

Marie remembers her Grandmother Mac as being a very sweet and loving lady. She remembers that her Grandmother used to make sugar cookies filled with boiled raisins. Still to this day this type of cookie is Marie's favorite cookie.

Marie remembers that her Grandmother didn't spill things, she didn't make messes, and she was very neat, nothing was out of its place. She didn't tell people to pick up shoes. She did it.
Marie remembers that her Grandmother felt sad that she would never see her Grandchildren again. Marie's little sister Esther had put fingerprints on the window on the front door and Grandma Mac (Allie) would not let any one wash them off.

She loved to make poems. Her daughter-in-law Gladys McGonagle said she had a Diary full of poems she had written. But we have been unable to find the Diary. Perhaps it was sold with some of the Photo Albums. Allie made beautiful quilts. She made one for each of her two granddaughters and was making one for her foster grandson but never got it finished.
Marie remembers her Grandparent’s house. It was on a hill. They lived in the hilly part of Ohio. You would walk in the front door into the living room on the main floor and you would walk out the basement door in back. There was a small upstairs.

She remembers there being a path from Uncle Harry and Aunt Gladys McGonagle’s to her grandparents. It was about a one mile away. But if you went by road it was more like 3 miles away.

When her grandfather, Wilson E. McGonagle died, Harry and Gladys sold their farm and moved in with Grandmother (Allie). She remembers her grandparents having two phones. One phone was just for Uncle Harry. They had put up the line themselves and they didn't have to pay for that phone. The other was for everyone else.

Marie's mother said that her father, Jess, grew up on coffee, meat and bread. They would dip the bread in sop (meat juices). They didn't eat fruit. They had apricot trees but didn't like Apricots. They had a grape arbor. They had raspberries. Ada picked some for her mother-in-law, Allie and her sons Melvin and Harry thought they would not be good for her, Allie. Marie doesn't remember Allie getting sick from them. Marie remembers going to a neighbor’s, the Vickers, and she must have stayed awhile. When she left, she had walked about 1/2 mile when a man asked her if she was the McGonagle girl and where she was going. She said she was and that she was going to her grandparent’s. He told her that she had better turn around and go back the other way because she was going the wrong way. Marie wasn't sure that she believed him but turned around and sure enough she had been going the wrong way.

JOSEPH T. WHITE

1832-1876

I can find little record of Joseph T. White, he was born 1 Nov 1832 in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio to Joseph and Hannah Rogers White. He is the fourth child of ten children. He is the third of seven sons. He has three sisters. His brothers and sisters in order of birth are Jackson R., William P., Pamalah, (Joseph T.), Benjamin F., Warner R., Mary Ann, Joshua P., Charles W., and Hannah E.

He was married to Mahala Johnson on 14 Jan 1858 in Harrison County, Ohio. He was 25 years old and his bride was 21 years of age. They had four children, Sarah Alice born 5 Apr 1859, Homer born 12 Apr 1860, John born 19 Feb 1869, and Jesse born 15 Jul 1872. Jesse died of disease of the lungs on 12 Feb 1873, he was 6 months 26 days old. Joseph T. was a farmer. His mother died in 1866 and his brother Charles died in 1874. Joseph T. died on 23 Apr 1876 of ill treatment of disease in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio. He was 43 years 5 months 22 days old. Alice was 17 years old, Homer was 16, John was 7 years old when their father died. Mahala was left a widow at 40 years of age. Joseph T. was buried in the Deersville Cemetery beside his father-in-law, William Johnson, who had died in 1857.

The epitaph on the tombstone of Joseph T. White reads:
Farewell my wife and children all
From you a father Christ doth call
Morn not for me, it is in vain
To call me to your sight again

MAHALA JOHNSON WHITE
1836-1910
Mrs. Mahala White was born April 3rd 1836, died Thursday, Sept. 22nd, 1910. Aged 74 years, 6 months and 19 days. She was united in marriage to Joseph White in 1858, who preceded her to the other shore several years ago. To this union was born four children, all of whom survive her except Jesse who died in infancy.

God in His wise Providence has called from our midst a kind loving mother. As a mother Mrs. White's love went out for her children, her sacrifice was for their good, her aim was to rear them to useful manhood and womanhood. Inspired by her example and righteousness, her sons and daughter are good and honored. Her children rise up and call her blessed. As a neighbor she was one in deed as well as in name. Her neighbors were enriched by her helpful ministries. Her services were timely and valuable, she withheld nothing that would contribute to the enrichment of others. To do good to others was her ambition.
The very large concourse of neighbors in attendance at her funeral showed how her own works praised her. Mrs. White was a good Christian woman. The memory of such a devoted wife, mother, neighbor and Christian is blessed. The funeral services were held in the Methodist Church at Deersville on Saturday, Sept. 24th, conducted by Rev. Gregg of Deersville.
Taken from Newspaper Clipping.
We know that Mahala is the youngest daughter of Sarah DeLong and William Johnson. She had 4 older siblings Eli or Esli died at two months, Sarah Jane, Caroline died young, and Harriet. Mahala also had a cousin that was raised by her parents, Rebecca DeLong. Sometime between when Mahala was born and she was 4 years old her mother Sarah died.