My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT McKAY, born in Shenandoah County, Va., about 1782, was a son of James McKay, a native of Scotland, who left his native land on account of political troubles, and settled in Virginia, where he died. Robert McKay, with his wife, Mary Cain, and two children, Elizabeth and Isaac, and Joshua Cain, wife and son, left their Virginia home in 1811, for the Indiana Territory. At Pittsburgh, Penn., they built a boat, in which they, placed their families and effects, and came down the Ohio River, landing in what is now Craig Township, January 1, 1812. In the war that followed he served with a company of home guards, who were organized for the protection of the families scattered along the river. He succeeded well in life, made a good living, and left a good estate to his children. Twelve other children were born to him in this county, viz.: Lewis, Merritt, William, Zachariah, Jonas, Polly, Daniel, Ephriam. Four died in childhood. Mr. McKay died March 5, 1832; Mrs. McKay died in February, 1846. James and Zachariah McKay, brothers of Robert, came to this county in 1811, and also located in what is now Craig Township, where they lived till their deaths. The latter died in 1836; the former several years later. Zachariah’s wife was Sallie Lanham; Patsy Johnson was the wife of James. In 1813 came the mother of the above, Mary (Cheek) McKay, with her three daughters, Lear, Mary, Nancy, and two sons, Abraham and Moses, and located in the community in which the children who preceded her resided. All of the above became permanent residents except Moses, who lived in Kentucky, and afterward removed to Greensburgh, Ind., where he died. At this writing, 1885, only the descendants of Robert McKay reside in Switzerland County.