Lucinda Jane (Jennie) McCray

  General Notes:

Lucinda Jane McCray was called "Jennie". This is the name used on the birth certificate of her daughter, Alice Pauline Leary.

Lucinda died of dropsy. Generally speaking dropsy is an accumulation of fluids in the body. It is not a disease, but is a symptom of other problems. Dropsy is due chiefly to diseases of the heart, kidneys or lungs. Her death records state that she was buried at West Belmore Cemetery. On a visit to the cemetery I was not able to find her headstone. Her birth, death and burial dates are taken from death records and her obituary.


Lucinda J. McCray Obituary
Lucinda J. McCray was born January 11, 1845. In 1866 she was married to David E. Leary to which union were born seven children; Virginia who died in 1868, Charles, James, Alice, Annie Bell, Frank and William. The father died October 1, 1895. The mother passed away at the home of her son Frank in Leipsic (111 E. Center St), Ohio, at the age of 73 years, 7 months and 21 days. Of the family there remains one brother, four sons, two daughters, nineteen grandchildren and five great-grand-children.


Card of Thanks
To those who mourned with us in the loss of our mother and to those who so kindly remembered her associations with floral tributes we desire to express our thanks. Especially do we appreciate the floral offerings of the local K. of K., the Junction employes and neighbors.
The Children


From Newspaper Clipping (1903)
After Many Years
Last Monday evening occurred a reunion of three sisters and one brother who have not met before since 1875. Mr. A. J. McCray, of Royalton, Ohio, Mrs. L. P. Brenneman of Van Wert, Mrs. L. J. Leary of Leipsic and Mrs. James Hitchcock of this place. All were permitted to sit together at the home of Mr. Hitchcock for the first time in 28 years., and for aught anyone knows for the last time on earth.. Mrs. Brenneman's health has become impaired to such a degree that she will hereafter live with her sister, Mrs. Leary at Leipsic. Before leaving for Leipsic on Tuesday, Dr. Newhouse met with them and spent a pleasant social hour.


Lucinda grew up in German (now American) township in Allen county, Ohio. Her parents inherited the southeast quarter of Section 14 (160 acres) from William Ward. According to an 1880 plat map, the land had been sold and there was a home on the northeast corner of that quarter. This was the home of Lucinda and her family. Satellite photos show that a subdivision now sits on that quarter, but the house is still there and in excellent repair. The address is 2885 N. Cole St., Lima, Ohio 45801. The northeast corner of the quarter is at the intersection of North Cole Street and Diller Road.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Residence, 1903, Leipsic, Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio.

2. Occupation: Housekeeper, 1880, Sugar Creek Township, Putnam County, Ohio. ⁶⁴

3. Picture, 1880, Sugar Creek Township, Putnam County, Ohio. ⁶⁴ David and Lucinda had 40 acres southwest of the intersection of Township Road S and Road 14S. The 1880 plat map shows L. J. Leary as the owner. 15 acres just south of the Leary farm was owned by E. McCray.

4. Picture: Belmore Cemetery, Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio. The map shows the location of Belmore Cemetery where Lucinda Jane McCray is buried.

5. Picture: McCray family homestead: Lima, Ohio. This is where Lucinda Jane McCray lived prior to her marriage to David E. Leary. This located in German (now American) Township, Allen County, Ohio. Her parents inherited the southeast quarter of Section 14 (160 acres) from William Ward. According to an 1880 plat map, the land had been sold and there was a home on the northeast corner of that quarter. Satellite photos show that a subdivision now sits on that quarter, but the house is still there and in excellent repair. The address is 2885 N. Cole St., Lima, Ohio 45801. The northeast corner of the quarter is at the intersection of North Cole Street and Diller Road.

6. Picture: Vaughnsville, Putnam County, Ohio, 1880. This is the home David and Lucinda Leary called their home on the prairie. It was located near Vaughnsville, Ohio. Alice Leary (daughter) noted living in this home as a child. The family lived on this farm from 1871 until sometime in the 1880s, when they moved to Miller City, Ohio. A family letter describes the Vaughnsville house being shifted on its foundation by a tornado. This may have been why the family moved.

Lucinda married David Edward Leary, son of Silas Henton Leary and Margaret Miller, on 23 Aug 1866 in Allen, Ohio. (David Edward Leary was born on 5 Aug 1843 in Hinton, Rockingham County, Virginia,¹¹⁶ died on 1 Oct 1895 in Marion Township, Henry County, Ohio and was buried in Belmore Cemetery, Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio.)