The History of Frank McCallister
James McCallister was born in 1720 in Ulster, Northern Ireland. James immigrated to Pennsylvania before 1747. On January 27, 1747, in Augusta, Virginia, he married Mary McGloughin, who was born in 1725 in Pennsylvania. On May 9, 1764, James bought 150 acres of land and settled on the Jackson River in Virginia. James was a soldier in the Old Virginia Regiment in 1766. In 1771, he served as Constable of Botetourt County, Virginia, a county which was documented as having a population made up of 90% Ulster/Irish settlers at that time. James died in August 1801 in Bath County, Virginia, and Mary died after 1801 and was buried in Bath County, Virginia. A probate record in September 1801 in Bath County, Virginia, indicated James was a farmer. Records indicate James and Mary had eight children, one of which was Richard.
Richard McCallister was born in 1756 in Augusta County, Virginia. On October 19, 1780, he married Margarett Nickells in Greenbrier County, Virginia. She was born in 1764, the daughter of Thomas Nickells and Jane King. Richard and Margaret moved to (now) Putnam County, West Virginia before 1810. Richard died on July 2, 1825 in Putnam County, Virginia and Margarette died on September 25, 1845. They are buried in Teays Valley Cemetery now known as Love-McCallister Cemetery. Records indicate they had 12 children between 1782 and 1809, one of which was Richard, Jr.
Richard McCallister, Jr., was born in 1791(2) in Bath County, Virginia. On January 11, 1821, in Kanawha County, Virginia, he married Sarah Margaret Nicholas (also known as Nickell), daughter of Isaac Nicholas (Nickell) and Margaret Curry. One story in the family is of how Richard, Jr., settled at Salt Rock. "He was allegedly chasing Indians over the mountains after they had stolen a horse, and he discovered the valley where they eventually settled." Richard, Jr.'s, house was reported as the first McCallister homestead in the valley at Salt Rock. Richard died on June 5, 1867 and is said to be buried in the "Enon Poor Farm Cemetery" which is near the Enon Church (also known as the Richard McCallister Cemetery). In 2001, Dr. Phillip Mowat, curator of the Ulster American Folk Park in Northern Ireland, hired a historic restoration company from Leon, Virginia, to disassemble Richard, Jr's, nearly 175-year-old house. An article entitled "Log cabin returning to roots" was published in the Local section of the Herald-Dispatch on October 15, 2001, and in December 2001, the structure was dismantled. The cabin is now on display at the Ulster American Folk Park Records indicate Richard fathered 15 children between 1817 and 1859, one of which was James Rayburn.
James Rayburn McCallister was born on August 16, 1835. On April 2, 1853, he married Mary Anne Hawkins who was born on November 21, 1834 in Cabell County. James was a Civil War Veteran and was reportedly born in the modest 16ft by 14ft home. James died on May 13, 1920 and Mary died on December 28, 1914. They are buried in Enon Cemetery. Records indicate they had 14 children between 1855 and 1880, one of which was Thomas Richard.
Thomas Richard McCallister was born on January 25, 1856. In 1888(?), he married Sarah Frances "French" Bias who was born on September 25, 1866, daughter of Anderson Linville Bias and Mary Jane Stewart. Thomas died on July 7, 1943 in Cabell County, West Virginia, and was buried in Enon Cemetery, and according to their daughter Maggie, Sarah died in January 1914 and was buried "below Salt Rock, below Charley McComas." Maggie also reported that Thomas and Sarah had eight children, but only five survived into adulthood, one of which was Frank.
Frank McCallister was born on March 7, 1895 in Cabell County, Huntington, WV. On June 22, 1917, he enlisted at Charleston, West Virginia, for 2nd Infantry, West Virginia National Guard, organization in Federal Service. He served overseas for more than a year and was honorably discharged on July 26, 1919, by reason of demobilization. After spending a year working as a laborer and living in his father's household, he re-enlisted on August 21, 1920, on October 17, 1923 and on November 3, 1926. He was honorably discharged on January 21, 1928 at Camp Marfa, Texas, a Corporal, Troop B, 1st Cavalry, by reason of purchase. On December 18, 1929, Frank married Eva A. King in Cabell County, West Virginia. Eva was born on November 29, 1910 in West Hamlin, Lincoln County, West Virginia, the daughter of William King and Julia Ann Fry. Between 1929 and 1935, Frank and Eva had four children. On November 19, 1936, Frank was killed in a work-related accident. Following is a transcription of the article that was posted on November 20, 1936 in the Huntington, West Virginia's newspaper, The Herald-Dispatch.
"BLASTED ROCK KILLS WORKER"
WPA Employee Struck On Neck by Stone Hurled 235 Feet
Struck in the neck by a flying rock blasted from a WPA sewer project, Frank McCallister, 40 years old, of 58 Nickel Plant Road, was instantly killed yesterday afternoon at 12:02 o'clock. The accident occurred in West Holswade Park on Wiltshire Boulevard as McCallister, an employee on the project, stood by a truck preparing to eat his lunch.
Dr. F.X. Schuller, Cabell county coroner, investigated the death and returned a verdict of "accidental death caused by a broken neck." Dr. Schuller said the rock that struck the man, according to witnesses he interviewed, was hurled a distance of 235 feet by the blast and that it descended on him from a height of approximately 100 feet after being hurled over the tops of a number of trees. The rock measured 10 by 10 by seven inches and weighed approximately 75 pounds. The impact also broke the man's right arm. The coroner said the rock was blown from one of three loaded holes drilled in rock and set off at the noon hour. He said each of the shots was loaded with four sticks of dynamite and that they were exploded simultaneously. "The investigation shows," Dr. Schuller declared, "that ample warning had been given before the blast was set off." McCallister was rushed from the scene of the accident to the Chesapeake & Ohio hospital. He was dead on arrival.
John J. West, WPA administrator of the Fifth West Virginia district comprising eight counties, last night deplored the death of the worker and declared "it was one of those accidents which apparently was unavoidable but which at the same time we all deeply regret." Mr. West declared the fatality was the first to result on a WPA project in the fifth district "since the beginning of work 14 months ago. "During that time we have continuously employed more than 10,000 men."
McCalister's body last night was at the Heck funeral home in Barboursville. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2 o'clock at the Enon Church near Salt Rock and burial will be in the Enon cemetery. Surviving McCallister are the widow; two daughters, Garnet and Sarah McCallister, at home; two sons, Edward and Laird McCallister, at home; two brothers, Levi and Virgil McCallister, of Salt Rock; and three sisters, Mrs. Maggie Vititoe and Mrs. Garnet Brady, of Salt Rock, and Mrs. Inez Middleton, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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The history noted above for the generations from James through James Rayburn is based on birth, death and marriage records; military records; newspaper articles; obituaries; cemetery records; Findagrave bios; FamilySearch.org information; and handwritten notes by Mrs. Maggie (McCallister) Vititoe dated May 16, 1957.
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This history was submitted by Louise Devore, the spouse of one of Frank McCallister's grandsons, Ronnie Dale Devore.
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