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Benjamin
Mairs Rachel
Kennedy

version 20 7/21/09

(son of ?
and ?)

b. 1782 in Ireland

d. Aft 1830

buried OHIO?
(FindAGrave)

The family "Mears" comes from
Gortanewry House near
Moneymore in Ireland,
sometimes it has been
called the "Mairs Castle."

Benjamin was a graduate of
Trinity University's
medical school in Dublin.

married
in ?
Bef 1799

They came to
the US about 1815
and were naturalized
24 Sep 1822
in Jefferson Co, OH
from Seitz
genealogy website

Meet their
children.

(daughter of ?
and ?)

b. Abt 1782
probably in the
Ulster part of Ireland

d. Aft 1830
possibly in
Jefferson County, Ohio

buried ?

The following information has been summarized from
1) the History of Sullivan Co, Mo.,
2) 1850 Jackson Co, WV Census, and
3) cemetery inscriptions
4) many other sources.

Children of Benjamin Mairs
	Sex	Born	Birthplace	Died	Deathplace	Married	Date	Children
Children of Benjamin (b. 1782 in Ireland d. Aft 1830) and Rachel Kennedy (b. 1782 in Ireland d. Aft 1830) married Bef 1799
Joseph (aka Dr. Joseph Mairs) see history below	M	3 Jun 1799	in Ireland migrated to US and he and his parents were naturalized as citizens of the US on 24 Sept. 1822 in Jefferson County, OH He practiced medicine in WV where he moved before 1830 Moved to Sullivan Co, MO about 1865 but gave up the practice of medicine before that.	15 Jul 1870	He died working in a hay field in Sullivan Co. buried in Henry Cemetery (FindAGrave)	Margaret Bell b. 1806 in Ohio d. 11 Sep 1851 in WV Her parents were born in Ireland, coming to this country at age 15. I do not know where she is buried.	8 July 18, 1822 in Jefferson Co., OH	Rachel Ann (DeWitt) Thomas William Mark Bell Mary Jane (Atkins) Margaret (McCallister) maybe 2 others Click on Joseph or Margaret's names for access to a massive amount of family history.
Thomas	M	May 12, 1806 from tombstone in Mairs Cemetery in Sullivan Co, MO listed as age 45 in 1850 census (ref) and age 54 in 1860 census Therefore this Thomas must be a contempory and perhaps a brother of Joseph rather than a son. History of Sullivan Co, (see below) reference states that Thomas came to Jefferson Co., Ohio with his parents when 10 years old. and after Louisa died in 1862, in 1875 Mr. Mairs brought his five sons and two daughters to Sullivan Co. Problem is that son Joseph W. married Mary Curtis in Sullivan Co in 1870. and... In 1870 census on 4 Jul 1870 for Pleasant Hill Township, Sullivan Co, MO Thomas Mairs, age 64 Benjamin Mairs, age 24 Joseph W. Mairs, age 23 John Mairs, age 20 Emily L Mairs, age 16 James A. Mairs, age 13 Martin V Mairs, age 9 Rachel S. Mairs, age 25 *** In 1870, another Thomas Mairs (45) was living in Polk Township. He was the son of Joseph Mairs , brother of Thomas Mairs (b 1806)	in Belfast Ireland Belfast from Death Certificate of son Benjamin.	Sep 18, 1876 Age 70Y, 4M, 6D	Mairs Cemetery in Sullivan Co, MO Graveyard located just north of the county line, in Sullivan County, on the Noel Bennett Farm, east of Browning, Mo. (FindAGrave)	Louisa Arnold b. 2 Jan 1822 Harrison Co, VA d. 12 Jul 1862 from tombstone in Sandyville Cemetery, WV (FindAGrave) listed as age 27 in 1850 census (ref) and age 38 in 1860 census dau of Benjamin and Susannah Arnold who were living next door in 1860 in VA sister to Ruth W. Arnold, who died in Aug 1856 at age of 21 and whose grave is next to Louisa's. (FindAGrave) Also Ruth Arnold (age 15) and Martin V Arnold (age 13) are listed as present at the Thomas Mairs home on 9 Aug 1850 when the census was taken. (ref)	Bef 1842	Rachel Susannah b. Nov 30, 1842 d. Nov 6, 1911 (FindAGrave) buried in Mairs Cemetery in Sullivan Co, MO Benjamin Rb. 28 Oct 1844 Sandyville, Jackson Co W(VA) Rd. 18 Jan 1923 from Death Certificate buried in Knifong Cem. Linn Co, MO (FindAGrave) m. Margaret Frances Arnold (She later married John Wesley Cordray) b. 19 Apr 1870 d.17 Nov 1926 Rochester, MN (FindAGrave) Ben was age 15 in 1860 but age 24 in 1870 Joseph Watson b. Apr 6 1847 in Ravenswood, WV age 13 in 1860 age 23 in 1870 and 33 in 1880 d. May 10 1916 Pleasant Hill, Sullivan Co, MO Death Cert buried in Knifong Cem. Linn Co, MO (FindAGrave) (see obit in link above) m. Mary Elizabeth Curtis on 12 Jun 1870 Sullivan Co, MO from Sullivan Co. Marriages 1859-1880 pg 37 ...but... living at home on 4 Jul 1870 Mary Info: b. 3 Apr 1850 in VA d. 29 Oct 1924 in Pleasant Hill, Sullivan Co, MO Death Cert buried in Knifong Cem. Linn Co, MO (FindAGrave) (see obit in link above) dau of Isiah and Nancy Curtis Children: - Thomas I. b. 1871 d. Aft 1930 m. Charlotte Riley b. 1876 d. Bef 1930 Centre Co, PA children: + Thomas I. Mairs Jr. b. 1904 d. Aft 1930 + John Curtis b. 1908 d. Aft 1930 + Edward S b. 1909 d. 1965 - Lydia Alice (Purdin) b. 1873 d. Aft 1924 - Lillian b. 5 Jun 1875 d. 16 Apr 1917 unmarried Death Cert buried in Knifong Cem. Linn Co, MO (FindAGrave) (see obit in link above) - John L b. 1878 d. Aft 1924 - Dora Bell (Hayes) b 1879 d. Bef 1924 & Aft 1916 m. William Oscar Hayes b. Apr 1880 d. 7 May 1930 children: + Gail Hayes + Vera Hayes + Van Hayes 1906 – 1984 - Anna (Morris) b 1880 d. Aft 1916 - Ada Susan (Darr) b 1 Jan 1882 d. 9 Mar 1953 Purdin, MO (Death Cert.) m. Everson Darr b. d. children: + Bernie L Darr 1902 – + John V Darr 1907 – + Joseph Darr 1915 – - Van Curtis b 19 May 1893 MO d. 22 Jul 1964 Wadsworth, KS m. Amy Irene Coffman on 24 Dec 1924 b. 31 Oct 1895 d. 28 Mar 1962 MO John b. 1849 age 11 in 1860 but age 20 in 1870 d. Aft 1923 Emily Emma L. b. Apr 1853 WV d. 24 Dec 1932 Browning, MO `buried in` `Mairs Cemetery in` `Sullivan Co, MO (FindAGrave)` m. Richard L Curtis in 1899 b. Jul 1853 MO d. Dec 1932 James Alonzo MD b. 27 Jun 1855 Ravenswood, W(VA) Graduated with honors from the Louisville Medical College, KY 27 Feb 1878 d. 9 Mar 1922 Buried in Jenkins Cem, Linn Co, MO (FindAGrave) (see obit in link above) m. Sarah Ann Richardson m 14 Aug 1878 b. Dec 1857 d. 3 Dec 1934 MO (Death Certificate) (FindAGrave) parents: John Richardson and Mary ? children 3 by 1900 2 alive - Clora A b. 1879 d. bef 1922 - Iona Alva (Harrington) b. Apr 1879 d. bef 1922 - Benjamin A b. Sep 1899 d. Aft 1930 witness on father's death cert. m. Ruby E. ? m. Marjorie Florence Rinehart 14 Jan 1923 Browning, MO living in Browning, Linn Co, MO in 1900 census Martin V. * b. 1858 because 2 in 1860 but 9 in 1870 d. ? Van B. * b. 14 Aug 1859 d. 26 Nov 1894 buried in Mairs Cemetery in Sullivan Co, MO * Are Martin V and Van B the same person? see cemetery below Comments: Some birthdates based on 1850 census (ref) or 1860 or 1870 census Joseph's family taken from Sullivan Co., MO History (see below)
2 more	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

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Miscellaneous Information

From the Seitz geneology website:

Benjamin Mairs was born c.1782, probably in the Ulster part of Ireland. He died after 1830, possibly in Jefferson County, Ohio. Best guess is that he and his wife, Rachel Kennedy, came to this country about 1815. Naturalized Sep. 24, 1822, in Jefferson County, Ohio. Benjamin and Rachel had three or four children. (one of which is Joseph seen below.)

Joseph Mairs was born 3 June 1799 in County Derry, Ireland (Ulster), a son of Benjamin Mairs and Rachel Kennedy. He died 13 July 1870, in Sullivan County, Mo. Joseph came to United States as young man with parents. He, his parents and siblings were naturalized as citizens of United States on 24 Sept. 1822 in Jefferson County, Ohio. One questionable source says he taught school several terms in Pennsylvania; was supposedly proficient in mathematics and penmanship and was once offered $3,500 per year salary to teach in Philadelphia, which he declined. He did study medicine and began practice in Jackson County, (W.)Va., where he moved before 1830 from Jefferson County, Ohio. He abandoned medical practice about 1860, perhaps earlier as he is called farmer in 1850 census, and moved to Sullivan County, Mo., in 1865, where he farmed until death (died while working in hay field). He married Margaret Bell 18 July 18, 1822, in Jefferson County, Ohio. They had nine children. Margaret Bell was born c.1801, possibly in Ohio, and died in 1852 in Jackson County (W.)Va.

Benjamin Mairs and wife Rachel sold 100 acres of land in Jackson Co, VA to Archibald Rowan in 3 Dec 1838 (ref) in Jefferson Co, OH
From John A. House's "Some Early City, Village and County Burying Grounds" found in the library in Ripley, WV.

Louisa Mairs, wife of Thomas Mairs, was born 2 Jan 1822 and died 12 July1862. Next to her grave in the Sandyville Cemetery, was Ruth Arnold, daughter of Benjamin and Susannah Arnold.

From the History of Sullivan Co.

Joseph W. Mairs (b 1847 in Jackson Co, Va) was the son of Thomas (b. in Ireland) and Louisa Arnold Mairs (b. 1825 in Harrison Co., Va.). Thomas came to Jefferson Co. Ohio with his parents when ten years of age. Mrs. Mairs died in 1863 and in 1875 Mr. Mairs brought his five sons and two daughters to Sullivan Co where he died in 1876. The elder Mairs was for a time engaged in flat boating but later farmed. He was a Republican. Joseph W. enlisted in a company of Va. troops and served two years. In 1870 Joseph was married to Mary Curtis (b. 1850 in Sullivan Co, Mo.) They were the parents of: Thomas I., Lydia A., Lillian, John L., Dora B., and Ada S. He was a Republican and member of the I.O.O.F. Mrs Mairs was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Marriage date of 12 Jun 1870 for Joseph W. Mairs was obtained from the Sullivan Co, Mo Marriage Records: 1859-1880, pg 109

Buried in Knifong Cemetery, Linn Co, Mo

Mairs, Irene (Coffman) WW1 u [sw/nw a ] Knifong Oct 31 1895-Mar 26 or 28 1962
Wife of Mairs, Van Curtis
Mairs, Joseph W. CIVIL WAR v [sw/nw c ] Knifong Apr 6 1847-May 10 1916
Mairs, Van Curtis WW1 p [sw/nw cww1] Knifong May 19 1893-Jul 22 1964

Mairs Creek

We even have a stream named after our Mairs ancestors just south of Browning, MO. You can see the map here: Mairs Creek.

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Mairs Cemetery

According to the Sullivan County Cemeteries there is a Mairs Cemetery:
Located on what used to be Noel Bennett's farm in the mid-1950's; about 1/2 mile East of Browning.
Mairs Cemetery
Duncan Township, Sullivan County, MO

This is a small Cemetery located in Township 61N, Range 20W, Section 33. This is 0.5 miles East of Browning, Missouri on highway “O”. It is on the North side of the road in a field. This cemetery was surveyed and inscriptions copied November 2002 by Robert Myers. The original inscriptions were by Mrs. George Prather, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellsberry and Bryce Logan circa 1951.

As you can see below these are some of the Thomas Mairs family.

Name	Birth Date/Death Date	Other Inscription
CURTIS, Emma (Mairs)	Unmarked
MAIRS, Van B.	Aug 14, 1859 – Nov 17, 1894	Age 36Y, 3M, 13D
MAIRS, Rachel Susannnah	Nov 30, 1842 - Nov 6, 1911
MAIRS, Thomas	May 12, 1806 - Sep 18, 1876	Age 70Y, 4M, 6D

CENSUS RECORDS

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1860 Census: Jackson Co, VA: (19 Jul 1860)

1) Thomas Mairs (54) with wife Louisa (31), and children R(achel) S. (17), Benjamin (15), Joseph (13), John (11), Emma L. (7),
James A (5) and M(artin). V. (2)
2) Benjamin Arnold (father of Louisa Mairs) (65), S(usannah) (55), M.V. (23), A. P. (17), Janice? (15), Susan (8)

1860 Thomas

and just up the road a piece...

1860 Census: Jackson Co, VA: (19 Jul 1860)

1) Mark B. Mairs (31) [son of Joseph below] with wife Lousiana (28), and children William J (6), Ezekiah (4), John B (1)
2) Joseph Mairs (62) [brother of Benjamin] with daughters Mary (25), Margaret (21) and Martha (17)
1860

see Chariton Co., MO MAP
see Linn Co., MO MAP
see Randolph Co., MO MAP
see Sullivan Co., MO MAP

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