1954 - Special Collections

YEAR BOOK AMERlCAN CLAN GREGOR SOCIETY 67
nat es the uncertainty in prepar ati ons, when th e number to attend is alwa ys in
doubt. The Chiefta in hopes this party will be a huge success and longs to see
the old Dominion State organized. Mr s. H ard wrote a personal note to each
Clan sman in her native St ate and wor ked hard to secur e a large representation at
the October Gat herin g. Some work has been accomplished on the history of
the earlier Clan sett lers in the State. E leanor Magruder of Maryland moved to
Virginia in 1760. Here is a basic fac t to start from and carry on.
T exa s: Deputy Chieftain H amilton Magruder, of La Villita , San Antonio.
T he new Deputy Chieftain reports much activity this year ( 1954). First, a large
group of Magruder kin were taken by H amilton and his wife Ly dia to see "Rob
Roy" picture. Later, thr ee other groups of friends att ended. W hile no State
meeting, personal touch was made with many members by personal visits of Hamilton
and Lydia. Some of these were: to the Magruder Martins at Nacogdoches,
Texas; Ma gruder Drake at Chapel Hill, Miss., who owns and lives on the original
homestead of James Trueman Magruder, H amilton's great-grandfather; to Baton
Rouge, La., where his grandfa ther ( W .H .N. Magruder) lived his entire life, and
was known as the Grand Old Man of Loui siana . Hami lton found his grandfather's
picture hung in the Dept. of Edu cat ion, on the 16th floor of the new State Capito l,
as he was the third Superintendent of Schools fo r the State of Loui siana . The old
home (Idlewild) at Port Gibson, owned by M rs. Fanni e Ma gruder Ea ton, was
visited. T hence on to Indianola, Miss., where they visited the Neil Magr uders.
Besides these delightful visits they had time to take in the Bankhead Ma gruder
brea stwor ks, thrown up between San Marc os and Au stin, T exa s, for defen se.
General J ohn Bankhead Magruder's grave and his monument at Galveston, Tex.,
were also visited .
This was a real pilgrimage and cover ed many Magruder histori cal areas
in the State rath er thoroughl y. In addi tion two new members were secured.
These visits indicate what can be done in many of our States aft er some
basic research has developed the histor ical backgr ound. The Chief is most anxi ous
to have our Clan Hi storian assist the State unit s in every way to get sta rted on
their State lines.
Kentucky : Deput y Chieftain G. R. H ender son. In answer to a questionnaire
sent by the Chieftain the following answers were sent in by Deputy Henderson.
Q. W ho was th e first Magrud er sett ler in the State ?
A. Archibald and Cassa ndra Magruder in 1790 in Kentucky.
Q. W ho was th e first Magruder in the S tate Family line
A. Archibald and Cassan dra Magruder-1790.
Q. First Magruder sett lers' home place name ?
A. H ome remov ed-Cemetery and stones inta ct.
Q. Locati on of this home place ?
A. Land mostl y included within the Bernheim For est Reservation. Located
in Bullitt County, near Bardstown Junction. (My plantation practically adjoins
thi s land.)
Q. Locati on of any Magruder Shrine?
A. Cemetery in Bullitt County-donated by Levi Magruder, son of Archibald
and Cassandra. Catholic Church of St. J ohn was used the re fo r years. Dismantled
now. Church built by Rev. Charles Nerinck of Belgium .