1 Edward Darneal

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Birth:                                1794, Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                20 Jun 1864, Liberty,  Clay County, Missouri

Father:                                Joseph Darnall (~1750-1827)

Mother:                                Jane "Jennie" Ashby (~1758-1848) 

Resided at "Bosque Bonita" in Woodford County which he sold to General Buford after the civil war.  This plantation was inherited from Captain John Ashby, his grandfather.  The Darnall, Darnell Family, compiled by Avlyn Dodd Conley, 1979  and History of Woodford County Kentucky by  William E. Railey, 1938. --------------

1850 Clay County,Missouri Census: 

Edward Darneal, 56 years, born in Ky is living with Phoebe 50, born in KY. Also living there is Marinda (Minerva) Craig 32 and R R Craig 38 who is a saddler. Also Edward Craig 12 born in Mo, Walter 10, Lee 6, Will 2, Riley (Joseph Riley) . Harvey Darneal , 27, is there.  Also: P.N. Edwards, Naomi Edwards. Barbary Darneal 20 year old female, Leah 16, M. A. 6 year old female, Harvey 4, Wiley 1.  William Edwards, 6, Edward 4, James 4/12.------- 

Spouse:                                Phebe Dale

Birth:                                6 Oct 1798, Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                7 Feb 1873, San Francisco, California

Father:                                Abraham Dale (1753-1831)

Mother:                                Mary Weakley (1770-1846)

Marr:                                5 Jun 1817, Woodford County, Kentucky 

Children:                                Minerva R. (1818-1901)

                                Barbara (1829-1910)

                                Walter Scott (1820-1856)

                                James H.

                                Leah (1835-1874) 

1.1 Minerva R. Darneal

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Birth:                                30 May 1818, Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                28 Dec 1901, San Francisco, CA, Home Of Lee D. Craig1

Burial:                                Auburn2,2 

There is speculation about the spelling of the Darneal /Darnall/Darnell name. Minerva used Darneal, her father, Edward, is sometimes referred to as Darneal and sometimes Darnall. On his marriage bond , he spelled it Darnall. Forks of Elkhorn Church by Ermina Jett Darnell , 1946 , says , referring to the children of Jacob Darnell and Patti Shrewsbury "It was some of their children who began using the form "Darneal" as their surname." cjh 

LONG LIFE ENDED

MRS. MINERVA R. CRAIG DIED THIS MORNING

HER LAST ILLNESS SO SHORT HER SON, JOSEPH CRAIG, DID NOT REACH HER DEATHBED

     Early this morning Joseph Craig was notified by telephone message that his mother, Mrs. Minerva R. Craig, was very ill. Later he received another message informing him that she died at 9”35 o’clock.

     Although she had been feeble for some time, her last severe illness was of only two or three days’ duration and her death was rather sudden and unexpected. Death occured at the residence of her son, Lee D. Craig, in San Francisco.

     The deceased was born at Versailles, Kentucky, May 18, 1818. Her maiden name was Minerva R. Darneal. She was a descendant of the well-known Ashby family and a granddaughter of Captain Jack Ashby, the famous scout and Indian fighter.

     Deceased was married to Randolph R. Craig, a descendant of the distinguished Craig family of Virginia, in Kentucky, December 24, 1835. In 1837 they moved to Missouri, where they lived until 1849. In that year Mr. Craig came to California. In 1852 he returned to Missouri and upon his return to California in August of the same year he was accompanied by his family.

     They located in Nevada City. Mrs. Craig was the first white woman to take up her residence on American Hill. The family lived there for many years, afterwards removing to Auburn, thence to Oakland and thence to San Francisco.

     Randolph r. Craig died in Auburn in March, 1866. (Note from CJW-this is incorrect-Randolph died in March 15, 1882). The funeral of the late Mrs. Craig will probably occur next Monday, and the body will be taken to Auburn for burial beside that of her husband.

     To the deceased were born six sons, Edward L., Walter R., Malcolm D., Lee D., William c., and Joseph, and four daughters, Mrs. Phoebe C. McKenzie, Mrs. Bessie M. Dowd and Misses Edna H. and Jennie W. Craig. The survivors are Lee D., Wm. C. and Joseph Craig, and Mrs. McKenzie and Mrs. Dowd. She also leaves seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

     Those who knew this venerable and good woman speak in the highest terms of her many virgues and sterling character. She was a woman of strong and vigorous intellectuality, which she inherited and this characteristic was transmitted to her children in a striking manner. She was kindly and symphathetic, and inspired by generous and noble impulses. Many hours of her long and eventful life were unselfishly spent in making others happy. Loyal friendship, a strong and enduring affection for her family and an unswerving integrity of purpose were the characteristics that gave her such a large and warm place in the hearts of those who knew her best.

Woodland Daily Democrat, December 28, 1901 

DEATH OF MRS. M. R. CRAIG

     Mrs. Minerva R. Craig, widow of the late Randolph R. Craig, died at the residence of her son Lee D. Craig, in San Francisco last Saturday morning. Deceased was born at Versailles, Kentucky, May 18, 1818, and was married in 1835. She came to California in 1852 and was the first white woman to take up her residence on American Hill at Nevada City. Deceased was the mother of six sons and four daughters, and of these three sons and four daughters survive her. The remains were brought to Auburn for interment, the fungeral taking place from the residence of Mrs. E. L. Craig, her daughter-in-law, on Monday afternoon.

THE PLACER HERALD, January 4, 1902, page 1 (Auburn, California) 

Spouse:                                Randolph Riley Craig

Birth:                                1815, Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                15 Mar 1882, Auburn, Placer County, California3

Father:                                Lewis Elijah Craig (1769-1836)

Mother:                                Catherine "Kitty" Cox

Marr:                                20 Dec 1836, Woodford County, Kentucky 

Children:                                Edna H.

                                Malcolm

                                Phoebe (1854-)

                                Edward Lewis (1837-1893)

                                Walter Randolph (1841-1901)

                                Lee Darneal (1844-1915)

                                William Cary (1847-)

                                Joseph Riley (1849-1921)

                                Elizabeth Minerva (1856-1915)

                                Jennie W. 

1.2 Barbara Darneal

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Birth:                                31 Jul 1829, Missouri

Death:                                1 Jan 1910, Los Angeles, California 

Moved to Nevada County, California in 1853.  She and her husband were living in San Francisco when her mother, Phebe Dale Darneal, died on February 7, 1873. 

Spouse:                                Jasper Morris Hixson

Birth:                                4 Aug 1825

Death:                                13 Nov 1899

Marr:                                27 Feb 1851, Clay County, Missouri 

1.3 Walter Scott Darneal M.D.

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Birth:                                28 Jul 1820, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                20 Sep 1856, Clay County, Missouri

Occ:                                Physician

Educ:                                Transylvania College of Medicine, Lexington, KY -graduated in 1842 

Spouse:                            Susan Mary Hubbell

Birth:                                16 Jul 1826

Death:                                11 Apr 1911

Marr:                                1 Nov 1843 

Children:                                James Hervey/Harvey (1847-1914) 

1.4 James H. Darneal

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Was on the Doniphan Expedition to Mexico in 1846. He was described thusly by another member of the expedition” James H. Darneal, a Kentuckian, cousin to wife of John T. Hughes and Noah P. Carpenter 

1.5 Leah Darneal

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Birth:                                22 May 1835, Woodford County, Kentucky

Death:                                22 Aug 1874, Uniontown, TN 

Spouse:                                William Thompson Osburn4

Birth:                                4 May 1834

Death:                                26 Jul 1906

Marr:                                18 Feb 1856, Liberty, Clay County, Missouri 

Sources  

1.

2. “Woodland Daily Democrat,” Woodland Library, December 28, 1901, 1.

3. “The Placer Herald,” Auburn, California, 18 March, 1882, 5.

4. Avlyn Dodd Conley, The Darnall, Darnell Family, Gateway Press,Inc. Baltimore, MD 1997, 2. 

Index