I. John Witherup (1762-1843)  b. England, immigrated to Trenton, NJ, then to Philadelphia, PA, then Pittsburgh, PA, by 1800 in Scrubgrass Twp., Venango Co., PA, m. Mary Brockingham (1767-1835) b. England

A. Abraham Witherup, Capt. (1/18/1787-4/4/1875) b. Philadelphia, PA, (also stated as Harrisburg) d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, m. 3/4/1819, Clinton Twp., Venango Co., PA,  Elizabeth Phipps (11/14/1800-11/19/1880) b. Clinton Twp., Venango Co., PA, d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, dau. of John & Catharine (Haney) Phipps. He commanded Co., in War of 1812. Res. at the Allegheny River & mouth of Scrubgrass Creek adjacent to land of Aaron Austin. John served as sheriff of the area& took flat boats back & forth from Pittsburgh with supplies. He did the contract for the original courthouse at Pittsburgh and personally laid the first log. (See Phipps Family Outline)

1. Mary Witherup (1819-1889) m. James Haslett (Hazelett) (1800-1880)

a. Joseph James Haslett, b. ca. 1841
b. Robert S. Haslett, b. ca. 1843
c. Cynthia S. Haslett, b. ca. 1849
d. Sarah Augusta Haslett, b. ca. 1851, m. Perry Forker, b. ca. 1849

1) Frank Stanley Forker, b. 1871, m. Sarah Smith (Sadie) b. ca. 1877
2) Elizabeth Avester Forker, b. ca. 1873, m. William E. Watson
3) Homer Durant Forker, b. 1875
4) Minnie Forker, b. 1877
5) Herbert Leroy Forker (1879-1885)
6) Charles Howard Forker (1885-1889)
7) Vilena May Forker, b. 1890

e. Samuel Phipps Witherup Haslett, b. 1857, m. Tillie Levina Bigelow, b. 1866

1) Austin R. Haslett, b. 1886
2) Ira H. Haslett, b. 1889
3) Eugene A. Haslett, b. 1891
4) Viola G. Haslett, b. 1893

f. James David Haslett, b. 1859, m. Jessie O. Wilkins, b. 1865

1) Mabel C. Haslett, b. 1884
2) Percy R. Haslett, d. pre 1900
3) Verda L. Haslett, b. 1894
4) Mildred R. Haslett, b. 1898

2. John Witherup (1821-1888)
3. Robert J. Witherup, m. Sarah McCool (ca.1823-1861)

a. Mary Ann Witherup (1852-1892), m. Austin Maitland

1) Ralph Lewis Maitland
2) Albertus Lowrie Maitland
3) Fred Robert Maitland
4) Frank Watt Maitland
5) John Cameron Maitland
6) Pearl Elizabeth Maitland, m. Harry D. Remmington
7) Minnie Coral Maitland

b. Findley Preston Witherup (1854-1906) m. twice, 1st – Sarah Elizabeth Surrena (1863-1893) dau. of Finley & Elizabeth (Walters) Surrena, 4 ch., 2nd – Emily C. Graham, b. 1867, 5 ch.

1) Clark Nelson Witherup (1884-1933) m. Eva Lorena Latshaw (1886-1968)
2) Frank Lewis Witherup, b. 1885
3) Robert E. Witherup (1889-1939) m. Irene Tribble, b. ca. 1888
4) Imelda Pearl Witherup (Melda) (1891-1986) m. Oscare H. McDougall (1882-1968)
5) Florence C. Witherup, b. 1895, m. George Brothers
6) Abraham Martin Witherup (1897-1953), m. Jessie Nell Sweetapple (1895-1985)
7) Alice C. Witherup (1899-1985) m. Charles H. Maloney (1895-1960)
8) Sara Ellen Witherup, b. 1901, m. Chester Latshaw
9) William James Witherup (1903-1986) m. Hazel Carroll

4. David Witherup (3/31/1824-6/15/1863) b. & d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, m. 4/27/1847, Mercer Co., PA, Catherine Webster (4/27/1830-5/29/1885) b. Mercer Co., d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA

a. James Allen Witherup (1/17/1849-4/25/1908) b. & d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, m. twice, 1st –1868, Mary E. Forker (1850-2/10/1877) b. & d. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, 3 ch., 2nd – Catherine Ellen Davis (ca. 1857-1920)

1) Forrest Floyd Witherup, b. 1872, m. Patience G. ---, b. 1870
2) Laura Madeline Witherup (1874-1903) m. Livingston V. Simcox, (Levi) b. 1864
3) Harry Clayton Witherup (4/9/1876-8/17/1913) b. Rockland Twp., Venango Co., PA, d. Guthrie, OK, m. 6/5/1902, Pine Grove, Pine Grove Co., WV, Nelle G. Roome (1/4/1883-1/8/1961) b. Middlebourne, Middlebourne Co., WV, d. Bloomington, IN

a) Fayne H. Witherup (8/17/1905-9/1960) b. Pine Grove, Pine Grove Co., WV, d. Bloomington, IN, m. 6/25/1928, Wheeling, WV, John Witherup Steinbeck (6/19/1907-10/19/1975) b. Union, MO, d. Bloomington, IN

i) ---Steinbeck, m. with ch.

b. John Wilson Witherup (1850-1902), m.  Jennie Elizabeth Witherup (ca.1861-1895) (See Further in this Outline)

1) Vinie O. Witherup, b. 1879
2) Lotta B. Witherup, b. 1880
3) Bert Marshall Witherup, b. 1882
4) Artie M. Witherup, b. 1885
5) Melvina Witherup, b. 1888 (twin)
6) Maude Witherup, b. 1888 (twin)
7) Edward Ray Witherup, b. 1890

c. William Marshall Witherup (1852-1916) m. Elizabeth Ada Cook (1865-1934)

1) Foster LeRoy Witherup (1891-1941)
2) Florence Golden Witherup, b. 1887

d. Laura Emily Witherup, b. ca. 1854
e. Abraham Franklin Pierce Witherup (Frank) b. ca. 1855, m. twice, 1st – Hattie Morrow (1864-1903) 3 ch., 2nd – Mary ---, b. ca. 1868

1) Franklin Leroy Witherup (1891-1972)
2) Florence Josephine Witherup (1894-1984) m. Albert Russell
3) William D. Witherup

f. Sarah Elizabeth Witherup, b. ca. 1857
g. Samuel P. Witherup, b. ca. 1859
h. David McClelland Witherup, b. ca. 1863

5. Catherine Mary Witherup (1825-1855) m. 1845, Nathaniel M. Wasson (1823-1904) son  of William & Elizabeth (Marshall) Wasson. (Nathaniel m. 2nd – 1856, Rachel Porter)

a. James B. Wasson (1846-1931), m. Sarah Elvina Kelly, b. 1861

1) Mary Ethel Wasson, b. 1883
2) Foster Maitlin Wasson, b. 1885
3) James Wilford Wasson, b. 1888
4) Margaret Elizabeth Wasson, b. 1898
5) Elizabeth Ann Wasson (1848-1926) m. Joseph Powell (1841-1926)

a) James William Powell , b. 1871, m. Elizabeth Kobert, b. 1872
b) Lucy Margaret Powell, b. 1874
c) Anna Belle Powell, b. 1876, m. Fred Kobert
d) Thomas Marshall Powell, b. 1883

b. William Wasson, b. 1850, m. Elizabeth Malaskey, b. 1859

1) George William Wasson

c. Sarah Jane Wasson, b. 1851
d. Abram W. Wasson (1853-1854)
e. Mary Catherine Wasson (Kate) (1855-1941) m. Richard Jenkins (1847-1905)

1) Ada Belle Jenkins (1874-1975) m. Robert S. Irwin (1874-1921)
2) Homer Melvin Jenkins, b. 1875
3) William Marshall Jenkins, b. 1879
4) Fred Llewelyn Jenkins (1890-1955)
5) David Robert Jenkins, b. 1892
6) Elizabeth Gusteen Jenkins (Lizzie)
7) Albert Garfield Jenkins

6. Joseph Phipps Witherup (7/1/1827-1905) m. 11/13/1856, Eleanor Brandon (Ellen) (8/1/1833-1898) dau. of James William & Nancy (Hill) Brandon

a. Buchanan Correl Witherup (6/16/1857-1862)
b. Breckenridge Morel Witherup (9/3/1859-1943) m. 12/28/1881, Fanny Myrtle McCauley, d. 1938

1) Wilbur M. Witherup (1884-1952) m. twice, 1st – Lulu Gertrude Stewart, 2nd – Callie Custer
2) Ida Myrtle Witherup, b. 1887, m. twice, 1st – Bert Hemmeger, 2nd – Charles Brainard
3) George Edward Witherup, b. 1889

c. Martha Ann Witherup (3/2/1861-1875)
d. George B. Witherup (7/11/1865-1928) m. Mary E. McElphatrick

1) Domer G. Witherup (1889-1890)
2) Margaret Edna Witherup, b. 1891, m. 4/23/1919, Buffalo, NY, Alexander A. Gumfory
3) Ava E. Witherup (1894-1984)

e. Mary Ella Witherup (1869-12/1905)[also said to have d. 1928] m. 4/4/1894, Frank Findlay (Findley), b. 1864

1) Joseph Glenn Findlay
2) William Ort Findlay
3) George Leslie Findlay
4) Gilbert Findlay
5) Clair Findlay
6) inf. Findlay, b. 12/1/1897
7) Dorothy Eleanor Findlay, b. 1902

7. Abraham Witherup (1829-1914) m. Sarah Ann Porter (1832-1875) (See Porter Family Outline)

a. Sylvester Lowrie Witherup (1853-1854)
b. Robert Miles Witherup, b. 1855, m. Elizabeth Hartz, b. 1852

1) George Witherup
2) Sarah May Witherup (Sallie)
3) Julia Margaret Witherup
4) Lee Walter Witherup

c. Ida Florence Witherup, b. 1857, m. William Sweitzer, b. 1857

1) Oscar Leroy Sweitzer
2) Maude Belle Sweitzer
3) Raymond Preston Sweitzer
4) Claude Emerson Sweitzer
5) Clyde Ellsworth Sweitzer

d. Hilda Arnet Witherup, b. 1859, m. George Washington Hartz, b. 1857

1) Walter Philip Hartz
2) Roy Emerson Hartz
3) Alta Verne Hartz, m. Thomas A. Hillier
4) Dora Hazel Hartz
5) Ethel Irene Hartz
6) Zella Marie Hartz

e. Elmer Elsworth Witherup

8. Samuel Phipps Witherup (1831-1894) m.  Mary Jane Porter (1842-1925) (See Porter Family Outline)

a. Jennie Elizabeth Witherup (ca. 1861-1895), m.  John Wilson Witherup (1850-1902)  (See Further in this outline)
b. David Melvin Witherup, b. 1863, m. Effie J. Richardson, b. 1870

1) Mabel E. Witherup, b. 1890
2) Marion Lester Witherup, b. 1892
3) Beulah J. Witherup, b. 1897

9. William Witherup (8/24/1832-1915) m. 11/19/1863, Clinton Twp., Butler Co., PA, Martha L. Eakins (2/16/1845-1926) b. & d. Clinton Twp., Butler Co., PA, dau. of David & Rebecca (Stalker) Eakins

a. Forest Foster Witherup (1864-1897)
b. Imelda May Witherup (1866-1897) [also stated as d. 1949]
c. David Thomas Witherup (1868-1955) m. twice, 1st – 1894, Laura Maria Cox (1873-1917), 2nd – Jessie Nelson (1866-1941)
d. Harry King Witherup (1869-1943) m. 1898, Wilhelmina Heibel (Minnie) (1870-1955)
e. Joseph Alvin Witherup (1872-1962) m. twice, 1st – 1900, Katheryn Ryan (1878-1905) 2 ch., 2nd – 1907, Mary Pritchard, d. 1944

1) Gladys Witherup
2) Russell Witherup (1904-1905)

f. Louis Hudson Witherup (1874-1880)
g. Samuel Bennet Witherup (1876-1952) m. twice, 1st – 1901, Clara Kathryn Schaffer (1881-1947) 5 ch., 2nd – Ethel M. Abel (1896-1977)

1) William Anlon Witherup, b. 1902
2) Winifred Wagainer Witherup, b. 1904
3) Martha Almira Witherup, b. 1905
4) Clara Kathryn Witherup, b. 1907
5) David Witherup, b. 1911

h. Jesse Lee Witherup (1879-1954) m. twice, 1st –1902, M. Ida Rapp (ca. 1876-1904) 2nd – 1907, Georgia Pearl McClellan (1890-1931) 4 ch.

1) Thelma Oneita Witherup
2) Robert Abram Witherup
3) James Forrest Witherup
4) John Foster Witherup

i. William Vic Witherup (1882-1931) m. 1909, Madge Leota Boylan (1885-1975)

1) Charles LeRoy Witherup
2) Martha Lucile Witherup
3) Harry Wade Witherup

j. Elizabeth Phipps Witherup (Bessie) (1885-1977) m. 1914, Charles Bartholomew Donovan (1884-1931)

1) Charles Louis Donovan
2) Robert Edward Donovan (1917-1917)
3) Elizabeth Louise Donovan (1919-1919)
4) William Donovan

10. Sarah Witherup (1836-1918) m.  Oliver Dutton McMillan (1818-1895) (See McMillan Family Outline)

a. Zella Elizabeth McMillan (1855-1885) m. twice, 1st – James A. Milligan (1856-1878) 1 ch., 2nd – Melvin Stewart

1) James A. Milligan, b. 1878

b. Sarah Ann McMillan, b. 1857, m. 11/6/1874, James Harvey Minteer, b. 1856, son of John & Elizabeth (Milligan) Minteer

1) Samuel Boyd Minteer, b. 1879
2) Jessie Elizabeth Minteer, b. 1882
3) Sarah Ellen Minteer, b. 1886
4) Effie Rea Minteer, b. 1888
5) Ivie Minteer, b. 1891
6) Harvey D. Minteer, b. 1893
7) Cora Alma Minteer, b. 1895
8) Howard Victor Minteer, b. 1898

c. Elmer Leroy McMillan, b. 1858, m. Agnes E. Ross, b. 1861

1) Martin Leroy McMillan (Roy) b. 1884
2) Albert Benton McMillan, b. 1886
3) Harry A. McMillan, b. 1892
4) Laura A. McMillan, b. 1896

d. James B. McMillan, b. 1860, m. Margaret Flaff, b. 1860

1) Oliver N. McMillan, b. 1882
2) Carrie B. McMillan, b. 1883
3) Bertha J. McMillan, b. 1885
4) James Arthur McMillan, b. 1887
5) Pearl M. McMillan, b. 1889

e. Benton McMillan, b. 1863, m. Mary Belle Ross

1) Ethel Evelyn McMillan
2) Anna Pearl McMillan

f. Clement Erasmus McMillan, b. 1869, m. Dora Claypool, b. 1874
g. Mary Elizabeth McMillan (1870-1909) m. George Warren Welton (1864-1910)
h. Samuel Boyd McMillan

11. James Brockington Witherup (1838-1897), m. Achsah R. Coulter (Axey) (1839-1891)

a. Willie M. Witherup (1875-1876)
b. Leslie Park Witherup, b. 1877, m. Maud May Boney, b. 1879
c. Cyrus R. Witherup (1879-1879) (twin)
d.Castle Marr Witherup (1879-1879) (twin)
e. John Witherup (ca. 1881-1917)

12. Martha Shorts Witherup (1841-1919) m. Elliot Davis (1839-1911)

a. Francis Alexander Davis (1865-1939) m. Artlysia Berringer (1865-1939)

1) Cora Blanche Davis, b. 1887, d. young
2) Edna Irene Davis (1888-1889)
3) Robert Elton Davis, b. 1890
4) Frances Elvira Davis, b. 1898

b. Robert  Haslett Davis (1868-1946), m. Vernie E. Thompson (1869-1968)
c. Cora Ella Davis (1873-1956) (twin) m. Allen Wesley Jacobs (1868-1928)
d. Rev. Homer Bell Davis (1873-1947) (twin) m. Clara Fidella Sproull (ca.1876-1939)

13. Elizabeth Ann Witherup (1843-1925) m. Alfred Hardwick (ca.1844-1908)

a. Chester Andrew Hardwick (1871-1952) m. Caroline Hutzley (1875-1965)

B. John Witherup, d. pre1890
C. Robert Witherup, d. pre1890 on the Red River, m. Jane Ridgeway

1. John Witherup
2. Peter Witherup
3. Titus Witherup
4. Alexander Witherup

D. William Witherup, (ca.1795-ca.1848) d. VA, m. Susan Ridgeway

1. Mary B. Witherup
2. Charles R. Witherup
3. Frances R. Witherup
4. Ruth R. Witherup
5. John R. Witherup
6. Lydia C. Witherup
7. Alexander Witherup
8. Martha J. Witherup
9. Abraham Witherup, (ca. 1843-5/25/1902) b. OH, occ. farmer. res with his mother Susan and sister Lydia, Marion Twp., Coniphan Co., KS in 1880. In 2/1902 moved to Shelby-Monroe Co., MO, doing sharecropping with one of his sisters living nearby.  d. by lynching (See Story below)

E. Alexander Witherup (1796-1835) d. Scrubgrass Twp., Venango Co., PA, m. Sarah Tracey (1804-1876)

1. John Witherup (1827-1852)
2. Mary Witherup (1830-1911)
3. Francis Witherup (1834-1894)

F. David Witherup, b. ca. 1800, d. pre1890, in MO, m. Jane Dunlap, b. ca. 1804

1. John W. Witherup, b. ca.1829
2. Thomas Witherup, b. ca. 1832
3. Alexander Witherup, b. ca. 1835
4. Mary Witherup, b. ca. 1837, m.  Daniel McMillan (See McMillan Family Outline)
5. David Witherup, b. ca. 1843
6. Elizabeth Witherup, b. ca 1844, m. John Scratch
7. James B. Witherup, b. ca. 1846

G. Martha Witherup (1803-1881) m. Col. William W. Shorts (1805-1885) son of Robert & Mary (Porter) Shorts,  of Sandy Creek Twp., Mercer Co., PA, & in 1833 came to Victory Twp., Venango Co. PA

1. Robert Crispen Shorts (1826-1901) d. Polk, PA, m. Katherine Bunnell, b. ca. 1834, dau. of Alfred & Rachel (Cannon) Bunnel

a. Elwilda Shorts
b. William Lawrence Shorts (1856-1944) m. Hannah Elizabeth Galloway (Lizzie) (1869-1943)
c. Floretta Florence Shorts (1858-1893) m. Leonadis Sheasley
d. Martha Maude Shorts, d. 1942, Miami, FL, m. Robert Hawthorne Blair (1861-1952) d. Franklin, PA

1) Lillie Leora Blair (9/13/1892-2/10/1989) b. Sandy Lake, PA, d. Sylva, NC, m. 4 times, 1st – Harry G. Brown (2/1882-1954) b. Springfield, MO, d. Miami, FL, son of Harry S. & Eunice Lucinda (Gaston) Brown, 1 ch., 2nd - George Rectors, 3rd – Gus Gardner, 4th – Zebulon Skousen (1884-1967)

a) Doris Rowena Brown, b. 12/4/1914, Cochranton, PA, m. Edwin Emanuel Phillips (12/31/1912-12/4/1992) b. Shaw MS, d. Franklin, NC

i) ---Phillips

e. Buena Kate Shorts, b. ca. 1874, m. William Beaver
f. Mary Ellen Shorts (1870-1897)

2. Mary Shorts (1827-ca. 1829)
3. John Decatur Shorts (1829-1857)
4. William W. Shorts (1833-1876)
5. Henrietta V. Shorts (ca. 1835-1863) m. John S. McKissick (1827-1894)

a. Orrin E. McKissick, b. ca. 1855, m. Ella Jaynes
b. John W. McKissick (1856-1860)
c. Mary Alvaretta McKissick , b. ca. 1859, m.---Ray
d. Elizabeth McKissick, m. Oliver H. Heasley

6. Elizabeth Irene Shorts (1838-1865)
7. Abraham Witherup Shorts, b. 1840, m. Orrillis Dever, b. 1845
8. Anne Holis Shorts (1845-1870), m. Abraham Ballit

On Sunday, May 25, 1902, Abraham Witherup was taken from the Paris, Missouri jail and lynched at the Salt River railroad bridge.

Abraham (Abe) Witherup was born about 1843 in Ohio. A farmer, he lived with his mother, Susan, and sister, Lydia, in Marion Township, Doniphan County, Kansas in 1880. He came to the Shelby-Monroe County, Missouri area and began cropping in February 1902 at a farm near Hunnewell. He had a sister in Monroe County but shared a nearby house with a young cropper named William Grow.

William (Will) T. Grow was born in Jackson Township, Monroe County in 1880, the oldest son of Stephen and Mary Belle Grow. He was 21 years old and had been cropping with Abe Witherup at the farm. Will was last seen alive on Thursday, April 17, 1902.

On Tuesday, April 22, Abe Witherup went to the Grow home east of Paris and asked if Will was there; Abe explained that he had not seen Will for five days, since the previous Thursday. On Tuesday afternoon, Gene Crow and E. J. Cullifer went down to fish on the North Fork, near Paint Bank. They noticed something large floating in the water and upon closer investigation they discovered it was a human body. The men summoned others who pulled the body from the water and, despite numerous gashes to the head, identified it as Will Grow; word was immediately sent to Paris via telephone.

The body was held at the river’s edge until Prosecuting Attorney McAllister and the coroner, Dr. Johnson of Madison, arrived. Later Sheriff James C. Clark and Marshal Polk Masterson went out to the Grow place and arrested Witherup while he sat at the dinner table, eating with the family of the dead boy. Witherup feigned surprise when arrested but an examination at the Paris jail uncovered condemning evidence – bloody underwear, a bloody watch and a stained ‘dirk” knife.

Deputy Sheriff Martin Clark led a party that went to the house to see what, if any, evidence could be found. They found blood stains on the floor and the ground under the floor boards, and on a wall that had been scraped and washed. The bed of a wagon had also been scraped but there were stains on the underneath side. The verdict of the coroner’s jury was that Will Grow came to his death on or about April 17 by a weapon in the hands of Abe Witherup.

Witherup later confessed to Prosecuting Attorney McAllister and told where he had hid the hatchet used to commit the crime. The hatchet was recovered and he remained in jail at Paris until his arraignment one month later.

Led by the murder victim’s father, about seventy-five men surrounded the Paris jail and overpowered the Sheriff and his officers. James Whitecotton, a lawyer who had refused to defend Witherup, even tried to reason with the mob but to no avail. The mob broke into jail and ultimately made their way to Witherup’s jail cell. He did not resist when they placed a noose around his neck and marched him to the bridge.

Witherup reportedly answered several questions posed by Steve Grow but indicated that he had no further confession to make; he was then pushed from the bridge and his neck broken in the fall. The next morning the coroner had the body cut down and removed to the courthouse where the body was embalmed, dressed and displayed.”

For more detailed reporting on this incident:

April 30, 1902, Shelbina Democrat: “BLODDY (HATCHET) FOUND”
May 29 1902, Monroe City News: “A MOB’S BOLD DELIBERATE WORK”
May 30, 1902, Higbee News: “HANGED BY A MOB”
June 1902, Shelbina Democrat: “WITHERUP HANGED”
June 5, 1902, Monroe City News: “LOOK IN THE FACE”
1933, Proctor Neal Carter’s “Lynch-Law and the Press of Missouri”, M.A. Thesis, University of Missouri – Columbia, pp.29 – 35.