Shirer Family Genealogy Project
Person Page 14447
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| Father | John Jameson McCauley b. 8 February 1795, d. 26 February 1863 | |
| Mother | Susan Dingledine b. 28 September 1812 | |
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| Biography* | (From the "History of Roanoke County, Salem, Roanoke City, Virginia and Representative Citizens" Edited and Compiled by William McCauley, A. M., 1902. This sketch is autobiographical.) WlLLIAM McCAULEY, eldest son of John and Susan (Dingledline) McCauley, was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, on July 17, 1837. His parents moved to Botetourt County (now Roanoke) some time during the following year. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His maternal grandfather came from Germany and located first in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and while living in that county was married to Mrs. Susannah (Firestone) Hileman. In 1819 he came to Botetourt County and became the owner of the farm near Salem, since known as "Dingledale." This became the home of William McCauley's mother, and here his early boyhood was spent. In 1849, when 12 years of age, he accompanied his father, then a senator of Virginia, to Richmond, and while there he was appointed the first page (as he facetiously says, he was the "title-page") of the State Senate, and this position was held by him for four sessions. Afterward he became a student of Roanoke College, from which institution he graduated in 1859. After leaving college he taught school until 1861. In June, 1861, he entered the Confederate service as a member of Company E (Dixie Grays), commanded by Capt. A. J. Deyerle, in the 42d Regiment, Virginia Infantry, and served under Gen. Robert E. Lee in the mountains of Virginia until January, 1862, when the regiment was transferred to the command of "Stonewall" Jackson, in the Valley of Virginia. In the battle of Kernstown, Virginia, on March 23, 1862, he received a wound which disabled him from further active service, but he continued on duty as an enrolling officer until 1863. In the summer of this year he received a special discharge upon the petition of the faculty of Roanoke College in order that he might teach in the college, which was the only school of high grade that continued its existence during the war. In the fall of 1864 he again entered the army, serving as clerk of court-martial, in one of the brigades under Gen. Jubal A. Early, in the Valley of Virginia. In 1865 Mr. McCauley was elected clerk of the County and Circuit courts of Roanoke County, which office he held until July, 1893, with the exception of the two years from 1887 to 1889. During the time of his clerkship and for some time afterward he was commissioner of accounts for the County Court of Roanoke County. In May, 1897, he was appointed clerk of the United States courts, which hold their sessions at Lynchburg, Virginia. Mr. McCauley has been closely identified with the educational interests of his county, having served for a number of years as trustee and clerk of the district and county school boards, and since 1866 as trustee of Roanoke College. He is a man of extensive reading and cultured taste, and has contributed various articles of interest to newspapers and magazines. Being possessed of antiquarian tastes from childhood, he has made extensive collections of historical material and data, and is frequently referred to as authority in settling questions in local history. By nature he is quiet and retiring, but his efforts have always been earnest in devotion to what, in his judgment, was deemed most promotive of the interests that lie represents. Painstaking and diligent in the discharge of his duties, his chief concern is to render the most efficient service, without regard to personal sacrifice or loss. Mr. McCauley is a member of the Lutheran Church, an elder in the College Church congregation, and was for many years superintendent of the Sunday-school. On November 16, 1865, the subject of this sketch was married to Margaret J. Shirey, a daughter of the late Peter and Julia A. 1 | |
| Birth* | 17 July 1837 | VA |
| Census* | 1850 | 1850 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, District 57, Series: M432, Roll: 973, Page: 287B, August 5 (enumerated with father, John McCauley) 24, 390, 390, McCauley, William, 13, M, , , , Va, , , 1, ,2 |
| Census | 1852 | 1880 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, Salem Township, ED: 64, Series: T9, Roll: 1387, Page: 587B, June 3 19, 61, 65, McCauley, Wm, W, M, 42, , , , 1, , , Clerk of Courts, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, N Hampshire, Virginia 18, 61, 65, McCauley, Maggie J, W, F, 37, , Wife, , 1, , , Keeping House, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 19, 61, 65, McCauley, Minnie B, W, F, 12, , Daughter, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 20, 61, 65, McCauley, Earnest, W, M, 10, , Son, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 21, 61, 65, McCauley, Julia K, W, F, 9, , Daughter, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , 1, , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 22, 61, 65, McCauley, Susan G, W, F, 8, , Daughter, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , 1, , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 23, 61, 65, McCauley, Victor, W, M, 5, , Son, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , 1, , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 24, 61, 65, McCauley, Ellen B, W, F, 4, , Daughter, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , 1, , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 25, 61, 65, McCauley, J William, W, M, 1, , Son, 1, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 26, 61, 65, Shirry, Peter, W, M, 71, , Father-in-Law, , 1, , , Clerk in Store, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 27, 61, 65, Shirry, Julia, W, F, 65, , Mother-in-Law, , 1, , , At Home, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 28, 61, 65, Shirry, Jane, W, F, 67, , Aunt, 1, , , , At Home, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 29, 61, 65, Brown, Nina, M, F, (25), , Servant, 1, , , , Servant, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia 30, 61, 65, Brown, Allie, M, F, 4), , , 1, , , , Servant, , , , , , , , , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia3 |
| Census | 1860 | 1860 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, Salem P.O., Series: M653, Roll: 1375, Page: 798, July 17 (enumerated with father, John McCauley) 28, 863, 863, McCauley, William, 23, M, , Bopper?, , , Va, , , ,4 |
| Milit-Beg* | 1861 | Served under Captain A.J. Dyerle, of the 42nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Co E., "The Dixie Grays". Wounded March 23, 1862, at the Battle of Kernston, Virginia and sent home. Attained the rank of Seargent.5 |
| Marriage* | 16 November 1865 | Roanoke Co., VA, Principal=Margaret Jane "Maggie" Shirey1 |
| Census | 1870 | 1870 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, Salem, Series: M593, Roll: 1675, Page: 385B, September 20 37, 30, 32, Shirey, Peter, 61, M, W, , Retired Merchant, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , 1, 38, 30, 32, Shirey, Julia A, 56, F, W, , Keeping House, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 39, 30, 32, Shirey, Julia F C, 19, F, W, , Attending School, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 40, 30, 32, McCauley, William, 33, M, W, , Clerk of Court, 4700, 447, Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 1870 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, Salem, Series: M593, Roll: 1675, Page: 386A, September 20 01, 30, 32, McCauley, Margaret, 27, F, W, , At Home, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 02, 30, 32, McCauley, Minnie, 3, F, W, , At Home, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 03, 30, 32, McCauley, Ernest, 1, M, W, , At Home, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , , 04, 30, 32, Morris, Betty, 15, F, B, , House Girl, , , Virginia, , , , , , , , , ,6 |
| Census | 1900 | 1900 Federal Census, Virginia, Roanoke County, Salem, Ward 3, ED: 77, Series: T623, Roll: 1725, Page: 234B, June 26 Sheet 33B, Main Street 79, 629, 636, McCauley, William, Head, W, M, July 1837, 62, M, 34, , , Virginia, New Hampshire, Virginia, , , , Clerk of US Court, 0, , Yes, Yes, Yes, O, M, H, 80, 629, 636, McCauley, Margaret J, Wife, W, F, Apr 1842, 57, M, 34, 12, 10, Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 81, 629, 636, McCauley, Minnie B, Daughtere, W, F, July 1867, 32, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 82, 629, 636, McCauley, Julia K, Daughter, W, F, Nov 1870, 29, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 83, 629, 636, McCauley, Susan G, Daughter, W, F, Feb 1872, 28, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 84, 629, 636, McCauley, Ellen B, Daughter, W, F, Feb 1876, 24, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 85, 629, 636, McCauley, John Wm, Son, W, M, Oct 1878, 21, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , Theological Student, , 9, Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 86, 629, 636, McCauley, James P, Son, W, M, Nov 1880, 19, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , At School, , 9, Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 87, 629, 636, McCauley, Mary S, Daughter, W, F, May 1882, 18, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , 0, Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 88, 629, 636, McCauley, Margaret J, Daughter, W, F, Dec 1885, 14, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , At School, , 9, Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 89, 629, 636, McCauley, Gladys B, Niece, W, F, Aug 1878, 21, S, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , 0, Yes, Yes, Yes, , , , 90, 629, 636, Shirey, Peter, Father-in-Law, W, M, Aug 1809, 90, Wd, , , , Virginia, Virginia, Virginia, , , , , , , Yes, Yes, Yes, , , ,7 |
| Death* | before 1910 | 8 |
| News/Obit* | 1998 | (A Guide to Historic Salem -- Volume 4, Number 1 -- Spring 1998) Salem Has Its Own Historic Registry Society Picked 38 Structures In 1970s-80s (excerpt) 9. The Elms, 608 E. Main, was the home of William McCauley, author of the massive "History of Roanoke County, Salem and Roanoke City." The house appears to date from the early 1850s. The walls of the original home were of log, covered externally with clapboard and internally with plaster. Nathaniel Burwell sold it in 1852 to John W. and Mary Day. Peter Shirey bought it in 1856 from the Days and a year later sold it to his son-in-law, McCauley, who not long before had married Shirey's daughter Margaret Jane. William and "Maggie" raised ten children in the home while William served as Clerk of the County and Circuit Courts. In that position, he collected and saved historical data, which he compiled into his authoritative history. Dr. J. William McCauley, a son of William and Maggie, and a minister, built an addition to the home's east side, and others additions followed. At least 18 children have been born in this house. One of McCauley's grandchildren, Dorothy McCauley Butler, her husband and family, now live in the old homeplace.5 |
| News/Obit | 2001 | (A Guide to Historical Salem - Volume 7, Number 2 -- Fall 2001) Salem's Civil War Told in Time Line (excerpts) March 23, 1862: Stonewall Jackson opens his Valley Campaign with Battle of Kernstown. The Dixie Grays of Roanoke County see action, and Salem's William McCauley, the future historian, is wounded. He returns home because of the wound. May 4, 1864: Salem citizens hear shooting and see, as Mary McCauley writes, a great smoke rising over the Kattawba [sic] Mountains. Thinking perhaps the Yankees were coming, Salem prepared for war, and women prepare dressings for the wounded. Later they learn that a unit of Confederate General McCausland's cavalry six miles west of Salem was drenched by a heavy rain that forced them to discharge their guns5 |
| Family | Margaret Jane "Maggie" Shirey b. 12 April 1843, d. 27 October 1911 | |
| Marriage* | 16 November 1865 | Roanoke Co., VA, Principal=Margaret Jane "Maggie" Shirey1 |
| Children | 1. | infant McCauley |
| 2. | infant McCauley | |
| 3. | Minnie B. McCauley b. Jul 1867 | |
| 4. | Earnest R. McCauley b. 1869 | |
| 5. | Julia K. McCauley b. Nov 1870 | |
| 6. | Susan G. McCauley b. Feb 1872 | |
| 7. | Victor McCauley b. c 1874 | |
| 8. | Ellen B. "Nellie" McCauley b. Feb 1876 | |
| 9. | John William McCauley b. 9 Oct 1878, d. Aug 1968 | |
| 10. | James Pinkerton McCauley b. Nov 1880 | |
| 11. | Mary S. McCauley b. May 1882 | |
| 12. | Margaret J. McCauley b. 20 Dec 1885, d. Dec 1968 | |
| Last Edited | 29 Jan 2006 |
| Citations |
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