Cabell County, WV Heritage 1809 - 1996
Produced by: KYOWVA Genealogy Society, Huntington, WV
Page 238

James And Mary Legrand McCorkle
     James McCorkle was born April 11, 1854 the son of James M. and Sarah (Aills) McCorkle, in Cabell County near present day Huntington. James M. McCorkle had resided in Lawrence County, Ohio before moving his family to Cabell County; his wife Sarah Aills McCorkle being a native of Lewis County, Kentucky. The younger James' brothers and sisters include George W., Mary J., Lafayette, Sarah A., Louisa, Frederick, Ariana, and Olive. He and his brother Lafayette married the Legrand sisters - Mary and Susan respectively. Mary (August 8, 1851-April 18, 1922), the daughter of James H. and Pernetta Legrand. They were married in Cabell County September 10, 1874. Mary gave her birthplace as East Virginia - from census records we gather it was Pulaski County, Va. To this union were born eight children; Laura (August 6, 1874-May 25, 1911) and Sallie (July 31, 1876-September 12, 1897), both born in Cabell County, WV. They moved to the community of Center, TX, located in West Grayson County, sometime between 1876 and 1879. The children born there were Mollie (August 13, 1879-January 1, 1901), George (December 29, 1880-February 7, 1955), Fanny (1882-1886/1887), Ella (January 10, 1887-January 22, 1901), Susie (February 6, 1890-May 22, 1958) and Buster Virgile (April 10, 1891-February 22, 1951). James worked on a section of railroad in this area for many years. He also farmed cotton, corn, and feed crops. James raised tobacco for his own personal use, with seed brought from West Virginia. When the leaves were ready, they were picked and taken to a half dug-out potato cellar. The tobacco was hung to cure from a log running across the middle of the cellar. Each morning James and Mary would get their little wooden box, fill their clay pipes and smoke before breakfast.
     On one routine trip to Whitesboro to get supplies, James took his son George with him. This outing evolved into a very momentous occasion as the notorious outlaws - Cole Younger, Jesse James and their followers, paid a visit to the town that day. James McCorkle died October 24, 1936. He and Mary and several of their children are buried in Collinsville Cemetery.

Submitted by: Tom McCorkle