Parents of James Alonzo McGrath

picture is of Martha Oliver; Grandma Jackson





James Alonzo McGrath was born to Allen James McGraw and Martha Ann Oliver. They were married on 17 May 1848 in Macon, Bibb, Georgia. The marriage certificate is on file in the Bibb County courthouse.

Birth and death dates are not know/proven for Allen James McGrath. His parents are James and Millie Kale McGraw. Arminda Alice Hendricks, third wife of James Alonzo said that Allen died in the Civil War. There is a record of a Lt. A. McGrath who died 23 September 1864 and was buried in the Old City Cemetery, Macon, Bibb, Georgia. My husband and I visited the cemetery during the 1990s and it was in a sad state. The grass was so overgrown that it was difficult to see much of anything. Few stones remained. We didn't find the grave.

Martha was born September 1830 in Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia to Joseph and Eleander White Oliver. She married a second time to a Benjamin "Doc" Jackson. After that she moved with James Alonzo and first wife, Nancy out west after they joined the Mormon church. [Her baptismal date is listed as 21 May 1876 in Heflin, Cleborne, Alabama.]She died there in Franklin, Greenlee, Arizona on October 20, 1907.

Allen and Martha's marriage had its ups and downs. Two years into their marriage the 1850 Bibb County census shows him living back at home with his mother, Millie and sister, Charity. James Alonzo was born in 1854 and his little sister was born about 1856 so they were on and off again. Allen was a professional gambler who would be gone for extended periods of time as well. He carried a little deringer in his boot.

Research is ongoing...