Margaret Jane McMordie

Born: 15 Sep 1839, Montgomery Co., TN
Died: 4 Aug 1865, Williamson or Bell Co., TX
Married: John Henry Orgain

The younger daughter of Hans and Martha Kenner McMordie, Margaret Jane McMordie, was born on 15 Sep 1839 in Montgomery County, Tennessee (McMordie Family Bible, 1903; Montgomery County Census #733, 1850).  When she was 13 years old, she inherited $250 from Elizabeth Kenner [probably her maternal grandmother] (Logan County Will Book, 1852).  In 1852, $250 was a large sum of money.  On 15 Jun 1854, the year after the family moved to Williamson County, Texas, Margaret petitioned the court, probably so she could have control of her inheritance (Probate Cases in Texas, 1987).

Margaret McMordie married John Henry Orgain, 6 Jan 1859, Williamson County, Texas (Williamson County Marriage Book, 1859).  This marriage produced one son, William A. Orgain, born Mar 1860.  The Williamson County Census of 1860 also showed that John Orgain was born in Tennessee in 1830.  Although the writing on the census was difficult to decipher, it appeared that John was a rock hewer [or hauler].  Margaret J Orgain died 4 Aug 1865, in either Williamson or Bell County, Texas (McMordie Family Bible).

The 1870 Census of Bell County, Texas, recorded William Orgain as a merchant with real estate valued at $6,000 and personal property worth $4,000.  He had remarried a lady whose first name was Kate, and they had two son, Eddie age three and Henry born in July of 1870.  Ten year of William was also a member of the household.  By 1880, and William and Kate had another son, Charles, born in 1872, but Eddie was not listed.  Most probably Eddie died sometime between 1870 and 1880 (Bell County Census, 1880).

Kate Alma Orgain died in 1913, and John H. Orgain died in 1917. Both are buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Temple, Bell Co., Texas (Ramage & Harris, n. d.).

References

Logan County, Kentucky, Will Book H, 1852, pp. 200-202.

McMordie Family Bible, A. McMordie, Calvert, Jan 2nd, 1903.

Probate Cases in Texas, Williamson County #246 The University of Texas, 1941, p.45.

Ramage, Mrs. J. T. & Harris, Mrs. C. (Eds.), Bell County, Texas, Cemeteries, Betty Martin Chapter NSDA n. d., p. _

United States Census 1870, Texas Bell County, #071.

United States Census 1880, Bell Co., ED 2, Sheet 311.

United States Census, 1850, Tennessee, Montgomery County, #744-370.

United States Census, 1860, Texas Williamson County, Texas, #282.

Williamson County Marriage Book #1, 1859, p. 296.