William Junkin (1744-1825)

B1 William Junkin was born on the family homestead in East Pennsboro Twp. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1744, and died 25 April, 1825, at Junkin Mills, Wayne Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. With his seven brothers and sisters, he grew up on the frontier of the state. Most of his education was received from his parents, who were always eager that their children be well-acquainted with books.

On 6 August, 1766, William took out a warrant for 150 acres of land in what became Wayne Twp., Mifflin Co then Armagh Township of Cumberland County. Mifflin County was formed in 1789 from parts of Cumberland and Northumberland Counties. The 1790 federal census lists among the early settlers William, James and David Junkin; Edward, James, George, Isabella and William Bratton; and Samuel Holliday. On an earlier Cumberland County tax roll, Andrew, John and Lancelot Junkin are also listed as are George, James, John, Joseph, Samuel and William Galloway. The Brattons, Hollidays and Galloway all appear repeatedly in Junkin history.

Shortly after taking up the 150 acres of land, William was married to Jane Galloway, of whom an account follows. Eight children. Aided by the Scotch thrift of his wife, William evidently prospered for in 1790 he was assessed for 229 acres of land, three horses, three cows and one mill. A later assessment shows him to be the owner of 300 acres of land, four tenant houses, two apple orchards and three mills. A grist mill was at first built, and later a chopping mill and a saw mill. In addition to operating his farm and mills, William also served as overseer of the poor.

During the Revolutionary War William served as a private in Capt. Samuel Holliday's Eighth Battalion of Cumberland County militia from 1780-82. In 1781 he was on a tour of duty in Penn's valley. William Junkin's home was also designated because of its construction and location as a refuge where inhabitants of the area forted from Indian attacks, It was immediately after his discharge from the army that he built his first mill.

The Junkin mills stood across the river from Waynesburg, now McVeytown. It is interesting to note that Samuel Holliday was the first resident of Waynesburg, which was laid out in 1795. He had been living in the vicinity for sometime before that date. In 1833 the name was changed to McVeytown, so named for John McVey, a prominent citizen who had been instrumental in getting the boundaries of the town extended. It is also said that William's friends, Samuel Holliday and Andrew Bratton, encouraged him to come with them to this section of the country. During his later years, William was assisted at the mills by his oldest son James. William died at the age of 81 years and is buried in Wayne Twp.

Jane Galloway, who married William Junkin in 1769, was born 8 January 1745, and died at Junkin Mills in 1786. She was the daughter of George Galloway and Rebecca Junkin, said to be a sister of Joseph I.

Her father the youngest of seven sons born to Samuel Galloway and Elizabeth Graham, was born in Scotland ca. 1710. There is no record of Samuel Galloway coming to this country, but Elizabeth and her sons arrived about the same time as the Junkins. The mother met a tragic death. In 1755 near Chambersburg in Cumberland County according to Sipe's "Indian Wars in Pennsylvania" p 22, Elizabeth, her daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Galloway, and two children were killed by Indians.

After roaming about for a few years, George Galloway settled in the area that became Mifflin County A school was built on his farm in Wayne Twp., as was a Presbyterian church. His holdings included a spot known as Galloway's Ford. There is no record of George Galloway's death.

Jane's sister Martha married Lancelot Junkin, who was probably a cousin of William. Lancelot and Martha eventually lived in Xenia, Ohio, and some of their descendants, along with grandchildren of William and Jane, eventually settled in Warren County, Illinois. Jane Galloway's five brothers, William, John, Samuel, James and Joseph, were all Revolutionary War Soldiers. Their records can be found in the Pennsylvania Archives 5th Series, Vol.6. Further information on the Galloway ancestors is available in Ruth DeVerter's book, "Our Pioneer Ancestors" Vol.II.

C1 James Junkin, born 9 October 1772; died 17 February 1823.

C2 Ann Junkin, born 23 Sept 1774; died 28 February 1809. Married David Alexander Steele, died 24 June 1821.

C3 Rebecca Junkin, born 8 May 1776; died 1836. Married 1792 Archibald Moore, born 13 May 1768; died 1819 of Locust Grove, Pa.

C4 Jane Junkin, born 30 Dec 1777; died 1843. Married 1794 John McCoy, born 1775 Northumberland County, Pa, died 1825; son of Sgt. Wm. McCoy, a Revolutionary soldier, and Rachel ______ McCoy.

C5 Catherine "Kitty" Junkin, born 21 Apr 1780; died 10 July 1851. Buried Presbyterian cemetery, McVeytown, Pa; married 15 Dec 1814 by Rev. John Hutchinson of Mifflintown Presbyterian Church David Lusk, born 11 Aug 1788; Lycoming County, Pa; d 14 Dec 1831) He was one of the executors of his father-in-law's (Wm. Junkin) will.

C6 Margaret Junkin, born 3 July 1782. Married Robert Johnson.

C7 William Junkin, born 28 Sept 1784 NFI.

C8 Andrew Junkin, born 15 Sept 1786; died Lewistown, Pa. Was a merchant and miller at McVeytown. Married Margaret Willis.

1. Everts, History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, 1936 Vol.I, PP 579-80 and 600-602
   
2. Stroup and Bell, The People of Mifflin County,Pa.,1973.
3. Junkin, Laura Gayle. The Descendants of Joseph Junkin I and Elizabeth Wallace, September 1976.
4. Robinson, Richard D. and Elisabeth C. Repassing at My Side...A Story of the Junkins. 1975, Southern Printing County, Blacksburg, Virginia.