From his obituary in the Morgan Messenger, January 1914 -

Mr. Henry Clay McBee of Allen district, died at his home on January 7, 1914. Mr. McBee was in his usual health till Saturday, January 2, when he suffered from a stroke which affected his one side and from which he never recovered. Mr. McBee was born October 10, 1832, died January 7, 1914, aged 81 years two months and twenty-seven days. He leaves to mourn their loss a host of neighbors and friends besides two sons and five daughters who reside in this county (Morgan County). One brother and one sister of Martinsburg, WV.

Mr. McBee heard the call of his country in 1861 and served his flag for three years as a private in Co.F4 3rd MD. His Captain George D. Summers. And, when he was honorably discharged came back home to his farm at the foot of Sleepy Creek mountain and there made his home till he heard the roll call again and laid down the tolls of life and went to join his comrades and wife who has passed on before to a better land where they never say good bye. Mr. McBee was laid to rest on January 9 in the cemetery at Spohrs X Roads. Services was conducted by the pastor, Rev. L. B. Wissinger.

I am also a great granddaughter of Sarah Catherine Higgins on my maternal side. My grandmother was Sarah Matilda McBee Norris. My mother who is now 87 remembers her aunts Molly, Ida, etc. It looks as if GStevens8439 and I are searching for some common ancestors.

You are correct. Henry Clay MCBEE and his wife, Sarah K(C)atherine HIGGINS were my maternal great-grandparents. His son, Harry Monroe MCBEE, was my grandfather. Harry's wife, Ella Virginia SIPES MCBEE, was my maternal grandmother. My mother was the fifth child of Harry and Ella's union.

Sarah Matilda MCBEE NORRIS (your maternal great grandmother) was Harry's sister.

I have no information about this family except for the following information -
Sarah Matilda "Tillie" MCBEE NORRIS was born April 9, 1873.
Her husband, Thomas W. NORRIS was born about 1854 in Washington County MD. I have recorded that they were married May 18, 1897 in Morgan County WV.

Siblings to Sarah Matilda MCBEE NORRIS -
Mary Elizabeth "Molly" MCBEE HOYLE WIDMYER
Roseanna V. "Rosie" MCBEE HOUSEHOLDER
(Harry Monroe MCBEE)
(Sarah Matilda "Tillie" MCBEE NORRIS)
Ida Mae MCBEE GOODMAN
Charles Stanley MCBEE

I think Harry is giving me a little shout out. I rode by his last residence today (for the first time in about a year) "asking" for a bit of help and got your email today after I posted 8 years ago. Thanks Grandpap Harry!!

Hi,
Can you or any one else related to the McBee's tell me who Belmont McBee's parents are. He married Rebecca Michael b. 01 Mar 1898 daughter of Charles E. Michael and Lee F. McDonald All in Morgan Co. W.Va.
Thanks, Virginia

I have no records or knowledge of these people. Sorry I can be of no help.

Ginger

Sorry, I'm of no help with this. I did find other McBee names when I did some research in the old courthouse in Morgan County, but determined they were not related to my family so I didn't note any of the information. You might find what you're looking for in those old records. I don't know how far from Morgan County you live, but it might be worth a trip if you're somewhat close.

I am delighted to find your post! I do have a bit of other information about Sarah Catherine Higgins McBee's background, but right now my research is on paper and not online. The papers are all in our home in Rochester, NY and we're currently living in an apartment in Manhattan. I'll be going back to Rochester in mid-September so I'll bring my paper research back to NYC then. I'll try to do a family tree at that time and I'll provide you with my limited Sarah Catherine information.

Sarah Matilda McBee Norris was my maternal grandmother. My mother was the eighth child of the McBee/Norris union and the only one of the siblings still living. I will provide you with the names and birthdates of those siblings when I return from Rochester.

I've waited this long.....a bit longer won't matter. LOL
Patience come to those who wait - At least I sure hope so!!
I look foward to hearing you in the future.

Sorry to cut into this thread but I'm wondering if you know if the Morgan County courthouse has much information for the period between 1750 and 1850. Whatever you know on this topic might either save me a trip there or cause me to get there sooner!

Thanks!
Carol Carter

The Morgan County courthouse burned (electrical fire) earlier this year or late last year, but all the records were saved and will be placed in the new building when it is completed. In my research I found that some records prior to 1863 or 1864 are in Virginia because West Virginia was still part of Virginia prior to the Civil War. It's confusing to know where to search due to the upheaval at that time. I did see an old, old marriage bonds book in one of our visits to Berkeley Springs Courthouse about 20 years ago, but generally the records begin around 1865. Hope this helps a little bit.