Andrew McMonigal
Amongst the earliest settlers in Wayne County was Andrew McMonigal, who visited this section with his father, in 1807, following the Indian trail from the Ohio river, prospecting for land. He, however, after a short stay, returned to Pennsylvania, where, in Carlisle, on April 21, 1814, he married Miss Sarah Glendenning.
In May, the following year, 1815, Mr. and Mrs. McMonigal emigrated to Wayne County, coming in a four-horse wagon, via Pittsburg, and settled two miles west of Wooster, on what is now known as the Lawrence farm, which land McMonigal entered from the Government.
They lived there, farming, for three years, then moved into the Wooster settlement, and kept a "general store," Mrs. McMonigal waiting on customers jointly with her hus- band. Their business place was where John Taylor's brick grocery store building now stands, on West Liberty Street, and their residence was on South Buckeye Street, opposite Farnham's present livery stable, and was the only house at that time erected on the street.
In 1821 they quit merchandising and again resumed farming, removing two miles south-west of town, where he had entered a tract of land. On this place, called the "Old Homestead," which they wrested from the wilderness and wild prairie, and which property still remains in the family, they lived and reared their children until 1839, in which year they moved back to Wooster, where Mr. McMonigal died May 9, 1846, aged fifty-five years, leaving a large estate. His remains were interred in the Seceder church-yard, on Buckeye Street, but were afterwards removed to Wooster Cemetery. Mrs. McMonigal is still living, and in possession of excellent health for one of her years.
Andrew McMonigal was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1791. His father was born in County Derry, Ireland; his mother American born; her maiden name, Nancy Mahattan. Mrs. McMonigal was born near the town of Fintona, in County Tyrone, Ireland, November 11, 1793, and emigrated to America in 1801.
Their children were nine -- Nancy, who married John Black; James, married to Sarah E. Hall; Jane, married to John P. Jeffries; Sarah, married first to John R. Wilson, and second to John Copland; Martha, married to Henry G. Saunders; Mary, married to William C. Rice; Eliza, married to Elias Cosper; William, married to Kate Carr; and Andrew, married to Mary Hess. Of these, Nancy died in 1835; Mary, 1843; Sarah's first husband, 1853; James, 1865; Martha, 1868; Andrew's wife, 1872. The rest are still living.
Andrew McMonigal was an active business man, and ever recognized as of the strictest integrity. He was one of the founders of the Seceder Church in Wooster, of which he was an exemplary member for many years and until his death.
From History of Wayne County, Ohio, From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, by Robert Douglass, 1878