BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 544-545.


DR. JAMES McCUM McCONAHEY came to Bridgport, Ohio, about 1840, and
was the first resident practitioner of Bridgeport. He came to
Bridgeport immediately after having graduated from the old Miami
medical college of physicians and surgeons. His marriage to
Catherine Steele Kirkwood, took place in May, 1845. The result of
this marriage was five sons and one daughter; two of the sons,
George G. and Robert Kirkwood, and the daughter, Mary M., survive.
Mrs. McConahey was a daughter of Joseph Kirkwood, who was one of
the pioneer characters of Kirkwood. His father was Col. Robert Kirk-
wood, commander of the Delaware troops in the Revolutionary war. He
was killed in action, at the battle in which St. Clair was defeated.
While Dr. McConahey resided in Bridgeport he did more for the ad-
vancement of the town, than almost any other man, and was repeatedly
requested to accept some of the offices of prominence, local and
state, but he preferred to follow his profession. His public spirit
led him to assist in any legitimate enterprise for the good of the
community, but his modesty kept him from accepting any other reward
for his labors than the esteem and good-will of his neighbors. Dr.
McConahey was also very active in religious matters, and was one
of the first to suggest the building of the Presbyterian church,
and he magnanimously mortgaged his own personal effects to secure
money with which to aid in the erection of this edifice. His
property was seized by the sheriff, to satisfy this mortgage, and
he only recovered it by paying a large portion of the church debt.
He was a sufferer from white swelling, from his boyhood, and while
his own pain was great, he never was heard to complain, and was
ever ready to alleviate the suf- ferings of others, to his own
physical detriment. He was one of the founders of the Belmont
County Medical society, and was the co- editor of its journal
for several years. His fame as a physician was not confined to
the town in which he lived, his services being sought by the
sick, allover the county and in the city of Wheeling. His death
occurred June 9, 1870, aged sixty-one, and was a great calamity
to the neighborhood. He left a host of friends and acquaintances,
his funeral being one of the largest ever held in Bridgeport. His
wife died May 30, 1887. George G. McConahey, a native of Kirkwood,
Ohio, born January 6, 1848, was educated in the public schools and
in the Linsley institute, of Wheeling, and was graduated from
Washington and Jefferson college in 1869. After studying law for
one year, circumstances beyond his control compelled him to abandon
this project and he has since been engaged in teaching. At present,
Mr. McConahey is teaching in sub-district No. 12, of Pease township,
Belmont county. Ohio, near Martin's Ferry, this being his third year.
Margaret E. Payne, daughter of Mahlon and Jane Payne, became his wife
in 1882. Mrs. McConahey was born November 16, 1859. The result of
this union is two daughters: Felicia, born August 9, 1886, and Lucia,
now deceased, born July 12, 1883. Mr. McConahey is undoubtedly a
successful teacher, his record is unstained by any dishonorable or
mean act, either in private or public life.