A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for James Darnall Hall
"Todd County, Kentucky, Family Histories", by the Todd County Historical Society, Turner Publishing Co., 1995, p. 199 (obtained from Google Books):
JAMES DARNALL HALL - FAY MCLAIN PETRIE - Henrietta Darnall (1850-1904) and her husband, James Henry Hall (1848-1911), were both Todd County birth. Henrietta's father, Levi Darnall (1796-1873), was born in Montgomery County, MD, served in War of 1812, following which he lived for a time in West Feliciana Parish, LA, before moving, as a bachelor, to Todd County in 1847. There he married Martha Ann McReynolds Layne (1815-1863), 20 years his junior. She was the daughter of Todd County pioneers, John Layne (1777-1856) and Sarah McReynolds (1789-1854). John Layne arrived in the Fairview district of Todd County from Campbell County, VA, in 1821. He soon purchased a farm about a mile east of Fairview on what is now Highway 68. He lived there the remainder of his life, having at least 13 children, among whom was his daughter Martha Ann. John was a descendant of John Layne (c1685-1755) and Elizabeth (?)Ayres (da/f 1755) of Goochland County, VA. The line of descent was Charles Layne (1721-c1821) and his wife Priscilla (c1720-c1824), Jesse Layne (died 1833), and John Layne (1777-1865). John fell on hard times in Virginia and for this reason emigrated to the new county of Todd. In earlier times there were many descendants of John Layne in Todd and Christian County. Following John's death in 1856, his farm, about a mile east of Fairview, passed out of the family and in more recent years has been known as the Gabe Payne place.
John Layne's (1777-1856) wife, Sarah McReynolds, was the daughter of William McReynolds (c1759-1796) and Martha Wilson, natives of Campbell County, VA. William McReynolds was a descendant of John McReynolds (1665-1760) of Keppoch, Scotland, and Elizabeth Shepherd. John emigrated to Ireland where he remained the rest of his life. Elizabeth, his wife, some years before John's death, along with their four children, emigrated to America. John's son, Joseph McReynolds (1715-1805), married Sarah Dixon about 1736 in Ireland and came with his mother to Pennsylvania. They became the parents of William McReynolds (c1759-1796). Other descendants of the original John McReynolds (1665-1760) settled in Trigg County, KY, from where Dr. James Alexander McReynolds and Dr. John Oliver McReynolds emigrated to Elkton and became prominent physicians there for many years. Dr. John McReynolds was the father of Justice James Clark McReynolds, Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
James Henry Hall (1848-1911) and Henrietta Darnall had three children: Annie Hall (Mrs. Charles Buford Fulcher) (1872-1901); William Davis Hall (1874-1950) (wife, Hyde Wood), and James Darnall Hall (1889-1972).
James Darnall Hall, a life long resident of Todd County, was born at the old Tandy Hall Farm, about 2 1/2 miles southeast of Fairview on July 4, 1889. He attended the neighborhood schools and upon the death of his father, he and his brother William Davis bought the homestead. After a short time "Will", as he was commonly known, sold his half to his brother. James Darnall lived there until 1935. On Aprill 11, 1916, James D. married Fay McLain Petrie (1887-1971), daughter of Dr. William Sobieski Petrie, a long time physician in Fairview, and his wife, Susie Lenora McLain. James D. or "Darnall" as he was commonly known, and Fay became the parents of three children: Marjorie Darnall Hall (Mrs. William Archie Cowherd), William Petrie Hall, M.D. (wife - Jane Vivian Jones of Richmond, KY), and Suzanne Hall (Mrs. Robert Garland "Bob" Foster).
Darnall devoted most of his life to the operation of the old Tandy Hall farm, but prior to 1935, there was only a mud road leading to the home. This became intolerable with the more common use of the automobile. In that year Darnall purchased the Arch O'Daniel farm about a mile east of Fairview on Highway 68. He and Fay spent the remainder of their lives there. In later years Darnall devoted some of his time to financing used automobiles, a venture that day in time that banks avoided. Darnall enjoyed hunting as a young man, but with the more intensive use of farm land and the increasing scarcity of quail, he gave this up; however, he loved fishing and enjoyed this outing until near the end of his life. Fay was very family oriented and enjoyed providing all sorts of tasty food for her family.
The old Tandy Hall Farm remains in the family, now owned by daughter Marjorie. The O'Daniel farm became property of Suzanne upon the death of her parents. She continues to live nearby. Unfortunately the family home on Highway 68 burned a few years ago. Submitted by Will Pete Hall
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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