Matthew Alexander Dolan and Martha Ann Darnell were married October 21, 1871 in Ronceverte, West Virginia.
Matthew left West Virginia when he was 33 years of age with his wife and children to make a new life after the Civil War. His brother, Floyd Houston Dolan also came along.
Matthew was born on November 27, 1846 in Ronceverte, W.Va, the second of twenty children! He was just a young man when the civil war broke out. After the war, Matthew returned to Ronceverte, Virginia (Virginia always remained split even after the Civil War, a part calling itself West Virginia and being another state, when forced to be a part of the union after the south lost the war. Making persons born in some parts of Virginia buried in West Virginia appearing as if they moved, but were still in the same area!)
Here near Lewisburg, W.Va., five miles from Ronceverte, Matthew and Martha had three daughters, Ozella, Nellie and Anna. It seems about 1877 several young couples from the area decided to come west. Matthew and Martha and their three daughters along with her brother, Robert Darnell and wife, Mollie, came along. They took a train over the Ohio River, then a boat down the Ohio River to the Mississippi and up to St. Louis. There they got a ride on a wagon train going to Texas. This way they could see the country as they came along. When they got to Lebanon, the country looked so much like West Virginia they decided to settle here. Matthew and Martha bought 80 acres on the north side of the road. Robert and Mollie bought 80 acres just across on the south side about five miles east of Lebanon. The house was a log cabin with an upstairs and shed kitchen. Here six more children were born. After 14 years in this country, Matthew took consumption and died August 10, 1893 at the age of 47, leaving Martha and nine children. Martha had many hardships seeing four of her children pass away over the next few years. But she was of strong character and good judgement.
I remember well, the hog-butchering, going to the mills at Dry Knob or Orla, canning and drying fruit and vegetables and that kettle of homemade lye soap!
Martha ruled the family with an iron hand and everybody worked. Five o'clock was getting up time. My father, John Alexander Dolan, said if he got home from a dance at 4am, he got up at 5am just the same.
Neither Mathhew nor Martha ever returned to West Virginia. I know from family records that Matthew's mother died early in life and his father lived until 1904, eleven years longer than Matthew. Martha's father died before the family came to Missouri, but her mother came with them.
All of their children attended Knob School, a one-room schoolhouse about 1/4 mile north of the old one and is now on Highway 32. Matthew's children were born and raised in the old farmstead in Lebanon. (The above story was written by Freeman Dolan, now deceased.)
All of John Alexander Dolan and Maggie Ann Saunders Dolan's children were also born in this same log house!
American Civil War Records indicate Matthew Dolan enlisted date was March 2nd 1864. He served on the Union side from the state of Pennsylvania.
Matthew died on August 10th of consumption at the age of 46 years 8 months and 16 days. In 1883, he became a member of the Presbyterian Chruch and lived an exemplary life. He leaves a large family. He died after a long and painful illness. Interment in Antioch Cemetery on Friday August 11th.
Laclede County, Missouri Wills, 1866-1913, H05, Shelf B, Book 103-105, Dolan, Matthew A. Heirs--Martha A. Dolan, spouse. Administrator, Martha A. Dolan. Witness, Windsor, C.E. and Alan, J.F. Dated April 18, 1893...July 31, 1893.