Andrew McEver, The Patriarch of our line, was born in what is now Scotland about 1716. It is evident that he came to this country in the early 1700's since a Warrant for 200 acres of land was recorded for him in Pennsylvania in 1737. On file in the Orphans Court of Old Cumberland County (Fermanagh Township) Pennsylvania, was found an Estate Record stating that Andrew's only son was John McEver. So far as we know now, Andrew lived out his life and died in Pennsylvania about 1764. Besides his own son and three daughters, there is some belief that he had a stepson named John Pickett. Andrew's other children were Margaret, Mary, and Isabell.

The following information about John McEver was adapted from information received from Earl Strebeck and Truman McEver. Most came from a journal of John McEver Forbes, which he wrote in 1887 at the age of 87. It later (1934) appeared in the Anniston Times, Anniston, Alabama. John Forbes was the son of Arthur and Catherine McEver Forbes. Catherine was the daughter of John McEver.

John was born December 1739. He lived in Pennsylvania during the Colonial days, and there, about 1764, he married Margaret Collins, an Irish girl, daughter of John and Catherine Collins of the same state. During the American Revolution, John served under General George Washington. In Pennsylvania, he owned a farm, which was well improved with all the necessary out buildings to sustain itself. His dwelling was built of limestone over a large limestone spring, having a basement that contained a kitchen and dining room.

Being a trusting soul, John stood account for a man in the amount of 500 pounds sterling and unfortunately, was left to pay the debt, To cover the amount, he was forced to sell his farm. After selling his property and paying the debt, John and his family moved south and settled in Georgia. John and Margaret had. a large family. Andrew was born 1768, John, Jr. in 1771, Brice in 1774, James in 1776, Robert Collins McEver in 1777, Samuel in 1778, William in 1780, Mary Margaret in 1783, Isaac and Thomas M. between 1783 and 1789, Catherine in 1789, and Joseph in 1790. The family was in Jackson County Georgia in 1787. In Georgia, John McEver bought a tract of land in Jackson County on the Mulberry Fork- of the Oconee River, adjoining the then Cherokee Nation, ten miles from Hog Mountain. He began farming again and paid for the land. with tobacco. He also built a good frame house with corner posts twelve inches square. About 1807 or 1808, John road horseback top the Louisiana Territory where he purchased 2 shares of the Mississippi Land Company (Louisiana Purchase, 1803). He paid 2,000 pounds for 15,000 acres (two or three leagues) of land He placed a man in charge of his purchase until he could return to Georgia, dispose of his property, and move his family to the Louisiana Territory.

On his way home, he put up for a night with a man living on the Tennessee River in the Cherokee Nation. That night his mare was stolen. Being subject to rheumatism, he couldn't walk, so he wrote to one of his sons telling him to meet him 30 or 40 miles up the Tennessee River at a designated point with a horse. Also, in his letter to his son, John gave instructions that if he were not at this meeting place agreed upon, then the son was to come down the river to the man's house where he had lodged and from where his horse was stolen. He further wrote that he had bought land for a home for every grandchild that he might have.

After writing his letter to his son, John bought a canoe and started up the river to meet his son. When John's son reached the meeting place agreed upon, he could not fine his father. He went further down the river until he reached the man's house where John had stayed and from whom John has purchased the canoe. There, he inquired about his father. The man told him his father had left in the canoe loaded with his saddle bags and other possessions. Three days later the same canoe came floating back down the river smeared with blood and empty! It was thought that all was lost, John, his papers identifying his land purchase and the man's name that he had left in charge of his purchase. With a sad heart, the son started home. After riding about 20 miles, he thought he heard a horse neigh. He explored and behold a short distance from the road was his father's mare, tied to a tree. He untied the horse and she followed his home, but John's body and his precious papers were never found. Margaret Collins McEver, John's widow, continued to live in Jackson County Georgia, and I assume. she died there and is buried there.

Robert Collins McEver married Celia (Seley) A. Wadsworth, a welsh girl, in Jackson County Georgia. By 1814, they had Robert Collins, Jr., John, Lacey and Sarah. They moved by lumber wagon, drawn by 4 horses to declare County Illinois, and were in Clinton County by the fall of 1816, where he filed on two parcels of Land. Robert Collins McEver and Thomas Wadsworth were prominent in organizing the County government and public school system for Clinton County Illinois. R. C. McEver was an associate Justice of Illinois. He was well to do.

Andrew McEver was born March 12, 1816, Brice in 1819, Arnold, Holleywell and Celia between 1819 and 1835. William Hampton, the last child, was born January 25, 1835. Andrew married Delphia ( Nicey) Petre or Petray, daughter of William and Susanah (Kershea) Petre, on October 21 1835, with their parent's consent. Thomas Wadsworth officiated the ceremony. Delphia was born 1817, in North Carolina, Andrew and Delphia left Illinois with Robert and Seley, and younger brothers and one sister in 1835 for Arkansas. They settled in south Madison County now Franklin County near what is known as Ozark.

Robert died in 1838 and Seley in 1839. Brice married Mary Ann Petray, daughter of Jacob Petray at Russellville Pope County Arkansas, October 11, 1838, Andrew and family, Brice and family, Arnold and Holleywell were on the census for Franklin County in 1840. They moved to Pope County in 1840 and settled west of Russellville. Brice with one quarter section, Andrew with one quarter section just top the north of Brice and by 1856, William Hampton on 80 acres just south of Brice.

Andrew and Delphia had thirteen children plus the little brother William Hampton. Eleven of these thirteen raised families of their own. Sarah was born in 1838, married Jasper Chafin on August 14, 1861 and died in 1913. John R. was born in 184 1, married Eliza Jane and died in 1913. Mary was born in 1843 and married Madison Epps. Celia Ann was born in 1845, married Jonah Teeter in 1866 and died in 1889. Singleton was born in 1847 and married Celia A. Loupe on October 22, 1867. Martha A was born in 1850 and married Frank Hammock on February 5, 1872. Brice N. was born July 27, 1852, married Martha (Sis) Hamilton (sister of Nancy Hamilton) and died June 18, 1897. Jacob Aaron was born in 1854, married Martha J. Lynn on April 4, 1873 and died October 6, 1936. Albert Monroe was born July 19, 1873, married Nancy Hamilton on March 8, 1877 by Justice of the Peace G. E. Burney in Russellville, Arkansas. Albert died August 12, 1926 and Nancy died October 6, 1936. Paulina Adeline was born January 1, 1857, married David R. Bell in June 25, 1952. Laura was born in 1860, married W. P. Benefield and died in 1913.

Andrew changed the spelling of McEver to McKever and William Hampton later changed it to McKeever. Andrew and Delphia lived their remaining years at Russellville, Arkansas in a large, hewed log house with two chimneys. Delphia died in 1861 and is buried at Delphia Cemetery in Russellville. Andrew then married Catherine Graham on June 21, 1862. No children were born to this union. He died July 6, 1883 and in buried in Oakland Cemetery in Russellville. His obituary reads: "A man very highly respected in his community."

Albert and Nancy McKeever had eight children: Emma McKeever (February 4, 1881-January 17, 1904), Martha "McKeever" Cranford, Mary "McKeever" Reed, Idell "McKeever" Riley, Lucy "McKeever" Cupps, Edna "McKeever" Whitworth, Allen McKeever, and Edd McKeever.

Albert and Nancy left Arkansas with his Uncle William (Billy) and Aunt Sophia McKeever and moved to Palmer, Texas, in 1899. They, along with Uncle Billy and Aunt Sophia, are buried in Palmer Cemetery near many McKeever relatives.