Introduction

Kay, Peggy, Pauline (McClanahan) Cooper, Virgil Cooper, Sr., Shirley, and Virgil Cooper, Jr.

This is one family history website out of 4 that I am currently working on. I am working on individual sites for all of my grandparents (Arthur Leo Rauscher, Mary Francis English, Virgil Edward Cooper, and Pauline McClanahan). 

This site will begin by exploring the genealogy of my McClanahan family ancestry starting from my maternal grandmother, Pauline (McClanahan Cooper). 

The fact that all of these people existed is why we are here today. As we go back, we will find other family surnames and explore their lineages as best we can. Primarily, this family tree is made up of the histories of our direct ancestors (great-grandparents). I do not go into any great detail on our great-aunts and uncles, except where they are historically relevant.

Also, I attempt to trace each of our family histories back to that family's immigrant ancestor. I hope to one day go further back in time, but researching in other countries takes much time and resources. 

The Process

I have been working on this project since 2018 and still have much to do. In the text, I have tried to make a distinction between what I believe to be true, what can be proven by documentation, and what is speculation. To create this history, I have used family stories, US census records, states' census records, newspaper articles, obituaries, draft cards, immigration records, death records, birth records, marriage records, military service records, church records, city/town histories, land deeds, and family histories. 

The most valuable of these is the US Census, which began in 1790. From 1790 to 1840, the census only provided the name of the “Head of Household” and described everyone else in that household by sex, age range, and race. Beginning in 1850, the census listed everyone in the household by name, age, sex, relation to head of household, etc. So, it is easy to find out information after 1850, harder between 1790 and 1840, and very difficult before 1790.

To fill in the missing gaps, particularly before 1790, one has to depend on family history books,  county and town histories, and other governmental records such as land deeds, court records, etc.

Please feel free to share this document with anyone that you think would be interested and contact me using one of the resources below if you have additional information or pictures to share. Also, if you are a family member and would not like your name mentioned on this site just message me here.

Ancestry.Com:  If you have an ancestry.com account you can request access to my family tree by contacting me through my username: clintr43476.

Email: clintr434@gmail.com