James McLean McFate

James McLean McFate (1804 - 1865), son of William McFate and Mariah McLean, was born 19 April 1804 at Mercer, Mercer County, Pennsylvania; he died at the age of 61 in 1865 at Saint George, Washington County, Utah Territory. He married three times, was widowed twice, and his third wife outlived him.

Marriages and Children

1. Elizabeth Williams (1801 - 28 December 1843 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois), married Pennsylvania
   1. Mariah Louise McFate (born circa 1817)
   2. Rowena Elizabeth McFate (1830 - 1902)
   3. James McFate (1835)
2. Lucy Thompson Lisk (died 17 march 1847 Winter Quarters, (present Omaha, Douglas County), Nebraska, married 1844
3. Matilda Bracken (1824 - 1855), married 7 October 1847
   1. Lucy McFate (born 1848)
   2. Nancy McFate (born 1849)
   3. Martha McFate (born 18 October 1851 Spanish Fork, Utah Territory)
   4. Lucinda McFate (born 1853)
   5. Matilda McFate (born 1853)

Biographical Sketch

James grew up in Pennsylvania where he married Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Thomas and Mariah Williams. James owned a farm and ferry across the Shenango River, and owned much property. James was an early convert to the Mormon Church.

By 1840 James and his family had joined the Saints in Nauvoo and lived near the prophet. Elizabeth died 28 December 1843 in Nauvoo.

James remarried in 1844, four months after Elizabeth died. His new wife was Lucy Thompson Lisk. She died 17 March 1847.

James moved his family into a more comfortable home. Levi Bracken was a neighbor, and his daughter Matilda was a frequent visitor. She was 20 years younger than James, but a "romance sprung up between them", to quote Roy McFate. They were married 7 October 1847, seven months after Lucy's death.

By 1851 they had settled in Spanish Fork, Utah. Their daughter Martha was born there 18 October 1851.