In Search of a Great Grandfather

This is a brief family story about my great grandfather, William H. (or N.) Callaway who was born about 1840. We don't know when or where he died. Our information about him is vague and incomplete. We hope that someone in The Callaway Family Association will recognize him and help us fill in the blanks of his life.

William H. (or N.) Callaway was born in the state of Virginia about 1840. He was a confederate soldier who somehow came to live in New Jersey, in the area around Basking Ridge, Millington and North Plainfield. In New Jersey he married Elizabeth (Ginny) Totten around 1868/9. However, he had another family down south, possibly in Virginia. He and Ginny had six children:
1. Ella Calaway (1870-?); md (1) Reed; (2) Kitchel; (3) Staats
2. Leonard Callaway (1873-1920); md Mary E. Hart
3. William H. Calaway (1876-1916)
4. Albert Callaway (dates unknown)
5. James Callaway (1881-1945); md Melissa A. Seamans
6. Stephen Callaway (1883-1932)

After Ginny Totten Callaway died, great grandfather William H. (or N.) Callaway returned to the South, around the turn of the century. We presume he died there. Exactly when and where he died is unknown to us, but he probably returned to the area where he was born or where his first family was living.

Sometime during the 1920's or 1930's, a son of the first marriage came to New Jersey in search of his half-sisters and brothers. He met with my grandfather, Stephen Callaway (1883-1832). All other facts about our half relatives are lost in history. We hope that by publishing this story, someone will recognize our great grandfather, William H. (or N.) Callaway.



This article was written by Joseph A. Sellner, of New Jersey and orginally published in the 1997 CFA Journal.

William H. Callaway is listed on the 1880 and 1900 Somerset Co., NJ census. Then he disappears.

Could William H. Callaway be the son of Walter C. Callaway, of Franklin Co., VA? I believe Walter C. Callaway is descended from Joseph Callaway through James Callaway and Elizabeth Greer.

Who was William H. Callaway? - Where was his second family?

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