Frank McGUGIN is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, born near Hickory, July 24, 1843, the fourth in a family of six children of Daniel and Elizabeth (CAMPBELL) McGUGIN. In March, 1846, the parents settled in Knox County, Ohio, where they are still living, on the old homestead. Frank McGUGIN passed his youth on the farm in Knox County, Ohio, receving his education in the common schools of his neighborhood.

At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted [as a Private on August 14, 1861] in Company A, Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and spent the first two years of his term of service in Virginia. In 1863 he was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, Ninth Army Corps, and in October of the same year to the Army of the Mississippi, in the Second Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, in which he served till the close of the war. He took part in twenty-eight engagements, including the battles of second Bull Run, Antietam, siege of Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain. He was captured by the enemy at the battle in front of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and was imprisoned at Andersonville, and after being incarecerated two months and two days in that Southern prison pen he made his escape. He had to walk some 300 miles before reaching the Union lines, taking him nine days and nights, and during this time his principal food was raw potatoes, having but one meal, which was given him by an old colored man. On reaching the Union lines he was almost naked, and scarcely able to stand, and he was granted a furlough of thirty days. He rejoined his regiment at Savannah, Georgia, when he was made First Lieutenant, and later promoted to Captain of his company, which position he held till mustered out, August 4, 1865 [at Little Rock, Arkansas].

He returned to Knox County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Melissa CRITCHFIELD, and to them have been born two sons and one daughter - Daniel E., Clifford N., and Stella M.

After his marriage Mr. McGUGIN settled on a farm in Knox County, where, in connection with his farming pursuits, he carried on a flour-mill for several years. In the fall of 1872 he came with his family to Ringgold County, Iowa, and settled on his present farm on section 12, Tingley Township, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits, his farm containing 160 acres of well-improved and highly-cultivated land.

Mr. and Mrs. McGUGIN are members of the Christian church, of which he is at present serving as deacon and trustee.

NOTE: Frank McGUGIN died at the age of 82 years at the home of his son Dan on October 19, 1925, Nashville, Tennessee. Melissa A. (CRITCHFIELD) McGUGIN was born June 5, 1835, Knox County, Ohio, and died on December 25, 1915. Frank and Melissa were interred at Tingley Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Daniel Earle "Dan" McGUGIN, son of Malissa A. (CRITCHFIELD) and Frank McGUGIN, was born in Tingley, Ringgold County, Iowa, on July 29, 1879, and died on January, 1936, with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee. Dan was a Hall of Fame Football coach of Vandervilt University.

Daniel McGUGIN, a native of Ireland and born circa 1740, came to America in 1770, settling in Mount Pleasant Township of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he died on June 10, 1787. Daniel's son David McGUGIN (1775-1861) married Jane VINCENT (1785-1865) and they were the parents of Daniel L. McGUGIN who was born April 3, 1809, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of 93 years on February 4, 1902 in Howard Township of Knox County, Ohio, of "ailments incident to old age". Daniel L. McGUGIN (1809-1902) married Elizabeth CAMPBELL (1808-?), the daughter of Jesse CAMPBELL (1779-1858) and Sibella (McCLURE) CAMPBELL (1777-1840). Daniel and Elizabeth (CAMPBELL) McGUGIN's son was Franklin "Frank" McGUGIN (1843-1925), the husband of Melissa CRITCHFIELD (1835-1915).

Among the first settlers and prominent families were the CRITCHFIELDS. They are very numerous in this township especially an in other portions of Knox County. Nathaniel, Isaac, John, Joseph and William, five brothers, emigrated from Maryland to this township about 1807 or 1808. Several of these brothers had been soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and had been inured to dangers and hardships while engaged in that struggle. . . .The Pioneer CRITCHFIELDS were athletic, industrious farmers and public-spirtied citizens, and for many years after ther first settlement of Howard township held a large share of the local offices.

Nathaniel CRITCHFIELD [1760, VA - 1843, OH] was married to Miss Christina WELKER [1762, VA - 1840, OH] at an early age. They raised a family of thirteen children. He held several township offices, and was an active Democratic politican. [Nathaniel and Christina were interred at Branstool-Critchfield-Shrimplin Cemetery, Howard Township of Knox County, Ohio.] Isaac CRITCHFIELD, son of Nathaniel and Christina (WELKER) CRITCHFIELD, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on December 26, 1794, and died on March 15, 1862, in Knox County, Ohio. Isaac was married at the age of nineteen on June 30, 1814, Knox County, Ohio, to Sarah BARCUS, born 1796 in Maryland. Sarah died January 7, 1873, and Isaac died on March 15, 1862, and they both were interred at Pleasant Valley View Cemetery in Monroe Township of Knox County, Ohio. Isaac and Sarah's eldest child, Nelson CRITCHFIELD, was born in 1816, Knox County, Ohio. He married at the age of twenty-one years on March 25, 1837, Knox County, Ohio, to Nancy CASSIL (or CASTLE), who was born in 1817. Nelson and Nancy were the parents of six children, their fourth child bein Melissa A. CRITCHFIELD, the wife of Franklin "Frank" McGUGIN.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 356, 1887.

HILL, N. N. Jr., compiler. History of Knox County: It's Past and Present Chapter 52, Howard Township. p. 476. A. A. Graham & Co. Mt. Vernon, Ohio. 1881.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z