Enoch G[eorge]. McANINCH was born October 19, 1824 in Kentucky, the son of Samuel and Polly (SKIDMORE) McANINCH. He was one of thirteen children, receiving their education in a log schoolhouse with slabs for seating, probably during the 1830's and 1840's, in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Enoch married first on January 1, 1852, Putnam County, Indiana, to Isabella RIDPATH. Isabella was born June 18, 1832, Virginia, the daughter of James and Sabrina (STEVENS) RIDPATH. Isabella died at the age of 27 years on June 2, 1860. Their only child, a daughter born in 1852, also died in 1860. They were interred at the Old Pleasant Hill Methodist Cemetery, Stilesville, Hendricks County, Indiana.

It isn't known if Isabella came to Ringgold County, Iowa, or not. Enoch purchased 120 acres in southeastern Poe Township of Ringgold County in 1856. John DWYRE was hired to break the land with a team of oxen and a log cabin was built on the land.

Two of Enoch's brothers, William and Joseph, and a sister, Arminta, later Mrs. John HARLAN, also came to Ringgold County.

Enoch returned to Indiana, perhaps when Isabella and their daughter died.

After a time, Enoch came back to Ringgold County in a covered wagon and accompanied by a bride, Araunah (KNIGHTEN) McANINICH, who was born in Indinana on July 5, 1841. They married March 21, 1862. The McANINCHS made several trips to Indiana.

Enoch and Araunah's first two children died young; Mary E., born May 1st, 1863 in Indiana, and died August 27, 1866; and, Clara, born February 4, 1865 in Indiana, and died February 6, 1865, Poe Township, Ringgold County, Iowa. Mary and Clara were interred at Shaha Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Lydia A. McANINCH was born April 3, 1867 during one of their trips to Indiana. She died unmarried at the age of 81 years on February 1, 1949, Mount Ayr, Iowa, and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Eva was born November 4, 1872, Ringgold County, Iowa, and died December 20, 1964. Eva married on April 13, 1902, Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Grant SWIGART, born February 7th, 1866, and died July 12, 1953.

Eudora was born April 4, 1870, and died at the age of 17 years on September 5, 1887, interment Shaha Cemetery.

George was born July 26, 1875, and died during a severe epidemic of typhoid fever in Ringgold County on July 22, 1887. He was eleven-years-old at the time of his death.

Otis was born January 12, 1878, and died January 19, 1956, Mount Ayr, Iowa, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Jesse was born January 7, 1881, and died May 5, 1953.

Howard McANINCH, the youngest child of Enoch George and Araunah (KNIGHTEN) McANINCH was born October 24, 1887. He was killed in action during the Argonne [France] drive, World War I, on September 28, 1918.

The McANINCHS replaced their log cabin with a frame house in 1876. Enoch helped build the church at Caledonia, where he and his family attended, going in the wagon for many years.

The McANINCH'S home was struck by a cyclone in the spring of 1908. The storm's damage took the roof off the barn, tore down the buggy shed and damaged the house severely that it was necessary to build a new house.

Enoch died at the age of 86 years on November 18, 1910. Araunah died at the age of 73 years on October 31, 1914. They were interred at Shaha Cemetery.

SOURCES:
HADLEY, Hon. John V., ed. History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Her People, Industries and Institutions B.F. Bowen & Co. Inc. Indianapolis IN. 1914.

BENNETT, Dora SWIGART. From Swan Creek to Loots Creek: The Saga of the German-American WALTER Clan 01 Jun 1981. Ringgold Co. IA
McANINCH, Frank. McANINCH Family History Vol. 2. April 1988.
WPA Graves Survey

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2010