Rev. John Moore McGinty

John Moore McGinty was born 10 November 1823, in Hancock Co., GA. He was the son of Robert McGinty, Jr. and Penelope "Nelly" Moore. He died 13 June 1888, in Navasota, Grimes Co., TX.

John grew up in Hancock Co., GA, and shows in the county tax list from 1846-1853, where he was taxed on 171 acres of land.  He married Mary Loretta Brown in Hancock Co., GA. He was a member of the Island Creek Baptist Church in Hancock Co., and lettered out of this church with his wife, 17 September 1853. His brother, William Augustus McGinty had already moved to TX a year earlier and John joined him there. He shows in the 1860 census of Grimes Co., TX, pg. 244/245. He settled in Stoneham. He shows in the 1870 census of Grimes Co., TX.

Shortly after settling in Stoneham, he founded the Harmony Baptist Church, and was pastor there until his death. There is a historical marker (#8588) on the church site showing his name. The marker reads as follows: "Soon after John Moore McGinty (1823-1888) and his wife Mary Loretta Brown settled in Stoneham in 1853, they organized the Grimes Prairie Baptist Church. About 1859 the congregation moved to a schoolhouse in this area and changed the name to "Harmony". This property was acquired from Blake and Peggy Brantley, and the first church house erected in 1870. Upon the death of McGinty, his wife and son deeded the cemetery land which had been in use for years. About 1924 this building was completed. Services were held here until the 1930s."

It is said that Jesse Grimes is buried in this cemetery.

Submitted by Gerald K. McGinty, Sr., March 2, 2005