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BERKELEY COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
November 26, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 322-323
ABRAHAM RUSH McQUILKIN was one of the prominent
residents of Berkeley County during the last century. He
was a merchant, successful and vigorous in the prosecution
of his affairs, and exemplified the highest standards of
personal character in his contact with his fellow citizens.
He was born on a farm near Bedington in Berkeley
County in 1817. His father, Thomas McQuilkin, was prob-
ably born in Pennsylvania, and spent his active life on a
farm near Bedington and finally lived with a son in Jeffer-
son County until his death. He married Sally Rush, and
they reared three children: Abraham R.; William T.; and
Mary, who married Thomas Van Metre.
Abraham Rush McQuilkin commenced his life of useful-
ness as clerk in a store at Shepherdstown, learned a business
there, and a few years later set up in the mercantile
business on his own account at Scrabble in Berkeley County,
carrying a stock of general merchandise. This business was
continued with uninterrupted success until the outbreak of
the war between the states. He was a strong Union man,
and during the war he removed his family to Hagerstown,
Maryland. After the restoration of peace he returned to
Scrabble, and finally came to Martinsburg to give his
daughter the advantages of the schools there. In Martins-
burg he lived retired until his death at the age of eighty-
five. He and his wife were active members of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church.
He married Ellen G. Rush, who was born in Jefferson
County, and was very young when her father died. Her
mother married a Jefferson County farmer named Marshall,
and with them she remained until her own marriage. Mrs.
McQuilkin died at the age of seventy-three. They reared
two daughters, Sally and Eliza. Sally married G. S. De-
Grange, of Frederick, Maryland, and is now deceased. Her
children were named Abraham R., Don G., Henry Clay,
Heloise, Garrett and Nater. Heloise is now Mrs. Edward
Oldham and lives at Worcester, Massachusetts. Henry Clay
married Mrs. Stock, of Winchester, and is an orchardist.
Miss Eliza McQuilkin remained with her parents and gave
them her utmost care and solicitude during their declining
years, and she still occupies the old home in Martinsburg.
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