McGraw Family holds 71st annual reunion in Pineville

PINEVILLE, WV (WVNS) — The McGraw family of Wyoming County can count themselves among the few families who have continually held family reunions every year for decades.

Tracing their family line back to one man, the McGraw family has dozens of members among them.

These people are proud of their family history and celebrate it every year by holding a reunion to reconnect with members who have moved away or who they just have not seen in a while.

Scott McGraw helped organize this year’s reunion and said the history of these gatherings goes back decades.

“The McGraw family reunion, we’re in our 71st year this year. It began in 1953. And the way the McGraw reunion began is the McGraw family had come together and built a church over in McGraws, which is a town near here and as a celebration of the opening of that church, they had their first meeting there at the church and they had a “picnic on the grass” is what they called it. And the very next year, they decided, “This was great! We’re gonna have a McGraw reunion!” So, that’s where the McGraw reunion started.” explained McGraw.

The family history dates much further back than 1953.  This branch of the McGraws dates back to John McGraw who was born all the way back in 1824.

They are also incredibly widespread, with David McGraw winning “Furthest Visiting McGraw” by making the trip from Costa Rica.

David McGraw said it was important to him to attend this year.

“It means a lot of history… Family…and you know, and strong family ties.” David McGraw said.

The McGraws can trace their history back further still to a William McCraw who was born in 1690 and died before the Revolutionary War.

Scott McGraw said his so-many-times great grandfather changed the last name to McGraw around 1870 and they still have not figured out why.

McGraw said he knows there are more of his kin out there just from John McGraw.

“His obituary stated that he had over 200 living descendants at the time he passed away. He had fifth generation great children alive at that time. He had eleven children to survived to adulthood. So, there’s got to be thousands and thousands and thousands roaming around the United States today just because of John.” said McGraw.

He encourages anyone who has a McGraw in their family tree to do some digging and if they find a common ancestor, to come on down to next year’s reunion in Pineville.

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