1825: BIRTH of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GUTHRIE
Benjamin was born in Monongalia County, Virginia to Edmund & Elizabeth (Sapp) Guthrie, their third son.

1830 CENSUS of WESTERN DISTRICT, MONONGALIA, VIRGINIA
The Edmund Guthrie Household: 1M of 30 under 40 (Born 1790-1800), 1F of 20 under 30, 2M of 5 under 10, 2M & 1F under 5 

1833: BIRTH of KATHERINE SAPHIRA WALLS
Many documents spell her name as Catherine. Her tombstone spells it with a K. I found one family file that lists her parents as John Walls & Susannah Gribble, but could not find any info on them. Ancestry lists the following WALLS FAMILIES in the 1840 Monongalia Census. It is likely that Katherine was living in the county in the '40s. She was born in Virginia in 1833.

BEFORE 1836: DEATH of FATHER, EDMUND GUTHRIE SR
Benjamin's father Edmund Guthrie Sr died while trying to ford the Monongalia River, reported as sometime between 1834-1836.

1836: WIDOWED MOTHER, ELIZABETH SAPP GUTHRIE, REMARRIES
On 10 April 1836, Benjamin's mother remarried to Caleb Trippett.

1840 CENSUS of WEST MONONGALIA, MONONGALIA, VIRGINIA
The Caleb Trippett Household:  1M 50-60, 1F 30-40, 2M&1F 15-20, 2M 10-15, 1M&1F 5-10, 2M&1F<5. 
At age 15, Benjamin was living with his mother & siblings in the home of his stepfather, Caleb Trippett.

1849: MARRIAGE to KATHERINE SAPHIRA WALLS
Benjamin & Katherine married in Monongalia County, Virginia on 25 Nov 1849.

1850 CENSUS of DISTRICT 37, MONONGALIA, VIRGINIA
The Guthrie Household: Benjamin 22 VA Farmer; Catherine 18 VA. 

1851: BIRTH of SON & DAUGHTER: JOHN EDMUND GUTHRIE & EMILY ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
John Edmund was born about 1851 Monongalia County, Virginia; a census-based estimate. As the eldest son, he was no doubt named for his two grandfathers, Edmund Guthrie and John Walls. He was enumerated in his parents' household in 1860 & 1870. By 1880, he had married Sarah C. (LNU). They had 2 sons and 2 daughters by 1880. No further information. No current participant from John's line in the DNA Project.

Elizabeth's birthdate is based on the age given in her death report. She died in June 1854 at the age of 3. 

1852: BIRTH of SON: JEFFERSON DAVIS GUTHRIE
Their second son must've died young. He is not listed with the family in the 1860 census. He was obviously named for Jefferson Davis who was from Christian Co., KY

1854: DEATH of DAUGHTER: ELIZABETH EMILY GUTHRIE
Death Report: Guthrie, Elizabeth - 6/1854 - age 3 - Birthplace: Monongalia County - Parents: Benjamin & Catherine Guthrie - Person Making Death Report: Jacob Minney, neighbor.
This was the only Guthrie death report I found where the person making the report was not a parent. Jacob Minney was Katherine's uncle, the husband of her father's sister, Mary Walls. Jacob was also a minister. The combination of his occupation and his relationship with the family would explain why he was the one reporting the death. {Source: SBJ}

1854: BIRTH of DAUGHTER: SUSAN A. GUTHRIE
Susan was born about 1854 in Monongalia, Virginia. She married Reason (Rezin) M. Lytton on 5 Oct 1873. They had 2 sons and 3 daughters. The family lived primarily in Clinton, Monongalia, Virginia. Susan and her husband were both living at the time of the 1930 census. No further information.

1856: BIRTH of DAUGHTER SARAH BELLE GUTHRIE
Sarah was born on 10 April 1856 in Monongalia, Virginia. She was enumerated with the family in 1860 & 1870. She married William E. Sapp about 1872. They lived in Clinton and Winfield, Monongalia County, VA and in Springhill, Fayette County, PA. They had 9 sons and 5 daughters. Sarah died at Lake Lynn, Fayette, PA on 24 Jan 1939.

1857: BIRTH of DAUGHTER ELLEN JANE GUTHRIE
Ellen was born on 31 July 1857 in Monongalia, Virginia. She was in the 1860, and 1870 census with her parents. Sometime after that she married Benjamin F. Stevens. I haven't located them in the 1880 census. In 1900 they were living in Winfield, Marion, West Virgina, USA. They had at least 4 sons and 6 daughters as of that census. Ellen died on 26 Jan 1936.

1860 CENSUS of DISTRICT 5, MONONGALIA, VIRGINIA
The Guthrie Household: Benjn 33, Katherine 28, John E 9, Susan 6, Sarah B 5, Elen J 1, Mary E 2/12 
This census information was taken on 6 July 1860, which means that Mary E was born in May 1860.

1861: BIRTH of DAUGHTER, MARY ELIZA 'LYDA' GUTHRIE
The birthdate for Lyda is given as 28 March 1861. Census records vary between an estimated DOB of 1860 - 1863. The 1900 census lists her DOB as March. All of this would seem to suggest that Benjamin & Katherine had another daughter named Mary E. If that is the case, it would also suggest why this Mary Eliza might choose to use Lyda as her nickname.

Like all of the other young adult Guthries in the family, Lyda was working in 1880. She was located in Paw Paw, Marion, West Virginia working as a Domestic Servant in the Hood household. Lyda married Frank Hood, one of the sons of the household. They had 1 son and 1 daughter together before Frank's death. Lyda remarried in 1888 to Rufus Jefferson Lytton. They had 4 sons and 2 daughters. Rufus died sometime between 1900-1910. Lyda died 8 March 1956 in Fairmont, Marion, West Virginia.

1863: WEST VIRGINIA GRANTED STATEHOOD
Monongalia was one of 50 Virginia counties to become part of West Virginia

1863: BIRTH of SON, STERLING PRICE GUTHRIE
Probably named for Sterling Price, a lawyer, planter & politician from Missouri. Called 'Price', this son was born on 4 March 1963. He was enumerated with the family in 1870. Like the rest of the younger, unmarried children of the household, Price was already living away from home in 1880. At the age of 17 he was working on the Evans family farm and living with William Evans & his family. Price married Sarah Jane Tallman on 1 Sep 1887. Their first child was named William E. Guthrie. I wonder if the E stands for Evans. 3 sons and 2 daughters. The family moved to Roaring Creek, Randolph, West Virginia. Sarah died in 1939 and Price on 19 April 1939. There is currently no participant from Price's line in the DNA Project.

1864: US IRS TAX ASSESSMENT LISTS, 1862-1918
Benjamin Guthrie: District 1; Monthly and Special Lists; Jan-Oct 1864 

1864: BIRTH of SON: ROBERT E. LEE GUTHRIE
This family had a penchant for naming its sons after prominent men. Lee was born during the Civil War, and General Robert E. Lee was one of its most important figures, perhaps especially for a family with ties in Virginia. Called 'Lee', this son was enumerated with the family in 1870, but at the age of 15 was already living away from home in 1880 and working on a farm in Clinton, Monongalia, Virginia. He married twice. First to Emma (LNU) who died prior to 1910. They had 2 sons. He second married Ivy Summers. They were the parents of 3 sons and 3 daughters. Lee died on 19 May 1926 in Monongalia County, West Virginia. We currently have no participant from Lee's line in the DNA Project.

1865: BIRTH of SON: GEORGE MORGAN GUTHRIE
George was born in January of 1865. He was enumerated with the family in 1870. Like his other young siblings in the 1880 census, he was already away from home and doing farm work. He was, however, living with relatives at the time. George was living at the home of Rezin Lytton & his wife Susan, his brother-in-law & sister, in Clinton, Monongalia, West Virginia. George married Maude Nancy Loudon in the late 1880s or in 1890. They had 8 sons and 4 daughters. Maude died in 1948. George died in 1955 in Cheat Haven, Pennsylvania.  There is currently 1 representative in the DNA Project for George's line: Daryl W Guthrie.

1969: BIRTH of SON: JOSEPH FRANCIS GUTHRIE
Joseph was born in 1869. He was enumerated with his parents in 1870. He was only about 3 when his mother died. I have not found Joseph in the 1880 census. He married twice. First to Adda Rowe. They had 1 son, Thomas. Adda died prior to 1900 when Thomas was enumerated as a widower in the home of his In Laws, Alpheus & Sarah Rowe. The only Joseph F. Guthrie I find of the appropriate age in 1910 is a prisoner at the Washington County Jain in Washington, Pennsylvania listed as 42, born in WV. By 1920, he had remarried to Annie Reese. We have no participant in the DNA project from Joseph's line.

1870 CENSUS of WINFIELD, MARION, WEST VIRGINIA
The Guthrie Household: Benjamin 43, Catharine 40, John E. 19, Susan 16, Sarah B. 13, Ellen J 11, Mary E 10, Sterling P. 8, Robert Lee 5, George M 3, Joseph F 1

1871: BIRTH of THOMAS JACKSON GUTHRIE
Thomas was born about 1871 in Marion, West Virginia. His mother died within a year of his birth. I cannot find his father listed on the 1880 census, nor his brother Joseph Francis Guthrie. The only Thomas J. Guthrie I find of the appropriate age is listed as a son in the home of Daniel & Elizabeth Guthrie of Winfield, Marion, WV. Thomas was certainly young enough to be adopted outright after the death of his mother, but we don't really know if that was the case. Does anyone know? Thomas married Stella Rowe, another daughter of Alpheus and Sarah Rowe, on 23 Dec 1893. They were enumerated in Coal Center, Washington, PA in 1900 where Thomas was working as a coal miner. Alpheus was living with them at the time and also working as a coal miner. They had 1 known daughter, Thelma. Thomas died sometime between 1900-1910.  

1872: DEATH of WIFE, KATHERINE SAPHIRA WALLS GUTHRIE
"Katherine Guthrie wife of Benj. Guthrie." Buried in Prickett Fort Cemetery, Fairmont, Marion, WV

1875: MARRIAGE of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GUTHRIE to ELIZABETH MALOTT LYTTON
Site contributer Suzanne B. Jones {SJB} shares that Benjamin married a second time to the widowed Elizabeth Malott Lytton. In 1873 Benjamin & Katherine's daughter Susan had married Elizabeth & Edward's son Reason M. Lytton, so the families were already closely associated. Another of Elizabeth's sons, Rufus, would later marry Benjamin's daughter Lyda in 1888.

Elizabeth was the daughter of Reason Malott & Margery Fast. She was born April 1831 in Virginia. Elizabeth married Edward Lytton when she was about 19 and he 25. They were the parents of 4 children. Elizabeth was 43 at the time of her 2nd marriage to Benjamin F. Guthrie. There were no children from that 2nd marriage. Their marriage is recorded on the attached register.

1880: CENSUS of WINFIELD, MARION, WEST VIRGINIA

Knowing that Benjamin remarried to Elizabeth Lytton places a new spin on a confusing census year. There is no Head of Household by the name Benjamin Guthrie of any spelling variant located in WV. Instead, we find most of Benjamin's children living with relatives or working outside the home. Mary Eliza 'Lyda' is living in the home of Alpheus & Mary C. Hood. Sterling Price is working on the Evans farm at age 17. Robert E Lee is in Clinton working on the Jacobs farm. George Morgan is living in the home of his sister Susan & her husband Rezin Lytton. I can't locate Joseph Francis. The only 9-year old Thomas J. I find in Marion is listed as the son of Daniel & Elizabeth Guthrie along with another boy, Jefferson L. 15.

Was the use of the name 'Daniel' simply an error by the census taker? Did Benjamin have a reason to use an alias? We'll never know. This family group appears to be Benjamin Guthrie, his 2nd wife Elizabeth, her son Jefferson Lyton with a Guthrie surname, and his youngest son Thomas J. Guthrie {Source: SJB} 

1900 CENSUS of WESTON, LEWIS, WEST VIRGINIA
Since there is no 1890 census, we basically have a 20 year gap since we last had a trace of Benjamin F. Guthrie. There is only 1 entry in West Virginia for a man of that name and approximate age. A Benjamin Guthrie, listed as 72, born ~1828, is listed in the West Virginia Hospital For Insane (in Ward 1 of Weston Town), Lewis, West Virginia. The age is off by three years. He is also listed as married. Wife Elizabeth (below) is listed as a widow and still living in Winfield.

1900 CENSUS of WINFIELD, MARION, WEST VIRGINIA
GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: Elizabeth Guthrie, 69, widowed, born April 1831, 4 children, 4 living, WV PA WV. 

1907: DEATH of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GUTHRIE
Benjamin died in West Virginia in 1907. He is buried at Pricketts Fort Cemetery in Fairmont, Marion, West Virginia.

Left to Right Standing: Lee  and Price; Left to Right Seated: Joseph, Benjamin, and Gerorge.

Benjamin died in 1907. His youngest son, Thomas Jackson Guthrie, was alive in 1900, but deceased by 1910. Likely this was taken after Thomas' death, so between 1900-1907.

 Left to Right Standing: Price, Lee, George, Joe; Left to Right Seated: Jane, Sarah Belle, Susan, Lyde. 

This picture was taken prior to 1836.