Thomas Pleasant McCune (most often referred to as Plez) is believed to have come to the Roane County area about 1870. Plez was born in Calhoun County, VA about 1854. His parents were Peter and Martha Patty (Parsons) McCune. Peter was the son of Daniel F. McCune, a member of the so-called Hellfire Band.


Plez first married Huldah Graham on 10-21-1870. She the daughter of Isaac and Margaret of Pike County Kentucky. Her maiden name is believed to be Drake. It states that Plez was 18 and she was 39 at the time of their marriage. It is believed but not documented that Graham was the surname of Huldah's first husband and not her maiden name. Huldah had 3 children, Morris, Edward, and Martha Graham. In 1871 Huldah and Plez had a child to die at birth.

Plez later married Elizabeth Rose on 6-29-1885 in Roane County. They were married by the Reverend A.H. Bailey at the home of A.B. Looney. Plez and Elizabeth made their home on what is now called Big Sandy road near Amma. They had 12 children: Cora M. married Jesse A. Samples, Flora, Peter Edward, Preston Nutter (Press), Thomas P., Rebecca V., Fannie, Phebe A., Stella J., Jonathan Joseph (John), William, Prudie. All of the girls and William died at a young age. The cause was believed to have possibly been Tuberculosis. Cora was the only girl to live long enough to marry. Plez died about the year of 1917.

The oldest son of Plez and Elizabeth was my grandfather, Peter Edward McCune. He married Ella Marie Ledsome, daughter of Camden and Lydia (Drake) Ledsome of Roane County, on 1-28-1914 in Roane County,WV at the home of Will Carper. For a time Pete worked for the Clay Lumber Company. They also lived in the Richwood area for a short while. He later returned to Roane County around 1918 and settled on 33 acres of land he purchased from his brother Thomas, on Big Pigeon. He and Ella lived there the rest of their lives where they raised their 10 children.

Pete retired from the United Fuel Gas Company in 1954 where he had 28 years of service. He never owned a car and he often rode his horse to work. Many times he would ride with Roy Nida and Pat Engle when they worked in they same area. During his last 12 to 14 years, he was a well tender and meter reader on Blue Creek and Thoroughfare to West Union.

Pete loved his horses and he always had 3 or 4 of them. At one time he had 9, but his favorite was Old Rube. She was a chestnut sorrel with a blazed face. He traded her to Emory Jett for a yearling heifer. Another of his favorites was Old Deck but he sold her to Lon Carpenter on credit for $40. Old Deck came back home twice after he was sold. Guess he knew where he called home!

Pete also raised cattle, chickens and was well known in the area for raising hogs.

Fieldon King made his home with Pete and Ella for many years and helped on the farm in many ways. I am told that anyone passing through the area in need of help or shelter was never turned away. At the time of Pete and Ella's death, they owned 114 3/4 acres on Big Pigeon. They are buried at the McCune Family Cemetery on Big Sandy Road near Amma. The offspring of Peter and Ella produced several ministers and gospel singers.

Press owned the old home place of Plez and Elizabeth McCune. There he and his wife Della Mae Ledsome raised their 11 children.

Thomas McCune married Bessie McGlothin, daughter of Henry and Cora McGlothin. He built a home on Big Sandy where he raised 2 children. The old house is still standing and is believed to be nearly 100 years old. The land now belongs to Mrs. Kathlyn Smith.

Jonathan married Maggie Opal Honaker who was the daughter of William and Maude (Bullard) Honaker. John first settled on Big Sandy Road near his brother Press. They had 5 children. When his house burned, he moved to Amma on the land he purchased from Snow Cook. The house was located on the hill across the road from the old United Fuel Gas Co. station. There were many steps required up the very steep hill to reach the house from the road. John later built a home across the road at the bottom of the hill on the land he purchased from Roy Nida but in the early 1970's, Interstate 79 right-of-way took their house. He then moved to a section of land in Amma that he bought known as the old Volley Geary place. There he and Maggie lived the rest of there lives. They are buried at the Amma Methodist Cemetery overlooking their last home.

Jeff McCune
2001