THOMAS McGAHEY (deceased) numbered among the prominent and progressive farmers of North Strabane township, and was a member of an old and highly respected family. His grandfather, Andrew McGahey, was educated for the ministry, but owing to a difference in the churches to which his parents belonged, one a Covenanter, the other a Seceder, he declined to preach, and engaged in teaching. He taught the first select school of Braddock Fields, and there purchased a farm. He had one son and three daughters, all of whom reached maturity, viz.: Elizabeth (Mrs. William Powell), Mary (Mrs. Culberson), Ann (who was first married to Mr. Wilson, and afterward to Mr. Carruthers) and Hugh. Hugh McGahey was born in the North of Ireland, and was of a Scotch-Presbyterian family. When a child he came with his parents to America, settling in Allegheny county, Penn. Hugh McGahey was a man of refined mind and sterling principle, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married, in Allegheny county, to Miss Margaret Hannah, who was born in that county, a daughter of David Hannah, and their union has been blessed with two sons: Thomas (born February 1, 1812) and David (born October 17, 1813, and died in infancy). Mr. McGahey died some years after his return from the war of 1812, and was buried in the cemetery at Dr. Herren's Church, in Pittsburgh. Several years afterward his widow married Robert McElroy, and by this marriage had four children, viz.: John (born September 5, 1824, and died unmarried), Sarah (born December 13, 1826, and married to John Groove), Maria (born June 7, 1829, and married to Eli Myers) and Robert G. (who was born August 2, 1832, and married Elizabeth Donnell). Tho mother died in April, 1833. David Hannah (father of Mrs. McGahey, who was afterward Mrs. McElroy) was a prosperous farmer, of Scotch ancestry. He settled on a farm near "Braddock Fields," in Allegheny county. Thomas McGahey, subject of sketch, was born near Turtle Creek, Wilkins township, Allegheny county, February 1, 1812, a son of Hugh and Margaret (Hannah) McGahey. Mr. McGahey married Miss Martha Sample, who was born March 27, 1812, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Wallace Sample. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and were buried in Oak Spring cemetery, Canonsburg. Five children were born of their marriage, viz.: Elizabeth Mary (of Canonsburg, unmarried), Hugh (who died in childhood), James (who died in childhood), Margaret Anna (living in Canonsburg, unmarried) and Thomas McGahey. James Sample emigrated from the North of Ireland, and after reaching America settled in Pennsylvania, when yet a young man. In 1804 he was married in Cumberland county, Penn., to Elizabeth Wallace, who was born March 19, 1785, and was nineteen years of age at the time of her marriage. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eliot) Wallace, of Cumberland county, Penn., the former a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sample moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., then called "the backwoods" by people in Cumberland county. He had money, and located on Coal hill (now Mt. Washington), where he engaged in farming. At a later date he came to this county, and lived a few years in Washington, then moved to Allegheny county, and rented a farm where Wilkinsburgh now stands. He died on a farm in Versailles township, near Turtle Creek. Ten children were born of their marriage, viz.: John (who died unmarried), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Mitchell), James (who married Rachel Dougherty), Mary (Mrs. George Mitchell), Martha (Mrs. Thomas McGahey), William (who married Hannah Dunbar), Adam (who died in childhood), Nancy (Mrs. Robert Wiley), Samuel (first married to Margaret Jordan and afterward to Eliza Thompson) and Rosanna (who died in childhood). Thomas McGahey was born January 24, 1854, and was educated in the select schools of Wilkinsburgh. He came with his parents to North Strabane township in 1874, and after his father's death conducted the farm for his mother and sisters. On April 2, 1889, Mr. McGahey married Miss Minnie T. Brown; she was born in Fairview, Todd Co., Ky., daughter of Milton D. and Sarah A. (Daniel) Brown. Her parents were both members of the M. E. Church. Her father was raised on a farm, taught school, was admitted to the bar, and is now city judge in Hopkinsville, Ky. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McGahey came to Canonsburg, Penn., where he owns a handsome residence. They are members of the M. E. Church of Canonsburg, and he is one of the most prosperous men in that borough. In politics he is a Republican. One child has blessed their union, Arthur F., born June 15, 1890.

Text taken from page 680 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Dale E. Enlow of Lake Havasu City, AZ as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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