JOHN C. McKEAN is a son of Robert McKean, whose father William McKean, was born and reared in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. William McKean received his early education in the country schools of his native land, and was there married to Mary, daughter of William Brown, whose family had been natives of Kirkcudbrightshire for over two hundred years. Mr. and Mrs. McKean passed their lives on the home farm in Scotland, where the following children were born to them and reared: John, a sea captain, was lost in a wreck in 1837; Mary, wife of Alexander Magill; William, a farmer of Mansfield, Penn.,; James, a merchant tailor, of Canada Corners, Mich.; Joseph, living on the old home place in Scotland; Elizabeth, deceased in youth; Andrew, living in Scotland; Robert and Samuel, residing in Fayette county, Penn. The father was a member of the Established Church of Scotland. Robert McKean was born March 7, 1827, on the home place in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, and in boyhood attended the schools of his native parish, also assisted in the duties of the farm. On January 1, 1849, he married Janet Caird, who was born at New Abbey, Scotland, a daughter of James Caird, a merchant and native of the same place, and a member of the Established Church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Caird were as follows: Janet, wife of Robert McKean; John; Barbara, wife of Andrew Irving; Agnes, married to a Mr. Thompson; James; William; Mary, and two whose names are unknown. Mr. and Mrs. McKean resided on a farm near New Abbey for about one year after their marriage, and then sailed for America. After a voyage of thirty days they landed, in July, 1850, in New York; thence proceeded to Newburgh, where they spent a few months, from there going to Philadelphia, and then by rail to Johnstown, thence by canal to Pittsburgh, finally arriving in Allegheny City. In 1851, they moved to a place about six miles out, on the Steubenville pike, on Chartiers creek, where he followed gardening about six years, also working part of the time for 25 cents a day. He then passed one year in Mansfield, Penn., and afterward engaged for six years in farming and gardening and moved upon 220 acres at Lock No. 4 (now Charleroi) Washington Co., Penn., having paid for this land with proceeds of years of arduous labor. Politically he is actively identified with interests of the Republican party, and in religion he and his family are members of the U. P. Church. He gives liberally of his means to all worthy enterprises. His children have been as follows: James, postmaster at Pittsburgh; William, deceased in youth; John C.; William; Andrew; Agnes; Robert, and Mary E, wife of Charles Thompson.
John C. McKean was born October 18,1854, and reared near Mansfield, Penn., and worked on the home place during boyhood. He then followed farming and gardening for some years, afterward purchased a half interest in a packet running from Lock No. 4 to Brownsville. He conducted that business about nine years. On March 4, 1877, he was united in marriage with Lusettie B., daughter of W. P. Spakeman, a resident of Pittsburgh, Penn., and she has borne him the following children: Lillie B., Alice K., Nettie G., Charles S., Mary E. (Deceased), and James S. Mr. McKean superintended the excavation and cementing of the Glass Works plant, his work proving eminently satisfactory. In politics he is a loyal Republican, and in 1891 he was appointed postmaster at Charleroi, receiving his commission in 1892. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He owns about twenty acres of the original plat of Charleroi. Mr. McKean is a very popular and useful citizen, actively interested in all public improvements.
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Text taken from page 634 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Bridgette Osz of Steubenville, OH as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.