W. J. McNARY is the representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of Washington county, whose descendants are very numerous, and are numbered among the most energetic and prominent citizens of the county. James McNary, the earliest ancestor of whom we have a record, was a native of the Highlands of Scotland, born about the year 1711. It is supposed that he went to Ireland, and before 1760 emigrated thence to America with his family, consisting of a wife, four sons and one daughter. During 1760 he bought a tract of land in York county, Penn. He died at the home of his son, David, in Hanover township, Washington county, same State, in 1796. John McNary, great-grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Scotland. He married Esther Boyle, a native of Ireland, who bore him children as follows: Elizabeth, wife of William Douglass; Mary, wife of James McCoy; James; Margaret, wife of James Martin; Malcom; Esther, wife of Thomas Irving; Agnes, wife of William Pollock; John; Thomas; Alexander; Margaret; Jane, married to James Marshall; and Janet, wife of Robert McKibben. The parents of this family came, with such children as had been born to them, to York county, Penn., some time prior to the Revolutionary war, and in 1801 the father visited North Strabane township, this county, where he purchased the farm now in the possession of his grandson, James S. After returning to his home in York county, he died in 1802 and the family subsequently removed to the farm he had purchased. Of these children, James McNary was the grandfather of W. J. He married and reared a family of children, of whom Joseph McNary was one.
Joseph McNary was born in 1802, in Cross Creek township, this county, and received a meager education in the country schools of the period. He learned and followed the carpentry trade. He was married to Jane, daughter of William Rea, of Cross Creek township, this county, and the children born to this union were Margaret (deceased), Esther I. (unmarried, living in Burgettstown, Penn.), Jane R. (first married to James McNary, now the wife of Samuel Cowen, of Elizabethtown, Ky.), Rhoda (Mrs. Robert Witherow, of Murdocksville, Penn.), Nancy A. (deceased wife of Eli Marquis), Sarah A. (deceased), Mary E. (Mrs. J. W. Bailey), Harriet A. (wife of John Witherow, of Beaver county, Penn. ), Julia (strangled with a grain of corn), Joseph R. (a farmer of Smith township), W. J. (whose name opens these lines) and an infant daughter (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. McNary lived in Cross Creek township one year after their marriage, then located one mile west of Burgettstown, Smith township, where the remainder of his life was passed. Beginning life with no capital, he managed his affairs so successfully that at the time of his death his personal property was valued at over $20,000. He and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Burgettstown, in which he served as an elder a long time. In politics he was always a Democrat, and had been chosen to fill many township offices. He died in 1874.
W. J. McNary was born December 1, 1850, on the farm adjoining his present home in Smith township, this county, where his early life was passed. On December 25, 1879, he was married to Maggie E. Proudfit, who was born August 15, 1855, daughter of R. F. and Sarah E. (Porter) Proudfit, of Smith township, and two daughters have been born to their union: Sarah J. and Esther R., both yet living at home. Mr. and Mrs. McNary began wedded life half a mile west of Burgettstown, this county, on a part of the old home place, where he has since resided and made many improvements. He is a very energetic and "hustling" young farmer, always ready to assist any worthy enterprise. Politically he is an active worker in the Democratic party, and has held various township offices with satisfaction to his constituents. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown.
Text taken from page 848 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]