THOMAS M. BARCLAY, a prominent citizen of Carroll township, is a son of James Barclay, who was an old resident of Washington county. The latter died when his youngest son was but six years of age; he had a family of eight children, three of whom are yet living, namely: John, a resident of Forward township, Allegheny county; William, living near Coal Bluff, and Thomas M. Thomas M. Barclay was born October 13, 1830, on the home place in Union township, Washington Co., Penn., and was trained to hard work from earliest boyhood, as his father left no property for the family. At the age of thirteen years he began to work on a farm for a Mr. Gaston, with whom he remained six years, then learned the trades of carpenter and builder, which he has since continued to follow in Washington county. In 1855 he was united in marriage with Margaret J., daughter of John McVey, a native of Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn. The young couple resided on the McVey farm for five years after their marriage, then moved to Shireoaks, this county, where they lived twenty years, during which time he was weighmaster for a coal company. In 1882 he erected and took possession of the handsome residence which they now occupy; he is employed as master mechanic by Blythe & Co. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Monongahela. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barclay, namely: Edward, married to Lizzie Bradshaw, living on the home place; .Joseph; Minnie, deceased; Emma, Mrs. Powell; and one deceased in infancy.

Text taken from page 1114 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 pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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