ROBERT HORACE McCLAY is a prominent member of his family, who have so many years been residents of Canton township. His grandfather, Samuel McClay, emigrated from Ireland when a small boy, and locating in Chester county, Penn., was, when a young man, married to Sarah McClellan, who was also of Irish birth. Some years after their marriage they settled on the farm in Canton township, Washington county, which has since been the home of their children. He died in 1838, and Mrs. McClay in 1842. John McClay, son of Samuel and Sarah McClay, was born in 1809 upon the home farm in Canton township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his early youth upon the farm, receiving a very limited education in the primitive schools of the period. On April 26, 1838, he married Jane, daughter of James Smith, and after her death married on September 15, 1841, Jane, daughter of Robert Welch, who bore him four children: Sarah (Mrs. W. C. Morrison), William, John H. and Robert H. In 1857 Mr. McClay was again married, this time to Sarah Taggart, and after her death was united to Margaret Brownlee, daughter of James Brownlee, one of the earliest settlers of Washington county. Mr. McClay is an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, with which he united in 1853, having formerly been connected with the Seceder Church. Politically he was first a Whig, later a Republican, and is now a leader in the Prohibition party. He is a prosperous man, one who favors all progressive movements. Robert Horace McClay, son of John and Jane (Welch) McClay, was born January 12, 1850, on the old farm in Canton township, this county, and passed his youth at home, where he received a very limited education in the usual sense of the term, but daily acquired valuable training in the lessons of economy, which trait has become a characteristic of the family, and has greatly enhanced their success in life. On January 11, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel A., daughter of William Wright, of Buffalo township, this county, and they settled on a farm in Canton township, where they resided nine years, and erected a handsome residence, making many improvements; but in 1885 they removed to their present admirably situated home, a large, commodious dwelling, having all conveniences. The children born to this union are: Annie A., John W. and Maggie M. Mr. McClay has ever been a close observer, and in political opinion has always been a Republican. With his family he is an active member of the United Presbyterian Church at North Buffalo.

Text taken from page 652 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Carroll of So. Chicago Heights, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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