JOHN McCLAY, one of the oldest living representatives of his family in America, was born in 1809, in Hopewell township, Washington Co., Penn., a son of Samuel McClay, who was born in Ireland, and who, at the tender age of ten years, resolved to seek his fortune in the New World. Embarking on a sailing vessel, Samuel commenced his voyage to America and after a stormy passage of many weeks landed at New York; thence proceeded to Pennsylvania, where he worked out his passage, as was the custom of the time. (The transportation companies would bind out their passengers until their wages had paid the expenses of the passage across the ocean.) When the youth had paid the debt in the manner we have described, he commenced life for himself, and settling in Chester county, in the Keystone State, began business upon the economical principles which have become the peculiar characteristics of his descendants. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Sarah McClellan, a resident of Chester county, whose family had at an early day come from Ireland to the shores of America. Mr. and Mrs. McClay remained in Chester county until they had accumulated a little wealth, and then removed to Washington county, where they purchased a small tract of land (110 acres), which they at once engaged in clearing and improving. Their children managed this part of the work, as the health of the father began to fail, and he had to occupy himself in the less arduous business of teaming and stock trading. The children of this pioneer family were Margaret (Mrs. Robert Dinsmore), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Morrow), John, David, Robert, William and Sarah Jane. They were all members of the Covenanter Church, and so thoroughly were they imbued with the principles of their faith, that the impress of their zeal is still plainly seen in their descendants, who are nearly all ardent and conscientious workers in the church of their forefathers. Politically Mr. McClay was an enthusiastic Whig, and was very active in the interests of his party. After a useful life he passed from earth in the year 1838, followed by his wife in 1842. He left his family a comfortable inheritance. The influence of such men never dies, although they may spend but few years among us.
John McClay, the subject of this memoir, spent his earlier years in active work upon the home farm, receiving but a limited education, at the rate schools of the vicinity, the only text- books used being the "United States Speller," the "Western Calculator" and the Bible. The school-house was a log building, and the huge fireplace which extended across one end of the room was filled with logs which the older pupils cut from the forest trees. The clothing of the family was entirely home-made the flax being first spun into linen, and then the fabric was dyed and made into garments. On April 26, 1838, Mr. McClay was married to Jane, daughter of James Smith. She died, and September 15, 1841, our subject married Jane, daughter of Robert Welch. By this union there were born the following children: Sarah (Mrs. D. W. Morrison), who died August 6, 1892; William W., John H. and Robert H. In 1857 Mr. McClay married Sarah Taggart, who lived but fifteen months, and December 15, 1869, he married Margaret, daughter of James Brownlee, who was one of the earliest settlers of Washington county. She had no children.
Mr. McClay has been one of the most successful husbandmen in his township, securing by hard work and economy a comfortable competence, and is now, toward the close of a long and useful life, enjoying the fruits of his early toil. Mr. McClay had long been a member of the Covenanter Church, and remained with them until 1858, when he united with the U. P. Church, in which he has ever since been an active and zealous worker. Politically he was originally a Whig, later a Republican, and is now in the ranks of the Prohibition party. He has always favored progressiveness, and has done all in his power to advance the interests of his township.
Text taken from page 920 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]