OBIT: William McFARLAND, 1886, Blair County, PA

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WILLIAM MCFARLAND.
Full of Years a Well Known Hollidaysburg Citizen Passes Away.

Our Hollidaysburg correspondent sends us the following:

The venerable William McFarland, whose lingering and protracted
illness from paralysis has been several times noted in the TRIBUNE,
died at his residence on the northwest corner of Allegheny and Wayne
streets on Friday night last, the 28th inst., between 9 and 10
o'clock.  This aged citizen quietly and peacefully, without the
slightest apparent pain, passed away.  He slept, his sleep grew deeper
and this was all.  The deceased was not only one of the oldest
citizens of this community, and we know of but three who have lived
here as long, but perhaps the oldest resident in the town or this
section of the county.  He has resided in the same home for more than
a half century.  He has witnessed the infancy, boyhood and young
manhood of several generations as they grew up about him.

Mr. McFarland was born in Lebanon county, Pa., on the 22d day of
December, 1800.  When a boy, in 1814, be passed over the town site of
Hollidaysburg and determined then to some day settle here or in this
neighborhood.  At Jonestown, in Lebanon county, be learned the trade
of a cabinetmaker, and continued at this occupation during the whole
of his business life.  He came to Frankstown in 1821 and at once began
to work at his trade.  In a few years he became established in the
business there, and for several years carried on in Frankstown a
successful trade as a cabinetmaker and undertaker.

During the construction of the Pennsylvania canal, and when it was
determined not to locate the basin at Frankstown, the place designed
by nature for its location, but to make the termini of the canal and
railroad at Hollidaysburg, Mr. McFarland in 1831 removed to the then
young and booming town and went into business.  He was married to Miss
Lena Forbes, on the 17th day of November, 1825, with whom he lived
happily for over fifty years.  She died on April 22, 1876.  Their
union was blessed with six children, one of whom, the first, died in
infancy, and one, Michael G., died in early manhood.  The others, well
known in this community, survive him.  These are: William F., Robert
B., Christian A., and Mrs. Virginia Over.

In the early days of Hollidaysburg, Mr. McFarland, was a prominent and
leading citizen and took an active interest in all public matters, and
especially such measures as were calculated to advance the interests
and welfare of the town.  When the question of constructing a railroad
from Lewisburg to this place via Tyrone, he gave the project earnest
support and served on an important committee.  He was active in the
formation of the new county and did much to further the project.  In
public demonstrations and matters in which the community was
interested young William McFarland was always selected to perform a
responsible part.  He was at one time a prominent politician and was a
fervent and zealous Jacksonian democrat and during the administration
of Martin Van Buren was appointed to the position of postmaster.  The
postoffice occupied the frame building adjoining his residence on the
west and was recently removed to give place to the drug store
building.

He was always a strong, healthy man, one whom nature had endowed with
a perfect physique.  He had numerous friends and was for many years,
perhaps, the best known man in this community.  He may truthfully be
styled a "landmark," for during the last half century, when old
citizens had gone west, or made settlement elsewhere, and would
occasionally return to the old home on a visit, one of the first to be
greeted would be the familiar and friendly face of William McFarland.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, June 3, 1886, page 2