OBIT: John King McLANAHAN, 1918, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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J. K. M'LANAHAN, HOLLIDAYSBURG RESIDENT DEAD
Grand Old Man of County Capital, Passed Away Last Evening - One of Most 
Prominent Men in Blair County's Business World

  J. King McLanahan, sr., widely and affectionately known as 
Hollidaysburg's "grand old man," died at his home, 703 Allegheny 
street, at 5.10 o'clock yesterday afternoon, his death being due to a 
general breakdown incident to advanced age.
  Mr. McLanahan was one of the most prominent business men in Central 
Pennsylvania, and in point of business achievements, the foremost 
figure in the history of Hollidaysburg.  Since the age of sixteen years 
he had been closely identified with the iron industry in this part of 
the state.  At that age he began his business career as a clerk in a 
comparatively obscure little furnace in Blair county and because of his 
inherent business ingenuity, integrity of character and untiring 
efforts, he worked his way up until he finally became president of the 
McLanahan-Stone Machine company of Hollidaysburg.

INTERESTED IN EDUCATION

  He was deeply interested in the educational advancement of the 
county.  Being highly educated himself he understood the value of 
educational attainments and did much to further the growth and 
development of the schools.  Through his instrumentality the old 
Hollidaysburg Seminary was rebuilt, remodeled and its development 
nurtured until today, Miss Cowles' school for girls, as it is now 
known, is one of the foremost colleges for girls in Central 
Pennsylvania.
  His lovable qualities endeared him to all who came in contact with 
him and as his name was a household word in nearly every home in the 
county, his friends were legion.

LATCHSTRING ALWAYS OUT

  Mr. McLanahan dispensed his hospitality with old world prodigality, 
his latchstring was always out to his friends, and on two occasions 
every year he kept open house, when it was the custom of the people of 
Hollidaysburg and vicinity to pay their respects to their genial host.  
The anniversary of his birth and every autumn, what he called "Old un's 
annual" were so observed.  On the latter day there was always an 
unlimited supply of sweet cider, gingerbread and apples served as 
refreshments.
  His life was certainly one of rich attainment and of him it can be 
truly said that he did not live in vain.

BORN IN BEDFORD COUNTY

  J. King McLanahan was born in Bedford county March 23, 1828, and was 
a son of James Craig McLanahan and a grandson on the maternal side of 
John King, once a great iron master in Bedford county.  Until he was 16 
years of age Mr. McLanahan spent a large portion of his time at school 
and was well prepared to make a satisfactory clerk when he engaged for 
that office of Dr. Peter Schoenberger, the owner of Sarah Furnace.
  His father and his grandfather were both iron men and the young man 
had a natural aptitude for the business and in order to thoroughly 
qualify himself in all its details, he entered the Baldwin locomotive 
works at Philadelphia as an apprentice.  This was in 1845.  In that 
year he did his first independent work this being the superintending of 
the construction of the engine for use on the Portage Railroad section 
of the Pennsylvania Canal.

ESTABLISHED FOUNDRY

  This led to other undertakings.  In the same year he entered into 
partnership with Michael Kelly, and they established a foundry at 
Hollidaysburg and he in 1851, went to Cincinnati to become 
superintendent of the celebrated Shock Steam Fire Engine works, where 
the first fire steam engine in Ohio was built.
  It was Mr. McLanahan who made the first design for this engine and at 
the time of his death he owned the square, one of the tools that he 
used in his measurements.  In fact, it was his brains that made this 
piece of machinery a success.  The works were then located on the 
corner of Seventh and Sycamore street, Cincinnati.
  In 1855 Mr. McLanahan returned to Hollidaysburg and became a member 
of the firm of Watson, White and company, and in the construction of 
Furnace No. 1, for this concern, made all the plans and estimates and 
also superintended the building and in the fall of 1856 put in the 
blast.
  He continued his membership with that firm until its absorption by 
the Cambria Iron company.  For a short time, Mr. McLanahan was 
interested also in the manufacture of fine pottery at Hollidaysburg, 
but this investment did not prove uniformly successful, as did others, 
and he subsequently discontinued that business.
  In the spring of 1857 Mr. McLanahan admitted William Stone into 
partnership in the foundry business, as a successor to Michael Kelly, 
and this association continued until a few years ago when it was merged 
with the American Lime and Stone company.  Mr. McLanahan was president 
of the McLanahan-Stone Machine company from its beginning.

EMPLOYED MUCH LABOR

  In 1877 Mr. McLanahan became interested in the Rodman Furnace and 
Bloomfield ore banks, and for many years was one of the largest 
employers of labor in that section.  From 1879 until 1882, he was 
manager of the Blair Iron company rolling mills, and from the latter 
year for a protracted period was a member of the firm of McLanahan, 
Smith and company, in a rolling mill business.  He was one of the 
founders and a director of the Juniata Iron company and promoted the 
interests of that concern in the building of mills and factories.
  In February, 1857, Mr. McLanahan was married to Miss Mary Martin, 
whose father, John Martin, was one of the leading men of his day at 
Hollidaysburg.  One of their sons, J. King McLanahan, jr., is vice 
president of the Citizens' National bank, at Hollidaysburg, and another 
son, M. Hawley McLanahan, is a member of the firm of Price and 
McLanahan, Philadelphia.  This firm constructed the Pennsylvania 
railroad station at Pittsburgh and the noted Blenham hotel, Atlantic 
city.  He was a member of the Presbyterian church.  Funeral notice 
later.

Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Saturday Morning, December 14, 1918

FUNERAL NOTICE

  The funeral of the late J. King McLanahan, sr., will be held at the 
late home, on East Allegheny street, tomorrow afternoon, at 2 o'clock, 
in charge of his pastor, the Rev. William H. Orr.  Interment will 
follow in the Presbyterian cemetery.

Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, December 16, 1918

FUNERAL OF THE LATE JOHN KING M'LANAHAN HELD

  Friends and relatives gathered at the late residence of J. King 
McLanahan, Hollidaysburg, to pay their last tribute of respect to all 
that was mortal of the "grand old man" of Hollidaysburg.  Funeral 
services were conducted at the home at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  
Friends and business associates from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, 
Johnstown, Scranton and many other points throughout the state attended 
the services.
  Everywhere that Mr. McLanahan's business interests had called him, 
his affability, courtesy and sterling traits of character made him a 
host of friends and many of these came to honor his memory, while 
numbers of condolatory letters, telegrams, and messages were received 
throughout the day from those who were unable to be present because of 
sickness and the prevalence of the influenza.
  Rev. Wm. H. Orr, pastor of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. 
McLanahan was a communicant, assisted by Rev. Edward Wallace of 
Pittsburgh, were in charge of the services.  Both these gentlemen had a 
most intimate acquaintance, covering a period of some years, with Mr. 
McLanahan, and they spoke in eulogy of his life, personality and fine 
upstanding character.
  The spoke of his life being an example for better living, his 
interest in young people, in their welfare and education, was an 
inspiration to many as they were about to face the stern 
responsibilities of mature life.  A life like his was not lived in vain 
but bore rich fruit for the present time and in years to come.
  The pallbearers who bore Mr. McLanahan to his last resting place in 
the Presbyterian cemetery, Hollidaysburg, were B. H. Taylor, of the 
United States Steel corporation, Pittsburgh; Marshall G. Moore of the 
Midvale Steel company, Johnstown; Andrew T. Stone, jr., of the 
McLanahan-Stone Machine company, Hollidaysburg and William Bice, 
superintendent of the McLanahan Stone company quarries at Canoe Creek, 
who had been in Mr. McLanahan's employ for fifty years.

Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday Morning, December 18, 1918