BIO: Frank McFARLANE, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ FRANK MCFARLANE. Among the best citizens of the country, there are few that are the peers of the representatives of the Scotch-Irish race, who have taken so active and prominent a part in the development and upbuilding of the New World. Their sturdy physical strength and inborn frugality, thrift and industry, are still characteristically developed in their representatives in America. The subject of this sketch, who is a well-known farmer of Harris township, is a magnificent specimen of this hardy race. He occupies an elegant brick residence one-half mile east of Boalsburg, surrounded by a beautiful lawn, and is on the site of the old Springfield mill, near the head waters of Spring creek. Our subject traces his ancestry back to James McFarlane, who made his home in Huntingdon county, near Lewistown, Penn., and on March 14, 1782, wedded Mary Smith. Their family numbered ten children, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who was born May 16, 1783, and married John Thompson; Rosanna, born February 23, 1786; Janet, who was born July 15, 1788, and became the maternal grandmother of our subject; James, who was born November 3, 1790, and became the paternal grandfather of our subject; Mary, born April 15, 1793; William, born January 30, 1796; Margaret, born July 17, 1798; Robert, born December 9, 1800; Andrew, born February 20, 1803; and Nancy, born May 14, 1805. James McFarlane, Jr., when a young man became a resident of Harris township, Centre county, his home being near Branch, where he owned and cleared a tract of land. On March 30, 1824, he was united in marriage with Miss Lilly Henry, whose death occurred May 21, 1828. He survived her many years, dying near Lemont, Centre county, October 8, 1869. Two children were born to them: William, the father of our subject; and Robert, who was born November 6, 1826. The latter held a colonel's commission in the Civil war, was engaged in the hardware business in Bellefonte, but died in his store in Bellefonte May 18, 1891. The birth of William McFarlane, father of our subject, occurred at Branch, Harris township, January 8, 1825, and in the common schools of that place and Shingletown he secured his early education, which was supplemented with a course in the academies at Boalsburg and McAlisterville, Penn. On leaving school at the age of twenty, he returned to his father's farm, which he operated for several years. He was married May 30, 1849, to Miss Margaret Kyle, who died February 21, 1869. Four children blessed their union: James, born May 3, 1852, died August 20, 1853; Joseph K., born January 30, 1854, is a farmer of Buffalo Run Valley, Centre county; Frank is next in order of birth; and Janet, born October 23, 1861, is living with our subject. For a year after his marriage, the father continued to reside at Branch, and then for five years made his home at Buffalo Run, Centre county, while for fourteen years subsequently he lived at Puddingtown, near Lemont, College township. In 1872 he purchased 195 acres near Boalsburg, on which he made many excellent improvements, and there died August 12, 1893, honored and respected by all who knew him. At Buffalo Run, Centre county, Frank McFarlane was born June 14, 1857, and in the common schools of Centre Furnace began his literary education. After taking a preparatory course in Boalsburg Academy, he entered the agricultural department of State College, but at the end of two years was obliged to give up study on account of his eyesight, which had been 510 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. affected by an attack of typhoid fever. He then became overseer of the estate near Boalsburg, which position he is still acceptably filling, and with him resides his sister Janet. They are widely and favorably known throughout the community, and enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. He is a prominent and active member of the Christian Endeavor Society, and an ardent Republican in politics, advocating the god standard. He has two relics which he values very highly - one, a gold-mounted sword presented to his uncle Robert by the men of the 148th P.V.I., of which regiment he was colonel; the other relic is a cane of straight-grained hickory, whittled from an octagonal piece of wood by his great-great uncle, William McFarlane, a captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. This was done while he was in prison in New York City, held as a British captive. The cane is forty-eight inches long, and bears the inscription: "Capt. William McFarlane, prisoner one year, ten months and five days, New York, September 21, 1776."