BIO: John D. McGIRK, Centre County, PA

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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.
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  JOHN D. McGIRK, M. D., of Philipsburg, Centre county, is an able and 
successful physician whose many years of unremitting application to his 
professional work have given him a place in the front rank among the 
practitioners of his section.  He is a native of Philipsburg, born 
October 21, 1834, and the family name is associated with some of the 
important events of pioneer times in that locality.
  Steven McGirk (his paternal grandfather), a native of County Tyrone, 
Ireland, was a Roman Catholic in faith, and during the troubles between 
the Protestants and the Romanists he was forced to leave his home to 
avoid persecution.  For some time he remained in hiding, but finding an 
opportunity to make his escape to America he crossed the ocean with his 
family and made his home in Shippensburg, Penn., where he spent many 
years as a successful stock dealer.  He died September 30, 1804.  His 
wife, born July, 1757, died December 18, 1831, at Philipsburg.  They 
had five children: (1) Isabel married James Test, a tanner at 
Philipsburg, where both died; their children were - Steven, Charlotte, 
Margaret, James, Jessie, Annie and Israel.  (2) Nancy married Major 
Davis, of the United States army, who served on Gen. Jackson's staff 
during the war of 1812; later he was sent to Fort Hawkins, Ala., and 
his wife died there.  (3) Jane (deceased) never married. (4) James is 
mentioned more fully below. (5) Rachel married John B. Meek, and both 
died at their home in Pine Grove, Centre county; they had the following 
children - Wesley, Marvin, Fletcher, Hattie, Lottie, and Franklin.
  James McGirk, our subject's father, was born in Ireland, and when a 
child accompanied his parents to the New World. Previous to his 
marriage he spent some time in the South with his brother-in-law, Major 
Davis, but in early manhood he settled in Philipsburg where he engaged 
in business as a farmer, miller and hotel keeper.  He was a man of 
unusual mental ability, and having read medicine to some extent, he was 
often called upon to use his skill and knowledge for the relief of 
suffering humanity.  He never attended medical college, and did not 
attempt to build up a regular practice; but being many times the only 
physician at hand, he accepted the responsibility, often taking long 
journeys at the call of some afflicted family.  These timely services 
endeared his name to the pioneers throughout that region.  He was 
married in Philipsburg to Miss Eleanor Ashman, daughter of Col. Ashman, 
of Huntingdon county, Penn., an officer in the Revolutionary army.  Of 
their two children, our subject was the younger.  Henrietta (the elder) 
was born at Philipsburg, April 15, 1831, and after pursuing the course 
of study offered in the local schools was sent to Chambersburg, Penn., 
to complete her education.  She was married November 19, 1846, to Hon. 
C. R. Foster, M.D., who was born in Cape May county, N J., June 30, 
1822.  He studied medicine in Jefferson College, Philadelphia, and 
after his graduation in the spring of 1844 located at Philipsburg, 
where he acquired a large practice, extending over a wide range of 
country.  He became interested in the lumber business also, but ten 
years prior to his death in 1867 he retired from active business and 
professional cares.  He was prominent in public affairs, a member of 
the M. E. Church, and a leader in the Democratic organization, serving 
two terms in the State Legislature.  Dr. and Mrs. Foster had one 
daughter, Helen Louise, who married George A. Ziegler, of Huntingdon 
county, and died leaving two children. Helen and Henrietta, who reside 
with their widowed grandmother in her elegant and hospitable home.
  Dr. McGirk laid the basis of his education in the schools of his 
native town and in the academy at Williamsport, Penn., but for the most 
part his education has been gained by private study.  Medical science 
early attracted his attention, and he practiced with marked success for 
some years before entering medical college; but in the spring of 1871 
he completed the regular professional course at the University of 
Pennsylvania, ob-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  171

taining the degree of M.D.  Returning to his old home he resumed his 
work with renewed zeal, and has since remained in active practice.
  On November 20, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary F. Hand, a native 
of Cape May county, N.J., born May 1837.  They have had three children: 
Loretta, who died at the age of seven years; Annie, at home; and 
Charles E., born September 17, 1869, now in practice with his father; 
his literary education was secured at Dickinson College, Carlisle, 
Penn., and then, entering the University of Pennsylvania, he pursued 
the medical course, graduating in 1895.  Studious, progressive, and 
endowed with fine native abilities, he is a young man of whom the 
community expects much.  Dr. McGirk and family are members of the M. E. 
Church.  Socially he is affiliated with the F. & A.M., in which 
fraternity he in his younger days took an active interest.  In politics 
he invariably votes the Democratic ticket.  Besides his elegant and 
comfortable residence, the Doctor owns a fine block in Philipsburg; for 
several years he kept a popular drug store in the city.
  Mrs. McGirk is a descendant of a well-known family of English origin.  
The first ancestor of whom we have any record was John Hand, who was 
born in 1611, at Stanstead, near Maidstone, in the County of Kent, 
England.  Coming to America, he settled first in Massachusetts in the 
vicinity of Lynn.  In 1634 he moved to Connecticut, to South Hampton in 
1644, and to East Hampton in 1648, his death occurring at the last 
named place in 1660.  He married Miss Stamborough, and had seven sons 
and one daughter.  Shamgar Hand, the first son, married, and had five 
sons and two daughters.  Zelophephad Hand, the next in line of descent, 
married, and had four sons and three daughters.  Nathaniel, the first 
son married, had three sons and three daughters, his eldest son, 
Jeremiah, being Mrs. McGirk's grandfather.  He was born in 1763 and 
died in 1815.  He married Deborah Hand, his cousin, and had four sons 
and one daughter, as follows: Joseph, Jeremiah, Jesse, Aaron and 
Deborah.  Aaron Hand, Mrs. McGirk's father, was born May 30, 1786, and 
died May 31, 1852.  He and his wife, Eliza (Foster), had four children: 
Aaron S., Elizabeth, Deborah and Mary (Mrs. McGirk).