Biographical Sketch of Wilmer W. MacELREE (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 270-1. "WILMER W. MacELREE is a son of James and Mariah (Buffington) MacElree, and was born at West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1859. His paternal grandfather, George MacElree, was a native of Ireland, and died on board the vessel on which he had embarked for America. His son, James MacElree (father), was born in 1825, in Ireland, where he received an excellent educa- tion. He is a good scholar and a fine linguist. In 1847 he came to Pennsyl- vania, and settled in Lancaster county, where he taught school for several years, and worked some little at the carpenter trade, which he had learned in his native country before coming to America. In 1852 he came to West Chester, where he has resided ever since. He married Mariah Buffington, a member of the old and well-known Buffington family, of Chester county, and to their union have been born two children: Wilmer W., and Dr. George A., who was graduated from the university of Pennsylvania, and is now engaged in the successful practice of his profession in Kansas. "Wilmer W. MacElree grew to manhood in his native city, received his education in the public schools, and took special courses in languages under the tutor- ship of Prof. J. Hunter Worrall. He read law with John J. Pinkerton, was admitted to the bar in 1880, and since then has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at West Chester. "On January 18, 1884, Mr. MacElree was united in marriage with Ella Eyre, a daughter of David Eyre, of West Chester. To their union have been born three children, two sons and one daughter: Mary E., Wilmer H., who died March 19, 1892, and J. Paul. "Wilmer W. MacElree is a republican in politics upon the leading political issues of the day, but in State and local affairs is inclined to be rather independent in his support of men and measures. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of West Chester Lodge, No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Westminster Presbyterian church, of West Chester. Wilmer W. MacElree has always realized the importance of the Sunday school as a potent factor in the growth of the church and the advancement of Christianity and civilzation. He has labored arduously and successfully in establishing Sunday schools in different parts of the county, where they had never existed or had gone down for want of necessary support. he has done considerable lecturing on literary subjects throughout the county and in Philadelphia, and has interested himself in all efforts to promote or extend the beneficient influences of the religion of the Nazarene, which 'the fishermen of Galilee brought to the throne of the Caesars.'"