BIO: Peter McDERMOTT, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 885 & 886.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  PETER McDERMOTT, a prominent citizen of Morris township, where he holds the 
office of road supervisor, is also engaged in business as a representative of 
the Prudential Life Insurance Company, covering the district lying between 
Philipsburg and Winburne, including the intermediate points.  He was born in 
County Galway, Ireland, October 11, 1865, a son of John and Nora (Tolly) 
McDermott.  The father, who is also a native of County Galway, Ireland, is still 
living in Cambria County, Pa., being now 81 years old.  His wife, the mother of 
our subject, died February 13, 1908, at the age of 74 years.  She was a daughter 
of John and Cecelia (Mel) Tolly.  The parents of our subject were married in 
County Galway, the father being a farmer in his native land.  He was a son of 
John McDermott who, with his wife died in Ireland.
  The children of John and Nora (Tolly) McDermott were nine in number, as 
follows:  Thomas, a resident of Nanty Glo, Cambria County, Pa., a miner; 
Patrick, also engaged  in mining at Nanty Glo, Pa.; John, who died at the age of 
thirty years at Hook Run, Morris township, this county; Peter, the subject of 
this sketch; Cecelia, wife of Thomas Harding, of Hook Run, Pa.; foreman for a 
telephone company at Jersey City; Martin, who for a number of years was a mine 
foreman at Nanty Glo, but who recently moved from Hastings, where he was in the 
hotel business and purchased the Home Hotel at Nanty Glo, Pa.; Luke Joseph, a U. 
S. railway clerk, residing in Tyrone, Pa., and running between New York City and 
Pittsburg; and Ellen, wife of George Myers, of Nanty Glo.
  The brothers, Thomas, Patrick and Peter, came to America in 1885, and later 
sent for the other members of the family.  They located first at Osceola Mills, 
Pa., where they worked at mining, coming to Hawk Run in 1890.
  Peter McDermott attended the public schools of his native place in Ireland.  
He was reared on a farm and came to America at the age of twenty years.  He 
worked for ten years at mining and during this time held office in the labor 
organizations of his district.  In 1896 he accepted a position with the 
Prudential Life Insurance Company, and has never changed his district since 
starting with the company.  He is a member of the order of Red Men, Tribe No. 
96, I. O. R. M. of Morrisdale Mines.  He is a communicant of St. Agnes R. C. 
church of that place.  Since coming to this country he has always been known as 
a staunch Democrat and has been active in the councils of his party.  He came 
within two votes of the popular majority for the nomination on the Democratic 
ticket for representative of Clearfield county, and is now serving in his fourth 
year as road supervisor, having been elected in a township of 150 or more 
Republican majority.  He numbers some of his strongest friends and supporters 
among the members of the Republican party, a convincing proof of the fact that 
he commands the public confidence in high measure and has a record of which he 
need not be ashamed.  He has been a township resident since February 18, 1887, 
and for 26 years a resident of the county, and has never had a law suit during 
this entire period.  Mr. McDermott is a ready conversationalist and a man well 
informed on current events.  He takes much interest in public affairs, as indeed 
every good citizen should, but does not always do, and his sterling qualities 
are widely recognized.