BIO: Winfield Scott McGaw, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLVIII. HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NEWBURG. WINFIELD SCOTT McGAW, LIVERYMAN, Newburg, was born in the family homestead in Mifflin Township, this county, October 13, 1837, son of Samuel and Elizabeth McGaw. His father was, undoubtedly, the most popular man of his day, in Mifflin Township, and was elected county commissioner by an immense majority, and at the expiration of his term (so well were his duties discharged) his constituents were almost a unit in favor of his re-election. It had been an axiom, however, with the Democratic party that a man should only serve in this position one official term, and the dissatisfaction ensuing by putting forth another candidate caused a disruption of the party which 489 HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP. was not healed for many years. Finely educated, possessed of a brilliant mind and unquestionable honesty, Samuel McGaw was intrusted with the settlement of more estates than any other man in the history of his township. In fact he allowed his own business to suffer in consequence of his faithfulness to the interests of others. Too much can not be said in his praise, or in that of his son George, who, as mentioned elsewhere, was a brave soldier, and enacted the story of Damon and Pythias, for, in attempting to make the last moments of a dying soldier (David Carl) comfortable, he was taken prisoner, when by leaving him to die alone he could easily have escaped, but true to the vow they had made to each other before leaving home, his life paid the forfeit, for he starved to death in Libby Prison, leaving a record of honor and courage. Our subject was educated in the public schools, and remained with his father until the spring of 1861, when he took a lengthy trip through the Western states. Returning in the autumn of the same year, he made arrangements for commencing business. February 13, 1862, he was married to Sadie S., daughter of Samuel and Barbara (Bear) Stevick, of this county. Their married life was commenced on the J. V. Bowman farm, in Whisky Run District. To this union have been born six children: David D., Minnie B., Frank L., Joseph C., Mable G. (living) and Thomas E. (deceased). Our subject continued agricultural pursuits, in Mifflin and West Pennsborough Townships, until 1873, when he removed to the pleasant village of Newburg, and for eight consecutive years carried the United States mail from Newburg to Newville, since which time he has had the passenger route between Newburg and Shippensburg. He is the only liveryman in Newburg, and is as full of enterprise as were his ancestors in the early days of this county's history. Perhaps no sketch will give greater interest to this section of the county than that of the McGaw family, who, from first to last, have been among the most honorable and enterprising men.