BIO: Lewis C. Megaw, 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/
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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
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                               CHAPTER LI.

                            MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

  LEWIS C. MEGAW, farmer, P. O. Newville, is a grandson of James and 
Sarah (Murrell) McGaw, who were married in West Chester, Chester Co., 
Penn., November 27, 1804.  James McGaw was a native of Belfast, 
Ireland, whence he emigrated in consequence of participating in a 
rebellion against the crown of England.  In 1817 he came to Mifflin 
Township, Cumberland Co., Penn., with his wife and one son, Samuel, 
settling on the John Cutshall farm.  He also owned the farm, now the 
property of John Hurst, which remained in the McGaw family from 1817 to 
1882.  He was in his day a prominent local Democratic politician, and, 
although not a member, he was an ardent supporter of the Presbyterian 
Church, contributing largely to the Big Spring Church.  His son Samuel 
was born April 17, 1807; was married about 1826 to Elizabeth Gurrell, 
who was born in Newville, Penn., and whose entire life was passed in 
Cumberland County.  Their domestic life was commenced on his father's 
farm, where their children - Sarah, James, Belle, Jane, Mary and Scott 
- were born.  When Samuel McGaw came to the farm where our subject now 
lives, he was accompanied by his mother, who made her home with him 
until her death.  On this farm were born the other children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Samuel McGaw:  John, George, Lewis C. and Ellen.  All of the ten 
children reached adult age.  George enlisted in Company F, Seventeenth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, in 1861; was captured at Brandy Station in 1863, 
and confined in Libby Prison, from whence, a few months later, the 
gallant soldier was carried an emaciated corpse.  Lewis C. Megaw, our 
subject, was born February 24, 1845.  Leaving home in 1870 he began 
lumbering in Clinton and Potter Counties, Penn., and Allegany, N. Y.  
Returning to this county in 1876 he was married to Miss Julia, daughter 
of George and Margaret (Kulp) Carl.  Mr. Megaw and his young wife 
commenced housekeeping on the farm where he was born and reared, and 
here four children were born to them:  Samuel, George, Florence and 
Grace.  Mr. Megaw has been an enterprising and prosperous farmer, and, 
like his ancestors before him, has taken 

505 	MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

an active part in local politics.  He has been elected an official of 
the township several terms, which of itself is sufficient proof that he 
has served his constituents faithfully and well.  Coming from a family 
of the highest respectability and having a wife belonging to a family 
that for more than a century has been identified with the growth and 
prosperity of Cumberland County, it is with pleasure that a place is 
given them in the history.  The name was McGaw originally, but the 
children have by common consent changed it to Megaw, but it still 
shines as brightly now as did that of James McGaw, who had to flee for 
his life from the isle of Erin.