BIO: Mathias Wilson McALARNEY, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 347.
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  McALARNEY, MATHIAS WILSON, son of John (1802-1876) and Catharine 
Wilson (1812-1892) McAlarney, was born June 7, 1840, in Mifflinburg, 
Union county, Pa.  He was educated at Bucknell University.  He learned 
the art of printing in the Chronicle office at Lewisburg, and for a 
period of six years published the Potter Journal, a weekly newspaper at 
Coudersport.  During the war he was provost marshal of the Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania district.  He studied law with Hon. Isaac Benson, of 
Potter county, and was admitted to the bar February 27, 1867.  In May 
of the same year he removed to Harrisburg and entered upon the practice 
of the law.  From 1874 until the close of 1882 he was more or less 
actively engaged in editorial work on the Harrisburg Telegraph, and in 
the fall of 1883 he purchased a majority of the stock of the Harrisburg 
Publishing Company, publishers of the Daily and Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 
and has continued from that date as editor of the Telegraph and manager 
of the publishing company.  In 1868 he was appointed clerk to the 
commission to settle the damages done by the border raids during the 
Rebellion, and in 1871, by appointment of Governor Geary, he was the 
attorney for the Commonwealth in connection with the same work in the 
county of Cumberland.  In the fall of 1874 he was a candidate for the 
Republican nomination for district attorney, with every prospect of 
success, when on the 23d of September he was appointed postmaster at 
Harrisburg, and continued in office under subsequent reappointments 
until April, 1887.  He purchased for the Government the land upon which 
the United States post-office was erected.  He was appointed disbursing 
agent during the construction of the building, and upon its completion 
in 1882 was appointed custodian of the building.  He married, in 1867, 
Ada, daughter of Jacob D. Hoffman, and they have two children, Martha 
Worden and John Hart.  Three children died in infancy.