BIO: John E. McILROY, Sr., Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 157. __________________________________________________________ JOHN E. McILROY, SR. Huntingdon, Pa. The ancestry of John E. McIlroy, Sr., dates back many years, of Scotch- Irish parentage. His grandfather was James McIlroy, of Brandywine Manor, Chester County, Pa., and his son was John McIlroy, who was a captain of a Cavalry company in the war of 1812; was born in 1788 and died in 1863. He married Margaret Oburn in 1824, a daughter of Joseph Oburn, who was renowned for his charity and esteemed for his many sterling traits of character. To this union was born Joseph McIlroy, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1829 and was for many years engaged in the mercantile business at Cumminsville, Huntingdon County, Pa. He was a Bible student and well versed in its teachings. In 1872 he moved with his family to Huntingdon, Pa. He died January 11, 1893; he married Sarah Elizabeth Miller, a daughter of Samuel Miller, a farmer and blacksmith of Wayne township, Mifflin County, Pa., who died April 25, 1907. Five sons and one daughter were of this union, the eldest being John E. McIlroy, Sr., who was born at Cumminsville, Jackson Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., October 24, 1862. He received his education at the public schools of Huntingdon, Pa.; at an early age he began to learn the brick-making business, in the employ of Frank Hefright; he afterwards was in the employ of John Barrick for a number of years, after which, together with his brothers, Samuel and Joseph, Sr., a partnership was entered into the manufacture and sale of brick, which also included pressed brick and special shaped brick. The operation of manufacturing brick was hand moulded, two brick in the mould, sun-dried, and set in up draft kilns, requiring from five to six days for burning. The brothers branched out into a wider field, installed modern machinery, a column of mud passed through a die fed by oil, the mud passing to the carrier, where a lever cut twelve bricks at one stroke; underground driers were installed, and a complete plant was instituted. They built brick houses, principally in the west end of Huntingdon, Pa., and all over Huntingdon and its vicinity is to be found the product of their manufacture. The J. C. Blair eight-story building was their proudest achievement. They continued manufacturing brick until the year 1917, when they purchased the Lowder farm at Barree, Huntingdon County, Pa., of which the town of Barree is founded. For a period of time they farmed. In 1927 he moved to Huntingdon, Pa., when he accepted a position as caretaker of the High School building. His brother, Joseph McIlroy, Sr., is also a caretaker at the same institution. John E. McIlroy, Sr., was married to Naomi Gutshall, May 7, 1903, by the Rev. J. W. Weeter, at New Germantown, Pa. She was the daughter of Samuel and Priscilla Gutshall; both are deceased, the father dying September 9, 1923. He was found dead in bed in the morning; upon retiring at night was apparently in good health. The mother died in 1928. For a period of time Naomi Gutshall attended Juniata College. Mr. and Mrs. McIlroy have two sons. John E., Jr., was born at Huntingdon, Pa., April 25, 1905. He attended and graduated at the Petersburg Vocational High School, Class of 1924; also attended Pennsylvania State College in 1925 and 1927. For some years has been proprietor of the Spruce Creek Inn, located at the entrance of Colerain State Camp, Huntingdon County, Pa. Another son is William; he was born in Huntingdon, Pa., October 3, 1911. He graduated from the Huntingdon High School, Class of 1929; now located at Long Beach, California. Two daughters, Elizabeth, born in Huntingdon, Pa. She is a graduated of the Petersburg Vocational High School, Class of 1925; also from Shippensburg State Teachers College in 1928; she taught school at Barree, Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1925 and 1926; also taught at Petersburg, Pa., the fifth and sixth grade in 1928 and 1930. Another daughter is Mabel; she was born at Huntingdon, Pa., April 3, 1915; she is a Sophomore in the Huntingdon High School. Mr. and Mrs. McIlroy are Presbyterians. He is a member of the New Era Bible Class, conducted and sponsored by Judge Thomas F. Bailey. He is a Republican in politics. He has two brothers, Joseph McIlroy, Sr., as stated in this sketch, is a caretaker of the High School. He married Catharine Zinn, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret Zinn; both are deceased; both were born in Germany. They have two sons. Andrew is manager of the wholesale department of the C.H. Miller Hardware Company; he has been with this firm for fifteen years. He married Inez Peck, of Honey Grove, Juniata County, Pa. She is a graduate nurse of the Blair Memorial Hospital, Huntingdon, Pa. They have one son, George P. Joseph, Jr., another son of Joseph, Sr., graduated from the Huntingdon High School. He also attended Juniata College. He is in the automobile and accessory department of the C.H. Miller Hardware Company. He was married to Anna Steel, February 22, 1929; she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Steel, of Shirley Township. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McIlroy, Sr., are: Millie, who attended the Huntingdon High School and graduated in the Commercial course at Juniata College. She is engaged in office work with the J.C. Blair Stationery Company. Margaret, who graduated from the Huntingdon High School, and also graduated in the Commercial course at Juniata College; also the Indiana State Normal; she taught school at Towson, Maryland; at present is a teacher at Hollidaysburg, Pa. Catharine, another daughter , is a Senior in the Huntingdon High School. Samuel McIlroy, a brother of John McIlroy, Sr., is deceased. He was born in 1865, and died November 12, 1921, at Barree, Pa., of a lingering disease; he was single, and a brick manufacturer. William Oburn McIlroy is also deceased; he was born in 1867 and died in 1901; he was a brickmaker. He was married to Mamie Shaw, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shaw, by the Rev. M.L. Smith, September 25, 1890. He was Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Fifteenth Street Methodist Church of West Huntingdon, Pa. He was also a Sunday School Superintendent. They have two daughters. Lena, attended the Huntingdon High School. Florence graduated from the Huntingdon High School. Both daughters have traced the history of the McIlroy faction, to which the writer is indebted for data, etc. One son, Chester, is deceased; he was born in 1897, at Huntingdon, Pa., and died May 19, 1907; was playing with his playmates, and was struck by a ball, which caused his death. The mother and both daughters are members of the Fifteenth Street Methodist Church and Sunday School, and are active in all the activities of church and Sunday school. John E. McIlroy had one sister, Annie; she was married to John Gibboney; she is deceased. She was born March 19, 1871, and died November 4, 1928. They have two sons; George is a World War veteran; saw active service; after discharge re-enlisted in the government service; was stationed at Alaska for several years. Roy and John, Jr., are at home. Mr. and Mrs. McIlroy have two daughters, Rhoda and Helen. The writer of these sketches, James Thomas McIlroy, Jr., is the youngest brother of John E. McIlroy, Sr.,; he was born at Huntingdon, Pa. September 14, 1873. He was married to Mabel Gutshall. One daughter, Dorothy Willard McIlroy; she is deceased; born in 1907 and died in 1927; she was a graduated of the Huntingdon High School, and was a member of the Fifteenth Street Methodist Church and Sunday School; also the P.O.S. of A., the ladies' auxiliary of the P.O.S. of A..