BIO: Alexander McCALL, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 239-240.
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  ALEXANDER MCCALL, Neff Mills, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born near 
Huntingdon, Pa., August 12, 1844, son of James and Rachel (Deans) 
McCall. The McCall family belongs to the thrifty, intelligent Scotch-
Irish stock, so prevalent in the interior of Pennsylvania. Alexander 
McCall, father of James McCall, was born in this State, and was a 
farmer and stock raiser in Woodcock valley, where he died, and where 
his son James was born. James McCall was also a farmer and breeder of 
stock; he cultivated land in various parts of the county. Rather late 
in life, he bought a farm in Henderson township. His wife, Rachel, 
daughter of Thomas Deans, a farmer of German descent, was born in 
Juniata township, Huntingdon county. Their children are: Catherine; 
Alexander; Ellen; Thomas, deceased; Mary (Mrs. Luden Deans), of 
Huntingdon; Matthew, deceased; James, deceased; Michael; and William; 
two last-named died in childhood. Mr. McCall was a Republican. He was a 
member of the Reformed church. He died in June, 1877; his wife died in 
1881, in Henderson township.
  Alexander McCall (2) received no education advantages except those 
afforded by the common schools of his township, and began a man's hard-
working life at the age of fifteen, clearing land, cutting logs, and 
the life, on his father's farm. But his intellectual activity did not 
cease with his school days, and he has in great measure made up for his 
lack of opportunities. He had barely entered his twentieth year when, 
in August, 1863, he enlisted under the flag of the Union at Harrisburg, 
in Company D, Two Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel 
Matthews, Capt. T. B. Reed, of Petersburg. The regiment went first to 
City Point, Va., and thence to Bermuda Hundred. They were in the 
engagements at Fort Steadman and at Petersburg, and in a number of 
skirmishes. Mr. McCall was much of the time on guard duty; he was 
obliged to pass a week in hospital, ill from the effects of exposure. 
He was eleven months in the service, being discharged at Harrisburg, in 
June, 1864. he took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and 
then, returning home, lived on the homestead until he was twenty-two. 
For a year after that, he worked out as farm laborer, and then rented a 
farm in Union township, in Smiths valley, and began on his own account. 
He remained there two years, and was then successively in Brady 
township for one year, in Union again one year, again in Brady four 
years, in Juniata two years, in Miller nine years, and in Jackson 
township four years. From Jackson he came to West township, where he is 
still engaged in farming and raising stock. He has taken his place 
among the solid and respected citizens of the community; has been 
elected to the offices of supervisor and tax collector. Mr. McCall is a 
Republican. He belongs to Cummings Post, No. 380, G. A. R., at McAlevys 
Fort; also to Grange No. 358, P. of H.
  In the fall of 1866, Alexander McCall was married in Henderson 
township, to Anna M., daughter of Simon White, of Huntingdon; she was 
born in Juniata township. Their children are: Thomas, of Portage, Pa.; 
Ida R.; Ella B. (Mrs. Joseph Bigelow); Laura C., deceased; Maggie C.; 
James, school teacher; Annie; Mary; Grace; and John. The family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.