BIO: Alvin R. McCARTHY, 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 351-352.
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  ALVIN R. McCARTHY, M.D., Mount Union, Huntingdon county, Pa., was 
born in Mifflin county, Pa., February 7, 1845, and is a son of Henry L. 
and Margaret (Hubbell) McCarthy. His father, Henry L. McCarthy, was 
born in 1807, and was a native of Mifflin county, but most of his life 
was passed in Huntingdon county. For many years he was a teacher and 
surveyor. He was a Republican, and filled the office of county 
commissioner and other public positions in Huntingdon county. He was a 
member of the West Kishacoquillas Presbyterian church, in which he 
served for a number of years as elder. Mr. McCarthy was married in 1837 
to Mrs. Margaret Scott, widow of William Scott, who died at 
Hollidaysburg, and to whom she bore four sons, two of whom died in 
infancy. Those reaching manhood were James P. Scott, who died at 
Milton, Pa., July 19, 1896; and Henry H. Scott, a printer, who resides 
in Philadelphia. Mrs. McCarthy was born in Saltillo, Pa., in 1807, and 
died in Huntingdon, Pa., July 5, 1878. Her father, Henry Hubbell, was 
an early settler at Saltillo. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war, and participated in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, 
Brandywine, Monmouth and other engagements of that momentous struggle. 
The children of Henry L. and Margaret (Hubbell) McCarthy were: Miles 
W., born in December, 1841, and served during the war of the Rebellion 
as sergeant of Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, participating in all the campaigns of the Army of the 
Potomac, until the battle of Deep Bottom, July 28, 1864, when he was 
killed; Dr. Alvin R.; and Seely B., born July 22, 1847, who served for 
a short time in the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers; was 
for many years a mail clerk in the postal service of the government, 
and is now a resident of California, where he pursues his trade as a 
carpenter. Henry L. McCarthy, the father, died in Huntingdon, February 
18, 1879, aged seventy-two years.
  Dr. Alvin R. McCarthy was educated in the common schools of Brady 
township, Huntingdon county, his childhood and youth being passed on 
the farm. On February 24, 1864, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in 
Company K, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served in Averill's 
command. He participated in the Shenandoah campaign, and was in the 
battles of Winchester, Fishers Hill, Charlestown, Berrysville and other 
engagements. After more than twenty months of efficient and soldierly 
service, he was honorably discharged November 6, 1865. After his return 
home he followed surveying, which he had learned under his father, and 
school teaching, until 1867, when he began the study of medicine under 
Dr. H. Orlady, of Petersburg, Pa., the father of Superior Judge George 
B. Orlady. He attended the lectures at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia, and at the University of New York, graduating from the 
latter institution in 1871. He practiced medicine at Dudley, Huntingdon 
county, three years, and removed to Mount Union in December, 1872, 
where he has since successfully pursued his profession.
  On March 23, 1875, Dr. McCarthy was married to Miss Mary E. Gayton, 
who died August 22, 1878. They had two children, both of whom died in 
infancy. On November 14, 1882, Dr. McCarthy was again married to Miss 
Mary E., daughter of John Taylor, of Huntingdon county, brother of the 
late Judge George Taylor. Mrs. McCarthy's father conducted the first 
steam saw-mill ever erected in Pennsylvania, and he sawed the lumber 
used in building the first houses in Altoona. He died at Ottumwa, Ia., 
in 1865. Dr. and Mrs. McCarthy are the parents of three children: Ethel 
T., born October 14, 1883; Mary Mildred, born April 16, 1885; and 
Lillian G., born August 29, 1896.
  Dr. McCarthy is a successful and skillful physician, and in the 
pursuit of his profession has won the respect and confidence of the 
community in which he lives. He has kept himself informed as to the 
progress made in the treatment of disease and has adopted such methods 
and remedies as have stood the test of successful trial. A Republican 
in politics, he takes a citizen's interest in public affairs, but has 
not been an office-seeker. From 1879 to 1892, as editor and publisher 
of the Mt. Union Times, he rendered his party important service in the 
various campaigns in which he participated, besides giving his patrons 
a readable and ably-conducted paper. In addition to his medical 
practice, he was for a number of years engaged in the lumber business, 
and has ever been regarded as an enterprising, progressive and public-
spirited citizen. He is a member of General Kane Post, No. 292, G.A.R., 
and of Washington Camp, No. 346, P.O.S. of A. He was a transcribing 
clerk in the Pennsylvania legislature in 1872, and is at present chief 
burgess of the borough of Mt. Union. Dr. and Mrs. McCarthy are members 
of the Presbyterian church.