BIO: Henry McCARTHY Family, 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 85-88.
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  HENRY McCARTHY, of whom the McCarthys of Huntingdon county are the 
descendants, was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and came to this country from 
County Down, Ireland, just before the Revolutionary war.  He at once 
enlisted to fight for the liberties of his adopted country.  He was in many 
battles, and several times narrowly escaped death.  "He frequently 
entertained us," says Judge C. R. McCarthy, "with thrilling stories of the 
war.  At one time, when the colonial forces were overpowered and compelled 
to flee, an English officer pursuing called to a comrade of McCarthy to 
halt.  Upon looking back, the latter saw his comrade fall under the 
officer's sword, and in the next moment, the officer, who was mounted, would 
have been upon McCarthy, had he not bounded over a ditch which the officer's 
horse refused to cross."  He said that he saw General Washington but once 
during the war.  Shortly after the war, Henry McCarthy married Miss Margaret 
McDowell, of Franklin county, and to them were born three children a son and 
two daughters.  From Franklin county he removed to Huntingdon, when that 
town consisted of only a few log houses.
  "We frequently heard him speak," says Judge McCarthy, "of William Smith, 
the founder of Huntingdon.  He said Smith was kind and obliging, if one knew 
how to approach him, but was very eccentric, as may be seen from the 
following incident:  McCarthy, wishing stones to build a chimney, loaded his 
wagon from Smith's land.  Smith, arriving at this juncture said, ' Who gave 
thee orders to tak' these stanes?'  'No one,' said McCarthy, 'I thought I 
was doing you a kindness.' 'Dear mon,' said he, 'you have a queer way of 
showing your kindness; these are my stanes; throw them out, every one of 
them.' McCarthy obeyed.  A few days later, however, a man named Smiley was 
found by Smith loading his wagon the same stones which McCarthy had been 
compelled to unload.  'Who gave thee orders to tak' these stanes?' he said.  
'No one,' said Smiley. 'Throw them out, every one of them; these are Henry 
McCarthy's stanes.' McCarthy, hearing this, hauled away the stones, and 
Smith was entirely satisfied that he should have them."
  After living in Huntingdon about six or eight years, Henry McCarthy 
removed to Mifflin county, near Newton Hamilton, and about twelve years 
later to West Kishacoquillas valley, Huntingdon county, where he spent the 
remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-nine years.  His wife, a 
good Christian woman, had preceded him to the grave by about twelve years.  
Henry McCarthy was a man of unusual intelligence.  His remarkable store of 
information and fine sense of humor made him welcome in every intelligent 
circle.  He was a consistent Christian, and served for some years as elder 
in the Presbyterian church.
  John McCarthy, only son of Henry McCarthy, married Miss Amelia Roberts, of 
Maryland.  They had six children, a daughter and five sons.  They began 
their married life in Mifflin county, but soon removed to West 
Kishacoquillas valley, where they passed the rest of their lives.  They were 
Presbyterians, and before buggies or carriages were known in that valley, 
they frequently walked eight miles to the nearest Presbyterian church, 
making a walk of sixteen miles.  This they did with less complaint than many 
modern Christians would walk one-tenth the distance.  Such examples of 
Christian zeal were quite common in those days, but denominational 
prejudices seem to have been stronger then than now, as may be seen by an 
instance in the life of John McCarthy.  The Christian people of West 
Kishacoquillas had organized a Sabbath-school, and as the members were about 
equally divided between the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, it was 
decided that there should be a superintendent from each, who should serve on 
alternate Sabbaths.  John McCarthy was selected from the Presbyterian, and 
John Given from the Methodists.  One Sabbath, Mr. McCarthy, in the course of 
some remarks, said that it is our duty to love God and keep His 
commandments.  "True," he said, "it is not possible in this life to keep the 
commandments perfectly, but it is our duty to do so as nearly as possible."  
At this point, the other superintendent interrupted him in a very excited 
manner, saying that he did not believe in teaching children any such 
doctrine, as it is not true; that God has enjoined upon all to keep His 
commandments, and that He does not require what is impossible; a perfect 
life is possible, etc.  The discussion became general and animated, the 
result being that the union Sabbath-school was dismissed that day not to 
meet again.
  John McCarthy was a good citizen and a devout Christian, and enjoyed the 
highest esteem of all who knew him.  He died in 1849, at the age of seventy-
three.  His wife, an intelligent and pious woman, of remarkably strong 
character, survived her husband about ten years.  The sons and daughters 
mentioned above were:  Henry L.; John R.; Winchester; William A.; Charles 
R.; and Margaret E.  The four sons first named were all teachers in select 
and public schools, and so successful were they that they having once taught 
in a place, any of them could hold the position as long as he might desire.  
All the members of this family are now dead, except ex-Judge C. R. McCarthy, 
now of Philadelphia.  Henry L., John R. and Winchester each died in the 
seventy-third year of his age; Margaret E. at the age of about sixty-five, 
and William A., aged about fifty-five.
  Henry L. McCarthy, who married Mrs. Margaret Scott, lived many years in 
West Kishacoquillas valley, and afterwards removed to Huntingdon, where he 
died, February 19, 1879.  He served one term as county commissioner, and 
many years as justice of the peace, and was well known as a careful and 
competent surveyor.  He had not enjoyed the advantages of a liberal 
education, and yet the accuracy of his knowledge of literature and of a 
number of the sciences was something remarkable.  As a Christian, he was 
consistent and faithful, a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he 
served as an elder.  As a citizen he was patriotic and loyal, as is 
evidenced by the fact that his three sons and two stepsons were all in the 
Union army during the civil war.  His eldest son, Miles McCarthy, after 
having passed safe through almost three years of active service in the army 
of the Potomac, was killed in a skirmish.  The second son, Dr. A. R. 
McCarthy, now of Mount Union, Pa., was at the front during most of the Civil 
war, seeing much hard service.  After the war he taught in the public 
schools, then read medicine, and has for a number of years practiced his 
profession successfully at his present home.  Seely B. McCarthy, the third 
son, who was a postal clerk on the P. R. R. for a number of years, is now 
living in California.
  John Roberts McCarthy, second son of John McCarthy, married Eleanor Lane 
in 1837.  They lived for more than thirty years in West Kishacoquillas 
valley, where they reared a family of ten children, seven sons and three 
daughters.  Of these children all are now living except two:  Mary, who died 
at the age of three years, and John S., who was killed in the battle of 
Antietam, September 17, 1862, while yet a mere youth.  He was a young man of 
excellent talent, manly physique, dauntless courage, and unspotted Christian 
character.  John Roberts McCarthy was a teacher in district and private 
schools for more than thirty years.  Many of his pupils are still living, 
and will remember him as one of the best teachers they ever knew, being far 
in advance of most teachers of that day in scholarship and administrative 
ability.  He excelled especially as a disciplinarian, being able to preserve 
with apparent ease the best of discipline in schools that were unmanageable 
to the average teacher, and such schools were not uncommon in those days.  
He read much, and, having a retentive memory, he illustrated the saying that 
"Much reading maketh a full man."  To his children and pupils he was a good 
substitute for Webster's Unabridged.  Though a self-made man, he was able to 
converse intelligently upon almost any subject.  A life-long Christian and 
member of the Presbyterian church, his pure life left its impress upon all 
who knew him.  During an intimate acquaintance of twenty-five years, the 
writer never heard him utter a harsh sentence or express an ignoble thought.  
He died on his farm at Atkinson's Mills, Mifflin county, Pa., November 14, 
1881, in the seventy-third year of his age.  His wife, Eleanor Lane 
McCarthy, has now attained the advanced age of eighty-one years, still 
vigorous in mind and body.  The evening of her life is like the evening of a 
beautiful June day, all whose hours have scattered sunshine and warmth and 
fragrant flowers.  Thus the sunshine of her smile, the warmth of her 
sympathy, and the beautiful flowers of her kindly acts, have cheered many 
hearts, and shall linger as a lovely memory with those who have long known 
her.
  As stated above, eight children of John R. and Eleanor L. McCarthy are 
still living:  James W.; Edwin S.; C. Rufus; also Mrs. L. A. Pollock, are 
now living in Huntingdon, Pa.  Drs. H. C. McCarthy and Samuel L. McCarthy 
lived in Altoona, Pa., and Mrs. Samuel Ebert at Loysville, Perry county, Pa.  
James W. McCarthy, the eldest son, taught for a number of years.  He was 
afterwards a farmer and stock dealer in Mifflin county, and is now engaged 
in the livery business at Huntingdon.
  Dr. H. C. McCarthy assisted his father's farm, and taught for some years; 
then he graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medical College, and has 
practiced his profession successfully for about twenty-five years, chiefly 
at Petersburg and Altoona, Pa.  At the latter place he has practiced for 
about seven years, and enjoys the esteem and confidence not only of a 
constantly growing patronage, but also of his fellow physicians, who 
recently elected him president of the Medical Academy of Altoona and Blair 
county.  Dr. McCarthy has always possessed the happy faculty of seeing the 
humorous side of everything, and if it be true that a good laugh lengthens 
life, his irresistible wit has done more in the interest of longevity than 
one physician could be expected to accomplish through the channels of 
materia medica.  He is prosperous, and lives in a beautiful home on Eighth 
avenue, Altoona.
  Dr. S. L. McCarthy began teaching at the early age of sixteen, graduated 
in medicine in 1870, entered at once a lucrative practice, and has met with 
marked success ever since.  He is not only a practitioner of acknowledged 
skill and ability, but is well known as a successful business man.  For the 
past fifteen years he has practiced medicine in Altoona, where he has 
accumulated considerable property.  He is now president of the Blair County 
Medical Association.  Being a self-made man, he is a good example of what 
may be accomplished by any young man who possesses integrity, pluck and 
perseverance.
  Edwin Scott, fifth son of John McCarthy, received his education at 
Princeton College, taught for some years, being at one time principal of the 
Huntingdon schools, and has since been engaged chiefly in the insurance 
business.
  Charles Rufus McCarthy, is the senior member of the well-known firm of C. 
R. & W. B. McCarthy, Huntingdon, Pa.  This firm began business in 1889, and 
by tact and enterprise have in eight years built up an excellent trade, and 
now have what many pronounce the finest furniture and carpet store in 
central Pennsylvania.  William B., youngest son of John R. McCarthy, and 
junior member of the above-named firm, a graduate of Washington and 
Jefferson College, shortly after graduating he engaged in teaching, and was 
successful as an educator, but finding the close confinement wearing upon 
his health, he turned aside from teaching in 1888 and entered business, 
forming a partnership with his brother, C. Rufus McCarthy.
  The entire family of John R. McCarthy, true to the teaching and example of 
three generations, are all staunch Presbyterians, one of them now serving as 
an elder in the Huntingdon Presbyterian church.  Their ages now range from 
about forty to fifty-five years.
  Mention has now been made of two sons of John McCarthy, Henry L., and John 
R., and of their families.  of the other descendants of John McCarthy, none 
are now living in the territory covered by this encyclopedia, and not to 
prolong this sketch beyond reasonable limits, we can mention the other 
families but very briefly.  Winchester McCarthy married Caroline Crissman, 
and lived all his life in Huntingdon and Mifflin counties.  He was a man of 
broad intelligence, excellent social qualities and strong Christian 
character; was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church, and died 
April 6, 1885, in the seventy-third year of his age, honored and respected 
by all who knew him.  Four sons survive him, two of them druggists and two 
machinists, all living in Pittsburg, Pa.  One of them, W. E. McCarthy, aged 
now about forty years, has been remarkably successful in business, having in 
fifteen years built up a very fine drug business; he has accumulated 
considerable real estate in Pittsburg, and was recently elected president of 
one of the Pittsburg banks.
  Margaret E. McCarthy never married.  Few ministers of the Gospel have a 
better knowledge of the Scriptures than she had, and few could give wiser 
counsel to inquirers after the truth, or those bowed down with sorrow.  She 
died in December, 1878, aged about sixty-five years.
  William A. McCarthy was a teacher, and died in 1871, aged about fifty-five 
years.  He left bit one child, a daughter, Esther B., now the wife of Dr. 
Charles Filbert, of Pine Grove, Pa.
  Ex-Judge C. R. McCarthy, now of Philadelphia, is the only surviving member 
of the third generation of the McCarthys of Huntingdon county.  For more 
than thirty-five years he has been a contributor to the public press, under 
various noms de plume; possibly the most familiar being "Graybeard."  Some 
of his writings have been printed in book form and in pamphlets.  One of 
these, which has gained a pretty wide circulation, is entitled "Lost 
Children of the Alleghenies."  He has written upon a great variety of 
subjects, and is always interesting, but seems most at home when defending 
the cause of temperance, or discussing some question of ethics.  He served 
one term as associate judge in Huntingdon county, and not only succeeded in 
closing all licensed liquor houses in the county, but prevented the granting 
of such licenses during his term of five years, though opposed by the 
president judge, whose opinion against Judge McCarthy was reversed in the 
Supreme Court.  Judge McCarthy is now past three score and ten, but is in 
vigorous health, and still uses his voice and pen effectively in the cause 
of temperance, morals and religion. - W. B. M.