BIO: Joseph P. McKELVY, 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, page 344.
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  JOSEPH P. McKELVY, a farmer in Cromwell township, Huntingdon county, 
was born November 6, 1829, in Metal township, Franklin county, son of 
George and Sarah Ann (Palsgrove) McKelvy. His grandfather, William 
McKelvy, was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to the United 
States alone when fifteen years old. He first secured employment as 
collier and wood-chopper. Later he married Miss Mary Harbaugh, a lady 
of German descent, and settled in Metal township, Franklin county, 
where both died, he being ninety-two years old, and his wife preceding 
him by a few years. He took part in the invasion of Canada during the 
Revolution. His son, George McKelvy, was born in Franklin county, in 
1776, and died in 1855. He was a farmer. He married Miss Sarah Ann 
Palsgrove, born in Berks county, Pa., within twelve miles of the city 
of Reading; she died October 8, 1893, in Illinois, at the age of 
eighty-five. Their children are: Mary, widow of David Mumma; William, 
deceased; Joseph P. and a girl who died in infancy, twins; John, 
deceased; Nancy, widow of Benjamin Blotchett; Rebecca (Mrs. William 
Cowen); Elizabeth, widow of Adam Botchlett; Thaddeus; George; and 
David, deceased.
  Joseph P. McKelvy lived in Franklin county until he was eighteen 
years old, attending the public schools and working on his father's 
farm. At the age he came to Huntingdon county and worked as a collier 
at Rockhill Furnace, also at wood-chopping, and was so employed until 
he was twenty-one. On November 14, 1850, in Cromwell township, he 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Ripple. They had nine children, 
six of whom died young. Those living are: John; Jennie (Mrs. O. W. 
Moore); and Charles. After his marriage, Joseph P. McKelvy cultivated a 
rented farm in Cromwell township until the spring of 1863; then worked 
a short time in the tan factory in Union township. The same spring he 
responded to Governor Curtin's call for home troops, but was discharged 
after a month's service. In February, 1864, he again enlisted at 
Hollidaysburg, Pa., in Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, being credited to Houston township, Blair county. Joining 
his regiment at Cold Harbor, Va., he later took part in the charge at 
Petersburg, where they were repulsed and fell back to a place called 
Fort Hell. Another engagement was fought at Deep Bottom, and soon 
another at the same place. Then being seized with bilious fever and 
bronchitis, he was sent in succession to the field hospital, the 
hospital at City Point, to one in Washington, and to one in West 
Philadelphia, and then sent home to vote for President Lincoln. 
Rejoining his regiment in December, 1864, at Yellow House, near 
Petersburg, he helped to tear up the Weldon Railroad, then went into 
winter quarters at Hatchers Run. He took part in the battle of Hatchers 
Run and that of Petersburg, in which the rebel rifle pits were taken 
and the Union line extended to the left. Going again into camp, they 
remained comparatively inactive until March 29, when they broke camp, 
assisted in breaking the rebel lines, and then started in pursuit of 
Lee. Mr. McKelvy participated in the battle of Sailors Creek. He was 
discharged at Baileys Cross Roads, in June, 1865. For the next few 
years Mr. McKelvy worked at whatever he could find to do. In 1875 he 
bought a home and a hew lots at Beersville, in Cromwell township. He 
now gives his attention to farming, and working on the railroad or in 
the coal business.