Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....McCleery, James Pollock 1832 - living in 1899

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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



JAMES POLLOCK McCLEERY, M. D., the oldest practicing physician and surgeon of

Milton, Northumberland County, Pa., commands an extensive practice throughout

that section of the county. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the medical

profession and he skilfully treats the most complicated cases with promptness

and decision, which give his patients the greatest confidence in his ability. He

is ever a kind friend to his patient as well as the physician, and it pleases

his many acquaintances to be called his friend. Dr. McCleery is a son of William

and Margaret (Pollock) McCleery, and was born in Milton, Northumberland County,

November 13, 1832.



  John McCleery, grandfather of our subject, was born at the forks of the

Conestoga, Lancaster County, Pa., October 13, 1767, and was a son of Michael and

Janet McCleery. Michael was born in County Carlow, Ireland, his ancestors having

settled in that country at the time of the early persecutions in Scotland. John

McCleery and Mary Lytle, who was born at Lytle Ferry, Dauphin County, on the

Susquehanna, March 16, 1774, and a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Lytle, were

united in marriage by Rev. Nathan Souden, September 23, 1802. Her father was of

English descent and her mother Irish. This union was blessed by the following

offspring: William; Sarah, the wife of John L. Watson, born February 18, 1805;

Joseph, born January 10, 1807; Jane, who became the wife of Rev. David X.

Junkin, was born February 4, 1809; Elizabeth, born September 10, 1811; and Mary,

born March 16, 1814, and married Rev. Nathan Shotwell. Early in life John

McCleery was a merchant at Harrisburg, but subsequently he moved to Milton,

Northumberland County, where he was among the first business men. He opened a

general merchandise store on South Front street, where Folmers grocery store is

now, and did a very large business, buying produce and grain, which he shipped

down the river in arks to the larger cities, receiving merchandise in exchange.

He finally retired from this business and purchased a farm, which is now a part

of the William Cameron estate, and there erected good substantial buildings

which are still standing. He was always classed among the leading citizens of

his community, and was very successful in business affairs, leaving a

considerable estate at the time of his death. He and his wife now lie in the

Harmony Cemetery at Milton.



  Dr. William McCleery, the father of our subject, was born at Halifax, Dauphin

County, Pa., July 31, 1803, and early in life was brought to Milton by his

parents, practically growing up with that borough. He was a very apt scholar and

obtained a good mental training in the public schools, after which he began the

study of medicine under the direction of Dr. James S. Dougal, and graduated from

the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1827. He was a man of

well-known ability and established a very large practice, possessing the respect

and esteem of every one. As his oldest son, our subject, grew to manhood he

directed him in the study of medicine and with great pride watched his marked

advancement. In 1857 he turned his entire practice over to his son and retired

for the time being, but an active brain such as he possessed is never content

unless in full operation, and it was but a short time until he built the first

steam saw-mill ever erected on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, at Milton. It

was situated where the car manufacturing establishment is now located, and Dr.

McCleery operated it until his death, on December 4, 1867, aged sixty-four

years. He was originally a Whig in politics, as was his father before him, but

he later became a Republican. He erected and lived in the. handsome brick

residence now owned by his son John. He was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock

with Margaret Pollock, a daughter of William Pollock, and a sister of the late

James Pollock, ex-governor of Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of the

following children: Mary, born September 9, 1830, who is the wife of Joseph D.

Potts of Philadelphia; James P., our subject; Sarah, deceased, who was born

November 5, 1834; John, born in 1837, married Mary Helen Marr; William P., born

April 27, 1834, lives at Troy, Pa.; and Julia J., deceased, who was born October

18, 1841, and was the wife of Jesse Merrill. Mrs. McCleery died in 1842, at the

age of thirty-six years.



  Dr. James Pollock McCleery, the subject of this personal history, acquired a

high intellectual training in the Milton Academy and then studied medicine with

his father. He diligently applied himself to his work and was graduated from the

Jefferson Medical College in March, 1857, immediately thereafter entering upon

practice. He soon succeeded to his father's practice, and this he has extended

to such an extent that he has little time which he may call his own. He is

constantly on the go and is obliged to make such trips as none but the sturdiest

constitutions can stand. He has always been interested in public improvements

and is one of Milton's most progressive citizens. In 1871, at No. 45 North Front

street, he erected a handsome residence, in which his office was located, but

this building was destroyed by fire in 1880. He immediately built a handsome

brick residence, with all modern improvements and conveniences, with office

attached. Politically he is a firm Republican, but does not aspire to office.



  On June 4, 1870, Dr. McCleery married Margaret S. McCormick, a daughter of

John McCormick of Turbot township, and they are the parents of five children:

Anne M.; Mary H., widow of Lawrence B. Fonda, by whom she had one son, Henry L.;

Martha; Josephine; and William.





Additional Comments:

Extracted from:



Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

Published by 

Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)



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