Northumberland-Dauphin County PA Archives Biographies.....McEliece, John 1842 - living in 1899

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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 4, 2005, 7:42 pm



Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



JOHN McELIECE settled in Shamokin, Coal township, in 1885, and was welcomed as a

valuable acquisition to the borough. He is a man of great personal magnetism and

his influence and energy is felt in all public gatherings, where he is regarded

as an enterprising gentleman, well qualified to fill any position with honor and

credit to himself and his employers. Thus we introduce to our readers the able

and efficient superintendent of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company and

also of the Shamokin Arc Light Company of Shamokin.



  John McEliece was born in Dauphin County, Pa., September 16, 1842, and is a

son of George and Mary (Woodside) McEliece, and a grandson of John McEliece of

Ireland. His maternal grandfather, Jonathan Woodside, was born at the old

homestead in Dauphin County, where he led the active life of the early pioneers

and was a very successful and progressive farmer, besides being of great value

to his country. He served throughout the War of 1812, and was a participant in

the last great battle at New Orleans, where many lives were needlessly

sacrificed. Just fifteen days after the making of the treaty at Ghent, December

24, 1814, and before the news had reached this country that a treaty of peace

had been concluded, Gens. Packenham and Gibbs made a desperate attack on New

Orleans, on January 8, 1815. But we had a Jackson at New Orleans, as previously

we had a Washington at Yorktown, and later had a Scott at Mexico, a Grant at

Richmond and a Dewey at Manila. With this signal victory at New Orleans,

Jackson's name goes on the pages of history as one of the American heroes and

"fighting" generals.



  George McEliece, father of our subject, was born in Ireland, February 22,

1819, and immigrated to this country when nineteen years old, locating in Lykens

Valley at the time the Lykens Valley R. R. was being constructed. Later in life

he removed to Shamokin, where he soon became a citizen of much prominence. He

endorsed the principles of Democracy and took a very active interest in

politics. He was elected treasurer of Northumberland County, which fact is

sufficient proof of the esteem in which he was held by the people of his county.

He served as county treasurer for two years, 1869 and 1870, faithfully

discharging the duties incumbent on him. Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., honors him

as one of its charter members. He was united in marriage with Mary Woodside, who

bore him seven children, who were named as follows: Elizabeth; John, our

subject; Mary, who became the wife of Anthony J. Gallagher of Wilkesbarre, Pa.,

both now deceased; Annie, wife of James J. Rigney, of Shamokin; Jane, who is the

wife of John O'Keefe, a large ranch owner at Seattle, Washington; Isabella,

widow of Bryan Jennings, deceased; and Maggie, who died unmarried.



  John McEliece, the subject of this sketch, received a practical education in

the public schools of Shamokin and was among the first to enlist in the Union

Army. In 1861, when but eighteen years old, he enlisted in Company K, 46th Reg.,

Pa. Vol. Inf., and served in the Army of the Potomac and in the Army of the West

a little over two years. He participated in the battle of Winchester, fought May

26, 1862, in which the Union Army was victorious; he was twice wounded in the

battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., where an engagement took place August 9, 1862,

which resulted in heavy Union losses, our subject being one of 400 taken

prisoners by the Rebels. He was placed in a Confederate hospital at Staunton,

Va., for about one month, after which he was taken to Libby Prison. He was

confined there and at Belle Island for about two months, when he was enabled to

rejoin his regiment. He enlisted as a private, but received his discharge as a

sergeant.



  Returning from the war, Mr. McEliece engaged as brakeman on the Shamokin

division of the Northern Central R. R. He received rapid promotion, first to

fireman, then to engineer, all before the end of his first year of service. At

the end of one and a half years' service on this road he resigned his position

and accepted the very important and lucrative one, that of superintendent of

Locust Gap Colliery, which position he retained for many years. Aside from the

duties of superintendent, which he performed with regularity and exactness, he

looked after many other interests, and was justice of the peace for fifteen years.



  There seemed to be a charm about military life that won favor with Mr.

McEliece. He organized a military company in July, 1869, which was known as the

"Washington Rifles" and was commissioned their captain, and served in that

capacity for six years. This company was afterward merged into the State

National Guard as Company A, 7th Regiment. His duties connected with the

colliery compelled him to sever his connection with the company after he had

completed its organization. He remained in Locust Gap until 1885, at which time

he accepted his present important position in Shamokin.



  Our subject sought and won Ann Ellen Lukens, a daughter of Michael Lukens of

Philadelphia, and she became his bride in August, 1866. Their family numbers

seven children, viz: George W., a machinist by trade, who enlisted in Light

Battery F., of the 5th U. S. Artillery and served five years, seeing active

service during the Cuban War,—on October 6, 1898, he was detached and is now

serving as clerk at the headquarters of Gen. Leonard Wood, whose war record

needs no introduction to the people of the present day; Fred, a locomotive

engineer; Leo, who is a member of Company K, 8th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and who

also saw active service in the Cuban War; Lloyd, a fireman for the electric

light company of Shamokin; Isabella; Lillian; and Maggie.



  Mr. McEliece is a devout Roman Catholic and a liberal supporter of his church;

he is also a valued member of Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R. His friends are

unanimous in their opinion, that his success has come from steady purpose and

constant, industry, and no one covets the position of true worth and esteem

which he has obtained.





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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