BIOS: William J. VICKROY, Windber, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 494/5

William J. VICKROY.

William J. Vickroy, of Windber, is a descendant of Hugh Vickroy, who came 
from England about the middle of the eighteenth century and settled in 
Maryland.  He married an American girl and they were the parents of the 
following children: Thomas, mentioned at length hereinafter; Nathan, born 
October 14, 1761; George, born July 12, 1873; Solomon, born August 12, 1764; 
William, born May 30, 1768; and Dorothy, the only daughter.
Thomas Vickroy, son of Hugh Vickroy, was born October 18, 1756, in Cecil 
county, Maryland.  In 1772 he went to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he 
learned surveying under Thomas Smith, and was employed by George Wood and 
other deputy surveyors.  In 1773 he laid out the city of Pittsburg to the 
satisfaction of all concerned.  In 1812 he built Shade Furnace, and afterward 
operated it for a number of years.  About 1784 he was appointed deputy state 
surveyor, an office which he held for a long period.  He served with the rank 
of commissary in General Clark's Indiana campaign.  Mr. Vickroy married 
Elizabeth Williams, and their children were: Joseph, born January 22, 1780; 
Mary, born October 14, 1783; Elizabeth, born November 4, 178?; Sarah, born 
April 29, 1791; and Thomas, born December 28, 1792. Mrs. Vickroy died, and 
Mr. Vickroy married (second) Sarah Atlee, who bore him the following 
children: William, born January 28, 1798, became a physician; Hettie, born 
September 22, 1799; E. A., born March 8, 1801, deceased; Charlotte, born 
January 26, 1803; Julianna B., born March 16, 1804; Louisa, born March 5, 
1806, died in infancy; Harriet, born December 8, 1807; Caroline, born March 
10, 1812; Charles, born January 20, 1814; Mary J., born March 22, 1816; 
Matilda, born January 28, 1818; Louisa, born May 20, 1819; and George W., 
mentioned at length hereinafter.  Mr. Vickroy died in 1845, at Alum Bank, 
Bedford county.
George W. Vickroy, son of Thomas and Sarah (Atlee) Vickroy, was born February 
24, 1822, and received a common school education.  For a number of years he 
was engaged in mercantile business in Bedford county.  At his father's death 
he inherited part of the homestead, and since 1853 has been devoted to 
farming.  In the sphere of poilitics he identifies himself with the 
Republicans.  He is a believer in the doctrines of Emmanuel Swedenborg.  Mr. 
Vickroy married, in 1846, Julia, daughter of John McDonald, and their family 
consisted of the following children: 1. Laura E., born in 1847, wife of 
George W. Blackburn, has three children.  2. Charles, born in 1849, married 
Elizabeth Walter, and has eight children.  3. William J., mentioned at length 
hereinafter.  4. Lavina, born in 1855, wife of Wilson W. Miller.  5. Kate, 
born in 1857, married Ross Barefoot, had two children and died February 22, 
1884.  6. Cornielia, born in 1859, wife of H. M. Barefoot, has five children. 
7. U. S. Grant, born in 1864, died March 14, 1884.  8. Elizabeth, born in 
1866, wife of Ira J. McClellan, has six children.
William J. Vickroy, son of George W. and Julia (McDonald) Vickroy, was born 
August --, 1851, and obtained his education in the schools of Bedford county.
He was instructed in surveying by his uncle, E. A. Vickoy, and for six years 
held the office of county surveyor.  In 1894 he moved to Windber, and for 
four years has been borough engineer, working in this and the adjoining 
county.  Mr. Vickroy's business career has been marked by a very singular and 
memorable coincidence.  On June 16, 1901, while running a line with his sons 
in Ogle township, he discovered by his charts that his grandfather had run 
the same line on the same day of the month, one hundred and seven years 
before.  Mr. Vickroy is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church.
He married, October 30, 1878, Ann E., daughter of John W. Lekes, and they 
have been the parents of the following children: 1. Emma, born May 25, 1880, 
killed August 4, 1905, in an accident on the Baltimroe & Ohio Railroad at 
Conghmans Run.  2. George S., born January 22, 1882.  3. John H., born 
November 23, 1883, married September 9, 1903, Gertrude, daughter of ______ 
Robinson, and has one child, Helen R.  4. Cornelia, born July 26, 1885.  5. 
Susan, born April 26, 1887.  6. Charles, born February 15, 1889.  7. Grace, 
born October 25, 1891.  8. Rose, born June 20, 1893.  9. Ruth, born July 4, 
1898, died January 2, 1905.  10. Clara, born February 2, 1904.