Bios: Alexander McMahan: Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland County, PA

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 DWhitby824@aol.com

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        ALEXANDER McMAHAN, one of the intelligent and substantial citizens of
Webster, was born July 17, 1843, in Allegheny county, PA., and is a son of Hugh and
Margaret (Manown) McMahan.  His grandfather, also named Hugh McMahan, was a native of
Ireland who emigrated to America in 1816 and settled in Allegheny county, Pa., where
he remained until 1828.  He then removed to Rostraver township in the adjoining
county of Westmoreland, where he carried on the business of farming until his death.
He was a democrat and a devout member of the Catholic church.  Hugh McMahan (father)
was born in Ireland in 1802 and came with his father to America where he followed
farming until his death, which occurred in 1882.  At the time of his death he owned a
tract of five hundred acres of land. The first crop of wheat he raised on his farm
was cut by himself with a sickle, and the last crop during his life was taken off by
five reapers and one self-binder, all running at one time, which shows the vast
progress made in farming and the use of agricultural machinery.  Mr. McMahan was
father of nine children, five of whom were boys.  In politics he adhered firmly to
the democratic faith and held several important offices in his township. He was a
man of very high standing in his community, being universally recognized as a
modest, industrious gentlemen of undoubted integrity and consistent christian
character.  He was an active member of the Catholic church and a man whose noble
example lives after him.  John Manown (maternal grandfather) was a native of Ireland
who emigrated to America and settled in Allegheny county, Pa., where he remained
until removed by death.
         Alexander McMahan was educated in the public schools of Rostraver township,
after which he carried on farming till 1888 when he embarked in the hotel business at
Webster, in which he is now engaged.  Politically he adheres to the democratic faith
while in religion he is an active, earnest member of the Catholic church.  He is a
man of excellent business qualifications, sober, quiet and industrious.
         Mr. McMahan married February 5, 1867, Mary Ellen, daughter of Thomas Daly,
of Delaware, and sister of Thomas Daly the efficient foreman of the great Gibsonton
distillery at Belle Vernon.  She has borne him nine children whose names are
Anastasia, Margaret A., Hugh, Athalia, Thomas Lafayette, Lillian E., Ella, Harold
and Marr Daly.