BIO:  James McConkey, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Peach Bottom Township, Pg 165

JAMES McCONKEY, the second son, was born in Lancaster County, May 27, 
1787.  In the year 1808 he removed to Peach Bottom, and was in the 
employ of John Kirk, who then owned the ferry at this place, and 
conducted a general merchandise business.  He soon became a partner with 
Kirk on a capital of $500, borrowed from his father, which he soon 
returned with interest.  Subsequently he purchased the entire business 
interest of the place and a tract of 800 acres of land on Cooper’s Upper 
Rock Run.  At the time of the invasion of the British toward Baltimore, 
in 1814, he enlisted and marched with his regiment to the defense of 
that city.  He subsequently procured the bounty land on the western 
frontier for the members of his company.  In the militia service 
afterward he attained the rank of major, by which title he was 
familiarly known.  Early in his business career his father joined him in 
the management of the grist-mill at Peach Bottom.  On account of the 
scarcity of wheat in the vicinity, caused by the sterility of the soil, 
in that vicinity, they floated wheat, corn and potatoes down the 
Susquehanna River in arks and keel-bottom boats.  Here he ground the 
wheat into flour, corn into meal, and supplied the inhabitants over a 
large extent of country.  In the year 18— he was elected by the Whig 
party to represent York County in the State senate at Harrisburg.  He 
took a prominent part in urging the construction of the Susquehanna 
Canal from Columbia to join the Tide Water Canal in Maryland, which, 
when completed, in 1839, greatly increased the business interest of 
Peach Bottom.  It was then that the farmers of this section began to use 
lime so extensively as a fertilizer, and he brought immense quantities 
of the stone down the river and burned it here.  In every respect he was 
a prudent, exact and prosperous business man, and at the time of his 
death, in 1861, had accumulated a handsome competence as the result of 
has assiduous labors.  In every respect he was a prominent and 
influential citizen of his township, and intimately connected with the 
affairs of the county and State.  In 1815 Maj. McConkey was married to 
Julia Ann Wiley, by whom he had eleven children.  Of these two are now 
living:  Stephen D., of Baltimore, and John Q. A., of Peach Bottom.  
Henry F., the eldest, died at home, while in business with his father, 
in 1859.  William moved to Wrightsville, and became a very influential 
citizen of that town, and was largely interested in the business affairs 
of that place.  He was elected a member of the legislature from York 
County, which he represented with acknowledged ability and credit.  He 
died in 1880.  The first wife of Maj. McConkey died in 1833.  His second 
marriage was with Rachel Ramsay, who lived but a short time afterward.  
In 1838 he was married to Mary A. Ramsay.  Their children were Charles 
R. McConkey and Mrs. Julia A. Ross, widow of the late William G. Ross, 
Esq., of Lower Chanceford.