BIO:  William McSparran, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Peach Bottom Township, Pg 166

WILLIAM MCSPARRAN, a native of Lancaster County, Penn., was born November 20, 1820.  
His parents, James and Eleanor (Neal) McSparran were of Irish extraction, the 
paternal great-grandfather having come from Ireland and settled on land purchased 
from the Indians, in the southern part of Lancaster County.  This tract has ever 
since been owned and occupied by the family, which is a large and influential one.  
The subject of this sketch, after having received a training in farm life and a fair 
education, entered the mercantile business at the age of twenty-one at Liberty 
Square, and after two years removed to Chestnut Level, where he remained two years 
more.  He then removed to Peach Bottom in York County, where for five years he was 
engaged in the lumber and lime trade and in boating.  In 1850 he removed to West 
Bangor and formed a partnership with James A. McConkey, which continued one year.  
At about the age of thirty-three he commenced farming, which business he continues 
to pursue with eminent success.  When about twenty-five years of age he married Miss 
Alice Caldwell, who lived only three months after marriage.  He next married when 
about thirty, Miss Masaline Williamson, daughter, of Maj. Thomas S. Williamson, who 
was the pioneer of the Peach Bottom Slate business.  She died in May, 1883, leaving 
one daughter, Henrietta, who now resides with her father.  On the land occupied and 
managed by Mr. McSparran, all the slate quarries now operated in York County are 
located.  This tract comprises about 700 acres, fifty of which are leased as slate 
quarries.  These pay a royalty on all slate taken out, which yield an income of 
about $3,000 per year.  Three schoolhouses and three churches are located on the 
property, which in addition to the slate leases, is divided into three fine farms, 
two of which are rented out.  Mr. McSparran’s second wife was a near relative of 
Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa.  The family are members of the Slateville Presbyterian 
Church.