MERCER COUNTY PAGenWeb Project

Alexander B. McKay 


ALEXANDER B. McKAY well known in business circles of Grove City, was born on a farm near Pardoe, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 26, [1844] a son of William and Eliza (Lenigan) McKay. The father was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish parentage and came to this country about 1820. The mother was also a native of Ireland. The parents were united in marriage in Philadelphia and came to Mercer county about 1830-32, settling in Findley township. where they died. He died at the age of sixty-three years, his wife surviving him several years, dying in 1903, aged ninety-one years. Her mother lived over the one hundred year mark, by one year. William and Eliza (Lenigan) McKay were United Presbyterians and had the following family: William J.; Sarah A.; Alexander B.; James L; Daniel G.; Mary J.; Robert.

The son, Alexander B. McKay, was reared to farm labor and given the advantages of a common school education. On February 27. 1864, during the Civil war period, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served until that long civil conflict had ended and the Union was once more restored. Upon the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic he joined the Marion Craig Post No. 325. He learned the carriage making trade, and in 1867 began manufacturing carriages at Pardoe, and in 1876 removed his business to Grove City, when the McKay Carriage Company became the outgrowth of the business. He severed his connection with the company in 1904, having been successful in building up a large and profitable business.

In his political views, Mr. McKay has always been a Republican and has done his part toward good government, from his viewpoint. In 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Paxton, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. Paxton, of Mercer county. The children born to this union are: William S.; Stella M., wife of Dr. L. D. Shafer, of Grove City; and Bertha. The family are members and workers in the Presbyterian church.

Source: (Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, Vol. I, page 509)


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