Proceedings for the erection of McCandless were first instituted August 4, 1849, when a petition for the division of Pine was presented to the court of quarter sessions, and viewers were appointed for its consideration. A strong feeling of opposition was at once aroused. September 7, 1849, a public meeting was held at the house of Daniel Vogel, on the evening of the township election, Robert Wallace, Esq., presiding. Resolutions were passed expressive of determined hostility to the measure, and a remonstrance was signed by three hundred and twenty-one citizens before the adjournment of the meeting. The number of townships at this time was twenty-eight, and in the entire county there were fifty-two election districts. In view of the increased expense incident to the formation of new election districts and other attendant circumstances, the court, in an opinion on this case, pronounced further subdivision a matter of questionable utility; and although the commission returned a favorable report, it was not confirmed, and for the time the opposition triumphed. But owing to some informality in the proceedings of the commissioners, it was urged that their report was not properly a subject of judicial action; and on motion of counsel for the petitioners, November 19, 1849, leave was granted by the court for the filing of additional testimony. In a second petition for division (September term, 1850), it is stated that the township (Pine) was eight miles long and six miles wide, with a voting population of three hundred. C. Snively, John Magill and John K. Foster were appointed as viewers, October 7, 1850; December 10th following they reported in favor of a division, the portion adjoining Ross township to be called Taylor, and that adjoining Butler county to retain the name of Pine; the former to comprise 16,105 acres, the latter 16,208 acres. March 22, 1851, by decree of court, the division was confirmed, the name of McCandless being substituted for that of Taylor as applied to the new township.

Wilson McCandless, LL. D., of whom mention is made in the chapter on Bench and Bar, page 261, died in Pittsburgh June 30, 1882. In his sketch of "The Judiciary of Allegheny County," Judge White thus speaks of his life and character:
"Judge McCandless was a remarkable man. He was a natural orator; with a robust form and commanding personnel, he had a clear, musical voice, and fine fiow of language, quick, brilliant, witty, and admirable in repartee. He was often called on by his fellow-citizens as the speaker for great public occasions, and on such occasions his addresses sparkled with the rarest gems of oratory. Few men equaled him in power before a jury in a criminal case. As the champion of the democracy of Western Pennsylvania his voice was always heard in the thickest of the fight, cheering his comrades on to victory, or rallying them, in defeat, for another battle. He never held a political ofiice, but was frequently in state and national conventions, helping to choose the standardbearers of his party, and then entering the campaign with all his energies to secure their election. In private life he was genial, sympathetic, sprightly and humorous; on the bench he maintained the dignity of his station with such unaffected urbanity that all the bar respected and loved him."

Of the persons named in the preceding list, John Deer came to McCandless township in 1792, and remained on the farm where he settled till his death. His sons were John, George, Henry, Daniel, David and Jacob; all dead. John C. Deer, a son of Daniel, resides on a part of the old homestead. William Willoughby, James Duff and James Amberson were settlers prior to 1800. Henry Moon came in 1796. He reared a large family, and three of his sons, John, Joseph and Murdock, still reside on the old homestead. Robert Wallace came about 1797. His sou Robert died in 1881, in his eighty-eighth year. James and John Wallace, sons of Robert (2d), are residents on the old place. George and Wible Grubbs came about the first of this century. Both reared families, nearly all of whom have passed away. William, the youngest son of George, still lives where his father settled. Philip Sarver was an immigrant prior to 1800. By two wives he had twenty-four children, but one of whom, a daughter, survives. John Campbell came in 1809, and settled at the place where his son John now lives. Of his other sons that grew to manhood, Joseph died in 1845 and Samuel in 1880. ______Stout was here soon after the commencement of the present century. His sons were Daniel and John. William Hutchman came in 1811. His sons were Hanse, Samuel, Josiah and William, of whom Samuel only is living. William Huggins came prior to 1820. His son Jacob resided here till his death. George Cubbitt was here about 1807. His son George succeeded him on the farm where he settled, but removed in 1864.

Germans were numerous among the early population. Provision for religious services was made as early as 1795, when a plot of ground was set apart for the purpose. St. John’s German Lutheran Church was incorporated in 1830, and a log church was built many years prior to that date. The English Lutheran Church, in the southern part of the township, is of more recent origin.

There is neither postoflfice nor village. The population in 1860 was 1,482;. in 1870, 957; in 1880, 1,010. The area is about ten thousand acres.