Augustus McGill

biography

Augustus McGill. -- The old records in the surveyor-general’s office at Harrisburg show that February 25, 1793, Patrick McGill began an improvement on the east side of French creek, and June 28, 1794, a tract of land containing four hundred and thirty-nine acres, one hundred and fifty-seven perches, with six per cent. added, was resurveyed for him in pursuance of said improvements. Actual settlement proven from September 1, 1796, and resurvey made December 20, 1800; warrant granted June 6, 1801, and patent issued for said lands in pursuance of provisions of the "settlement act," July 22, 1802.
Patrick McGill was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America before the Revolutionary war. After the war, he located in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and married Anna Maria Baird, and they reared three sons and two daughters. John McGill, the eldest son, was born in Northumberland county, October 19, 1795; William P., Nancy (McGill) Burchfield, Charles D. and Maria (McGill) McCloskey were born at the home on French creek, were married there, begat sons and daughters and have passed away. Patrick McGill died in 1832, a Presbyterian in faith and a Democrat in politics.

John McGill married Isabella Ryan June 12, 1822. She was a daughter of John and Catharine (Himrod) Ryan of Woodcock township. She was born October 28, 1800; and died March 25, 1876. They reared to maturity two sons and five daughters. Of these only three survive, to-wit: Augustus, born September 1, 1828; Eliza R. (McGill) Fleming, born September 26, 1830, now a resident of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, and William R. McGill, born February 1, 1833, a resident of Summerhill township. All other members of the family died without issue. John McGill died October 27, 1878, aged eighty-three years. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Democrat in politics.

Augustus McGill, the subject of this sketch, is a resident of Saegerstown. He was educated at the district schools and at the Saegerstown Academy, and for a time taught school. March 21, 1855, he married Sarah Peiffer, of Venango, Pennsylvania. She was born August 13, 1828, and is still living. Her ancestry was of German origin and came to America before the Revolution, and also migrated here from Northumberland county about 1801.

Before the war of the Rebellion Mr. McGill was postmaster in his native town and also county auditor. August 19, 1861 he enlisted in Company F. Eighty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was appointed a sergeant and subsequently promoted to first sergeant and second lieutenant, and on tender of his resignation February 1, 1863, was honorably discharged on surgeon’s certificate of disability. His experience this term of service consisted, in part, of active participation in the following battles, to-wit: Yorktown (siege), Hanover Court-House, Gaines’ Mills, Savage Station, Whiteoak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, and Fredericksburg, where he was wounded, December 13, 1862.

After returning home he was appointed United States enrolling officer for his district. Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania in June, 1863, called for men to repel the enemy; a company was recruited from Saegerstown and surrounding country and marched to Pittsburg with McGill for captain and F. S. Skeel, of Hayfield, first lieutenant. It became Company D, Fifty-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. Colonel Samuel B. Dick commanding; marched into West Virginia and rendered efficient service along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad until recalled the following August.

December 26, 1863, Captain McGill re-enlisted and returned to the Army of the Potomac. He was detailed to duty at the A. G. 0. headquarters, Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, where he served until honorably discharged, June 29, 1865.

During his last service he was present under fire, promptly discharging such duties as were assigned him, in the following engagements, to—wit: Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania Court-House, North Anna, Hanovertown, Bethesda Church, Petersburg (siege), Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hatcher’s Run, Gravelly Run, Boydton Road, White Oak Road, Five Forks and Appomattox Court-House.

All the above facts are matters of record in the War Department. Comment is not required and heroics are out of place.

Inflammatory rheumatism and other thumps encountered in the service prostrated him at the close of the war and he has been a cripple since 1865. He has held positions under the state and national governments—is a vigorous writer—was editor of the Weekly Press, the first paper published in Saegerstown—has been justice of the peace, notary public and borough secretary, but all these becoming irksome, he has declined further public service and has practically retired.

He has one son (William R., Jr.), one daughter and six grandchildren living, to become the victims of some future historian.

Captain McGill is a Republican; he believes in McKinley and has faith in the unlimited expansion of the area of human liberty.

Our county and its people: a historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania by Samuel P. Bates, 1899, pages 689-691.