McCUNE

Samuel W. McCune, station agent of the C., B. & Q. Railroad.  This gentleman is one of the most courteous agents of this great corporation.  He was born at Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., July 27, 1852. He was educated at Bloomington, this state.  While residing in Indiana, he selected as his future profession that of telegraphy.  He accordingly proceeded to Terre Haute, where, and in other cities, he became an apt pupil, and in time a skillful operator.  By the Peoria & Springfield R. R. Co. he received the offer of a situation in the company's office at Pekin.  There he gained the esteem of his superiors in the capacity of agent.  He remained there for over a year, when he became employed by the C., B. & Q. R. R. at Astoria.  Since here, he has proven himself a capable business man and keeps pace with the times.  In 1874 he was married to Miss Mattie, daughter of John H. Ramsey, of Ind.  They had one child, R. L., born at Crawfordsville, Ind. - (History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 448, Astoria Township) Contributed by Sara Hemp

McGEE

BENJAMIN McGEE, one o f the oldest and most successful business men of Bloomington, was born in Spencer County, Ky., in 1819. He was the second son in a family of four children born to "William and Charity (Riggs) McGee. When seven years of age, he was brought by his parents to Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., and while still a boy began learning the tailoring trade with his stepfather, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he engaged in the tailoring business in Spencer for himself, continuing successfully for several years. He then formed a partnership with R. G. Overstreet in the merchant tailoring and clothing business. In 1851, he came to Bloomington for his health, and was prevailed upon by his friends to locate here. He opened a tailor shop, and in 1852 formed a partnership with John W. Davis in the clothing business, running in connection with it a merchant tailoring department. Four years later, he purchased his partner's interest, and for twenty-eight years has conducted the business alone, and has at present an immense clothing establishment. His reputation as a successful cutter is known far and near, and he has a large foreign trade, sending suits to Washington, D. C, Eureka Springs, Ark., and many other cities. He married Verlinda Buskirk, daughter of Abram Buskirk, one of the earliest pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there have been born to them five children, Charles E., Florence, Ben A., Edward L. and Thomas E. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 577

B. A. McGEE was born July 26, 1851, in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind. His parents are Benjamin and Verlinda Y. (Buskirk) McGee, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. Our subject "is the second son and third child in family, and was reared in Bloomington, where he was educated.    When sixteen years of   age, he entered the State University, remaining two years. He then entered the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, at Louisville, whence he graduated in August, 1869. He then went into his father's clothing store and remained until February, 1874, at which time he entered the office of Dr. W. F. Allison, dentist, of Bloomington, and began learning dentistry. October 1, 1874, he entered the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati, where he stayed till the spring of 1875, going thence to Louisville. He studied dentistry with Dr. J. F. Canine, and in September he went to Rockport, Ind., and entered the regular practice there. Two years later, he came to Bloomington, and in December, 1877, opened a dental office, which be at present has, and is doing a lucrative business. In May, 1883, he was elected to the Council; and is at present holding: that position. In September, 1872, he married Alice Norman, daughter of Joseph and Susan Norman, residents of Lawrence County, Ind. They have three children —Van Norman, Proctor K. and Alice B. Mr. McGee is a member of the H. of H., and of I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Methodist Church.    Politically, he is a Republican. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Pages 577 - 578

J. M. McGEE, a native of Ohio, was born in Caldwell, Noble County, on January 2, 1850. His parents, Andrew and Sarah (Smith) McGee, were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They were married in 1844, in Ohio, and settled on a farm in Noble County, where they lived until the death of the father, which occurred October 31, 1859. The mother still lives on the old homestead. The subject of this sketch is the second son and third child in a family of seven children, and was reared in his native county, where he lived until 1861. He then went to live with his uncle for three years, after which he began working in the oil regions, in which he continued for one year. He then entered Sharon College, at Sharon, Ohio, remaining for two years. In the fall of 1868, he came to Indiana, and engaged for nine months in the saw mill business. After leaving the saw mill, he began teaching school in Brown County, afterward teaching in Brownville, Neb., for eighteen months, and returning to Brown County in 1871. He was engaged in the drug business for some time in Nashville, and in June, 1873, he was elected County Superintendent of Brown County Schools. In 1875, he was re-elected, and two years later came to Bloomington, Monroe County, and engaged in the drug business ,again. In June, 1879, he was elected County School Superintendent, re-elected in 1881, and again in 1883, at present being engaged in the faithful discharge of his duties. October 12, 1873, he married Eliza Taylor, of Morgan County. She died in April, 1875, and two years later he married N. E. Buskirk, daughter of . William H. Buskirk, the oldest living settler in Monroe County. They have two children, Max and Frank. Mr. McGee is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and of the K, of H. He is an active member of the Methodist Church, and politically is a Democrat. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 578

McNARY

REV. WILLIAM POLLOCK McNARY was born in Washington County, Penn., the 16th day of September, 1839. His father's name was William Hill McNary, and his mother's maiden name Margaret Murray; the daughter of George Murray, of the Murray Hill farm, two miles east of Cannonsburg. Our subject's ancestry were Scotch, Irish on both sides of the house. His great-great-grandfather, James McNary, who was the head of the largest family of McNarys in this country, was born in Scotland about the year 1711. The family came to this country about the year 1760, and settled in York County, Penn. He had a wife, a daughter and four sons. Three of these sons moved to Washington County, Penn.  John McNary. the grandfather of our subject, who was the eldest son of John, of York County, brought the family to the new farm in Washington County, after his father's death, and it is still in the possession of his son James.    William Hill McNary, the father of our subject, was born on the farm mentioned above; on the 26th day of November, 1805.   He   was   an   Abolitionist, until    that  party merged into the Republican party. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Convention in 1856, at which the Republican party of Pennsylvania was organized, and was a stanch Republican until his death. Rev. W. P. McNary, the subject of  this sketch, is the third son  now living. He spent his boyhood on the old farm and received his common school education in a little brick schoolhouse on the home premises.    In 1856, he went to an academy at Wilkinsburg, Penn., to prepare for college, and in 1858  entered the sophomore class in Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, Penn., where he graduated in the class of 1861.    In April, 1861. on the first call for 75,000 troops he enlisted for the war. His company not getting into camp in time for the first call, he enlisted for three years in Company D, Tenth   Regiment   Pennsylvania Reserve Corps as a private, from which he was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant.  On account of bravery on the battlefield, he was promoted by Gov. A. G. Curtain, of Pennsylvania, to the position of Adjutant of the One Hundred and Twenty-third  Regiment   Pennsylvania Volunteers. This was a nine months' regiment, and its time expired March 2, 1868.  He was scarcely home when there was a call for troops for 100 days, to be mustered into United  States service for the protection of Pennsylvania against threatened invasion. He raised a company, of which he was made Captain, and  on  the  forming  of a regiment he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia for United States service. In this capacity he went out in the campaign against Col. John Morgan, and was present at the capture of Morgan's forces. He spent the winter of 1863,64, at the theological seminary. During the spring vacation, there was another call for troops for 100 days, and his old Colonel, J. B. Clark, having raised a regiment, offered him his old position of Adjutant of the One Hundred and Ninety, third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in that capacity he served another 100 days in the summer of 1864. In the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserved Corps, he participated  in the battles of Drainsville, Maysville, Cold Harbor or Gainsmills, Chickahominy, Malvern Hill and Altietam.  In the One Hundred and Twenty, third Regiment   Pennsylvania Volunteers,   in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorville.  Returning to the seminary in the fall of 1864,  he finished his course in March, 1866, and after a short itinerancy became pastor of the United Presbyterian congregation of Leavenworth, Kan., where he remained until the fall of 1869.  In August, 1870, he became pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Ind., in which capacity he has continued until the present time.    In June, 1880, without his knowledge or consent, he was elected Trustee of the public schools of the city of Bloomington, which position he held for three years. On the 17th of June, 1880, he was nominated by the Republican State Convention an Elector for the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana.    During the campaign of that year, he made twenty-two speeches for Garfield and Arthur, speaking in eight counties of the State. He met with the Electoral College on December 1, 1880,  and voted for Garfield and Arthur. On the 27th of September, 1866, he married Elizabeth Graham, of Wilkinshurg, Allegheny Co., Penn., daughter of James Graham, deceased. Mrs. McNary's mother's maiden name was Eliza Macfarlane. She still lives on the old homestead in Allegheny County, Penn. In December, 1883, Mr. McNary and Rev. A. H. Harshaw formed a partnership for the purpose of publishing a religious weekly paper at St. Louis, Mo., to be called the Midland, in which he is now engaged in connection with the pastorate of the church at Bloomington. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Pages 578 - 580

McPHEETERS

DR. J. G. McPHEETERS, a native of Kentucky, was born in Fayette County January 21, 1811. He is the eldest son of six children born to Charles and Martha (Glass McPheeters, natives of Virginia. In 1829, he entered Centre College, at Danville, Ky., and one year later came to Madison, Ind., entered a classical school there, and remained until the spring of 1831, when he came to Bloomington, and entered the State University, from which he graduated in 1834. During the following year, he taught in the preparatory department of this institution, then for some time taught a subscription school at Madison, Ind. Early in 1836, he returned to Kentucky, and for two years engaged in farming on the old home farm. In 1838, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Lloyd Warfield, of Lexington, Ky.; after one year returned to Bloomington, Ind., and resumed his studies with Dr. D. H. Maxwell, Late in 1839, he returned to Lexington, Ky., and entered the Transyl­vania Medical College, graduating with honors soon after. In the spring of 1840, he began the regular practice of medicine at Morgantown, Mor­gan Co., Ind. The next year he came to Bloomington, and formed a partnership with Dr. J. D. Maxwell, which lasted until January, 1850. In August, 1861, he entered the army as Surgeon of the Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, and served over three years. Having been kept so constantly in. charge of hospitals in various parts of the South, his health became impaired, and on September 16, 1864, he received an honorable discharge for disability, returning at once to Bloomington, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In June, 1836, he was married to Miss Clara M. Dunn, daughter of Samuel Dunn, a pioneer of Monroe County. He is a prominent member of the Royal Arch Masons, of the Presbyterian Church, and an old-time Republican. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 580

J. G. McPHEETERS, Jr., was born on August 26, 1839, in Morgan County, Ind. He is the eldest son and second child of Joseph G. and Clara (Dunn) McPheeters, natives of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was reared at home in Bloomington, where he acquired the rudiments of a good English education in the graded schools of Blooming­ton. When seventeen years of age, he entered the State University, where be remained for five years, but was compelled to quit on account of ill health. In April, 1863, he was appointed Mail Agent on the L., N. A. &C. R. R., running between La Fayette, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., continuing for two years. On the 22d day of April, 1875, he was commissioned Postmaster of Bloomington, and is at present so engaged, faithful in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him. On January 15, 1873, he was married, in Terre Haute, by Rev. E. Frank Howe, to Miss Amelia B. Collum, a daughter of Orson Barber, a well, known pioneer lawyer of Terre Haute. Mr. McPheeters served as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and has also served as Secretary for eighteen years.    He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Cecelia Lodge, No. 166; also of the A., F. & A. M., Monroe Lodge, No. 22, and of the Presbyterian Church; his wife is a member of the Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Pages 580 - 581

CHARLES H. McPHEETERS was born March 25, 1846, in Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind., and is the youngest child of Dr. J. G. and Clara M. (Dunn) McPheeters. He was reared in Bloomington, where he was educated in the public schools. When fourteen years of age, he entered the employ of a hardware merchant, with whom he remained for thirteen years, during which time he worked with him for sixteen months in Bloomfield, Greene County, Ind. In January, 1871, he became partner of William Stuart in the hardware business, which ,firm continued until October, 1883, when Mr. Stuart sold his interest to J. W. Shoemaker, and the business is now being carried on under the firm name of McPheeters & Shoemaker. In' 1871, he was appointed Town Treasurer, to fill the unexpired term of James Manley, and in 1872 was elected to the same office. He was re-elected in 1873, and held the office for seven years. On November 5, 1868, he was united by marriage to Cleopatra Stuart, daughter of William Stuart. They have two children, Grace and Mary. Mr. McPheeters is a member of the L O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican. He and wife are active workers in the Methodist Church. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 581

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