Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| THE McALLENS. "The family belonged to the old Scotch clan Campbell, and
the meaning of the name is 'son of Campbell,' or rather 'son of Colin.' The
leader or captain of the clan was McCallen or McCallum, and at the breaking
up of the clan they all took the name of McAllen, omitting, some of them
the one 'c', except one who took the name of the clan 'Campbell.' He became
the Duke of Argyle in Scotland, and Lord Lorne, the present duke's son, is
the son-in-law of Queen Victoria, his wife being the Princess Louise. The
family took a prominent part in military affairs, and for their services
in suppressing the Irish were given an estate at Down Hill, seven miles from
Londonderry. This was just after the battle of Boyne Water, which occurred
July 1, 1690. Some of them removed to Ireland and took possession of the
estate and brought with them their old body guard, whom they kept as long
as they lived and were able to support them. They were very clannish, and
as long as they remained in Ireland they kept the Scotch book pure, going
back to Scotland to get wives when they wished to marry. After about forty
years' residence in Ireland some of them came to America and settled near
Harrisburg, Penn., in about the year 1730, and the farm now occupied by Hon.
Simon Cameron is thought to have been originally taken up by these McAllens.
Robert McAllen and wife took up the first land, it is believed; his name,
besides being found in the land office at Harrisburg, is on an old record
of a Presbyterian Church that was located at or near Derry, a few miles from
Harrisburg. From here the descendants of the family scattered to Adams, perhaps
then or soon after York, County, near Gettysburg, some remaining at Harrisburg.
From the family that came near Gettysburg, the Franklin County, as well as
the Butler County McAllens descended. John McAllen, the writer's grandfather,
was a son of John McAllen of near Gettysburg. He located in Fannettsburg,
Metal Township, Franklin County, about the year 1794, and bought large tracts
of land and set about improving it at once by erecting houses and barns upon
it. He built and burned brick kilns, from which he constructed a number of
large brick houses, one of which was erected for and kept as a hotel for
many years and enjoyed a large patronage. This house is and has been occupied
for the past twenty-one years by his oldest son, John Franklin McAllen; another
brick edifice adjoining the above is occupied by his youngest son, William
S. McAllen; both these houses are equal and superior to many of the modern
buildings of to-day. He also erected four mills, two saw-mills and two
flouring-mills, all of which are in successful operation at the present day.
Thus it will be seen that he gave great impetus to the spirit of improvement
at that early day. In addition to the improvement of large bodies of land,
he had in an adjacent valley (Horse Valley) about 1,200 acres of land valuable
for its bark timber, on which he was about to erect a large steam tannery,
but about this time, July, 1840, he took suddenly sick and died. Thus ended
the life of a good and useful man who did more to develop the resources of
his neighborhood than any other score of men in his day. He was married twice,
first to a Miss Margaret Geddis, and second to a Miss Sarah Skinner, my
grandmother, and left living within my recollection, John F. McAllen, Thomas
W. McAllen, Robert W. McAllen, William S. McAllen and Sarah Jane McAllen
(now the wife of Dr. J. S. Flickinger).
"John F. McAllen, the eldest child, inherited his father's business ability, and to the present day is what his father was to his day and generation. He is a considerable land owner, and raises great numbers of fine stock, and has invested a large fortune in the way of improving his lands and mill properties. He has been a public benefactor, giving employment to the workingmen of his neighborhood. He married Miss Elizabeth Moody Nimmon (my mother, one of the best of women, and, to my mind, the best of all women; but God took her at the age of fifty, and her children shall never cease to mourn their loss of her). The names of their children are John Adams, Thomas Franklin and Robert Franklin (both of whom died in infancy), Margaret Jane (now Mrs. Geo. W. Park), Sarah Lillias (now Mrs. Wm. E. Harris), Eliza Bell and Elizabeth Nimmon (both of whom died in infancy), Anna Mary (now Mrs. S. A. Walker), Wm. West and Grace Nimmon. He married for a second time Nancy J. Wineman; children: Frank, Archibald and Donald. The oldest son in the 'John' branch of the family, has been called John for several generations. The writer's (John A. McAllen's) mother once told him that his grandmother McAllen had told her that he was either the fifth or seventh generation in which the oldest son was called John, and I think she said in this country. The writer now has a son John three years old November 17, 1886. "Robert W. McAllen was my father's next eldest brother. He was a brigadier-general of militia before the war of the Rebellion, and during the war was a lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was a very popular man, and kind to the needy; he died about 1867 from disease contracted in the service. He married twice. His first wife was Miss Isabella Campbell of Fannettsburg; his second wife was Miss Isabella Wilhelm of Metal Township. He left four sons: by the first wife, John Howard and Thos. Campbell, and by the second wife Robert W. and William. "Thomas Wilson McAllen, the third son, is married to Mrs. Margaret McGaughey, formerly a Miss Horner, of near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Penn. His only living child is Roberta M. McAllen, a graduate of Wilson College, Chambersburg, Penn. He resides on a farm of upward of 400 acres adjoining the town of Fannettsburg. This farm was once the property of his father, John McAllen. "Wm. S. McAllen, the youngest son, was married to Miss Clementine Kyle, December 26, 1860, the eldest daughter of David Kyle, who in his day was a prominent business man of Fannettsburg, Penn. Mrs. Clementine McAllen died August 24, 1881, leaving her husband and five children to mourn her loss. The oldest of the children is Margaret Kyle McAllen, a graduate of Wilson College, Chambersburg, Penn.; the second daughter, Sadie Maud McAllen, is now (January, 1887,) in her senior year at Wilson College. Jno. W. Kyle McAllen is the oldest son, and Norman W. is the youngest of the two boys; Jean Clementine is the youngest of the family. Father and children all live together in the old homestead. From about the years 1858 to 1865 he was engaged in merchandising, but or a number of years past has been engaged in superintending his farm, etc. "Mrs. Sarah Jane McAllen Flickinger, the only living daughter of Jno. McAllen, the wife of Dr. John S. Flickinger. They reside two miles north of Fannettsburg. They live privately in the midst of their farms in elegant ease, dispensing the hospitality of their home to their friends and all comers. The Doctor is a retired physician who has enjoyed a large and successful practice. They have two children: Joseph McAllen, who is in attendance at Chambersburg Academy, and Edith S., a student of Metzgar Seminary, at Carlisle, Penn. They all have been Presbyterians from the earliest days until recently. John F. McAllen withdrew from that denomination and joined the Methodists. John A. McAllen, the writer of this sketch, withdrew from the Presbyterian Church and became an Episcopalian about three years ago - soon after marrying a Miss Blanchie M. Crawford, of Virginia, whose father, William H. Crawford, now of Knoxville, Tenn., is a full cousin of the late Mrs. Frank Crawford Vanderbilt, second wife of the late Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. Dr. Arthur, the father of the late ex-President Chester A. Arthur, and the McAllens, of Counties Down and Tyrone, Ireland, are cousins. The members of the family have always been well-to-do, and generally take a leading place in their neighborhoods. "John A. McAllen is a graduate of Union University Law School, Albany, N. Y., and a lawyer. He is the founder of the Path Valley News, at Fannettsburg, Penn., a paper which, considering its location, has met with phenomenal success, much due to his wife's assistance as an adviser." History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 837-840.
- Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| EDWIN O. SMILEY, grocer, Chambersburg, was born in Carlisle, Cumberland
County, Penn., July 28, 1858, a son of Robert B. and Elizabeth A. (Shade)
Smiley. He with his parents came to Chambersburg in 1866, where he was educated
in the public schools, and in the fall of 1872 entered the employ of S. A.
Huber as clerk, with whom he remained until October, 1884, when he commenced
business for himself in his present location, 71 South Main Street, as a
dealer in general groceries and crockery, making a specialty of fresh fish
and vegetables in their season, which business is increasing and promising.
December 15, 1879, Mr. Smiley was married to Miss Lulu, daughter of Christian
and Margaret Senseney, former residents of Chambersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley
are members of the First United Brethren Church.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 693.
. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOSEPH SIERER, dealer in carpets and wall paper, Chambersburg, was born
in Cumberland County, Penn., December 11, 1838, son of Daniel and Mary Sierer.
He was brought up to farming until fifteen years of age, and received such
instruction in the common branches as the neighborhood schools afforded.
At the age of fifteen years (in March, 1853), he began serving with his father
an apprenticeship at the trade of chair-making, in Chambersburg. After completing
his apprenticeship he worked for others several years, and for a period took
charge of his brother's retail establishment, in which capacity he was occupied
in February, 1868, when he opened the carpet house of J. Sierer & Co.,
which was carried on under that name until April, 1870, since when Mr. Sierer
had conducted the business himself, and to which he added, about eight years
ago, wall paper. The business has grown to large proportions and the store
is now in a flourishing condition. In 1869 Mr. Sierer was married to Emma
C., daughter of Jacob Jarrett, of Chambersburg. To this union six children
were born, five of whom are living - two daughters and three sons. Mrs. Sierer
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 692. . Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |