BIOS: Jacob McGREGOR, Shade Township, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, pp 303-304.

  Jacob McGregor, a well-known citizen and one of the foremost farmers of Shade 
township, Somerset County, was born on the homestead where he now lives, April 
2, 1837, a son of Alexander McGregor.  He is of Scotch descent, being the 
grandson of John McGregor, who was born in the Highlands of Scotland, and among 
those rugged hills grew to a vigorous manhood.
  Coming to America, John McGregor settled near Pleasantville, Bedford County, 
Pa., where he bought a tract of land, and by persistent toil reclaimed a farm 
from the wilderness.  He was very successful for his day, and though he labored 
hard he lived long and became an important factor in advancing the welfare of 
the town in which he made his home.  It is supposed that he was a Revolutionary 
soldier.  He married a Miss McDonald, of Scotch descent, who bore him five 
children, four boys and a girl.  Mary Ann, widow of the late John Taylor, is the 
only one of the five now living.
  Alexander McGregor, son of John, was born in Bedford County, and there learned 
the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in his native town until 1829.  
Removing then to Somerset County, he worked as a blacksmith in the town of Shade 
several years, and afterward he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits.  
Purchasing two hundred and five acres of land that was mostly in a wild state, 
he cleared a large portion of it, and there lived until his death, which 
occurred on the seventy-third anniversary of his birth.  A Republican in 
politics, he was influential in local affairs, and served as School Director, 
besides holding other offices of trust.  For many years he was a Deacon of the 
Lutheran church, and his wife was also an active member of the church.  He 
married Eleanor Lambert, who was born in the town of Shade in 1809, a daughter 
of George and Elizabeth (Statler) Lambert.  Eight children were the fruit of 
their union, and the four following-named are living - Samuel, Jacob, Susan, and 
Catherine.  Samuel McGregor married Rebecca McKenney.  She died, leaving one 
child Robert W., who married Mary Sorber, and has two children - Charles L. and 
Samuel D.  Catherine McGregor is the widow of the late Jonathan Wagner, and has 
nine children - Alexander L., Ralph C., Jacob McKinney, Edward, Walter, Wilson, 
Dennis, Nellie, and Jennie.
  Jacob McGregor, the special subject of this sketch, lived beneath the parental 
roof-tree until after he had attained his majority.  During the excitement that 
followed the finding of gold at Pike's Peak about forty years ago, he went to 
Colorado, where he remained a year; but, finding his prospects for accumulating 
a fortune were not very brilliant, he returned home.  In 1862 he enlisted for 
nine months as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ernest Schrock.  He took an active part in the 
battle of Antietam, and subsequently at the siege of Fredericksburg was so 
severely wounded in the left wrist by a minie ball that he had to be taken to a 
hospital in Washington, D.C.  He remained there four months, and at the 
expiration of his term of enlistment returned to the old homestead.  The 
following five years he was prosperously engaged in the manufacture of shooks, 
but since that time has turned his whole attention to the management of his 
estate.  He has added to the original property by purchase, and has now three 
hundred and fifty acres of land, a large part of which is under cultivation, and 
with the excellent improvements that he has made is one of the most desirable 
pieces of agricultural property in this part of the State.
  Keenly alive to the interests of the township, he has served in various local 
offices, and in 1894, 1895, and in 1896 was Poor Director for Somerset County.  
In politics he is a steadfast Republican.  He is an active and valued member of 
the Lutheran church, of which he has been Deacon many years.