BIOGRAPHY: J. Howard McFARLANE, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 678-679.

  J.  HOWARD  MCFARLANE, Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pa., was born December 7, 
1837.  He is a son of Andrew and Mary E. (Smith) McFarland.  His great-great-
grandfather was James McFarlane, who was born in Scotland, December 24, 1695.  
He came to America in 1717, and settled in what was then Lancaster county and 
now Cumberland.  He married Janet Buchanan in 1724;  they had sons and 
daughters;  one of their sons, Patrick, was the great-grandfather of J. Howard 
McFarlane.  Patrick McFarlane was born in 1727;  he came to Mifflin county and 
took out warrants for a tract of land, consisting of 175 acres, but he returned 
to Cumberland county.  He married and had sons and daughters, one of whom was 
James.  When James was a young man he enlisted in Washington's army, and served 
all through the war.  He was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, near New York, 
and was captive for eighteen months.  After his release he returned to 
Cumberland county, and married Mary Louden.  Their children are:  James, married 
Lillie Henry, had two sons;  William, married Hannah Means, had two sons and two 
daughters;  Robert, died aged twenty-five years;  Andrew;  Elizabeth (Mrs. John 
Thompson), of Centre county, has five sons and two daughters;  Janet (Mrs. 
Joseph Kyle), has four sons and four daughters;  Nancy (Mrs. William Smith);  
Mary, deceased.  James McFarlane and his wife both lived to the age of seventy-
seven.
  Andrew McFarlane was born on the old homestead, February 21, 1803.  He 
received a limited education, and served an apprenticeship of three years with 
Uriah Jacobs, tanner;  but his health not permitting him to remain in the 
business, he was for two years in Reedsville as a merchant.  In 1832 he bought 
the homestead where his son Howard now resides.  Andrew McFarlane married Mary 
E., daughter of John and Sarah (Beatty) Smith.  Their children are:  John, 
deceased;  Sarah (Mrs. Albert Thompson), has seven children;  Anna Mary (Mrs. 
Robert P. Cochran), has six children;  J. Howard;  Emily (Mrs. Hugh A. Barr);  
Agnes, who resides with her brother Howard;  Ada (Mrs. W. G. Carson).  Andrew 
McFarlane died February 1, 1887.  His wife followed him July 3, 1887.  Mrs. 
Andrew McFarlane was one of seven children and was born October 16, 1805.  The 
others are:  Dr. Samuel Smith, who practised in Lewistown;  William, married 
Nancy McFarlane;  John;  James, married Eliza Campbell, has three daughters;  
Oliver P., married Isabella Taylor;  Sarah (Mrs. Samuel Kyle), has four 
children.
  J. Howard McFarlane attended the public schools and took a two years' course 
at the Kishacoquillas Seminary.  He remained with his father, and at his death 
succeeded to the homestead.  Mr. McFarlane is a Republican.  He was for a number 
of years one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church at Reedsville.