Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 362] a leading and eminent agriculturist of Hickory township, was born Aug. 9, 1838, and is a son of William and Marjorie (Young) McAnlis, and grandson of James and Susan (Sleith) McAnlis.
Our subject's grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and followed that vocation ever after coming to this country; he had been educated for the ministry, and was so on to be a clergyman, when his father's death upset his plans and transferred upon his shoulders the burden of supporting the family. He brought his family to America in 1821, and made a home for them in what is now Big Beaver township, then situated in Beaver township [sic], but now an integral part of Lawrence County. On this farm of his in Big Beaver township, which he subsequently from time to time enlarged to a large and very valuable property, he lived until taken home to those gone before. His wife, who was also a native of the beautiful Emerald Isle, bore him nine children. The boys were: Samuel; John; William, the father of our subject; Robert; and James, who was six months old when the family left the home in Ireland. The girls Here: Jane (Young), died Oct. 1, 1897, aged 98 years; Eliza (Kirk); Susan (Patterson); and Margaret (Luke). Two of the family, Samuel and Robert, died in Ireland, but with these two exceptions the remainder of the family grew to maturity. They were Covenanters in regard to their religious belief and attachments. The family, although coming from Ireland, were of pure Scotch ancestry, their home having been in the north of Ireland.
William McAnlis was born in Ireland in 1810, and received the major portion of his education in the schools of the old country; on coming to this country with his parents in 1892, he worked on the paternal estate until thirty-three years of age, when he located on a farm in Big Beaver township, given to him by his father, who fitted each of his sons out in like manner. This continued to be his home until his decease June 18, 1880, and became the nucleus of an extensive estate of 350 acres, which he gathered together with prudence and forethought, aided in no little degree by hard work. His wife, a daughter of John Young, bore him the following children: James F., who was killed when in the army, defending the Union; John Y., the subject of this sketch; Robert S.; William W.; Joseph R., deceased; Susan J., deceased; Joseph H.; and Samuel S. Our subject's mother died in 1885, when aged seventy-four years.
John Y. McAnlis was educated in the schools of Big Beaver township, and has followed agricultural pursuits all of his life so far, until 1885 in Big Beaver township, and since that time on his farm of ninety-two acres in Hickory township, which property he acquired by purchase. The property is well-improved, with a fair amount given over to tillage, and a goodly quantity left for pasturage with running water convenient at hand for watering the stock; the farm is located about three miles from the center of the city of New Castle, and is easy of access in every season.
In 1870 his nuptials with Hannah Wilson, daughter of James Wilson of Big Beaver township, this county, were consummated, and they have resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom survive, as follows: Edwin M., who is a clerk in Kirk & Smith's hardware store in New Castle; Marjorie, who has just finished her course in the Slippery Rock Normal School, graduating in the Class of 1897, July 2; J. Wilson; and Chauncey R. Mrs. McAnlis is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. McAnlis is somewhat liberal in his views. He is a Republican in his politics, and has held the office of school director and road supervisor, and is now attending to the duties of the office of poor director. He is popular and companionable, and counts his friends by the score. In his business dealings, he is distinguished by his square and honest methods, and conscientious scruples against taking the least advantage of anyone with whom he may chance to have business. In the community at large he is known as the best of citizens, whose every endeavor has been to bring about needed improvements, and to elevate the moral tone, and keep it fixed on a high standard.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 28 May 2001