Taken from "Jefferson County, Pennsylvania - Her Pioneers and People," Vol. II, by Dr. William James McKnight, published in 1917 by J.H. Beers & Company, Chicago, page 431.
ALEXANDER McKAY is a sterling citizen of Jefferson county, within whose borders he has maintained his residence for more than thirty years. He virtually figures as the "father" of the thriving village of Westville, where he settled before there was any semblance of a town, in 1882, and where, with the development of a village, he gave to the place the name of his native town in Nova Scotia. Mr. McKay is a scion of the stanchest of Scottish lineage and has exemplified in all the relations of life the sturdy traits of character that so clearly mark the true type of Scotsman. Industry, strong intellectual grasp and invincible integrity of purpose have been exemplified throughout his career and through honest and earnest endeavor he has gained generous prosperity, the while he has commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He is one of the old-time blacksmiths, established the first blacksmith shop at Westville, and with seemingly unimpaired vigor he still follows his trade, - a man of brain and brawn.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, a little mining town ten miles distant from the coast of the Atlantic ocean, Alexander McKay was born on the 21st of May, 1841, a son of Neil and Margaret (Barclay) McKay, the former born in Sutherlandshire, one of the rugged highland counties of Scotland, in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and the latter of stanch Scottish ancestry, was born near Westville, Nova Scotia. Neil McKay was educated in his native land and when a young man immigrated to America and established his home in Nova Scotia, where he became the owner of a farm near Westville, and his entire active career was marked by close association with the basic
industry of agriculture. He resided on the homestead until his death, in the early nineties, and there also his wife passed away when venerable in years, both having been lifelong and devout members of the Presbyterian Church.
Alexander McKay gained his boyhood experiences in activities of the old home farm, and attended school at intervals until twelve years of age, though at the age of eleven he had entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, the while attending night school. He had manifested definite mechanical predilections and in learning his trade he was favored in having received instructions from his brother-in-law, John McNaughton, a skilled blacksmith. That Mr. McKay rapidly acquired facility is clearly shown in that when but twelve years of age he had established on the farm a little blacksmith shop, in which he turned out all manner of work demanded in a farming district. Eventually he opened a blacksmith shop at Westville, and there did work for mine operators.
In March, 1882, Mr. McKay brought his family to Jefferson county and established a home on the site of Westville, his family at the time consisting of his wife and three sons and three daughters. For the first year he worked at his trade for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, and then opened a shop at Westville, this being one of the first business places of the settlement gradually developed at this point. In establishing his home Mr. McKay first purchased a small frame house and two acres of ground from Robert Hunter, and that well earned success has attended his sturdy activities has a tangible voucher in the fine brick house he and his family occupy, which he erected in the spring of 1898.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, on the 27th of February, 1862, Mr. McKay wedded Sarah S. Cooley, a daughter of James and Jessie (Moffatt) Cooley, who came to Nova Scotia from Edinburgh, Scotland. Of the children of Alexander and Sarah S. (Cooley) McKay, all were born in Nova Scotia: Margaret is the wife of Henry Myers, of Clarksburg, Indiana county; John William, who married Miss Elizabeth Graffis, became a telegraph operator and was a train dispatcher at the time of his death; Jessie is the wife of Joseph O'Connell, of Verona, Allegheny county; Sadie is the wife of Wilbur Duell, of Birmingham, Ala.; Dr. Edward married Belle Jenks, of Punxsutawney, and is a physician and surgeon at Charleroi, Washington county; Alexander Jr. wedded Annie Weiser. The devoted wife and mother lived only two years after the family home had been established in Jefferson county, where she was summoned to eternal rest on the 9th of February, 1885, her remains resting in the Beechwoods cemetery. She was a gracious and kindly woman, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and was held in affectionate esteem by all who knew her.
For his second wife Mr. McKay wedded Harriet Patton, of Beechwoods, a daughter of William and Sarah Jane (Welsh) Patton. She was forty-six years of age at her death, on the 2d of April, 1900, and is survived by the following children: Mrs. Lucretia Jane Matthews, who resides near DuBois; Verina M. is the wife of Julius Denton, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Miss Henrietta is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools at Sykesville; Miss Maude B., who holds an excellent position with the Larkin Soap Company, at Buffalo, New York.
On the 13th of July, 1901, Mr. McKay married Mrs. Elizabeth (Huggan) O'Neil, who was born at Barclay, Bradford county, on the 27th of March, 1871, and was reared at Carbon Run, that county. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Huggan, both of whom were born in Nova Scotia. The father died at Carbon Run, when Mrs. McKay was in her tenth year, leaving his widow with three children, of whom Mrs. McKay was the eldest; the two sons, George and Harry, now reside at DuBois, and with them their venerable mother makes her home. At Barclay Miss Elizabeth Huggan became the wife of Frank O'Neil, and the three children of this union are Maude, Ruth and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born four children: Loretta, Lorene, Gilberta and Wilbur.
Mr. McKay takes a loyal interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his community and though he has had no desire for public office he is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
ALEXANDER McKAY is a sterling citizen of Jefferson county, within whose borders he has maintained his residence for more than thirty years. He virtually figures as the "father" of the thriving village of Westville, where he settled before there was any semblance of a town, in 1882, and where, with the development of a village, he gave to the place the name of his native town in Nova Scotia. Mr. McKay is a scion of the stanchest of Scottish lineage and has exemplified in all the relations of life the sturdy traits of character that so clearly mark the true type of Scotsman. Industry, strong intellectual grasp and invincible integrity of purpose have been exemplified throughout his career and through honest and earnest endeavor he has gained generous prosperity, the while he has commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He is one of the old-time blacksmiths, established the first blacksmith shop at Westville, and with seemingly unimpaired vigor he still follows his trade, - a man of brain and brawn.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, a little mining town ten miles distant from the coast of the Atlantic ocean, Alexander McKay was born on the 21st of May, 1841, a son of Neil and Margaret (Barclay) McKay, the former born in Sutherlandshire, one of the rugged highland counties of Scotland, in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and the latter of stanch Scottish ancestry, was born near Westville, Nova Scotia. Neil McKay was educated in his native land and when a young man immigrated to America and established his home in Nova Scotia, where he became the owner of a farm near Westville, and his entire active career was marked by close association with the basic
industry of agriculture. He resided on the homestead until his death, in the early nineties, and there also his wife passed away when venerable in years, both having been lifelong and devout members of the Presbyterian Church.
Alexander McKay gained his boyhood experiences in activities of the old home farm, and attended school at intervals until twelve years of age, though at the age of eleven he had entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, the while attending night school. He had manifested definite mechanical predilections and in learning his trade he was favored in having received instructions from his brother-in-law, John McNaughton, a skilled blacksmith. That Mr. McKay rapidly acquired facility is clearly shown in that when but twelve years of age he had established on the farm a little blacksmith shop, in which he turned out all manner of work demanded in a farming district. Eventually he opened a blacksmith shop at Westville, and there did work for mine operators.
In March, 1882, Mr. McKay brought his family to Jefferson county and established a home on the site of Westville, his family at the time consisting of his wife and three sons and three daughters. For the first year he worked at his trade for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, and then opened a shop at Westville, this being one of the first business places of the settlement gradually developed at this point. In establishing his home Mr. McKay first purchased a small frame house and two acres of ground from Robert Hunter, and that well earned success has attended his sturdy activities has a tangible voucher in the fine brick house he and his family occupy, which he erected in the spring of 1898.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, on the 27th of February, 1862, Mr. McKay wedded Sarah S. Cooley, a daughter of James and Jessie (Moffatt) Cooley, who came to Nova Scotia from Edinburgh, Scotland. Of the children of Alexander and Sarah S. (Cooley) McKay, all were born in Nova Scotia: Margaret is the wife of Henry Myers, of Clarksburg, Indiana county; John William, who married Miss Elizabeth Graffis, became a telegraph operator and was a train dispatcher at the time of his death; Jessie is the wife of Joseph O'Connell, of Verona, Allegheny county; Sadie is the wife of Wilbur Duell, of Birmingham, Ala.; Dr. Edward married Belle Jenks, of Punxsutawney, and is a physician and surgeon at Charleroi, Washington county; Alexander Jr. wedded Annie Weiser. The devoted wife and mother lived only two years after the family home had been established in Jefferson county, where she was summoned to eternal rest on the 9th of February, 1885, her remains resting in the Beechwoods cemetery. She was a gracious and kindly woman, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and was held in affectionate esteem by all who knew her.
For his second wife Mr. McKay wedded Harriet Patton, of Beechwoods, a daughter of William and Sarah Jane (Welsh) Patton. She was forty-six years of age at her death, on the 2d of April, 1900, and is survived by the following children: Mrs. Lucretia Jane Matthews, who resides near DuBois; Verina M. is the wife of Julius Denton, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Miss Henrietta is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools at Sykesville; Miss Maude B., who holds an excellent position with the Larkin Soap Company, at Buffalo, New York.
On the 13th of July, 1901, Mr. McKay married Mrs. Elizabeth (Huggan) O'Neil, who was born at Barclay, Bradford county, on the 27th of March, 1871, and was reared at Carbon Run, that county. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Huggan, both of whom were born in Nova Scotia. The father died at Carbon Run, when Mrs. McKay was in her tenth year, leaving his widow with three children, of whom Mrs. McKay was the eldest; the two sons, George and Harry, now reside at DuBois, and with them their venerable mother makes her home. At Barclay Miss Elizabeth Huggan became the wife of Frank O'Neil, and the three children of this union are Maude, Ruth and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born four children: Loretta, Lorene, Gilberta and Wilbur.
Mr. McKay takes a loyal interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his community and though he has had no desire for public office he is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Taken from "Jefferson County, Pennsylvania - Her Pioneers and People," Vol. II, by Dr. William James McKnight, published in 1917 by J.H. Beers & Company, Chicago, page 431.
ALEXANDER McKAY is a sterling citizen of Jefferson county, within whose borders he has maintained his residence for more than thirty years. He virtually figures as the "father" of the thriving village of Westville, where he settled before there was any semblance of a town, in 1882, and where, with the development of a village, he gave to the place the name of his native town in Nova Scotia. Mr. McKay is a scion of the stanchest of Scottish lineage and has exemplified in all the relations of life the sturdy traits of character that so clearly mark the true type of Scotsman. Industry, strong intellectual grasp and invincible integrity of purpose have been exemplified throughout his career and through honest and earnest endeavor he has gained generous prosperity, the while he has commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He is one of the old-time blacksmiths, established the first blacksmith shop at Westville, and with seemingly unimpaired vigor he still follows his trade, - a man of brain and brawn.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, a little mining town ten miles distant from the coast of the Atlantic ocean, Alexander McKay was born on the 21st of May, 1841, a son of Neil and Margaret (Barclay) McKay, the former born in Sutherlandshire, one of the rugged highland counties of Scotland, in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and the latter of stanch Scottish ancestry, was born near Westville, Nova Scotia. Neil McKay was educated in his native land and when a young man immigrated to America and established his home in Nova Scotia, where he became the owner of a farm near Westville, and his entire active career was marked by close association with the basic
industry of agriculture. He resided on the homestead until his death, in the early nineties, and there also his wife passed away when venerable in years, both having been lifelong and devout members of the Presbyterian Church.
Alexander McKay gained his boyhood experiences in activities of the old home farm, and attended school at intervals until twelve years of age, though at the age of eleven he had entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, the while attending night school. He had manifested definite mechanical predilections and in learning his trade he was favored in having received instructions from his brother-in-law, John McNaughton, a skilled blacksmith. That Mr. McKay rapidly acquired facility is clearly shown in that when but twelve years of age he had established on the farm a little blacksmith shop, in which he turned out all manner of work demanded in a farming district. Eventually he opened a blacksmith shop at Westville, and there did work for mine operators.
In March, 1882, Mr. McKay brought his family to Jefferson county and established a home on the site of Westville, his family at the time consisting of his wife and three sons and three daughters. For the first year he worked at his trade for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, and then opened a shop at Westville, this being one of the first business places of the settlement gradually developed at this point. In establishing his home Mr. McKay first purchased a small frame house and two acres of ground from Robert Hunter, and that well earned success has attended his sturdy activities has a tangible voucher in the fine brick house he and his family occupy, which he erected in the spring of 1898.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, on the 27th of February, 1862, Mr. McKay wedded Sarah S. Cooley, a daughter of James and Jessie (Moffatt) Cooley, who came to Nova Scotia from Edinburgh, Scotland. Of the children of Alexander and Sarah S. (Cooley) McKay, all were born in Nova Scotia: Margaret is the wife of Henry Myers, of Clarksburg, Indiana county; John William, who married Miss Elizabeth Graffis, became a telegraph operator and was a train dispatcher at the time of his death; Jessie is the wife of Joseph O'Connell, of Verona, Allegheny county; Sadie is the wife of Wilbur Duell, of Birmingham, Ala.; Dr. Edward married Belle Jenks, of Punxsutawney, and is a physician and surgeon at Charleroi, Washington county; Alexander Jr. wedded Annie Weiser. The devoted wife and mother lived only two years after the family home had been established in Jefferson county, where she was summoned to eternal rest on the 9th of February, 1885, her remains resting in the Beechwoods cemetery. She was a gracious and kindly woman, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and was held in affectionate esteem by all who knew her.
For his second wife Mr. McKay wedded Harriet Patton, of Beechwoods, a daughter of William and Sarah Jane (Welsh) Patton. She was forty-six years of age at her death, on the 2d of April, 1900, and is survived by the following children: Mrs. Lucretia Jane Matthews, who resides near DuBois; Verina M. is the wife of Julius Denton, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Miss Henrietta is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools at Sykesville; Miss Maude B., who holds an excellent position with the Larkin Soap Company, at Buffalo, New York.
On the 13th of July, 1901, Mr. McKay married Mrs. Elizabeth (Huggan) O'Neil, who was born at Barclay, Bradford county, on the 27th of March, 1871, and was reared at Carbon Run, that county. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Huggan, both of whom were born in Nova Scotia. The father died at Carbon Run, when Mrs. McKay was in her tenth year, leaving his widow with three children, of whom Mrs. McKay was the eldest; the two sons, George and Harry, now reside at DuBois, and with them their venerable mother makes her home. At Barclay Miss Elizabeth Huggan became the wife of Frank O'Neil, and the three children of this union are Maude, Ruth and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born four children: Loretta, Lorene, Gilberta and Wilbur.
Mr. McKay takes a loyal interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his community and though he has had no desire for public office he is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
ALEXANDER McKAY is a sterling citizen of Jefferson county, within whose borders he has maintained his residence for more than thirty years. He virtually figures as the "father" of the thriving village of Westville, where he settled before there was any semblance of a town, in 1882, and where, with the development of a village, he gave to the place the name of his native town in Nova Scotia. Mr. McKay is a scion of the stanchest of Scottish lineage and has exemplified in all the relations of life the sturdy traits of character that so clearly mark the true type of Scotsman. Industry, strong intellectual grasp and invincible integrity of purpose have been exemplified throughout his career and through honest and earnest endeavor he has gained generous prosperity, the while he has commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He is one of the old-time blacksmiths, established the first blacksmith shop at Westville, and with seemingly unimpaired vigor he still follows his trade, - a man of brain and brawn.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, a little mining town ten miles distant from the coast of the Atlantic ocean, Alexander McKay was born on the 21st of May, 1841, a son of Neil and Margaret (Barclay) McKay, the former born in Sutherlandshire, one of the rugged highland counties of Scotland, in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and the latter of stanch Scottish ancestry, was born near Westville, Nova Scotia. Neil McKay was educated in his native land and when a young man immigrated to America and established his home in Nova Scotia, where he became the owner of a farm near Westville, and his entire active career was marked by close association with the basic
industry of agriculture. He resided on the homestead until his death, in the early nineties, and there also his wife passed away when venerable in years, both having been lifelong and devout members of the Presbyterian Church.
Alexander McKay gained his boyhood experiences in activities of the old home farm, and attended school at intervals until twelve years of age, though at the age of eleven he had entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, the while attending night school. He had manifested definite mechanical predilections and in learning his trade he was favored in having received instructions from his brother-in-law, John McNaughton, a skilled blacksmith. That Mr. McKay rapidly acquired facility is clearly shown in that when but twelve years of age he had established on the farm a little blacksmith shop, in which he turned out all manner of work demanded in a farming district. Eventually he opened a blacksmith shop at Westville, and there did work for mine operators.
In March, 1882, Mr. McKay brought his family to Jefferson county and established a home on the site of Westville, his family at the time consisting of his wife and three sons and three daughters. For the first year he worked at his trade for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, and then opened a shop at Westville, this being one of the first business places of the settlement gradually developed at this point. In establishing his home Mr. McKay first purchased a small frame house and two acres of ground from Robert Hunter, and that well earned success has attended his sturdy activities has a tangible voucher in the fine brick house he and his family occupy, which he erected in the spring of 1898.
At Westville, Nova Scotia, on the 27th of February, 1862, Mr. McKay wedded Sarah S. Cooley, a daughter of James and Jessie (Moffatt) Cooley, who came to Nova Scotia from Edinburgh, Scotland. Of the children of Alexander and Sarah S. (Cooley) McKay, all were born in Nova Scotia: Margaret is the wife of Henry Myers, of Clarksburg, Indiana county; John William, who married Miss Elizabeth Graffis, became a telegraph operator and was a train dispatcher at the time of his death; Jessie is the wife of Joseph O'Connell, of Verona, Allegheny county; Sadie is the wife of Wilbur Duell, of Birmingham, Ala.; Dr. Edward married Belle Jenks, of Punxsutawney, and is a physician and surgeon at Charleroi, Washington county; Alexander Jr. wedded Annie Weiser. The devoted wife and mother lived only two years after the family home had been established in Jefferson county, where she was summoned to eternal rest on the 9th of February, 1885, her remains resting in the Beechwoods cemetery. She was a gracious and kindly woman, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and was held in affectionate esteem by all who knew her.
For his second wife Mr. McKay wedded Harriet Patton, of Beechwoods, a daughter of William and Sarah Jane (Welsh) Patton. She was forty-six years of age at her death, on the 2d of April, 1900, and is survived by the following children: Mrs. Lucretia Jane Matthews, who resides near DuBois; Verina M. is the wife of Julius Denton, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Miss Henrietta is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools at Sykesville; Miss Maude B., who holds an excellent position with the Larkin Soap Company, at Buffalo, New York.
On the 13th of July, 1901, Mr. McKay married Mrs. Elizabeth (Huggan) O'Neil, who was born at Barclay, Bradford county, on the 27th of March, 1871, and was reared at Carbon Run, that county. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Huggan, both of whom were born in Nova Scotia. The father died at Carbon Run, when Mrs. McKay was in her tenth year, leaving his widow with three children, of whom Mrs. McKay was the eldest; the two sons, George and Harry, now reside at DuBois, and with them their venerable mother makes her home. At Barclay Miss Elizabeth Huggan became the wife of Frank O'Neil, and the three children of this union are Maude, Ruth and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born four children: Loretta, Lorene, Gilberta and Wilbur.
Mr. McKay takes a loyal interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his community and though he has had no desire for public office he is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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