My Genealogy Hound

JAMES McCARTY. Although quite advanced in years, this gentleman still occupies a place among the leading farmers of Greene County, being vigorous and active, and bearing the weight of his years as lightly as do most men a score of years his junior. His financial standing is a substantial one, and is due to his own ability and exertions, as he began his career in life when quite young with no capital except a fundamental education and some knowledge of handicraft. He is an honorable man, a reliable citizen, and one whose benevolence and generosity have been manifested in behalf of many worthy objects, and have cost him about $6,000 of hard earnings.

In Bucks County, Pa., Benjamin McCarty was born May 2, 1763, and Mary Smallwood, May 10, 1766. Growing to manhood and womanhood this couple were united in marriage and lived in their native State for many years. Fourteen children were born to them, named respectively: Elizabeth, William, Benjamin, Mary, Hannah, Isaac, Mercy, Charles, Arthur, Andrew, Thomas, Maria, James and one died in infancy. Three of these died in childhood; nine married and reared families; but the only one living at this writing is the subject of this sketch. Elizabeth died in Cedarville, Greene County, and Andrew in Michigan. The father was a bricklayer and stonemason, and all of the sons worked at bricklaying, plastering and stone work. Benjamin McCarty died in Pennsylvania at the age of sixty-five years, his widow living to the extreme age of ninety-nine, and dying at the home of her son Charles, at Rolling Prairie, LaPorte County, Ind.

Near the northern line of Northumberland County, Pa., December 10, 1808, the eyes of James McCarty opened to the light of day. His boyhood was devoid of unusual incidents, but at the age of fourteen years he began his career in life. He worked with his brothers until seventeen years old, when he began learning the carriage-making trade in Milton, working as an apprentice four years. In 1832 he voted for Gen. Jackson, and immediately started for the West, and reaching this county, located at Xenia, where he worked two years. He then opened a shop for himself, continuing in the business about fourteen years. His next enterprise was to engage in the grocery business with Cornelius Wilkins, with whom he continued in business but little more than six months, when he began trading in hogs in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, a business which he carried on for more than a decade. In the spring of 1861 he went on a farm four miles northeast of Xenia, where he lived about six years, becoming the owner of three estates in the locality. In the spring of 1867 he returned to Xenia, but two years later located two and one-half miles southwest of the city on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres, which has since been his home.

An important step in the life of Mr. McCarty was consummated November 7, 1833, when he became the husband of Miss Margaret Williams, a worthy woman who was his cherished companion until April 15, 1878, when she was called from time to eternity. She was born in Xenia, August 29, 1815, to John and Elizabeth (Owen) Williams, who were among the earliest settlers of that city, her father being a blacksmith. Her union with our subject resulted in the birth of six children — John died in childhood; Charles E. was a cavalry-man in the Civil War, and died at Redkey, Ind.; Maria is the widow of A. C. Neal; James died at the age of six years; Clara B. is the widow of John Chapman, an attorney at London, Ohio; Henrietta is the wife of Dr. Frank Norman, of Denver, Colo.

For many years Mr. McCarty belonged to the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served one term as Township Treasurer, but his desire is not for public office, he belongs to the Reformed Church, while his deceased companion was identified with the Methodist Protestant Church.

A portrait* of Mr. McCarty is shown in connection with his personal sketch.

*Portrait was included in the original printed volume.