My Genealogy Hound

JOHN MACKIN, retired, post office Ingram, a son of James and Margaret Mackin, was born in Ireland April 2, 1812, and came to this country in 1825, locating in New York, where he remained until 1836. He then came to Pittsburgh, and here followed the bakery-business until 1850, during which time he was appointed flour-inspector, first by Gov. Porter and later by Gov. Packer. After 1850 he became a contractor, taking large contracts on the Chartiers Valley railroad, and continued in that connection until 1876. He built the Pennsylvania Railroad office in Pittsburgh, the retaining-wall along the Allegheny river on Tenth street, for the railroad; the Pan Handle railroad bridge, the Pittsburgh city hall, and other public works too numerous to mention. In1876 he accidentally broke his hip, which caused him to give up contracting. He has been for several years a partner in the Franklin Glue-factory, in Pittsburgh. About 1866 he purchased eighty-five acres of land in Chartiers township, upon which he has since resided. He has been twice married; first in New York, in 1836, to Ann McDonald, who bore him ten children, of whom the living are James, Charles, Lizzie (wife of Bernard Bannon) and Mary A. (wife of William Colbert). Mrs. Mackin died March 9, 1882, at the age of seventy-one years, and Mr. Mackin married, March 10, 1883, Mary L. Harper. He has been a member of both the common and select councils for several years. During the civil war, though not a soldier, he was present at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. His son John enlisted in Co. F, 155th P. V., for three years, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, which resulted in his death some time afterward at Washington, D. C. Mr. Mackin has one of the most beautiful homes in Chartiers township, and a large amount of other valuable property in that and Robinson townships, and in Pittsburgh.