My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. WILLIAM DUNSHEE, retired coal dealer, McKeesport, was born near Pittsburgh, August 22, 1820, a son of Andrew T. and Margaret (Short) Dunshee. His paternal grandfather, William Dunshee, a native of County Down, Ireland, was a pioneer farmer of Allegheny county, where he resided many years. His children were William, Andrew T. and Jane. Of these Andrew T. was a coal-merchant and contractor, and resided in Mifflin township, Allegheny county, for many years. His children were William, Margaret, Joseph, Sarah J., Susan, Benjamin and Joan. Our subject removed with his parents to Mifflin township in 1838, and in 1859 located in McKeesport, where he has since resided. In 1842 he succeeded his father in the coal business, in which he was interested up to 1874, when he retired. He operated the first incline on which flanged wheels were used, and in 1856 built the first marine-ways on the Monongahela river. He was quick to catch the steamboat idea, and was interested in the building of several steamers. Just before the war he built the twins V. F. Wilson and Ike Hammitt. They were employed by the government to bring the navy out of the Mississippi river, were used as dispatch-boats, and afterward as supply-boats, by the United States. In 1848 Capt. Dunshee married Mary A., daughter of Benjamin Adams, of Pittsburgh, and had seven children: William A., Margaret L., Johnson F., Louisa K., Virginia V., Marshall P. and Edith. Capt. Dunshee is a prominent citizen. In politics he is a republican.