My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM BLAIR McCOMMON, late member of the real estate and insurance firm of Stock & McCommon, and for a number of years one of the leading business men of the city of Carlisle, Cumberland county, was born in 1836, a son of James and Annie (Cornman) McCommon. His father died when our subject was a lad of eight years, in 1844, he being then forty-three. By occupation he was a farmer, and spent his life in Cumberland county. The mother died in 1852, aged about forty-eight or fifty years. Both were members of the Covenant Church. The children born to them were thirteen in number, but only nine grew to maturity: John, a school teacher, died in 1852; Ann C. died unmarried; Lennox Hogue is a retired farmer of Missouri; Sarah married A. B. Beisel, of Carlisle; William Blair is mentioned below; James S. (deceased), was a resident of Mt. Holly, and was a carpenter; Mary E. (deceased), married George Brougher, of Cumberland county; Margaret J. married a Mr. Rambo, of Philadelphia: Amos G. is a wood worker of Mt. Holly.

William Blair McCommon was reared on the farm and received but a limited education in the common schools, continuing thus until seventeen, when he settled in Carlisle and apprenticed himself to the carpenter’s trade. He afterward worked as a journeyman for some time, and then began business for himself as a contractor and builder, following this branch of commercial industry for thirty-five years in Cumberland county. In 1887 he was elected to the office of register of Cumberland county, and filled that office very acceptably for three years, as the Democratic incumbent. He always took a deep interest in politics, was a member of the Democratic county committee and served as a member of the board of council of Carlisle. He was known far and wide as a public-spirited citizen, always willing to assist in everything tending toward the betterment of humanity. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to St. John Lodge, No. 260, St. John Chapter, No. 171. St. John Commandery, No. 8, and Rajah Temple, of Reading, and he represented his lodge to the Grand Lodge. His death, which occurred March 9, 1904, left a void in many circles.

On Oct. 28, 1858, Mr. McCommon married Miss Martha Baker, who was born in Cumberland county Feb. 2, 1839, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Glenn) Baker, and six children were born of this union, three now living: Ella F. married Charles H. Sipe, of Carlisle, who is with the Cumberland Valley Railroad Co.; Anna S. is at home; Harry C. who lives at Altoona, married Mame Weibley, and is a machinist in the Pennsylvania railroad shops. The family all affiliate with the Lutheran Church. They reside at No. 133 East Main street, Carlisle, where they show a gracious and pleasing hospitality to their many friends.