My Genealogy Hound

JOHN S. McHARG, a descendant of an old family of Lower Providence township. He was born near Shannonville, now Audubon, September 16, 1840. He was reared in farm pursuits, attending the public schools of the neighborhood, and the Academy at Mount Kirk, where he completed his studies. He is the son of William and Rachel (Plush) McHarg. William (father) was the son of Ferguson and Mary McHarg.

Ferguson McHarg (grandfather) was an East Indian trader and merchant. On a trip to Liverpool for goods, his vessel was lost on the ocean, and he perished with the rest of those on it. He left his widow and two children, John and William, in Scotland. John became a sea captain and for many years followed that occupation. He died in the West Indies, leaving a widow and two sons, James and John, in Scotland. Ferguson McHarg had a brother John, who came to America, landing in South Carolina, where he fell into the hands of the British, but was released, and then went to New York and later to Pennsylvania, where he located in Montgomery county, buying land in Lower Providence township, about 1816. He built a house, and then sent to Scotland for his nephew, William McHarg (father), who was born in 1800, in Ayrshire. The nephew came to Pennsylvania, and he and his uncle lived together until the death of the latter, who left him the farm by will. William McHarg was twice married, his first wife being Isabel Francis. The couple had one child, a daughter, who died young. Mrs. McHarg dying, her husband married (second wife) Rachel W. Plush, daughter of Lawrence and Mary Plush, both of German descent, although residents of the vicinity, Lawrence Plush having left Europe and come to America because of Napoleon’s wars in the early part of the last century. He was kidnapped, and about to be sold, but made his escape and arrived in America, locating in Lower Providence, where he bought land containing the well-known copper mines which were very extensively worked at one time. He sold the land and returned to his native country to attend to the settlement of his father’s estate, and on embarking on a vessel to return to America, he was lost at sea. His children were: Catharine, Christian, Rachel (mother).

The children of William and Rachel McHarg: Mary, unmarried; Isabel, wife of William F. Mason, a retired merchant of St. Paul; John S., subject of this sketch; William, who lives retired at Trappe; Rebecca, died in 1898; Anna, unmarried.

William McHarg (father) was one of the prominent members of Lower Providence Presbyterian church, being an elder for many years. He stood very high in the community, and was widely known and respected.

John S. McHarg and two sisters reside in the village of Audubon, not far from the home of the great naturalist. None of them have married. The sisters preside over the home. Their brother John spent several years in Minnesota with his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. William F. Mason, where he was engaged in clerking. Returning to Montgomery county, he turned his attention to farming, in which as well as in every other business he has undertaken, he has been successful. He is a Republican, and has filled the office of school director. In religious faith, he and his sisters, like all the McHarg family, are strict Presbyterians.