My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM McHARG is a descendant of an old Montgomery county family. He was born in Lower Providence township, December 18, 1842, and was reared on the farm. He received his education from the common schools of the neighborhood. He is a son of William and Rachel (Plush) McHarg; she was born in Montgomery county, and he came to this country when a boy, from Scotland. William McHarg was a son of William McHarg, a merchant on the Island of Jamaica. He made trips to London yearly and purchased his goods, and when on one of these trips he died, and his estate was lost to his heirs. He reared two sons, John and William (father). John was a sea captain and died on the Island of St. Domingo. He left a family of two children.

William McHarg (grandfather) had a brother John who came to America and purchased a tract of land on which he built a log house and a barn. This tract was near Audubon, in Lower Providence township, at which place he remained during his lifetime, tilling the soil. At his death the farm was willed to his nephew William (the father of subject). John came to this country and, after settling, he sent for this nephew William, who was quite a boy, and he remained with his uncle until he grew to manhood, and inherited the farm by his uncle’s will. He remained on this farm until his death, which occurred about 1877. He was seventy-seven years old at the time of his death. He was one of the leading members of the Lower Providence Presbyterian church and was an elder there for forty-five years. In politics Mr. McHarg was a Whig and Republican and filled several township offices. His wife survived him and died in 1884 at the old homestead. She was also a member of the Presbyterian church. She was the daughter of Lawrence Plush, of Germany, who settled in this county. At one time he owned the Perkiomen Copper Mines, and during the excitement in copper he sold the same at a good price. He then returned to Germany to stay and proceeded to collect his share of his father’s estate, which he received. He then determined to retrace his steps to America, and on the voyage over was lost at sea, money and all, and his family remained in America. His children were: Catharine (Mrs. J. Mullen); Elizabeth (Mrs. H. Keiser); Rebecca (Mrs. J. Keiser); Rachel (Mrs. William McHarg); Christian (father of Dr. Plush); Samuel, a farmer; Lara, a miller by trade.

The children of Mr. William McHarg and wife: Mary, still single; Isabelle, wife of William F. Mason, a retired merchant of Saint Paul, Minnesota; John, a farmer of Lower Providence; Rebecca, single, deceased; Anna, single and resides at home; William.

William McHarg was born and reared in Lower Providence township and remained at the old homestead until he was twenty-five years of age. He was married in 1869 and remained on the farm for five years, in Lower Providence township, and then removed to Trappe, where he engaged in general merchandising, which trade he followed for five years. In March he lost his wife and then returned to his old home in Lower Providence township and settled there. In 1884 he remarried and purchased a farm in the same township at which place he remained for thirteen years. He then sold the farm and removed to Trappe in 1898, He purchased the home where he now resides, which was built by Muhlenberg and which was known as the old Muhlenberg homestead. It was erected in 1743, and built of stone, and is still in a fine state of preservation. In this house Muhlenberg entertained George Washington three days during the Revolutionary war. There is five acres of ground around the home, and he carries on trucking, but has retired from active labor. Politically he is a Republican and has filled the office of school director for six years; he has also filled other minor offices. He is a member of the Lower Providence Presbyterian church and has been a deacon in that church for many years. He is one of the trustees of the Bringhurst estate. He has a great deal of property to look after; he and his brother were the administrators of his father’s estate; he is also guardian for the estate of Daniel Kendall, who resided with Mr. McHarg for over two years. Mr. Kendall died September 22, 1903.

Mr. McHarg married Miss Louisa P. Rutherford (first wife), who was born in Philadelphia, and was the daughter of James and Eliza Rutherford, of Philadelphia, who was a carpenter and building contractor. He died at Norristown. He was a prominent man and a good business man, and was highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the Episcopal church of Philadelphia. His children: Louisa P. (wife of William McHarg); Fanny (Mrs. Joseph Hunsicker), who had one son, James R., a farmer in Worcester township. Fanny died in 1877. William McHarg was again married in 1884, to Sally Hunsberger, born in Limerick township. She was born December 14, 1851. She was a daughter of Abram and Catherine (Kendall) Hunsberger, both of Montgomery county. He was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Keelor) Hunsberger, and his father also was a resident of this county. He came to this country from Germany.

Isaac Hunsberger was a prominent farmer, and in his early days was a school teacher; he also taught music and was a skilled musician. He was a thorough business man. He resided in Limerick for a number of years and still resided there at the time of his death. He was a member of the Reformed church, and was the choir leader. Their children were: Catherine (Mrs. P. Shafer); Susan (Mrs. Bechtel); Abram (father of Mrs. McHarg); Anna (Mrs. Judge Evans); Mary (Mrs. Jacob Isett); Elizabeth (Mrs. D. Hunsicker); Isaac, went west and his whereabouts not known. Abram remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years old; he married and settled in Limerick township. In 1865 he moved to Trappe and retired from farming. He purchased the old Muhlenberg house, which is now in possession of William McHarg. He attended to his farm of five acres and died in April, 1887. He was a member of the Reformed church and was prominent in church work. In politics he was a Republican, although he did not aspire to public office. His wife survived for six years. She was a daughter of Joseph Kendall, and he a son of Henry Kendall, and he a son of Jeseph Kendall, all of English descent. Henry Kendall married Mary Lane, daughter of Edward Lane, of England. He purchased a large tract of land in Montgomery county, and it was he who presented the ground for the erection of the Episcopal church at Evansburg. He was greatly interested in church work: He owned over twenty-five hundred acres of land. Henry Kendall had but one child: Joseph, who was a farmer and a prominent man. Joseph Kendall’s children were: Mary, died single; Catherine (mother of Mrs. McHarg); Elizabeth (Mrs. D. Miller); Henry, a farmer; Joseph, a farmer and wheelwright; Daniel, farmer, whom Mr. and Mrs. McHarg took care of for two years; Anna, unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. William McHarg had one son, John S., born December 31, 1884. Mr. McHarg has given his son the advantages of a good education, sending him to Ursinus College, and prepared him for the business world.

The children born to Abram Hunsberger: Anna, yet single, who resides with Mr. and Mrs. McHarg; Isaac, a farmer; Mary (Mrs. F. Peterman); Catharine (Mrs. Abram Isett, residing near Royersford); Joseph, a minister of the Congregational church; Sally (wife of Mr. McHarg).