My Genealogy Hound

JAMES O’NEIL, retired, McKeesport, was born in Mifflin township, this county, September 15, 1815, a son of John and Sarah (Robinson) O’Neil. His paternal grandfather, Charles O’Neil, a native of Ireland, a pioneer of Carlisle, Pa., was a farmer, and settled in Mifflin township, Allegheny county, prior to the Revolution. His maternal grandfather was Samuel Robinson, also a native of Ireland, and pioneer of Mifflin township, who paid for three farms in that township by packing iron on horses over the mountains to Pittsburgh. He had three daughters, and at his death left each of them a farm. John O’Neil, a farmer, father of the subject of this sketch, and a native of Carlisle, Pa.., was drafted from this county, in the Revolution, and while on his way to join the Federal forces was dismissed, as the war had closed. He reared a family of six children: Denny, Elizabeth (Mrs. William Rapp), Polly (Mrs. Samuel Hamilton), Samuel, James and John. Of these James was reared in Mifflin township, and began work in the coal mines when twelve years of age. Soon after attaining his majority he managed mines for Robert McLure. In 1847 he embarked in business for himself at Fort Perry, later at Dravosburg. and located in McKeesport in 1850, where he was actively engaged in the coal business until 1888, when he retired. He married, in 1849, Eliza J., daughter of Daniel Berry, of Mifflin township, this county, and had seven children: Melissa J. (Mrs. Marcks Murphey, deceased), Harvey, John, Ella (Mrs. J. S. Kuhn), Anna, Caroline and James. Mr. O’Neil is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a republican.