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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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JOHN A. SHAW, McKeesport, was born in North Versailles township, Allegheny county, Pa., May 24, 1854, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Sands) Shaw. The paternal grandfather, a native of Ireland, was among the pioneers of this county, and reared a large family. The maternal grandfather, William Sands, of German descent, was a pioneer of Westmoreland county, Pa. Samuel Shaw was a farmer of North Versailles township. He had six children who grew to maturity: Sarah J., Alexander, Martha, Anna, Julia and John A. The subject of these lines was reared in North Versailles township, and received a common-school education. He was engaged in farming until 1876, when he removed to McKeesport, where he carried on the grocery, flour, feed, and real-estate businesses, respectively. In 1876 he married Belle, daughter of William and Catherine (Francis) Nicol, formerly of Scotland, who settled in this county about 1852. The issue of this union has been two children: Clyde N. and Alvah. Mr. Shaw is a member of the U. P. Church; is a republican, and a member of the council of McKeesport.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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