My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW KEEL ARGUE, a leading real estate and insurance agent of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, is a native of Philadelphia, where he was born January 14, 1860. He is the son of George W. and Hannah M. (Keel) Argue. His maternal ancestors were of German origin. On his father’s side they were probably of French-Huguenot extraction, although at an early date they emigrated to Ireland. It is believed that the grandfather, Robert Argue, was the progenitor of the family in this country. He located at Evansburg, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. He resided in Evansburg until near the close of his life, when he went to reside with his son, George W., in Philadelphia, and he and his wife both died in that city. He married Sarah Parks. He had a brother, David, who was a resident of Philadelphia, where he was engaged in business as a contractor, he having two sons and two daughters. Of the sons, William resided in Washington, and Robert in Philadelphia.

George W. Argue was the only son of his parents. He was born in Evansburg, and spent his early life on the homestead farm. He subsequently became a locomotive engineer, and a resident of Philadelphia because of his employment in that city. The latter part of his life was spent in Norristown, where he died. He married Hannah M. Keel, of an old Montgomery county family. Their children: Theodore, died in infancy; Robert David, who married first Sarah Barr, and had one child, May, wife of Charles Felter, his second wife being Gussie Richter, by whom there were no children; Andrew K., subject of this sketch; Annie E., Sarah J., wife of George McCoy, who resides in Norristown.

Andrew K. Argue acquired his education in the public schools of Philadelphia. After leaving school he engaged with C. H. Royal in the leather business. He was next employed with McNeely & Co., as leather assorter, and then for a time with Costello, Covey & Co., as assorter and traveling salesman. He was also engaged with Francis Haggerty in a similar capacity, the duties of general manager being added, and with Selser, Meurer & Co. In 1889 he engaged in the leather business on his own account in Philadelphia. In 1896 he retired from it, and established a fire and life insurance business in the borough of Jenkintown, to which somewhat later he added real estate.

Mr. Argue married, in Philadelphia, May 9, 1882, Mary E., born October 8, 1858, daughter of Andrew Watson. Their children are: 1. Andrew S., born February 8, 1883; 2. Theodore E., born July 23, 1884, died June 22, 1885; 3. Grace M., born February 11, 1886, died November 7, 1890; 4. Elsie K., born October 12, 1887; 5. Mabel A., born August 15, 1889, died November 17, 1890; 6. Robert E., born July 4, 1891; 7. Edith M., born November 18, 1892; 8. Harold S., born May 2, 1894; 9. Arthur C., born June 15, 1896; 10. Mary E., born May 28, 1899, died August 2, 1899; 11. Ruth, born March 6, 1901, died July 25, 1901.