McKay, W. A.

W. A. McKAY, station agent of the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, Utica, is a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and a son of G.W. and Jane E. (Close) McKay. Paternally Mr. McKay is descended from Irish Presbyterian ancestry, and on the mother’s side comes of German and Irish stock. His grandfather, William McKay, was an early resident of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. His maternal grandfather, Adam Close, was a native of Center county, this state, and about 1851 came to Venango county, and subsequently removed to Mercer county, where his death occurred in 1865. D.W. McKay was a miller by occupation, served in the late war, was captured at Murfresboro, Tennessee, and died from the effects of his imprisonment the same year. His widow remarried and resides in Kansas. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKay: W.A.; James C.; Mrs. Nancy Morrow, and Mrs. Emma Bradley, all of whom are living.

W.A. McKay was born September 7, 1847, and came to Mercer county in 1858, where he resided with his grandfather, Adam Close, until 1863. In the latter year he entered the office of the Democratic Register at Mercer for the purpose of learning the printer’s trade, but after spending a short time in that office he enlisted in the Fifty- Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and served from June until the following August. In September, 1863, he entered the office of the Oil City Register, where he remained until February, 1864, at which time he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war. He was with his regiment in a number of battles, and in the Wilderness was severely wounded three times, which necessitated his retirement from further duty. From that time until his discharge, July 25, 1865, he did garrison duty at Camp Distribution and Washington city, and on leaving the army returned to Mercer county, where for several years he was engaged in farming. In the meantime, by home study and attendance at New Lebanon Academy and the Edinboro Normal School, he fitted himself for the teacher’s profession. He followed teaching for several years in Venango county, and during this time studied telegraphy, in which he soon became proficient. Mr. McKay took charge of Geneva station, on the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, April 1, 1871, and in 1874 was transferred to Utica, of which office he has since been in charge. Since locating in Utica he has served as justice of the peace, member of the school board, secretary and treasurer of the borough. He is also a skillful civil engineer, and is frequently employed in that capacity in this and other counties. Mr. McKay united with the Methodist church a number of years ago, and for some time has been a local preacher of that denomination. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree, and also belongs to the G.A.R. On the 11th of February, 1871, he married Miss Louisa, daughter of Reverend R.E. and Angeline Anderson, of Ohio, a union blessed with four children: David, deceased; Frank D., deceased; James C., and William R.