My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES F. McKENNA, attorney at law, was born in the Fourth ward, city of Pittsburgh, Oct. 1, 1845. His grandparents emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, early in the century and settled in Pittsburgh. In the year of his birth his father, James McKenna, died, leaving to survive him his wife and six children. Mr. McKenna, on quitting the public schools of the Fourth ward, where he received his education, was apprenticed to learn the lithographic trade. In his sixteenth year he left this employment and enlisted as a private soldier in Co. E, 155th P. V. V., and served continuously in the field with the 5th corps, Army of the Potomac, for three years, until the end of the civil war. Among the prominent Pittsburghers who served in the same command were Col. E. Jay Allen; Gen. A. L. Pearson, Maj. E. A. Montooth, John H. Kerr, Esq., Maj. Samuel Kilgore and John F. Hunter.

On returning from the army Mr. McKenna read law in the city of Pittsburgh, and in 1869 was duly admitted to practice at the Allegheny county bar. He has applied himself ever since very closely to his chosen profession, and has built up a large general practice, having been connected with many very important and celebrated cases. He is a brother of Hon. B. McKenna, for some years past judge of the Second (police) district of the city of Pittsburgh. In 1873 Mr. McKenna was married to Miss Virginia White, daughter of the late Dr. N. W. White, of Allegheny City.