My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM DEWART McKELVEY, engineer, Wilkinsburg, named after Hon. William L. Dewart, was born in Centreville. Pa., June 13, 1842. His grandfather, William McKelvey, came from Ireland and settled in Ligonier valley about the beginning of this century. His wife was Mary Wallace; their son, Ephraim, married Sarah, daughter of Abner and Eliza (Richardson) Kelly. There were seven McKelvey brothers, including William, who came to America together. They were of great stature, one being six feet eight inches tall and proportionately large of frame. Ephraim was born in 1813 and died in 1867; he was justice of the peace many years; was a democrat and a powerful debater, and, having read medicine, was frequently called upon to bleed or vaccinate people of his locality. He was a successful merchant, but sunk most of his means in a construction contract on the P. R. R. He was thrice married, his second wife being Eliza Anderson; his third wife, Sarah Croft, is now living in Allegheny. William D. is the only living child of Sarah Kelly McKelvey, who died in 1847. He was educated in the, public schools and Elder’s Ridge Academy, and taught school in 1859. In 1860 he found employment as a brakeman on the P. R. R., afterward as fireman. Since 1864 he has been engineer, and now runs the fastest express trains between Pittsburgh and Altoona. In 1862 he married Katharine B., daughter of James and Lavinia Gettamy, of Ligonier valley. Mr. McKelvey moved to Wilkinsburg in 1876. The family are associated with the Presbyterian Church. He is a Freemason, a member of the A. O. U. W., R. A. and O. C. F., and is a republican.