My Genealogy Hound

JOHN J. McGIRR, real-estate agent, McKeesport, was born at Youngstown, Pa., March 12, 1855, a son of Dr. John E. and Maher (Heyden) McGirr. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Patrick McGirr, a native of Ireland, was a prominent physician of London, England, and later of Westmoreland county, Pa. Dr. John E. McGirr was an eminent physician of his day, and during the civil war had charge of the United States hospital at Nashville, Tenn. He afterward removed to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he died in 1870. The subject of this sketch was educated in the Catholic schools of Latrobe and Pittsburgh, and when ten years old began the study of Latin, under his father. He took a course at Ashland Hall, Pittsburgh, where he read Latin with Prof. Arnold, now a B. & O. employe in McKeesport. He also took a course of instruction in English literature with Prof. J. P. O’Neil, and completed his education at the Western University of Pennsylvania. In January, 1872, Mr. McGirr came to McKeesport, where he was at first agent of the B. & O. R. R., and afterward agent of the P., McK. & Y. R. R., which position he resigned April 30, 1888. He then embarked in the real-estate business, in which he is now successfully engaged. He is a gentleman of literary tastes, has contributed poems to magazines and newspapers, and is the author of a work entitled “The Destruction of the World,” and other poems. He is a member of the Catholic Church and C. K. of A. He is a democrat.