The McVay Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

The earliest records obtainable of this family are of Patrick McVay, although the family is an old one and has been seated in Ireland for many generations. Patrick McVay was born in Londonderry, Ireland, where his entire life was passed as a farmer. He was a Roman Catholic in religion and a member of the Masonic order. He married and had issue, all born in Londonderry, Ireland:

1. Hugh, born in 1800, died in North Chili, New York, 1880; married Miss Borland, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, died in North Chili, New York.
   1. Hugh, deceased.
   2. Bridget, deceased.
2. John, of whom further.
3. Patrick (2), a farmer, died in Londonderry, Ireland; married and had issue:
   1. Sarah, living in Rochester, New York.
   2. Jane, lives in Ontario, New York.
   3. Hugh, died in 1875.
   4. Daniel, lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
4. Mary, born in 1806, died in Londonderry, Ireland, 1907, having attained the wonderful age of one hundred and one years.

(II) John McVay

John, second child and son of Patrick McVay, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, June 21, 1802, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, November, 1900. He obtained his education in his native country and when he was thirty-eight years of age emigrated to the United States, settling in Rochester, New York; later purchasing a farm in Ontario, Wayne county, New York. He and his wife were members of the Roman Catholic church, while in politics he was a faithful adherent to the principles of Democracy. He married Elizabeth McKuhn, born in Londonderry, Ireland, 1814, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1901, daughter of Patrick McKuhn, a native farmer of Londonderry, where his entire life was spent.

Children of Patrick McKuhn

1. John, born 1806, died in Geneva, New York; married Miss Higgins, from Londonderry, Ireland, she died in Geneva, New York.
   1. John, living in Geneva, New York.
   2. Peter, living in Geneva, New York.
   3. Jane, living in Geneva, New York.
   4. Sarah, living in Geneva, New York.
2. Peter, born 1808, died of yellow fever in New Orleans, Louisiana.
3. James, born 1810, a bricklayer, died in Edinburg, Canada.
4. Susan, born 1812, died in Ontario, Wayne county, New York; married Edward McWilliams, a mason, from Londonderry, Ireland.
   1. John, has been a member of the Cleveland (Ohio) fire department for many years.
   2. James, killed in the service of the United States during the Spanish war.
   3. Ellen, lives in Oklahoma.
5. Elizabeth, of previous mention, married John McVay.

Children of John and Elizabeth (McKuhn) McVay

1. Daniel, born in Geneva, New York, 1838, died in infancy.
2. Hugh, born in Geneva, New York, 1840, died in infancy.
3. Ellen, born in Geneva, New York, April 1, 1842; married James G. O’Dwyer (deceased), a merchant from the south of Ireland.
   1. Jennie, deceased.
   2. Mary, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   3. Ellen, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   4. Willis, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   5. James, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   6. Robert, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   7. Margaret, living in Jackson, Michigan.
   8. Ruth, living in Jackson, Michigan.
4. William James, of whom further.
5. John, born in North Chili, New York, May 10, 1849, died in Kansas City, August, 1899; married Catherine Hurley, a native of Pennsylvania, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, 1897. John McVay was an oil producer and ranchman.
6. Sylvester, born in Ontario, Wayne county, New York, 1851, died there in 1863.
7. Charles, born in Ontario, Wayne county, New York, a contractor for artesian and oil wells, and lives in La Junta, Colorado.
   1. Gertrude, living in La Junta, Colorado.
   2. Ellen, living in La Junta, Colorado.
   3. Sylvester, living in La Junta, Colorado.
   4. John, living in La Junta, Colorado.
8. Mary, born in Ontario, Wayne county, New York; married Edward Quigley, from North Chili, New York, a foreman in the employ of the Standard Oil Company in Sistersville, West Virginia.
   1. Edward, a bank cashier in Sistersville, West Virginia.
   2. William, lives in Sistersville, West Virginia.
   3. Frank, lives in Youngstown, Ohio.
   4. Emmet, living in Sistersville, West Virginia.
   5. Elizabeth, living in Sistersville, West Virginia.
   6. Mary, living in Sistersville, West Virginia.

(III) William James McVay

William James, fourth child and third son of John and Elizabeth (McKuhn) McVay, was born in North Chili, Monroe county, New York, January 10, 1844. He obtained his education in the public schools of Ontario, Wayne county, New York, and in 1863 moved to Oil Creek, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, engaging in the oil business as a well-driller; later following the same business in the fields of Venango county for ten years. At the end of that time he was offered a position as foreman of the Indian Rock Oil Company, which was owned by the Webb Shipbuilding Company, a corporation which built many of the Union vessels during the civil war. In 1875 he came to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by Whitney & Wheeler as superintendent, meanwhile becoming an oil producer independent of his connection with the firm. He remained with the firm of Whitney & Wheeler for over eighteen years, resigning to accept a position as foreman for Senator Emery, which he held for three years. Since that time he has been an independent oil producer, engaging in contracting in the fields of Ohio and Kentucky. In politics he is an Independent and he was a member of the first common council after the incorporation of Bradford. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He was one of the organizers of the H. P. Whitney Volunteer Hose Company, No. 3, and for many years was a member. At his resignation he was presented with a handsome gold watch by his fellow members in recognition of his services both as a fire fighter and as an organizer. He is one of Bradford’s most substantial citizens, and is always deeply interested in any plan for its betterment or advancement. He has seen the town develop from a village, with infant or unborn industries, to a city which has large, flourishing mills and factories of considerable importance in the industrial world, and he has taken much honest pride in the transition.

He married, September 21, 1871, Jennie Cummings, born in Burlington, Vermont, in June, 1850, daughter of Patrick Cummings, born in County Wexford, Ireland, died in Painesville, Ohio, and Sarah Cummings, born in County Wexford, Ireland, 1816, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, 1881.

Children of Patrick and Sarah Cummings, all born in Burlington, Vermont

1. Patrick, enlisted in an Ohio regiment during the civil war, and was among the thousands who lost their lives at the battle of Gettysburg.
2. Mary, married Mr. Fitzgerald.
3. Margaret, died in Painesville, Ohio; married Mr. Manrey, a farmer, and had children.
4. Jennie, of previous mention, married William James McVay.

Children of William James and Jennie (Cummings) McVay

1. John James, born in Titusville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1872, an artesian well contractor in La Junta, Colorado.
2. William Legorn, born in Millerstown (Chicora), Pennsylvania, March 4, 1874; an oil producer and contractor of Bradford, Pennsylvania.
3. Charles B., born January 13, 1879, an oil producer and contractor in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
4. Frederick, born December 25, 1882, an oil producer in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content