Joseph Long McKay (1827 - 1917)

Born 15 Feb 1827 in Waterford, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Cornelia Elizabeth (Parmalee) McKay — married 29 Aug 1854 in Waterford, Erie, Pa.

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 1917 at age 90 in Waterford, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

Joseph Long, son of John and Sarah (Blair) McKay, was born in the log house on the old homestead, one mile south of Fort Le Boeuf, (Waterford), February 15, 1827, and there spent his boyhood days. His education was obtained by first attending the little "red school house," better known to the pupils as Frog College, presided over by Samuel Mc-Gill, perhaps better remembered as Paddy McGill. He completed his studies in the public school of Waterford, as taught in one room of the Waterford Academy. In early life he had thought much of following the trade of saddler and harnessmaker and at the age of eighteen years he left the parental home and went to Buffalo, New York, for the purpose of finding a place to learn that trade, but being unsuccessful he went to Cleveland, Ohio, meeting with the same fate there. His funds running low, he found a temporary job loading staves on a boat at the Cleveland docks and as soon as he saved sufficient funds returned home. This adventure rather dampened his ardor, and acting upon the advice of his mother, to remain near home, he made a bargain with the firm of Marvin Judson, general merchants, to enter their employ, learn the business, and for the first year's services to receive as wages his board and clothes. After a term of seven and a half years in the employ of the above firm, the young man decided to go into business for himself, and after tendering his resignation. he went to New York City, and on the 12th day of December, 1853, he purchased his first invoice of dry goods of Hastings & Forby. The original bill for this invoice Mr. McKay yet preserves as a souvenir of his early business life. He first opened a store on the corner of High street and West Park, Waterford, where the furniture store of Charles Phelps now stands, later he moved to the present site of the Frank Phelps store and subsequently to the building now occupied as the post office. He admitted James Wilson McKay, as partner, this association continuing four years. He afterwards associated in business with James Lytle for about six years, then sold out to Lytle Brothers. He then was associated with E. B. Sleeper, in the manufacturing of Sleeper's Compound Liniment, for a short time, when he purchased Mr. Sleeper's interest, but later closed out his business to Mr. McNeal. He next returned to his old business, opened a dry goods store in the Phelps Block, and in 1888 admitted his son, William, as partner, trading as J. L. McKay & Son. In 1872, Mr. McKay purchased the Amos Judson brick block, corner of First and High streets, remodeled it, put in the first plate glass front in Waterford, and added a third story, which is known as McKay Hall. The brick block on High street, in which the firm conducts their general dry goods business, was built by the firm in 1895. The residence of Mr. McKay, senior, located on Walnut street, southwest corner of Park, built in 1855, has ever since been the family home. All through his business career he has dealt occasionally in real estate, has bought and sold several farms, and in addition to store and residence, owns considerable property in Waterford. He is now eighty-eight years of age, regularly attends to his business and yet enjoys a day's fishing on the lake. He is young in spirit and is familiarly known to every man, woman and child in Waterford as Uncle Joe. After a business life of sixty years in the town, he is not only the veteran merchant and the best known there, but is first in public esteem, his dealings having always been characterized by fairness, his life honorable and iiis daily walk above reproach. He has not been so absorbed in business that he has not attended to his obligations as a citizen, but has joined heartily in all movements for the public good and has borne his full share of official responsibility. He has served many times as a member of the borough council ; two terms as chief burgess ; twenty-five years was trustee of Waterford Academy; was one of the incorporators of the Waterford Cemetery Association; was a member of the board of directors at the time the receiving vault was built and superintended its erection ; was one of the charter members of Clemment Lodge, No. loi. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and officer of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a vestryman of Saint Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church. He was a Whig in politics, later a Republican and so far back does his useful life extend that his first presidential vote was cast for General Zachary Taylor, in 1848. This record of a busy, useful life, not yet ended, shows that work does not wear out a man's vitality if strength is properly conserved. A worker from youth and often in circumstance of deepest concern, his light heart.

Mr. McKay married (first) August 29, 1854, Cornelia E. Parmalee, born at Hotchkissville, Connecticut, December 10, 1829, died in Waterford, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1895, daughter of Timothy Judson and Mahala (Stone) Parmalee; children: 1. Charles, died young. 2. William, born December 29, 1864, of further mention. 3. A child, died in infancy. He married (second) in 1896, Mary McLean.

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

He married, in Waterford, Pennsylvania, Maysie McLean, born in Le Boeuf township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1882, daughter of Ansel P., deceased, and Mary (Stafford) McLean, the latter the second wife of Joseph L. McKay (q. v.)

Sources

• Larry L. Whipple, Family Tree
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 3. pg. 1506-1510)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #12603109
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 3. pg. 1512-1514)