William McKinstry

WILLIAM McKINSTRY

The subject of this sketch is a namesake of his grandfather, who was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania; emigrated at an early age to Westmoreland county, where he lived for a short time and then removed to Armstrong county, and settled two miles east of Apollo. After a three years� stay he went on a business trip to his original home and died there. At the time of his settlement here he entered 136 acres of land, built a cabin and made quite a clearing. He married Elizabeth Ross, who was born in Mifflin county, but died here in 1847. She was twice married, her second husband being James Harel. Her children by her first marriage were James, Margaret, Alexander, Sarah, and William, who are all deceased. By her second husband she had four children � Jane, John W., Mary and David.

James McKinstry, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Mifflin county, May 17, 1794. He married Sarah Jackson, January 16, 1819. She was born January 16, 1800. The offspring of this union were ten children: William, Sarah, Elizabeth, Jackson, Polly, James, Thompson, Jane, Catharine and Alexander, all of whom are living. The father and mother of this family lived in the neighborhood of Apollo all of their married lives, except five years when they were upon a farm in Jefferson county. They experienced the hardships and privations incidental to the lives of the early settlers. During her early life Mrs. McKinstry had no stove, but did all of the cooking for the family over the old-fashioned fireplace. She used the spinning-wheel expertly, and spun and wove the flax and wool from which the clothing for all the members of the family was made. She is still living and makes her home with her son William.

This son was born October 20, 1819, and married February 5, 1844, Miss Lydia Andre, who was born in this state, July 16, 1823. They have had eleven children: Sarah E., John B., James B., Samuel T., Matilda A., William C., Mary E., Eunice T., Emily E., Zilla S., and an infant who died unnamed.

After their marriage this couple lived for a number of years upon Mr. McKinstry�s grandfather�s farm, but in 1856 he purchased his present home of 100 acres. Mr. McKinstry has followed farming and also occupied himself with the manufacture of grain cradles, and from these industries combined he has made a livelihood and paid for a valuable farm, which he has well improved.

Mrs. McKinstry�s parents were John and Elizabeth (Iseman) Andre, the former born in Northampton county and the latter in Westmoreland, this state. They had ten children as follows: Mary (now dead), William, Eliza, Lydia, Catharine, Samuel, Andrew, Sarah, Daniel and Hannah. John Andre died in 1849, at the age of fifty-six, and Elizabeth, his wife, October 7, 1881, at the age of eighty-eight years and eight months.

Source: Page(s) 279, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed January 1999 by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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