Clarence W. MacBeth

CLARENCE W. MACBETH, formerly of the regular army and now an enterprising merchant of Scottdale, was born in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1879. He is a son of William H. and Louise (Welty) Macbeth, of East Huntingdon, and his father is a prosperous farmer of that township.

His boyhood and youth were spent in attending the public schools and assisting his father in carrying on the homestead farm. Just prior to attaining his majority (July, 1900,) he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fifth Regiment, United States Infantry, for three years' service in the regular army, going first to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, thence to Presidio, California, and from there to Manila, Philippine Islands. During his service in the Philippines, which covered a period of two years and nine months, he performed active duty in the field for a greater portion of the time, and consequently became perfectly familiar with the strenuous life of a soldier in the far east. His regiment, which was almost constantly on the move, visited the more important islands except two, and the following is a partial list of places at which it was stationed, viz: Caraman, Battac. Bontoc, Fayum, Dolores, San Ouintin Narvacan, Lopez, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Keom, Unidegen, Banguend, Canyvan, Appari, Laog, Vigan, San Juan and San Tomas. Besides participating in numerous skirmishes he was subjected to other dangers equally as menacing, and on one occasion during the rainy season was exposed to a continuous downpour, without even a temporary shelter, for twelve consecutive days, during which time it was utterly impossible to obtain a change of clothing and the only available food was hardtack and bacon. He was twice confined to the hospital, once with yellow fever and at another time from the effects of being poisoned by impure food. In June. 1903. his regiment was ordered home and lie was mustered out at Angel Island, San Francisco Bay, July 23, 1903 as first sergeant of his company, there being but thirty-two left of the one hundred and thirty-two officers and men originally enrolled. His long sojourn in the islands enabled him to gather much interesting information concerning- the character and mode of life of the natives, and he also made two visits to Japan. Returning to Pennsylvania after his discharge from the army lie entered the employ- of the Union Supply Company of Painter. with whom he remained for sonic time, and he: subsequently purchased a restaurant in Scottdale, where he now resides. In 1904 he established himself in the grocery business, entering his new field of trade with a large and well-selected stock of staple and fancy groceries, canned goods, preserved meats, country produce, grain, feed, etc., and he has already laid the foundation of a successful mercantile business which promises to develop into large proportions in the near future.

On February 23, 1904, Mr. Macbeth was united in marriage with Miss Edna Williams, of South Huntingdon township, daughter of Daniel A. and Rebecca (Nichols) Williams. They have one daughter, Ruth Esther Macbeth. Mr. and Mrs. Macbeth attend the Presbyterian church.  

Source: Page(s) 216-217, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed August 2008 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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