My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW McCARTNEY, retired boatman, residing at 194 Steuben street, Thirty-sixth ward, Pittsburgh, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., Aug. 29, 1811, a son of George and Jane McCartney, the former born in Lancaster county, of Scotch descent, the latter being of Irish nationality. They came to this county in 1827, and settled in what is now Chartiers township, near where Andrew McCartney now resides. George McCartney and Jane Lees were united in marriage before leaving Lancaster county. George learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed for several years, but finally inherited one of the best farms in Lancaster county, and turned his attention to agriculture and teaming. During the war of 1812 he was pressed into the service of the United States, with his teams, and in cases of emergency was given a musket and placed in the ranks. He participated in a battle near Baltimore, in which a part of the British force left its trenches and went to the banks to meet its doom, as not one ever returned alive. After the war Mr. McCartney returned to his farm, but by indorsing for his friends he finally lost his property. He then moved to Allegheny county, where he worked at his trade. He died in 1847, his widow in 1867. Their children were Andrew, John, George (deceased), Simon (deceased), Mary J. (deceased), Eliza A. (wife of Daniel Donnelly, of Allegheny City), Louisa (deceased), Harriet (deceased), George and James (deceased). Andrew spent several years mining coal at one cent a bushel, saved money enough to build a boat and start business for himself, and for forty-five years followed boating. He built and owned the T. D. Harner and Marner steamboats, which he used principally as towboats between Pittsburgh and Louisville, Ky. He retired from boating in 1870, and engaged in brickmaking in the Thirty-seventh ward, Pittsburgh, where he still owns a brickyard containing seven acres, but recently retired from business. He married, in 1839, Ann Hodgson, and their children are Samuel (who married Lena Macdonald, by whom he has three children: Cora, Andrew and Charles), George (deceased), Oliver, Addison L., Albert S., Newton W. and John (deceased). Capt. McCartney has been a local politician of some note, having held some offices in his township for many years, and was never defeated for any office for which he was a candidate.