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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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DANIEL McWILLIAMS, county commissioner, Allegheny, a son of Daniel and Kate (McGrogan) McWilliams, was born in Allegany county, Md., Dec. 31, 1843. His parents came from Scotland to America in 1841, first locating in Allegany county, Md., and afterward, in 1846, settling in Pittsburgh, where they resided until their decease, Mrs. McWilliams dying in July, 1874, at the age of fifty-seven years, and Mr. McWilliams in January, 1875, at the age of fifty-eight years. Of their eleven children six are living: Daniel, Hugh, Kate, Mary, John and William. Dennis was in Co. D, 8th P. R., and after eighteen months’ service was transferred to the 6th U. S. Cavalry, serving from Nov. 1, 1862, to May 9, 1863, when he died of wounds received. Hugh was also in the service for three years, 7th P. V. C.
Daniel McWilliams, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools; when quite a young man he worked in the coal mines as a miner, and afterward was a heater in the iron-manufacturing establishments. April 17, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 8th P. R. C., or 37th P. V., and served with distinction until Sept. 14, 1862, when he was carried from the battlefield at South Mountain, with two severe wounds which crippled him for life and unfitted him for his usual avocation. In order to prepare himself for other duties he attended Duff’s Business College, where he graduated with credit. In 1881 he was elected county commissioner on the democratic ticket, and during his term of service the plans for the new courthouse and jail were prepared and adopted, contracts awarded and work begun. At the beginning of his official duties in 1882, by motion of himself and through the efforts of the county commissioners, about $400,000 was recovered from the state, being the amount of tax over paid by the county in former years, and $30,000 annually has been and will be saved since then by this action of the commissioners. Mr. McWilliams was again elected in 1887, and is now one of the efficient board of commissioners.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
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