BIO: Jacob MAGILL, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 267-268. __________________________________________________________________ JACOB MAGILL, Aitch, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Penn township, Huntingdon county, October 29, 1838, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Grubb) Magill. His paternal grandfather came from his native country, Ireland, in his boyhood, and settled in Huntingdon county, where he farmed for the rest of his life, and where he died. Charles Magill was a stone mason of Huntingdon county, and pursued that vocation all his life, although he farmed to some extent besides in Penn township, where he died in 1876. Elizabeth Grubb, who was married to Mr. Magill in Penn township, was born in that county; her father was a farmer. The children of this union were: John, farmer, of Penn township; Jacob; and Samuel, residing with his brother Jacob. Mrs. Magill died in Penn township in 1868. Charles Magill was a Republican. He was a consistent and faithful member of the Lutheran church, deeply and actively interested in the welfare and work of the church. He was a deacon, elder and teacher in the Sunday-school. Jacob Magill attended the common schools of Penn township, and grew up as his father's assistant on the farm, where he lived until he was twenty-one years old. He also learned with his father the trade of stone cutter and mason. He was employed for two years by the Huntingdon and Broad Top R.R., and at the end of that time enlisted in Company C, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. J. R. Brooke, Capt. John H. Wintrobe, on October 16, 1861. He went with his regiment into Virginia, and was a participant in all the battles of the army of the Potomac from the Second Bull Run to May 22, 1864, at Fair Oaks, in the Seven Days' fight, at Antietam and Fredericksburg, on the Rappahannock, at Chancellorsville, and in the terrible days at Gettysburg; at Bristoe Station, Mine Run and the Wilderness. In the last-named battle, Mr. Magill was wounded for the third time. He had before received bullet wounds in the foot and in the leg. He now lost the index finer of the left hand, and was in the hospital for two months. His term of service having expired, he was discharged early in 1865, and went home, no doubt with the happy consciousness of a hard and dangerous duty well performed, to console him for the service he had made for his country. Mr. Magill returned to his masonry work, which he carried on for two years, and then went to Dent county, Mo., where he and his brother Samuel bought a farm and cultivated it for seven years. Selling out at the end of that time, he returned to Penn township, and bought his present homestead, 100 acres of good arable land, on which he erected a fine dwelling at a cost of $1,000, and made other improvements. He still cultivates this farm, raises and deals in live stock, etc., with success. He is a Republican; has not sought or held any public office. Jacob Magill was married in Penn township, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Boyer, a farmer of Penn township. The marriage took place in 1881. Their children are: Catharine; and George W.