BIO: James MAGILL, Huntingdon County, PA

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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 155-156.
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  JAMES MAGILL, McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Jackson township, November 23, 1822; he is a son of James and Margaret 
(McGiffin) Magill. The elder James Magill was born in the north of 
Ireland. There he passed his boyhood, and at the age of eighteen came 
to America, and resided in Cummingsville, Jackson township. For several 
years he worked among the surrounding farmers, on wages; but as soon as 
he found himself in a position to own his own farm he bought about 200 
acres, cleared the greater part of it by his own labor, and in the 
course of a few years made it a thriving place, on which were two 
dwellings, barns and other necessary buildings, and orchards of his 
planting. Here he devoted himself to tilling the ground and raising 
stock. His wife, like himself, was Irish by birth; she came to this 
country with her parents. Their children were: Agnes, deceased, wife of 
Joseph Hunter; Sarah, deceased, wife of John McCool; Margaret, 
deceased; Rev. William J., deceased; James; and Silas, deceased. Mr. 
Magill was in earlier life a Democrat, but afterwards became a 
Republican. He was elected to various township offices. His name is 
found among the early records of the United Presbyterian church of 
Standing Stone valley, of which he was a member. He died near McAlevys 
Fort in 1868, and Mrs. Magill died on the homestead in 1889.
  The only surviving member of the family, therefore, is the younger 
James Magill. His whole life is connected with the homestead whose 
founding is described above, where he has been contented to remain, and 
diligently to work his way to prosperity. He cultivates some 140 acres, 
continuing also the business of stock raising; besides this property, 
he has sixty acres of ridge land. He has added to the improvements made 
by his father, and has a flourishing property and a comfortable home. 
Mr. Magill's politics are Republican. He has served three terms as 
school director.
  James Magill was married, in 1847, in Jackson township, to Mary H., 
daughter of William Porter, farmer, of Jackson township, where she was 
born January 17, 1828. The family are of Scotch-Irish origin. Mr. and 
Mrs. Magill have eight children: Margaret; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. D. 
S. Magill, a minister of the United Presbyterian church, in Kansas; 
Annie (Mrs. Dr. William Miller), of McAlevys Fort; William, resides in 
Iowa; James S., on the homestead, is married to Della White, has four 
children; Anna, deceased; May M., deceased; and Joseph, deceased. Mr. 
Magill adheres devotedly to the church of his fathers, the United 
Presbyterian. To her he has given the services of his whole life; he 
was a deacon, and has for many years been an elder; he has not only 
cared for the welfare of the home congregation, but as a representative 
in the General Assembly, has on several occasions sat in deliberation 
on the interests of the church at large. In wise care for the training 
of the young, he has not neglected the Sunday-school, in which he has 
been teacher and superintendent. The home and the church have been Mr. 
Magill's chosen fields of labor; in both his influence us prevalent and 
wholesome.