West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-05-13
IN MEMORIAM.
The Life and DeodS oT Well Known
Citizen.


Citizen.
/ Contributed 10y Trioad
Robert McCaTorty was born on
the Atlantic Ocean, on British
ship, IN neutral waters, tho shin
being en- route 20 the United States.
Shortly after .the arrival of the
family in Baltimore they removed
10 Wllllamsport, Md, at winch
| place his father diod, lowing his
mother with several small children.
or whom Robert was tho eldest.
Being thus deprived Of their nat
ural protector, for several years the
family was separated and Robert
placed IN the care of kindly miller
named Brown, who treated the lit
tie boy as one Of his own until he
arrived at an age to do something
for himsolf. He was then apprcn-
ticel to clrpcutcr and ioiner
named Stake, who, it seems, took
great interest in the orphun boy
and pushed HIM forward in his
trade SO much that at tho end Of
hls appren tlccship no was acknowl
| edged 10 be u fine workman. Dur
/ ing tho tlmo OF his learning the
trade no did what he could to sup
port his mother and the small chill
dren, bnt just previous to his bo-
coming IA journoymau his mother
married again.
After the completion Of his term
Of apprenticeship he worked mt his
trade for different employers until
ho was about twenty eight years OF
age, whom he was joined in mar
rage TO Ann Camela HeslcDine,
lady OF proud and aristocratic
family, who saw IN the humble car
| pointer tho traits OF character that
distinguished him in afto" life. Ar.
ter his marriage he worked at his
trade with varying success until
about 1915 or 1916, he moved To
Cumberland, Md, whore he con
tracted for and built quite "a num-
| Der OF buildings. While thus en-
| gagged ne came under the notice Of
engineers Lttrobe and Rowlcs Of
the b. ~ o. Railroad Co., and they
finally persuaded him TO enter the
service Of the Company as the
| hrst master carpenter. While thus
engaged he built the first lodges OF
( houses OF the engineers, aud many
OF tho older residents OF Preston
and Taylor counties. Wost Virginia.
and Garrett county, Maryland, re-
[ mem Der him tonderly rs n kinl
employer aud Just man. While i'm
this employment he was confronted
with tho demand that ho should
keep his accounts and make up his
pay rolls, NC, on the Sabbath day.
lie protested strongly, stating thai
his religious scruples rebelled
against such work, and his employ.
crs insisting he finally resigned his
| position and removed To Kingwood,
W. Va, whore for over thirty years
he conducted an honorable con
tractlng business. Along about the
year 1871 he recognized the need Of
machinery for the more rapid and
better quality of work and built
large planning mill IN Kingwood
Tand associated with himself i'm bust.
ness Draper g. Hughes, Samson W.
Smallcy, a. Il. Menonr, Daniel
Jackson and others. After the
completion Of the mill he built
number of private residences and
public buildings in and about
KIngwood, among winch are the
Court House, Jail, Poor House, SC
! In 1881 an unfortunate fire ot-
CURED, totally destroying the mill
and machinery, thus leaving him
at sixty five years o. age almost
penniess.
From .hat time until his decoase
he lived alternately with his sons,
Charles II and Harry W.. and the
last years Of his life were spent in
well earned rest and meditation
and preparation for the life TO come.
llo was in every sense a true gen
tlemau, % Kind husband and father,
and q faithful humble Christian.
Robert McCaiferty was married
twice, the first marriage, az above
noted, and the last was to Mrs.
| Emily West, Of Martinsbure, w.
! Vn1 % gentle ndy With whom he
was acquainted previous to bis or
her first marriage. They were mar
rlot in the year 1916. Ills last
I wifc passed away at tho home Of
/ Harry w. McCaGcrty, (whosc wife
/ daughter Of hcr's) boo Allegheny,
+ Pa, in The year 1899, thus leaving