The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-02-22
DEATH OF A. c. M'GRATH.
A CITIZEN PRISONER, iS0S-O6.
Ills Life in Chambersburg Ills
Prison Life story OF his EXper-
fence at Salisbury, n. C.-Ca.
tercr for the Mess High
Prices for Provisions
An Active Man in
Good Works.
From Publlc Oplnlon.

burg, died at his residence or
Saturday evening, February 10
1900, from the effects Of q stroke
Of paralysis. Even after he knew
he was stricken, he reluctantly
consented to be led to his bed
and his head had scarcely touch
ed the pillow when he became un
conscious. His death followed
almost Immediately. His last
words were addressed to his
faithful wife, to whom his long
illness was a great trial borne
with all the fortitude of noble
womanhood
Mr.. McGrath was born in Phil.
adelphia, January 10, 1885. He
was educated in the public
schools of his native city, but
when he was only in his fifteenth
year he began his apprenticeship
at the trade of plumber and gas
filter. In 1858 he entered the
employment of Abraham Myers,
who was a contractor in a large
way for the erection of gas
works. Mr.. McGrath assisted
in building the gas works at Nor
ristown and other cities of the
State, and in 1856 came to this
place with Mr.. Myers to superin-
tend the erection of the Cham
bersburg Gas Works. When the
works were completed in 1857 the
company made him the general
superintendent of the plant and
business. This position he held
for more than forty years and
was only retired when his in.
creasing infrmities made it i'm
possible for him to perform his
duties. In 1882 he was chosen
Supt. Of the Chambersburg
Water Works and held this posi-
ton until his death. In spite of
the heavy tax of these two places
upon his time and energies he al
so conducted an extensive plumb
ing and gas-ftting business.
In August, 1862, Mr.. McGrath
enlisted in Company D, Captain
John H. Reed, One Hundred and
Twenty sixth Regiment Pa. Vols,
Col. James G.. Elder. He was
made corporal, August 16, 1862
and discharged on account of dis
ability, February II, 1868. He
participated in all the battles in
which his regiment was engaged
fromAntietam fredericksburg.
After his discharge Mr.. McGrath
resumed his duties with the Gas
Company. On the 9th of July,
1868, a party of fourteen men left
Chambersburg for Hagerstown,
expecting to witness a battle on
the Potomac as supplementary to
that of Gettysburg. OF this
party Mr.. McGrath was, previous
to his death, one of the four sur
vivors living in Chambersburg in
recent years. The others are
John p. Culbertson, d. M. Eiker
and l.. ID. G. Houser. Instead of
Witnessing the expected battle
nine Of the party were captured
by the enemy, including Mr.. Nc
Grath, Mr.. Culbertson and Mr.
Eiker, The citizen prisoners
were sent to Richmond with the
prisoners Of war captured at
Gettysburg. The first night they
encamped in wheat field near
Williamsport. The next day
they We're ferried across the riv-
er and marched to Staunton
where they arrived July Is.
From Staunton they were con
veyed to Richmond by train, ar
irving on the 21st. They were
first confined to Libby prison, but
in August were transferred to
Castle Thunder. In October
they were sent to Salisbury, N. !
O., to be held as hostages for
some Confederate bushwhack
ers. At Salisbury the mess to
which Mr. McGrath belonged
consisted of d. M, Eiker, DR..
George l.. Kaufman, Alexander
Harper, afterward Of Greencas-
tie, and Captain May, of Pitts
burg. "Mr. McGrath," the late
Jacob Hokc wrote for the "Opin-
ion his Observation-Disclosures
Of the War" was made commits