Husband John Swayze McCalmont 1
AKA: John Swazey McCalmont 2 3 4
Born: 28 Apr 1822 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 1 2 5
Christened:
Died: 1906 2 3
Buried: 5 Nov 1906 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 6
Father: Judge Alexander McCalmont (1785-1857) 7 8
Mother: Elizabeth Hart Connely (1801-1874) 2 9
Marriage: 2 Mar or 22 Mar 1848 1 10
• Additional Image: Hon. John S. McCalmont.
Wife Elizabeth P. Stebley
AKA: Elizabeth P. Steckley,1 Elizabeth P. Stehley 2 3
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General Notes: Husband - John Swayze McCalmont
He was reared in his native town, in the schools of which he received his early educational training, and subsequently pursued his literary studies for two years in Allegheny College, Meadville. In April, 1838, he entered the United States military academy at West Point, in which he completed the prescribed course, graduating on the 1st day of July, 1842. He was breveted second lieutenant in the Third infantry the same year, and in the following October was promoted second lieutenant in the Eighth regiment. Having a taste for civil pursuits, and tiring of the inactivities of army life in time of peace, after one year's experience he resigned his commission, and returning to Franklin, devoted himself to the practice of law, which he had studied at intervals during his military life. He was admitted to the Venango bar on the 25th of November, 1844, and after practicing a short time in Franklin went to Clarion where he was actively engaged in the prosecution of his profession until 1856. He served as district attorney in Clarion County from 1845 to 1846, and in 1848 was elected to the legislature and re-elected in the following year, during which term he was speaker of the house.
In 1852 he was the choice of Clarion County for congress, and the same year was chosen presidential elector on the Pierce ticket. In May, 1853, he was appointed by Governor Bigler president judge of the eighteenth judicial district, to which he was duly elected by the people for the full term the following autumn. Judge McCalmont discharged the duties of the position in an able and impartial manner, was a dignified and popular official, and but few of his decisions met with reversal at the hands of the supreme court. He continued in the discharge of his official functions until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he tendered his services to Governor Curtin, by whom he was commissioned colonel of the Tenth Reserves, and subsequently resigned the judgeship. Upon the organization of the division, Colonel McCalmont was assigned to the command of the Third brigade, the duties of which he exercised until superseded by General E. O. C. Ord. He commanded his regiment in the bloody battle of Drainesville, fought on the 20th of December, 1861, in which he displayed the qualities of the gallant soldier and skillful commander. Warned by failing health that he would be unable to stand the rugged duties of a protracted military service, Colonel McCalmont resigned his command in May, 1862, and returning to Franklin, resumed the practice of his profession and carried on a successful legal business until 1885. April 1st of that year he was appointed by President Cleveland commissioner of customs at Washington city, which position he held until March, 1889, when he resigned, although he continued to discharge his official duties until June following.
Politically Judge McCalmont voted with the Democratic party until 1872, in which year he supported General Grant for the presidency, and in 1876 cast his vote for Hayes and Wheeler. After 1880 he acted with the Democracy. Judge McCalmont became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1856, after which time he took an active interest in the local body of that denomination. In 1872 he was chosen lay representative of the Erie conference to the general conference held at Brooklyn, New York. In 1890 he was a resident of the national capital, where he was engaged in the duties of his profession. He and his wife had six children living in 1890. [HVC 1890, 163]
He died Dec. 2, 1906. [FCCV, 83] But he was interred in November.
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth P. Stebley
from Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA