Joseph Long McKay and Mary E. Stafford

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Husband Joseph Long McKay ¹

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           Born: 15 Feb 1827 - near Waterford, Erie Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: John McKay (1779-1829) 2
         Mother: Sarah Blair (1788-1859) 1

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       Marriage: 1896 3

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   Other Spouse: Cornelia E. Parmalee (1829-1895) 3 - 29 Aug 1854 3

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Wife Mary E. Stafford ⁴

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

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   Other Spouse: Ansel Pelton McLean (1836-1891) 5 - 3 May 1871 5

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Long McKay

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His education was obtained by first attending the little “red school house,” better known to the pupils as “Frog College,” presided over by Samuel McGill, perhaps better remembered as “Paddy McGill.” He completed his studies in the public school of Waterford, as taught in one room of the Waterford Academy. In early life he had thought much of following the trade of saddler and harnessmaker and at the age of eighteen years he left the parental home and went to Buffalo, New York, for the purpose of finding a place to learn that trade, but being unsuccessful he went to Cleveland, Ohio, meeting with the same fate there. His funds running low, he found a temporary job loading staves on a boat at the Cleveland docks and as soon as he saved sufficient funds returned home. This adventure rather dampened his ardor, and acting upon the advice of his mother, to remain near home, he made a bargain with the firm of Marvin Judson, general merchants, to enter their employ, learn the business, and for the first year's services to receive as wages his board and clothes. After a term of seven and a half years in the employ of the above firm, the young man decided to go into business for himself, and after tendering his resignation, he went to New York City, and on the 12th day of December, 1853, he purchased his first invoice of dry goods of Hastings & Forby. He opened a store on the corner of High street and West Park, Waterford. He admitted James Wilson McKay, as partner, this association continuing four years. He afterwards associated in business with James Lytle for about six years, then sold out to Lytle Brothers. He then was associated with E. B. Sleeper, in the manufacturing of “Sleeper's Compound Liniment,” for a short time, when he purchased Mr. Sleeper's interest, but later closed out his business to Mr. McNeal. He next returned to his old business, opened a dry goods store in the Phelps Block, and in 1888 admitted his son, William, as partner, trading as J. L. McKay & Son. In 1872, he purchased the Amos Judson brick block, corner of First and High streets, remodeled it, put in the first plate glass front in Waterford, and added a third story, which was known as “McKay Hall.” The brick block on High street, in which the firm conducted their general dry goods business, was built by the firm in 1895. All through his business career he dealt occasionally in real estate, bought and sold several farms, and in addition to store and residence, owned considerable property in Waterford. When eighty-eight years of age, he regularly attended to his business and yet enjoyed a day's fishing on the lake. He was young in spirit and was familiarly known to every man, woman and child in Waterford as “Uncle Joe.” He has served many times as a member of the borough council; two terms as chief burgess; twenty-five years was trustee of Waterford Academy; was one of the incorporators of the Waterford Cemetery Association; was a member of the board of directors at the time the receiving vault was built and superintended its erection; was one of the charter members of Clemment Lodge, No. 101, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and officer of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a vestryman of Saint Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church. He was a Whig in politics, later a Republican.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1507.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1506.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1509.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1509, 1514, 1688.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1688.