Richard Butler McCabe and Sarah A. Vinacke
Husband Richard Butler McCabe 1
Born: 5 Aug 1792 - Cumberland (later Perry) Co, PA 1 Christened: Died: 10 Jan 1860 - ? Blairsville, Indiana Co, PA 2 Buried:
Father: James McCabe ( -1795) 3 Mother: [Unk] Hughes ( - ) 3
Marriage: 1820 1
Wife Sarah A. Vinacke 1
Born: Christened: Died: Aft 1880 Buried:
Father: John Vinacke ( - ) 1 Mother: Ann Holland ( - ) 1
Children
1 F Anna Mary McCabe 2 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Silas A. Riggs (1813-1897) 2 5
2 F Pauline McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Robert H. Ward ( -Bef 1880) 2
3 M Robert Adams McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Martha McLure ( -Bef 1880) 2
4 F Jane R. McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: George W. Bonnin ( -Bef 1880) 2
5 F Sarah Minona McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Dr. J. P. Shields ( - ) 2
6 M John Young McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:
7 M Richard De Charms McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:
8 M Roach B. McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Mollie Keesburry ( - ) 2
9 F Eulalie McCabe 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: John McCrea Hosack (1837- ) 6
10 M Albert B. McCabe 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Richard Butler McCabe
In 1795 his father died, leaving the child in the exclusive care and control of the widowed mother. Schools in that day, in that part of the country, were few, poor and separated, so that the lowest branches of education were difficult of acquisition. He desired to learn to write, but money was scarce in the widow's home, and he had no paper. To obtain this was a formidable difficulty; but remembering to have heard that cat-skins were of some value, he conceived the idea of slaughtering and skinning one of the household pets, but when he prepared to put his design in execution, the gentle and generous heart of the boy failed him, and the life of poor puss was saved.
The period of his early boyhood passed, he left his quiet home in the country and was bound an apprentice to a carpenter, but not liking the occupation, he went to Philadelphia. The War of 1812, having just broken out, he entered himself on board a privateer which was about starting on a cruise, but one of his brothers learning of the facts, prevented his departure. He then went to Richmond, Virginia, where he read law for a time.
Returning again to the interior of Pennsylvania, he became clerk in a store. In 1815 he went to Pittsburgh, passing through Indiana County, then almost a wilderness. There he entered a counting-house; but soon returning to the country, he passed a few years as clerk, and finally manager of several iron works. He was married in 1820, and removed to Harrisburg, where he entered the office of the secretary of state. While thus engaged he returned to the study of law under the supervision of the attorney general of the state, Mr. Elder.
After his admission to the bar he went to Huntingdon, and commenced his professional career. Subsequently he removed to Blairsville, Indiana County, where he resided till his death, a period of over thirty years. He enjoyed for most of the time a lucrative practice. During one term he served as prothonotary of the county, and performed the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of the citizens. But the law with its fictions and its quibbles was ever distasteful to him. So turning from her shrine he wandered in the flowery paths of literature.
His antiquarian researches were extensive, and to him we are indebted for the preservation of much of the early history of Western Pennsylvania. His "Brady" and other sketches are found in nearly every history of the state. At the close of his life he was engaged upon a "Biography of the Priest of the Allegheny Mountains"-the Russian prince Gallitzen, which promised to be a most charming an interesting work.
The following extract from the proceedings of the bar of Indiana County will serve to show in what light Mr. McCabe was regarded by the brothers of his profession:
Resolved, That we bow with profound humility to this visitation of Divine Providence, in the removal from earth, of our late friend and brother, Richard B. McCabe, whose venerable years, varied learning, rare integrity and pure character, had won the love and reverence, not only of his professional brethren, but of the whole community amongst whom his early life was spent.
Resolved, That in his death, the bar has sustained a loss that will long be felt, because his extensive knowledge, not limited to the professional circles, his thorough integrity of character, his invincible love of truth, always evinced by a ready and straightforward adoption of his own convictions, as rules of conduct, afford an example to the young lawyer, worthy of all imitation, nor will the loss be felt by the bar only, for in all the relations of citizen, neighbor and friend, as well as in the more sacred ones of husband and father, Mr. McCabe's life exhibited "a daily beauty" of which the world furnishes but few instances, and those who knew him best will not soon forget the goodness of heart which found expression in uniform gentleness of manners, and in frequent acts of charity to the poor and helpless; nor the unselfish, unobtrusive character which, neglecting none of the world's duties, yet cared not for its gains or honors, but found enjoyment in the higher and purer regions of literature, and in the kindly offices and intercourse of social and domestic life.
Beyond the limited sphere of home labor, he sought no field of exertion except in that of local history, and his efforts, not completed at his death, in collecting and preserving the fleeting memorials of the past of Western Pennsylvania, secured him an honorable name in that branch of knowledge, and entitle him to the gratitude of the student of history.
1 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 361.
2 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 362.
3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1575.
4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 330.
5 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 329.
6
—, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 362, 369.
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