ACF, the oldest and longest operating industry in Milton, began as a sawmill in 1842. A foundry was added nearby, and a blacksmith shop. In 1864, The Car Works was formed as a corporation, and a tank car was designed and built for hauling oil. (A replica of that tank car has set outside of ACF for many years.) The company made a variety of train cars over the years. In the 1870s they made bridges, and during the war, they made artillery shells. In 1880, the fire that burnt down the entire town began at the Car Works - it was one of many fires there over the years. They rebuilt quickly after the fire. In 1899, 13 small car works in 8 states incorporated into one large company - The American Car & Foundry. That company continued to operate in Milton for 120 years, laying off employees for the last time in 2019. In 2020, the equipment was sold in a 3 day online auction.
From Saw Mill To The American Car & Foundry - The History Of ACF in MiltonIn 1865, after 30 years of practicing medicine Dr. William McCleery turned his medical practice over to his oldest son, Dr J. P. McCleery, and William went full time into the lumber business.
According to a 1973 article in the Daily Item, McCleery had built a sawmill in 1842, so he was already both a Doctor, and a lumber man. By 1864, a year before he retired from medicine, the sawmill had added a blacksmith shop, and a foundry, along with a distillery managed by Fleming W. Pollock.
William McCleery had married one of the sisters of James Pollack & James Dougal married another of the sisters. William & James each named one of their sons James, and one of their sons William. Both the junior William's were given their mothers maiden name as their middle name. William Pollock McCleery, and William Pollock McDougal were both captains in the civil war.
A clipping from the 1847 Sketch Of Milton by John Heyl Raser
The buildings behind the canal boat here were the Pollock buildings, but I do not think the stone distillery is shown. The building to the left, before the bridge, was the McCleery Sawmill. This entire area later became the Murray Dougal Car Works, and is today where the ACF buildings stand.
William McCleery had married one of the sisters of James Pollack & James Dougal married another of the sisters. William & James each named one of their sons James, and one of their sons William. Both the junior William's were given their mothers maiden name as their middle name. William Pollock McCleery, and William Pollock McDougal were both captains in the civil war.
In 1865, The Milton Car Works began operations, the corporation being formed by E. H. Pollock, T.S. Stoughton, William Pollock Dougal, N. Murray, and John McCleery (son of Dr William McCleery who built the sawmill.)
The Car Works on the 1883 Map Of Milton
Note the canal running through town, and the log pond.
Note the canal running through town, and the log pond.
"It was during the tremendous railroad expansion which began during the civil war that a railroad car building firm - Murray, Dougal, and Company - was established in Milton on the site of the present tank car and pressure vessel manufacturing plant of the American Car and Foundry division of ACF industries."
Henry A Correa, VP of ACF in 1964, said "no doubt the location was picked for it's proximity to what was then the most important railroad car building material - wood" -
The Times Tribune, December 1964
The Car Works on the 1884 Sanborn Map
Flipped upside down, so that it corresponds to the 1883 clipping above
On Sanborn maps, stone buildings are blue. The Mt Pleasant Distillery building, which had a stone carved with an eagle, made by James Pollock, became part of the car works. It was most likely the blue building shown above. When that building was torn down in 1902, the stone was saved and incorporated into the new building.
Flipped upside down, so that it corresponds to the 1883 clipping above
On Sanborn maps, stone buildings are blue. The Mt Pleasant Distillery building, which had a stone carved with an eagle, made by James Pollock, became part of the car works. It was most likely the blue building shown above. When that building was torn down in 1902, the stone was saved and incorporated into the new building.
Replica of the first tank car built at Milton in 1864
(the car underneath is original, the tanks are replicas)
The Densmore Brothers, in Meadville PA, received a patent for a nearly identical car in April of 1866.
The Densmore Brothers, in Meadville PA, received a patent for a nearly identical car in April of 1866.
At that time, the major oil companies had a pressing need for better, and cheaper, transportation of oil. The Car Works in Milton built a wooden bed, with two wooden tanks on top.
The tank car proved to be a booming business. Years later, when 13 car companies, from 8 different states, combined in 1899 to form the American Car and Foundry Company, the tank car was selected as the main production item for the Milton plant. But that's jumping ahead a bit. Lets get back to the 1870s.
These replica tanks were not sold in the 2020 auction, they are currently out being restored.
The tank car proved to be a booming business. Years later, when 13 car companies, from 8 different states, combined in 1899 to form the American Car and Foundry Company, the tank car was selected as the main production item for the Milton plant. But that's jumping ahead a bit. Lets get back to the 1870s.
On 22 February 1870, S.W. Murray and B.P. Lamason were granted Patent No. 100,058 for an “Improved Railway Oil Car.”
Export tank car, for transporting molasses, built by Murray, Dougal & Co.
"These tanks are designs for carrying molasses. They are made of the best annealed steel plates, and riveted with Burdens best rivets.
In 1873 a financial crisis in Europe & North America was known as the "Financial Panic" of 1873. During this crisis, The Murray, Dougal & Company was only working 4 day weeks. They were still making train cars.
In December of 1874, the Miltonian reported that Murray & Dougal had been awarded a contract to build 500 coal cars for the Central R.R. of New Jersey.
The Milton Car Works, 1875
And they even added a new boiler shop in 1876.
1876
The demand for new rail cars however, was low. The Car Company began making bridges
Murray, Dougal And Company Bridge, manufactured in Milton Pa, Located in Bucks County Pa
They do not appear to have made too many bridges, but at least one still stands today.
In 1877 Murray recevied a patent on an iron box car.
The First one ever built was made in Milton.
Then, in 1880, a fire at the Car Works burnt down the entire town of Milton.
Just after noon on May 14th 1880, a fire broke out on the roof of the carpenter and planing shop of the Milton Car Works.. No one is certain if the fire started inside the building, or if the embers from a passing train landed on the roof and ignited it. The shop burnt like a tinderbox. In less than 5 minutes it was leveled to the ground. Strong winds carried the fires embers to the roofs of nearby buildings, and before long, the entire town was on fire.
By 4 pm, the the fire had burned over 125 acres. More than 400 houses were lost, in addition to all of the hotels, two banks, the opera house, the telegraph office, the Miltonian and the Independent weekly offices, all but two of the business houses, and the depot.
Before the fire, Milton had 700 buildings. After the fire, only 60 were left standing.
More than 3,000 people were left homeless, most having escaped the flames with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
You can read more about the fire, and see photos, here.
Ruins of the town, as seen from the Cemetery Hill. The Car Works are in the foreground
The canal is running through the middle of the photo, and the covered bridge, which was saved from the fire, can be seen across the river in the back.
(The bridge would later be lost in the 1889 flood)
Less than two weeks after the fire, the Miltonian reported that the Car Works would rebuild - in brick.
May 28 1880
The Wilkes Barre Times Leader reported that The Milton Car Works refused an offer to locate in Huntingdon, and that they would instead rebuild on the old site.
In September of 1880, the new stone building was completed and 70 cars had been completed.
By August of 1881, local papers were reporting that the Milton Car works was working double time, and was still struggling to keep up with the orders.
And then in September, the Car Works once again caught on fire.
Flames were first seen through the roof above it's boiler room - within 80 feet of where the fire began that burnt down the town the year before.
A small piece of the roof over the boiler works caught fire, but was quickly put out. The entire sawmill however, and and a large amount of lumber. The loss was estimated at around $7,000. Insurance would cover about 2/3 of the loss.
In 1882 The Milton Car Works employed 360 men.
In November of 1882, they were building passenger cars, box cars, and coal cars.
In 1891 the capacity of the plant was judged to be 10 thirty-ton hopper cars a day or 3,000 cars a year, with average employment of 400 workers. The plant contained a saw mill that specialized in oak lumber and had 16 acres of pool for the storage of logs, which were purchased along the Susquehanna river and its tributaries and brought from Muncy dam by the canal. The plant was then located between the Philadelphia & Erie railroad and the West Branch canal, with a branch from the Philadelphia & Reading railroad running into it.
1899 - Thirteen Companies Merge To Form The American Car & Foundry Company
In March of 1899 the Miltonian announced that the firm of Murray, Dougal & Co, under it's present constitution, would have to be reorganized by September 1 1900 when it would expire by "legal limitation."
"In view of this condition a contract sale of the property and business has been made to the American Car & Foundry Company, a New Jersey Corporation recently formed." They went on to report that the present management would continue on until the present contracts were completed, and presumably long after.
In March of 1899 the Miltonian announced that the firm of Murray, Dougal & Co, under it's present constitution, would have to be reorganized by September 1 1900 when it would expire by "legal limitation."
"In view of this condition a contract sale of the property and business has been made to the American Car & Foundry Company, a New Jersey Corporation recently formed." They went on to report that the present management would continue on until the present contracts were completed, and presumably long after.
"AC&F chose to continue the tank car as the main product of its Milton plant, though by now it was built largely of rolled steel plate with riveted seams. Besides crude oil, they were now used to haul edible oils such as molasses, fish oil and vegetable oil as well as petroleum products such as asphalt, gasoline, lubricating oil and tar."
1899 - Another Car Works Fire
In 1902 the Mountain Water Works Company was ordered to erect a "sufficient number of fire plugs" and pump water to lines in the manufacturing district, including the Car Works, Iron Works, Shimers plants and the nail mill, to provide fire protection.
The Car Works On The 1901 Sanborn Map
The article states that the firm never paid wages lower than $1 a day, and that rate was only for a short time during the financial panic between 1894 and 1897, a time when most other car works had failed or closed down for lack of orders.
In October of 1902, the Mount Carmel newspaper ran a column with the names of many men, attesting to the 89 cent work day as a "malicious falsehood".
The article states that the firm never paid wages lower than $1 a day, and that rate was only for a short time during the financial panic between 1894 and 1897, a time when most other car works had failed or closed down for lack of orders.
American Car & Foundry Company, changing to narrow-gage and loading flat cars on ship for Panama Canal Commission
A Crew of 13 men from the American Car and Foundry Plant in Milton were sent to NJ to prepare a shipment of flat cars for the Panama Canal Commission, in December of 1906
The men were: Curtis Wagner, John Reich, James Lester, W. Fisher, J.H. Wagner, Charles Frederick, R. Erdly, Ray Raup, Clarence Ginter, Charles Black, W.E. Dieffenderfer, Archie Hoagland, Merrill Coleman
ACF Car Works, Milton PA, 1907
In April of 1907 the Miltonian reported that the "immense AC&F addition" to their car works was underway.
The Erecting Shop
The Forge
Foundry & Machine Shop
The Lumber Yard
In April of 1907 the Miltonian reported that the "immense AC&F addition" to their car works was underway.
The Erecting Shop
Viewing The American Car & Foundry From Red Hill, 1908
In 1908, the log basin (on the right) had been drained, but not graded. The southern end can be seen in the photo above. The tank is on "Tank Hill". The three white double houses at the end of the basin were company houses for McCleery's sawmill - later Murray, Dougal & Company.In the 1950s, the homes were demolished to make room for the expansion.
The 1910 Fire
There were a lot of small fires over the years.
This one in 1910 was put out quickly and left little damage.
1918
Birds Eye View, 1909
March 1910
During World War I, the chemical industry was expanding, and again there was a need for better, and cheaper, transport. The Milton plant began manufacturing tank cars for chemical transport at that time.
American Car And Foundry Supervisors Circa 1920
Back Row: Samuel Becky [Smith Shop Foreman], Alex Blair [Erection Shop Foreman], H. Harmon [Machine Shop Foreman], John Seiler [Inspection], J.Hazlet [Safety Inspector], Frank Swayze [Local Engineer], J Raab [Punch Shop Foreman], R. Morgan [Master Mechanic], Ivan Huff [Paint Foreman]
Middle Row: H.Frey [Yardmaster], Roy Ritter [Equipment Foreman], M.F. Wood [Electrical Foreman], J. Davison [Pressed Steel Efficiency Enginner], B Bloom [Storekeeper] Thomas Sanger [Pressed Steel Superintendent], Joseph Taddeo [Labor Foreman]
Front Row: John Metzinger [Asst. To Gen. Superintendent] C. Flinn [Assistant Superintendent], Margaret O'Brien [Nurse], Benjamin Budd Cannon [Resident Representative], T.E. Twist [Wood Working Dept Foreman] R. Smith [Night Superintendent]
By the late 1920s and 1930s, The Milton plant of the American Car & Foundry Company had the most modern riveted production tank car shop in the world. They were producing as many as 20 cars a day.
In 1938, welding quality improved, and the Milton firm began using welding as an integral part of their manufacturing process. Insulated cars were constructed and eventually coils added to warm deliveries like molasses to ease extraction. The shape was rethought to pitch either end slightly, allowing contents to drain to the middle.
During the 2nd World War, the Milton plant supplied the army with tank cars, pressure vessels for overseas service, masts and keyposts for Liberty Ships, locomotive tenders, heat exchangers and high-chrome tanks for the manufacture of penicillin. (The Berwick location made tanks)
An ACF Badge From The 1940s
The Standard-Journal reported that ACF purchased a 45-ton diesel locomotive that was built in 1941 and used by the Navy during World War II.
The Daily Item, October 1965
In 1966 & 1967, the Milton plant produced hopper cars. For 10 years that line was discontinued, but in November of 1976, it was resumed. The plant then built both hopper and tank cars.
Hopper cars were used to transport grain, flour, and dry goods.
In 1979 ACF purchased four parcels of land from the Northumberland Conty Redevelopment Authority, for a total just over $11,000. The properties pruchases included the former Emery Tavern located between LR18 & the ACF Administration building, the former Webbs Glass shop, and two parcels between Arch St and the alley, and First street and the alley.
The plant planned to use the new acquisitions as parking and access to the loading dock. The engineering department was moving into the former Lincoln Street School, which was being renovated at the time.
1980's - Visit By The Owner, Carl Ichan
Investor Carl Ichan owns ACF, which is headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri. Greenly recalled an impromptu visit by the billionaire to the Milton plant in the mid-1980s. As Greenly remembers it, Ichan was flying over Pennsylvania and wished to visit his holding. He landed in Williamsport and was driven south to Milton. Greenly said plant workers had two hours notice, and that they spent most of that time hurriedly pushing brooms.
In 2003, ACF constructed four tank cars a day, and about one thousand annually.
The plant employed approximately 400 people, many of whom had worked there for more than 20 years. They were the smallest manufacturer of railroad cars at that time, but they had the advantage of being able to respond to orders quickly.
The Switch Engines
In July of 2020, most of the plants equipment was sold off. Employees had been laid off since the previous fall.
1980
In 2003, ACF constructed four tank cars a day, and about one thousand annually.
The plant employed approximately 400 people, many of whom had worked there for more than 20 years. They were the smallest manufacturer of railroad cars at that time, but they had the advantage of being able to respond to orders quickly.
The Switch Engines
In July of 2020, most of the plants equipment was sold off. Employees had been laid off since the previous fall.
Included in the sale were three locomotives known as "switch cars" They registered closing bids of $21,750, $24,000 and $31,500.
An early photo of workers with one of the engines -
========================
Find More History & Stories Of Milton here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
========================
Find More History & Stories Of Milton here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
And Find More Local History at:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-time-line-of-history-in-central.html========================
By Homer Folk
William McCleery came to Milton in his boyhood, with his parents. He read medicine with Dr James S. Dougal, and went on to graduate from Jefferson Medical College in 1827. McCleery married the sister of ex Governor James Pollack, and they had 6 children. After 30 years of practicing medicine, in 1865 he turned his medical practice over to his oldest son, Dr J. P. McCleery, and William went full time into the lumber business. [Note - McCleery & Dougal Jr both married sisters of James Pollak]
"The manufacturing facility in Milton, Pennsylvania, is served by the Norfolk Southern Railway and is capable of manufacturing railcars and all related railcar components. The plant is capable of producing pressure vessels in sizes 18,000–61,000 gwc, including propane tanks, compressed gas storage, LPG storage, and all related components, including heads. The plant, covering 48 acres, provides 500,000 square feet of covered work area and seven miles of storage tracks.
By 1954, the corporation's interests had become so diversified that the name was changed from American Car and Foundry to ACF Industries Inc. ACF produced its last passenger car in 1959. ACF Industries LLC became a successor to ACF Industries Inc. in May, 2003."
From the Company Website
A Milton ACF Car at the Railraoading Musuem
Time Line:
1862 - President Abraham Lincoln signs the Pacific Railroad Act, which names and directs two companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, to construct a transcontinental railroad.
1864 - Milton Car Company organized by S.W. Murray, W.P.Douglas, John McCleery & J.S. Stoughton
1864 - First tank car produced at Milton
1865, September. General C.C. McCormick entered the firm of the Milton Car Company. Name changed to Murray, Dougal, & Company.
1868, January - Alexander McNeill, a native of Prince Edwards Island, was killed in an accident at Murray, Dougal & Company
1868, September - Murray, Douglas, and Company raised a 40 foot flag pole for Grant & Colfax
Alexander McNeil killed at the car works.
Alexander McNeil killed at the car works.
1869, September - Murray, Douglas & Company made a proposition to build a reservoir on top of Red Hill if Council would promise to pile the town so that all could enjoy the advantages of water.
1870 - Murray, Dougal & Company secured inlets to their pools and stocked them with salmon, perch, bass, and pickerel
1872,, July - W.J. Phillips lost the thumb of his right hand as the car works. Pushing a board through a circular saw, his hand slipped and off went his thumb.
1873, June - Mr S.W. Murray, of the firm Murray, Dougal & Company has had a re-issue of one of his patents on railway oil cars. We understand that Mr Murrays patent is being used by manufacturers all over the country, for which he is getting nothing but the honor of having his genius appreciated. He should go after the infringers.
1874, Sept - By the explosion of gas in a tank car at the local car works, C. Shoemaker aged 15 was killed. Ambrose Green & William McIntyre were seriously injured.
1877, June - "The empire line has recently constructed at the shops of Murray, Dougal, and company, Milton Pa, two box freight cars, the principal material of which is iron, one of them being the La Mothe syle of construction, the other being known as the kimball method.
1883, February - Hugh Stevenson terribly bruised in the face by bursting emery wheel at the car works.
1890, August - Jacob Fetter of Lower Market Street was badly squeezed at the Car Works Friday last. The props of a car gave way and he was caught between two cars, sustaining injuries of a serious character.
1893 - The Murray & Dougal Car Co of Milton, turning out a finished car an hour, employing 900 men resumed Tuesday with no reduction in pay.
1894, January 12 - The Car Works have closed down - unfortunately for many.
1899:- American Car & Foundry is formed from the merger of 13 smaller companies.
1907 - The Milton Iron Company connected with the American Car & Foundry Co. has been closed down for the present, although it is hoped that conditions will soon warrant a resumption of work. Other branches of the car works have lessened the number of hands - but temporarily
1939- ACF's Berwick plant switches to construction of military tanks.
1941, August 2 - ACF's 1,000th military tank is completed for the United States military effort of World War II
1935: ACF builds lightweight Rebel streamline trains for the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad
1939: ACF's Berwick plant switches to construction of military tanks.
August 2, 1941: ACF's 1,000th military tank is completed for the United States military effort of World War II
1954: The company officially changes its name to ACF Industries, Inc.
1961: ACF delivers its last passenger car, Berwick plant closed, sold, to later re-open as Berwick Forge & Fabricating Corporation.
====================================
November 1864
June 1898
March, 1899
March 1900
Murray, Dougal & Company Bridges:
- 1877 Danboro Point Pleasant Bridge "The builder, Murray, Dougal & Company, while almost unheard of in bridge work, was a noted railroad car builder."
- Milesburg
- Port Matilda
- Over Bald Eagle At Howard (cost, $3,500)
- Penn Creek Bridge
The Sun Gazette, 1877
================================
Mergers & Acquisitions:
In 1899, 13 Companies Combined To Form ACF:
- Buffalo Car Manufacturing Company, Berwick, Pennsylvania (founded in 1872)
- Ensign Manufacturing Company, Huntington, West Virginia (founded in 1871)
- Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company, Berwick, Pennsylvania (founded in 1840)
- Michigan-Peninsular Car Company, Detroit, Michigan (founded in 1892)
- Minerva Car Company, Minerva, Ohio
- Missouri Car and Foundry Company, Madison, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri (founded in 1876 MO/1891 IL)
- Murray, Dougal and Company, Milton, Pennsylvania founded 1846
- Niagara Car Wheel Company, Buffalo, New York
- Ohio Falls Car Manufacturing Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana
- St. Charles Car Company, St. Charles, Missouri (founded in 1873)
- Terre Haute Car and Manufacturing Company, Terre Haute, Indiana
- Union Car Company, Depew, New York
- Wells and French Company, Depew, New York
1899: ACF acquires Bloomsburg Car Manufacturing Company
1901: ACF acquires Jackson and Sharp Company and Common Sense Bolster Company
1904: ACF builds the first all-steel passenger car in the world for the Interborough Rapid Transit
1904: ACF acquires Southern Car and Foundry of Memphis, Tennessee
1905: ACF acquires Indianapolis Car and Foundry and Indianapolis Car Company
1922: ACF diversifies into the automotive industry with the acquisition of Carter Carburetor Corporation
March 31, 1924: ACF acquires Pacific Car and Foundry from William Pigott
October 31, 1925: ACF forms "American Car and Foundry Securities Corporation" (A wholly owned subsidiary holding company) for the purpose of acquiring Fageol Motors Company of Ohio and Hall-Scott Motor Car Company
1926: ACF acquires J. G. Brill Company
1927: ACF acquires Shippers Car Line
1934: Paul Pigott reinstates a controlling interest of Pacific Car and Foundry
1954: ACF purchases Engineering and Research Corporation.[
1954–1955: ACF delivers 35 "Astra Dome" dome cars to the Union Pacific Railroad
January
1977: Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) came up with the idea of the first double-stack intermodal car in 1977. SP then designed the first car with ACF Industries that same year.
1984: ACF is purchased by Carl Icahn
1997: ACF reaches leasing agreement with GE Capital Railcar for 35,000 of its 46,000 railcars, mostly on 16-year leases with optional purchase agreements
2003: ACF Industries LLC became a successor to ACF Industries, Incorporated on May 1,
2003.
1922 Advertisement
Biographies:
CAPTAIN WILLIAM P. DOUGAL was the second son of Dr. James S. and Sarah (Pollock) Dougal, and grandson of Dr. James Dougal, the second resident physician of Milton. He was born, December 28, 1823, in the substantial stone house erected by his grandfather on the corner of Front and Mahoning streets, Milton, Pennsylvania, early in the present century, and was educated at the old Milton Academy. In early manhood he engaged in farming in Union county, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1860. Upon the breaking out of the civil war he at once gave his active support to the Union cause. and September 4, 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company D, One Hundred and Fiftieth (Bucktail) regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, which company he recruited in Union county, where he then resided. His regiment was at once sent to the front, and afterwards became celebrated as one of the fighting regiments of the Army of the Potomac. Lieutenant Dougal was promoted to the captaincy on the field of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, where he was so severely wounded as to necessitate his retirement from active service, and he was finally discharged, February 1, 1864. The firm of Murray, Dougal & Company was organized the same year, and the Milton Car Works established, with which Captain Dougal was actively identified until 1878, when he withdrew from the firm and lived a retired life up to his death, July 8, 1890.
Captain Dougal was twice married, first to Sarah Clingan, of Union county, who bore him one daughter, Sarah, wife of William C. Lawson, Jr., of Milton. His second wife was Agnes, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Montgomery) McCormick, of Milton, a descendant of two well known pioneer families of the West Branch valley. Seven children were the fruits of this union: James; Robert; William; Eliza; Charles; Agnes, and Margaret, all of whom are living except the eldest. Captain Dougal was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which faith his widow and family also adhere, and in politics he was an ardent Republican. He was a
director of the Milton National Bank, and always manifested a deep interest in the social and material growth of his native town. He was affable, kind, and generous in all the relations of home and family, and in business life he was recognized as the soul of honor and integrity.
Bell's History Of Northumberland County
GENERAL CHARLES C. McCORMICK, deceased, was born in Paradise, Lewis
township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1838, and
died, January 31, 1884. His parents were Robert and Eliza McCormick. He
was reared on the homestead farm, and manifested a great love for books
and a desire to improve his mind. He attended the McEwensville Academy
and the Lewisburg University, and took a course at the Pittsburgh
Commercial College. He removed with his parents to Milton in 1860. At
the breaking out of the civil war he was among the first to respond to
his country's call, and, owing to his military tact, indomitable energy,
and unquestionable bravery, he gradually arose from the rank of private
to that of brigadier general. October 9,1861, he enlisted in Company D,
Eightieth Regiment (Seventh Cavalry), and November 18, 1861, was
promoted to captain of Company L; January 10, 1865, he became colonel of
the regiment, and was brevetted brigadier general, March 13, 1865, for
long, faithful, and gallant service. He was mustered out, August 23,
1865, and was promoted after the war to the rank of major general of the
National Guard of Pennsylvania. He fought in the Army of the Tennessee
as a cavalryman, and was wounded at Bardstown, Kentucky, and Selma,
Alabama. The bullets received at the latter place remained in his body until his
death. He participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Stone River,
Alexandria, Chickamauga, Macon, Dallas, Atlanta, Columbia, and Kennesaw
Mountain. At the close of the war he returned to Milton and purchased an
interest in the firm of Murray, Dougal & Company, car manufacturers,
from which he retired in 1877. June 30, 1868, he married Charlotte A.,
daughter of L. M. and Sarah (Blake) Wright, of Troy, New York, and to
them were born three children: Robert C., a student at Cornell
University; Helen C., and Walter W., now attending school.
Bell's History Of Northumberland County
SAMUEL WILSON MURRAY was born at Lewisburg, Union county,
Pennsylvania, October 16, 1829. He was educated at the old Lewisburg
Academy under Hugh Pollock and his successor in that venerable
institution, John Robinson. When he was about seventeen years of age he
went to Lancaster, where his father then resided. Two years later he
went to Portland, Maine, and entered the Portland Locomotive Works for a
term of three years for the purpose of learning the trade of a
machinist. At the expiration of his time at the Portland Works he spent
a year and a half at Vernon, Indiana, and in Rhode Island, after which
he returned to Lancaster and was employed for the three succeeding years
as draughtsman in the Lancaster Locomotive Works.
In September, 1856, he went to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and in
connection with William Vanderbilt and Charles Bowman engaged in the
machine business under the firm name of Vanderbilt, Murray & Bowman.
About the middle of the following January their works were entirely
destroyed by fire. They immediately purchased another establishment then
owned and operated by John B. Hall, but during the following summer came
the great commercial crash of 1857, and this, together with their losses
by fire, crippled the firm to such an extent that they deemed it
expedient to resell the works to Mr. Hall and retire from business. Mr.
Murray then returned to Lancaster, and shortly afterward went to
Pittsburgh, where he was employed a year in the shops of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The succeeding year be spent in the
Baldwin Locomotive Works at Philadelphia.
In the fall of 1860 he returned to Lewisburg, and became interested
in the firm of Slifer, Walls, Shriner & Company, which was about to
engage in the manufacture of agricultural implements. In February,
1864, he came to Milton, and in connection with several other gentlemen,
founded the Milton Car Works, with which enterprise he is still
identified.
Mr. Murray was married, December 17, 1866, to Sarah Matilda Meckly,
a daughter of Dr. John Meckly, of Milton. and two children, a son, John
Heber, and a daughter, Helen Beatrice, are the result of this union.
While a resident of Portland, Maine, Mr. Murray cast his first vote
at the municipal election at which Neal Dow was elected mayor of the
city and which resulted in the enactment of the famous "Maine Law." He
became at that time a convert to the theory that prohibition was the
only practical remedy for the evils of intemperance and he has remained
a life-long adherent to the cause. In early life he joined the Methodist
Episcopal church, to which creed his parents and sister also adhered,
and he has been a prominent leader in church work for many years. He
has been a liberal contributor to religious and benevolent purposes and
his business career furnishes evidence that a competence can be secured
without the sacrifice of religious principles or honor.
Dr William McCleery 1803-1867
From Bell's History of Northumberland County 1891: WILLIAM McCLEERY was for many years one of the best known medical practitioners in the county. He was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and a son of John McCleery, a merchant of Harrisburg and subsequently of Milton, who died on his farm near the latter place. William removed with his parents to Milton in boyhood, read medicine with Dr. James S. Dougal, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1827. For more than thirty years he practiced his profession in Milton and the surrounding country for miles in every direction, and shared with his contemporaries a large and lucrative practice. Doctor McCleery married Margaret, daughter of William Pollock, and a sister of the late ex-Governor James Pollock, who bore him six children, five of whom survive: J. P., of Milton; Mary, wife of Joseph D. Potts, of Philadelphia; Julia J., wife of Jesse Merrill, of Lock Haven; John, of Milton, and William P., of Troy, Pennsylvania. In 1857 Doctor McCleery turned over his practice to his eldest son, Dr. J. P. McCleery, and engaged in the lumber business. He erected the first steam saw mill on the river at Milton, and followed the lumber trade up to his death, December 4, 1867. His wife died fourteen years prior to his decease.
1870 Patent
May 1918
1945
1965
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ReplyDeleteWorked at ACF for thirty eight years, hated to see it close.
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