James M. McGill, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of James M. McGill
JAMES M. McGILL was born in Erie, Penn., June 28, 1843, one of seven children, all yet living, born to Robert and Susan P. (Alexander) McGill, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of James M, was a native of Ireland, and come to America shortly after the Revolutionary war. From Erie, Penn., the parents and family moved to La Porte, Ind., and after living about a year there, moved to South East Grove, Eagle Creek Township, Lake County. Shortly after the war, the parents moved to Hebron, Ind., where they lived the remainder of their days. Mrs. McGill died there in 1873, and Mr. McGill in 1878, and both are now sleeping in the village cemetery. James McGill lived with his parents until nineteen years old, during which time he attended the public schools of his neighborhood, afterward entering and for three years was a student of the male and Female College of Valparaiso. August 19, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He was promoted Sergeant, and retained that position until the battle of Nashville, when he was advanced to the First Lieutenancy of Company G. of the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry. Shortly after this, he was promoted Captain of his company, retaining that position until the close of the war. Capt. McGill and his company were in active service during his entire army career, and he participated in a number of engagements, notably among which were those of Knoxville, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Franklin, Nashville and others. After the last named battle, they chased Hood across the river, then went to New Orleans, and from there to Natchez, where they did garrison duty for a number of months. Capt. McGill and company discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in August of 1865. Succeeding the ware, he came back home and has since resided in Porter County, engaged in various pursuits, chiefly farming. He was married, May 18, 1869, to Kittie L. Starr, daughter of the old pioneer, Ruel Star (deceased), and to their union have been born four children - Pearl, Phebe E., Ruel S. and Mary Edna (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. McGill are members of the Presbyterian church. Capt. McGill is a Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery No. 28.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 260
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook