Biography:

CAPT. THOMAS S. McCAHAN is a veteran of the civil war, who was actively engaged in twenty-two regular battles and not less than sixty-five skirmishes, and won distinction by his bravery, receiving injuries from which he has ever since suffered, and which have left him almost a helpless invalid. He was born at Laurel Springs, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1836, and is a son of John K. and Mary (Taylor) McCahan. His paternal grandfather, John McCahan, was a native of the Emerald Isle, being born at a small village called Drumnahaigh, in the north of Ireland, in November, 1780. When only twelve years of age he came to the United States, and in 1891 located at Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, this State, and began business for himself. He was editor and publisher of the old Huntingdon Gazette, and was connected with the printing business until 1828, when he retired from the Gazette and was succeeded by his son, John K. McCahan. After leaving the paper John McCahan embarked in the real estate business, in which he became very successful, and continued to reside at Huntingdon until his death, which occurred on Sunday, March 22, 1857, at the age of seventy-seven years. He began life as a poor boy, but by energy and activity accumulated property and became a man of affluence. In politics he was an old-line whig, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian church, though broad minded and noted for his liberal contributions to all religious denominations. He gave two eligible lots to the Huntingdon church, on which the Presbyterian church was built. He married Martha Anderson, by whom he had a family of three sons and two daughters: John E. (father), James A., Thomas S., Jane, and Mary. All dead. John K. McCahan (father) was born in Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, this State, August 8, 1804. He grew to manhood in that city, and received the best education the public schools of that day were able to afford. He was an apt pupil and an earnest student, and became known as the best scholar in this section at that time. After leaving school he entered his father's printing office, learned the "art preservative of arts," and retained his connection with journalism and the general printing business all his life. He continued the publication of the Huntingdon Gazette until 1834, when he removed to Laurel Springs. There he engaged in farming for a time, but in 1858 returned to Huntingdon, and after settling up the estates of his father, retired from active business, and spent his declining years in quietude, surrounded by all the comforts of life. He died January 16, 1888, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. Politically he was an ardent republican, and took a lively interest in all public questions during his active years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and liberal in his support of the various interests of his church. On April 23, 1829, he was united in marriage to Mary Taylor, the officiating minister being the now sainted John Peobles. To this union was born a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters: Martha, now deceased; John, enlisted on April 17, 1861, in Co. C, 3d regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, re-enlisted in the 1st Pennsylvania cavalry, with which regiment he served till the close of the war, and now resides near Birmingham; Anna Mary, married Joseph R. Carmon, of Huntingdon; Thomas S.; James A., who died in 1845; Warren K., who died in 1862; and Jane, now the wife of B. F. Igenberg, of the city of Huntingdon. Mrs. McCahan, the mother of these children, was born in Huntingdon, August 24, 1800, and died at her home in that city February 12, 1879. Capt. Thomas S. McCahan was reared in Huntingdon county and received a fine academic education, taking courses of instruction at the Birmingham academy in that county and an academy in Juniata county. After leaving school he engaged in the milling business in his native place, Laurel Springs, and continued in that line until the opening of the civil war, when, on April 17, 1861, he enlisted at Tyrone in Co. D, 3d Pennsylvania Infantry--Captain Bell's company--as a private; April 22d, at Caskeysville, Maryland, was promoted regimental commissary sergeant; was in the battle of Falling Water, Virginia, and assisted Dr. Jackson to take off a leg of the first soldier wounded there. When his first term of three months expired he re-enlisted, and assisted in raising a company for General James', brigade of Infantry, being again mustered into service October 24, 1861, as a member of Co. M, 110th Pennsylvania infantry. On Christmas day following the company was transferred to the 9th Pennsylvania cavalry as Co. M--promoted to 2d lieutenant, then 1st lieutenant, after which he was promoted to be captain, and served as such until compelled to resign on account of wounds. He was several times wounded--first at Crab Orchard, Kentucky; then at Sparta, East Tennessee; and again at the battle on Cumberland mountains. At this time he received a wound in the ankle from a pistol shot fired by Major Wragan, of Colonel Hughes' guerilla band of the Confederate army. Captain McCahan knocked the pistol from the hand of the major, after his wounding him, and the latter was killed on the field; the pistol, marked with his initials, was found on the ground. Captain McCahan has this pistol, with several other pistols which he captured while in the army, and which he regards as valuable trophies of the war; he also has the sabre he carried for three years, which shows its service, being broken in one charge. He served with the historic Army of the Cumberland, and during his connection with it was engaged in twenty-two general engagements, and took part in sixty-five skirmishes; every time wounded was in a skirmish. On account of the wound in his ankle, the ball remaining in his ankle, he was sent home on a furlough in January, 1864, but rejoined his command in July following. He was honorably discharged from the service near Atlanta, Georgia, in February, 1865 and soon after returned to Pennsylvania. Resuming the peaceful occupations of civil life, he was for two years employed in his father's steam flouring mill at Huntingdon, after which the physical disability resulting from exposure and wounds received in the army prevented him from active labor. He has always resided at the old homestead in Huntingdon county, near Birmingham, where he was born and reared. On September 21, 1870, Captain McCahan united in marriage with Ella Galbraith, a daughter of Colonel R. C. Galbraith, of Sinking Valley, this State. In his political opinions Captain McCahan is a republican of the strictest school, and very firm in his convictions. He is a member of Tyrone Encampment, No. 36, Union Veteran Legion, of which he served as commander for two years; and of Colonel D. M. Jones Post, No. 172, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander three terms.