McCalmont, William A. 1829-1905

MC CALMONT, DONNELL, PORTER, BLAIR

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 11/27/2004 at 18:30:14

William Andrew McCalmont died at his late residence on West South Street yesterday at 1:30 p.m. of paralysis. This was the second stroke, the first having occurred about five years ago, since which time he had been in poor health.

Andy McCalmont, as he was known in Newton and Jasper County, was born Dec. 12, 1829, on a farm in Center County, Pa., near Bellfountain. He was of good, old Scotch stock, his grandparents having arrived in this country in 1770, six years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was the sixth child in a family of eleven children. J. H. McCalmont of this city is now the only surviving member of the family.

J. H. McCalmont came to Newton in 1854 and five years later, in 1859, Andy came. The brothers were both married that spring. Andy’s wife was Mary Donnell, who survives him. That same year they opened and operated a general store on the corner where the Hart and Claussen market now stands. They continued in business until 1867, when Andy sold out to J. H. and engaged in farming on a 300-acre farm two miles southeast of the city. Six years ago with his family he moved to this city, where he has since resided. In his prime he was a man of strong constitution and great physical strength and in the life of the farm he was right in his element. He was engaged in the stock business and for many years was prominent among the stockmen of this section of the state.

In the family there were five children, three of whom with the mother remain – Mrs. C. H. Porter, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Mrs. Geo. Blair, of Houghton, Mich., and Miss Donna, who lives at home. The funeral services will be in charge of Rev. R. F. Chambers, at the home tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock. ~ The Newton Daily News, Thursday, May 18, 1905, Page 1, Column 6