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biography
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William McCully, Prominent among the old business-men of Pittsburgh, whose careers of usefulness and honor have now been brought to a close by death, appears the name of William McCully.
He was born near Shane’s Castle, County Antrim, Ireland, about the year 1800. When a mere child he was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Chartiers township, near the house of Robert Woods. Shortly after the family removed to Jack’s run, where his father,
Thomas McCully, died, and was buried in Trinity churchyard. His tombstone is still standing.
William McCully received only the rudiments of an ordinary common-school education, and first began to learn the trade of a glass-blower with Thomas Bakewell, on the site of the present B. & O. R.R. depot, at the foot of Grant street, blowing flint-glass only. He learned
to blow window-glass at the O’Hara works on the South Side, opposite the Point. In connection with Capt. John Hay, he erected a flint-glass factory at the foot of Nineteenth street, on Railroad street, and continued there until the works were submerged in the flood of 1832,
when he withdrew, and Capt. Hay continued to operate them alone. In 1833 he built the factory now standing at the corner of Sixteenth and Liberty streets, where he made green and black bottles. In 1834 he became interested with William Johnsen in a window-glass factory at
Monongahela City, and in 1836 the firm of William McCully & Co. was founded, consisting of William McCully and F. Lorenz, Thomas Wightman being admitted as a partner two years later. Subsequently a dissolution took place, and in 1850 Mr. McCully bought of F. Lorenz the
stone factory known as the Sligo works, and in 1851 he tore it down and erected the first brick factory in Pittsburgh. The second was built in 1854. After the erection of the new factory Mr. McCully admitted his only son, John F. McCully, to partnership with him, under firm
name of William McCully & Co. In 1852 Mark W. Watson became a member of the firm. John M. King joined the concern as a partner in 1855. In 1869 Mr. McCully died, and the business has since been successfully conducted by Messrs. Watson and King under the old firm name.
Mr. McCully was one of the fathers of the glass interest, and to the development of that industry devoted all of his energies. He was the first one to build a seven-stone wheel oven, for flattening glass, west of the Alleghany mountains. It was put up by a man named Klein,
who was brought from New Jersey for the purpose. Mr. McCully was possessed of a strong character, a decided individuality, and was a man of unblemished integrity. He was interested in many of the institutions of the city, serving as a director, but took an especial interest
in the Farmers’ Deposit & Exchange Bank. His kindly disposition endeared him to all with whom he came in contact, and the news of his demise inspired many hearts with the feeling of a personal loss. In his domestic relations he was peculiarly happy, and he did all that
he could to make his home life cheerful and lovable. He married Martha Zelley, a native of Mt. Holly, N. J., and a representative of the good old Quaker families of Burlington county. Eight children were born to this union, of whom only four attained to years of maturity:
John F was the only son; Margaret became the wife of Mark W. Watson; Jane L. is the wife of John M. King; Lavinia married Herbert Newton, of Newport, R. L; Mrs. King alone survives.
History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania Chicago: A. Warner & Co., 1889. p 224.
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