BIOGRAPHY: McFarlane KYLE, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/
_______________________________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 583-584.

  McFARLANE KYLE, Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the homestead in 
Brown township, April 10, 1852, son of Crawford and Sarah (Brisbin) Kyle.  He is 
a descendant of the sturdy, courageous old Irish pioneer, John Kyle, of 
Lorrademore, who came to the sylvan land of Penn before it was a State, bringing 
his wife and child on horseback into the wilds of the Juniata valley.  Her 
family name was Crawford.  Here they settled in a cabin of Mr. Kyle's own 
construction, in the Kishacoquillas valley, and here they raised their three 
children:  Margaret;  Crawford;  and Joseph.  Margaret became Mrs. Hamilton 
Kyle.  Four hundred acres of land which Mr. Kyle had warranted in what, many 
years later, was to be Brown township, were divided between the brothers.  
Joseph's homestead was the eastern tract.  Joseph Kyle was born in 1781.  He 
married Mary, daughter of John Brisbin, of Centre county, Pa.  Both their 
children are deceased:  Samuel, born in 1812;  and John, born in 1813.  Mrs. 
Mary (Brisbin) Kyle dying, Joseph Kyle married Jeannette McFarlane, of Armagh 
township, Mifflin county.  Their children are:  Mary (Mrs. John Thompson);  
James;  Crawford;  Elizabeth R. (Mrs. George McDowell);  Margaret (Mrs. William 
McFarlane); Priscilla (Mrs. Henry Taylor);  Joseph, married Mary E. Davis, 
resides on the homestead;  and Charles, married Ann Campbell, resides in Clinton 
county, Pa.  As life advanced, and the successful, because intelligent and 
sagacious, farmer became more widely and thoroughly known, his talents were in 
demand for public services of increasing importance and responsibility.  He 
served in township and in county offices.  He represented his county in the 
legislature of the State, and on February 25, 1843, he was commissioned as 
associate judge of Mifflin county.  His upright character and consistency as a 
member of the Presbyterian church were well known;  he served the church 
faithfully in various capacities, and for many years exercised the grave and 
important office of elder.
  Crawford Kyle, second son of Judge Kyle, was born on the homestead, now the 
property of Joseph Kyle, February 12, 1821.  His youth was passed in attendance 
at the common schools and in becoming practically acquainted with agriculture on 
his father's farm.  He inherited from his father some 230 acres in Brown 
township, upon which he resided for many years before his death.  His dwelling, 
a convenient and substantial house, was built in 1845.  Mr. Kyle was held in 
high esteem for his personal good qualities and consistent character.  He was a 
Democrat by conviction, but by no means an active politician, nor an aspirant to 
office.  Crawford Kyle was married in 1844 to Sarah, daughter of James Brisbin.  
Their children are:  Elizabeth (Mrs. Wilson);  McNitt;  and McFarlane.  Mrs. 
Sarah (Brisbin) Kyle dying in 1858, Mr. Kyle married in 1859 Mary E., daughter 
of John Kyle.  Their children are:  Sallie;  and June.  Mr. Kyle was a member of 
the Presbyterian church at Reedsville.  He died May 5, 1895, at the age of 
seventy-four.
  McFarlane Kyle, after receiving his elementary education in the public 
schools, entered the Airy View Academy, Port Royal, Juniata county, Pa., 
Professor Wilson, principal, at the age of eighteen.  He was a student there for 
one year and a half.  On his return home he turned his attention to farming, and 
has ever since cultivated the homestead, to which he succeeded as owner on the 
death of his father.  He is an active and progressive man, genial and kindly in 
his address and very highly esteemed.  McFarlane Kyle was married December 14, 
1876, to Nancy J., daughter of Charles and Sarah (Conley) Naginey.  Their 
children are:  Bertha N.,;  and Sarah Brisbin.  Mr. Kyle, like his father, is a 
Democrat, but not desirous of public responsibilities.  He and Mrs. Kyle are 
members of the Presbyterian church.
  The children of Charles and Sarah C. Naginey, besides Mrs. Kyle, are as 
follows:  Two who died very young;  Annie, died at the age of twenty-three;  
Mollie, died aged thirty-two years;  James C., married Mary Cochran;  Sarah 
Margaret (Mrs. Robert Thompson).  Mr. Naginey was a worthy and useful citizen, 
exemplary and consistent in his conduct.  He served as elder in the Presbyterian 
church for over thirty-five years.