HARRY F. MCALLISTER, the present efficient circuit clerk, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. April 27, 1840. His father was born near Philadelphia. He was of Scotch descent. For some time prior to and up to his death lie was prothonotary of Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania. He died in 1849. His wife survives. She is also a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. H. F. McAllister received but a limited education, as his father died when Harry was yet young, leaving the family in meager circumstances.

At the age of fourteen Harry began clerking in Rock Island, Illinois. He next spent three years in Milwaukee and vicinity, in making abstracts of titles, eminently fitted for such work by his efficiency in penmanship. In the spring of 1861 he came to Oquawka, but soon went to Geneseo, Illinois. He returned in the fall to Oquawka, and became engaged in the circuit clerk's office. He continued Mr. Hugh L. Thomson's deputy circuit clerk until 1868, when lie was promoted to the circuit clerkship by the ballot of the people, and has been re-elected in 1872, 1876, and 1880.

In 1866 he was appointed notary public ; in 1872 master in chancery for Henderson county, by Judge A. A. Smith. In 1874 he was elected township treasurer, all of which offices he still fills with credit. For the past six years he has been a member of the republican state central committee. He is a member of the masonic fraternity. Mr. McAllister was married August 30, 1866, to Miss Esther, daughter of Christian and Sarah (Nye) Root, a native of New York State.

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

 

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