mclanahan hollidaysburg pa
Early Roots
James McClenaghen emigrated from Northern Ireland to the American mainland due to religious persecution. Upon his arrival in the Thirteen Colonies, McClenaghen purchased a great deal of land in Pennsylvania and began his life anew. The McClenaghen family’s determination to succeed in the new world pushed on through the American Revolution as they supported their patriot friends on the path to victory and the birth of independence in America.
1794
A Dynasty Begins
Following the Revolutionary War, the family name changed to McLanahan and a son, James Craig McLanahan, was welcomed into the world on May 22, 1794.
James Craig grew into a hardworking young man who was determined to build a name for himself. In 1810, he traveled north to Blair County from his family farm near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and began his career in the iron industry. He started by keeping the books for his uncle’s foundry near Williamsburg (Cove Forge, as it was known), and he became set on learning all that he could about the industry.
After his work at his uncle’s foundry, McLanahan took another job managing a larger forger in Spruce Creek before becoming the manager of operations at one of the area’s largest forges, Bedford Forge.
While at Bedford Forge, he was introduced to the owner"s daughter, Elizabeth King. The two fell in love and were married on May 15, 1827.
James Craig McLanahan
James Craig McLanahan
1835
Creation of the Company
Looking for an opportunity to move into the ownership side of the forge business, James Craig McLanahan took on two investment partners (known only by their last names), Evans and Devine, and bought majority ownership in a foundry operation.
McLanahan, Evans, and Devine created the Bellerophon Foundry in Gaysport. Named after a hero from an ancient Greek legend, the Bellerophon Foundry quickly experienced ownership changes when Devine was bought out by Michael Kelley. Kelley’s small machine and blacksmith shop paired with Bellerophon and the business began to expand.
In 1848, McLanahan bought out his original partner, Evans. Together with his remaining partner Kelley, the men moved the foundry into a canal warehouse situated on a riverbank in Gaysport, renaming the business Kelley and McLanahan.
1835 in Perspective
PT Barnum’s circus goes on tour for the first time
President Andrew Jackson announces that all U.S. debt has been paid
The Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico is signed
Samuel Clemens, later known as Mark Twain — famed American author and humorist, is born
James McClenaghen emigrated from Northern Ireland to the American mainland due to religious persecution. Upon his arrival in the Thirteen Colonies, McClenaghen purchased a great deal of land in Pennsylvania and began his life anew. The McClenaghen family’s determination to succeed in the new world pushed on through the American Revolution as they supported their patriot friends on the path to victory and the birth of independence in America.
1794
A Dynasty Begins
Following the Revolutionary War, the family name changed to McLanahan and a son, James Craig McLanahan, was welcomed into the world on May 22, 1794.
James Craig grew into a hardworking young man who was determined to build a name for himself. In 1810, he traveled north to Blair County from his family farm near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and began his career in the iron industry. He started by keeping the books for his uncle’s foundry near Williamsburg (Cove Forge, as it was known), and he became set on learning all that he could about the industry.
After his work at his uncle’s foundry, McLanahan took another job managing a larger forger in Spruce Creek before becoming the manager of operations at one of the area’s largest forges, Bedford Forge.
While at Bedford Forge, he was introduced to the owner"s daughter, Elizabeth King. The two fell in love and were married on May 15, 1827.
James Craig McLanahan
James Craig McLanahan
1835
Creation of the Company
Looking for an opportunity to move into the ownership side of the forge business, James Craig McLanahan took on two investment partners (known only by their last names), Evans and Devine, and bought majority ownership in a foundry operation.
McLanahan, Evans, and Devine created the Bellerophon Foundry in Gaysport. Named after a hero from an ancient Greek legend, the Bellerophon Foundry quickly experienced ownership changes when Devine was bought out by Michael Kelley. Kelley’s small machine and blacksmith shop paired with Bellerophon and the business began to expand.
In 1848, McLanahan bought out his original partner, Evans. Together with his remaining partner Kelley, the men moved the foundry into a canal warehouse situated on a riverbank in Gaysport, renaming the business Kelley and McLanahan.
1835 in Perspective
PT Barnum’s circus goes on tour for the first time
President Andrew Jackson announces that all U.S. debt has been paid
The Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico is signed
Samuel Clemens, later known as Mark Twain — famed American author and humorist, is born
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