Harry White McIlwain

Harry White McIlwain, son of James Xenophon McIlwain and Emaline ‘Emma’ Hildebrand was born in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1866. He was the fourth of nine children: Xenophon “Sonny” Whitlinger McIlwain, Jennie McIlwain, Frankie McIlwain, Harry White McIlwain, Georgia Anna McIlwain, Charles Kettering McIlwain, John Kelly McIlwain, James Lawrence McIlwain, and Margaret Chambers McIlwain. He is my husband’s half 1st cousin 2x removed. Their nearest common relative is Jane Gordon, my husband’s 2nd great grandmother.

McIlwain family (ca. 1898)
Front (l-r): Harry, mother Emma, Xenophon
Back (l-r): Charles, Margaret, John, Georgia Anna, Lawrence

Before Harry’s birth, his father served with Company G of the 11th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (40th Infantry Regiment Volunteers) during the Civil War. On May 14, 1865, he received a heartbreaking letter from Harry’s mother, informing him of their daughter Jennie’s death. Jennie had joined their little Frankie, who had died shortly before her.

Harry was baptized at the Apollo United Methodist Church on November 3, 1867, with sprinkling as the mode of baptism.

By June 23, 1870, the McIlwain family resided in the Kellys Station community of Apollo. Harry’s father worked in saddlery, with a personal estate valued at $150. His mother maintained the home while Xenophon and Georgia Anna attended school. Harry, aged four, and Georgia Anna, aged two, were not yet in school. The census enumerator noted that Harry’s paternal grandfather was foreign-born, although the country was not specified.

On June 25, 1880, the McIlwain family still lived in Apollo. Harry’s father made saddles and harnesses, his mother maintained the home, his brother worked as a plasterer, and Harry, aged 13, worked on a farm. His father had been unemployed for three months and Xenophon for one month during the census year.

1880 census soundex

Harry’s father passed away in Apollo on August 4, 1883, and was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery (also known as Apollo Cemetery) in Apollo.

Harry married Minnie Mae Schall, daughter of Nicholas Schall and Elizabeth Silvis, on December 31, 1890, New Year’s Eve, in Apollo. Harry was 24, and Minnie was 20. He worked in a mill, and Minnie was a housekeeper.

In 1894, Harry and Minnie relocated to Canton, Stark County, Ohio.

By June 1, 1900, Harry and Minnie resided at 1119 Dueber Avenue in Canton, Ward 6. They had been married for nine years and had no children. Harry worked as a sheet steel roller in a rolling mill, likely the Canton Rolling Mill Company. Both could read, write, and speak English. Harry owned or mortgaged their home. His brother, John, also lived in Canton and worked at the rolling mill.

In September 1904, Harry was a stockholder in The Ohio Mica Company, which went bankrupt. The court decided he had $500 worth of stock and ordered him to pay $500 to help cover the company’s debts.

By April 22, 1910, Harry and Minnie had moved to Ward 1 in Canton. Harry owned his home free and clear and was employed as an ironworker at the rolling mill. They had been married for 19 years, it was the first marriage for both, and Minnie had no children. Both could read and write. After this census, Harry and Minnie adopted James “Stanley” McIlwain, born November 7, 1905, in Apollo. Although Stanley’s biological parents are unknown, his World War II draft registration card lists Minnie as his aunt.

In 1913, Harry and Minnie lived at 719 Shorb Avenue NW in Canton. Harry was employed as an ironworker. That year, Harry’s mother fractured her femur.

On February 14, 1919, Harry’s sister Margaret, aged 38, passed away in Armstrong County due to bronchial pneumonia, contributed by influenza. She was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

In December 1919, Harry’s mother, Emma, injured her hip in a fall. She passed away at age 80 in Apollo on January 5, 1920, due to debility following her 1913 fracture and the 1919 hip injury. She was laid to rest beside her husband at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On January 12, 1920, Harry, Minnie, and Stanley still lived at 719 Shorb Avenue NW in Canton. Harry worked as a steelworker in a rolling mill. The 1920 census reveals that the couple had adopted Stanley, who was attending school and could read and write. Notably, even though Harry’s mother Emma passed away on January 5, she was enumerated in the January 12 census. She was listed as an 82-year-old widow. This discrepancy arises because the 1920 Census Instructions to Enumerators specified that individuals should be counted based on their usual place of abode as of January 1, 1920. Thus, even if someone passed away shortly after January 1, they would still be included in the census if they resided at that address.

1920 census soundex

Harry was appointed Court Constable in Stark County for a one-year term beginning March 12, 1923, with a salary of $1500.

He served on a jury in a Stark County court case in July 1927.

On May 29, 1928, Harry’s brother Xenophon, aged 68, passed away in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, due to shock and injuries from a scaffold fall. He was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo on June 1.

On April 11, 1930, Harry and Minnie still resided at Shorb Avenue in Canton, in a home valued at $8000. Harry worked as a court bailiff and had not served in the military. On September 3, 1932, Harry’s sister, Georgia Anna, passed away in Apollo after suffering from hyperthyroidism and chronic nephritis. She was laid to rest on September 6 at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. Harry’s brother, John, passed away on April 9, 1938, at Sunshine Convalescent Home in Canton due to liver and lung cancer. He was laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton.

On April 20, 1940, Harry and Minnie, now retired, still lived at their Shorb Avenue home, now valued at $5000. The highest grade both completed was the 7th. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve 1940.

Harry’s brother Charles passed away from cancer on November 14, 1941, in Arlington Heights, Cook County, Illinois. He was laid to rest on November 18 in Apollo, though the specific cemetery is unknown.

In April 1945, with her health failing, Minnie traveled to her sister Dollie Lockard’s home in Avonmore, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, for a rest. Minnie, aged 74, passed away on May 2, 1945, due to chronic valvular heart disease and chronic interstitial nephritis. She was “a charter member of Calvary Presbyterian Church and active in all departments of the church and Sunday School until her death.” Minnie was laid to rest at West Lawn Cemetery in Canton.

Minnie McIlwain

Nineteen days after Minnie’s death, Harry passed away at Massillon State Hospital in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, on May 21, 1945, following a heart attack. He had suffered from heart disease for 10 years. Harry was buried on May 24 at West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, where he and Minnie share a headstone. Both Harry and Minnie were survived by their adopted son, Stanley, who was serving with the Army in the South Pacific.

Harry was a member of the Canton Lodge, the Free & Accepted Masons, the Scottish Rites, and Nazir Grotto, all branches of Freemasonry.

Photo used with permission of Tom L. Schall Sr., Find a Grave member 47236532.

References

• 1920 Census Instructions to Enumerators; https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/technical-documentation/questionnaires/1920/1920-instructions.html.
• Canton, Stark County, Ohio, U.S., Directory, 1913.
• Charles K. McIlwain, Calvin United Presbyterian Church, Register (1832–1970), Apollo, Pennsylvania, U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701–1970.
• Charles K. McIlwain, obituary, The Saltsburg Press, Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1941.
• Church Leader, Dies, Succumbs in Avonmore, Pa., on Visit with Sister, newspaper unknown, May 1945.
• Emma McIlwain letter written to James X. McIlwain, May 1854; shared by Janet Larocco, September 24, 2001.
• Emmaline McIlwain, Application for Burial of Indigent Widow of Deceased Soldier or Sailor, Apollo, Pennsylvania, 1920.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118753837/harry_white-mcilwain: accessed January 2, 2025), memorial page for Harry White Mcilwain (11 Aug 1866–1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 118753837, citing West Lawn Cemetery, Canton, Stark County, Ohio, USA; maintained by Tom L. Schall Sr (contributor 47236532).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46852763/john_k-mcilwain: accessed January 4, 2025), memorial page for John K. McIlwain (18 Feb 1873–9 Apr 1938), Find a Grave Memorial ID 46852763, citing Forest Hill Cemetery, Canton, Stark County, Ohio, USA; maintained by Dirt Hero Paula (contributor 46917490).
• H. W. McIlwain, Journal: Stark County, Ohio, Court Records 1922–1923, image 530, FamilySearch.org.
• H. W. McIlwain, Journal: Stark County, Ohio, Probate Records 1904–1905, image 57, FamilySearch.org.
• H. W. McIlwain, Journal: Stark County, Ohio, Probate Records 1926–1927, image 551, FamilySearch.org.
• Harry McIlwain, Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriages, 1852–1968.
• Harry W. McIlwain, obituary, newspaper unknown, May 1945.
• Harry W. McIlwain, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, Certificate of Death no. 30958, 1945.
• Harry White McIlwain, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669–2013.
• James Stanley McIlwain, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• John K. McIlwain, State of Ohio, Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 25129, 1938.
• JX McILWAIN name-dropping in letters (draft compendium of names referenced in James Xenophon McIlwain Civil War letters, compiled by Janet Larocco).
• Margaret Chambers McKinstry, Certificate of Death no. 18584, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1919.
• Minnie M. McIlwain, obituary, The Saltsburg Press, Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1945.
• Minnie May McIlwain, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 39590, 1945.
• Mrs. Emma McIlwain, Certificate of Death no. 245, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1920.
• Mrs. Georganna Austin, Certificate of Death no. 81576, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1932.
• Mrs. H. W. M’Ilwain, Church Leader, Dies: Succumbs in Avonmore, Pa., on Visit with Sister, newspaper unknown, May 3, 1945.
• Personal visit to Riverview Cemetery, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Kellys Station, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Canton, Stark County, Ohio, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Canton, Ward 1, Stark County, Ohio, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Canton, Ward 6, Stark County, Ohio, 1900.
• Xenophon W. McIlwain, Certificate of Death no. 53929, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1928.