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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
CORNELIUS McCARTY, of Oskaloosa, was born in Loudoun County, Va., July 26, 1814, and is the son of Cornelius and Nancy (Hunt) McCarty, natives of Virginia. He removed with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, in the year 1828, and subsequently to Morgan County, where the parents both died. They were farmers by occupation, and had a family of five children, four of whom are yet living, viz.: Charles R., of Jackson County, Ohio; Daniel, living in Zanesville, Ohio; Cornelius, our subject, and William W., of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. McCarty was previously married to Peter Hoffman, by whom there were four children, all now deceased. When nineteen years old our subject went to Zanesyille, Ohio, where he was apprenticed to the trade of painter for two years, when he went to Cincinnati, and finished his trade with a man named Oliver Lovell, and soon after was given the supervision of his shops, holding that position for two years, and was then sent to St. Louis, Mo., as manager of a branch shop for the same man. He was married in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1839, to Miss Nancy Hukill, by whom he had two sons, Joseph, who when last heard of was in Texas in the cattle business, and Charles, deceased. Mrs. McCarty died in Zanesville in 1844. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and greatly beloved by all who knew her. Cornelius was again married at Zanesville, in 1845, to Mrs. Mary H. Berkey, a daughter of William Perry. By this union there were four children, two now living: Alfred L., a dentist at Des Moines, and Katie, living at home. In 1854 Mr. McCarty left Ohio and came to Iowa, locating in Oskaloosa, where he worked at his trade for a number of years, then engaged in a meat- market for a few years, and in other occupations. He was in early life a strong Abolitionist, remain ing so until the close of the war, since which time he has affiliated with the Republican party; he has held the office of City Marshal for one year. Mr. and Mrs. McCarty are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McCarty had two sons in the late Rebellion. Joseph H. enlisted in the 5th Kansas Cavalry, was soon after promoted Captain, and was stationed in Arkansas. His principal business was that of scouting and taking care of the bushwhackers of that section, and in the performance of his perilous duties was three times captured by the enemy, each time narrowly escaping with his life. Charles B. enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and by reason of poor health was engaged on detatched duties during his term of service. Mr. McCarty also had two brothers, Charles R. and William W., who served in the late war, the latter of whom raised a company of which he was elected Captain, and his two sons were elected First and Second Lieuten- ants, respectively.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy