William McKinney Piatt and Rebecca Heston McClintock

All the records which I have found for William's parents were in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. William Senior was in Washington Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, on the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census.

According to the Swope's Manuscript of 1905 "William McKinney Piatt was born on a farm, and his early education was secured by the light of pine knots on the kitchen floor. His first hundred dollars was earned as a boy of nineteen years boating stone for the Muncy dam on the Susquehanna river. This money was kept for him by his mother, and afterwards used in paying his expenses at Lewisburg Academy, where he did chores for his board, and received a diploma at the end of his course. He followed the profession of his father, and studied civil engineering, and secured a position in the prothonotary's office at Williamsport, Penna. Later he surveyed for the state canal, Stephen D. Foster, who wrote "The Suwanee River", being on the same corps with him at Athens, Penna. He read law under Judge William Elwell, and when Wyoming county was set off from Luzerne county in 1842, he assisted in opening the books of the new county. He was admitted to the bar and located at Tunkhannock, Penna. Three years later he was married. He formed a law partnership with John Brisbin. In 1852 he had a disastrous fire, which made him virtually begin life anew. In 1854 he was chosen as a state Senator, and in 1856 was elected speaker of the state Senate. He was a democrat and made the first war speech in his county. He practiced law, for nearly fifty years. He was public spirited, held the offices of school director for almost twenty-five years, burgess, councilman, county chairman of the Democratic committee, delegate many times to the state conventions, and several times to the national convention. He was the owner of valuable property, and was noted for his benevolence and liberality. They were members of the Presbyterian church. On his birthday, July 8, 1888, he met with the loss of his wife, and in the June following, he was thrown from a conveyance, and sustained such injuries that he died on the 20th. Few men are followed to the grave by as many sincere mourners, and few are missed as much as he was. He was a staunch friend, an ardent defender, and an unprejudiced advocate. He spent a long and useful life at Tunkhannock, with the companionship of a highly cultured and accomplished wife and four sons, who are distinguished and prominent."

The known children of William and Rebecca are:

• Robert McClintock Piatt b: 19 Sep 1846 m: Jan 1867 Mary Caroline Jacques b: 28 Oct 1847 Center Morland, Wyoming Co, PA
  • Jennie Rebecca Piatt b: 20 Feb 1873 d: 4 Jun 1893
  According to Swopes, "He [Robert] was a graduate of the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in the class of 1864. He partakes largely of the shrewd, tactful, judicious man of affairs, who moulds the minds of those with whom he is associated. His ability and eminent attainments are recognized and admired. He is a dealer in real estate, a Democrat In politics, in faith a Methodist, and resides at Tunkhannock, Penna."

• Frank Hammond Piatt b: 25 Nov 1848 m: 16 Dec 1878 Mary A Dana b: 8 Aug 1850 Eaton Township, Wyoming Co, PA
  According to Swopes, "He was a graduate of Lafayette College in 1870, C. E., served his county as superintendent, and was postmaster for five years. In politics he is a Democrat, and was a member of the Legislature during the term of 1892-1893. He was a polished speaker and held the affection and esteem of his friends in the halls of legislation. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is retired from active business, and resides at Tunkhannock, Penna."

• James Wilson Piatt b: 9 Feb 1850 m: 4 Mar 1875 Frances Cecelia Overfield b: 11 Aug 1846 Washington township, Wyoming Co, PA (d/o William Bush Overfield and Matilda Townsend Overfield)
  • Eulalie Mae Piatt (DAR #21761) b: 28 Sep 1878 Tunkhannock, PA (graduated from Wyoming Seminary 1897, Wellesley College in 1901; was a law student in her father's office in 1905)
  About James and Francis Piatt, Swopes says "She [Frances] was the organizer of and appointed first regent of Tunkhannock Chapter aughters American Revolution and re-elected every year since. Mr. Piatt entered Lafayette College at the age of sixteen, graduated 1870, degree A. M. 1873, admitted as a lawyer at the age of twenty-one, was elected district attorney and served 1875-1878, admitted to the Supreme and Superior courts of Pennsylvania and Circuit and District court of the U. S., has assisted in the trial of nearly every important case in Wyoming Co., Penna., for the past twenty-five years, was the choice of his party for judge in his county and after a prolonged deadlock in the district, agreed upon the nomination of a third candidate, director and attorney for Wyoming National Bank many years, has been burgess, councilman, school director, chairman of the Democratic county committee several years, delegate to state and national convention of that party, prominent in masonry, was past master of his lodge 1878 and again in 1890, is District Deputy Grand Master 16th District of Penna., is a Past High Priest of his chapter and Past Eminent Commander of his Commandery, was Grand Standard Bearer of the Grand Commandery of Penna., 1901, has been trustee of the Methodist church for many years, resides at Tunkhannock, Penna."

• Joseph Wood Piatt b: 6 Jul 1854 m: 12 Sep 1877 Carrie Althea Peck b: 28 Feb 1858 (d/o Rev. J. K. Peck, A. M., at Oxford, New York)
  • Mary Searle Piatt b: 10 Oct 1878 d: 22 Oct 1878
  • William McKinney Piatt b: 13 Oct 1879 m: 3 Jul 1902 Marion Shepphard
    • Josephine Althea Piatt b: 1 May 1903 (at the home of her grandparents at Tunkhannock, PA)
    Per Swopes in 1905 "He was graduated from the Tunkhannock High School at fifteen years of age, as valedictorian of his class; entered Lafayette College the same year; was graduated and designated as an honor man in the class of 1899; received a master's degree in 1902. Since the year of his graduation he has resided at Winston Salem, N. C., where be was married, and is an electrical and civil engineer. His talents and achievements are pronounced and great."
  • Ruth Peck Piatt b: 2 Jan 1882 Tunkhannock, PA, (DAR ID Number: 21761; graduated University of Syracuse 1905) m: Walter Eugene Lewis
  Per Swopes in 1905, "He [Joseph] prepared for college but did not continue his proposed course; entered the law office of his father at Tunkhannock, Penna., was admitted to the bar in 1876, Supreme Court in 1881, has been in constant practice of his profession for twenty-eight years. He has held an influential position at the bar, has been identified with many important cases, employed as counsel on one side or the other; has been connected with the news paper business for more than thirty years, has edited the "Worker," "New Age," "Standard and Postal Review," etc.; has been prominent in good school advancement, elected five times as director, the last two times unopposed. In politics he is a Democrat, by church affiliation a Methodist, resides at Tunkhannock, Penna."

Where were William and family on various census entries?

Sources:

• Swope's 1905 McKINNEY-BRADY-QUIGLEY family on rootsweb http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/1pa/history/family/swope/mck03.txt

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