Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens. Biographical Review Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1892, page 586
ANGUS McPHAIL was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 25, 1810. His father, Angus, was born on the island of Mull, and served an apprenticeship in Glasgow, to the trade of haberdasher. He then went into business for himself, but was not successful, losing all he had. He then decided to come to America, and try his fortune in the new world. His son, Angus, sent money to defray the expenses of his parents to America in 1844. He spent his last days in Lee township, and died aged eighty-four years. His wife’s names was Jane, daughter of James and Flora (McVicker) Crawford. She was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, and descended from the early settlers of that place who fled from France during the time of the persecution by the Roman Catholics. He was a sailor, and followed the sea many years. He fell from the mast, finally, and was killed. His wife passed her entire life in Scotland. The mother of our subject reared seven children: Archibald, Jane, and our subject, were the only ones that came to America.
Angus was reared in Glasgow, and served six years’ apprenticeship to the tailor’s trade, and then did journey work in different parts of Great Britain. He came to America in 1835, and stopped in New York a few weeks, and then made his way to Toronto, there bought property and opened a shop, continuing at his trade until 1837. Early in the spring of 1838, he left for the States by a roundabout route, and at last reached St. Louis, which then contained but 2,000 people. He stopped there a short time, and then came on to Beardstown, and from there to Rushville, and ere opened a shop where he conducted his business until 1840, and then went to Mt. Sterling, and there opened a shop and continued until 1850. He then moved to the farm he now owns, and has since been engaged in farming.
He was married in Glasgow, in 1833, to Mary Crawford, born in Scotland, who died in 1852/ He was married a second time in 1855, to Janes McCaskill, born in Sangamon county, Illinois, February 26, 1828. Her father, Daniel, was born in North Carolina, and his father, John, was born in Scotland, and coming to America settled in North Carolina, and then went to South Carolina, where he died. The father of Mrs. McPhail went to Indiana when a young man, and studied medicine, and continued practicing there. He then became one of the pioneers of Sangamon county, Illinois. He practiced medicine in that county until 1835, and then took eight acres of Government land in Pea Ridge township, and bought 240 acres more in the same township. He remained there until his death, at the age of fifty-nine. The maiden name of the mother was Esther Turner, the daughter of Archibald Turner, a native of Ireland, who died at the home of the family in Pea Ridge township.
Mr. and Mrs. McPhail have four living children: Daniel, William, Archibald John and Flora Ellen. He also has four living children by his first wife: Mary, Catherine, James, and Scotland. They are members of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, and he is a Republican.
