William J. McCann
Hon. William J. McCann, mayor of the village of New Alexandria, O., and a leading citizen of the community, is an attorney at law and has been further honored by his fellow citizens by being elected to the position of superintendent of schools. He was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 17, 1846, and is a son of John and Catherine (Moore) McCann.
John McCann was a quiet, industrious man, a shoemaker by trade. His father was Samuel McCann, who was probably born in Ireland. John McCann married Catherine Moore and they had the following children: William John; Samuel Wesley, who is engaged in a real estate business in Oklahoma; James C, who is a carpenter and contractor at Wellsville, O.; Sarah, who is the wife of R. M. Thompson; and Clarissa J., who is the wife of William Rabe, a merchant at Bloomingdale, O. The parents of this family died in Hocking County, Ohio.
William J. McCann attended school until he was eighteen years of age and then went into the army, enlisting for service in the Civil War, in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After passing safely through the dangers of one year, Mr. McCann received a gunshot wound at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain which so seriously disabled him that it brought about his discharge. He is a valued member of Stanton Post, G. A. R. at Steubenville. After he returned from the army, Mr. McCann read law witli a local attorney and was admitted to the bar and ever since has been a prominent factor professionally and politically in this section of Jefferson County. On the Republican ticket he was elected mayor of New Alexandria and his administration has been an exceedingly satisfactory one. In 1908 he was also elected superintendent of schools, and the citizens of New Alexandria point with pardonable pride to the high standard maintained in their educational institutions. In his performance of public duties, Mayor McCann has always shown that he appreciated the responsibilities resting upon him, to the best of his ability discharging them and bringing about results that add to the safety, happiness and general welfare of the people.
In 1873 Mayor McCann was married to Miss Lucinda Hukill, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Bridenthrall) Hukill, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hukill were: Charlotta, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Bickerstaff; Mary Jane, who was the wife of John Ramsey; Ruhamah, who is the widow of Isaiah Ramsey; Elizabeth, deceased, wlio was the wife of the late Francis Wells; Rebecca, who married Edward McCune; Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of John Liggett; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of the late Alexander Mooney; Lucinda, who is Mrs. McCann; and Franklin.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCann, the survivors being Rubie, who is the wife of Samuel McCullough; Bertha, who is a teacher in Jefferson County; and Cora, who resides at home. Mayor McCann and family are members of the New Alexandria Methodist Protestant Church, of which he is secretary. He is identified with the Masonic Lodge at Smithfield and with Wildwood Lodge No. 590, Odd Fellows, at New Alexandria.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910