Abner B. McCardell, a prosperous miller and well known citizen of Burnside township, was born in this township, September 8, 1848.

His father, John McCardell, who was born September 25, 1816, and who was a blacksmith by trade, was the first of the family to settle in this township, where he subsequently resided all his life, dying March 16, 1900. He married Sarah Johnson Pilson, who was born January 24, 1816, a daughter of Adam Pilson, her mother's family name being Johnson.

The Pilsons were pioneer settlers of Indiana county. Mrs. John McCardell died April 16, 1881. She and her husband were members of the Methodist Protestant church. The latter was a Republican in politics. He came to Clearfield county with his family, settling at Patchinsville.

The children of John and Jane J. McCardell now living [1911], in addition to our subject, were as follows: John, living in the west; Edward, a blacksmith residing in Iowa; Charles, engaged in the hotel business in Iowa; D. Alexander, postmaster at Westover, Pa.; Pilson, who is engaged in farming at Burnside, Pa., James, a physician and surgeon residing in Florida; Sarah, the widow of John C. Mitchell of Mahaffey; and Agnes, wife of J. L. Campbell, of Burnside, this county.

Abner B. McCardell, after attending school, was variously employed until 1872. He then engaged in the livery business at Burnside, and so continued for eleven years. His next five years were spent in making various business trips through the West. He then returned and bought the pressed grist mill* of John H. Patchin, which is one of the oldest mills in this part of the county. It is operated both by water and steam power and Mr. McCardell has put it in good practical working order, so that the business is now in prosperous condition.

Mr. McCardell is a Republican in politics and served as village treasurer for several terms, and has also been councilman and street commissioner. He has long been an active worker for his party and indeed is willing at all times to assist in any feasible project for the good of the community regardless of party ties. For this well known characteristic he is respected by his fellow citizens, who have confidence both in his capacity and integrity.

Mr. McCardell was married in 1874 [1876] to Harriet Bloom, who was born September 13, 1851, a daughter of J. Ross Bloom. Her birth took place in Pike township, as did also that of her father, the latter on February 27, 1822.

Mrs. McCardell's mother was in maidenhood Nancy B. McGaughey. She was born November 14, 1829, and was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret McPherson McGaughey of Armstrong county. Mrs. McCardell's paternal grandfather was Benjamin Bloom, born in Center county, August 31, 1790, who married Sally McClurg [McClure], born September 20, 1792. The father of Benjamin Bloom came from Germany, settling at an early date in New Jersey, whence in the early part of the nineteenth century, he came to Clearfield county, Pa. He fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war. He married Mary Metler. Mrs. McCardell has one sister living, Jane, now the wife of Howard McClosky.

After her mother's death her father married Matilda R. Hoover, of which union there were born two children, Nora R., the wife of P. Pyle; and Reed R., who resides on the old Bloom homestead. Mr. and Mrs. McCardell are the parents of five children, namely: Minnie, residing at home; Horace, at Osceola Mills; Grace, who is the wife of Otis Mitchell, a butcher of Portage, Pa.; Beulah, in Clearfield; and Ross, who is employed in the mill at Burnside.

*A gristmill or grist mill is a building in which grain is ground into flour. In many countries these are referred to as corn mills or flour mills.3