Peter Taylor MacLagan III

By his son Kenneth

My father was one of the leading architects of the area. He had left grade school to become an apprentice carpenter because of economic reasons. As a youth he studied drafting at night, and attained his success entirely upon his own ability. My mother (Mary Augusta Vancourt Birrell MacLagan) was valedictorian of her high school class. Her school, which I later graduated from, stood among the top secondary schools academically in the U.S. She was a devout Christian. Both parents emphasized education and discipline, and there was strong love within the family.

My father's folks migrated from Scotland, my mother's forebearers settled New Amsterdam (now NY City). Both came from large families and were closely knit. Today the survivors still are, although they live in New Jersey and Florida. My grandmother lived in our house until she died when i was 8 years old."

By JMD Dec 1965

Peter sent his family home to Scotland. He enlisted in the Army during the Civil war and was an officer. He lost his big toe in the battle of Bull Run. Later he was involved with the Army in qwelling and draft riots in NYC. In 1866 the family came back to the US.