Judge Andrew Jackson McCray was born at Titusville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania April 24, 1830. He was the son of George Jr., and Sarah (McCray) McCray, and grandson of George McCray Sr.

George McCray Sr., was a native of the north of Ireland, whence he came to America, settling two miles from Titusville, Pennsylvania. There he purchased a tract of land, and from a perfect wilderness cleared a fine farm, and became a peaceful tiller of the soil. He died in 1851, upon a portion of this farm, which had previously been purchased by George McCray Jr. In his political convictions, he was a believer in the Jeffersonian principles of the Democracy. George McCray Jr. was born on his fathers farm near Titusville. He purchased two farms of 100 acres each. He followed lumbering and was an expert river pilot on the Allegheny River. His marriage to Sarah McCray resulted in the birth of eleven children, namely: Andrew Jackson, Martha, wife of John Scott, residing near Elmira, N.Y.; Mary W., widow of Miles Fulton, - she resided with Andrew Jackson McCray; Rebecca, wife of Charles Whaley of Grand Valley, Warren County, PA.; Elizabeth, a maiden lady who also resided in Grand Valley; Nancy Jane, wife of Thomas Houge, living near McCray, PA.; Deborah, who was twice married, her first husband, a Mr. Hill (she then married John Young of Gray Valley, Warren Co., PA.) Melissa, wife of Daniel D. Green of Grandinn, MO.; John W. of Bradford, PA; Leman of Forest County, PA; and one more who died in infancy. George McCray Jr. died in 1864, aged fifty-four years, his wife Sarah survived him twenty-two years, her death occurring in 1886, at the age of seventy-five years.

Judge McCray was first employed by Brewer, Watson & Co., of Titusville, PA. working as a Sawyer. He soon purchased 400 acres of land near East Titusville. He began sawing the timber from his land and shipping his products down the river to Pittsburg markets. He was engaged in this until 1862 and made a considerable profit from it. In 1862, oil was discovered on his land and he was enabled to sell the property at a handsome advance on the price he had paid. After selling, he went to Garland, PA, purchased 200 acres of timber land and erected two saw mills, one operated by water power and one by steam. Here Judge McCray remained for two years. In 1880 Judge McCray went to Forest County, PA and busied himself in lumbering. He returned to Titusville after four years of success as a rich man. He invested in the oil exchange and lost all of his money. He was now fifty-six years of age and not a dollar to his name. He returned to Forest Co., PA and soon found employment with W. H. Frost of Pigeon, as a lumber inspector remaining for one year. The following spring he was offered the superintendency of the Baker-Hammond Lumber Company. In 1861 Judge McCray built the McCray House at Titusville, and conducted a hotel for five years. In 1884 Judge McCray was united in marriage with Isabelle Bryan, nee McCullen of Titusville. In 1896 he was elected by the Republicans as associate Judge of Forest Co., PA. In his honor, both the McCray Railroad station and post office were named.

Source: Book of Biographies of leading Citizens of the Thirty-Seventh Judicial District Pennsylvania. By: The Biographical Publishing Co. 1899