Born in Pennsylvania in 1828; He resided for some time in Nevada City, CA, and later moved to San Jose c. 1869, perhaps to work on the Hotel Vendome; McIlvaine died at the home of one of his daughters in Los Angeles, 1907, as a result of injuries sustained in the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906;

Married: Lucy A. Wiggin,(1831-?) 3/4/1854 in Nevada City, Nevada Co, CA; 4 children (1894 San Jose City Directory): McIlvain, Wm, carpenter, r 215 S 4th, McIlvain, Andrew J, r Minor, family house at av SW cor Brown av, McIlvain, Frances Miss, r Minor, resided with parents, McIlvain, Ida M Miss, r Minor resided with parents;