Washington County PA Genealogy

Genealogy of Deborah French and Isaac Clark

3 DEBORAH FRENCH (Aaron1), b. Nov. 24, 1769, Essex Co., N. J.; d. Dec. 30, 1846, near Amity, Pa.; m. Apr. 12, 1786, Isaac Clark (b. July 28,1766; d. Nov. 30, 1842). Children: 17 PHEBE CLARK, b. June 30,1787; d. West Union, Pa.; m., Feb. 12, 1808, Reason Lams. 18 JOHN CLARK, b. May 19, 1789; d. in O.; m. 19 AARON CLARK, b. May 22, 1790; apprenticed to a tanner, ran away and never returned. 20 SILAS CLARK, b. Feb. 27, 1793; d. Feb. 16, 1853, Amity, Pa.; m. Oct. 29, 1818, Phebe McFarland (James); she d. Dec. 30, … Read more

Biography of Herschel C. Porterfield

Herschel C. Porterfield. Thirty-five years in the oil fields and thirty years as a contractor and producer constitute the record of this veteran of an industry which has brought Kansas untold wealth. Like hundreds of men of this class, he has found Independence as the most satisfactory city for residence and business headquarters. In another respect he is typical of perhaps a majority of the oil men of the country–his native state is Pennsylvania. Born in Butler County, August 10, 1856, he was one of several brothers to become identified with the oil industry in one way or another. Up … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles H. Spriggs

Spriggs, Charles H.; realty and building; born, Washington County, Pa., Oct. 2, 1875; of Scotch-English ancestry, and ancestors on both sides of family prominent in Revolution and War of 1812; public school education; married, 1908, Miss Olive Carter, of Waynesburg, Pa.; two daughters; politically a Progressive Republican; business career, with the Second National Bank of Pittsburgh, resigning on account of poor health, and engaged in the real estate business in the southwest; returning east, became associated with one of the largest real estate firms in New York City; impressed with the wonderful real estate opportunities in Cleveland, he located here, … Read more

Rev. John Corbly’s Narrative – Indian Captivities

If, after perusing the annexed melancholy narrative, you deem it worthy a place in your publication, it is at your service. Such communications, founded on fact, have a tendency on one hand to make us feel for the persons afflicted, and on the other to impress our hearts with gratitude to the Sovereign Disposer of all events for that emancipation which the United States have experienced from the haughty claims of Britain a power, at that time, so lost to every human affection, that, rather than not subdue and make us slaves, they basely chose to encourage, patronize and reward, … Read more

Biography of John H. Mitchell

JOHN H. MITCHELL. – Honorable John H. Mitchell, United States senator from the State of Oregon, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to which locality his parents had removed when he was two years old. Bright and apt, and giving signs of marked intelligence, his parents determined that he should be given an opportunity to gratify his thirst for knowledge. So he was sent to the Witherspoon Institute, an establishment ranking high among the educational institutions of the State of Pennsylvania. Diligent in his studies, and ambitious to take advantage of the opportunities thus afforded him, young Mitchell became, as … Read more

Biography of John Minto

JOHN MINTO. – While Oregon was held to freedom and the American union against the magnified sprit of despotism of England, as exemplified in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s rule, in the valley of the Columbia, it is worthy of note that an Englishman made as good an American, and, in the capacity of settler, would do as much for American independence, as one born in Massachusetts or Virginia. In point of fact, many of the best Americans in Oregon were born in England, and proved in their career that American ideas, after all, are not so much a matter of … Read more

Genealogy of Aaron French, Jr.

2 AARON FRENCH, Jr. (Aaron1), b. Apr. 19, 1767, Essex Co., N. J.; d. Jan. 31, 1850, Johnstown, O.; m. (1st), Mar. 8, 1792, Washington Co., Pa., Ruth Coe (b. Aug. 19, 1770, Morristown, N. J.; d. Mar. 19, 1835, Johnstown, O.), dau. of Elder Joseph Coe (Joseph, Joseph, Benjamin, Robert), and Abigail Moon, his w. Aaron French 2 m. (2nd) Oct. 8, 1835, Catharine Combs (d. Aug. 9, 1856), wid. of – Starkey. Robert Coe, ancestor of Ruth (Coe) French, came to Mass., 1634, from Suffolkshire, England, where he was b., 1596. Children of first marriage (none of second): … Read more

Biography of Mrs. A. C. Stich

Mrs. A. C. Stich by her inheritance of some of the best of old American stock and as head of the home over which she presided for so many years, is a Kansas woman of whom some special note should be made. Her great-grandfather William Henry Stoy was the founder of the family in America, having emigrated from Germany. He was a ministor of the Episcopal Church, and spent many years in preaching in Pennsylvania, where he died. Her paternal grandfather Heury William Stoy was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1782 and died in West Virginia in 1858. He was … Read more

Biography of James P. Lee

JAMES P. LEE. The above worthy gentleman is a member of the well known firm of Merrick & Lee, general merchants at Swan, Missouri, and is noted for honorable, upright dealing. He is a business man of high ability, a most reliable authority on all matters connected with his line, and a popular citizen, who deservedly enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide and constantly increasing circle. He is also engaged in farming and is as successful in that as he is in his business. Mr. Lee was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1855, and is a son … Read more

Biography of John H. Johnson

John H. Johnson (deceased), farmer and minister; born in Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1812, where he attended school in his youth-the last few years at the college at Waynesburg, Penn.; after which he was licensed as a minister of the C. P. Church, officiating as circuit preacher until his removal to Ohio, where he was settled as local preacher for three years, until his removal to Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1854, where he first settled as Pastor of the C. P. Church in Ashmore Tp. for several years; then in Morgan Tp. until 1868; at the above … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Wright

Samuel Wright, Charleston; was born in Delaware Co., Penn., Feb. 29, 1808; when he was 9 years of age, he removed with his parents to Washington Co., in the same State, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, and afterward taught school for seven years. He was married Aug. 20, 1829, to Miss Ruth Gordon, of Washington Co., Penn., and has four children living – William G. (of Charleston), Maria B. (wife of Dr. A. K. Spears, of Charleston), Matilda R. (Mrs. W. S. Minton, of Charleston), and Samuel H. (Corresponding Secretary of the National Surgical Institute, … Read more

Biography of James M. Reese

James M. Reese has been a factor in the business life of the village of St. Joseph for nearly thirty years, and has made a success because he has given a service a little better than others in the same line and has constantly striven to please. Mr. Reese was born in that historic section of northwestern Pennsylvania, Washington County, June 17, 1853, a son of William and Matilda (Mikesell) Reese. His parents were also natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in Iowa at the home of his son Henry at the advanced age of ninety-two. In 1864, when James … Read more

Biography of Eames Dickey

Eames Dickey was born of Irish parents in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1788, came to the northwestern territory with his father’s family in 1798 and settled first in Washington county. When a young man Mr. Dickey was employed as a post rider to carry the mail on horseback, between Marietta and Chillicothe, a distance of about one hundred miles. Between 18o6 and 1814 he was variously engaged in the mail service, sometimes as a sub contractor, but always doing the riding of one hand himself. At that time the mail service in this section was one of great hardship and … Read more

Biography of Rev. Jacob Lindley

The Rev. Jacob Lindley, seventh son of Demas Lindley, one of the early settlers of Washington county, Pennsylvania, was born in that county, June 13, 1774. At the age of eighteen he was sent to Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Princeton, New Jersey, where he graduated in 1798. After a course of theological study he was license] to preach by the ” Washington Presbytery,” and in 1803, he removed to Ohio, settling first at Beverly, on the Muskingum. Having been selected by the first board of trustees of the Ohio university to organize and conduct that institution, … Read more

Biography of Dr. N. G. Blalock

DR. N.G. BLALOCK. – Americans in general and those of the West in particular have no equals in the world in versatility. No other people can do so many different things and do them so well as we. No other people so disregard the conventional and regular ways of doing things, and go across lots to conclusions and results so promptly. On our Western border is this especially manifest. Face to face with nature in some of her most remarkable and powerful manifestations, with all things new and untried, we burgeon out our powers untrammeled by custom or artificial restraints. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard W. Blue

Richard W. Blue, a Union veteran of Virginia and a leading lawyer and judge of Kansas, finally advanced to the halis of Congress as a representative of his adopted state. He was born in Wood County, Virginia, September 8, 1841, and was raised on a mountain farm near the present city of Grafton. In 1859 he entered Monongalia Academy at Morgantown, Va., and remained at that institution several years, first as pupil and later as teacher, Subsequently he entered Washington College, Pennsylvania, and remained there until he enlisted in the Third West Virginia Infantry, at the opening of the Civil … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Josiah McCoy

Josiah McCoy Justice of the Peace at Westminster, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1826. His father was Colonel John McCoy, of Scotch ancestry; and his mother, whose maiden name was Jane Brice, was a daughter of Rev. John Brice, of West Virginia. They were among the early settlers of Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1850 Josiah McCoy went to Marshall County, Illinois, followed farming for a number of years, and subsequently mercantile business some five years at Henry, that county. In December, 1873, he became a citizen of California and a resident of the town of Westminster, where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. S. Minton

W. S. Minton, of the firm of Minton, Alvey & Van Meter, proprietors of the City Mills, Charleston; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1828; at the age of 12 years, he began to work in his father’s mill, and there became familiar with every branch of the milling business; he continued in that for eight years, and in 1848, started with his father in the dry goods business; six years later-1854-he came to Illinois, bringing with him a thousand head of sheep, and engaged in sheep-raising in Vermilion Co.; he soon after removed to Edgar Co., where … Read more

History of Bentleysville, Pennsylvania

This book is a collection of stories, letters, and historical records detailing the brief history of Bentleysville, a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania. Established around a mill operated by Sheshbazzar Bentley Sr. and Jr. on Pigeon Creek in 1816, the town grew to a population of 300 by 1868. The author traces the origins of Bentleysville back to the 1770s to document the earliest settlers, while also providing context through significant national events like the Whiskey Rebellion and the Civil War. Although Bentleysville’s history as a village ended before 1900, this work preserves its legacy for future generations.

Presbyterian Church, Prosperity, Pennsylvania

The following data was taken from tombstone inscriptions in the Presbyterian churchyard at Prosperity, Pa. This church was organized in 1781. ANDREW, ANNA, died Dec. 21, 1843, aged 70 yrs. ANDREW, CATHRINE, wife of James Andrew, died Feby. 1872. ANDREW, LEMUEL, died Feby. 2, 1830, aged 58 yrs. ANDREW, DIBBY, died Aug. 8, 1799, aged 11 mos. ANDREW, MARY, died Apr. 2, 1828, aged 41 yrs., 2 mos., 18 days. ANDREW, MARY E., died 1843. ANDREW, POLLY, daughter of Lemuel and Mary Andrew, died Apr. 15, 1825, aged 7 mos., 23 days. ANDREW, SARAH, wife of Robert S. Andrew born … Read more