Washington County PA

Biography of Edwin R. Christman

Edwin R. Christman, secretary of the Silurian Oil Company of St. Louis, was born September 6, 1887, in Wheeling, West Virginia, a son of Edwin A. Christman, a native of Tennessee and a representative of one of the old Pennsylvania families of Dutch descent and also of early American Quaker ancestry living in Pennsylvania. Edwin Christman was united in marriage to Margaret Cahill, a native of Tennessee and of Irish lineage. They have become the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters. Edwin R. Christman, the second in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Zarley

John H. Zarley, miller, Oakland; born in Washington Co., Penn., April 25, 1819, where he attended school and engaged in farming until March 1837, when he located in Morgan Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1848, at which date he located in Blackford Co., Ind., and engaged in farming until 1851, when he removed to Moultrie Co., Ill., and engaged in farming until 1853, at which time he returned to Ohio and farmed for eleven years; he then returned to Moultrie Co., Ill., for two years, and, in 1866, he engaged in the milling business in Lovington, for one year; … Read more

Biography of Samuel C. Varner

Samuel C. Varner, a retired banker and merchant at Moran, is a veteran of the Civil war, and was one of the earliest business men to locate in Moran. His paternal ancestors came out of Germany and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. Samuel C. Varner was born in Pennsylvania at Monongahcla on December 10, 1845. His grandfather, John Varner, was born in the eastern part of that state at Lancaster, was a cabinet maker by trade, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and spent most of his years at Monongahela City and at Pittsburg. He married Elizabeth McKnight, … 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

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 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 John Marshall McCall

JOHN MARSHALL McCALL. – Among the substantial and favorably known residents of Southern Oregon, none have occupied a more useful place in the upbuilding of the state since the days of its infancy than the gentleman whose name is the heading of this brief memoir. His is one of those aggressive, go ahead dispositions that is an example of that time-honored adage, that “God helps those who help themselves;” and his whole life has bristled with instances of this belief. A man of strong convictions and honest prejudices, scorning hypocrisy in all things and in his dealings with friend, foe … 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

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

Archie Homer Todd of Monongahela PA

Archie Homer Todd9, (Homer F.8, Caleb7, Bela6, Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Aug. 30, 1874, married April 20, 1897, Elizabeth Sprague, who was born May 14, 1877. He is a station agent for the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad at Monongahela City, Penn. Children: 2777. Florence Josephine, b. April 21, 1898. 2778. Emerson Howard, b. Feb. 13, 1902. 2779. Bradley Homer, b. Sept. 13, 1904. 2780. Sidney Eugene, b. May 7, 1907, d. Nov. 18, 1910. 2781. Elizabeth Virginia, b. March 29, 1912. 2782. Harriet Lucile, b. March 12, 1915. 2783. John Sprague, b. Oct. 13, 1919.

Biographical Sketch of William G. Wright

William G. Wright, of the firm of Wright, Hodgen & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in groceries and provisions, Charleston; was born in Washington Co., Penn., July 25, 1832; be was brought up to farming and his father’s trade, of a carpenter; he received an English education, and at the age of 18, began teaching school, which he continued three winters; in the spring of 1854, he came to Hitesville, Coles Co., and on the 24th of August, the same year, he married Miss Sarah Bane, whom he had known in Pennsylvania, and who had removed with her parents to … Read more

Biography of James A. Williams

James A. Williams, who has won his own way in the world and reached a degree of success beyond the average of men at his age, was born in Monongahela City, Washington County, Pennsylvania, August 1862. He is a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Van Vorhis), natives of the same County. James Williams wedded Nancy Van Allen and they were among the early settlers of Washington County, the latter having been born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Abram Van Vorhis, was one of the early farmers of that section and also traded in stock considerably. He was of … Read more

Record of the Smith family descended from John Smith

Record of the Smith family descended from John Smith

This book contains the history of the descendants of John Smith, born in Ireland in 1686, died in Uwchlan, Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1765; and his wife, Susanna, born in Ireland in 1691, died in Uwchlan, Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1767.

Biography of William B. Sutton

William B. Sutton. Since he came to Kansas in 1887, as a rancher-lawyer, William B. Sutton has found all the opportunities that an ambitious man could crave for an active, earnest, useful and prosperous career. For many years he has lived in Kansas City, Kansas, and is one of the leading lawyers of that city. He was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1849, the seventh in a family of ten children born to James and Sarah (Stanborough) Sutton. His father was born in the same county of Pennsylvania in 1812, and died in 1870, while the mother was … 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 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

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

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

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

Biography of J. Edgar Sawhill

J. Edgar Sawhill, owning and operating one of the finest and most productive farms of Page county, is thereon engaged in general agricultural pursuits and is meeting with excellent success in his undertaking. He is a well known figure in agricultural circles throughout the county, being actively connected with the Farmers’ Institute and also with the experimental station for a number of years. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of October 1858, a son of John and Jane (Pollock) Sawhill, the former born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1812, and the latter in Ohio county, West … Read more