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Ernest Francis Acheson

ACHESON, Ernest Francis, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Washington, Washington County, Pa., September 19, 1855; attended the public schools; was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., in 1875; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1877 and practiced until 1879; purchased the Washington Weekly Observer, of which he was editor; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1884 and 1896; established a daily edition of the Observer in 1889; elected president of the Pennsylvania Editorial Association in January 1893 and in June of the same year was chosen recording secretary of the National Editorial Association; trustee of Washington and Jefferson College 1894-1917; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1909); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1908; resumed editorial work until his retirement in 1912; died in Washington, Pa., May 16, 1917; interment in Washington Cemetery.

(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell)


Mrs. Sarah C. Acheson

ACHESON, Mrs. Sarah C, temperance worker, born in Washington, Pa., 20th February, 1844. She is descended on the paternal side from English and Dutch families that settled in Virginia in 16oo, and on the maternal side from Col. George Morgan, who had charge of Indian affairs under Washington, with headquarters at Fort Pitt, and of whom Jefferson, in a letter which Mrs. Acheson has in her possession, says, "He first gave me notice of the mad project of that day," meaning the Aaron Burr treason. Among her ancestors were Col. William Duane, of Philadelphia, editor of the Philadelphia "Aurora" during the Revolution. Her girlhood was spent in the town of her birth, where she was married, in 1863, to Capt. Acheson, of the same place, then on Gen. Miles's staff, the marriage taking place while the Captain was on furlough with a gunshot wound in the face. He left for the front ten days after, encouraged by his young wife. Dr and Mrs. Acheson moved to Texas in 1872. During their residence in Texas Mrs. Acheson has been a moral force. Her influence has been strongly felt, not only in the city where she resides, but throughout the State. Her generous nature has been shown in heroic deeds of a kind which the world seldom sees. When a cyclone struck the village of Savoy, many of its inhabitants were badly wounded, some were killed, others made homeless. Mrs. Acheson reached them as speedily as a train could take her, doing duty as nurse and special provider for the suffering. She gave three years of active service to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She was State president at a time when a strong leader was greatly needed, guiding their bark into a haven of financial safety. Her life is active along all lines of duty. She is abreast of the advanced thought of the age. The world's progress in social, scientific and religious reform is not only an open, but a well read book, to her. Her home is in Denison, Tex.

(American Women, Fifteen Hundred Biographies, Vol 1, Publ. 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow.)


James Allison Jr.

ALLISON, James, Jr., (father of John Allison), a Representative from Pennsylvania; born near Elkton, Cecil County, Md., October 4, 1772; moved with his parents to Washington County, Pa., in 1774; at seventeen years of age he enrolled in the school of David Johnson, of Beaver, Pa.; saw service in the Indian warfare at Yellow Creek, Bedford County, Pa.; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1796 and commenced practice in Washington, Pa.; returned to Beaver in 1803 and continued the practice of law until 1822, when he was elected to Congress; prosecuting attorney of Beaver County 1803-1809; elected as a Jackson Republican to the Eighteenth and a Jacksonian to the Nineteenth Congresses and served from March 4, 1823, until his resignation in 1825 before the assembling of the Nineteenth Congress; resumed the practice of law until 1848, after which he discontinued active pursuits and lived in retirement until his death in Beaver, Beaver County, Pa., June 17, 1854; interment in Old Cemetery.

(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell)


Absalom Baird

Baird, Absalom, soldier, was born Aug. 20, 1824, in Washington, Pa. He served at Chick amauga, Chattanooga, Resaca, Jonesborough and Atlanta. For his services in the Atlanta campaign he received the brevet rank of brigadier-general in the regular army in1865, with that of major-general for services during the civil war. He served as inspector general of the department of the lakes in 1866, 1868; of the department of Dakota till 1870; of the division of the south till 1872; and subsequently as assistant inspector-general of the division of the Missouri. He died in 1905 in Washington, D.C.

[Herringshaw’s National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]


James Gillespie Blaine

Blaine, James Gillespie, statesman, author, was born Jan. 31, 1830, in Washington Countv Pa. He graduated at Washington College in 1847; adopted the profession of an editor; removed to Maine; and edited the Kennebec Journal and Portland Advertiser for several years. He served four years in the Maine legislature, two years as speaker of the house. In 1863-1876 he was a representative from Maine to the thirty-eighth to the forty-fourth congresses, serving as a member of the committee on post offices and post roads. He served on the committee on military affairs, the special committee on the death of President Lincoln, and as chairman of the committee on the war debts of the loyal state. In 1869-75 he was speaker of the house to the forty-first, forty-second and forty-third congresses; and in 1876-81 he was a United States senator. In 1881 and in 1889-92 he was secretary of state. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president of the United States in 1884. He was the author of Twenty Years of Congress. He died Jan. 27, 1893, in Washington, D.C.

[Herringshaw’s National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]


N. Ann (Graham) Crawford

CRAWFORD, JOHN L., Clerk of the Courts, Marion; born in Pleasant Tp., near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, May 29, 1830; lived in Ohio until 1854, when he came to Maine Tp., this county; engaged in farming until he was elected Clerk of the Courts in 1872; re-elected in 1874 and 1876; during his residence in Maine Tp. he held offices of Assessor, Township Clerk, and various other town and district positions; he lived on Sec. 26. Married N. Ann Graham Nov. 24, 1852; she was born in Washington Co., Penn. ; they have five children living— H. Howard, Jeff G., Salome F., Alice M. and Jennings R. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, with their four eldest children, are members of the Free Will Baptist Church.

[Source: The history of Linn County Iowa; Western Historical Company; 1878; transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]


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Christopher Rankin

Died in this city, on Tuesday evening last, after a lingering illness, of pulmonary consumption, aged about 40 years, the Hon. Christopher Rankin, the Representative in Congress from the State of Mississippi, which station he had filled for several years, with honor to himself and essential utility to his country. Possessing a strong mind, industrious habits, and the greatest simplicity, purity and benevolence of character, he enjoyed in a high degree the esteem of the elder members of the House and their almost unbounded confidence on all questions connected with that important branch of the public interests (the public lands) over the committee on which he had presided for several years. – Nat. Intel. [Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 22, 1826 -Washington, March 16 - Transcribed by N. Piper]

RANKIN, Christopher, a Representative from Mississippi; born in Washington County, Pa., in 1788; completed preparatory studies at Canonsburg, Pa., moved to Georgia; taught a village school and studied law at the same time; was admitted to the bar in 1809 and commenced practice in Liberty, Amite County, Miss.; member of the territorial legislature in 1813; moved to Natchez, Miss., in 1816 and practiced law; member of the state constitutional convention in 1817; unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator in 1817; held several local offices; elected as a Republican to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses, reelected as a Jackson Republican to the Eighteenth Congress, and elected as a Jacksonian to the Nineteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1819, until his death in Washington, D.C., March 14, 1826; chairman, Committee on Public Lands (Seventeenth through Nineteenth Congresses); interment in the Congressional Cemetery. - Contributed by Gene Phillips


The Family of Edward Ross

The early history and origin of this Ross family is unknown ROSS to the present generation, to which belongs George H. Ross, of Salem, Harrison county, West Virginia.

(I) Edward Ross, the first member of the family here under consideration, died in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer all his active life. He married Rosanna Jenney, born in Maryland, died in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1880, at the age of sixty- seven years. Children : Two sons and six daughters, of which number only two survive, George Harvey, of whom further; John Thomas, a teamster and farmer residing at Taylorstown, Washington county, Pennsylvania. The Jenney family came from Maryland and this is all that is known of them.

(II) George Harvey, son of Edward and Rosanna (Jenney) Ross, was born November 2, 1857, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He had but a limited common school education in his native county. He commenced the battle of life by working out as a farm hand, continuing until he was twenty-four years of age, when he turned his attention to carpentering, following the same in the various oil fields in rig building business, and contracted for the erection of oil derricks. He went to Harrison county in 1893, locating at Salem. He erected all the derricks for the South Penn Oil Company within a radius of twenty miles from Salem, and others for the Hope Natural Gas Company, which furnishes all the natural gas for the big glass companies and which is much used for domestic purposes. He is now a stockholder in the two banks of Salem and a director. He is a stockholder and director in the Raccoon Oil and Gas Company, of Salem, which furnishes gas for manufacturing and domestic purposes. He is a stockholder and director in the Knickerbocker Realty Company of New York, also the New York and New Jersey Realty Company of New York City. He also owns an interest in several gas wells. Also owns an interest in a large number of residential properties in Salem, some eighteen in all. He is a Democrat, and in church faith a Methodist Episcopalian. He and his family reside in one of the finest houses in Salem, modern in every respect, and the walks of asphalt about the grounds are indeed attractive, leading up a terrace to an eminence from which the residence overlooks the city.

He married in Washington, Pennsylvania, September, 1893, Alice C. Glaum, born and reared to womanhood in Washington, daughter of John Glaum, who died soon after her marriage. Her mother, Eliza Glaum, is living in Taylorstown, Pennsylvania. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Ross: Harold Edison, born September, 1895; George Clair, born December 7, 1897; Glen Audrin, born June 1, 1904.

[Source:  Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, West By Bernard Lee Butcher, James Morton Callahan 1912 - Contributed by Brenda Wiesner]


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REV. JOHN S. MARQUIS, D. D., The family of which this gentleman is a worthy representative is one of the oldest of Cross Creek township. They are descendants of French Huguenots, who fled from France on account of religious persecutions, and settled in Ireland.

In 1720 William Marquis and Margaret, his wife, together with their son Thomas and daughter Mary, emigrated to this country from Ireland, and settled in Frederick county, VA., near to Winchester. It is believed that some of the children of this family remained in Ireland. Some years after their parents came to America, Thomas Marquis married Miss Mary Colville, and Mary Marquis, married John Wilson, and died shortly after. Thomas was the father of seven children-four sons and three daughters-named as follows: William, James, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Sarah and Anne. Thomas Marquis, the father of these children, was killed by the falling of a limb of a tree, whilst gathering corn. His children were brought up under the direction of his brother-in-law, John Wilson, who was a school teacher, and a religious man, consequently they were carefully educated, both secularly and religiously.

William Marquis, son of Thomas, married Miss Elizabeth Vance, and reared a large family, most of whom came to this county, but afterward moved to Ohio. Hon. William Vance Marquis, ex-lieutenant governor of Ohio, is a great-grandson. James Marquis married Miss Mary Vance, a sister of the wife of his brother William, and his family, which was large, came to this county, but afterward went to Ohio. John Marquis, the third son of this family, was the first of the name to settle in this county, and was one of the first settles of Cross Creek township. He was born June 10, 1750, and married Miss Sarah Griffith, of Frederick county, Va. He settled, in 1774 on a tract of land for which he obtained a warrant February 23, 1786, and afterward received a patent. This tract was called "Marquesata," and contained 421 acres, and allowance, embracing the farms now owned by H. C. Anderson and Robert Anderson, and a part of the farm of Richard Wells, called the "Mason" farm. For some time, on account of the Indian raids, he was obliged to keep his family in Vance's fort, while he tried to clear his farm. Once, while in his cabin, he heard the report of a rifle close at hand, and going out he saw a party of Indians killing his hogs. On seeing him they immediately gave the war whoop and rushed down upon him. It was a race for life, and although the Indians were so close to him at the start that he heard their footsteps in pursuit, yet he outran them and arrived in safety at Vance's fort. He was noted among the scouts and backwoodsmen as a fleet runner, and he was a man of strong and decided character; for many years was an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek. He died February 25, 1822. He raised a family of nine children-six sons and three daughters, viz.: Thomas, John, Mary, Sarah, Edward, Robert, James, Anne and William, of whom Thomas married Nancy Marquis, his cousin, and they had a large family: John married Elizabeth Taggart, and they spent their days on a farm in Jefferson township, now owned by their son James T. Marquis (Rev. John A. Marquis, pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., is a grandson, and Mrs. Rev. J. B. Lyle, of Scottdale, is a granddaughter); Mary Marquis married Hon. Joshua Robb, who was for many years an associate judge of the courts in Logan county, Ohio, and he represented that county in the State Legislature for several terms (Hon. Judge T. M. Robb, of Lima, Allen Co., Ohio, and Hon. Vance Robb, of the same county, also Hon. James Smith Robb, M. D., of Logan county, Ohio, were their sons); Sarah Marquis married John Nelson, and lived near Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio (they had a family of eleven children); Edward Marquis was twice married, first to Margaret Marquis, and then to Elizabeth Newell (he had several children; his home was near Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio); Robert Marquis was also twice married, first to Hannah Van Nordstrand, and afterward to Mary Stevenson (his children, all of the second marriage, were Newton, Rev. John S., Miles and Robert, of whom Newton married Mary Patterson, daughter of Hon. William Patterson, and granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Patterson of Cross Cree; he died when a young man); Rev. John S. Marquis, D. D. , married Margaretta Bryant McConaughy (he was for seventeen years pastor of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church in this county; his home is now in Washington, and he has supplied the church of Lower Ten Mile at Amity, Penn., for nearly seven years). (Prof. J. S. Marquis, principal of Brainerd Institute, Chester, S. C. and Hugh McConaughy Marquis, S. K. of the B. & O. R. R. Works at Glenwood, Penn., are grandsons of Robert and Mary (Stevenson) Marquis); Miles Marquis died young; Robert Marquis was twice married, first to Jane Patterson, daughter of James Patterson, and his second wife was Elizabeth Scott (they now reside in Caldwell county, Mo., and have a family of seven children-four sons and three daughters).

James Marquis, fifth son of the pioneer John, married first Nancy Roberts and afterward Nancy Elliott (he died in Knox County, Ohio; Mrs. Rev. N. C. Helfrich, of Plymouth, Ohio, is his daughter); William Marquis (sixth son of John) married Elizabeth Adams, and lived near Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio (Mrs. Rev. Solomon Cook of that county is his daughter); Anne Marquis (third daughter of John) married Isaac Morrison, and they lived near Bellefontaine, Ohio. The children of John and Sarah (Griffith) Marquis were noted for their musical talents and fine musical voices. Dr. John Stockton told the writer, that Robert Marquis had the finest musical voice of any man he ever heard sing.

John Marquis and his brother Thomas (afterward Rev. Thomas Marquis), in company with some others, pursued a band of Indians, which had made a raid into that neighborhood, in 1776, murdered one woman and took captive another woman (Reynolds) and a child. They came upon the Indians just at daybreak, as they were making a raft to cross the Ohio river opposite where is now Mingo Junction, on the Pan Handle Railroad. Seven of the eight Indians were killed, and one man of the pursuing party. The families of James T. Marquis and of Rev. J. S. Marquis, D. D., are the only descendants of John and Sarah Marquis now residing in this county.

Rev. Thomas Marquis, the fourth son of Thomas and Mary (Colville) Marquis, was born in Opequan Valley, Va., in 1753; was married March 5, 1776, to Jane Park, and some time after came to Washington county. He settled on a tract of land for which he took out a warrant February 23, 1786, and afterward obtained a patent. This tract was called "Marrigate" and contained 417 acres, and allowance. The tract embraces one of the farms now owned by Richard Wells, the farm of the Bebout heirs, and a part of the Perrine tract. Afterward, by deed dated August 27, 1794, he purchased from Alexander Wells, of Cross Creek, and Nathan Cromwell, of Baltimore, a tract of 500 acres, embracing lands now owned by Hon. J. S. Duncan, John Lee, a tract (called the "McConnell" farm) now owned by W. C. Lee, and a part of the farm of Rev. J. S. Marquis, D. D. His family was obliged to live for a time in Vance's fort, owing to the incursions of the Indians, and while there he was converted under the preaching of Rev. James Power, D. D. By the advice of, Revs. Smith and Dodd he commenced preparation for the ministry. His classical education was obtained at Canonsburg Academy, and he studied theology under the direction of Rev. Dr. McMillan and Rev. Joseph Smith; was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Redstone at Dunlap's Creek, April 19, 1793. He soon received three calls-from Bethel and Ebenezer, Ten-Mile, and Cross Creek. He was a natural orator. The tones of his voice were so musical that he was called the "Silver-tongued Marquis." He was pastor of Cross Creek Church for about thirty-three years. While on a visit to his son-in-law, Rev. Joseph Stevenson, he as attacked with fever, dying of same September 27, 1827, and was buried in the cemetery of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He had a large family of children, and his descendants are scattered far and wide. Rev. John M. Stevenson, D. D., one of the secretaries of the American Tract Society, at New York, Rev. James E. Marquis and Rev. Thomas Marquis Newell were grandsons. Rev. W. S. Marquis, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Rock Island, Ill., is a great-grandson, and Mrs. Patton, wife of Rev. Dr. Patton, president of Princeton College, Princeton, N. J., is a great-granddaughter. Only one of the daughters of Thomas and Mary (Colville) Marquis (Anne) came from Virginia to this county; she married Maj. James Park, who was killed by the Indians on a farm now belonging to the heirs of Josiah N. Scott, Esq., in Jefferson township, this county. The other daughters married in Virginia-Sarah married John Vance, and lived near Holstein, Va.; Elizabeth married Daniel McCauley, and remained in Virginia.

There were some others of the name of Marquis who lived in this county, and were cousins of the children of Thomas and Mary (Colville) Marquis. George Marquis was one of the first bench of elders of cross Creek Church. Samuel Marquis also lived near Burgettstown, and John also lived in the same neighborhood. If these were first cousins of John and Rev. Thomas Marquis, as they claimed, William Marquis, who came from Ireland in 1720, must have left other children in Ireland, who came to America at a later period; and this appears most likely to be the case as all these parties came from near Winchester, Va., to this county.

[Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania Vol. I, J H Beers & CO. 1893, page 182-184. - Contributed by Millie Mowry]


ANGUS M. L. McBANE, a retired lawyer and merchant of Shawneetown, Ill., and ex-judge of Gallatin county, is justly entitled to be classed as one of the foremost citizens of the city. The McBane family is of Scotch origin, the grandfather of Judge McBane coming from Scotland in the early part of the nineteenth century and settling at Cannonsburg, Pa., where he reared a family of children. One of his sons, Dr. A. M. L. McBane, was born at Cannonsburg in 1808. He received a fine literary education, which was supplemented by a complete course in the science of medicine. After graduating from medical college he traveled extensively through Europe, and upon returning to America located at Louisville, where he soon won eminence as a physician. In 1836 he went to Parkersburg, W. Va., and practiced there until 1842, when, in company with his brother William, he came to Illinois. The two brothers bought 1,600 acres of land where Metropolis City now stands, and 600 acres on the opposite side of the Ohio river in Kentucky. Here Dr. McBane passed the remainder of his life, in the practice of his profession and in looking after his large landed and commercial interests. His death occurred July 3, 1860. In 1836, while living in Louisville, he was married to Miss Ellen Willard of that city, though a native of New York. She was of English and French extraction, her father, Rev. Joseph Willard, having been an Episcopal minister at Newark, N. J., as early as 1806. Later he came West and died at Marietta, Ohio. He was a descendant of Maj. Simon Willard, who was somewhat famous in the early history of Boston. Dr. McBane and his wife had five children, viz.: Angus M. L., the subject of this sketch; Joseph, a graduate of the New Orleans Medical college, died on shipboard while crossing the Atlantic and was buried at sea; Ellen, deceased; Marietta, widow of William Ward, living in Chicago, the mother of three children, one son, Frank, being a traveling man and secretary of the Standard club; and William A., who was a real estate and insurance man of Metropolis City at the time of his death in 1903. Angus M. L. McBane was born at Parkersburg, W. Va,, Sept. 8, 1837. He was but five years of age when his parents came to Illinois. Ever since that time he has resided in that state and has been identified with the growth and development of Massac and Gallatin counties. He obtained his early education in the schools of Metropolis City, one of his teachers being Robert G. Ingersoll, who afterward achieved a world-wide reputation as an exponent of Agnosticism. Although nominally a student at this time young McBane was really an assistant teacher, Mr. Ingersoll devoting most of his time to Latin and history, leaving the greater part of his other school work to McBane. Later Judge McBane graduated from Princeton college of New York, after which he returned home, took up the study of law under Hon, C. G. Simons and W. H. Green, and in 1860 graduated from the law department of the Kentucky State University, at Louisville. He began practice at Metropolis City, but scarcely established himself when the Civil War broke out. His desire was to enter the service of his country, but the recent death of his father made it necessary for him to remain at home to look after the large estate and to care for the family. However, he organized two companies, one in White County, Ill., and the other at Ford's Ferry, Ky., both of which were mustered into the army as part of the Forty-eighth Illinois infantry, of which he was made adjutant, but for reasons already stated he was compelled to resign the position. He accompanied Grant's forces from Paducah to Pittsburg Landing, and in the capacity of expressman for Grant's army was present at the historic battle of Shiloh. In 1864 he removed to Shawneetown, where he was elected county judge the following year and held the position for four years. In addition to his large law practice Judge McBane became interested in the mercantile affairs of Shawneetown. For several years he conducted one of the largest general stores there and was a large buyer of grain. In 1877 he practically retired from both professional and commercial life, and since then has devoted his time to the management of his large and varied investments. He was married in 1862 to Miss Mary, daughter of John D. Richeson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. They have no children. Judge McBane is a member and past dictator in the Knights of Honor; has been president of the Business Men's association ever since it was organized in 1890; was once a candidate for state senator, and is always active in promoting the general welfare of the- community in which he lives. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
[Memoirs of The Lower Ohio valley: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 2 By Federal Publishing Company, 1905 – Transcribed by AFOFG]


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The Family of James Sloan

1776-1851

This branch of the Sloan family came to Bradford from Washington county, Pennsylvania, the family having been founded there by James Sloan, born in 1776 in County Tyrone, Ireland, where there were other branches of the Sloan family. The family originally is said to have come from Wales. James Sloan married, in Ireland, Martha Sloan, a distant relative. They were fairly well-to-do, farming good land under a favorable lease. About 1804 they came to the United States, finally settling on a farm in Hopewell township, Washington county, Pennsylvania. He died there in September, 1851; his wife, August 18, 1865, aged eighty- five years. Among their children were the following: 1. John, of whom further. 2. William, died in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh: a blacksmith; married Rebecca , . Children: i. George, lives in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, ii. Eli, deceased, iii. Elizabeth, lives in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, iv. James. 3. Margaret, died unmarried in Allegheny county. 4. Sarah, died in Allegheny county ; married George Beyers; no issue. 5. Eliza, died in Allegheny county: married James Wallace, a farmer; one of their children, James (2), now resides in Library, Pennsylvania.

(II) John, eldest son of James Sloan, was born in 1803. He learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in earlier life, later becoming a farmer of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he died in June, 1875. He married Sarah Murphy, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, died in Library, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1899. She was the daughter o,f James Murphy, born in the North of Ireland, emigrated and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous farmer; married Mary Goldstone, born in England, died in Butler county, Pennsylvania, about 1862, aged ninety-nine years; both were members of Peters Creek Baptist Church. None of Mary Goldstone's immediate family came to the United States. The children of James and Mary (Goldstone) Murphy were all born in Washington county: 1. John, died in Library, Pennsylvania, aged ninety-one years; was a farmer and merchant; also for many years justice of the peace; married Betsey Long, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, also deceased. Children: i. Derthula, now living in Library, ii. Robert, deceased, iii. Mary, now living in Library, iv. Josephus, now living in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, v. Nancy, also living in Crawford county. 2. James, died in the west, leaving a family. 3. William, married and left a family. 4. Sarah, mentioned above, married John Sloan. 5. Elizabeth, married James Donnelly, of Pittsburgh, a contractor; had issue. 6. Archibald, lives in Butler county, Pennsylvania, a farmer; married Jane Rysor, and had issue, all now living at Prospect, Butler county, Pennsylvania: Oliver, James, Mary and two other daughters.

Children of John and Sarah (Murphy) Sloan: 1. Mary, born August 14, 1837; married June 12, 1862. William Wagers, a farmer, died at Finleyville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1903; no issue. 2. John, born May 30, 1839, died in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania; a farmer; married Miss Hamilton, of Washington county; also deceased.

Children: Emerson; Charles, deceased; Leonard, now living in Philadelphia; a daughter, died young. 3. Elizabeth, born February 27, 1841, died October 13, 1843. 4- Margaret, born December 27, 1842, died in Pittsburgh, 1909: married James Kennedy, of Washington county, a farmer; no issue. 5. William, born March 5, 1845, died in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 1905 ; married Mary Grubb, also deceased; had children, Hannah, Elmer, Walter and Sadie. 6. Archibald, born February 21, 1847; now living in Finleyville, Pennsylvania ; a farmer and justice of the peace; married Ann Mowrey. Children: Waldo, died August 8, 1912; Maud ; Margaret, deceased. 7. Henry, born February 17, 1849, died in New Kensington, 1887; married Elizabeth Fisher, who survives him, living on the home farm at New Kensington. Children : John and Lettie. 8. George, born February 14,1851, now a rancher at Blythe, California; unmarried. 9. Sarah, born April 16, 1854; married Charles Phelan, a carpenter now residing at Finleyville, Pennsylvania ; child, Lillian. 10. James Mitchell, of whom further, 11. Daniel, born March 27, 1858, died in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, 1904; a farmer; unmarried.

(lll) James Mitchell, tenth child of John and Sarah (Murphy) Sloan, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, February 14, 1855. He attended the public schools, then worked at farming for two years, later moving to Butler, Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter's trade. He continued working at his trade until 1878, then became an oil producer in the McKean county district, making his home in Duke Center. He also owned oil rights in the state of Kentucky, and was constantly engaged in the oil business until 1906, when he sold his principal interests. In 1904 he established in Bradford as undertaker and funeral director; in 1910 so greatly had his business increased that he disposed of all his oil properties and interests, giving since then all his attention to his undertaking establishment. He has been a very successful business man and owes his prosperity to his own energy and forcefulness. He is a Republican in politics, but strongly in favor of prohibition, as a party principle, but not as an independent political movement. He was a school director in Duke Center, and in Bradford has served on the common council, also for many years as inspector representing the First Ward in councils. For thirty years he has been an official member of the Methodist Episcopal church, active and helpful in all its work. He is also a member of the Heptasophs. Mr. Sloan is a public-spirited and progressive man, contributing his full share to the upbuilding of his city. He is honored and respected by his townsmen, while in his professional capacity he is most sympathetic, thoughtful and considerate.

He married, February 23, 1888, Ana (or Anna) MacKenzie, born in Brighton, Province of Ontario, Canada, October 20, 1858, daughter of Colin MacKenzie, born in New York state, and when a babe taken to Canada by his parents. Colin MacKenzie was the son of a Scotch emigrant, a scion of the famous Clan MacKenzie, of Scotland. Colin inherited a large farm from his father, and lived to a good old age; he married Amanda Clute, who died in Brighton, Canada, in 1889, a very old lady; their children, all born in Brighton: 1. Wellington, born 1852, no further record. 2. Emma, died at Trenton, Canada, in 1912, unmarried. 3. Wesley, born 1856, now a cigar manufacturer of Montreal, Canada; unmarried. 4. Ana (or Anna), mentioned above, wife of James Mitchell Sloan. She was given a liberal education, and received a teacher's certificate, entitling her to teach in the Canadian schools. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and with her husband an active worker in its different departments. 5. Donald, born in 1862, no further record. 6. Carlotta, born 1864, now living in Saskatchewan, Canada; unmarried. 7. John, born 1866, now engaged in the insurance business in San Francisco; married Lena Martin, of Belleville, Ontario, Canada; no issue.

Child of James Mitchell and Ana (or Anna) (MacKenzie) Sloan: James MacKenzie, born in Duke Center, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1891; now a-student in the forestry department of the University of Toronto.

[Source: Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania By John Woolf Jordan 1913 - Contributed by Brenda Wiesner]


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