PAGREENE-L Archives

From: marta burns <>
Subject: [PAGREENE] McCracken, Drow, Winnett, Strowd, Crawford, Moore, Dowler, Addis, Piper, Corwin, McMillan, Wighams, Wilkin, Latta, Riggs, Doneldson, Jackman, etc
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 20:33:18 -0100

John Cunningham is a well-known resident of Donegal township, and, like
many of our most successful and honored citizens, he is a native of the
fair "Emerald Isle." His father, Peter Cunningham, was born in 1799, in
County Down, Ireland, and in early life learned the weaver's trade, which
he followed but a short time. He then became a farmer, and also dealt
very extensively in stock.
He was married to Dorothea Wilkinson, who was born in the year 1812, also
a native of County Down, Ireland, and to them were born the following
children: John, Eliza, George, Thomas, Peter, Ellen, Sarah and Abigail,
all of whom passed their lives in Ireland, with the exception of John.
The father died in the year 1844, and was followed by the mother in 1863.
John Cunningham, the eldest son, was born July 24, 1829, in County Down,
Ireland. He learned the trade of weaver during his boyhood, but never
followed it. His education was obtained in the schools of the country,
and he remained at home until April 12, 1849, when he resolved to seek a
fortune in the New World. Embarking at Belfast on the vessel "Agitator"
(so named for Daniel O'Connell, the great Irish agitator), the ardent
youth sailed to America, and after a voyage of six weeks and five days
landed at Philadelphia. He then went to Pittsburgh by way of canal boat
and rail, but work being poor, he remained there only a short time, and
soon came to Washington county, Penn.
The first man he worked for after leaving Pittsburgh was Isaac Hodgens of
Taylorstown, with whom he remained one month being treated very kindly,
and receiving $10 for his services. From there he went to James Campsey,
an extensive landowner, with whom he remained fourteen years.
On September 17, 1863, he was united in marriage with Margaret J.
Heyburn, born in 1840, daughter of Alexander Heyburn, and they have had
children as follows: John (living with his parents, is a speculator),
Mary Jane (deceased in infancy), George (residing at home), Joseph
(living at home), Amanda (also living with her parents) and Margaret Jane
(deceased in infancy).
The mother of these children died December 25, 1879, and for his second
wife Mr. Cunningham was married, December 29, 1885, to Mary Ann Heyburn,
who was born in 1847, a sister of his first wife. They have had no
children.
Mr. Cunningham passed the first few years of his married life as a tenant
on the farm of his former employer, and finally saved enough money to
purchase a home. In 1872 he bought and moved upon a farm which was
located near Atchison, Donegal township, this county, and remained there
till 1881.
He then moved onto a part of the "Heyburn" tract, lying three miles
northwest of Claysville in Donegal township, and has since resided on
this farm, which belongs to his wife. Mr. Cunningham has been the
architect of his own fortune. He was but a poor Irish boy when he first
landed on American soil, and by dint of industry and enterprise has
accumulated a competency. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and
with his family he enjoys the esteem of the community. In political life
he has always been a Republican. The following is from the pen of Mr.
Cunningham:
Ireland my country I'm now going to leave you,
I'll bid you farewell for a while;
To a far distant country I'm now going to wander,
Where wild beasts and savage are king.
But Erin my country I'll still think upon you;
And of your sweet vales I will sing.
When far distant from you I will think on you still,
Your sweet purling streams and your daisy-clad hill.
The ship she is waiting with flags waving high,
Which bears me from Ireland my fortune to try.
But ne'er will I forget till the day I shall die,
The pleasures I spent there when I was a boy.
In the old County Down, near the town of Hillsborough,
Where my youthful days I have spent;
When I think upon them my heart fills with sorrow,
Alas, for their sakes I lament;
But I hope that kind Providence will still be my guide,
And conduct me safe over the ocean so wide
With a full flowing glass on the other side,
I will drink to Old Erin the Green.
Farewell to the land where the shamrocks do flourish;
Farewell to its green flowery vales;
Farewell to the green woods, where the songsters chant chorus,
And tell to the warblers their tales.
May the bright sun of heaven still shine round your isle;
And peace and prosperity still on you smile;
This is the prayer of your wandering exile,
In a land far from Erin the Green.
Beers, J H & Co, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County,
Pennsylvania, Chicago: J H Beers & Co, 1893, p1197
Clark Crow was born on August 6, 1825, on the farm where he is now
living, in Allen township, Washington county, Penna, son of Lawrence
Crow, and grandson of Lawrence and Margaret Crow. The last mentioned
ancestors were natives of Maryland, and in 1784 settled in Allen
township, this county.
Lawrence Crow, the grandfather, applied for a patent August 31, 1784, and
on December 16, same year, surveyed the tract called "Crows Egg," which
contained 295 acres, and became the permanent home of the Crow family,
who lived there in block-houses for many years.
Lawrence Crow, father of Clark Crow, was in 1795, on the home place in
Allen township, Washington county, receiving his early education in the
country schools.
On November 9, 1812, he was married to Mary Riggs, a native of that
township, and a daughter of William and Mary Riggs, the former of whom
was a Methodist minister; both her parents were born in Maryland, and in
1773 came to Washington county, Penna, locating on the Monongahela river,
where they died many years ago.
To the union of Lawrence Crow and Mary Riggs Crow there were children as
follows: Elizabeth, born November 16, 1813, was married to James
Doneldson, and died October 9, 1847, in Greenfield, Penna; William J.,
born July 29, 1815, married Nancy Jackman, and died in Illinois in 1876;
Mary Ann, born May5, 1817, died June 21, 1856, in Pennsylvania; Margaret
L., born April 11, 1820, was married to James D. Latta, and died in
Washington county, Penn., January 20, 1853; Sarah, born May 10, 1822, was
married to William Dunlavey, and died February 11, 1850; Clark, the
subject of this sketch; and James, born September 10, 1828, married Sarah
Ward, and died October 3, 1857, Clark being now the only survivor of the
family. The father died in 1835, followed in 1865 by his widow.
He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were members of the
First M. E. Church built in Allen township, this county, and known as the
"Howe M. E. Church;" it was originally erected in 1820, taken down in
1872 and rebuilt in 1892.
Clark Crow, whose name opens this memoir, received a subscription school
education, and assisted his father in clearing up the home farm.
On April 30, 1851, he was united in marriage with Rachel, daughter of
William Latta and Rachel Stewart Latta, and a native of Allen township,
Washington county, Penna. To this union were born three children: Ann
Salene, Charles C. (deceased September 8, 1866) and James B. (deceased
September 18, 1856).
The mother of these children died December 18, 1859, and May 25, 1862,
Mr. Crow took a second wife Isabel Wilkin, a native of Coal Centre,
Washington county, and daughter of Reuben Wilkin, who was born February
9, 1799, near Lost River, Hardy County, West Virginia, son of George and
Mary Wilkin of West Virginia, who moved to Greenfield (now Coal Centre),
Penna, in an early day.
Coming to Greenfield (now Coal Centre), East Pike Run township,
Washington Co., Penna, Reuben Wilkin was married April 2, 1826, to
Bethsheba Dowler, a native of that township born in 1808, daughter of
Thomas and Elizabeth Dowler.
To this union were born as follows: George W , born January 28, 1826,
married September 13, 1849, to Margaret Ann Addis; Elizabeth, born June
19, 1828, died June 19, 1829; Emily, born May 29, 1830, died December 20,
1887; Henry D, born May 8, 1832, married October 18, 1860, to Anna Piper;
Mary Jane, born June 14, 1834, married to Peter Corwin, November 23,
1837; Thomas, born April 7, 1836, married January 1, 1861, to Mary
McMillan; Rebecca, born August 26, 1838, died September 30, 1838; Isabel,
born October 3, 1839, wife of Clark Crow; Lucinda, born July 2, 1844,
married October 28, 1878, to William S. Wighams; and Harriet, born
February 25, 1847, married December 8, 1878, to Robert Moore.
The father of this family died in 1882, having been preceded to the grave
by his wife in 1869; she was a member of the First M. E. Church in Allen
township, which went by the name of the "Howe Church," of which mention
has already been made in this sketch.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark Crow have always resided on the home place, which is
one of the oldest farms in Washington county, and contains 190 acres of
good land. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served faithfully as a
road supervisor, judge of elections and a member of the school board. In
religion he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church at Mount Tabor.
Their children are Olive E Crow, Mrs. Samuel Winnett, living on the home
farm; and Loretta Crow, Mrs. W. A. Strowd, of East Pike township, twins;
Eldora Crow, wife of J M McCracken of Greene county, Penna; William Crow
married Olive Crawford and living in Allen township; Fred G Crow;
Lawrence C Crow; and Edgar J Crow, all three of whom are living with
their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Crow are the grandparents of six children
living, and one deceased.
Beers, J H & Co, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County,
Pennsylvania, Chicago: J H Beers & Co, 1893, page 367

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• [PAGREENE] McCracken, Drow, Winnett, Strowd, Crawford, Moore, Dowler, Addis, Piper, Corwin, McMillan, Wighams, Wilkin, Latta, Riggs, Doneldson, Jackman, etc by marta burns <>