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John F Rabbitt
JOHN F. RABBITT, a general farmer of Sugar Creek township, was born at
Kellersburg, Armstrong Co., Pa., April 20, 1851, a son of William Rabbitt.William Rabbitt was born in Ireland, where he was reared, educated and
taught the trade of shoemaker. He married in Maynooth, County Kildare,
Ireland, Margaret Daley, a daughter of John Daley, also a native of Ireland.
In 1848 William Rabbitt left his family and came to the United States to
prepare a home for them. He located at Rimersburg, in Clarion county, Pa.,
where he worked at brickmaking until the spring of 1849, when he began mining
at the old Red Bank furnace. By the following summer he was able to send for
his family and they resided at Kellersburg, Pa. Later he moved to Colwell,
working at the Mahoning furnace for twenty years. He and his wife had a family
of ten children: James, who was born in Ireland; John F., who was born at
Kellersburg; the following, all born at Mahoning Furnace: William, Patrick,
Edward, Rose and Julia; and Josephine, Charles and Joseph, born on the
property now owned by the son John F., to which the family came in 1861. Mr.
Rabbitt had become mine foreman meantime, holding that position at Mahoning
Furnace, Brady’s Bend and Mosgrove. The farm was purchased of Patrick Redd and
contained some indifferent buildings on the end opposite to the position now
occupied by those standing. William Rabbitt built the present substantial
buildings, including a brick residence, and put the 165 acres in excellent
condition, his sons doing the farm work while he continued at his old
occupation, giving it up in 1875. His death occurred on this property in 1880,
when he was sixty-three years old, and he is buried in the Catholic cemetery
in Sugar Creek township, having been a consistent member of St. Patrick’s
Catholic Church. Politically he was a Republican, and held the offices of
school director and supervisor. His widow survived until 1882, when she passed
away, and lies by the side of her husband, having been a member of the same
church as he.John F. Rabbitt was educated in the schools at Old Mahoning Furnace and in
Sugar Creek township, and then left the parental roof to work in coal and iron
mines, which he continued for three years. Then he was in Lawrence county for
Brown & Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., after which he went into the oil
fields of Chicora or Millerstown, Butler Co., Pa., whence he went to the
Bullion oil fields. Following this Mr. Rabbitt engaged with the Kittanning
Iron & Steel Company as mine foreman at Sligo, Clarion Co., Pa.,
continuing as such for ten years. Mr. Rabbitt then returned to the old
homestead and purchased the interest of the other heirs, since which time he
has taken a pride in improving his property, among other things putting slate
on the roof of his residence instead of shingles. With the exception of
thirty-five acres in woodland, the property, which comprises 165 acres in the
southwestern part of Sugar Creek township, is under cultivation, and there are
two gas wells on it, as well as a four-foot vein of coal which has been opened
so that this place is very valuable.In September, 1873, Mr. Rabbitt married Annie Smith, who was born in
Lawrence county, Pa., daughter of James and Ann Smith, now deceased, natives
of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitt are the parents of the following
children: Rose, who prior to her marriage was a teacher in Armstrong and
Butler counties, is the wife of Charles Rimp, and resides in Summit township,
Butler county, Pa., where Mr. Rimp is a farmer; they have three children,
Charles, Gertrude and John. William, who died at the age of eight years, is
buried in the Sugar Creek Catholic cemetery. Nellie is unmarried. Edward died
at the age of thirty-two years at the old homestead, having been brought here
after having been taken sick in California, and he is buried in the Sugar
Creek Catholic cemetery. Josephine is unmarried. Charles died when four years
old, and he is interred in the Sugar Creek Catholic cemetery. Maggie died in
infancy. Mary died when two years old. Ruth died in infancy. Paul died when
twenty-three years old.The Rabbitt schoolhouse stands on a portion of the farm, and is the third
building erected on this site, each one being an improvement over the other.
Politically Mr. Rabbitt is a Republican, and has served as a school director.
He has brought up the standard of his farm until it is far above the average,
and is a recognized authority on agricultural matters in his township.Source: Pages 457-458 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 1998 by James R. Hindman for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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