George B. Sloan
His grandfather lived and died in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania. His family consisted of four sons — Samuel, James, William and
David. Two of the children of Samuel — John, afterward Col. John Sloan, and
his sister, afterward Mrs. Gibson — were carried away by the Indians and held
for some time in captivity by them. James Sloan, Esq., lived near Kittanning
on the west bank of the Allegheny river. He was the first prothonotary of
Armstrong county, and in his house the first court was held. David Sloan,
father of the subject of this notice, when quite a young man purchased a farm
in Buffalo township, about two miles from Freeport, but being dispossessed by
some defect in his title, he located in Franklin township about a mile from
Worthington, on the farm recently owned by James Claypoole. He was a tall,
portly man and very agile. One of his feats was to jump over a covered wagon
by means of a pole — feats of skill and strength being held in higher esteem
in that day than in this. About 1812 he was killed while felling timber, a
portion of a falling tree rebounding and striking him with violence. He was
twice married. By the first marriage there were five children — James, David,
William, Nancy and Jane. James and David removed to the State of Indiana, the
latter returning to this county and locating near Worthington, where he died
in 1877. Nancy married a Mr. McAdoo and settled in Indiana. Jane became the
wife of James Claypoole, already mentioned, and died about 1850. William died
near Worthington eight or ten years later.The second wife of David Sloan was Nancy Jack. To them four children were
born — John who died in infancy, Samuel and George Byers, twins, of whom the
former died at five years of age, and Margaret, afterward Mrs. John Maxwell,
now a widow and residing in Chicago. Mrs. Nancy Sloan, after the death of her
husband, was united in marriage to Samuel Robinson. Both died near Slate Lick
where they are buried. They had four children — John, Samuel, David and
Isabella, now Mrs. Lewis.George B. Sloan was born at the family home in Franklin township, February
20, 1809. The death of his father occurring when he was but three years of
age, he was left in the care of his mother, an amiable, industrious and pious
woman. But their fortune was slender, and while yet a mere boy, George found
himself mainly thrown upon his own resources. He had good health and a will to
work, and accepting such employment as in that day was to be had (grubbing,
chopping, reaping etc.), he gained a livelihood and formed those habits of
industry and energy that characterized his whole after-life. When about twenty
years of age he spent a winter thrashing grain by hand, as the custom then
was, in the barn of William Morrison, of Slate Lick; a circumstance materially
affecting his whole after life, as will presently be seen. His formal
education extended only to the common elements of an English course, and for
the privilege of this he had to walk a distance of two or three miles, and pay
his own way in a subscription school. At the age of twenty-one, December 9,
1830, he was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of William Morrison, already
named, a union fraught with happiness to both. Mrs. Sloan’s mother was Martha
Barnes. Her grandparents were Robert Morrison and Elizabeth Culbertson, who
resided in Greene county, Pennsylvania, near Carmichael’s of the present day.
Her great-grandparents were William Morrison and Elizabeth Hamilton, of Ayr,
Scotland. In the wife of his choice, Mr. Sloan found a true helpmeet; when he
wooed he had but himself to offer. But from the first she fully and cheerfully
accepted his lot, and, blessed with good health, prudent in counsel, and
untiring in energy, she contributed her full share to whatever of success he
attained in life.Upon his marriage he purchased and settled on the farm with which his whole
after-life was identified, at Slate Lick, then in unbroken forest, with the
exception of a few acres. Beginning without capital other than he had in his
own faculties and endowments, he yet managed to meet his payments. Often he
prosecuted the work of clearing his land late into the night, lighted by the
blazing fires, cheered by the presence of his young wife, sitting, with
knitting in hand, conveniently by. Their first house was a rude cabin of logs,
so open that the twinkle of the stars could be seen through the chinks at
night. But the material comforts of his home steadily increased. Prudent, he
was yet progressive, and was ever among the first to avail himself of
improvements and conveniences. He was one of the first to take a newspaper in
his neighborhood. He owned almost the first machine for thrashing grain
introduced into the neighborhood.Aside from the ordinary pursuits of the farm he engaged to some extent in a
variety of other business enterprises. In the general outcome he was fairly
successful, not amassing great wealth, but having as the fruit of his honest
industry an easy competence.To a very large extent he enjoyed the confidence and respect of those who knew
him. Often he was called to make peace and adjust differences between other
people. In 1854 he was chosen to fill the office of county commissioner. In
1859 he was elected to the office of sheriff. He also served as one of the
first jury commissioners under the new system. Each of these offices he filled
with fidelity and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Especially as sheriff,
while true to the duties of his office, by his kindly manner and the allowance
of all proper indulgence, he won from many the praise of being the friend of
the poor and the unfortunate. He loved to encourage and help those whom he saw
struggling, as he had done, to gain homes for themselves, not infrequently, as
it turned out, obliging others to his own hurt. Early in life he united with
Slate Lick Presbyterian church, an active and consistent member of which he
remained to the time of his death, with the exception of the three years spent
in Kittanning while he held the office of sheriff, during which he was
identified with the church in that place.When quite a young man he adopted the principle of total abstinence from
intoxicating liquors, at a time when few were found to take a position
generally regarded as radical. For more than fifty years he was a zealous
advocate of the cause of temperance, and ever refused in any way to barter or
compromise his principles.In his own neighborhood he was the friend and promoter of the cause of
education. A school of higher grade having been organized, and known as the
�Slate Lick Classical Institute,” in 1870, he erected at his own
expense a building and for several years gave to this school the free use of
it.He was the father of six children, two sons and four daughters. John Boyd,
his second son and youngest child, died in Kittanning December 3, 1861, in the
fourteenth year of his age. Mary Elizabeth, his third daughter, died at Slate
Lick October 7, 1865, at the age of twenty-two years. His other children
survive: Rev. D. H. Sloan, pastor of Presbyterian church, Leechburg,
Pennsylvania; Mrs. Rev. J. H. Blackford, of Glasgow, Ohio, and Mrs. J. F. Boyd
and Mrs. B. S. Robinson, of Slate Lick, Pennsylvania.In April, 1877, he was stricken by paralysis while yet seemingly in his
usual vigorous health. He never was able to resume any of the activities of
life. A portion of the time he was able to attend church, and to make visits
to near-by places. He bore his protracted affliction with Christian patience
and resignation. His golden wedding anniversary occurred December 9, 1880, and
was duly observed, all his children and many friends gathering to extend their
congratulations. He delighted in the grace of hospitality. His friends were
always welcomed, and many a wayfarer sought the shelter of his cheerful home.In October, 1882, his illness took an unfavorable turn, and on the 2d day
of November he peacefully passed away. His remains repose in the cemetery at
Slate Lick; but he still lives in the influence of his earnest, upright life,
and in the affections of those who knew him.Source: Page(s)
609-610,
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq.
Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000
by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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