…bringing our past into the future
CAPTAIN SAMUEL MURPHY — CAPTAIN JAMES P. MURPHY — THE MURPHY FAMILY The progenitor of the Murphy family of this county was Capt. Samuel Murphy, a native of Frederick county Virginia, born in 1756. He led a remarkable career, one full of adventure, vicissitude and usefulness, and was famous both as soldier and pioneer. Left … Read more
Robert Walter Smith ROBERT WALTER SMITH* Robert Walter Smith was born at Litchfield, New Hampshire, June 16, 1816, at the residence of his grandfather (on the maternal side), Judge Parker. His great-grandfather, Capt. Ebenezer Smith, was an officer throughout the whole of the revolutionary war, and was appointed captain of the guard over Maj. Andre … Read more
Hiram H. Wray Hiram H. Wray, prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Leechburg, was born January 24, 1848, in Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, and was the son of John M. and Margaret (Townsend) Wray. His father followed farming, and the son was reared to that calling, sharing its healthful toils. After receiving his preliminary … Read more
The Truitt Family Thomas Truitt, from whom sprang the Truitt family of Madison township, was born in New Jersey, in 1789, and came to this county about 1800, with his father, Parker Truitt. The latter did not long remain here, moving to the State of Indiana. Thomas Truitt was in the war of 1812, and, … Read more
VALLEY TOWNSHIP Â Ernest Miller enlisted September 7, 1861, Co. B, ______ Pa. regt.; discharged for disability October 15, 1863, at Chester Hill. Jesse F. Hyskell enlisted June 28, 1861, at Camp Wright, Pennsylvania, in Co. F, 9th Pa. Reserves; discharged May 12, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; wounded ijn lege severely at battle of Antietam, … Read more
ISAAC WARNER Isaac Warner was born in Loudon county, Virginia, May 16, 1800, and came to this county with his parents, who settled in Kiskiminetas township, where his widow now lives, in August, 1808. He married in 1828, Elizabeth Scott, who was born January 10, 1806, in County Tyrone, Ireland. Her parents, Andrew and Jane … Read more
WAYNE TOWNSHIP Â William W. Caldwell enlisted August 23, 1862, in Co. K, 155th Pa. Vol. Inf.; discharged May, 1863. Ephriam Morrow enlisted May 15, 1861, in Co. K, Pa. Reserves, “Buck Trail Regt.,” and was transferred in November, 1861, to the U. S. Signal Corps; was discharged June 17, 1864. William T. McFarland enlisted … Read more
JAMES D. WILSON The Wilson family, to which the subject of this sketch belongs, was one of the earliest settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His grandparents on his mother’s side (the Hendersons) were from Lancaster and Chester counties, and settled at an early day in Washington county, and his grandparents on his father’s side were … Read more
William Armstrong Wilson The parents of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biography were Armstrong and Jane (Hutchison) Wilson, the former born in 1806, and the latter in 1808. They were married in 1834, upon May 20, and settled in Fairview township, Butler county. Three children were born of this union … Read more
Wray Family ROBERT WRAY The progenitor of the Wray family in this section of Pennsylvania was Daniel Wray, who emigrated with his family from County Antrim, Ireland, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, but little of their history is known further than that they were sturdy people who were held in high esteem … Read more