E. J. AGNEW is descended from a representative family of Washington county, and is a grandson of Samuel Agnew, who was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and there married to a Miss Elizabeth Johnston. In 1780, they left York county, Pennsylvania, locating in Washington county, where in 1785 he secured a patent for two tracts of land, each containing 400 acres, located on George's run, a branch of Chartiers creek. The warrant was issued in 1785, one part being the property of Matthew Henderson, who sold it to Mr. Agnew the following year. Samuel Agnew passed his life on this place, and died in 1819. He was a Whig in politics and served his party as a member of the State Legislature, having previously been justice of the peace in his district, which included several townships. In religious connection, he was a member and elder of the Seceder (now the United Presbyterian) Church. Samuel Agnew was born in 1767, in eastern Pennsylvania, and in early manhood was united in marriage with Elizabeth Mitchell, who was born in 1773 in eastern Pennsylvania. He settled in Washington county about the year 1786 on the farm in Chartiers township, where children were born as follows: John (deceased in 1863); Samuel (who died in 1826); James (married to Nancy Jane Buchanan, who died leaving two children: James, living in Mt. Pleasant township, and Nancy Jane, wife of William Stewart; after the death of the mother, James Agnew was married to Margaret Brown, now deceased, then to Margaret Aiken, who is living in Mt. Pleasant township. He died in 1880); Joseph (deceased in 18856, married to Miss Mary Peterson); Eliza Jane (deceased in 1883, wife of Matthew White); E.J. (a sketch of whom follows), and Thomas (decesed in 1870, married to Sarah Dougherty). Samuel Agnew was a Jacksonian Democrat, holding several township offices and taking an active part in the political questions of the county. In religion, he first united with the Seceder (now the United Presbyterian) Church, officiating as an elder for several years. He died in 1839, being followed by the mother in 1850.
E.J. Agnew was born March 30, 1814, on the home farm in Chartiers township, receiving a liberal education in West Middletown Academy, and afterward attending Washington College for a short time. In 1837, he began teaching in county schools, having previously held the position of assistant teacher in the West Middletown Academy for a year or two, and also teaching one year in Muskingum county, Ohio. On September 1, 1841, he was married to Miss Ann White, a native of Canton township, this county, daughter of Ebenezer and Jane (Nesbit) White. The parents were born in Maryland, and coming to Canton township, Washington county, remained there until their death, which occurred many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Agnew settled on the farm which is their present home, and four children have completed the family circle, namely: Jennie (wife of Thomas Shaw), Lizzie (living at home), Samuel E. (married to Anna Allison, has one son, Samuel), and Annie (Mrs. William Russell, of Mt. Pleasant township). E.J. Agnew has erected a good two-story frame house, two barns, sheep sheds and other buildings upon his farm, to the value of $4,000. His farm contains 118 acres of most productive land, and is one of the best improved farms in Chartiers township, upon which there is a good gaswell in operation. It has now been in the possession of the family 106 years. Mr. Agnew has settled seventeen estates in the vicinity of his home, and has been a very active man in all matters of public and educational interest, having served thirteen years as school director and secretary of the board. In politics, he is a Republican. In religion, he is a member and elder of the Cross Roads United Presbyterian Church. Although seventy-seven years of age, Mr. Agnew reads and writes without the use of glasses, having never required their aid, and is in moderate health, being even yet an active and enterprising citizen. His wife died in the summer of 1883, at the age of sixty-three, after a married life of forty-two years.
Text taken from page 1079 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Richard Singhaus of Carlsbad, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]