JAMES S. ARTHUR, a prominent citizen of Chartiers township, is one of the three children born to William Arthur, whose father was also named William. William Arthur, the grandfather of James S. was born in Ireland, and some time after his marriage came to Washington county, Penn., with his family. He settled on a farm in Chartiers township, where his two sons, William and James, were reared. The father died in 1840, having been preceded by his wife in 1838. William Arthur was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to Pennsylvania when only four years of age, there growing to manhood. He then selected as a life companion Rebecca Foster, and after marriage the young people settled on the farm in Chartiers township, which is now occupied by the son James. Three children were born to their Union: Elizabeth (wife of John McCarty, of Chartiers township), James S., and Mary Anne, who died in her eighteenth year. William Arthur passed his whole life in this county. He was an active worker in the Democratic party, and in religion a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He died about the year 1847, being followed by his wife in 1868. James S. Arthur was born January 27, 1833, in Chartiers township, this county, and passed his early life on the home farm, being educated in the subscription and district schools of the period. On January 28, 1864, he was married to Sarah Jane Palmer, who was born in Washington county, September 24, 1843, a daughter of David and Hannah (Crawford) Palmer. David Palmer was born in July, 1816, in County Armagh, Ireland, and in 1833 came with his parents to Washington county, Penn., where in 1842 he was married to Hannah Crawford. After his marriage Mr. Palmer settled on a farm in this county, where the following children were born: Thompson (living in North Strabane township), Sarah Jane (wife of James S. Arthur), Margery (married to Newton G. Watson, and died in Iowa May 27, 1891), Morrison (deceased in May, 1868,) and Elizabeth (wife of Prof. S. W. Reed, living in Washington, Iowa). The father of this family died in July, 1890, having been preceded by his wife in May, 1872. After his marriage to Sarah Jane Palmer, James Arthur settled on the homestead farm, consisting of 110 acres. This farm is underlaid with a valuable six-foot vein of coal, and the mines have been opened on the farm for a number of years, Mr. Arthur's ancestors having been active coal merchants. The mines are still under operation by J. S. Arthur & Sons. Mr. Arthur takes an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and is a well-known and enterprising citizen. James S. and Sarah Arthur have been blessed with a family of eight children, as follows: Ida May, William, Elizabeth Jeannette, Margarete, James S., David Clarence, John (deceased in infancy) and George Lawrence.

Text taken from page 499 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by George & Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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