JOSEPH H. CLOKEY, an affluent farmer of North Strabane township, is a native of the same, having been born July 24, 1845, on the farm he now owns. James Clokey, his grandfather, was born December 30, 1757, in County Down, Ireland, where he was educated and reared. In an early day he immigrated to this country, making his first home in the land of his adoption in Dolphin county, Penn., whence in 1812 he came to this county, and in the following year purchased a tract of land containing 300 acres, lying on both sides of Chartiers creek, which farm is now the property of our subject. He had three children, viz.: Sarah who married James Herron), Samuel and Mary (latter being now deceased). James Clokey was a member of the Seceder Church at Peters Creek, about eleven miles from his home, and he was wont to make the journey on horseback. As one of the organizers of the Seceder Church near Pigeon Creek, he was a liberal supporter of it, and for years was one of the trustees; in his political associations he was a lifelong, Old-line Whig. In addition to his farming interests, he operated distilleries in both Dauphin and Washington counties. He died October 6, 1839; his wife, Jane Clokey, died in her eighty-second year. Samuel Clokey, the only son of James and Jane Clokey, was born April 25, 1787, in Dauphin county, Penn., and was educated at the subscription schools of the locality. At the age of eighteen he came to Washington county, and until the day of his death remained on the home place settled by his father. On January 1, 1824, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Alexander McClure, of South Strabane township, and the children born to them were Mary J., wife of P. F. Martin. (deceased); James (deceased); Elizabeth B., wife of James Martin; Alexander (deceased); Sarah H.. wife of Hon. J. G. Clark; Samuel M. (deceased); Abigail F. (deceased); Joseph H.; Rebecca M., wife of Dr. George A. Dougherty, and Caroline L. The father died December 31, 1871, the mother July 11, 1878, and their remains repose in the cemetery at Pigeon Creek. Mr. Clokey in church connection was first a Seceder, but afterward united with the U. P. Church at Pigeon Creek, of which he was a trustee. Politically he was a Whig and afterward, on the organization of the party, a Republican. about 1845 he applied for a postoffice at the village on his farm, when there was no office nearer than Washington, five miles distant which request was granted, and he partially supported the same until the Civil war, from which time to the present the office named Clokey has done a thriving business. Mr. Clokey was postmaster of the same until his death. Joseph H. Clokey was educated at the common schools of the district in North Strabane township and-had thorough practical training in agriculture on his father's farm. 0n December 12, 1878, he was married to Jennie, daughter of Rev. Joseph White, of Knoxville, Iowa; she died September 4, 1885, leaving three children: Samuel J., Ethel R. and Elizabeth Anna. In February, 1889, Mr. Clokey married Lucy E. Toynbee, daughter of Edward and Caroline S. Toynbee. Mr. Clokey owns a fine farm of 300 acres, well adapted for cereal and root crops, besides stock raising. He is a member of the U. P. Presbyterian Church at Pigeon Creek, and in politics is a stanch Republican. He is a leader in his township, taking a lively and substantial interest in all public matters tending to the advancement and prosperity of the community at large. Since his father's decease he has held the position of postmaster at the village of Clokeyville, on his farm.

Text taken from page 591 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Judy and Lee Schaeffer of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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