WILLIAM DENNISTON sailed from Ireland in 1774, and a short time after landing in America he enlisted as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. After peace was declared he settled in Chester county, Penn., and afterward married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of an early pioneer. A few years later they moved to Allegheny county, same State, and settled on Chartiers creek, on the old Neville farm, so famous as the scene of the Whisky Insurrection. Their family consisted of the following children: Nancy, Abbie, Mary, Thomas, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph and William. In the year 1827 three of the sons - Samuel, Joseph and William - purchased the Jacob Long farm in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn., whither they moved with their parents. The father died in 1842, the mother in 1846, and both are buried in the cemetery at Centre Church. Samuel Denniston was born February 27, 1796, in Allegheny county, and April 21, 1836, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of William Caldwell. They lived on the farm near Thompsonville until April 1, 1839, when they bought the William James farm in Union township, same county. Here he conducted an extensive farming business, giving his attention chiefly to that of sheep and cattle raising. In 1850 he erected all necessary buildings. In 1851 the mother died leaving the following children: William, John W. (deceased), Mary J., Elizabeth, Thomas and Sarah A. (deceased). On March 17, 1853, Mr. Denniston married Elizabeth Applegate, and two children were the result of this marriage: James A. and Rachel N. (both deceased). In politics he was a strong advocate of the principles embodied in the Republican party. In religion he held to the faith of his father who was a rigid Presbyterian. He died September 7, 1879, and was buried in Mingo Cemetery, Union township.
William Denniston, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Denniston, was born February 11, 1838, near Thompsonville, Peters township. On August 19, 1861, he, with many other brave boys of Union township, in answer to their country's call, enlisted in Company I, First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, under Col. George D. Bayard. After returning home he remained on the farm until 1870, when he spent a year in the West. The father died in 1879. William and his brother Thomas have managed the farm, giving their attention principally to stock raising.
Thomas Denniston was born May, 19, 1847. On August 14, 1884, he was married to Marian V., daughter of Isaac Lytle, Esq., of Gastonville. They, with their two children, Lawrence and Helen, live at the old home.
Text taken from page 827 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]