ABRAHAM HAIR. The life of this gentleman bears testimony, in language not to be misunderstood, to what it is possible for man, with willing heart and hands, to accomplish. Few people, if any, in Washington county, deserve as much credit for advancement in life, commencing with dark days of poverty and adversity, and rising solely by their own unaided efforts to prominence and opulence, as does the subject of this memoir. Abraham Hair was born April 23, 1823, in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn. When but a young boy he was indentured to one William Wilson, to learn the trade of spinning wheel maker, and with him he remained until sixteen years of age, when he commenced working at various occupations, including carpentering, civil engineering, etc., and was for a time interested in the oil business. On May 19, 1858, he was united in marriage with Caroline Forsythe, who was born December 29, 1840, a daughter of Job Forsythe, of Parkersburgh, W. Va., and died April 15, 1860. For his second wife Mr. Hair wedded Margaret Wright, a native of Fayette county, Penn., born March 22, 1838, a daughter of Abraham Wright, of Point Marion, Penn., near the mouth of Cheat river, and to this union the following children wore born: Caroline V., now Mrs. Isaac Hodgens, of Buffalo township; Laura L., now Mrs. R. W. Dodd, of Donegal township; Kate, wife of William Burig, of West Finley township; Adocia, living at home, and Maggie, who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called from earth January 27, 1873.
After his first marriage Mr. Hair took up his residence in Taylorstown, Penn., where he was engaged in the milling business for some considerable time, then moved to California, same State, where he worked in a boat yard, after which he was in the oil business on Dunkards creek, Penn., whence he proceeded to Clay township, Monongalia Co., W. Va., and there followed farming for some time. In 1872 he purchased the Shepherd L. Guy farm, in Donegal township, situated at the confluence of the Little and Big Buffalo creeks. Here he has since been engaged in general farming, including stock dealing to a considerable extent. He has lately erected an improved roller mill at a great outlay, thereby filling a long-felt want in his neighborhood, and which in itself is a practical illustration of his enterprise and progressiveness, and which is of invaluable service to the farming community; and in addition to all these industries he owns 346 acres of choice farm land, all the results of hard work, steadfast purpose, sound judgment and sterling integrity. Mr. Hair has no time to devote from his busy life to politics, but he invariably votes the straight Democratic ticket.
Text taken from page 938 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]