ROBERT C. HOOTMAN is a well-known and successful farmer of Donegal township. His grandfather, Christian Hootman, was a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, having been born there about the year 1757. Christian enlisted in the army when a young man, and was among the Hessian soldiers who came to America during the Revolutionary war, and were hired by the English government to fight the Colonists. Christian Hootman was a drummer boy, and upon first landing in America was delighted with the country, often longing for freedom, that he might assist the Colonists in their struggle for liberty. At the battle of Brandywine he was taken prisoner, and (making no effort to escape) was soon drumming in the Continental army under Gen. Washington. He served till the close of the war, and decided to remain in the "land of the free," where the galling restraints of the old country were unknown. In the year 1785 the young man came to Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., after a long and tedious journey over the mountains. He took up a "tomahawk claim" in the northwest corner of Donegal township, immediately on the line then bounding Pennsylvania and Virginia. Here he erected a cabin home in the wilderness, and began to clear a piece of land upon which to raise corn. He was then married, and the following children were born to him: Henry and Jacob, (who moved to Iowa, where they died); John (moved West and there died); Mary (wife of Adam Deeds), moved to Coshocton county, Ohio; Catherine (Mrs. William Shaler), who died in Donegal township; David, who learned the blacksmith trade, and followed it on the Monongahela pike, where he died; Tenie (deceased wife of Samuel Miller), lived in Donegal township; and Christian (the father of our subject). The mother of these children died, and Mr. Hootman was afterward united in marriage with Susan Cavanaugh, who bore him no children. He continued to live on the same farm until his death, which occurred in the year 1845, after sixty years of pioneer life in Washington county. His second wife had also preceded him to the grave.
Christian Hootman was born October 12, 1800, in Donegal township, on the farm which is now owned by his son Robert. His early life was passed in attending to the duties of the pioneer farm, and his education was limited to the advantages of the subscription schools, but this was afterward supplemented by home instruction from his stepmother, who was an educated woman. He thus became a well-informed man. In about the year 1830, Christian Hootman was married to Sarah McBroom, who was born in 1808, daughter of Robert McBroom, of Brooke county, W. Va., but a native of Ireland. Two children were born to them: Nancy S. M. (Mrs. E. Buchanan, of Wheeling, W. Va.), and Robert C. (subject of this sketch). Mr. Hootman passed his entire life on the home place, and was a successful farmer. In religion he was an active member of the U. B. Church, to which he and his father were liberal contributors. Mr. Hootman died February 27, 1874, and was followed by his widow April 22,1891. Politically he was a lifelong Democrat.
Robert C. Hootman was the only son of his parents, and was born November 14, 1844 on the home farm, where he is yet living. He was trained to farm work from boyhood, and received a common-school education. On September 13, 1866, he was united in marriage with Maggie Yant, who was born April 20, 1850, a daughter of Jacob and Lizzie (Wilson) Yant, and the following children have been born to this union: an infant daughter (deceased), and Luetta, Frank S., Laurence V. and Bruce C., all of whom are living at home. After his marriage, Mr. Hootman settled on the home farm, which has been in the possession of the Hootman family since it was patented, and is one of the most valuable pieces of farm land in Donegal township. Mr. Hootman is a very systematic and progressive farmer, and is extensively engaged in raising sheep. Politically he is a Democrat, but often votes for the man he thinks best qualified, regardless of his party connection.
Text taken from page 1295 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL 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]