HARVEY LINDLEY. In recording the names of the prominent citizens of Washington Co., the list would be incomplete were that of Harvey Lindley omitted. He comes of an old New Jersey family, from which State his grandfather Levi Lindley came to this county (in the year 1788), making the journey on horseback, finally arriving in Morris Township, bringing his family later and settling where the village of Lindley’S Mills now is. Here, in the woods, he erected his log cabin and underwent many hardships and vicissitudes of which the present generations know but little. About the same time his two brothers, Demas, and Caleb, came to this country, each of whom sent a son back to Princeton College, where they graduated and both became ministers. The three brothers were truly the pioneers’ settlers, and gave character as energetic, Christian men to the community in which they lived. They were the first to build a fort for protection against Indiana invasions. Lindley’S Fort, as it was known was built on the farm of Demas Lindley, now owned by Isaac Connett, and was located just west of the present movers in organizing and establishing Upper and Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Churches. Demas erected and ran the first gristmill in Morris Township. He kept the first post office in the township; and it was the only office at that early date between Washington and Waynesburg. The mail was carried and delivered once a week on horseback. One by one the giant trees yielded to the pioneers axe, and ere long the wild animals were driven back by the march of civilization. In most respects the country was comparatively safe, save when marauding bands of Indians made depredatory raids on the humble homes of the white man. While a resident of New Jersey, Mr. Lindley was married to a lady of that State, who bore him the following named children: Zabby, William, Benjamin, and Timothy.
Benjamin Lindley, son of Levi, and father of Harvey, was born in New Jersey, July 28, 1779, and was eight years old when he came with his parents to Washington County. On May 27, 180, he married a Miss Logan, who bore him two children: Experience, born February 8, 1802, and Margaret, born September 15, 1803. The mother of these children dying, Mr. Lindley married for his second wife, Jerusha Cooper, who was born January 13, 1782, a daughter of Zebulon Cooper, and by this union there were the following named children: Zebulon, born August 11, 1808, Mary, Born May 9, 1810; Sarah, born July 5, 1812; Cephas, born March 28, 1816; Demas, born August 9, 1818; Anna, born June 28, 1823; and Harvey, born April 15, 1826. After marriage Mr. Lindley remained a short time in Morris Township, and then purchased the farm now occupied by Harvey Lindley, and which was materially improved by him and his descendants. After a long life of usefulness Benjamin Lindley passed from earth in September 1869, in his ninety-first year, leaving a record that all may well emulate, his second wife having preceded him to the “other shore.” He was one of the organizers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Bethel, in which he was an elder for many years, and in politics he was an Old-time Whig. He was five feet eight inches high, and weighed 165 pounds.
Harvey Lindley, whose name opens this memoir, is a native of Franklin Township, born on the old home place where his entire life has been passed. His boyhood and youth were occupied in assisting in the hard work of the farm, year in and year out, with the occasional relief of a few weeks attendance at the subscription schools in midwinter. On November 11, 1847, he was united in marriage with Harriet N., daughter of Dr. Henry Blachly, of Morris township and the children born to this union were: Henry B., born February 2, 1849, married to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Dryden Vankirk, of Franklin township, died in his thirty-second year. Anna E., born March 19, 1853, married to Samuel W., son of Oliver Cozad, of Franklin Township; they have one child, Orville O. Oscar F., born December 15, 1855, married to Miss Jennie, daughter of David Craft, of Morris township, and living on a farm in Barber County, Kansas; they have five children, Willis E., David H., Mary E., Harriet T., and Lutella. Howard A., born June 20, 1863, married to Mis Adeline, daughter of David Clark, of Buffalo township; they have three children, Laura M., Henry W., and Herbert S. Abraham Lincoln, born April 7, 1865, married to Miss Mary I., daughter of Stephen Post, Franklin Township. Howard A., and A. L. Are living at the home place, and caring for the farm which contains 300 acres prime land. The other of this family was called form earth July 22, 1891, in her sixty-fourth year, and was buried in Prosperity her influence for good will long be felt among the numerous friends she left to mourn her departure from their midst. Both she and Mr. Lindley were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Bethel for many years, and he was an elder in the same for thirty years. In politics he was originally an Old-time Whig, and since the organization of the party has been a stanch Republica; in school matters he has always taken a zealous interest, and was a director for many years, for several years Mr. Lindley has been in poor health.
Text taken from page 508 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Bob Masters of Thomas, KY 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]