J. SHAN MARGERUM, the well-known and popular dealer in boots and shoes in Washington, was born June 22, 1838, at Washington, Penn., a son of John and Eliza J. (Smith) Margerum, both natives of Lancaster county, Penn., the former born about the year 1809. John Margerum, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was a butcher by trade; he died in eastern Pennsylvania in 1825. His wife lived to a very advanced age, and died at the home of her son John, in Washington. They had nine children, of whom but one, Robert, is living, and he resides in Washington county, now far advanced in years.
John Margerum, the father of J. Shan, worked at the shoemaker's trade, in Washington, for fifty-seven years. He was blessed with an exceedingly robust constitution, and was never sick a single day in his life. He was called from earth in July, 1891, at the age of eighty-three years, strong both physically and mentally to the end, and at the time of his death was the oldest resident shoemaker in Washington. His wife had preceded him to the grave in 1889, at the age of seventy-five years. He was married in 1833 to Eliza J. Smith, daughter of John and Honor Smith, and to them fourteen children were born, of whom six are now living, viz.: J. Shan, Julia Ann (wife of Charles Wendle), John L., Eliza J., now of Wheeling, W. Va. (wife of Julius Clark), William and Marietta (now Mrs. Zelt) all residents of Washington, this county, except Mrs. Wendle, whose home is at Pittsburgh, Penn., and Mrs. Julius Clark.
J. Shan Margerum received his education at the schools of his native town, and learned the trade of shoemaker with his father, for whom he worked. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Independent Patton Cavalry, of the Ringgold Battalion, which afterward became Company F, of the 22d Cavalry, and was appointed brevet lieutenant, which position he held until the rank was abolished. He served as company artificer, and participated in most of the forty-six battles and minor engagements of his regiment, was twice wounded, though not seriously, and twice fell into the hands of the enemy, but succeeded in effecting his escape to the Union lines, each time; on the first occasion he was captured near Martinsburg, Md., by Maj. Gilmore's cavalry, but made his escape to a garden, and hid in a ditch two days before he dared to venture out. In 1891 he revisited the scene of his adventure, and although the town had grown considerably, he found the ditch and a stone fence about just as he saw them thirty years ago. After serving to the close of the struggle, the war-worn soldier returned home to the pursuits of peace, and resumed the business he had commenced in 1861, and which he has since continued in. About fifteen years ago he opened a retail business on North Main street, where he now lives. In February, 1870, he married Miss Lou A., daughter of Matthew and Ann Griffin, of Washington, Penn., both of whom were early settlers of Washington, but are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Margerum have no children. He is a Democrat in politics, as have been all the family on both sides of the house, and is a member of the G. A. R. He is a sportsman in the literal sense of the word, and owns a kennel of some of the best-bred dogs in the State. Just after the war Mr. Margerum commenced collecting curiosities, and has now one of the most valuable collections in the county. Among the articles of vertu is the first "greenback" issued by the Government, now valued at $1,000. His interesting museum is open to the public, who are always welcomed and courteously treated.
Text taken from page 305 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1998 by Sherry Norton of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]