PHILIP ADDISON MINTON, one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Morris township, is a grandson of Philip Minton, who was born in New Jersey, of English parentage, and in 1786 moved with his brother Matthias to Washington county, Penn., locating a mile south of Sparta, in Morris township. He soon after married a Miss Clutter, of the same county, who bore him the following children: John, Thaddeus, George W., Sophronia, Harriet and Ruth, of whom George W. is the only surviving member, and he resides on the old homestead. Thaddeus Minton was born August 15, 1805, and received but a limited education at the subscription schools. He was a natural mechanic, and worked successfully at carpentering, milling and shoemaking. He was married to Parmelia Squires, of Morris township, and their children were: Warren, engaged in the lumber and coal business, at Charleston, Ill.; Philip A., the subject of this biography; J. W., who lives in Washington, Penn., a trusted employee in a large iron mill; Rachel, wife of J. M. Dille, of Morris township; Ruth, married to E. Dille, a resident of Waynesburgh, Greene Co., Penn., and Anna L., the widow of H. Adams, living in Prosperity. Philip Addison Minton was born in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn., October 12, 1837, and was educated in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed for twenty-two years, and has won the reputation of a skilled workman. On February 28, 1861, he was united in marriage with Keziah Dille, who was born April 11, 1836, a daughter of Lewis Dille. Mr. Minton lived in Prosperity, Morris township, for two years after his marriage, then in 1863 removed to the "Old Jeduthian Sanders" farm, lying three miles northeast of Prosperity, and in 1865 came to the well-improved farm where he has since resided. They have had the following children: James O., born December 28, 1861, married to Victoria Tharp; Laura V., born July 17, 1864, died in infancy; Annie May, born December 12, 1865, wife of Stephen Tharp, and living near Ten-Mile village, Washington county; Chester W., born June 21, 1868, a dentist, practicing in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Lillie F., born April l, 1871, died November 1, 1877; Lizzie B, born November 20, 1873, died November 9, 1877, and Herschel P., born May 24, 1873, yet living with his parents. In 1865 a terrible conflagration destroyed all the property of Mr. Minton, and amid the confusion, a beloved child was lost before it could be rescued. Once more he began life with no property excepting one horse and a cow; but with the kind assistance of sympathetic neighbors, he began farming on a very limited scale. However, his "never-say-die" disposition soon put him "on his feet" again, and to-day he owns a good, well-stocked farm, upon which he has erected one of the finest barns in the township, built and modeled by himself. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religious conviction is an elder in the Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is also a member.

Text taken from page 1170 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 March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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