GRANT MONINGER is one of those well-educated, intelligent and enterprising young citizens of Amwe11 township, on whom the elder portion of the community begins to depend. As the strength of the seniors in years fails, they naturally look proudly to the sturdy, active young men who are ready to take the burden of life on their strong broad shoulders, before the aged and weary toilers have fallen to rest by the way. John Moninger, who was the pioneer of the family of that name now residing in Amwell township, emigrated from Germany to America in 1801, and settled on a farm in Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn. His occupation was farming and carpentry, in both of which he was very successful. His children were Henry M., George W., John, Jacob, Mrs. Mary Harshaman, Mrs. Catherine Harshaman, and Mrs. Elizabeth Moore. Mr. Moninger was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Washington county.
George W. Moninger, son of John, was born January 7, 1812, on the old farm near Lone Pine, Amwell Township. His father drove stock, and the younger days of George wore passed in assisting in that work, and in attending the rate schools of the neighborhood of his home. Notwithstanding many disadvantages, he afterward became one of the best teachers in the township. To illustrate the adventurous spirit of this youth, an incident of his boyhood days is given: When a lad of twelve years, he and his father went, to Baltimore with stock, and "young America," becoming impatient with the more leisurely movements of his paternal ancestor, started home alone, arriving there two days before the rest of the party. On reaching maturity he began teaching school, a profession he followed six or eight years; then commenced stock droving and wool buying, making his headquarters in Washington borough, and traveling through Washington and Greene counties, soon winning for himself by his business popularity the appropriate sobriquet of ''Drover George Moninger.'' He continued to prosper in this line until he formed a partnership with Morgan Brothers in the wool business, when he lost his entire property, and at the age of forty-five was obliged to begin the world anew, with no capital save that of the old courageous spirit stronger in him than ever. Within a few years he accumulated another fortune, some $15,000 or $30,000 which enabled him to purchase the Reason Luellen farm. In September, 1865, Mr. Moninger was married to Mrs. Sidney (Horn) Swart, widow of Amos Swart, who was killed at Spottsylvania, and they had two children: Grant, born February 14,1869, and Franklin, born August 11, 1872. Mr. Moninger was highly esteemed in his community, and was a representative Republican of his township. In the Disciple Church at Lone Pine he was one of the most zealous workers. On July 25,1888, he passed peacefully away. after an honored and useful life of seventy six years and six months.
Grant Moninger, son of George and Sidney Moninger, was born on the old home farm near Lone Pine, his rudimentary education being received at the common schools of the neighborhood, which was supplemented with a five or six years attendance at Pleasant Valley Academy; he then took a course at the Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Penn., which properly included from eight to twelve months, but which he completed in four months. He was always one of the brightest students in school, and he is gifted with an active mind and superior intelligence. Since his seventeenth year he has had charge of his father's estate, and is the appointed guardian of his younger brother. The brothers have a farm comprising 350 acres of prime land. When but seventeen years of age, Grant Moninger united with the Disciple Church of Lone Pine, of which he has ever since been an active member.
Text taken from page 1477 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Tawna Varner Brown of Midlothian, TX as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]