CARY PIPER. In every community there are to be found some who have achieved success in life by sturdy, patient, unceasing toil, and among this class the Piper family, of whom the subject of this sketch is a prominent member, have been justly welcomed. William Piper was born in Virginia of German-English parents, and he followed carpentry in conjunction with agricultural pursuits, becoming a successful man. He left a large family, of whom, Thomas D. Piper was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., where his boyhood was passed. He there learned and followed the carpenter's trade, and after a time, coming to Coal Centre, Washington Co., Penn., commenced business as a builder and contractor, many of the buildings there being erected by him. At Coal Centre he married Ella Holmon, who bore him one son, William (who married Catherine Crow, and died in the State of California), and shortly thereafter died. Thomas D. Piper was then married to Mary Duvall, daughter of Lewis Duvall, one of the highly respected and well-to-do farmers of East Pike Run township, who had children as follows: Mary (wife of Thomas D. Piper), Hannah (wife of Elias Garrett), Abigail (wife of Jacob Deems), Isabel and Eliza (both unmarried), John (married to Hannah Yosty) and Lewis (married to Mary Deems). To Thomas D. and Mary Piper were born the following children: Ann (wife of H. D. Wilkins), Hannah (who married Joseph Moffat), Lewis D., J. W., Mary (wife of Henry F. Jamison), Cary and A. C. The father of this family died January 26, 1880, the mother on January 23, 1884. Politically Mr. Piper voted with the Whig and Republican parties, and in religion he was a leading member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Cary Piper was born December 8, 1851, in Coal Centre, Washington Co., Penn., and received his early education in the public schools. In 1873 he opened a grocery business at Coal Centre, in connection with his brother A. C., which they exchanged for a drug store in 1874. They have been very successful in the latter enterprise, which is conducted under the firm name of Piper Bros., and they own some of the best property in Coal Centre. On September 11, 1879, Cary Piper was united in marriage with Alice F., daughter of E. C. Furlong, who is a son of John Furlong, whose father was born in Ireland, and coming to America made a permanent settlement in Maryland. John Furlong was born on the home place in Maryland where he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Catherine Holman, also natives of Maryland. The father was a Revolutionary soldier, holding the rank of captain, and both parents died in Allen township, Washington county, where their later years were passed. To the union of John and Elizabeth Furlong three children were born, viz.: Catherine E. (married to James Dowler, of West Pike Run township, and died in 1890), Otho H. (deceased in 1882, at Fayette City, Penn. ) and E. C. After their marriage (about 1830) Mr. and Mrs. Furlong came to Washington county, Penn., locating on a farm in Allen township, and during the last twenty years of his life he followed the coal business in Fayette county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and politically was a Jacksonian Democrat, taking an active interest in the affairs of his party. He died in March, 1883, at the age of ninety-three years, the wife and mother having passed away long before, at the age of seventy-five years. Both parents were members of the M. E. Church at Mt. Tabor. E. C. Furlong, youngest son of John and Elizabeth Furlong, was born February 27, 1823, on the home farm in Maryland, and coming with his parents to Pennsylvania, was reared in Allen township Washington county. He attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood, and after the death of his father engaged with his brother Otho in the coal business on the river, shipping to all points on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. E. C. Furlong was pilot on the river coal boats for about thirty years, making many trips to Cairo, Louisville and Cincinnati. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Amy Ann Stockdale, a native of Allen township, this county, a daughter of Allen Stockdale, who was born in 1788; he married Letitia Allen, who was born July 27, 1788, a daughter of Joseph Allen, for whom Allen township was named. The Allens were among the earliest settlers of Washington county, and owned a vast tract of land on the Monongahela river where their lives were passed. Joseph Allen died December 10, 1832, his wife having been laid to rest December 27, 1827. E. C. and Amy Ann Furlong began wedded life on the farm where they are now living, and the following children have blessed their union: Josephine (wife of Frank Hernett, of Pasadena, Cal.), William Allen (proprietor of a drug store at Laceyville, Penn.), John F. (residing at Pittsburgh), Sarah, Alice F. (wife of C. Piper), Letitia and Otho (living in Charleroi, Penn.). Mr. Furlong conducts a prosperous real- estate business, and owns nine houses in Roscoe. Politically he votes with the Democratic party, and has served as a member of the school board; in religion he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. Cary and Alice F. (Furlong) Piper have had two sons viz.: Edward C. (deceased) and Earle. Mr. Piper is an active worker in the Republican party, and served as postmaster at Coal Centre, under Garfield, also Harrison. He is interested in religious matters, as a zealous member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been trustee.

Text taken from page 1314 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/.

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