PLANTS, CHRISTIAN and GEORGE, are representatives of one of the oldest and most prominent families of East Finley township. The earliest pioneer of that name, of whom any authentic account can be secured, was Christian Plants, from whom the present generation of the family trace their ancestry. Christian Plants, who was of German descent, grew to manhood in eastern Pennsylvania, where he married Catherine Haines, and in 1796 they moved to Washington county, Penn., locating at the foot of "Gallows Hill," near Washington. In 1806 he settled in Finley (now East Finley) township, on what is now called "Enlow fork of Wheeling creek," and on the farm afterward owned by his son Leonard. The children born to Christian and Catherine (Haines) Plants were Leonard, Solomon, George, Christian, Catherine, Maxwell, Elizabeth, Hannah, Jacob, Mary, Daniel, John and an unnamed infant. Of these children the only one now living is Maxwell (a retired farmer residing near Cameron, W. Va.). Mr. Plants farmed during the summer, and taught school in the winter months. He lived to a good old age.
Leonard Plants was born March 22, 1797, on his father's farm near Washington, this county. In 1806 he came with his parents to East Finley township, and passed his boyhood on the farm, enduring all the privations and hardships which are inseparable from the lives of pioneers. In 1815 he was indentured with Jesse St. Clair to learn the stone mason's trade, and after serving an apprenticeship of three years began to work for wages on the National pike, then building, and continued to follow his trade till 1880. On May 6, 1819, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Barney, who died in 1826, leaving four children: Elizabeth, now residing in Wetzel county, W. Va., wife of Stephen Hill; Christian; George, and one that died in infancy.
Mr. Plants afterward married Fannie Barney (a sister of his first wife), and she died in January, 1874, leaving the following children: Jesse and Leonard, farmers in East Finley township, this county; Mary Jane (widow of Andrew Stoller), also a resident of East Finley township; Hannah (wife of Daniel Plants), residing in Morris township, Washington county; John B. (a farmer and mason), residing in East Finley township; Margaret (wife of Nathan Stoller), also in East Finley township; Martha (Mrs. John Nickerson), in East Finley township; Daniel, in Kansas, and Catherine, Fanny, Nancy, Adolphus H. and Christina (all five deceased). On July 23, 1874, Mr. Plants was married to Nancy L. Miller, and to this union one daughter, Catherine L., was born. Mr. Plants began life one of the "poorest boys imaginable," but his physical and mental strength, combined with energy and business tact, surmounted all obstacles to success, and gave him a considerable property, much of it being in lands, which he superintended and improved during his later years. Politically he was first a Jacksonian Democrat, then a strong Abolitionist, and finally a Republican. In 1840 he united with the U. P. Church, to which he always contributed liberally. His widow and daughter are living on the old home.
CHRISTIAN PLANTS was born April 22, 1822, in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his boyhood on the farm, receiving but little school education, as his parents were poor and required his assistance on the farm. He remained at home with them until twenty-three years of age, when he learned the gunsmith's trade, having a natural inclination for mechanical work; he also did cropping on his father's farm. On November 26, 1846, he was united in marriage with Rosanna Marshall, born July 19, 1824, a daughter of John and Nancy (McWherter) Marshall, of East Finley township, and she bore him three children: Leonard Martin (who died at the age of eight years) and twins, born August 7, 1861, one of whom died unnamed; the other, Robert Blachly, is a prosperous young farmer of East Finley township, residing on his father's farm; he is married to Lizzie A. Sprowls, daughter of John and Hannah (Reed) Sprowls.
After marriage Mr. Plants successfully followed the trades of watchmaker, gunsmith and stone mason, although he never served an apprenticeship at any of them, but made a practical application of his general knowledge. He has always owned some land, and has farmed on a limited scale. He is at present actively engaged in general merchandising, which he has followed several years. Mrs. Plants united with the U. B. Church in early life, and died in that faith January 24, 1886. Mr. Plants is also a member of the U. B. Church at Fairmount, and contributes liberally to its support. He has given valuable aid toward the development of Washington county, assisting to place her in her present position, among the foremost counties of the Keystone State. In politics he has always been a Democrat.
GEORGE PLANTS was born July 13, 1824, in East Finley township, this county, and received a limited education in the common schools, which he has made the nucleus to a valuable store of general knowledge. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the mason's trade with Powers Bros., of Claysville, and served an apprenticeship of three years with them, receiving the very modest compensation of $12 a year. At the age of twenty-one he began life for himself, $8 in debt, but he had learned the trade, and industry soon brought success. On June 1, 1848, he was united in marriage with Mary (Goues) Seeman, of East Finley township, and the following children have come to them: Franklin (deceased April 10, 1850), Ethelinda B. (deceased), McFarlin, Mary, Elizabeth, Clarissa (deceased), Leonard (deceased), William S., an infant son (deceased), Joseph L., Nathan C., Nancy and an infant daughter. Since his marriage Mr. Plants has farmed and followed his trade. He is a man of exemplary habits, and has acquired a comfortable competency. In politics he has always been a Republican. He and his wife are members of the U. B. Church, and he was for twelve years a trustee of the church at Fairmount.
Text taken from page 1469 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/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]