MRS. JANE SAWHILL, widow of John Sawhill, was born in 1824, in Ohio county, W. Va. a daughter of Thomas Pollock. In 1843 she was united in marriage with John Sawhill, who was born December 6, 1812, in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., where he received a common-school education, which he afterward considerably improved by reading. Alexander Sawhill, his father, was a native of Ireland, whence he came to this country with his parents who settled in eastern Pennsylvania where they died. He was there married to Mary Neely, a daughter of native-born Irish parents, and after the death of his parents the young couple came, about the year 1803, to Washington county, locating in Buffalo township. Here they remained several years, and then moved to take up their final residence in East Finley township, near the Buffalo township line. Twelve children were born to them, of whom John was sixth in order of birth. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John Sawhill settled down to farm life, in East Finley township, near Claysville. Some years later he purchased the Milligan property, situated about one mile from Claysville, in East Finley township, and near the Donegal township line, where his widow still lives. Here he died August 30, 1887. He was a successful farmer, and by industry and good management accumulated considerable property. He was a prominent man in the community, enjoying the highest respect and esteem of his neighbors. In politics he was a stanch Republican; in religion he belonged to the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, toward which he was a liberal contributor. To Mr. and Mrs. John Sawhill were born children as follows: Anna M., born February 8, 1845, wife of James McConahey, of Donegal township; Mary A., born August 1, 1849, died July 10, 1870; Thomas A., born February 3, 1851, now living in Concordia, Cloud Co., Kans.; Elizabeth Jane, born July 5, 1853, wife of John Post, of East Finely township; William F., born October 16, 1855, now in Concordia, Kans.; John E., born October 7, 1858, residing in Iowa; Elden C., born May 30, 1861, now a Presbyterian minister in Enon, Lawrence Co., Penn., and three that died in infancy.

Text taken from page 729 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY 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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