REZIN C. TUCKER, a well-known farmer and progressive citizen of Hanover township, is descended from one of the pioneers of the county. Prior to 1770 there came from Maryland one John Tucker, who, after the Government survey, took up 400 acres of what is known as the "Grace tract" in Hanover township, having made improvements on a tomahawk claim, several years in advance of the Government survey. He was a large man and as straight as an Indian, a despiser of the lazy man and the rascal, and was an honest Quaker. Before coming here his first wife died, leaving two sons, Rev. Samuel, who was killed by Indians while en route to Kentucky, and John, who moved to Ohio. He married his second wife shortly before leaving Maryland, and she, with the two sons, accompanied him to this county. There were two daughters born to this second marriage, who became Mrs. Ralston and Mrs. Sadler, respectively. Jonathan, the eldest son of the second marriage, was born in Fort Vance during an Indian raid in 1771. Thomas, the fourth child, moved to Ohio; David was the youngest. John Tucker was the founder of Tucker's Church, which was built in 1823, and which is yet known by that name. He was among the earliest residents of this county, from whom the majority of the families of this name in Hanover township are descended. Many were the trials and struggles endured by this old pioneer, of which, did space permit, we would gladly give a detailed description. He lived to the ripe old age of one hundred years, and was buried in the Tucker's Church cemetery, where his wife was also interred.
David Tucker, youngest son of John, was reared on the old homestead where his father had first located. When a young man he was married to Christie Ann Hill, who bore him the following children: Ellen, Rezin, Mary Ann, David, Philip Rowland, Nancy and Samuel, all of whom lived to adult age, some moving to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, while a few remained in their native county. The father was a Democrat, and in religious faith his wife was a Baptist. He died in 1819, and was buried in a private cemetery on the home place. His widow was married to John Clark, and had two children by her second marriage, viz.: Matthew (who went to Texas) and Harriet (deceased in youth). The mother died in Ohio, where she lived with her elder sons.
David Tucker, son of David and Christie Ann Tucker, was born in 1812, and received but a common-school education, his father dying when he was but a boy of seven years. He then went to live with his uncle, Nathan Hill, near Eldersville, Jefferson township, this county, of whom he learned the tanner's trade. In 1829 he left the tanning business, and going to Pittsburgh worked for some time in an iron mill. When his brother, who had been living on the home place, left there for the West, he came from Pittsburgh and took charge of the farm. In 1837 he was married to Sarah S. Watt who was born in 1813, in Hanover township, daughter of John Watt. The children born to this union were as follows: Rezin C., Angeline E. (deceased in youth), Mary Ellen (unmarried, is yet living on the home farm), Harriet L. (Mrs. R. W. Crisswell of Hanover township), David S. (married, of Florence), John W. (deceased), Sarah S. (wife of George S. Graham, M. D., a leading physician of Florence) and Lemuel J. (professor in a college at Defiance, Ohio). Of these children John W. enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., and was killed near Todds Tavern at the battle of the Wilderness. Owing to an order previously issued by the commander-in-chief, the body was never secured, and was buried in the field. The parents always lived in this township. David Tucker was a Democrat until the close of Jackson's administration, when he became a Whig and Republican. He was among the leading men, and a liberal contributor to the M. E. Church (Tucker's Church). He was twice married, his second wife being Rachel B. (Miller) Hall, a widow, who died in 1884, followed by her husband in October, 1890. He was a man of powerful physique, weighing over 200 pounds.
Rezin C. Tucker, son of David and Sarah S. Tucker, and the subject proper of this sketch, was born April 27, 1838, in Hanover township, this county. His first education was received in the common schools, afterward attending the Florence academy for some time. In youth he gave his name to the M. E. Church. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, which he completed and followed at various places in the county. For the past few years he has been living on the home place, of which he now has charge, having been administrator of his father's estate. In politics he is a Republican, taking an interest in the success of his party. He has never married.
Text taken from page 1157 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/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]