WILLIAM H. WITHERSPOON, one of the most prosperous wool and grain merchants of Burgettstown, traces his lineage to a well-known family of Scotland. John Witherspoon was born and reared in the old country, where he was also married. After the birth of their eldest son the young couple came to America, and resided in Maryland for several years, and prior to 1800 they moved to Washington county, and in 1824 he purchased a small unimproved tract of land in Robinson township, upon which a log cabin was erected. Their children were as follows: Jonathan, John, Azariah, Joshua and Elizabeth. The father of this family was a Democrat in politics, and in religion he became one of the first members of the Associate Reformed Church, in which he was an elder many years. After the death of the father, the sons purchased 200 acres of land, and Jonathan finally sold his share to Joshua. The rest of the tract is the property of Thomas Biggert and Isaac Donaldson.
Joshua Witherspoon was born in 1802, in Robinson township, this county, and passed his boyhood on the home farm, attending the subscription schools during the winter months. On January 3, 1824, he was united in marriage with Jane, daughter of John Hooper, of Allegheny county, Penn. John Hooper was born December 26, 1777, and his wife, Elizabeth, was born February 26, 1776. Their children were as follows: Nancy, born March 4, 1799; Jennie, born March 4, 1801; William, born June 15, 1803; Peggy, born October 2, 1806; Eleanor, born December 13, 1811; and Elizabeth, born January 28, 1817. The parents were members of the Sharon Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Hooper was a Democrat.
Joshua and Jane (Hooper) Witherspoon began married life on the home place in Robinson township, this county, which became their permanent home. The children born to this union were John (a resident of Robinson township), Elizabeth (deceased wife of William Gilliland, of Beaver county, Penn.), William H. (of whom a sketch follows), James W. (a minister of the Fifth Presbyterian Church of Allegheny, Penn.), and Samuel (residing on the home place). The father was an active worker in the Democratic party, and in religion was from early youth a member of the Associate Reformed Church at Robinson, serving as ruling elder for some time. He died April 16, 1858, and was followed by his widow August 9, 1888; both are buried in the church cemetery at Robinson.
William H. Witherspoon was born August 3, 1831, on the old homestead in Robinson township, where his youth was passed, and he received a good common-school education. On December 28, 1854, he was married to Mary, daughter of William Hood, of Hanover township, this county. The young people resided on the home place in Robinson township seven years after their marriage, then moved to Hanover township, and six years afterward settled in Burgettstown, Smith township, where they are now living. On coming to Burgettstown, William H. Witherspoon opened a general store, and also carried on a business in grain and produce. In 1884 he made a new departure, sold the store, and began dealing extensively in both wool and grain, making a specialty of the former, purchasing wool in different parts of Washington, Allegheny and Beaver counties, Penn., as well as in the State of Ohio. In politics he is an influential member of the Republican party. His was the first business house established on the west side of the railroad track in Burgettstown. Mr. Witherspoon was one of the building committee of the U. P. Church at Burgettstown, and gave liberally of his time and money to its erection. He was formerly connected with the Associate Reformed Church, which afterward merged into the U. P. Church, of which he has been an elder for many years, also serving in that capacity in the churches at Robinson and Frankfort Springs.
Text taken from page 325 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL 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]