| BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
of
Washington County, Pennsylvania
containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens and of many of the Early Settled Families
- ILLUSTRATED -
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co.
1893.
|
|
CHESTER
B. ABERCROMBIE, teller of the First National Bank,
Claysville, and one of the leading business men of the
borough, is a native of Washington county, born in Donegal
township, near West Alexander, August 16, 1829.
James Abercrombie, his grandfather, also a
native of this State, for a time followed farming in eastern
Pennsylvania, whence in an early day he came to Washington
county, settling on a farm in Donegal township, where he
passed the remainder of his life. He was married to a
lady of eastern Pennsylvania, who bore him children as
follows: William, Thomas, James, John, Margaret (Mrs.
John Crusen), Nancy (Mrs. William Wadde) and Isabella,
all living to over fifty years of age. The parents
were members and active supporters of the Covenanter Church,
and in politics Mr. Abercrombie was a loyal Democrat.
THOMAS ABERCROMBIE, father of
subject, was born in eastern Pennsylvania in 1800, and there
received his education at the subscription schools of his
locality. At the age of twenty-five he married
Catherine, daughter of Robert Barr, of
Washington county, but a native of Ireland, having come to
America at an early age. At the breaking out of the
Revolutionary war, he enlisted in the army of patriots, and
served his adopted country as a drummer boy, coming out of
the struggle unwounded. He also served in the war of
1812, and participated in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, where
he suffered severely from cold, and at one time had to take
shelter in a hog-pen. Before the war last spoken of,
Mr. Barr had settled in Donegal township, this
county, while the Redman was still endeavoring to protect
his native soil from the rude grasp of the Caucasian
invader. On one occasion he helped to rescue a woman
and her child from the Indians, bringing them in a
blockhouse situated west of Claysville. Mr.
Barr lived to the patriarchal age of one hundred and one
years, and died respected by all. Politically he was a
Democrat. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Abercrombie resided near West Alexander, in Donegal
township, until 1843, when they moved to a farm near
Claysville, and in October, 1856, they took their departure
for Mercer county, Ill., where the mother died in 1867, the
father in 1868. He was first a Whig, then an
Abolitionist, and finally a Republican; in matters of
religion he was a member of the M. E. Church. The
children born to this highly respected couple were Jane,
Chester B., Henry, and Joseph and Anna
(twins). Of these. Henry enlisted during the
Civil war in the Eighty-second Ill. V. I., was promoted to a
lieutenancy, and was killed at the battle of Stone River.
Chester B. Abercrombie passed his early life on
the home farm in Donegal township, receiving his education
at the schools of the neighborhood, which was supplemented
by home reading and quiet study; and he early evinced those
business qualifications, marked characteristics of his life,
which have elevated him to his present prominent and
responsible position. Mr. Abercrombie, after
leaving school, first commenced to learn the trade of a
cabinet maker, at Waynesburg, Greene Co., Penn., with
James Grenier, with whom he remained two years
and then came to Claysville, where he followed the same
business one year, at the end of which time he entered the
employ of L. C. Truesdell, working for him about four
years, following which he was with R. S. Brownlee a
short time. In 1857 he entered into partnership with
T. C. Noble, in general merchandising, continuing in
same four years, when they took in as a partner M. L.
Stillwagen, the business being carried on under the
style of T. C. Noble & Co., until 1874, when Mr.
Noble retired, and the firm then became Abercrombie
& Stillwagen. In 1876 Mr. Abercrombie
sold out and engaged in the grain business. He was
also agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at
Claysville from 1867 to 1885. In 1890 he entered the
employ of the First National Bank of Claysville, of which he
is now teller. On May 22, 1862, Mr.
Abercrombie was united in marriage with Mary J.,
daughter of Thomas Henderson, of Washington
county, and two children were born to them, Kate and
Blanche, the latter of whom died December 1, 1889.
They both received their elementary education in the schools
of Claysville, and afterward at the Washington (Penn.)
Ladies’ Seminary, under the principalship of Miss
Nancy Sherrard. Their mother departed this
life April 19, 1874. Mr. Abercrombie and
his daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church at
Claysville, in which he has been trustee, for several years.
In his political preferences he has at all times been a
Republican, belonging to the party from the time of its
organization.
- Pg. 73 -
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington Co., PA -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893. |
NOTES;
|
