Armstrong County PA Archives Biographies.....Calhoun, Hon. John January 16, 1784 - April 26, 1865
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patricia Bastik noemail@none.com May 20, 2025, 9:41 am

Source: History of Armstrong County, Chicago: Waterman, Watkins and Co. 1883.
Author: Robert Walter Smith, Esq.

  ...James Calhoun, the father of the old and honored 
resident of Armstrong county whose name stands at the head 
of this sketch and of whom a portrait appears, came from 
Ireland to this country prior to the issuance of the 
declaration of independence, and settled in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, where he married a Miss Ellen 
Templeton, by whom he had two children, Samuel and William.  
James Calhoun served through the revolutionary war and was 
wounded in one of its battles.  After the close of the 
struggle he settled in what is now Indiana county, and his 
first wife having died he there married a Mrs. Mary Walker, 
whose maiden name was Abrams.  She had a large family of 
children by her first husband, of whom Col. Robert Walker, 
well known as a spy in the Allegheny valley during the long 
period of Indian hostility, was one. He subsequently became 
a settler in what is now Boggs township.

  Our subject, John Calhoun, was born in Armstrong township, 
Indiana county, January 16, 1784.  In his youth his parents 
moved to the region now known as Boggs township, Armstrong 
county, and he of course accompanied them.  He purchased a 
tract of land in that township and improved it.  In 1806 he 
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Anthony, with 
whom he continued to reside upon his original purchase until 
the spring of 1814, when he sold it. He immediately bought 
another tract in Wayne township, south of the site of 
Dayton, to which he moved in the spring of 1815.  He lived 
upon this farm until the spring of 1839, in the meantime, 
September 1, 1827, losing his wife.  His final removal was 
to a fine body of land in the northwestern part of Wayne 
township, about seven miles from Dayton, which he purchased 
from Gen. Robert Orr.  To this place his children by his 
first marriage and his second wife, Catharine Marshall, whom 
he had married January 1, 1828, went with him.  Her death 
occurred upon April 26, 1865.  Mr. Calhoun department this 
life ten years later, in his ninety-first year.

  In his early years Mr. Calhoun was a great hunter, and in 
his old age he delighted in relating reminiscences of 
adventure in that sport, which was the pioneer's chief means 
of relaxation from arduous toil.  He had learned the 
carpenter's trade, but his occupation throughout life was 
farming.  He was a man of sturdy character, of great 
usefulness to the people around him, widely known and 
universally respected.  He held office during a large 
portion of his active life.  Upon August 30, 1811, he was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and upon March 30, 1813, 
captain of militia, by Gov. Snyder.  He was commissioned by 
Gov. Heister in 1822 as justice of the peace for district 
No. 7, composed of Plum Creek and Wayne townships, a 
position which he filled for many years.  In 1840 he was 
appointed and commissioned associate judge of Armstrong 
county, serving out the unexpired term of an incumbent of 
the office removed by death.  In 1842 he was commissioned to 
the same office for a full term by Gov. D. R. Porter, and 
again appointed by Gov. Shunk in 1848.  He gave the utmost 
satisfaction in this and other offices which he held.  
Politically he was a democrat and a life-long adherent of 
the party, taking a deep interest in its success and the 
measures which tended toward it.  He was one of the founders 
of the Glade Run and the Concord Presbyterian churches, and 
served as an elder in each.  He was a man of strong and 
practical religious tendencies and exerted a valuable 
influence in the community.

  The children of John and Elizabeth (Anthony) Calhoun, with 
the dates of their respective births, were as follows:  Noah 
A., born December 26, 1806; William J., July 22, 1809; Mary 
(Ritchey), January 15, 1812; Nancy (Porter), September 18, 
1814; James R., March 25, 1817; Sarah (wife of James 
Calhoun), October 4, 1819; Samuel S. N., March 22, 1823, and 
John K., February 26, 1825.  Of these, all are deceased 
except Noah A., James R. and Samuel S. N.   The first and 
last named of these three live upon the old farm, Samuel S. 
N. having the homestead place, and James R., having retired 
from active farming, lives in Dayton.  All of the daughters 
married farmers, and all of the sons followed farming, 
except John K., who was an attorney.

  When quite young, this son went to Kittanning to obtain an 
academical education.  He studied law in the office of Judge 
Buffington, and was admitted to practice December 18, 1850, 
upon motion of Hon. Thomas White.  He soon exhibited unusual 
talent, and rose rapidly in his profession.  In 1856 he was 
elected, upon the Democratic ticket, to represent Armstrong 
county in the legislature, and served during the session of 
1856-7.  By re-election he became a member of the 
legislature of 1857-8.  When the war broke out he took a 
deep interest in the success of the Unionists, and was 
elected captain of a Kittanning company of militia or 
emergency men.  While attending court in Pittsburgh in the 
fall of 1863, he fell ill with what proved to be typhoid 
fever, from which his death resulted upon December 5 of that 
year.  He was deeply lamented by his professional colleagues 
and a wide circle of friends, who appreciated his ability 
and sterling, manly qualities.

  By his second marriage John Calhoun had one child, a 
daughter, Elizabeth - Anthony - born October 30, 1830.

  The grandchildren of John Calhoun number fifty-seven.  Of 
this number three have studied divinity, three law, four 
medicine, and six were in the war for the Union.  The names 
of the latter were:  Ephraim, son of James R. Calhoun, 
killed in the battle of the Wilderness; James Robert, son of 
William J. Calhoun, who died in the hospital at Wheeling, 
West Virginia; William D. Porter, John A. Ritchey, John A. 
and John C. Calhoun.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 6.4 Kb