Bios: WILLIAM C. CHAMBERS: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    WILLIAM C. CHAMBERS,
    
    [p. 121] ex-postmaster and a leading grocer of Mt. Jackson, North Beaver,
  township was born in the same township in which he now makes his residence
  March 20, 1841, and is a son of John H. and Mary (Davidson) Chambers, and
  grandson of William and Mary (Hazlett) Chambers. Our subject's grandparents
  were both born, brought up and married in County Down, Ireland; they came to
  America to seek a new home and better their fortunes in 1812, and settled
  directly after their arrival on the shores of the New World in North Beaver
  township. He built the first house in Mt. Jackson and gave the location that
  name. Mr. Chambers purchased 220 acres of unimproved timber land, and soon
  after took steps to build a structure that should house them temporarily, and
  to clear and prepare the land, so as to provide their daily food from the
  resulting crops. He was active and progressive and at his death he left a
  good farm, well-improved, cleared, and provided with excellent buildings,
  adequate to the needs of the farm. He reached the age of seventy-five years,
  and left behind him a splendid record for honorable dealings, and noble life.
  His wife was called to her home to enjoy the reward that comes after a life
  well spent, at the age of sixty-five. Their children were: Samuel; Robert;
  Isabella; Alexander; James; John H.; Elizabeth; Mary; and William.
    
    John H. Chambers followed farming all his days, and accumulated a good
  property; he was a sturdy and industrious tiller of the soil, and a very
  practical man in his agricultural methods. In political belief, he clung to
  the principles advocated by the Democratic party. He was a member of the
  United Presbyterian Church since early manhood, and died in the faith of a
  future resurrection at the age of seventy-one. His wife Mary, who is still
  living, was born Oct. 20, 1820, and was a daughter of William Davidson, of
  County Down, Ireland, who came to America in 1837, and settled on a farm in
  North Beaver township. The children who composed the parental family were:
  Margaret; William C., our subject; Mary Jane; Isabella; James, who died in
  his youth; John D.; Samuel J.; Lizzie B.; Joseph E.; George; and Rebecca. Six
  of the foregoing family are living to-day.
    
    William C. Chambers assisted his father on the farm until April 26, 1861,
  when he enlisted for the defense of his country in the Mt. Jackson Guard,
  later known after it had been mustered into the U. S. service as Battery B,
  First Pa. Light Artillery, and served three years to a day; he was slightly
  wounded in the Second Bull Run and Spottsylvania Court House. He is a member
  of Post No. 100, of New Castle, G. A. R. and is also a member of the Union
  Veteran Legion, so as to keep in close touch with his comrades of the late
  war, and in banded union to assist in commemorating in a fitting manner the
  noble sacrifice of those who were not so fortunate as they, but who gave up
  their lives and their all in the defense of the Union. The war being over, he
  returned home and followed farming assiduously until October, 1885, when he
  was appointed postmaster, which position he has since acceptably and
  honorably filled, besides serving one year as a constable. In his mercantile
  establishment he carries a full line of groceries, confectionery and tobacco,
  and enjoys a liberal patronage from his neighbors and fellow-citizens. Mr.
  Chambers lives in a comfortable residence of his own in Mt. Jackson. He is a
  liberal giver to all enterprises which are calculated to benefit the
  community or the country at large, and has never been known to turn a deaf
  ear to true charity. He has, by his energy and perseverance, made himself
  what he is, and is recognized as one of the foremost business men as well as
  respected and honored citizens of Mt. Jackson.