Westmoreland County PA Archives Biographies.....Chambers, Preston ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 12, 2018, 11:10 pm Source: See Below Author: See Below PRESTON CHAMBERS. An enterprising citizen, a model farmer and a successful business man of Unity township is Preston Chambers, who has been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and is one of the leading men of Pleasant Unity. He is a son of John and Mary (Hartzell) Chambers and was born at Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland county, Pa. The Chambers family has been prominent in Westmoreland county for nearly a century and is of Scotch-Irish descent. John Chambers (grandfather) was born in York, this State, where he married Leah Hartzell and in 1793 settled at Pleasant Unity, he was an active business man and erected a woolen mill which he operated successfully during his lifetime. He had seven children: William, John, Elizabeth, George, Rev. Joseph, a Presbyterian minister, who died at Wooster, Ohio; Daniel and Mary. John Chambers (father) was born at Pleasant Unity in 1803. He learned the trade of tanner and owned and operated a large tannery successfully for many years. In connection with his tannery he owned and managed two farms which were situated near Pleasant Unity. In all business matters he was straight-forward, accurate and honorable. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a man much respected by all who knew him. He was punctual in all of his business engagements, prompt in the discharge of every duty devolving upon him and reliable in the performance of whatever he agreed to do. He was an old-line whig in politics until the formation of the Republican party when he became a member of that organization. He died in 1872, aged sixty-nine years and was missed in a community where his life had been one of activity and usefulness. He married Mary Hartzell, a daughter of George Hartzell. They were the parents of four children: William L., Matilda, Preston and Daniel. Preston Chambers received his education in the common schools and Sewickley academy. Leaving school he engaged in farming which he has pursued ever since. In connection with his farming for the last fifteen years he has been successfully engaged in selling agricultural implements. He owns one of the best farms in the county. It contains over one hundred acres of land adjoining Pleasant Unity. He is a remarkably neat farmer, keeps everything in the best of order and raises large crops of grain and grass. Preston Chambers is a stanch republican in polities. He is a member and trustee and treasurer of Pleasant Unity Presbyterian church. On May 30, 1865 he married Lizzie, daughter of Thomas Carpenter of Allegheny county, Pa. To their union have been born four children, two sons and two daughters: Hermie M., J. Clarence C., Orr C. and Maggie B. Preston Chambers' attractive property adjoins the prosperous and stirring town of Pleasant Unity and in all respects is one of the most desirable residence properties in the county. Its surroundings are very line, affording healthfulness of location, accessibility to railroad and convenience of schools, churches, stores and every comfort desirable. He has a beautiful home where he is ever glad and ready to warmly greet his many friends and where he and his estimable wife and accomplished daughters, by their cheerfulness and kindness, make all who visit them full welcome and happy. Additional Comments: Extracted from Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co. Samuel T. Wiley, Chief Assistant 1890 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb