[p. 596] general farmer, residing about eight miles south of New Castle, on his fine estate of ninety-one acres, in Big Beaver Township, was born in December, 1860, in Erie County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Martha (Blackwood) Boggs.
The paternal grandfather, Jacob Boggs, died on his farm in Ireland. His widow, Isabella (Forest) Boggs, subsequently came to America, where a number of her children settled. John Boggs, father of Jacob R., was sixteen years old when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean and joined a married sister who was living in New York. He remained with his brother-in-law for some years, assisting the latter in his shoe store, but later went to Erie, Pa., where he married and bought a farm. His wife had also been born in Ireland. In 1872 they came to Lawrence County, where the father purchased the farm in Big Beaver Township, on which Jacob R. resides, living in the log house then standing, until it was destroyed by fire. He then erected the commodious frame residence which his son occupies. Both he and wife died on this farm. They had six children, namely: Jacob, James and Margaret, the latter residing with her elder brother, and three who died in infancy.
Jacob R. Boggs was about eighteen years of age when his parents came to Big Beaver Township, and as he was the oldest son, a large amount of the work and responsibility for the comfort of his parents and development of the farm fell on him. In 1891 he was married to Mary Blackwood, who died in 1898, leaving three children: Ethel L., born May 1, 1893; Oliver B., born May 9, 1895, and John J., born August 14, 1898.
Mr. Boggs has remained on the present farm ever since he came here in youth. It is excellent land and he has it under a fine state of cultivation. He is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in which he is a deacon.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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