[p. 1009] a well known citizen and successful farmer of North Beaver Township, who resides on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated just off the Mount Jackson-New Galilee Road, three miles west of Moravia, was born on the old John Chambers farm, October 29, 1868, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Rankin) Chambers.
John Chambers was born in County Down, Ireland, a son of James Chambers, who brought his wife and infant son to America and settled on the land in North Beaver Township which has descended as a legacy to his grandson, Thomas H. In 1819 this land was covered with forest and the Chambers family endured many hardships as pioneers, but from that time to the present this family has been one of the representative ones of this section. When John Chambers grew to manhood he continued the improving and cultivating of this land and died on his farm in February, 1894, aged eighty years. He married Mary A. Rankin, who was also born in County Down, Ireland, and was a daughter of Samuel Rankin, who died in Canada, after the family had crossed the ocean and was on its way to the United States. Mrs. Chambers was fifteen years of age when she accompanied her mother to Lawrence County, where she subsequently married John Chambers. She died June 16, 1908, aged seventy-eight years. There were three children born to John Chambers and wife, namely: Mary Frances, who married Lee Miller; an unnamed infant; and Thomas H.
Thomas H. Chambers lived continuously on the John Chambers farm, which adjoins his own on the west, until 1895, with the exception of eighteen months, when he worked on the railroad and also with that exception has always been farmer. He married Etta May Calhoun, who was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and who is a daughter of Robert Calhoun. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have had four children, but have been bereaved of them all. John Lee died when eighteen months old. William Thomas died aged six months. May lived but one month, and the babe that came last did not survive long enough to receive a name. None survived to suffer the numerous pains and troubles of advanced life, and thus the memories of them are tender but not grievous. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers are valued members of Bethel United Presbyterian Church.
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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