[p. 667] a leading citizen and prosperous farmer of Wayne Township, was born in this township, then known as North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, January 27, 1845. He is a son of John M. and Sarah (Ward) Hennon, both natives of Wayne Township, and a grandson of Joseph Hennon.
Joseph Hennon, the grandfather, came to Wayne Township in 1796, from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and was a native of Ireland. He settled upon 175 acres, which has been in the family ever since, and of this William C. now owns and resides upon eighty-seven and one-half acres. This hardy pioneer was accompanied by a brother, Abel, who also located a farm in the vicinity. Joseph and his wife, Margaret, were parents of the following children: Thomas, George, John, Mary, Ruth and Rebecca.
John M. Hennon was born on the home farm in Wayne Township, in May, 1809, and lived thereon until his death in 1887, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was united in marriage with Sarah Ward, who was born in Wayne Township in 1813, and died in 1849, at the age of thirty-six years. The following children were born to them: Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Ralph Reed; Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas R. Jones and they reside at Hazeldell, Lawrence County; Albertina married Milton Moore and resides at Barleyville, Kan.; Theodore Sylvester died at the age of twelve years; Angelina married Thomas Patterson and moved to Iowa, where both died; Sarah Amanda, who was the wife of O. P. Cunningham died at Chewton; William Cicero; Joseph S., who resides on a part of the old home farm, and Dorothy Lawrence, wife of P. Y. Newton. Mr. Hennon was a Democrat in politics and served many years as justice of the peace.
William C. Hennon was born on the home farm and received a good education in the public schools. At an early age he learned the trade of a carpenter and brickmason, and for a period of twenty years followed both trades with much success. Endowed with superior native ability, anything in the line of mechanics is easily mastered by him. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army as a member of Company I, Sixty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and participated in numerous important engagements. He was mustered in at New Brighton, Pa., and continued in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out at Philadelphia July 3, 1865.
William C. Hennon was first married in 1867, to Miss Nancy Jane Newton, by whom he had four children, as follows: Lizzie Loretta, deceased, wife of William P. Guy, had four children, Jennie, Maud E., Cassie and Nellie; John Newton, who died at the age of twenty-five years, was an electrician and was employed in Manila, P. I., at a salary of $245 per month; Joseph E. died in infancy, and Abbie M. married Charles Nye, both of whom died, leaving two children, John Howard and Bertha Marshall. Mrs. Hennon died in 1878. Mr. Hennon formed a second marital union with Miss Adeline Price, by whom he has seven children: Cora J., who lives at Hazeldell, married Peter Solsberg, and has a son, Harold, and a daughter, Agnes; William Charles resides in Youngstown, and Mary Agnes, Clarence L., Ola E., Minme M. and Pearl E. Mr. Hennon is a Democrat, and although he has never aspired to office, was elected township assessor, serving six terms in that capacity. Religiously, he has been a member of Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church since 1865. In fraternal affiliation he is an Odd Fellow.
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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