20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

ROBERT PEEBLES,

[p. 696] a surveyor by profession and a prominent farmer and stockraiser, has a fine farm of 300 acres in Scott Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1830, and is a son of William and Sarah (Patterson) Peebles.

William Peebles was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1794, and there learned the trade of a weaver. While still a young man he came to America and for some time followed his trade in the city of Philadelphia. He later came west to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and still later to Scott Township, Lawrence, County, then known as Slippery Rock Township. He bought a 114-acre timber tract, which he cleared and improved, and there followed farming the remainder of his days. He was united in marriage with Sarah Patterson, also a native of Ireland, who was twelve years of age when brought by her parents to America. They located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where she grew up and received an education in the district schools. Nine children were born to bless this union as follows: Robert, James, Nancy, deceased; John, deceased; Eliza, George, deceased; William, deceased; Thomas and Sarah. Mr. Peebles was a Whig in politics and, religiously, was long a member of the Covenant Church.

Robert Peebles was reared in Scott Township, and after completing the course of study in the district schools engaged in teaching in that township for thirteen years. He also learned the profession of surveying, which he still follows in connection with agricultural pursuits. He has a fine farm of 300 acres, on which he has made most of the improvements and a part of which he cleared of timber. He has followed stockraising to a large extent, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle. A man of great energy and superior business capabilities, his success has been above the ordinary.

July 15, 1858, Mr. Peebles was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock with Miss Margaret Brown, who was born in Harlansburg, Scott Township, and has resided in this vicinity all her life. She is a daughter of James Brown, Sr., who was born in Ireland and became a settler in Lawrence County at a very early period, acquiring a farm of 100 acres in Scott Township, which he cleared and improved. He was united in marriage with Mrs. Dorcas (Wilken) Elder, who was born near Philadelphia, and was the widow of William Elder, whose death resulted from an accident. Mr. Peebles and his wife became parents of four children, namely: James, William, Sarah Jane, deceased, and Hannah, wife of Rev. James A. McDonald. Mr. Peebles has resided at his present place ever since his marriage. He is an ardent Prohibitionist in politics, and is a member and elder of the United Presbyterian Church. He has ever evinced an earnest interest in all that relates to the development and prosperity of his home community, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens to a marked degree.


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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Updated: 26 Nov 2001