[p. 775] who resides on a farm of 106 acres of land in Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is a venerable and respected citizen who experienced the hardships and privations of pioneer life in that community and witnessed the wonderful transformations time has wrought since that early day. He was born on his present farm March 21, 1828, and is a son of John and Margaret (Witherspoon) Witherspoon.
Samuel Witherspoon, grandfather of Samuel D., lived near the city of Philadelphia at the time of his death. His widow subsequently moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania, where she died. They were parents of a large family of children, among them, John, father of Samuel D., Margaret, who became the wife of N. Lusk; Mary, who was the wife of Hugh McKelvey; Jane was the wife of L. McVey; Nancy, wife of William Hogg, and Sarah.
John Witherspoon was born at Canonsburg, Washington County, Pa., in 1795, and when quite young moved to the woods of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He located on the present Gilkey farm, in what is now North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, and later moved to the farm now occupied by his son, Samuel D., in Little Beaver, which they purchased from the Government. He made a clearing and erected a round log cabin for his mother, and later a hewn log house for himself. He was united in marriage with his cousin, Margaret Witherspoon, who was born in Beaver County, near Frankfort, in 1800, and died in 1867. His death occurred in 1859. They were parents of the following children: Mary, who died at the age of thirteen years; Agnes, who was the wife of Wiliam H. Leslie, both now deceased; Eliza Jane, widow of James Leslie; Samuel Dobbins; William, who died young; John, deceased; David, who lives in Missouri; Mary Almira, who died young; John Hamilton, who married Catherine Johnson, both now deceased, and Thomas D., of North Beaver Township.
Samuel D. Witherspoon has spent most of his days on his present place. Being the oldest son, the task of clearing the land devolved largely upon him and his father. The woods abounded in game, and the condition and character of the houses, the manner of living and of harvesting crops were so vastly different from the present day as to be almost beyond the comprehension of the younger generation. Mr. Witherspoon attended the old schoolhouse in his home district, which was built of logs, and with ceiling so low the pupils could strike it with their fists. With the exception of a three-months' trip in the West, during 1858, he has been almost continuously located on his present farm, which he purchased of the heirs, upon the death of his mother in 1867. He erected a comfortable home in that year, and in 1885 built a large and substantial barn. He was a hard worker during his active career, thrifty and economical, and he laid by a competency which enables him to spend his declining years in the peace and comfort of retired life.
October 2, 1860, Mr. Witherspoon was united in marriage with Mary Douglass, daughter of William Douglass, and they became parents of five children: John, who died at four years; William D., who runs the home farm; John, who lives on an adjoining farm, married Maude E. Fox, and has two children-Mary Alice and Nancy Edith; Nancy Olive, and Margaret Elizabeth. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and served as a member of the School Board, as well as four years as supervisor. Religiously, he is a member of the 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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