The Archer Family, p. 964

THE ARCHER FAMILY. Samuel Archer was born in Scotland in 1745. He, with a number of others, left that country on account of religious persecutions, and went to Ireland, where he married Miss Nancy Thompson, about 1768.

In 1770 he, together with many others, emigrated to America, arriving in the fall of that year in Baltimore, at which place they separated, locating at different places. Mr. Archer seems to have had two bothers in the company who settled in separate localities. From different branches of the Archer family have sprung some of the eminent men of this country, who have occupied prominent positions in the national councils, they having occupied seats in Congress with credit to themselves and honor to their country. Mr. Archer, soon after landing in America, removed to Carlisle, Penn., and took a claim to a tract of land. While he was building a house on his land, which was some distance from the settlement, a heavy snowstorm filled the paths, and on his return in the evening he lost his way and remained in the woods all night; his feet were so badly frozen that amputation above the ankles became necessary. His faithful dog laid down on his knees, which prevented his limbs from further freezing, and perhaps saved his life. He was confined to his house some two years before his limbs were healed. About eight years after this occurrence he removed from Carlisle to Canonsburg, and about 1799 he removed to Brooke county, W. Va., to a farm lately owned by Samuel Hindman, now by Ross Wright, where he cultivated a nursery, being obliged to walk on his knees. His wife and two daughters died and were buried on that farm. Mr. Archer died about 1819, near Independence, Penn., and is buried in Mt. Hope Church cemetery.

Ebenezer Archer, son of Samuel Archer, was born about 1770, and came with his parents to Washington county, Penn., when young. In 1794 he married Miss Elizabeth Jordan, and removed to Brooke county, W. Va., in 1799, when he settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Roy Glass, his great-grandnephew, near the Eldersville road, about two miles east of Steubenville, Ohio. He died on that farm in 1814, and was buried in the Cross Creek United Presbyterian cemetery. Ebenezer Archer was a very exemplary man, of great piety, and a ruling elder in the Associate (or Seceder) Church; a strong friend of peace and a good neighbor.

Samuel Archer, son of Ebenezer Archer, was born near Canonsburg, Penn., July 11, 1795, and came with his parents to Brooke county, W. Va., when about four years old. In March, 1821, he married Miss Mary Lee, by which marriage he reared a family of six children five sons and one daughter their names being: Elizabeth, William Lee, Ebenezer, David Thompson, James and Samuel. In 1831 he bought the George Atkison farm, situated one-half mile from the river, directly east of Steubenville, Ohio, where he long resided and filled positions of honor and trust in his neighborhood. After residing for a time at Washington and Burgettstown, Penn., and at the home of his son, William L., he returned to the old homestead in Brooke county, W. Va., where he died at the home of his son James, August 14, 1887, at the advanced age of over ninety-two years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His first wife died May 1, 1851; his second wife, who was Mrs. Jane (Parkhill) McNary, of Jefferson county, Ohio, died in December, 1861.

WILLIAM LEE ARCHER, the principal subject of this sketch, was born in Brooke county, W. Va., April 15, 1824. When he grew to manhood he attended the academy in Holiday's Cove, W. Va., thus obtaining a liberal education. After assisting in conducting his father's business some years, his father settled him on one of the choicest farms in the neighborhood, where he now resides. After manfully, by his own exertion, freeing himself from debt, he rose to be one of the honored and successful business men of Jefferson township, and none more richly deserve the enviable reputation that they have won, than this representative citizen. On October 16, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Louisa, daughter of James Whiting, of Torrington, Litchfield Co., Conn., a representative of that famous family of Whitings whose history is inseparable with the early history of that State. Miss Whiting, with her early religious training and education, and New England culture and refinement, was eminently qualified to make their home what it is a "model home."

As a result of their union children have been born as follows: Mary A., born September 2, 1861, died March 7, 1865; Lizzie J., born August 26, 1863, died January 27, 1865; Nannie Lee, born November 25, 1865, died June 6, 1877; Harriet B., born May 2, 1871, and Susan C., born April 26, 1874; the latter two have been educated at the best institutions of learning in the country. Mr. Archer and his family, true to the faith of their Scotch-Irish ancestry, are members and supporters of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 964 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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