IRA BEBOUT, prominent in agricultural circles as a well-to-do farmer and successful stockraiser, is a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, born September 4, 1825, a son of Peter and Isabella (Cooper) Bebout. John Bebout, grandfather of Ira, was a native of Holland, whence, when a boy, he came to America with his parents, who made a settlement in New Jersey. Here John learned the trade of tanner, which, in connection with farming, he carried on in New Jersey and afterward in Washington county, Penn., for a period in all of some thirty years. In 1796 he came to this county, and purchased a tract of land (covering 300 acres) in what is now North Strabane township. At that time men never went abroad without their guns and a plentiful supply of ammunition. Here Mr. Bebout lived until he was seventy years of age, when lie moved to Mercer county, Penn., and there died. He was a member of Dr. McMillan's Church (Presbyterian), and while in New Jersey was an elder in the church there. As a Revolutionary soldier he served under Gen. Washington, rising from the ranks to a ca1itaiiicy, aud receiving a pension. He was the father of nine children, William, Sarah, Peter, Susan, Elizabeth, Israel, Ira, John and Mary. Peter Bebout was born in New Jersey in 1776, and was twenty-one years old when he first came to this county. In 1804 he moved to Ohio, where lie took up a piece of wild land which he cleared and cultivated and lived on until 1830, when he returned to this county and settled in North Strabane township, taking a portion of the home place his father had bought, and which he materially helped to improve. He died in 1859. Mr. Bebout was twice married, first to Betsey Kinney, who bore him children as follows: John, William, James, Levi, Peter, Israel, Sarah and Elizabeth. The mother of this family dying, Mr. Bebout married Isabelle, daughter of Joshua Cooper, of Jefferson county, Ohio, and the children of this marriage were Mary (Mrs. William Hays), Susan (Mrs. William Bebout), Ira (our subject), Margaret (Mrs. Cephas Cochran), David, Isabel (Mrs. John Crouch), Stephen (deceased), Joshua, Caroline (Mrs. Joseph Maines), Jane and Hermon H. Bebout. In politics Mr. Bebout was a Democrat; in religious faith a Presbyterian. He served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, until the close of the struggle. Ira Bebout, after a thorough educational training at the common schools of his native district, settled down to regular agricultural pursuits on the old home place, and by his own unaided efforts made a success of all his undertakings, being a thoroughly representative self-made man, enterprising and progressive. He was twice married, first time October 6, 1856, to Mrs. Jane Hamilton (nee Hamilton), a native of Ireland, who came to the United States at the age of seventeen, and was married to Charles Hamilton, a second cousin, who died. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bebout were Isabella (Mrs. W. A. Patterson, who died August 20, 1892), Elmira (Mrs. William Scott), and Elmer, who married Jane Thomas, living in Hamilton county, Neb., where he carries on farming operations. This wife dying in October, 1884, Mr. Bebout married, for his second wife, Mrs. Anna Raney, of Nottingham township. Our subject, in his political preferences, was originally a Democrat, but since the outbreak of the Rebellion has allied himself with the Republican party. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Monongahela City, formerly of Dr. McMillan's Church, and of the U. P. Church at Munntown. He owns a fine residence on Main street, where be resides, renting his farms. He enjoys the confidence and respect of all.

Text taken from page 430 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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