M. H. BORLAND, a leading stock raiser and prominent agriculturist of Cecil township, is a son of Cornelius Borland. His grandfather, Matthew Borland, was born in County Down, Ireland, and about 1790, while in early manhood, immigrated to America, first locating in Allegheny county, Penn. He married Margaret Connor, a native of Upper St. Clair township, where the young people began their married life. In 1829 they moved to South Fayette township, Allegheny county, where their lives were ended. He was an active participant in the Whiskey Insurrection. Politically he was a Democrat and afterward a Whig, and in religion was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He died in 1842, his wife in 1837. Cornelius Borland was born June 10, 1806, on the home place in Upper St. Clair township, Allegheny county. In June, 1836, he married Rebecca Kelso, who was born in 1816, in South Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn. The young people first located on the old homestead, afterward moved to North Fayette township, and in April, 1846, bought 204 acres of land in Cecil township, upon which they settled. This tract was originally patented by Edward Cheese, who disposed of his right to Mrs. Kerr, who sold it to Arthur Long, who afterward sold it to Dr. Riddile, and Mr. Borland finally purchased it from the heirs of the last-named owner. To Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Borland the following children were born: M. H. , Martha M. (wife of David Reed, of Smith township), Margaret C. (Mrs. Vincent McBride, of Canton township), Mary E. (wife of James A. Little, of Cecil township), Agnes R. (wife of Andrew R. Paxton, of Savannah, Ohio), Andrew C. (who married Amanda R. Stevenson, is living on the old homestead), and John K. (also living on the home farm). The father was a colonel in the State militia for seven years, and was actively interested in the political questions of Allegheny county. He and his wife were formerly members of the Associate Reformed Church at Robinson's Run, afterward uniting with the U. P. Church at Venice, this county. He died in 1872, aged sixty-seven years. His widow is yet residing on the old home farm. M. H. Borland was born August 27, 1837, in Upper St. Clair township, Allegheny Co., Penn. When nine years of age he came with his parents to Cecil township, Washington county, and there received a district-school education. On July 6, 1875, Mr. Borland was united in marriage with Mattie Miller, a native of Canonsburg, this county, a daughter of Reed and Martha (Fergus) Miller, natives of Washington county, and residents of Canonsburg. The father was born in 1817 and died in 1873; the mother died in 1851. After marriage, our subject and his wife settled on the farm of 157 acres where they are now living, and which is situated on Miller's run. Mr. Borland has made many improvements, and has erected a pleasant new residence and other buildings. The proprietors of the Ridgeway Bishop Coal Company have bought twenty acres of Mr. Borland's farm, which already has railroad facilities, making it easy of access to Pittsburgh. In August, 1862, Mr. Borland enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-third P. V. I., for a term of nine months, and was assigned to the army of the Potomac, taking part in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He received an honorable discharge in May, 1863, at Harrisburg, Penn., and returned to his farm in Cecil township. In politics he votes with the Republican party; he has been justice of the peace several years; has served in various other positions, and was secretary of the school board for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Borland are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Venice, this county. They have six children: John M., Agnes R., Matthew H., Anna M., Ida M. and Rose E.

Text taken from page 734 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County,PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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