Leamon J. Brownlee, p. 1080

LEAMON J. BROWNLEE, a highly esteemed and prominent young citizen of Hopewell township, is a representative of an old pioneer family, who have been potent factors in the affairs of Washington county for more than a hundred years. His grandfather, Archibald Brownlee, was the second son of James Brownlee. James Brownlee was of Scotch ancestry, his father having been born and reared in Scotland, where he (the father of James) was married to a Miss Hamilton, and reared children as follows: James, William, John, Archibald, Thomas, Jane (Mrs. John Allison), and Hugh (who died on the ocean). This family immigrated to America about the year 1765, first settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in 1775 made a permanent home in Canton Township, Washington county. The father was formerly a member of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, afterward becoming a Seceder.

James Brownlee was born January 4, 1745, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and after coming to America learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed several years in eastern Pennsylvania, then settled on a farm in Canton township, Washington county, where the remainder of his life was passed. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Jane Leman, a member of a pioneer family of Washington county, who had emigrated from Ireland. The following children were born to their union: John, born October 15, 1777; Archibald, born February 28, 1779; James, born September 27,1780; Hugh, born July 23, 1782; Elizabeth (Mrs. Daniel Brownlee), born May 17, 1784; William, born January 13, 1786; Thomas, born December 1, 1787; Samuel, born August 9, 1789; Joseph, born August 8, 1791; Jane (wife of Kenneth McCoy), born April 20, 1793; and David, born April 8, 1797. The home of Mr. Brownlee was situated two miles west of Washington borough. he was a member and ruling elder in the Seceder Church at North Buffalo, and in politics was a Whig. he died in 1822, and was buried beside his wife, who had preceded him.

Archibald Brownlee (grandfather of our subject) was born on the old National pike, three miles west of Washington. In early manhood he was married to Mary Clark, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who bore him children as follows: James, Joseph (who removed to Morrow county, Ohio), John, Clark (who moved to Morrow county, Ohio), Samuel, Elizabeth (wife of Dr. Hayes, of Taylorstown, this county) and Jane (married to a Mr. Shunk, a merchant of Morrow county, Ohio). Mr. Brownlee was an energetic man, and possessed much influence in his neighborhood. He served as justice of the peace, and was employed in various capacities as an authority in legal matters. In religion he was a member and ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church in Claysville, this county. He died in 1844, and his widow remained with her son Samuel until the time of her death, which occurred about 1863.

John Brownlee was born in 1807, in Chartiers township, this county, remaining on the home place during his boyhood. The family afterward removed to a farm two miles below Taylorstown, in Buffalo township, this county, where he remained until forty years of age. He was then united in marriage with Sarah E. Logan, and settled on a farm about two and a half miles south of West Middletown, in Hopewell township. His children were Newton (who died in early manhood), Jennie (wife of Dr. K. N. Bemis, of West Middletown, Pennsylvania), Alice (deceased), Leamon J., Frank S., and Harry H. (a resident of Claysville, this county). John Brownlee was a man of limited literary attainments, but possessed unusual intelligence and instinctive perception, combined with excellent judgment. He was of a retiring disposition, shrinking from publicity, but though reserved in common conversations, was fond of profiting by the wisdom of others, and among his friends became a genial, open-hearted man. He always attended church, and in the latter part of his life united with the United Presbyterian Society at West middletown. Being always an upright, God-fearing man, his life was governed by the dictates of his conscience rather than Church tenets. He was a successful business man, and accumulated considerable property. In politics he was a Republican. In 1887 he left his farm, removing to West Middletown where he died January 31, 1892, at an advanced age, never having required the services of a physician. His widow is residing in West Middletown with her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Bemis.

Leamon J. Brownlee, son of John and Sarah E. (Logan) Brownlee, was born Aprill 18, 1860, in Hopewell township, passing his boyhood on the farm, where he received a common-school education. He afterward attended the Commercial College at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then returning to the old homestead, engaged in farming. On October 18, 1888, he was united in marriage with Mary F. Scott, daughter of J. Finley and Margaret A. Scott, of Canton township. Immediately after their marriage the young people settled on the farm where they are now living, which is situated two and a half miles southeast of West Middletown. He has made many improvements upon the place, and has erected a handsome two-story modern dwelling, a large barn and other buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee have two bright little daughters: Nellie and Alice. Mr. Brownlee devotes his principal attention to wool growing and stock raising; in politics he is a Republican, but confines his political work to the ballot. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee are members of the United Presbyterian Church in West Middletown.

Text taken from page 1080 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Richard Singhaus of Carlsbad, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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