THEODORE F. BURGAN, son of John Burgan, was born December 12, 1844. His grandfather, James Burgan, was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn., and was there married to Elizabeth Smock, who was born in the same county. Eleven children was the result of this union, of whom the living members are Joseph (residing in Washington, Penn.), Matthias (an agriculturist of Somerset township) and John (whose sketch is given below). James Burgan followed farming all his life, and died at the age of sixty-five years on the place now occupied by his grandson, Theodore. His widow passed away on the same farm in her eighty-fourth year. John Burgan was born February 27, 1808, in Westmoreland county, Penn., and received his early education in the subscription schools of the period, and afterward came with his parents to the farm in Washington county, where he is now living. In 1834 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Huffman, who was born December 26, 1812, in Washington county, Penn., a daughter of Latimer and Mary (Kelly) Huffman, early settlers of Pennsylvania, who reared a family of fifteen children, two of whom are yet living, Elizabeth (Mrs. Burgan) and Cassandra (widow of Joseph Taylor, living in Monongahela City, Penn.); the father was a farmer and stock dealer; he died at the age of forty-nine years; his widow in her eighty-first year. John and Elizabeth (Huffman) Burgan were the parents of the following children: Mary A. (wife of Harrison Long, a merchant of Vanceville, this county), born August 25, 1838; Keturah L., born October 20, 1842; Theodore F., (the subject of this biography); Elizabeth J. (living at home), born October 19, 1846; John W., born December 19, 1848; Clarinda (residing at home), born February 8, 1850; Sarah J. (wife of William Wright, a farmer of Somerset township), born March 21, 1855; Emily and James L. (both deceased), and one that died in infancy. John Burgan has always followed agricultural pursuits, giving considerable attention to stock raising. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church. Theodore F. Burgan grew to manhood on the home farm, and on December 13, 1889, was united in marriage with Jane McDonough, who was born December 25, 1859, in this county, daughter of Henry and Mary (Smith) McDonough. Mr. and Mrs. Burgan are members of the Disciple Church in Vanceville, this county; in his political opinions he votes the Republican ticket, and is actively interested in the success of his party. They are living on the home farm with his parents.

Text taken from page 1088 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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