JONATHAN CAESBER, JR., was born September 17, 1821, in North Strabane township, this county, a grandson of Jonathan Caesber who was born in 1750 in the State of Delaware. In 1774 the grandfather came to Washington county, Penn., and here purchased a farm where he died in 1839. In the war of 1812 he furnished the United States Government with the last pack horses used at that time. In religion he was a Methodist. John Caesber (son of Jonathan the pioneer) was born in 1794, in Nottingham township, this county. He was a physician, devoting his entire life to that profession. In October, 1820, he was united in marriage with Hannah Holland, who was born in Allegheny county, Penn., in 1800, and five children were born to them, of whom two are yet living: John and Jonathan. The father died February 3, 1833, and in 1867 Mrs. Caesber entered the "valley of the shadow." Jonathan Caesber, Jr., attend school in the home district, and was but twelve years of age when his father died. The fatherless boy, being thus early thrown on his own resources, worked on a farm four or five years, and completed his education. At the age of seventeen he began teaching a subscription school, following that vocation eighteen years; at the same time he owned a store and shoe shop. He finally learned the shoemaker business, to which he has devoted his later years. On May 30, 1844, he married Elizabeth Yant (who was born in 1822 in this county), and they have had sic children, three of whom are deceased. Those yet living are Carrie H., Elizabeth B., and Frederick Y. Caesber. In 1838 Mr. Caesber was appointed postmaster at Munntown, and served in that office until 1876, when he opened a shoe store and boarding house in Washington borough. In 1883, he retired to his present home, consisting of four acres of excellent land, situated near the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and affording him a comfortable income. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and has served several years as school director and four terms as justice of the peace, which office he is yet holding. He was to old to enter the Civil war, but has ever been identified with the best interest of the county. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 930 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Wilbur Frye of Pacifica, 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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