ALBERT R. COLWELL traces his genealogy to his grandfather, James, who was the first of his family to locate in America. James CoIwell was born, reared and married in Ireland. Emigrating to America, he located near Paris, in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn. In the midst of the forest his cabin was erected, and he passed the remainder of his life as a ''tiller of the soil.'' He and his wife died, and were buried in the Paris cemetery. James CoIwell was a prominent man, highly respected by all, and was elected squire by the Democratic party, of which he was an enthusiastic supporter. The children of his family were as follows: Samuel, whose life was passed on the home farm; William lived in Carroll county, Ohio; Joseph resided in Hanover township, this county; Elizabeth married Matthew Russell, of Hanover township; Thomas; Jane, Mrs. Parks; Andrew; Robert and James. All are now deceased. Andrew Colwell was born in 1808 on the farm where his father located on coming to this county. His active, energetic spirit became apparent from childhood, and when a young man he took charge of the home farm, which prospered under his care. In 1835 he married Isabella McGonnigle, who was born about 1811, in Hanover township. She was the daughter of William McGonnigle, a native of Ireland, who was there married, and coming to America located in Maryland, and came to Hanover township about the beginning of the present century. Five children were born to Andrew and Isabella Colwell, namely: Robert, residing in Brooke county, W. Va.; James, of Newton county, Mo.; Albert R., our subject; William H., living in Brooke county, W. Va.; and Martha E., Mrs. John Freshwater, of Toronto, Ohio. After his marriage Andrew CoIwell continued to reside on the old farm until 1854, when he went to Hancock county, W. Va. Beginning life with little capital, he improved every opportunity, and at the time of his death owned over 400 acres of land in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He was among the first to engage extensively in the wool industry, in which he was very successful. Politically he was a Democrat until the time of Henry Clay's nomination for President, when he joined the Whig party, finally becoming a Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1870, and was buried in the cemetery at Paris, this county, where his wife was also laid to rest in 1880. Albert R. Colwell was born February 27, l842 in the old home in Hanover township, which he now owns. He attended the common schools of his Neighborhood, and worked on the farm until his enlistment, August 9, 1862, at Wellsburg, W. Va., in Company K, Twelfth West Virginia Infantry. His first active engagement was at Winchester, Va. He was wounded June 9, 1864, at New Market, having been shot through the side, aud was sent to the hospital at Martinsburgh, remaining there three months, then rejoined his regiment, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to Brooke county, W. Va. On May 29, 1577, he was married to Mary Criss, who was born in 1854, a daughter of Nicholas and Nancy (Wilson) Criss, of Hanover township. The young people first settled in Brooke county, W. Va., on a farm owned by his father, and in 1891 came to the old home place where he was born, and is now residing. Mr. CoIwell follows general farming, and is a leading agriculturist of Hanover township. In politics he votes the Republican ticket, but devotes his principal attention to private business. Mrs. CoIwell is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church of Eldersville, Penn. They have one daughter, Nancie Evelyn, who was born November 13, 1879.

Text taken from page 414 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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