ROBERT W. CRISWELL. Perhaps there is no better-known citizen and farmer in Hanover township than the gentleman whose name opens this sketch. He is the son of William, whose father was George Criswell. The latter was a native of western Maryland, and in early days came west in company with two brothers to find a suitable place for locating. His two brothers selected Venango county, Penn., and George settled near Canonsburg, Washington Co., Penn., where he married, and reared a family of six children, namely: Robert, lived to an adult age and died in Hanover township; William, of whom further mention is made; John, a carpenter by trade, died in Canonsburg when a young man; James, lived in Guernsey county, Ohio, and died near Cambridge, and two daughters, whose names are not given. The parents died in Cecil township, this county, where their latter days were passed. Very little is known concerning them, as they died when the children were young. William Criswell was born August 25, 1792, near Canonsburg, Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn. The "battle of life" began rather early with the members of this family, who met with many rebuffs. William was desirous of earning an honest living, and deciding to learn a trade, signed articles of agreement with an old hatter in Canonsburg, with whom he completed his trade, and worked there a short time afterward. In 1817 he came to Briceland's Cross Roads, now known as Florence. The place then contained only four houses, and here he began a prosperous business for himself. About 1819 he was married to Sarah Lyle, who bore him the following children: Maria (deceased wife of Jackson McClelland), William (deceased, a hatter by trade) and Harriet (married to Mahlon S. Stokes, of Beaver, Penn., now living at Bryn Mawr, a beautiful suburb of Philadelphia, Penn.). The mother died, and in 1837 Mr. Criswell married for his second wife Sarah, daughter of Robert Wallace, who bore him two children, Robert W. and Sarah A. (Mrs. R. S. Work, of Florence). After his location in Florence, Mr. Criswell devoted his entire time to his trade, and being an expert mechanic, work was plenty. In 1855 he abandoned his trade and began farming upon a small piece of land, which he had previously bought, lying a short distance west of Florence, and making two additional purchases, soon owned a pleasant place. In 1865 he returned to Florence, and led a retired life until his death, which occurred June 1, 1881. His remains were laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery, by the side of his wife who had passed away in about 1854. Prior to 1832 Mr. Criswell was a Democrat. About that time Andrew Jackson took part in a duel, which incident served to change the political views of Mr. Criswell, and he joined the Whigs, remaining with them until the Republican party was formed, when he joined their forces, and remained one of their number until his death. Robert W. Criswell, whose name opens this sketch, was born December 7, 1838, on the same farm in Hanover township where he is now living. His boyhood days were passed in farm work and carpentry, of which he had secured a general knowledge. His early education was received in the common schools, afterward attending a short time at the high school. On September 13, 1861, he enlisted at Florence, in Company A, Eighty-fifth Regiment, P. V. I. He first went to Washington, Penn., thence to Washington, D. C.; and was for some time at Camp Good Hope, on the east branch of the Potomac river, assisting there in the construction of fortifications. In 1862 he was with Gen. McClellan, along the Peninsula, and at the close of the Peninsular campaign, Companies A and F were detached, and sent to Point Lookout for guard duty at the hospital near the mouth of the Potomac river. In January, 1863, he rejoined his regiment at New Berne, N. C.; in February went to South Carolina, taking part in the siege of Charleston, and capture of Fort Sumter and Morris Island. He was wounded May 31, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, having also participated in the battles of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. In April, 1864, was returned to the army of the Potomac, taking part in the later operations around Petersburg. He was detailed at Portsmouth, Va., October, 1864, on the "first exchange of 10,000," and received an honorable discharge December 22, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Penn., having served the full time from the date of his enlistment, and having taken no furloughs. He returned to his native county, and on May 4, 1865, was married to Harriet L. Tucker, born in 1841, the third daughter of David and Sarah (Watt) Tucker, of Hanover township. Mr. and Mrs. Criswell have had two children: John T. and Sarah B., both of whom are living at home. Their parents first located on the farm where they are now residing, which is one-quarter of a mile west of Florence, this county. In 1873 they moved to Allegheny City, Penn., where he worked at car- building in the P. Ft. W. & C. R. R. shops, then entered the employ of the Allegheny Car & Transportation Company at Wilkinsburgh and Swissvale. He then returned to Hanover township, this county, and for some time lived with his father-in-law, David Tucker, entering into a partnership with Resin C. Tucker in carpentering and contracting. In April, 1876, he again located on the home place in Hanover township, where he has since resided, devoting his attention to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Criswell is a fine conversationalist and well posted on current topics, having an excellent and retentive memory. In politics he is one of the leading advisers and counselors of the Republican party, having served as assessor, and was a census enumerator of the Eleventh District. Mr. Criswell is also a member of the Capt. Campbell Post, No. 286, Burgettstown, G. A. R. He is one of the most active members of Tucker's M. E. Church, holding several important offices, and is one of the substantial workers of the congregation.

Text taken from page 21 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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