JAMES M. DUVALL was born November 24, 1839, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. He is a grandson of Jacob and Jane (Patterson) Duvall, who were natives of Maryland and descended from Irish ancestry. They came to Washington county, Penn., many years ago, where the following children were born to them: Mary, widow of Moses Billingsley, of California, Penn.; Harriet, widow of Robert Duvall, of Illinois; Samantha, wife of Lewis J. Weaver, a farmer of East Pike Run township; Jefferson, a resident of East Pike Run township, and eight others who are now deceased. The parents died in East Pike Run township. Alexander Duvall was born in 1810, on the home farm in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his youth under the parental roof. He was married to Jemima Hannon, who was born in 1809, and they were the parents of seven children, namely: Henry, a farmer of Fayette county, Penn.; Jacob, an agriculturist of Allen township, Washington county; James M., of whom a sketch follows; Jefferson, a farmer of East Pike Run township; Isabella, wife of Jacob Crow, now of Madison county, Iowa; Mary M., wife of Isaac W. Richards, and Julia, married to William H. Jackman, a farmer of East Pike Run township. The father of this family died in 1884, and in 1887 the mother passed away. They were members of the M. E. Church. James M. Duvall was reared and educated on the home place, and on April 10, 1865, was united in marriage with Martha A. Crow, who was born in 1846, in Allen township, this county, daughter of Azariah and Sarah A. (Murphy) Crow, both natives of Washington county, Penn., where the father has followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Crow have had six children, namely: Jacob, John, Martha A. (wife of James M. Duvall), Jane (married to Theodore Jackman), Benjamin, and one deceased in infancy. The father of this family is now farming in Howell county, Missouri. To the union of James M. and Martha (Crow) Duvall have been born two children, viz.: Alva J. and Minnie M., wife of Eli Harmal, a farmer of East Pike Run township. James M. Duvall is a very progressive, energetic citizen, and is an active member of the Republican party. He has served three terms as township assessor, two as constable, and has been school director for about fourteen years. Socially he is a member of the American Master Mechanics, Lodge No. 371, at Coal Centre, Penn. The home place, a well-improved farm, is situated two miles northwest of Coal Centre.

Text taken from page 1357 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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