JEFFERSON P. DUVALL. The Duvall family, of which the subject of these lines is a well-known member, has for many years been closely associated with the progress and improvement of Washington county. Alexander and Elizabeth Duvall were natives of Maryland, descended from French ancestors. They came to America many years ago and located on a farm in Washington county, Penn., where Alexander died at the age of eighty-five years. Of his children are named John, David, Jacob, Lewis, Eli, Jehu, Hiram and Elizabeth, all now deceased.
Jacob Duvall was born February 17, 1789, on the old home farm in Washington county, Penn., where he grew to manhood. In 1810 he was married to Jane Patterson, who was born January 29, 1797, and their children were Mary (wife of Moses Billingsley), Harriet (married to Robert Duvall, a resident of Appanoose county, Iowa), Samantha (wife of Lewis J. Weaver, a farmer of East Pike Run township), Jefferson P. (the subject of this sketch), Alexander, Harrison, Emily, Jane, Thomas, Ruth and two unnamed. Of this family are yet living Mary, Harriet, Samantha and Jefferson P. The father was a prominent agriculturist, and died in 1864, the mother having passed away ten years prior to his demise.
Jefferson P. Duvall was born April 10, 1830, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., and remained on the old place during his youth, securing a common-school education. In early life he learned and followed the trade of millwright, and then ran a gristmill near Coal Centre for several years. On July 27, 1851, he was united in marriage with Sarah Robison, who was born November 9, 1830, in West Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of Hiram Robison, who was born August 19, 1804, and when a young man was married to Sarah Zook, who was born June 22, 1803. They were the parents of twelve children, viz.: Thomas, Tyre, Sarah (Mrs. Duvall), Salem, Isaiah, Hannah (wife of Mark Eagye), John, John (deceased), Eliza (deceased), and three who died in infancy. The father, who was a farmer, died September 23, 1890; the mother was laid to rest November 24, 1882; both were members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. To the union of Jefferson P. and Sarah (Robison) Duvall the following children have been born: Thomas; Jane, wife of Allen J. White; Melissa, wife of John B. Carson; Jacob; Hiram; Ellsworth, and Harrison and Jefferson (twins). Mr. Duvall owns a good farm of one hundred acres, with good improvements thereon, and the place among the old settlers is known as the old Bedall homestead. Mr. Duvall owns 186 acres in another tract in East Pike Run township. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as school director. He is a charter member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 461, Coal Centre, and holds the office of junior warden; his first membership in the Fraternity was in 1862 at Brownsville, Penn. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.
Text taken from page 488 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]