J. S. ESPEY. The Espey family were originally natives of Scotland, the pioneer settlers of the name having emigrated to America about the time of the Revolution, settling in Pennsylvania. James Espey, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born, in 1780, in Allegheny county, Penn., and was married to Jane Fife, who was born September 18, 1782, in the same county. The young people settled in the Upper St. Clair township, and always remained in their native county. James Espey was an active politician, and served as postmaster at Upper St. Clair, also as a justice of the peace. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1853, he was a member of the U. P. Church at St. Clair; his wife passed from earth in March, 1852.
James Espey was born July 23, 1815, in Allegheny county, Penn., and was reared and educated on the home farm. In 1838 he was married to Susan Sill, who was born March 7, 1816, in Westmoreland county, Penn. James and Susan Espey first located on a farm in Upper St. Clair township, Allegheny county, and in 1867 moved to a farm in Cecil township, this county, finally settling, in 1875, in Canonsburg. James Espey was actively interested in politics, and voted with the Whig party, serving some years as justice of the peace. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was ruling elder at Upper St. Clair, Cecil and Canonsburg. He died at the last mentioned place July 11, 1883; his widow is yet living in Canonsburg. They were the parents of the following children: Jane, married to Moses Hickman, of Cecil township, and died April 1, 1888; J. S., subject of our sketch; Ann Emeline, married to Joseph E. McCabe, of Peters township; James Thomas, living at Centreville, Washington Co., Penn., married to Millie Jones; Maria Margaret and Laura, both at Canonsburg. Laura was married to J. C. Bebout, near Canonsburg.
J. S. Espey (whose name opens these lines) was born July 16, 1841, in Allegheny county, Penn., and received his education in the district schools of that county. In April, 1861, he enlisted at Pittsburgh, Penn., in the three months' call for troops, and on July 4, 1861, reenlisted, this time for three years, or during the way, in Company H, Sixty-second P. V. I. He was mustered into the service at Pittsburgh, and assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, soon thereafter being promoted to the rank of sergeant of the company. He participated in the following engagements: battle and siege of Yorktown; Hanover C. H., May 27, 1862. Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862; Gaines' Mills, June 27, 1862; Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; Harrison's Landing, July 31, 1862; Gainesville, August 27, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862; Blackford's Ford, September 20, 1862, Kearneysville, September 29, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 1, 2, 3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2, 3, 1863; Funkston, Md., July 12, 1863; Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863; New Hope Church, November 28, 1863; Mine Run, November 30, 1863; Wilderness, May 30, 1964. At the battle of Spottsylvania Court House Mr. Epsey was wounded on the left shoulder, on account of which he was confined to Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C. He went home on a furlough, but returned to Washington, and on July 13, 1864, received an honorable discharge at Pittsburgh, Penn. He then returned to Allegheny county, and on December 27, 1866, was united in marriage with Sarah A. Woods, a daughter of Samuel Woods, who was born in 1798, in Allegheny county, and was married to Elizabeth Fife, born, in 1800, in the same county. Samuel and Elizabeth Woods made a permanent home in Snowden township, Allegheny county, where he died in 1867, having been preceded by his wife in 1865. J. S. Espey and his wife came to Cecil township, in 1868. In 1874 he bought an improved farm of fifty acres in Mount Pleasant township, moved upon it same year, and has since been engaged in farming and stockraising. The following children have been born to this couple: Minnie L., born September 3, 1867 (married December 31, 1890, to Howard Herriott. She died February 14, 1892, leaving one child, Joseph Roy Herriott, born February 8, 1892); Ada S., born August 25, 1870, a teacher in Washington county; James J., born February 9, 1876; Carrie May, born May 1, 1879, and Joseph W., born November 15, 1880, died May 25, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Espey were formerly members of the U. P. Church, in which Mr. Espey was a member of the Session, but they are now adherents of the Presbyterian Church in McDonald. In politics he votes the Republican ticket, and is one of the commissioners of Mount Pleasant township.
Text taken from page 453 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed July 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published July 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]