JOHN FLACK. The Flack family have for many years been identified with the interests of Washington county. About 1800 one Robert Flack sailed from County Monaghan, Ireland, and on arriving in America first located in Chester county, Penn. He then moved to Westmoreland county, same State, but in 1820 made a permanent location on the forks of Chartiers creek, Peters township, Washington county. He was married in his native land to a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, Miss Mary Douglass, who bore him the following children: James, Alexander, Mary, John, Nancy, Robert, Jane, Margaret, Eliza and Sarah, all of whom are now deceased. Alexander Flack, son of Robert Flack, was born about 1794, in County Monaghan, Ireland, and coming with his parents to America, was reared in Chester and Westmoreland counties. He began life as a teamster, and in 1835 opened a store at Bower Hill, Washington county. He conducted this business ten years, then bought the home farm in Peters township. When a young man he was married to Mary Porter, a native of this county, who died not long after their marriage. For his second wife Alexander Falck was married to Lillie Ann McAlister, of Peters township, a daughter of John McAlister, who, with his father, Archibald McAlister, emigrated from County Antrim, Ireland, about 1800, and settled first in Chester county, Penn., and in 1802 removed with his parents to Washington county. John McAlister was married to Isabelle McAllister, a resident of County Antrim, Ireland, who bore him seven children, namely: Archie, Nancy, Mary, Lillie Ann, John, Hannah, and James, all of whom are now deceased. Lillie Ann McAlister was reared to womanhood in Peters township. To the union of Alexander and Lillie Flack one son was born, John. The father was an active member of the Democratic party, and held nearly every office in Peters township. He died in 1857. John Flack was born May 27, 1839, in Bower Hill, Washington county, Penn. He began a course at Jefferson College, but, being called home by the death of his father, took charge of the old place. On November 20, 1865, he was united in marriage with Hester B., daughter of Albert Holbert, a native of Franklin township, Washington county. She died in 1882, leaving the following children: Bertha A., John A., Florence W., William L., Minnie B., and Bessie L., the last-named of whom is now attending school at Bower Hill. On March 3, 1885, John Flack was united in marriage with Virginia M. Ruth, whose father, John Ruth, was a native of New Jersey, and learned the carpenter's trade. He was married to Miss Margaret Barr, of Washington county, Penn., who bore him one daughter, Virginia M. (Mrs. Flack). Mr. and Mrs. Ruth died at Bethany, W. Va., of cholera, and were buried in the same grave. The orphan daughter was reared to womanhood by Miss Jane hardy, of Bower Hill, where she resided until her marriage to John Flack. To the union of John and Virginia M. Flack four children have been born, namely: Walter H., Wallace R., Allan M., and Margaret Lillian. After his first marriage Mr. Flack resided on a farm in this county until 1869, when he moved to Iowa. In 1871 he returned to the home farm, and in 1884 opened a store at Bower Hill, this county. Since 1886 he has lived on the farm which is now his home. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held various local offices. In religious faith he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 848 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Paula Talbert of Caldwell, OH as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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