JOHN FRESHWATER, a leading farmer and small fruit grower of Hanover township, is a native of Brooke county, W. Va., of which locality his ancestors were early residents. This gentleman and his family are descended from three brothers who came into West Virginia soon after the beginning of the present century, and located in the territory which is now Brooke county. The brothers were named, respectively, Reuben, Archibald and David, who came from east of the mountains, and were born east of the mountains. Of these, Archibald was the grandfather of our subject. After locating in West Virginia be was married to Sarah Gardner, a native of Jefferson township, Washington county, who bore him the following children: John, who went to Armstrong county, Penn., afterward settling in Pittsburgh, Penn; Archibald, of whom a sketch is given; William, moved to Van Buren county, Iowa; Fanny, married to Josiah Jones, a resident of Wellsburgb, W. Va.; David, moved to Wood county, W. Va.; and Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Wright, resided near Chambersburgb, Penn. Of this family David is, the only one living. The parents passed their lives on the farm in Washington county, where the father was a successful agriculturist, and where he died in 1856 at a ripe old age. After his death his widow remained for some time on the home place, then went to Wood county, W. Va., and lived with her son, David, until she too was called to enter the "valley of the shadow of death."
Archibald, son of Archibald and Sarah (Gardner) Freshwater, was born March 16, 1814, in Brooke county, W. Va., remaining on the farm during his boyhood and attending the subscription schools. In 1837 he was married to Elizabeth Truax, who bore him the following children: William, a farmer of Hanover township, born July 22, 1838; Archibald, deceased farmer of Hanover township, born October 6, 1839; Sarah Ann, deceased wife of David Smith, of Hanover township, born February 28, 1841; David, born June 9, 1843; Elias, a blacksmith of Paris, Penn., born March 22, 1845; John, whose name opens this sketch; Mary Jane, of CoIliers, W. Va., born September 22, 1849; Elizabeth Amanda, Mrs. James Caldwell, of Hanover township, born March 5, 1852; and James, a farmer of Hanover township, born December 5, 1854. After his marriage Archibald Freshwater rented a farm in Hancock county, W. Va.; remaining there for some time. then went to Brooke county, W. Va., and in 1853 came to Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn., where his latter days were passed in agriculture pursuits. He died in 1883, having been preceded by his wife in 1876, and both now lie buried in the Paris cemetery. Mr. Freshwater was a member of the Methodist Church, his wife having been identified with the Baptist Society. In politics he was a Democrat.
John Freshwater was born February 10, 1847, and when but six years of age came with his parents to Washington county. He attended the common schools of the home district, and when a young man began to learn the blacksmith trade, but after serving three months of an apprenticeship gave up the trade, and later was employed on the P., C. & St. L. R. R. for two years. On December 15, 1870, he was united in marriage with Margaret Wells, who was born June 23, 1847, in Brooke county, W. Va., a daughter of James and Margaret (Crall) Wells. The Wells family were among the leading pioneers of Brooke county. The children of John and Margaret Freshwater are as follows: Lawrence A., Fred C., Emma F., Harry B., John W., Oscar C., Beulah J. and Lydia E., all of whom are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Freshwater began wedded life on a farm in Hanover township. In 1881 he purchased the "Matthew Russell" farm, where be has ever since resided. In addition to farming he is extensively engaged in the raising of small fruits and berries, and belongs to the progressive, wide-awake type of agriculturists. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a highly esteemed citizen of the community. Mrs. Freshwater is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Text taken from page 410 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1998 by Nelda Rowland of San Diego, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]