Mrs. Sarah E. Gillespie, p. 764

MRS. SARAH E. GILLESPIE, a representative of one of the best and most popular families of Washington county, is a daughter of John Gillespie, whose father (also named John) emigrated with his family from Ireland at an early date, and settled in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn. The wife of this John Gillespie was formerly Mary Derrickson, and six children were born to their union, namely: William, Nathaniel, John, Mary, Sally and Elizabeth, all deceased excepting Eliza and John.

John Gillespie (father of subject) was born, in the year 1810, in Washington county, and passed his early life on the farm in Jefferson township. In 1838, he was married to Nancy Leggett, a native of Washington county, and they settled on the old homestead, where the following children were born to them: Mary Ann (deceased), Sarah E. Wesley, and Hester (deceased).

Sarah E. Gillespie (the subject proper of our sketch) was born May 1, 1842, in Jefferson township, this county, and assisted in the household duties of the home. At the age of eighteen years she entered Pleasant Hill Seminary, which she attended fifteen months, and was then married to W. J. Gillespie, her second cousin and son of William M. K. Gillespie. Their children were: James W., John, Charles O., Nannie M., Minnie O., Venie B., Winifred and Ella Nora. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie moved to his father's farm, and tenderly cared for the old gentleman until his death. Mr. Gillespie then took charge of the farm, and bought out the interest of the other heirs. In politics he was a stanch [sic] Republican, but being of a retiring disposition would accept no political office, preferring to devote his time to personal business. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bethel. Since Mr. Gillespie'S death, his widow has kept the children together, all of whom live on the old homestead. The farm consists of 284 acres of highly cultivated and fertile land, well stocked with all necessary articles.

Text taken from page 764 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed March 1997 by Victoria Smith of San Jose, CA 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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