J. R. GLADDEN occupies a prominent position in the large circle of leading agriculturists of Cecil township, and is descended from one of the pioneer families. His earliest ancestors, whose history can be obtained, were William and Mary (Woods) Gladden; they were both born in eastern Pennsylvania, William being a miller by trade. They came to Cecil township in May, 1795, and bought of one Nicholas Gaunce 206 1/4 acres, of which he had secured the patent in 1789, and made this their permanent home. After the death of William, the land became the property of Richard Gladden, and has remained in the family name up to the present time. Joseph Gladden, son of William and Mary Woods Gladden, was born in 1795, in Cecil township, this county, and was reared and educated on the old homestead. In early manhood he married Jane Donaldson, a native of Robinson township, this county, and first settled near Midway, on what is known as the Campbell farm. In the spring of 1842 he bought and moved upon a farm in South Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn., remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1866, being followed by his wife in 1881. Both were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Robinson's Run. Their children were: Thomas D. (living on the homestead in Allegheny county, Penn.), William (deceased in 1891, a resident of Jefferson county, Ohio), James (deceased in youth), J. R., and Mary Jane (wife of R. A. Warren, Jefferson county, Ohio). J. R. Gladden, son of Joseph and Jane (Donaldson) Gladden, was born in 1842, in South Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn., and received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1869 he married Sarah A., daughter of David and Sarah (Campbell) McConnell, early pioneers of Cecil township, where their daughter Sarah was born. On January 15, 1884, J. R. Gladden, in company with his brother, Thomas D., bought the old home farm of their grandfather, William Gladden, in Cecil township, from their uncle, Richard Gladden, and in 1888 J. R. Gladden bought his brother's interest, and made it his permanent home. The place contains 321 acres of good land, located about one mile from McDonald, and contains four producing oil wells. Mr. Gladden conducts a general farming business in connection with a profitable dairy, and has built a good barn, being now engaged in building a comfortable tenant house. He votes the Democratic ticket. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church at McDonald, of which he is a trustee. They have had four children: David (deceased at the age of two years), Joseph, Thomas Donaldson and Mary Jane.

Text taken from page 1298 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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