FRANCIS HANLIN. The Hanlin family have for almost a century been identified with the progress and development of Hanover township. They have assisted in the advancement and support of the schools and churches, and all other enterprises which have served to place Hanover township in its present position with the magnificent galaxy of townships contained in Washington county, Penn. The present generation of this family trace their ancestry to four brothers, William, John, James and Alexander, who were children of Alexander and Nancy (Stewart) Hanlin, and natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The father dying in county Tyrone, the family, consisting of the widow, four sons and three daughters (Elizabeth, Nancy and Jane), came to America in 1792. Their first location was in Lancaster county, Penn., where the sons engaged in various kinds of employment. Energy and health formed their sole capital. One daughter, Nancy, was married in eastern Pennsylvania, and there passed her days. Between 1795 and 1800 the other members of the family came farther west, locating on the waters of Buffalo creek, in Washington county, on the "Lawton Farm." The brothers continued to work in partnership until the beginning of the present century, when James purchased land near Paris, Hanover township, this county, and followed the river, making trips to New Orleans. He was married to a Miss Mills. William, John and Alexander jointly purchased, of one Charles Campbell, large tract of land near Harmon's creek, in Hanover township, the county, to which they moved. William was affianced to Anna, daughter of John Fulton, of Hanover township, and his wedding day was set, but he died before the marriage was consummated. John Hanlin was born in 1771, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and in 1823 married Nancy Hanlin, a distant relative, and a native, of Ireland. Her parents came to America, locating at Steubenville, Ohio, leaving their infant daughter with an aunt in Ire-land, with whom she crossed the ocean when but two years of age. Alexander Hanlin was married in 1805 to Elizabeth Scott, Who was born February 14, 1780, in Ireland, and when only two or three years of age was brought to America. Her father, Franklin Scott, was one of the first settlers in Jefferson township, this county, first locating there about the time of the Revolution. He was obliged to flee from the country to Ireland, was married, and again crossing the Atlantic settled in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn., where he died. After the marriage of Alexander Hanlin, the land belonging to tile three brothers was divided, and he received the southern part of the tract, residing there until his death. He was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church, to which he contributed liberally, his wife being identified with the Methodist Episcopal Society. Although possessing no property when he landed in America, by energy and toil Mr. Hanlin accumulated a good property. In politics he was first a Whig, then a Republican. He died at the advanced age of ninety years, his wife dying eight years before him, and they were buried in the cemetery of Tucker's Church. Their children were: Alexander, killed accidentally by a cider press, born January 1,1806; William, deceased in Carroll county, Ohio, born August 20, 1807; Francis, whose name opens this sketch; John, a farmer of Hanover township. born February 3, 1812; James (deceased), born February 17, 1814; George (deceased), born March 28, 1816; Stewart. a miner (died in California), born March 2, 1818; Charles, a farmer of Jefferson township, born September 26, 1820; Grant, a farmer and miller of Hanover township, born October 28, 1823; and Eliza Ann (unmarried), born January 80, 1826. The town of Hanlin, a station on the P. C. C. & St. L. R. R, is named from the four Hanlin brothers, one of whom was the father of this family. Francis Hanlin, son of Alexander and Elizabeth Hanlin was born April 16, 1810, in Hanover township. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended the subscription schools of that period. In 1839 he was married to Ruth Criss, who was born in 1821, in Hanover township, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Ritenhouse) Criss. To this union three daughters were born, namely: Nancy (Mrs. Pressly Boyd, of Columbiana county, Ohio), Hannah (unmarried, living at home) and one daughter, who died in infancy. The mother died many years ago, and on November 20, 1849, Francis Hanlin selected as his second wife Betsy Lyons, a daughter of James and Sarah (Steen) Lyons. The children of this marriage were born as follows: Sarah (deceased wife of Samuel Jackson), Stewart (a farmer of Hanover Township). Mary (Mrs. Frank Ferguson, of Collier, W. Va., James. of Irondale, Ohio, was one of twins, the other of whom died at birth, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Stephenson of Hanover township), an infant daughter (deceased) and Letita (deceased wife of Samuel Work. In 1845 Francis Hanlin and his brother John purchased a part of "the Davis farm" in this county, which was divided, and the brothers located on ajoining farms, where they have since lived. Francis Hanlin has been a lifelong farmer, and has passed over eighty-two years of a most industrious life. As a result he has accumulated a valuable property and is an extensive land owner of Hanover township. On July 6, 1890, Mrs. Hanlin passed away and was buried in Tucker's Church cemetery. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held numerous offices. In politics he has always voted with the Democratic party. Notwithstanding his advanced age Mr. Hanlin is comparatively a vigorous and well-preserved man.

Text taken from page 215 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by George and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL 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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